Physical Therapy for Cancer Patients

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/physical-therapy-for-cancer-patients/

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.

Cancer and its treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy, can result in physical impairments. Physical therapy assists individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer to recover from these impairments – and in some cases to help prevent them altogether! Our goal, as physical therapists, is to help you optimize your physical function, independence, and overall quality of life.

Individuals that receive cancer treatments typically experience extensive physical limitations during and after treatments. The most common impairments that are usually identified by the physical therapists are: decreased strength, decreased range of motion (ROM), decreased joint mobility, postural dysfunction, soft tissue restrictions, lymphedema, gait deviations, soft tissue fibrosis, CRF, skin integrity issues, pain, incontinence and urgency or frequency.

It has been proven that physical therapists’ management of these cancer-related treatment effects and strategies are directly related to their training and skills. For example, effective lymphedema management strategies may include lymphatic massage, aerobic exercise, and extremity bandaging. Some studies demonstrate the efficacy of targeted aerobic training and strengthening exercises for the prevention and management of CRF and physical deconditioning during and after treatment in various types of cancers. Additionally, clinicians may ascertain physical limitations in patients with cancers. For example, urinary and sexual dysfunctions are common in men treated for prostate cancer, and upper extremity dysfunction and lymphedema are common in women with breast cancer. People with head and neck cancers may have difficulty with eating and speaking. Still, these physical issues are specific to the location of the cancer in the body and the types of treatments patients receive, but they do not necessarily provide a complete clinical picture of the patient with cancer, such as medication use, the number and types of cancer treatments.

Your Physical Therapist may refer you to other healthcare professionals or services such as:
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Registered Dietician for nutrition and weight management
• Professional psychological support
• Palliative care for pain management
• Support groups
• Community exercise programs

Regular Physical Therapy has provided a vehicle for recovery that creates a sense of ‘self-power’ defined as taking ownership and control of one’s health to increase well-being. It is never too late to utilize rehabilitation services for cancer recovery. If you find that you are having trouble accomplishing daily tasks or functioning at your prior level of independence, seek out a rehabilitation expert and regain your vitality.

No matter what area of the body ails you – neck, shoulder, back, knee – physical therapists have an established history of helping individuals improve their quality of life. A physical therapist can help you learn to move without pain while feeling renewed and ready to move on.

We encourage you to learn as much as possible about your illness or condition. The best resources include The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/), the Susan G. Komen Foundation (http://www.info-komen.org/), the National Lymphedema Network (https://lymphnet.org/), and others available for every specific type of cancer. Also, read our article Importance of Physical Therapy in Cancer Recovery.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

Devoted Health & MMM of Florida now at CardioFlex Therapy in Davie

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”
– World Health Organization

https://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/devoted-health-mmm-of-florida-now-at-cardioflex/

The constant changes in health insurance affect us all, either by choice or because of job changes. CardioFlex Therapy is always looking for ways to improve its service to our surrounding community. It is with this in mind that our Physical Therapy Clinic is now accepting Devoted Health Insurance and MMM (Medicare and Much More) of South Florida.

Choosing the plan that is right for you is hard — there’s no right answer for everybody. So the first step is to figure out the kind of care and the kind of plan you need. We work diligently with insurance companies to ensure we are considered a priority for many circumstances, to be within network, to have the lowest deductibles possible offered to you, our patients. You will be surprised to hear many insurance companies and insurance plans do not require a referral to visit a Physical Therapist, or will have low deductibles or copays when you want to see your physical therapist. So contact your insurance company or give us a call at our office, we are always happy to give you any information we can provide you with.

Both insurance companies offer Medicare; the federal health insurance program for people 65+, people with disabilities and end-stage renal disease. MMM of Florida, Inc. is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract, and so is Devoted Health Insurance. Devoted Health Insurance offers Medicare Advantage plans only, serving those on Medicare with a well-coordinated, more attentive healthcare.  

