Adhesive Capsulitis /Frozen shoulder

Posted on July 30, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

The incidence of adhesive capsulitis in the general population is about 2% to 5%.It occurs more in women when compared to men and also people who are above the age of 45.People who gets adhesive capsuilitis in shoulder has a 20-30% probability of getting it in other shoulder.

How does it occur?

It occurs due to scar tissue which makes the shoulder stiff. It may result in loss of motion as well as pain with movement. Actual cause of frozen shoulder is a debatable matter. However, it is believed that it might be caused due to the inflammation of the lining of the joint (synovitis) or autoimmune reactions. Other causes may include reaction after an injury or surgery, painful conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis and rotator cuff tear which has caused you to stop moving your shoulder and, any other cause that prevent you from moving your shoulder for a reasonable amount of time such as a sling or surgery.

Symptoms may include pain that worsens over a period of time and loss of movement.

Pre- Freezing Stage

You have already had the symptoms for 1-3 months. You may feel pain with active range of motion as well as passive range of motion. You may feel pain in the shoulder at rest and the pain becomes sharp when you move it. You might have mild reduction in motion and you tend to protect it by moving it less. Reduction of motion is experienced in following movements: external rotation, flexion, internal rotation and abduction. You may experience pain at day as well as night.

Freezing

You had the symptoms for 3-9 month and the pain is increasing day by day. You may have some range of motion but is limited due to pain and stiffness.

Frozen

You have had the symptoms for 9-14 months. At the beginning of the stage, you may experience decreased range of motion coupled with substantial amount of pain. At the end of the stage you may feel less pain however, pain is felt only while moving shoulder (as far as you can move it)

Thawing

The symptoms have persisted for 12-15 month and there is a significant amount of decrease in pain (particularly at night)). You may feel at ease while doing daily activities involving over head motions even though you have limited range of motion at shoulder.

How physical therapy plays a vital role?

At the initial stages, physical therapy focuses on maintaining range of motion at the shoulder joint which in turn will decrease the pain. Physical Therapist will give you a blend of manual therapy as well as stretching exercise. Use of heat and ice by the therapist will help the muscles to relax. A home exercise program (HEP) is designed by the therapist to prevent loss of motion.
As the therapy progress your physical therapist may include strengthening exercise to the previous regime. At the final stages, therapy may include exercises which will help the patients to get back to their normal activities.

Maya physical therapy which serves Davie, cooper city, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood and surrounding areas has the best and experienced physical therapist which will help you to recover from any conditions related to shoulder.

References

Physical Therapist’s Guide to Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) . (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2013, from Move Forward P.T: http://www.moveforwardpt.com/symptomsconditionsdetail.aspx?cid=00661806-1fa0-4fc0-ba17-ea32751d7412

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

Labral Tear

Posted on July 30, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

Instability of the shoulder joint causes labral tear. Labral refers to the ring of cartilage that surrounds the margin of glenoid cavity which is called the glenoid labrum. An injury to the glenoid labrum can cause pain as well make it harder for you to move your arm. Tear is caused by fall or repetitive movements or any sports that requires you to raise your arm above your head. In many cases physical therapy can provide a solution.

Anatomy

The shoulder joint has three bones: Scapula (shoulder blade), clavicle(collar bone) and the humerus(upper arm bone).The head of the upper arm bone rests in the shallow socket(glenoid cavity) of the shoulder blade .The head of the upper arm bone is much bigger than the socket and the labrum which is ring of cartilage that surround glenoid cavity provides stability to the joint. The labrum deepens the socket by 50% and hence the head of the humerus fits better.

What are the different types of tear?

Traumatic labral tear- It happens due to a single event that causes tear such as shoulder dislocation or heavy lifting. Weight lifters, gymnasts, and construction workers are more likely to have this kind of tear.

Non traumatic labral tears- It occurs due to the instability of the shoulder joint as well as weakness of shoulder muscles. When the shoulder muscles are weak, it puts more stress on the labrum and causes tear.

What are the symptoms?

People who have labral tear often experience pain at the top of the shoulder especially while doing overhead activities. Popping, catching and/or clunking with shoulder movements as the torn labrum has loose ends. People often experience weakness of shoulder, usually one side.

How physical therapy can help?

