by Elizabeth Welsh We are constantly seeing, hearing, touching our world around us. Sometimes we find challenges in dealing with all of that sensory input. For example, you may avoid hugs, fear loud noises or be bothered by certain clothing because of the way it feels. Everyone has quirks, but when these quirks get in [read more]
By Joshua Bruner, Physical Therapist With high school and college sports starting once again, it’s important to understand what the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is, what causes tears, and most importantly, how tears and injury can be prevented. The ACL is one of the most frequently injured ligaments in the knee. Each year 100,000 to [read more]
by Joshua Bruner, PT, DPT, CSCS We’ve all heard the phrase “No pain, no gain.” When taking part in rehab to come back from an injury, is there really any truth to the saying? In the United States, chronic pain has become more prevalent over the past few decades. According to the National Institutes of [read more]
by Julie Grabandt, MPT, OCS, ATC Therapists use many different forms of treatment to assist with healing and pain control. Instrument assisted soft tissue massage (IASTM) has been very successful in helping patients decrease pain and improve movement. IASTM is the use of instruments to assist with mobilizing and decreasing tension within muscles, tendons, and [read more]
By Occupational Therapist Ann Morley, OT Stenosing Tenosynovitis, commonly known as trigger finger/thumb, involves the pulleys and tendons in the hand that bend the fingers. It most frequently occurs in middle age or older women. Each finger and thumb have flexor tendons that work like long ropes going from the muscles of the forearm and [read more]
By Physical Therapists Julie Grabandt, MSPT, OCS, LAT and Julie Tashner, PT at the Orthopedic Institute at Southwest Health. It’s official, the nice weather we’ve all been waiting for is here. With nicer weather, we tend to move more and do more outside, encountering different activities and body movements that we have not performed in [read more]
By Joshua Bruner, PT, DPT, CSCS – Physical Therapist at Southwest Health. Knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) continues to be a growing epidemic in the United States (US). It has been estimated that 12.2% and 7.4% of the US population have knee and hip OA, respectively. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that causes a breakdown [read more]
By Southwest Behavioral Services Recreational Therapist Dana Groom, CTRS Recreation’s purpose is not to kill time but to make time live. Not to keep a person occupied but to keep them refreshed. Not to offer an escape from life but to provide a discovery of life. The value of leisure and recreation is often misplaced [read more]
By Samantha Jordan, Physical Therapist (DPT, OCS, CSCS) – On behalf of the Safety Squad at Southwest Health. We tend to set health and fitness goals when we’re feeling especially motivated or focused, but the truth is, many of our well-intentioned goals end up forgotten within the first few weeks or months of making them. [read more]
By Samantha Jordan, DPT, OCS, CSCS Unfortunately no matter how hard we try to take care of ourselves we will all experience physiological aspects of aging. Knowing what to expect and practicing some healthy lifestyle habits can help you stay looking and feeling young. The Effects of Aging Loss of bone and muscle mass [read more]