Low Back Pain? You need Physical Therapy

http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/low-back-pain-you-need-physical-therapy/

By Terry Abrams.

If you’re suffering from low back pain and wondering why your insurance company won’t approve an MRI before going to physical therapy – there was a great study done on about 800 individuals where they compared two groups, published originally in the journal Health Services Research. One group went straight to imaging and one tried physical therapy first. What they found, was that the ones that went straight to imaging (X-rays, CT scans, MRI) had a greater likelihood to go to surgery, have injections, and end up in the emergency room compared to those who went to Physical Therapy first. The article describes physical therapy as an approach that “focuses on educating patients about what might be causing their back pain, assuring them that most problems subside in time, and engaging them in their therapy.”

Physical therapists are specially trained experts in low back pain.

They are trained to identify any red flags or emergency situations that would require further medical assessment. They’re also trained to help you understand your low back pain, find the root cause of your condition, and give you some practical advice on how to resolve those issues without medication and without surgery. So, if you’re dealing with low back pain and you have not received the authorization for an MRI, I encourage you to find a local, licensed physical therapist in your area and have a conversation about your condition.

“What sets physical therapy apart from other types of treatment is the quality time we spend with our clients,” says Terry Abrams owner and physical therapist at CardioFlex Therapy in Davie, Florida. “Not only will we teach you about your condition and ways you can help yourself, but we will also start you on a program made just for you to get you moving again. A program customized just for you, and none of the side effects of surgery and pain medication.”

NOTE: your physical therapist is well trained in warning signs that would require you to see a doctor for further testing if required.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

How Physical Therapy can Help Fight the Opioid Crisis

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The ongoing opioid crisis in the United States reflects the unintended consequences of a nation-wide effort to help individuals control their pain. The health care system has, since the mid-1990s, employed an approach to pain management that focuses on the pharmacological masking of pain, rather than treating the actual cause(s) of the pain when its source can be identified. This strategy has resulted in a dramatic increase in opioid prescribing, causing widespread opioid misuse and addiction. It also has led, in the last few years, to a growing realization that current strategies for managing pain have to change—that opioid-centric solutions for dealing with pain at best mask patients’ physical problems and delay or impede recovery and at worst may prove to be dangerous and even deadly. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), “the health care system must reexamine its approach to pain, including how causal factors are identified, what tools or measures are used to quantify its impact, and how the approach to treatment is aligned with the patient’s goals and values. Ensuring that patients and families are aware of and have access to various options for care is a significant step in addressing this complex issue”.

Physical therapy is a dynamic profession with established  basis for therapeutic interventions capable of restoring, maintaining, and promoting optimal physical function. Physical therapists work both independently and as members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams to enhance the health, well-being, and quality of life of their patients, who present with a wide range of conditions including those that commonly cause pain. The CDC’s recommendations point to “high-quality evidence” that treatments provided by physical therapists (PTs) are especially effective at reducing pain and improving function in cases of low back pain, fibromyalgia, and hip and knee osteoarthritis. Additionally, a number of studies show the efficacy of Physical Therapist interventions in preventing, minimizing, and, in some cases, eliminating pain in patients post surgery, in patients with cancer, and in other clinical scenarios.

Physical therapy is playing a leading role in tackling the opioid epidemic by restoring well-being and mobility in the lives of those suffering from the effects of opioid overuse. Unlike opioids, physical therapy doesn’t mask pain. Physical therapy may contribute to major reductions in pain and significant gains in physical independence through the employment of effective, personalized treatments. Physical Therapists work with patients to develop calculated and tailored programs that progress patients from rest to mobile, and in most instances, pain-free activity.

Ending the opioid epidemic will require collaboration among patients, families, providers, payers,and professionals across the continuum of health care settings, from primary care practices and pharmacies to hospitals and behavioral health facilities. Physical therapists, who engage in an examination process that focuses on not only the symptoms of pain but also the movement patterns that may be contributing to pain, must become central to this multidisciplinary strategy.

If you are struggling with managing your chronic pain, CardioFlex Therapy can help! To schedule a screening, make an appointment, or ask your doctor about CardioFlex Therapy for your therapy needs, call us and we will guide you to get started as soon as possible at our Davie outpatient clinic or in the comfort of your home. Our phone number: 954-693-9090.  

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

CardioFlex Therapy wishes you a Happy Holiday 2018

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Happy Holidays!

CardioFlex Therapy wishes you a season full of health and happiness! Surrounded by those we love, may we gather and count our blessings.

Stay healthy with our Physical Therapists’ Tips to Avoid Pain During the Holidays. Please call our office to set your appointments, we’ll get you in for any unforeseen circumstances, 954-693-9090.

 

The Holidays begin early this year, with Hanukkah celebrations beginning on December 2nd. For those families who like to celebrate more than one tradition this holiday, you will have plenty of time to do so.