Your physician may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication and rest until the final diagnosis is made. Physical therapy is effective when the symptoms are minor. Physical therapist will educate you about the movements and activities that need to be avoided. They may include strengthening exercises such as external rotation and internal rotation to provide support for the joint and to reduce stress on the labrum. Your physical therapist may include stretching exercises such as door way stretch or cross body stretch to increase the function of the muscles that surround the shoulder. They may also employ manual therapy to improve movement at the joint as well as decrease pain.

What if my case is severe?

If the conservative measures are insufficient your doctor may recommend you an arthroscopic surgery. After the surgery you may have to keep the shoulder in sling for about 3-4 weeks. A proper rehabilitation program is needed so that you can return back to your daily activities as soon as possible.

Reference

Physical Therapist’s Guide to Labral Tear. (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2013, from Move forward P.T: http://www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=99c2e561-5a77-450c-867a-2e2edaaa9b7c

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

Hip Fracture and Physical therapy

Posted on July 19, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

Pelvic fracture occurs when one or more bones of the pelvis crack or break. It is also called hip fracture. In the United States, hip fracture isrelatively rare with an incidence rate of 0.3% to 6% of all fractures.

What are the two types of fractures?

Low impact pelvic fracture-It occurs in two age groups: Adolescents and elderly. The former age group usually experiences fracture of the tip of one of the pelvic bones. This type of injury occurs in adolescents who are involved in sports such as hockey, skiing, football or jogging. It can also occur after minor falls in people who have osteoporosis. In elderly most often injury occurs at the thicker part of the pelvic bones. This type of fracture is called pelvic ring fractures and is result of falling on to one side of hip. Usually, this kind of fracture occurs due to balance problems, unintended obstacles, general frailty, vision problems or medications side effects.

High Impact Pelvic fracture-These fractures may occur due to major accidents, or fall from high place. This type of fracture can be life threatening and needs emergency room care and extensive physical therapy care.

How physical therapists’ can help?

Recovery from a pelvic fracture often involves surgery and prolonged bed rest. Most often bed rest is recommended for weeks or even months and the patients tendto lose muscle mass, strength, flexibility, endurance and balance. The main goal of physical therapy is to reduce pain level, improve hip, spine and leg motion, improve strength and flexibility as well as speedrecovery.

24-48 Hours

The use of crutches is recommended by your physical therapist in order to avoid weight bearing on fractured hip. Your physical therapist will teach you how to use crutches so that you can move around without putting weight on the injured hip. Patients with severe pelvic fracture may have to use wheel chairs.

Reducing Pain

Your physical therapist may use modalities such as electrical stimulation, ice, heat, and ultrasound to reduce pain. Physical therapist’s initial goal is to attain patient’s normal range of motion at hip and knee joints thorough passive range of motion exercises. Manual therapy may include soft tissue mobilization as well as “trigger point release”.

Improving strength and Balance

Individualized exercise program is designed in order to regain strength. Exercises which target muscles of hip and core are given by the physical therapist. Exercise protocols would include free weight training, treadmills and/or stationary bicycles. Improving balance is very important as muscles of hip play a vital role in balance as well as steadiness in walking. Over time stretching exercises are also added to the treatment to loosen up the tight muscles.

Help to prevent future problems

Your physical therapist may recommend a home exercise program (HEP), so that you can prevent future problems. Physical therapist may also educate you about fall prevention strategies. At Maya physical therapy our therapists are trained and experienced in choosing the right treatment for you, so that you can get back to your pre-injury state as soon as possible.

Reference

Physical Therapist’s Guide to Pelvic Fracture (Hip Fracture) . (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2013, from Move Forward PT: http://www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=1388924b-8118-4182-b8e9-247463af00bf

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

Parkinson disease and the importance of movement

Posted on July 19, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

After Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease is ranked the second among the degenerative brain disorder diseases. It is most prevalent in men when compared to women. Symptoms are usually seen when people are at 60s’.Most common symptoms are slowness with movement, balance problems, stiffness and shaking. Usually the treatment includes a combination of physical therapy and medication.

What is it?

It is related to loss of nerve cell in your brain which produces dopamine. Dopamine is a crucial factor in controlling movement. The precise cause of the disease is not known. However aging, exposure to certain environmental toxins and family history may contribute to it. It is a chorionic disease and the severity and nature of symptoms are different from one person to other

What are the signs and symptoms?

