Knee Pain? Symptoms of Chondromalacia

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If you are feeling a dull, aching pain in the front of your knee, behind your kneecap, a pain that can get worse when you go up or down stairs. It can flare up after you have been sitting in one position for a long time. Is your knee painful and stiff when you stand up after watching a movie or after a long trip in a car or plane? You could be suffering from Chondromalacia. Chondromalacia also can make your knee joint “catch” meaning you suddenly have trouble moving it past a certain point, or “give way” (buckle unexpectedly). These symptoms tend to occur when you bend your knee repeatedly, especially when you go down stairs. In some cases, the painful knee also can appear puffy or swollen. Chondromalacia can cause a creaky sound or grinding sensation when you move your knee. Let’s talk a bit about this condition, and how physical therapy will help you.

“The joints in your body are cushioned with a type of tissue called articular cartilage. This tough, rubbery tissue covers the ends of bones inside a joint. As the joint moves, the cartilage helps to cushion the bones and allows them to glide smoothly against one another. Sometimes, the cartilage inside a joint softens and breaks down. This condition is called chondromalacia. The cartilage loses its ability to protect the ends of the bones as the joint moves. The ends of the bones can rub together, causing pain.” according to Harvard Medical School.

Chondromalacia can affect any joint, but the most common location is inside the knee. It usually begins as a small area of softened cartilage behind the kneecap (patella) that can be painful. Eventually, more of the cartilage softens, and the softened cartilage can crack or shred into a mass of fibers. In severe cases, the damaged cartilage can wear away completely, down to the undersurface of the kneecap. If this happens, the exposed kneecap’s bony surface can grind painfully against other knee bones. Also, bits of cartilage can float inside the joint, further irritating the cells that line the joint. In response, these cells produce fluid inside the joint (called a joint effusion).

At CardioFlex Therapy, our physical therapists are professionally trained to help patients that are suffering from Chondromalacia, and can be especially helpful to safely guide patients through these treatments: using knee tape, a brace or a special patellar-tracking sleeve to keep your kneecap aligned properly, starting an exercise program to strengthen the muscles around your knee. We recommend avoiding high-impact exercises, avoiding all kneeling and squatting.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

What is it like to be a physical therapist? by CardioFlex

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What is it like to be a physical therapist? Simple: if you are passionate about helping others recover from less than perfect mobility, you will love your job as a physical therapist. Physical therapists are experts in the musculoskeletal system, and we’re now a doctoring profession. We have the ability to evaluate, come up with a physical therapy diagnosis and treat that diagnosis as we see fit, according to best practices and best evidence.

It is a misconception that physical therapists only practice massage therapy, apply hot and cold compresses, and send their patients home with some exercises. In fact, physical therapists need to know your body very well to not cause further damage, but to begin expected improvements in whatever condition the patient may be suffering from.

“All physical therapists are licensed by the state and must have fulfilled standard academic requirements. You can find work with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from one of the 700 or so accredited undergraduate programs in the U.S., but those who did not take this route in college can attend master’s programs to study rehabilitation therapy. Aspiring physical therapists should study biology, biomechanics, calculus and statistics, chemistry, nutrition, human growth and development, physics, and psychology.” says The Princeton Review. Indeed, owner and director at CardioFlex Therapy in Davie Fl, Terry Abrams, first got a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and then received his Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy, later opening his own practice serving the Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade communities.

Physical therapists examine patients and develop a plan of care that promotes movement, reduces pain, restores function, and prevents disability. The physical therapist works with the patient, family members, and other health care providers to ensure the goals of the plan of care are met and the patient outcomes are optimal.

“Therapeutic exercise and functional training are the cornerstones of physical therapist treatment. Depending on the particular needs of a patient and client, physical therapists may “manipulate” a joint (that is, perform certain types of passive movements at the end of the individual’s range of motion) or massage a muscle to promote proper movement and function. Physical therapists may use other techniques such as electrotherapy, ultrasound (high-frequency waves that produce heat), hot packs, and ice in addition to other treatments. Physical therapists can also help to prevent the loss of mobility by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.” as reported in the American Physical Therapy Association, APTA, a great source of information for students, practitioners and patients.

For CardioFlex Therapy owner Terry Abrams, there is no condition he will say no to, he is well versed, well studied and keeps up with the latest in the PT industry. He likes his profession and he works hard at every patient’s diagnosis, he doesn’t give up until he starts seeing improvements. Many of his patients require short time treatments and easily improve, but for those that require more analysis, more questions, and are in less than optimal condition,  they will become Terry’s next challenge, many will not be very optimistic believing their condition cannot and will not improve, only to be surprised very quickly. “This is the best part of my career”, says Terry, “to see a patient achieve a full recovery after visiting my practice. That’s when it is most rewarding!”

The less glamorous and rewarding part of being a Physical Therapist is the business side of it; billing, insurances and any paperwork associated with it, which is impossible to not run into. What is clear at CardioFlex Therapy is that everyone is involved and interested in the patient’s recovery, which makes working as a physical therapist very rewarding.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

Conditions you didn’t know Physical Therapy can help with

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Physical therapists (PTs) are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility – in many cases without expensive surgery and often reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects. CardioFlex Therapy in Davie, Fl, is well prepared for any type of condition that may require physical therapy. In this article we will discuss some of the common ailments we treat, many which you didn’t know we could help you with.

1- Vertigo: a spinning sensation and can occur even when you are perfectly still, scientifically benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), is easily treated in just a few physical therapy visits. CardioFlex Therapy physical therapists specialize in vestibular rehabilitation physical therapy.

2- Headaches: The most common type of headaches may be caused by poor posture, stress, muscle tightness, or a neck injury. At CardioFlex, a physical therapist can help to determine the type of headaches you have and what the best treatments may be to help alleviate your symptom, performing manual massage to help loosen up tight muscles, and correcting any posture problems to prevent future headaches.

3- Incontinence: Most common in women, incontinence can be due to pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, pelvic floor weakness or spasm, or overall deconditioning. A Physical Therapist can help to strengthen the proper muscles with a variety of techniques, depending on your symptoms.

4- TMJ: Or temporomandibular jaw dysfunction, commonly jaw pain or an unusual popping or clicking of the jaw while talking or eating. TMJ disorders are common and can be treated by one of our professionals at CardioFlex Therapy.

5- Concussions: Athletes or victims of car accident may have concussions that may cause long term issues, like dizziness/vertigo, balance problems, or headaches, all of which can be treated by a physical therapist, allowing the individual to fully recover.

6- Lymphedema: A chronic and incurable swelling of affected body parts, usually arms and legs, very common after certain type of cancer treatments, such as breast cancer. CardioFlex Therapy trained Physical Therapists can perform certain types of lymphatic drainage massage or use certain wrapping techniques to help decrease swelling in a limb.

Physical therapy helps people of all ages who have medical conditions, illnesses or injuries that limit their regular ability to move and function. Physical therapy will help you reduce or eliminate pain, improve mobility, avoid surgery, recover from a stroke, recover or prevent sports injury, manage age related issues like arthritis. It will also help you with balance, preventing you from falling, manage diabetes and cardiovascular issues, and heart and lung diseases.

If you or a loved one is injured or needs help staying mobile, please call our office, we can treat patients at our Outpatient Clinic in Davie, Florida, or visit them in the comfort of their homes within Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties. Call us at 954-693-9090.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com