CardioFlex Therapy offers in-home visits for Physical and Occupational Therapy for those patients who are not able to find transportation or have movement limitations. Call our outpatient clinic in Davie Florida for detailed information at 954.693.9090, or visit our In-Home Services page, we serve Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

Trapecists, Dancers, & Gymnasts' Injury Therapy at CardioFlex

https://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/trapecists-dancers-gymnasts-injury-therapy/

With over 600 muscles, 206 bones and countless nerves, ligaments, and tendons in the body, it’s almost impossible for dancers, trapezes. contortionists, gymnasts, and other athletes to escape getting injured. These athletes that perform repetitive movements for hours a day coupled with a low amount of recovery time in between shows increases the performer’s risk for chronic overuse injuries (in addition to the ever-present risk of an acute injury). In most cases, pain is due to muscle soreness that resolves in a day or two. However, sometimes there is something more to blame—that’s when you should see a physician or your physical therapist! 

Cirque du Soleil, Barnum and Bailey Circus, Ballet Dancers, Gymnasts, Aerialists, Jugglers, Tumblers, Clowns, make it their life to perform. most of them on a daily basis. Studies by John Hopkins Medicine that looked into dance injuries found that injuries from using your joints and muscles too much (overuse injuries) are the most common. The majority of these overuse injuries involve an ankle, leg, foot or lower back. Some common injuries are:

1. Hip injuries: snapping hip syndrome, hip impingement, labral tears, hip flexor tendonitis, hip bursitis, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction
2. Foot and ankle injuries: Achilles tendonitis, trigger toe, and ankle impingement
3. Knee injuries: patellofemoral pain syndrome
4. Stress fractures: metatarsals, tibia, sesamoids and lumbar spine
5. Dancers are also likely to develop arthritis in the knee, hip, ankle, and foot.

Generally, dancers have a much lower rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than other athletes. One explanation could be that dance training involves much more intense jumping from an earlier age than other sports, which helps improve muscle control.

Because the upper body is used as a weight-bearing joint in gymnastics, injuries to the shoulder, elbow, and wrist are common and may include:

1. Superior Labrum, Anterior-Posterior (SLAP) Lesions in the Shoulder
2. Elbow Dislocation
3. Wrist Sprains
4. The most common gymnastics injuries to the lower body involve the knee and ankle. Lower extremity injuries usually result from the landing and dismount activities and may include:
5. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
6. Achilles Tendon Injury
7. Lower Back Injuries

Moira Campbell, a trapeze artist who teaches at the Hangar in Stratford, east London, says “People don’t realize when they start that the trapeze is akin to weight training. They are weak when they start, but you have to lift your entire body weight with every move and that is incredibly tough”. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the arms that are worked the hardest, but the core muscles in the abdominal area. “To get in and out of moves, even just to swing on the flying trapeze, you need to engage your core muscles and really work them”. Remarkably, injuries at trapeze school are rare. Thorough warm-up and cool-down sessions limit the possibility of muscle strains and pull. “It is more like a sport in the respect that you need muscles to be fully prepared for action. Perhaps the most common injuries are those that occur as a result of twisting something in particular, such as the rotator cuff muscles [which support the shoulder joint]”.

Many injuries can be prevented by following proper training guidelines, using safety equipment, and incorporating the following tips:

1. Wear all required safety gear whenever competing or training — special equipment may include wrist guards, hand grips, footwear, ankle or elbow braces, and pads
2. Do not “play through the pain” — if you are hurt, see your doctor and follow instructions for treatment and recovery fully
3. Make sure first aid is available at all competitions and practices
4. Inspect equipment to ensure that it is in good condition, including padded floors, secured mats under every apparatus, and safety harnesses for learning difficult moves
5. Insist on spotters when learning new skills
6. Warm-up muscles with light aerobic exercise, such as jumping jacks or running in place, before beginning training or new activities

Always seek medical advice, either from your physician or your physical therapist. Many injuries can be corrected when treated right from the very beginning, so don’t hesitate to reach out. CardioFlex Therapy is located in Davie, Florida. We offer Physical and Occupational Therapy at our facility or in the comfort of your home. Call us at 954-693-9090 to learn more about how we can help you manage your pain. We accept most insurance plans and with our flexible schedule, we will be able to bring you in when you need it the most.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

ATA of Florida would like to invite you Autism Speaks Broward walk

ATA of Florida would like to invite you Autism Speaks Broward walk

Autism Speaks is the world’s largest autism fundraiser dedicated to improving the lives of people with autism and CardioFlex Therapy is happy to help spread the news and invite you to attend this event. We ask you to have the courage to seek early diagnosis and to ensure your loved ones a bright future. You do not have to donate to take part in this walk. You can have corporate donors track your progress and match your physical contribution to the money they have given to this awareness event.