Most common symptom is tremor in one hand. It can also occur in jaw or leg. It is more visible when you are rest and goes way when you are moving. As it progress, you may develop the flowing symptoms such as shuffling when you walk,arms swinging less when you walk and your handwriting may also get affected by the disease. You may also feel stiffness or rigidity in your muscles which causes pain in neck, shoulders and trunk. Postural instability caused by PD will result in poor balance and risk of falling. As the symptoms advance your movement becomes slower which makes daily activities more challenging. You may develop stoop posture and might find difficult to speak loudly. Other symptoms may include depression, lack of motivation, inability to concentrate on a particular task for long period of time, fatigue and light headedness.

What is the treatment for it?

Physical therapy in combination with medication has proven to be more effective than any other interventions. Physical therapist will do a thorough examination which includes testing your flexibility, strength, balance and coordination. Your physical therapist will work with you to battle the symptoms of PD and will help you to stay active and independent. Depending up on the type and severity, your physical therapist may focus on following objectives

To improve patient’s overall fitness level as well as flexibility and strength

Work on patient’s strategy of getting in and out of bed

Teach techniques so that the patient can turn over in bed at ease

Teach patents how to maneuver efficiently so that they can avoid falls

Improve fluidity and coordination in walking

Educate patient how to climb and descend stairs without falling

Improve aptitude to perform hand movements

Educating patients family about patient’s condition

Improve trunk rotation

Prescription medications which are used to treat Parkinson disease will have an immediate effect and typically movements are easier shortly after taking PD medications. To get bet result your physical therapist will schedule the treatment based on the effects of medication. Physical therapist may recommend cane or a walker as some patients benefit from it. In addition, physical therapist can also make suggestions on changes to home environment so that you can manure effectively and prevent injuries.

Reference

Physical Therapist’s Guide to Parkinson Disease. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2013, from Move Forward : http://www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=98297eb9-eaa1-452e-9489-b46eedf27e80

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

ACL reconstruction and Rehabilitation

Posted on July 19, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

The knee joint is a hinge joint formed by bones-femur tibia and patella and is held together by ligaments. There are four ligaments and they are: MCL (medial collateral), (LCL) lateral collateral, (ACL) anterior cruciate and (PCL) posterior cruciate ligament.All these ligaments

provide stability to the joint. The weight bearing surface of the knee is covered by articular cartilage. The medial meniscus and lateral meniscus between the cartilage surface of femur and tibia and they act as shock absorbers.

Most often anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee is injured. It is estimated that about 200,000 injuries occur annually and about 100,000 ACL reconstruction surgeries are performed. The incidence of ACL injuries is higher in people who participate in sports such as basketball, skiing, foot ball and soccer.

How does it occur?

About 70 percent occurs with non-contact mechanism and about 70 percent occurs due to direct contact with an object or a player.

Does Physical Therapy help?

Proper rehabilitation and progressive physical therapy may help to restore the patients to pre- injury state. A physical therapist may also educate the patient how to avoid future injuries. Patients can avoid surgery however it may cause secondary injury to knee due to recurring instability episodes.

Who can avoid surgery?

• Patients who have partial tear and do not have any instability symptoms
• Patients who have complete tear and do not show any knee instability symptoms during low demanding sports, who are willing to give up high demanding sports.
• Patients who do light manual work and who have a sedentary life style
• Mostly children who have their growth plate still open

Is Physical Therapy advised before and after Surgery?

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in successful ACL surgery. Usually patients are sent to a physical therapist. The main goal of the therapy session is to attain the full range of motion. Patients who have stiff, swollen knee during surgery may have problems regaining motion post surgery. It takes 3 or more weeks to gain full range of motion after the initial injury. Braces are recommended during this time so that the injury may heal before the surgery.

After the surgery, precautions are taken to keep the wound dry and clean. Initially, physical therapy sessions emphasis on straightening knee and resorting quadriceps control. Ice is used to reduce swelling and pain. Physician determines if crutches and post operative braces should be used. The primary goal of physical therapy is to attain full range of motion as well as strengtheningquadriceps and hamstring muscles while keeping swelling and pain under control.

