4 Reasons Why I Love Being a Physical Therapist
I decided to become a physical therapist a long time ago when I shadowed a local physical therapist for a week. During that week, I was able to see the wide variety of patients he was able to help and guide through their recovery. He saw young and old, athletic and deconditioned, and confident and anxious. This was when I realized the tremendous impact a physical therapist can have on a patient’s life. From there, I fully committed to becoming a physical therapist, and now I’m well into my sixth year of working as one for Athletico. Being that it’s National Physical Therapy Month, I sat down and reflected on the many reasons why I love my job.
How Can Physical Therapy Help You Avoid Back Surgery?
If you’re one of the many people who’ve been dealing with chronic back pain, you may think surgery is your only option to get better. Research shows that over half of adults will experience chronic lower back pain at some point in their lives. Recent data has shown that the rate of lumbar spinal fusions has increased 170%. Unfortunately, the data also suggests that the re-occurrence or worsening of pain 12 months after a back procedure can range from 30-40%. One study indicates that up to 80,000 patients per year have continued to experience back pain after surgery. Many factors can affect the success of these procedures, including accuracy of the diagnosis, socioeconomic status, psychological factors, smoking habits, and anatomical changes that can occur to the surrounding structures and tissues.
5 Myths about Back Pain
60-80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point. Back pain is linked to increased health care costs and missed work. There is a lot of information out there about the causes of and best ways to treat back pain. It may not be easy to distinguish what is myth and reality amongst this abundance of information. Here are five myths about low back pain and more information about what is true.
4 Back-to-School Posture Tips for Students
When the school supplies take over store aisles and the daylight hours begin to shorten, one can sense that back-to-school time is here. Be sure your return is pain-free! Here are four tips for decreasing strain on your spine and improving the ergonomics of your school experience. (more…)
Backpack Quiz
It’s back to school time! How much do you know about your kids’ backpacks – how much they weigh, how it should fit, and how to prevent aches and pains from backpack wear. Take our quiz and test your knowledge!
5 Exercises to Help Low Back Pain in Golfers
Golf is like any other sport or physical activity, regardless of how often you play or skill level, there are injuries that pop up. Injury prevalence studies have shown that the most common injury among amateur or recreational golfers is low back pain, ranging from 15-34% of active players. So whether you are someone who just picked up the game, a scratch golfer, walk the course, or ride in a cart, here are some tips on how to stay healthy and continue enjoying your time on the course!
How Long Is Too Long? When To Seek Help for Pain
The majority of individuals have experienced some form of physical pain or injury over the course their lives. Some adopt the “no pain, no gain” mentality while others seek medical attention right away. Is it ok to “work through the pain”? What about taking a “wait and see” approach prior to seeking medical care? How long is too long to wait prior to receiving medical care for pain?
Why Does It Hurt When I Sit?
In the past year many of us have been juggling the challenges of working from home. With this comes changes in work setups, changes in hours worked, and the blurring of work and home spaces. The combination of these changes may be contributing to aches and pain in various body parts. If you continue to work remote or are transitioning back to office life, here are some helpful tips.