There’s a strength as a community is powered by love and built on the commitment of individuals like you. Start a team, join a team or come on your own. Fundraising and Waling together to enhance the lives of people living with autism is the goal.

 ATA of Florida will ask you to create a “walk goal”, you MUST select an amount to complete the registration process, but please, keep in mind, that you DO NOT need to complete the goal to participate in the walk.

Make new friends as you play an integral role in helping our city’s Autism Speaks Walk event a success.

We can also volunteer before the Walk.
All who wish to be part of the walk must register online. 

(link: http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/ata-of-florida-would-like-to-invite-you-autism-speaks-broward-walk/)

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

About the Author

Terry Abrams is the President & Director of Physical Therapy for CardioFlex Therapy, a start-up company founded in 2005 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Delivering both Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy, CardioFlex Therapy’s Outpatient Clinic is centrally located in Davie, FL serving the towns of Cooper City, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Hollywood, Miramar, Sunrise, & Fort Lauderdale. For Home Physical Therapy, CardioFlex sends its therapists to homes located in Broward, Dade, & Palm Beach counties.

Enter your email to receive our Blog:

CardioFlex Therapy Press Releases and Forum Invitational

Treatment Versatility

By focusing on patients' needs first and foremost, CardioFlex has become highly-

flexible. Our Outpatient Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Clinic is centrally 

located in Davie, FL, near the towns of Cooper City, Weston, Fort Lauderdale, 

Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Hollywood, Miramar, and Sunrise. 

For patients requesting Home Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, our-

coverage area includes Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach Counties. Whether a patient-

is in an auto accident, injured at work, or suffered a sports injury, we have the-

expertise to treat them. By having such a versatile approach, CardioFlex is the true 

leader in the rehab community. https://www.cardioflextherapy.com/

Sports Therapy Tips for Hips

At CardioFlex Therapy’s outpatient clinic we offer sports therapy, which helps top athletes not only recover from injuries (rehab) but also prevent them (known as pre-hab). Sports therapy is a segment of the global healthcare industry that has recently become quite popular due to its applications and positive results in sports. Here are some tips and tricks.

The hips are the human body’s main engine and center of mass. The largest and most powerful muscle groups—the glutes, quads, and hamstrings—all connect at the hips, and they allow you to run, jump, climb, and swim. The joint is crucial to all movement, in sports and day-to-day life. Persistent hip pain can be very debilitating, we will concentrate on how physical therapy can seriously impact this part of our body.

While the following may be common causes of hip pain in athletes, there are other causes of hip pain that can sideline a player from the action:

• Muscle Strains: The most common injuries of the hip and groin region in athletes is muscle strain injuries. Muscles around the hip joint are especially prone to this type of injury because they are subject to eccentric contraction. Eccentric contractions cause tremendous forces in the muscle and can lead to a muscle strain. Muscle strains around the hip include groin pulls and hamstring strains.

• Hip Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa over the outside of the hip joint, so-called trochanteric bursitis can cause pain with hip movement. Treatment of hip bursitis is often effective, but the condition has a problem of coming back and sometimes becoming a persistent problem.

• Contusions (Hip Pointer): A direct blow to the outside of the hip causes an injury to one of the large bones of the pelvis, the ileum. When a contusion is sustained in an athlete over the outside of the hip, the injury is called a hip pointer.

• Stress Fractures: Stress fractures of the hip are usually seen in long distance runners, and much more commonly in women than in men. These injuries are usually seen in endurance athletes with deficient nutrition or eating disorders.

• Hip Labral Tear: The labrum of the hip is a cuff of thick tissue that surrounds the hip socket. The labrum helps to support the hip joint. When a labral tear of the hip occurs, a piece of this tissue can become pinched in the joint causing pain and catching sensations. Much more has been learned about hip labral tears, to the point that some orthopedic surgeons are concerned these injuries are overdiagnosed. However, some patients with hip labral tears can find improvement with treatment of this condition.

• Femoroacetabular Impingement: Femoroacetablar impingement often referred to as FAI, is a condition where bone spurs form along the edges of the ball-and-socket hip joint and cause limited mobility of the joint and damage to soft tissues including the labrum. FAI is thought by many surgeons to be a precursor to arthritis of the hip joint.