Once the patient attains full range of motion and strength, physical therapy session may concentrate on endurance and functional training. Exercises which improve neuromuscular control are also included in regime to increase patient’s sense of balance and control. The rehabilitation program after surgery may take up to 6 months depending on the circumstance.

Reference

ACL Injury: Does It Require Surgery? (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2013, from American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00297

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

Physical Therapy &Vestibular Rehabilitation

Posted on July 15, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

What is vestibular rehabilitation?

It is exercise based program designed to promote central nervous system compensation for inner ear deficits. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and the unilateral or bilateral vestibular hypo function associated with Ménière’s disease, labyrinthitis, and vestibular neuritis can be treated using VRT. Studies indicate that individuals with long term inner ear disorders are benefited from VRT who have already undergone through other medical treatments which had little success.

Importance of VRT

Brain relies on vestibular organs to obtain accurate information about equilibrium and motion. When vestibular organs are damaged, brain can no longer rely on it which results in dizziness, vertigo, balance problems and other symptoms. Many people recover from these symptoms in few weeks as the brain adapt to it. This is process is called vestibular compensation. In the cases where the vestibular compensation is unsuccessful people tend to rely on the input from eyes and muscles and joint to avoid the symptoms such as dizziness and nausea. The patients may develop new pattern of body movements to compensate with situation.

Goal of VRT

The only goal of VRT is to retrain the brain to recognize and process signals from vestibular system in coordination with vision and proprioception

How physical therapist can help?

An experienced Physical therapist will do a thorough evaluation of medical history. It also includes observing and measuring postures, balance and gait as well as compensation strategies. In addition, eye-head co ordination tests are done. The patient is asked to fill the questionnaire to measure the frequency and severity of symptoms. Using the results physical therapist design specific head, body and eye exercise which can be done in therapy setting as well as home.Thus brain is retrained to recognize and process signals from vestibular system in coordination with vision and proprioception. This often involves desensitizing the balance system to movements that provoke symptoms. Increasing home based activities and exercise will help the patient t to strengthen muscles. Sometimes exercise and activities may increase the symptoms as the brain is trying to adapt to new movement patterns. Balance improves over time in most of the cases if the exercises are done correctly. It is most effective way when compared to all other treatments.

When people suffer from events such as cold or flu, minor surgery or anything that interrupts the vestibular system, the symptoms may come back as the brain “forgets”. This process is called decompensation. People can recover from this process by immediately going back to the home exercise program which was initially prescribed by the physical therapist. If the symptoms persist, you need to seek medical help as it indicates additional vestibular damage.

References

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT). (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2013, from Vestibular disorders Association: http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder/treatment/treatment-detail-page

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

Inversion Therapy

Posted on July 12, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

What is it?

Most of the people suffer from neck and back pain. Some of the factors that might contribute to it are poor posture, muscle spasm, weak abdominal muscles and back muscles. Root cause might point towards that one force we battle every day and the force is called gravity. Inversion therapy can provide solution for your back and neck problem.

What is the science behind it?

Inversion therapy puts you in a position where the gravity works for you; by keeping you in line with the downward force. This will help to elongate your spine and as a result the space between the vertebrae increases. This will take off the pressure from the Intevertebral disc, nerve roots and ligaments. Spasm of the muscles of the neck, shoulder and back, headaches and other problems are caused by stress and tension. This will decrease the blood supply to the muscles and hence muscles receive less oxygen. Eventually, this will result in the accumulation of waste chemicals in the muscles. Inversion therapy will increase the lymph flow and will help to flush out the waste chemicals in to the blood stream. It also increases the blood supply to the muscles.As soon as the waste chemicals are removed from the blood the stiffness and pain in muscles is receded

Is there any evidence that suggests the effectiveness?

A study done by a physical therapist L.J Nosse found out that an inversion as little as 25 degree for few minutes can relax the muscles and relieve pain. He used an electromyogram (EMG), and instrument to record muscle activity to detect the activity of the muscle.The results indicated that muscle pain decreased 35% within 10 seconds after attaining inverted position. A study done by New Castle University indicated that about 70% of patients who suffered from back pain were able to cancel their back surgery after few session of inversion therapy.

Can I do it by myself?