 

Best wishes from our team of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and everyone else at CardioFlex Therapy.

 

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

CardioFlex Physical Therapists at Plane Pull event

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CardioFlex Therapy in Davie is always looking for ways of staying involved in our community. Our Physical Therapists invite you to participate and support the upcoming Special Olympics Florida Plane Pull: a giant tug-of-war, pitting teams of up to 15 members against a plane to see which team can pull the 50 ton United 737 aircraft 12 feet the fastest. Teams must raise a minimum of $1,500 to participate, that’s just $100 per person! Your efforts allow Special Olympics Florida to continue providing year-round training and athletic competitions at no cost to the 44,000 athletes statewide.

Register and create your fundraising page by starting or joining a team. Ask your friends, family, and colleagues to support you in your efforts! They can join your team or help by making a quick secure online donation. If you are starting a team, begin by recruiting up to 15 members to join you on event day and help pull the plane!

There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy competition,  so teams will compete for:

•  Fastest Pull
•  Slowest Pull
•  Most Team Spirit
•  Best Costume

The Foundation’s mission remains as vital today as it did when the movement was founded in 1968. Special Olympics Florida’s year-round programs in health, education, community building and sports address inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics programs allow athletes to overcome these challenges and give them an opportunity to participate in their community, strengthen their abilities, and become champions! By “pulling” for athletes, you are helping reach and support more people who want to be a part of life changing programs.

Date: Saturday, September 29, 2018
Registration: 9:00 AM | Start: 10:00 AM
Address:
Palm Beach International Airport
1000 James L. Turnage Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33415

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

All About TMJ

Did you know that at CardioFlex Therapy in Davie, we have specialized treatment programs for a wide variety of conditions? One of our most popular treatment programs is for TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorder.

You may be wondering what a TMJ disorder even is. Surprisingly, approximately 12% of people in the United States will experience TMJ disorders in their lifetime. TMJ tends to affect more women than men and can be commonly associated with symptoms of jaw pain or an unusual popping or clicking of the jaw while talking or eating.

Those affected by TMJ will most often note the restriction of jaw movement which can cause severe discomfort. Some individuals may experience a subset of TMJ symptoms including head or back aches, migraines, and ear issues like buzzing, ringing, numbness, or pain that may spread to the cheeks.

The TMJ connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone (skull). Likewise, specific key muscles used for chewing are attached to the mandible and may become sore with a TMJ disorder.

It is difficult to attribute TMJ disorders to any one cause. Moreover, TMJ disorders may be caused by:

• grinding or clenching of teeth while sleeping
• physical injury
• arthritis
• dental surgery
• autoimmune diseases
• infections
• environmental, genetic, or hormonal factors

Luckily, TMJ disorders are common and can be treated at home or by one of our professionals at CardioFlex Therapy in Davie, Florida. We recommend you first try some simple, lifestyle changes to possibly correct the concern. It all breaks down to rest: if you reduce movement and rest the jaw, changes may occur:

• Avoid chewing gum & tensing your jaw.
• Try to eat soft foods and lightly massage or practice stretching the jaw.
• Wear a mouth guard at night if you tend to clench your teeth.

If you are still experiencing discomfort, please call us at 954-693-9090 or stop by our facility for a consultation. Our professionals will arrange an individualized approach to correct your TMJ and help you manage the pain associated with it.

 For more info, please visit www.cardioflextherapy.com & our BLOG
 

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. Google+

Buen Provecho Miami

CardioFlex is proud to support Buen Provecho Miami benefiting the United Community Options of South Florida on February 8, 2018. This is an exclusive dinner with various chefs preparing a course, collaborating to create a fantastic meal and a fantastic experience.

The United Community Options of South Florida, formerly United Cerebral Palsy of South Florida, serves more than 1,600 infants, children and adults at over 60 locations in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach & Mid-Coast Counties.

United Community Options serves children and adults with a wide range of needs and abilities including physical, intellectual, and neurological disabilities, as well as developmental delays and developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, Prader-Willi syndrome, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and those who are technology dependent or medically fragile. In addition, we serve typically developing children and adolescents in many of our programs.

Join Us for Buen Provecho Miami This is an exclusive dinner with various chefs preparing a course, collaborating to create a fantastic meal and a fantastic experience. Each course will be paired with wine, a high end silent auction will be available, and an opportunity to meet and greet with the chefs will be part of the fun once all courses have been served. All proceeds benefit United Community Options of South Florida. HOSTED BY DARLENE & JORGE PEREZ

For more info, please visit our blog at http://www.cardioflextherapy.com/blog/buen-provecho-miami/
For info on CardioFlex Therapy physical and occupational therapists visit our website at www.cardioflextherapy.com