• Osteitis Pubis: Osteitis pubis is thought to be due to the repetitive pull of muscles over the front of the hip joint. Usually, pain is activity related and often seen in runners, soccer players and hockey players. The x-rays may show signs causing concern for infection, but osteitis pubis usually resolves with rest and anti-inflammatory medications.

• Sports Hernias: Sports hernias are a problem seen most commonly in hockey players, but can be seen in other sports that require repetitive twisting and turning at high speeds. The problem is thought to be due to an imbalance of the strong muscles of the thigh and the relatively weaker muscles of the abdomen.

• Snapping Hip Syndrome: Snapping hip syndrome is a word used to describe three distinct hip problems. The first is when the IT band snaps over the outside of the thigh. The second occurs when the deep hip flexor snaps over the front of the hip joint. Finally, tears of the cartilage, or labrum, around the hip socket, can cause a snapping sensation.

• Traumatic Hip Subluxation & Dislocation: Complete dislocation of the hip joint is a very unusual hip injury—most commonly hip dislocations occur in high-speed car crashes. However, hip subluxations, an injury where the ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint is pushed part of the way out of joint, are being recognized as a possible cause of hip pain in athletes. A hip subluxation is the type of injury that is thought to have ended Bo Jackson’s athletic career.

• Hip Arthritis: Arthritis of the hips is increasingly seen in athletes as the age in which we participate in sports increases. Older athletes can experience joint stiffness and pain as a result of hip arthritis.

Low Back Strain: While not a problem in the hip region, low back problems can often cause pain around the buttock and hips.

Soccer Athlete training – Capecchi

For serious athletes, a person recovering from an injury or anyone with a specific performance goal in mind, a visit to a Physical The therapist can increase awareness of weakness, asymmetry or problem areas and give you tangible, functional ways to improve.

The most common steps during an athlete’s visit to our clinic are:

• – sports massage

• – sports and occupational injury management & rehabilitation

• – ultrasound therapy treatment

• – sports performance improvement & management using muscle activation techniques

• – advice on how to improve posture, flexibility & stretching

View this post on Instagram

Sometimes it's best to see a professional😎Thankful 🙏🏻for Terry's @cardioflextherapy care of a loved one who felt immediate results by the next day! (👀, a wall of mobility bands, our favorite!!) ✨Please see our link in he bio for our Ultimate Shoulder Guide 💪🏼

A post shared by UBALL (@uballnet) on Apr 18, 2017 at 12:43pm PDT

Article credits to Very-well Health, thanks.
For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com
**

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/sports-therapy-tips-for-hips/

Sports Therapy at CardioFlex Therapy in Davie, Fl

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/sports-therapy-at-cardioflex-therapy-in-davie-fl/

Sports Medicine is important expertise at CardioFlex Therapy in Davie, Florida. Our Physical Therapists have successfully treated major league athletes that are still playing. No matter what sport you play, Physical Therapy will help you improve certain moves or treat your injury. Physical Therapy deals with physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. Most professional sports teams employ Physical Therapists these days.

Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions that, by using mechanical force and movements (biomechanics or kinesiology), manual therapy, exercise therapy, and electrotherapy, remediates impairments and promotes mobility and function. Physical therapy is used to improve a patient’s quality of life through examination, diagnosis, prognosis, physical intervention, and patient education, performed by a physical therapist.

Physical therapists are closely involved in the care and wellbeing of athletes including recreational, semi-professional (paid) and professional (full-time employment) participants. This area of practice encompasses athletic injury management under 5 main categories:

Acute care – assessment and diagnosis of an initial injury
Treatment – application of specialist advice and techniques to encourage healing
Rehabilitation – progressive management for a full return to sport
Prevention – identification, and address of deficiencies known to directly result in, or act as precursors to injury, such as movement assessment
Education – sharing of specialist knowledge to individual athletes, teams or clubs to assist in the prevention or management of injury

CardioFlex Therapy offers many types of Physical Therapy, including Sports, as follows: Post-Surgery Rehabilitation, Back Stabilization, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Senior Rehabilitation Programs, TMJ, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Work Injury Rehabilitation, Lymphedema Treatment, Balance Training, Neurological Rehabilitation, Pain Management, Vestibular Rehabilitation, and Occupational Therapy. Most of our services are provided at our outpatient clinic in Davie, but we also offer home services for those who cannot travel within Broward, Miami and Palm Beach counties.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

