All Posts tagged healing

The “I’m too old for that” excuse is getting old!

By 27 Feb, 2018 Clinical Case of the Week, Exercise , , , , , , ,

 

Our world is getting older by the day.  Our planet is currently inhabited by the greatest number of old people in recorded history. That’s right, “the number of people aged 65 years or over is increasing at a faster rate globally than the total population growth.” (Kaneda et al, 2011)

Our elderly population is a tribute to society’s prosperity and medical advancements. Shouldn’t we be celebrating the success of our medical breakthroughs that have allowed more and more people to surviving into their senior years?  Sadly, instead of reverence for our elderly, a social phenomenon known as ageism is putting an ugly tarnish on those golden years. (Matthews, 2015)

What is ageism? Wikipedia defines ageism as: “stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups on the basis of their age.” The most devastating form of ageism is self-imposed.  Here are some common examples of self-ageism phrases:

“When I was younger, I could have done that, but now…”

“I think I just hurt because it’s part of getting old and feeling my years.”

“I’m too old to learn something new. You just can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

Ageism can lead people to resign to their injuries rather than seeking to heal from them.  This resignation leads quickly to loss of independence, loss of mobility, social isolation, etc.  The next time you hear yourself or a loved one make an ageism remark, I hope you will reply: “If you’re so old, you’re old enough to know better!”

Stop delaying recovery and healing, and get proactive.  If these are your golden years, your health is precious! Protect yourself by getting the help you need in a timely manner.  Nick Rinard Physical Therapy is here for you!

  • Margo Burette, PT, DPT
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Why is it important to start therapy after a motor vehicle accident (MVA)?

By 29 Aug, 2014 Physical Therapy Tips , , , , , , , ,

RinardPT recommends immediate treatment after Auto AccidentThis 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!

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