Even though the answer is yes, it is always recommended to seek professional guidance before you do it by yourself. This is because a professional guidance from a physician or a physical therapist cannot substitute for any other information you get from websites or other sources. A physician or physical therapist makes sure that you don’t have any contraindications before you use the equipment. Physical therapist will increase the angle of inversion as the treatment progress. Some times patients are not fully inverted as it may cause farther injuries to their back .It is always recommended to complete few sessions with your physical therapist before you do it by yourself.
Inversion therapy is an alternate way to treat you back and neck problems.At Maya physical therapy, our experienced physical therapist will guide you through inversion therapy. If you are skeptical about the benefits of Inversion therapy, you can give it a try and experience the immense benefit of it.

References

Are Inversion Table Effective. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2013, from The Healthy Back Institute: http://www.losethebackpain.com/blog/2010/04/27/do-inversion-tables-work/
Inversion Table Benefits. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2013, from The comfort store: http://sitincomfort.com/inthinthbein.html

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

Kinesio Taping

Posted on July 12, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

Dr. KenzoKase, a Japanese chiropractor invented the kinesio taping technique in early 1970. Since then kinesio taping has become the golden standard for therapeutic and rehabilitative purposes. The technique became more popular after 2008 Olympics as athlete were seen wearing bright colored tape on various part of their body during various sporting events.

What is the purpose?

It is used for treating Sport injuries and muscular disorders and lymphedema. Tape is placed on the muscles as well as joint. This will prevent over contraction of the muscle as well as provide stability and support to the joint. This will hasten the body’s natural healing process while providing support to the joint without hindering joint movement. In addition, it is also used to treat sport injuries such as runners ‘knee, shin splints and plantars. It boosts endurance performance by increasing blood flow to the muscles. More blood supply to the muscle means more oxygen to the muscles and fast removal of lactic acid. It is also used for treating lympedema as it impersonates the effect of manual lymphatic drainage. In addition, it is used to red educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain, enhance performance as well as prevent injury.

Who should apply it?

It should be done by a personal who are in one of the following professions: Medicine, chiropractics, nursing, physical therapy or occupational therapy. This is because a thorough understanding of muscle origin, function and attachment and knowledge of lymphatic flow is essential to obtain desired results. They will have CKPT letters (Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner) after their names once they are certified in Kinesio taping.

When one should not apply Kinseo tape?

Since it is made up with cotton the possibility of allergic reaction is less. But if a rash or irritation occurs, it might be due to incorrect application or it might have been worn for long period of time. Precautions should be taken if you have cardiac problems, open wounds, blocked arteries, active infection, cellulitis and active cancer.

There is some evidence which supports the benefits of kinesio taping technique. However the research is at its infancy period. At this time anecdotal evidences are available even though scientific evidence is minimal. At Maya Physical therapy we have certified professionals who do Kinesio Taping (Rock Tape).

Reference

Kinesio FAQS. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2013, from Kinesio: http://www.kinesiotaping.com/global/corporation/about/faqs.html
Kinesio Taping. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2013, from Austin Therapeutic Body Work: 2013

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

Pain Management with MPS therapy

Posted on July 12, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

Millions of people suffer from chronic pain and it has disabled many. Hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent by people, of which 80% is towards treating neuromyofascial pain. Most of patients rely on prescription drugs or surgery which does not solve the root cause of the problem rather it just masks the pain. Prescription drugs may relieve the pain for time being, but the side effects related to long term ingestion is ominous. Micro point stimulation (MPS)therapy can resolve your problem.

What do you know about MPS therapy?

MPS stands for Micro point stimulation and the medical terminology previously used for MPS is ETPS which stand for Electro-Therapeutic point stimulation. The terminology was changed recently worldwide for medical coding purposes. In mid 1970s Pomeraz and others theorized and demonstrated that electrical stimulation and acupuncture provoked the release of endorphins, a hormone which provides general relaxation and pain relief. This is the theory behind MPS therapy and has been widely accepted for pain management.MPS uses the principles and concepts of acupuncture and modern neurology. Recommended protocols will allow the physician or the therapist to indentify the anatomical area, which is contributing to the chronic pain and areas which respond to therapy are identified. Micro point stimulation is a hybrid modality which uses low frequency DC current to stimulate acutherapy points, contracted motor bands and motor/trigger points.MPS therapy has shown remarkable results as it provides immediate pain relief, accelerate tissue repair and decreases muscle tonicity.