Check out CardioFlex Therapy on Yelp

***


***

Crossfit needs Physical Therapy

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/crossfit-needs-physical-therapy/

By: Terry Abrams

“The physical therapist is one of the most underutilized avenues of rehab among conventional fitness athletes and CrossFitters. Physical therapists are movement specialists with a deep understanding of human anatomy. PTs are also the main point of contact for physical medicine and unlike many primary care physicians, PTs usually won’t tell athletes to give up the sports they love. Instead, PTs will provide athletes with the tools they need to understand how their bodies can perform better in those conditions”, says Genevieve Gyulavary, PT, DPT in an article written for Covalent Careers. This could not be further from the truth, well-written statement and I couldn’t agree more. Let’s go back to the basics.

CrossFit will push you to the absolute max with heavy weights, as many reps as possible, as fast as possible. It is promoted as both a physical exercise philosophy and a competitive fitness sport, incorporating elements from high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, girevoy sport, calisthenics, strongman, and other exercises. While all exercise can create injury, we see more injuries with CrossFit because of the high-speed, high-impact approach. 

The number one reason we see more patients injured during their CrossFit sessions is muscle and joint exhaustion caused by incorrect techniques, paired with patients not knowing their own limitations. You will need to learn the fundamentals and the right technique before you begin to increase intensity or volume.

Anytime an athlete pursues a recreational activity with intensity & volume, injuries are possible. The most common injuries we see at our practice caused while practicing CrossFit are shoulder, back, and knees. We explain more bellow.

• Torn labrums, shoulder impingement, and rotator cuff injury. Repeated use of the shoulder can make the tendons in your shoulder swell, leading them to “catch” on your upper shoulder bone. Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that attach your upper arm bone to your shoulder. They help you lift and rotate your arm. The rotator cuff sits under the top of the shoulder, which is called the acromion. If you have shoulder impingement, your rotator cuff catches or rubs against the acromion. When you lift your arm, the space (bursa) between the rotator cuff and acromion narrows, which increases pressure. The increased pressure irritates the rotator cuff, leading to impingement. 
• Lower back sprains are the most common problem and they often occur from improper lifting techniques or from trying to lift too much weight. Sciatica caused by short and tight piriformis, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), slipped vertebrae or herniated disc, stiff iliopsoas. 
• Squats, jumps and various other CrossFit movements give knees a pounding. The most common knee injuries that can occur during this type of exercise are MCL injury and meniscal tears. The MCL is a band of tissue on the inside of your knee connecting your thighbone to the bone of your lower leg, injuring it will require Physical Therapy or surgery. A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that happens when one or more of the fibrocartilage strips in the knee (called menisci) is stretched or torn. 

When these injuries occur, the best course of action is to work with a physician group that understands how to deal with the pain and rehabilitation of sports injuries. It’s your best chance to avoid additional injury and to get you back to your previous activity level. Only a healthy athlete can be a successful athlete. When pain or injury do occur, seek the right treatment with a Sports Physical Therapy clinic after you see your doctor. CardioFlex Therapy in Davie, Florida is well prepared to treat these and many other Sports Injuries to get the athlete back in shape and back in the game.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

Physical Therapists Can & Will Manage Your Pain

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/physical-therapists-can-will-manage-your-pain/

by Terry Abrams.

CardioFlex Physical Therapists are professionally trained to help you improve movement and regain control of your lifestyle. Physical therapy is among the safe and effective alternatives to opioids recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the management of most non-cancer related pain.

Whereas opioids only mask the sensation of pain, physical therapists treat pain through movement, hands-on care, exercise, and patient education. Physical therapists know how to manipulate your body to get it up to its best performance, though this can only be achieved with the commitment of the patient.

Here’s how Physical Therapists help manage pain:

1. Exercise.
A study, per APTA, following 20,000 people over 11 years found that those who exercised on a regular basis experienced less pain. And among those who exercised more than 3 times per week, chronic widespread pain was 28% less common1. Physical therapists can prescribe exercise specific to your goals and needs.

2. Manual Therapy.
Research supports a hands-on approach to treating pain. From carpal tunnel syndrome to low back pain, this type of care can effectively reduce your pain and improve your movement. Physical Therapists may use manipulation, joint and soft tissue mobilizations, ultrasound, hot and cold compresses, and electricity, as well as other strategies in your care.

