RinardPT Monthly – January 2015
Nick Rinard Physical Therapy patients get Results:Don’t just take our word for it
Happy New Year!
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RinardPT Monthly – December 2014
Nick Rinard Physical Therapy patients get Results:Don’t just take our word for it
Thank YOU!
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RinardPT Monthly – November 2014
Nick Rinard Physical Therapy patients get Results:Don’t just take our word for it
Happy Thanksgiving!
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RinardPT Monthly – October 2014
Nick Rinard Physical Therapy patients get Results:Don’t just take our word for it
Now a Preferred Provider with Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield
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RinardPT Monthly – September 2014
All too often, we see people 6 months or more after a car accident (MVA). Without exercises at home, the picture is this: limited, painful movement of the spine or joint, global weakness, and poor posture that becomes painful when corrected. Call today! 503-244-6232 RinardPT patients get Results:Don’t just take our word for it
Now a Preferred Provider with Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield
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Why is it important to start therapy after a motor vehicle accident (MVA)?
This is a question that seems to be in debate. At our clinic, we advise our patients to come in for treatment as soon as possible when experiencing pain in order for the fastest results. I have experienced push-back from other health care practioners who want the person to “rest” for 4-6 weeks before starting therapy. The problem with this? There are many things a person can be doing immediately after the MVA to facilitate healing and prevent dysfunction. All too often, we see people 6 months or longer after the MVA. If the patient has not been given anything to work on for exercises at home, the picture is this: limited, painful movement of the spine or joint, global weakness, and poor posture that becomes painful if corrected.
What does therapy look like in the first few weeks after an MVA?
- Initiate gentle range of motion exercise to prevent loss of movement
- Manual techniques including passive range of motion and soft tissue mobilization to promote blood flow and healing.
- Ultrasound modalities that decrease inflammation/swelling and promote tissue healing</li class=”rinardptli”>
- Education and training on how to prevent dysfunction
Here at Nick Rinard Physical Therapy, we see a lot of patients who have suffered an MVA. In fact, we see it so much we have a protocol for it that is very successful for treatment. Don’t wait! Start healing and feeling better today!
MoreRinardPT Monthly – August 2014
We make every effort to make treatment affordable, and believe that we save patients time and money by providing our specialized care, Not sure of your physical therapy insurance coverage? 503-244-6232 RinardPT patients get Results:Don’t take our word for it
How Important is Your Posture?
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Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy: Gets to the Core Problem
Last week, I had a patient come into the clinic with neck pain that had started the week before. He had been a patient in the past and knew that the sooner he got in for treatment, the better.
Terry had pain medial to his left shoulder blade. This pain was limiting him with sleeping and with driving, as left rotation caused pain. He was rating his pain a 4/10 at the time of the evaluation.
Evaluation and Assessment
Scapula connects Upper Arm with Collar Bone
During the evaluation, left and right rotation motions produced pain medial to the left scapula. Upon palpation, the musculature where the pain was produced was very tender, acting like trigger points. I chose not to treat the trigger points, as these things are likely secondary to the real problem: a derangement.
During the repeated movement assessment, I had Terry go through retraction, extension and flexion. When we tested repeated left rotation, Terry’s pain decreased with repetition. Terry was sent home performing repeated left rotation with over-pressure. By his next visit, his pain was significantly decreased and the trigger points of the muscles had also decreased with pain when palpated. I had Terry increase the frequency of which he was to perform the rotation exercise. By the next visit, Terry had abolition of all pain, no limitation with sleeping or driving and the trigger points were completely gone!
Getting to the Root of the Problem
The Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) Method is very effective at getting to the root of the problem. When the core issue is fixed, the secondary impairments almost always resolve on their own. If a clinician is always treating the symptoms and not the cause, this will lead to more visits, more time until recovery and more money from the patient. This is one of the fundamental reasons that we practice the MDT Method here at Nick Rinard Physical Therapy – to fix your core issues!
MoreRinardPT Monthly – July 2014
We want you to know that we appreciate you, and that despite all the changes that have happened to healthcare (and those to come) YOU are still still our first priority. We are committed to your PT being as effective as possible, and are still working hard to get you better in an average of 6-8 visits! Call 503-244-6232 for your Evaluation or Free Consultation RinardPT patients get Results:Don’t take our word for it
Clinical Conversations NOW at RinardPT.com
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Core Stability
Core Stability : Definition
Core stability is a base or platform of musculoskeletal strength that results in control of the trunk and allows optimal performance of limb activity.
Deficits in core stability are found with people who have low back, knee or hip pain. It is important to know which muscles need to be targeted and when the right time to introduce strengthening should occur. Core strengthening should not be performed through pain in the lumbar spine.
Factors for core stability:
- Strength
- Endurance
- Proprioceptive awareness (sense of self in space when moving)
- Neuromuscular control
Possible core muscles that may need targeting:
- Transverse Abdominus (deep abdominals)
- Internal and External Obliques
- Lumbar Multifidus (spine muscles)
- Quadratus Labroum
- Rectus Femoris (one of the quadriceps muscles)
- Gluteus Maximus
- Gluteus Medius (hip and pelvis stabilizer)
Different muscles produce different torques on the pelvis which then produces either flexion or extension of the lumbar spine. Therefore, it is always important to consider a person’s directional preference while targeting the correct muscles that should either be strengthened or stretched.
Which muscles are the most important?
- None and all of them!
- No one muscle contributed more than 30% of the overall stability of the lumbar spine. Stability is dependent on all muscles
- The contributions of each muscle continually change throughout a task
- Need to train the muscles in multiple planes of movement to be more functional
- Don’t just strengthen abdominals: target the entire core!
Role of trunk muscles in stabilization
- Deep abdominals and lumbar multifidus activate prior to limb movement. This is reversed in people with Lower Back Pain (LBP).
- Athletes who experience an injury tend to have lower core stability measure than those who did not.
- Don’t just focus on strength. DO focus on recruitment and endurance as well. Need all 3 to work!
A Time and a Place
It is important to remember that core strengthening is not the best treatment for low back pain. Research continues to grow in support of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy and the utilization of the directional preference. However there is a time and place for core strengthening. A trained physical therapist can guide you through the necessary steps in order to decrease your pain and improve your life!
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