Is there any difference between traditional acupuncture and MPS therapy?

Traditional acupuncture uses invasive methods such as hypodermic needles to penetrate skin in order to stimulate trigger points. The use of invasive needles can damage the tissue and requires an incubation period of 20-30 minutes to determine the efficacy of the therapy.MPS therapy can produce eminent results in few minutes. It uses low frequency DC current to stimulate trigger points as it has the ability to repolarize contracted muscle and is very important factor in releasing myofascial tension. It doesn’t have any side effects and can be used for treating multiple systems in one sitting unlike tradition acupuncture which concentrate on system at a time.

Is MPS therapy effective?

It has proven to be the most effective way to fight chronic pain. It has also been proven to be successful in treating neck and back pain, whip lash,fibromyalgia, migraines, headaches, neuropathies, sport injuries, carpel tunnel syndrome,joint pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow plantar fasciitis and several other neuromyofascial pain syndromes. It decreases recovery time by 80%.In a research done by Florida hospital; the outcome indicated that physical therapy with MPS therapy showed better results compared to those who got traditional physical therapy.At Maya physical therapy our experienced physical therapists incorporates MPS therapy to the rehabilitation program so that our patients gets remarkable results which you don’t get at any other rehabilitation clinics.

Reference

MPS Pain Management. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2013, from Other Worlds: http://www.otherworldsmassage.net/masg/nma.htm
MPS-Microcurrent Point Stimulation. (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2013, from Austin Therapeutic Body Work: http://www.austintherapeuticbodywork.com/MPS-Therapy.html

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

Degenerative Disk Disease

Posted on July 3, 2013 by mayaphysicaltherapyadmin

What is Degenerative disk disease?

Our spine is made of 33 vertebrae that are stacked up on top of one another. There is a rubbery piece of cartilage between these vertebrae and is called the intervertebral disk. Imagine disk as a tire with gelatin kind of substance on the hole of the tire. The tire (outer part) is called the annulus and the gelatin type of substance is called the nucleus. As we age, or due to some injury, wear and tear occurs and we start to lose gelatin type of substance and hence the volume of the disk decreases. As a result, the space the vertebrae decreases and the disk becomes flatter and less flexible .When the rough surface of the vertebral joint rub together, inflammation occurs and may feel pain as the nerves get compressed or irritated. It may occur throughout the spine or may confine to one disk.

Who is at risk?

People who smoke

People who are obese

People who does heavy physical work

People who does not exercise

Aging

What are the symptoms?

People who have degenerative disk in the neck usually feel pain in the arm, shoulder or neck region. A degenerative disk in the low back might cause pain in the back, buttocks or legs. Most often pain gets aggravated by sitting, bending and reaching. The symptoms is at it peak in the morning or it worsens by continuous sitting or standing. In several cases, since the nerve gets compressed, it may lead to numbness, tingling and even weakness in arms and legs.

Physical Therapy Treatments

An experienced physical therapist will do a thorough evaluation and will design a treatment program based on the evaluation and your personal goals. The primary goal of a physical therapist is to help you to get back to daily activities.

Stretching and flexibility exercises will increase the mobility in the joints and muscles of your spine and extremities. This is very important to relieve pain. Strengthening trunk muscle provides support to spine and strengthening muscles of arms and legs, helps to take the work load from the spine. Aerobic exercise has also proven to be very helpful in managing degenerative disk disease as it promotes healthy body weight, and increase overall mobility and strength. Manual therapy is also included in the treatment to improve mobility of stiff joints and tight muscles that may be contributing to your symptoms. You physical therapist will correct your posture and will provide movement education. It may help to relieve pain as well as manage condition on your own. Physical therapist may also use heat therapy, cold therapy and electrical stimulation to manage pain. Once the pain has declined it is very important that you may continue the posture corrections and movements habit which was initially taught by the physical therapist to keep your back healthy.

Reference

Physical Therapist’s Guide to Degenerative Disk Disease . (n.d.). Retrieved July 01, 2013, from Move Forward: http://www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=514086b4-1272-4584-8742-ec6d2aa8f8cb

Author
Dr. Sanjay Nadu (http://mayaphysicaltherapy.com/), Maya Physical Therapy Inc, 5745 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33328, Phone:(954) 252-9619

July 2013
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Jun
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31