What is Gait Training?

One of the most important services a physical therapist can offer his or her patient is gait training. Gait training can be used on patients who suffer from a variety of injuries. Patients who have suffered from strokes, broken legs, knee replacements, joint injuries, or other injuries can all benefit from receiving gait training from their physical therapist.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need help standing or walking properly, then gait training is something you should consider. The primary goal of gait training is to prevent the patient from falling in the future. By decreasing the chance of falls in patients, the chance of further injury will also be decreased. Physical therapists will recommend gait training to their patients whose walking ability has been negatively affected. You will also be recommended for gait training if your are at risk to become immobile. Instead of being immobile, your physical therapist will help you learn to walk again so that you will become physically active again.

Gait training works by strengthening your muscles and joints and by retraining your legs for repetitive motion. By retraining your legs for a repetitive motion, such as walking, you will begin to develop muscle memory. You will also notice more endurance, better balance, and an improved posture. All of these things will help you walk better and reduce the risk of falling. Gait training will also help you to reduce the risk of other illnesses, such as heart disease and osteoporosis.
If you do find yourself in a position where gait training is needed your physical therapists will give you different activities to help you improve your health. Your activities may involve machines that will help you walk safely. This may include being harnessed into a treadmill so that you do not fall. You will also do trainings that involved walking over objects that are on the ground, standing, and lifting your leg. The exercises that you will do and the duration that you will do them for will all depend on your individual situation.

If you have recently experienced an injury that has affected your ability to walk or stand properly, contact your physical therapist right away and ask them about the many benefits of gait training!

Common Shoulder Injuries

The shoulder is a commonly used area of the body, which means that it is prone to many different types of injury. Injuries to this region can be caused by deterioration, injury, and even disease. Some common afflictions that you probably have heard of include dislocation, separation, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff disease or tear, fracture, and conditions related to arthritis. Treatment can be very different for many of these injuries, but it is best to spot the symptoms early on to ensure that you get the most in-depth treatment possible.

When the shoulder is dislocated, a doctor might have to push the joint back into place. After this procedure, the shoulder may still be impaired. Physical therapy can help extend the shoulder back to it’s full range of motion. Certain exercises can prevent further injuries as well. The joint should be iced several times a day to accelerate the healing process and reduce swelling. A separation, just like a dislocation, can be caused by hard contact with the shoulder, but is a very different kind of injury. It involves the ligament between the shoulder an the collarbone tearing. A sling, ice, rest, and exercises can help repair this, but depending on the severity, surgery might be necessary.

Rotator cuff disease, often a combination of tendonitis or bursitis, can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis or overuse of the joint. This causes the bursa, or a pouch of fluid that protects the joint to become swollen. Aspirin and ice can help treat this, as well as an ultrasound to improve blood flow. Surgery may be necessary if the condition does not show improvement over an extended period of time. A rotator cuff tear, another common injury, can be the result of old age or overuse. The treatment for a tear is very similar to that of rotator cuff disease, but also includes electrical stimulation of the nerves and muscles. As opposed to overuse, a lack of use can cause frozen shoulder. A lack of use can be the result of chronic pain or a rheumatic disease, or even tissue growing that prevents one from moving the shoulder. It can be treated with stretching exercises, cortisone injection, and electrical stimulation. Surgery may also be necessary in this situation if the condition does not improve.

A fracture is also common, but is usually repaired by a doctor putting the bones back where they belong, and putting the arm in a sling. Strengthening exercises are useful in this situation once the joint has healed. Above all, the shoulder is a crucial part of the body. Anything irregular including pain or discomfort, or reduced motion should be addressed immediately. Physical therapy can be a great, non-invasive method of treating shoulder injuries before resorting to surgery. Call a therapist today to see if physical therapy can be the right choice for you.

Parkinsons and PT

   

Parkinson’s disease is a very scary and limiting degenerative disease that affects up to 60,000 Americans every single year. It can cause tremors, stiffness in movement, or moving more slowly than before. While it is best to be caught early on, it is often hard to spot, as it also does not affect most people who will get Parkinson’s disease before they hit their 60’s. There is no known cure, but there are treatments that make the symptoms more manageable, and allow people to live as comfortably as possible.

Physical therapy as well as exercise are great methods of dealing with Parkinson’s disease. Simply going for walks or participating in aerobics can slow the progression of the disease, as well as make a person more fit and capable to perform everyday activities. As far as physical therapy goes, every person is different. Your physical therapist will perform a series of tests to gauge how your strength, posture, coordination, and balance have degenerated with the disease. Then formulating a treatment plan that is right for you. Their main priority is to improve your strength as well as help you perform everyday activities, as efficiently and easy as possible. Simple tasks like getting out of bed can be a challenge with Parkinson’s disease, but a physical therapist can give you advice to make it easier. They can also help you prepare for activities or hobbies you enjoy participating in, by helping improve coordination and balance, or giving you strategies to help you cope.

Parkinson’s disease is no laughing matter. If you think you are experiencing any symptoms, and fall within the criteria for the disease, seek a doctor immediately. The quicker it is caught, the quicker and more effectively it can be managed. Physical therapists can be a huge asset in coping with Parkinson’s disease, so call Park Physical Therapy today and see if a treatment plan is right for you.

Did you know that you have Direct Access to Physical Therapy? No referral is needed. We offer the best Physical Therapy on Long Island where you can get help from our trusted and expert Physical Therapists. We have several locations on Long Island including Massapequa, Valley Stream, Wantagh and Lindenhurst. To start your Physical Therapy evaluation, call Park Physical Therapy and The Physical Therapy Alliance at (516) 568-4444.

Meniscal tears are one of the most frequently occurring injuries of the knee. They are very common in people who play contact sports, but anyone can be afflicted. The meniscus are two rubbery pieces of cartilage in-between where the thighbone and the shinbone meet in the knee. They act as shock absorbers and keep the joint stable. There are many different types of meniscal tears, but it is important to remember that they can happen to almost anyone.

Generally, instantaneous tears happen in athletes. This can happen after twisting a knee or being tackled in a contact sport. Degenerative meniscal tears are more common in senior citizens. The cartilage can deteriorate over time and be more prone to a tear. Almost any sudden shock to the joint can cause the meniscus to tear if they have deteriorated enough.

There are many, often overlooked, symptoms of a torn meniscus. Pain and swelling in the knee, the knee locking or giving way, or a loss of a full range of motion are all symptoms of a torn meniscus. If left untreated, the joint can get worse over time, causing popping, slipping, or locking in the knee, which is why it is crucial to see a physical therapist immediately. Depending on the severity of the tear, an expert can recommend several routes of treatment. The RICE method, or rest, ice, compression, elevation method is among the most common for sports injuries. They might also recommend anti-inflammatories, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. If surgery is necessary, then there are several options. Either the torn tissue is stitched together, or it is cut away. Rehabilitation times may vary, but can take up to three months.

Above all, it is important to remember to never overlook an injury. The earlier it can be treated, the better, as it can only get worse on its own. Call a physical therapist today!


Did you know that you have Direct Access to Physical Therapy? No referral is needed. We offer the best Physical Therapy on Long Island where you can get help from our trusted and expert Physical Therapists. We have several locations on Long Island including Massapequa, Valley Stream, Wantagh and Lindenhurst. To start your Physical Therapy evaluation, call Park Physical Therapy and The Physical Therapy Alliance at (516) 568-4444.