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October is National Physical Therapy month, a commemoration held by the American Physical Therapy Association designed to recognize the impact that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants make in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives...

Treatment for the upper extremities is a highly specialized skill, and your choice of therapist is critical to your recovery and your ability to restore or retain motion and function. The credentials that a CHT holds ensures that your therapist has the highest possible level of competency and the most up-to-date knowledge and expertise for your care.

In today's world, we seem to always be on the go. Some days trying to get to the gym just seems impossible. Here are some home-based ideas to improve your health and fitness. Strength training is a great way to build muscle and bone density, increase strength, and improve your metabolism. ...

At a comfortable 94° F, the aquatic therapy pool at our Perryville clinic is rarely without a patient. That’s because so many doctors and therapists have discovered that Aquatic Therapy has undeniable benefits for our patients and their ability to recover from all phases of injury or illness. Most importantly, patients can take advantage of Aquatic Therapy even if they do not know how to swim...

When Ruth Allcock’s doctor told her that she would need a hip replacement to relieve her pain from a bad arthritic hip, it was the last thing she wanted to hear. When he told her she could try physical therapy first, she contact Mid America Rehab to see what, if anything, they could do to help her...

We all spend too much time on our duff. Whether we are sitting for our job, driving in our cars, or watching our kids play soccer, we are sitting too often. According to researchers and scientists this can be unhealthy or even deadly. Dr. James Levine, inventor of the treadmill desk and director of the Obesity Solutions Initiative at Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University, said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, “Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV, and is more treacherous than parachuting. ...

Every third week in September we take time to appreciate the importance of rehabilitation in healthcare and the successes of physical, occupational, and speech therapy during National Rehab Week. This week promotes the value of rehabilitation, highlights the capabilities of people with disabilities, salutes the professionals who provide therapy services, and renews our commitment to meet the needs of people with disabilities...

Soon, kids will be heading back to school. That means it is time to load up on school supplies they will need for the year. Backpacks are the most convenient way to carry books and other items, but if worn improperly or overloaded they can do more harm than good. Backpacks that are too heavy put children at increased risk for spinal injury or back pain. If this issue is not corrected it could lead to problems later in life...

It’s been said that the sign of a healthy child is the occasional bump, bruise, or scratch, on knees, elbows, shins, and chins. These things come with an active child and summer fun, but there are some things that we can do as parents to help keep our children safe and avoid potentially serious injuries this time of year. Here are a few tips that may help...

As she sat at home with her husband not long after Christmas, Mary suddenly felt something warm come up her spine. She immediately knew something was very wrong. She was able to tell her husband to call an ambulance, and that is the last thing she remembered. She had suffered a brain aneurysm and had lost consciousness...

Everyone gets a bump or bruise occasionally, sore muscles, or the unfortunate twisted ankle. The next question is what do you do about it? Do you run to the freezer for an ice pack or pull out the heating pad? This great debate has gone on for years, and most people have their own theories about what the best remedy is for pain relief. There is however, a few rules to go by that will help ease your pain and do what's right for your body to aide in your recovery...

Most of us have someone we know that suffers from chronic knee pain. Many of those individuals eventually turn to surgery for that knee pain. In fact, among adults in the U. S. age 65 and older, knee arthritis is the single greatest cause of disability. The good news is that research recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that when it comes to chronic knee pain related to arthritis, physical therapy and exercise can be just as effective as surgery...

Pain can be progressive or happen without warning. It can be due to a congenital problem, deteriorating condition, or a sudden injury. It can be debilitating and exhausting, and anyone that suffers from chronic pain knows that the promise of relief is worth its weight in gold. ...

Most of us suffer from neck pain from time to time. There are so many potential causes from arthritis to sleeping in the wrong position, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents causing a condition known as whiplash, and most frequently poor posture. Neck pain can cause loss in range of motion, headaches, and is often accompanied with upper back or shoulder blade pain...

Everyone has awoken in the night to feel numbness and tingling in their hands. Typically, we chalk it up to sleeping in an awkward position which can cut off blood circulation. What you may not realize is that this could be one of the first signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a debilitating condition that affects the nerves and fibrous tissue that surround the wrist. Patients often report symptoms at night and eventually they notice them progress to daytime as well...

Sports activities have become a big part of many of our lives. Our children and grandchildren have vastly more opportunities to participate in athletic programs, and with an ever increasing focus on health we find ourselves involved in sports as adults. ...

Experts estimate that up to 80% of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is one of the most common causes of lower back pain in adults. Patients that experience symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis may have pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the groin, buttocks, or upper thigh, pain that occurs when standing or walking that lessens when sitting, or pain that gets worse when leaning back and lessens when leaning forward...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and National Physical Therapy month. When it comes to breast cancer, recovery therapy is just as important as treatment. About one third of the women that undergo auxiliary lymph dissection during breast cancer treatment will develop lymphedema, a swelling in the arms caused by damage to the lymph nodes. Physical therapy is one possible solution to this post-treatment complication...

Achieving Stability through Balance Training For many seniors, the ability to prevent falls can help ensure their independence. According to the CDC, more than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the U. S. and 20-30% of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries. The good news is you can reduce your risk and prevent falls through balance training with the help of your physical therapist...

Although women and African Americans are at a higher risk, a stroke can happen to anyone at anytime and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Recovery from a stroke depends on a many things including the location and size of the stroke, and how quickly you receive care...

ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries are one of the most common knee injuries especially among athletes in sports such as soccer, football and basketball. ACL injuries most commonly occur when someone changes direction rapidly, stops suddenly, slows down when running, lands incorrectly from a jump or through direct contact or collision...

Pelvic floor disorders, such as urinary incontinence affect up to one-quarter of American women. Although women are more likely to suffer from urinary incontinence, it can affect men too. There are several different types of incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when there is increased pressure on the bladder, such as coughing or jumping, and causes small amounts of urine to leak. ...

The "rotator cuff" is a group of 4 muscles that are responsible for keeping the shoulder joint stable. Unfortunately, we see injuries to the rotator cuff frequently, either caused by an injury or repeated overuse of the shoulder. Although most common later in life, rotator cuff issues occur at all ages, and when left untreated can cause severe pain and a decrease in mobility. ...

We all have achy muscles from time to time. But if you are experiencing deep muscle pain with painful tender points, chronic headaches and fatigue, you may be suffering from fibromyalgia. Characterized as “widespread muscle pain, fatigue and tenderness in localized areas” Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnosis and treat. ...

Anyone who has ever experienced pain even once knows that was one time too many. No one wants anything to do with hurting. And when pain becomes chronic, help is all the more desired.