What is Gait Training?

We know many have seen the ever so popular Life Alert commercials that appear on almost every channel. It comes in the form of a pocket alarm or necklace that you must carry with you in the case of an accidental slip or fall. These alarms come in handy as you have aid almost right at your fingertips that will run to your side in an instance, although the recovery time to get your body and mind past the damage and fear of the results of the fall can be longer lasting. How can we avoid these slips and falls and the repair time it takes to recover from this damage if possible? Park Physical Therapy, located in Massapequa, wants to make sure you avoid these slips and falls from ever happening.  

The staff at Park Physical Therapy will provide patients with gait training so that you may still have the security and mobility to navigate on your own pace while maintaining your daily, individual routines. Gait training is a form of physical therapy to help people strengthen and regain the ability to stand/walk on their own. A major goal with gait training is to provide the patient with independence to perform these abilities once again so that they may take action with the tasks they wish to fulfill on the daily. Gait training is mostly recommended for those whom have had injury or fallen ill and may even be used to help children and the elderly, as when you are younger your muscles have yet to develop certain strengths and mobility while your muscles tend to lose these functions at an older age. 

The patient is constantly guided and under the supervision of their therapists when gait training. This form of training usually involves the patient walking in between two handrails while learning or re-learning to support themselves with mobility. Other forms of gait training also include a gait trainer or gait aid, which are devices the patients wear while functionally walking/standing during therapy. Park Physical Therapy has an array of fully licensed staff that work with individuals of all ages who require physical therapy care and they will do all they can to get you back on your feet!

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.

How to Keep Going Strong with New Year’s Resolutions

It’s early January and most people who made New Year’s resolutions are still trying to stick it out past the first week of the year. Resolutions can be a welcome solution for some, such as an opportunity to better oneself and get healthier, and a thorn in the side for others, especially if you attempted goals in past years and have come up short or just called it quits early on. “New year, new me” is the mantra, but the “new” you doesn’t have to be a completely new person nor should you feel that you have to drastically change yourself. Self-improvement takes time and confidence in order to be successful. This self-confidence is key when attempting to stay strong and keep yourself on the right track towards your goals.

A resolution should be something you can actually see yourself doing and following through with. You don’t want to bite off more than you can chew as this will inevitably lead to giving up or calling it quits. People become angry at themselves for not being able to lose a certain amount of weight or run a certain amount of miles per week. Plan out a manageable resolution ahead of time and avoid leaving it to New Year’s Eve as you won’t be able to properly think of the time and effort you will need going through, such as setting time aside for the gym or running on a weekly basis. Your mind is only thinking of the now as opposed to the future when these resolutions are really put to the test.

Sit down with a calendar or organizer and try to block out time in your schedule in order to find out when you have those extra few hours of free time to pursue your goals. The decision is much more difficult to make if something comes up during that block of time. Ask yourself if watching that football game on the couch with the guys is more important than working on your cardio workout. Remember, it is your decision what is more important for that particular day as there will always be opportunities to hang out with your friends. If anything, let your friends and family know about your resolution and maybe they can help you through it! A buddy may have similar fitness goals this year so see if you can work on your goals together at the gym as someone who is trying to change their lifestyle and exercise regularly will know what you’re going through. It is very helpful to encourage and discuss your training in order to keep you motivated.

You can also give yourself short-term goals in order to make it a little easier on yourself to reach the finish line. If you’re trying to lose 20 pounds by the summer, divide up the weight and try to lose a few pound each month leading up to a specific month. Baby steps are key as it becomes less stressful and maybe even easier for some to maintain their goals by taking it slowly. Remember, nobody’s perfect, so it’s normal to have a skip day as you may just not feel like running in the cold of January. Short term goals are more manageable and you can afford to have a slip up every once in awhile as long as you are still staying on top of the goal for that month. Balance is key in exercising and you do not want to over exert yourself. It is unrealistic to lose 20 pounds in just a couple of months and by spreading it out you are watching your own back as you don’t want to injure yourself from too much exercise in a short period of time. Injuries require time to recover and you could easily lose your drive to continue to lose weight.

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.

Resistance Training for Osteoarthritis

“These old bones ain’t what they used to be”. This is a common phrase that is understood as you progress with your normal activities but your body doesn’t quite work as it normally did. The wear and tear of your joints, which is commonly known as osteoarthritis, is the degenerative breakdown of the protective cartilage on your joints and leads to stiffness, inflammation and pain in areas, specifically the hip, thumb joints and knees. The pain from osteoarthritis is chronic and there is currently no known cure for the condition. Fortunately, with therapy, something can be done to alleviate the pain and get you back to normal everyday activities.

Park Physical Therapy, located in Massapequa, is a hands on physical therapy center in which patients are treated by a fully licensed staff specializing in the physical treatment of their patients. Although the age of patients and level of therapy for each individual receiving service with Park Physical Therapy ranges, each patient is sure to receive the treatment they need and want in order to live a better lifestyle and improve with daily tasks and mobility. As osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease, it affects almost 27 million Americans as we lose almost 25% of muscle fibers throughout the ages of 30-70 years old. There is no limit on the amount of therapy to receive while under the care of a physical therapist as it leaves individuals in chronic pain with no real cure to rid the body of this disease.

