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Archives for 2014
Knee Pain and Physical Therapy: An Alternative to Surgery?
Millions of Americans suffer from joint pain everyday. Osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, and overuse are some of the most common causes of knee pain that I see on a weekly basis at Roxboro Physical Therapy. Some patients opt to have surgery to help improve the pain in their affected knees. However, according to research published by the respected New England Journal of Medicine, physical therapy can be just as effective in providing pain relief as surgery (read the full research article here.) Despite this research, many patients continue to have costly, avoidable knee surgeries, amounting to millions of dollars spent per year.
Here are some specifics from respected articles supporting the notion that physical therapy and exercise can be suitable alternatives for knee pain:
First, a double-blind study conducted in 2002 on arthroscopic knee surgery. 180 patients participated in the study and were assigned to three different groups. One group had a “sham surgery” where cuts were made in the patients’ knees to look like they had undergone a full surgery. A second group actually received the full surgery. And a third group had a partial surgery. After 8 weeks there was no discernible difference in subjective measures of pain. Even at follow-ups one and two years later, there were no differences in the reported pain or ability to perform daily functions. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine, 2002 July 11; 347 (2): 81-8)
Another study conducted in 2007 used 56 patients with a common cause of knee pain, chronic patella-femoral syndrome. These patients were split into two groups, one group had surgery and 8-weeks of exercise and the other group only completed 8-weeks of exercise. Again, there were no discernible differences up to two years after the study was complete. (Source: BMC Medicine 2007, 5:38)
Both of these studies suggest that, for some patients, exercise can be a suitable alternative to knee surgery. Furthermore, these studies provide support for my opinion, which is that surgery should be the last option, and that pain-free living does not require assuming the risks involved with major surgery.
With most types of injuries, especially joint pain, exercise is a must. To my knowledge, the notion that exercise has a detrimental affect on your joints has never been confirmed and is a common misconception. On the contrary, numerous research studies have proven that exercise can have a positive impact on your joint tissues. In fact, if you combine the weight loss affects of exercise along with the increased compressive and tensile forces on bone, the benefit becomes exponential. Maintaining a healthy body weight decreases the risk of developing knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis. Exercise also improves bone density and joint function, decreasing the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis, therefore reducing the risk of fracture as we age. Along with improvement in joint pain, exercise has many other physiological and psychological benefits. Some of these include improved cardiopulmonary health, decreased cholesterol, improved circulation, increased energy, and a better self-image.
If you are interested in finding out if physical therapy can help reduce your knee pain, please contact the outpatient physical therapy clinic most convenient for you.
Athletic Trainers lead games at the Boys & Girls Club to encourage physical fitness
This afternoon, Athletic Trainers Raegan Fuller, ATC and Jeff Durand, ATC led a series of games for middle schoolers at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Danville Area.
Danville Orthopedic & Athletic Rehab partnered with the Boys & Girls Club on this activity in support of the club’s healthy lifestyles initiative, which includes encouraging physical fitness and sports activities.
Our Athletic Trainers were the perfect people to lead this activity. Not only are they experts in exercise, but Jeff and Raegan are also both youth volleyball coaches – so of course they brought volleyballs! We played “Human Net,” which involves dividing into three teams: two opposing teams and a third team that serves as – you guessed it – a human net!
The kids’ favorite game was “Barnacle.” Players start by running around the gym. When the game leader calls out a command, the players take a position. The last one into position is out… Play continues until only one player remains.
We had a blast this afternoon, and can’t wait to visit the Club again soon!
Physical Therapy: It’s a Lot of Hard Work!
It’s St. Patrick’s Day, so there’s a lot of talk about luck! But when it comes to physical therapy and getting the most of out of your rehab, hard work is much more important than luck. We like this quote from Thomas Jefferson: “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I find of it.”
When a physician refers a patient to physical [or occupational] therapy, you may think that the therapist will be doing the work, moving and manipulating the patient’s arms and legs to help regain their full use. In reality, it takes a lot of hard work and perseverance on the patient’s part to regain strength and function.
To recover as fully as possible and to maximize physical therapy benefits, the patient must be an active participant in the therapy. Each patient’s treatment plan will be based on an individualized, written treatment plan developed for the patient’s diagnosis, symptoms, and the findings after an evaluation by the physical [or occupational] therapist. The treatment plan will include specific goals with measurable objectives to demonstrate physical and functional improvement through therapy.
Source: Yoshiura, Stone. “Physical Therapy: It’s a Lot of Hard Work.”
Kate Albright, Linda Martin and Karen Griffin recognized for years of service
Each year, we have the honor of recognizing our staff who have made a significant career commitment to the Danville Orthopedic & Athletic Rehab and our affiliate clinics. In 2013, three of our team members celebrated milestone anniversaries. Please join us in saying thank you and congratulations!
Kate Albright, PT – 20 Years
Kate Albright, PT joined the team at Danville Orthopedic & Athletic Rehab as a Physical Therapist in 1993. In 2013, she celebrated her 20 year anniversary with DOAR.
Linda Martin – 20 Years
Linda Martin joined the team at Danville Orthopedic & Athletic Rehab in 1993 as a physical therapy aide. In 2013, she celebrated her 20 year anniversary with DOAR.
Karen Griffin, PTA – 5 Years
Karen Griffin joined our team 2008 as a physical therapy aide at DOAR East. She continued working part-time at DOAR Chatham while attending school to become a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). Upon graduation, Karen transitioned to her current role as a PTA at DOAR Central. In 2013, she celebrated her 5 year anniversary with DOAR.
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