3. Education.
A large study conducted with military personnel demonstrated that those with back pain who received a 45-minute educational session about pain were less likely to seek treatment than their peers who didn’t receive education about pain. Physical therapists will talk with you to make sure they understand your pain history and help set realistic expectations about your treatment.

4. Teamwork.
Recent studies have shown that developing a positive relationship with your physical therapist and being an active participant in your own recovery can impact your success. This is likely because physical therapists are able to directly work with you, assess how your pain responds to treatment and monitor improvement.

Low Back Pain: Although low back pain is rarely serious or life-threatening, there are several conditions that may be related to your low back pain, such as:

• Degenerative disk disease
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Fractures
• Herniated disk
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Tumors of the spine

Our Physical Therapists can help you improve or restore mobility. Stay active, and do as much of your normal routine as possible (bed rest for longer than a day can actually slow down your recovery). If your pain lasts more than a few days or gets worse, schedule an appointment to see your physical therapist. Your physical therapist will evaluate, identify the factors that have contributed to your specific back problem, and design an individualized treatment plan for your specific back problem.

Treatments for Low Back Pain may include:

• Manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, to improve the mobility of joints and soft tissues
• Specific strengthening and flexibility exercises
• Education about how you can take better care of your back
• Training for proper lifting, bending, and sitting; for doing chores both at work and in the home; and for proper sleeping positions
• Assistance in creating a safe and effective physical activity program to improve your overall health
• Use of ice or heat treatments or electrical stimulation to help relieve pain

CardioFlex Therapy is located in Davie, Florida. We offer Physical and Occupational Therapy at our facility or in the comfort of your home. Call us at 954-693-9090 to learn more about how we can help you manage your pain. We accept most Insurance plans and with our flexible schedule, we will be able to bring you in.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Physical Therapy

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition of the wrist and hand that can affect the use of the whole arm. It is caused by pressure on the nerve at the base of the palm. Because of the demands that people place on their hands and wrists, CTS is a common condition affecting 1 out of 20 Americans. Surgery for this condition is commonly performed on the wrist and hand. Fortunately for most people who develop CTS, physical therapy treatment can often relieve pain and numbness and restore normal use of the hand, wrist, and arm without the need for surgery.

Physical therapists work closely with other health care professionals to accurately diagnose and treat CTS. Symptoms of CTS are typical, and it is often possible to diagnose it without extensive testing.  Physical therapists are experts in the movement and function of the body and will conduct an evaluation to determine all of the factors that may be contributing to your condition. After an evaluation, your physical therapist will prescribe your treatment plan based on your specific case.

Physical therapy treatment can be effective in reducing your symptoms and getting you back to performing normal activities. During your first visit with the physical therapist, be prepared to describe your symptoms in as much detail as possible, and say what makes your symptoms worse.

Depending upon the causes of your CTS, your therapy program may include education regarding changing wrist positions, general back and neck positions, exercises to increase the strength of the muscles in your hand, fingers, and forearm—and in some cases, the trunk and postural back muscles. It may also include stretching exercises to improve the flexibility of the wrist, hand, and fingers, use of heat/cold treatments to relieve pain, use of a night splint to reduce discomfort, and more.

The goals of physical therapy are to reduce your symptoms without the need for surgery, to enable you to be as active and functional as possible, and to help you resume your normal work, home, and leisure activities.

All physical therapists are prepared through education and experience to treat a variety of conditions, including CTS. However, you may want to consider:

• A physical therapist who is experienced in treating people with arm and hand musculoskeletal disorders and one who has experience in ergonomics and worksite evaluations. Ergonomics involves understanding the fit between a user (the person), the equipment, and the environment.
• A physical therapist who is a certified hand therapist (CHT).
• A physical therapist who is a board-certified clinical specialist or who has completed a residency or fellowship in orthopedic physical therapy. This therapist has advanced knowledge, experience, and skills that may apply to your condition.

CardioFlex Therapy Physical and Occupational Therapists are prepared to treat this and many other conditions. Call us for a consultation or appointment, we’ll be happy to see you.

CardioFlex Therapy’s Davie Outpatient Clinic: 954-693-9090.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

How Physical Therapy can help Lymphedema patients?