A common way to tackle osteoarthritis is through resistance training. This is a form of exercise in which an individual uses their muscles against an external resistance to help increase muscle mass, strength, muscle tone, and body endurance. As you build up the muscles around the areas that lead to pain, osteoarthritis can be kept at bay as you slow down the progression of the muscle and joint degeneration. At Park Physical Therapy, our state-of-the-art therapy center and highly trained and educated staff will help you create and executive a comprehensive rehabilitation program crafted to meet your needs. Using resistance ropes or weight lifting, we will structure and set you on the perfect treatment program to help you regain normality of your body and its functions.

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.

Basketball Injuries

While basketball isn’t meant to be played with the same sort of aggression and player-to-player contact as other popular sports such as football, lacrosse, and hockey, it still brings with it a high risk of injury even when played safely and correctly. Basketball related injuries led to more than 200,000 visits to the hospital each year for kids under the age of 15. There are many different physical acts performed during basketball that puts the athlete in a vulnerable position for injury, and these can lead to damage to a number of different body parts.

The most common injuries in basketball are to the lower body, mainly the ankle and knee. This is due to a few reasons, but primarily because of plays made near the rim, where players’ feet are leaving the ground and usually forcing contact with others, leaving players vulnerable to dangerous contact with each other as well as awkward landings once they come down. This is also what likely causes general trauma, another one of the top reported injuries. Basketball requires no external protection like other contact sports, and this combined with a hardwood floor (or outdoor blacktop) can lead to serious pain to any body part that comes crashing down on it (lower body, wrist, forearm).

Another group of injuries we see more often at higher levels of organized basketball (college and professional) are ACL tears caused by a simple quick change in direction. The best ball handlers and the defenders that guard them all have the ability to stop and change direction on a dime. Sometimes, however, this can lead to serious knee and ankle injury. The ball can also travel around the court with some force behind it, and failing to catch it correctly can lead to finger injuries. Even being stuck with the ball by mistake could lead to some pain if it’s in the wrong spot.

We hope you never have to experience any of these injuries, but if you do, physical therapy can be a solution. At Park Physical Therapy, we have years of experience rehabilitating sports injuries like these and love helping athletes regain their strength and get back out there! Park Physical Therapy can help whether you are looking for post-surgical rehab or just need help recovering from an injury.

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.

Physical Therapy Check up for the New Year

How did you feel in 2015? Starting to notice chronic body aches? Unfortunately when left unchecked, pain can become the new normal. 

Pay attention to your body as you go through your daily activities. If, for instance you notice knee pain or discomfort when using the stairs or back discomfort when you get out of bed or the car, it is time to take action.Whether that be investing in supportive back pillows for your home or office, or by taking control of your physical fitness, doing nothing will only persist the problem.

Depending on the nature of the issue, pain and discomfort will gradually increase over time. Catching a degenerating joint early can be extremely beneficial in the long term. For most, it is difficult to gauge the safest exercises or motioning when trying to prevent further damage or worsened pain.

It’s in your best long-term interest to visit a physical therapist before embarking on a new fitness routine. Self-diagnosis of pain can sometimes be incorrect leading to improper aftercare.

Don’t waste your time and energy focusing on healing in the least efficient manner.

This is the perfect time of year to address any questionable aches or pains. A physical therapist will work with you to not only prevent the pain from worsening but to help you prevent putting pressure on these areas. Keeping good health as we age is not only good for your body, it is good for your soul. If you are dealing with the same pain on a daily basis, without intervention, it is highly unlikely that it will go away on it’s own.

Make 2016 your year to live vibrantly.

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.

Holiday Stress

Tis’ the season to be jolly…but let’s be real for a second. The holiday season is said to be the most wonderful time of the year although in reality it is actually the most stressful time of the year. The concept of bringing people together and spreading Christmas cheer is a novel idea until we take a step back and objectively assess the holiday season. We may find the holiday season isn’t so merry and bright and we can thank over-commercialization for that.

The holiday stress kicks off with Black Friday, a dark day that has managed to ooze over into Thanksgiving. People stand in line eagerly anticipating a brutal fight to the death to save a couple of bucks on the latest Apple gadget instead of being home and being thankful for their family and friends.

Holiday shopping is stressful with or without the battle scars of Black Friday. Trying to find the perfect gifts for the special people in your life can be difficult and expensive. The stress about finding the perfect gift is compounded by the stress of going broke in the process. And of course, there is always that one person in your life who literally has everything and you have no idea what to buy them. What do you get the person who has everything?! I’m not sure they will fully appreciate anything in my price range.

Once we power through the stress of gift-giving we’re faced with overwhelming social obligations that sometimes require an extra heavy pour of eggnog. Everybody can relate to the battles we must face during a family gathering. There is always the one family member going on a political and/or religious power trip and making everyone else feel uncomfortable or the family member(s) with the incessantly prying questions about your career and love life. You have no choice but to lie through your teeth in order to get through the conversation with your dignity intact.

Whoever said all our worries would be out of sight is a liar and a fraud. But fret not, you aren’t alone, as we are all powering through stress brought on by the holiday season, one eggnog at a time. Just remember it will be over before you know it. There is a new year upon us and new goals to set. Don’t worry if you didn’t meet every or any of the goals you set last year. The fact of the matter is nobody else did either. It is important to remember to take life in stride because no one is perfect and we all experience good and bad times. It’s how we handle the stress we are given that says the most about us. So keep your head held high holiday hero, it will be over before you know it, and maybe it won’t be as bad as you thought it would be. Just remember to keep calm and get your holiday on.

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.