By: Terry Abrams

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/how-physical-therapy-can-help-lymphedema-patients/

Lymphedema is swelling generally in the arms or legs due to a blockage in your lymphatic system. It’s estimated that about one-third of women who undergo axillary lymph node dissection during breast cancer treatment will develop lymphedema. Identifying and treating lymphedema early helps ensure faster and better outcomes, but even treatment later on, during the chronic stages of the disease, can still help.

To determine if you have lymphedema, check with your physician or physical therapist immediately if you have swelling in one of your limbs and you have cancer or have been treated for cancer, or you have a cardiac, kidney, or liver condition.

Your Physical Therapist will serve as an important member of your health care team and will work closely with you to design a treatment program to help control the swelling and meet your goals for returning to your activities.

In the early stages of lymphedema, when the swelling is mild, it can often be managed by compression garments, exercise, and elevation of the affected limb to encourage lymph flow. For more severe swelling, the physical therapist may use a treatment called “complete decongestive therapy.” The initial step often includes manual lymphatic drainage, which feels like a light form of massage and helps improve the flow of lymph from your arm or leg. This is followed by compression bandaging that helps to reduce the swelling. Your therapist will carefully monitor the size of the limb throughout your treatment sessions.

Once the limb has decreased to the desired size, your physical therapist will help you begin to take over your own care by:

1. Developing a safe and sensible exercise program that will increase your physical fitness without unnecessarily straining your affected arm or leg.
2. Updating your compression garments to ensure proper fitting, working with you to find the type of garment that best meets your needs.
3. Educating you about the proper diet to decrease fluid buildup in your tissues and skin care to reduce the risk of infection.

CardioFlex Physical Therapists are professionals that are well trained and will help you get back on track to recovery. We will guide you with the right exercises you will be able to do at home to keep the Lymphedema in check. Our outpatient clinic is located in the heart of Davie, by Flamingo and Griffin Roads. Call us for an appointment at 954-693-9090. Terry and his staff are looking forward to helping you with your condition.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

CardioFlex Physical Therapists’ March Events

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/cardioflex-physical-therapists-march-events/

CardioFlex Therapy’s Outpatient Clinic Physical Therapists will be participating in or sponsoring the fundraisers that impact our community. We see first hand so many of the conditions our patients are in when they seek our professional help, our team has carefully decided on the following events. Take a look at our March 2019 fundraisers and join us for a great time and a great cause!

The Leukemia Cup Regatta is a thrilling series of sailing events that combines the joy of boating with the important task of raising money to fight leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. Since its inception, the Leukemia Cup Regatta has raised over $66 million for research and patient services at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Join us at The Leukemia Cup Regatta, hosted by Isles Yacht Club, March 23, 2019. Registration is now open and available online via Regatta Network.
When: Saturday, March 23rd.
Where: 1780 West Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda, FL, 33950
Info: Niki Miranda-Dubay at 813-261-3166 or 727-645-2147 or niki.mirandadubay@lls.org.

4th Annual Palm Beach Songwriters in the Round, a unique event in Jupiter, Fl, which brings guests into the inner-circle of some of Nashville’s best singer/songwriters, to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The songwriters will take stage at 8:00 pm. For those who want to do a little “boot-scoot-boogie,” they will have dancing to a live band until 10:00 pm. Save the date for this intimate evening under the stars and of course, another full moon, at the beautiful Lucky Old Sun Ranch.

When: Saturday, March 30th. 

Where: Lucky Old Sun Ranch. 18918 131st Trail North, Jupiter, FL 33478.
Info: Colette Beland at 561-683-9965 or email at cbeland@cff.org.

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.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

What can Occupational Therapy do for you?

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/what-can-occupational-therapy-do-for-you/

Occupational Performance is defined as the individual’s ability to accomplish the tasks required by his or her role and related to his or her developmental stage. Occupational performance includes self-care, work, and play or leisure time performance. This leads us to what Occupational Therapy is: a profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. 

Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:

• + an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals,
• + customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
• + an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan. 

Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science. 

The profession of Occupational Therapy makes valuable contributions in helping people “Live Life to Its Fullest” despite their condition or surrounding environment.

Occupational therapy services typically include:

1. Customized treatment programs to improve one’s ability to perform daily activities
2. Comprehensive home and job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations
3. Performance skills assessments and treatment
4. Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training
5. Guidance to family members and caregivers.

We encourage you to view our video from The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) describing how Occupational Therapy helps people of every age, every day.