Brooklyn Physical Therapy News- Evolve NY
Physical Therapy and Custom Fitness Programs
Physical Therapy and Different Types of Fitness Programs- Sooner or later, you will graduate from your Physical Therapy program. This means that you have reached your goals - decreased or eliminated the pain, you are able to move again, you are able to go back to work. However, more often than not, many patients stop doing their exercises when they finish the program…
PT and Different Types of Fitness Programs
Sooner or later, you will graduate from your Physical Therapy program. This means that you have reached your goals - decreased or eliminated the pain, you are able to move again, you are able to go back to work. However, more often than not, many patients stop doing their exercises when they finish the program. This will more than likely mean you have recurring pain and have to return another round of Physical Therapy sessions before too long.
What Should You Do After Physical Therapy?
Well, you should definitely continue to exercise! Most patients stop doing even simple exercise programs when they stop coming for Physical Therapy. Continuing your exercises will ensure that you keep all the flexibility, strength, balance and skills that you gained through your sessions. Stopping it will only put you at risk of re-injury. However, diving into fitness programs without any knowledge could potentially do you more harm than good.
In post-rehabilitation fitness programs, the main goal is to avoid re-injury and maintain or improve your current strength and flexibility. These fitness programs are facilitated by personal trainers, or you might’ve guessed it, other physical therapists! Your trainers will make sure you perform exercises at an appropriate level. For example, basketball players that have been injured and rehabilitated cannot return to their previous fitness training immediately, their healed structures might not be able to take the pressure of being used at such a high level. An injured athlete will need to gradually ease back into their original fitness training program post-rehab.
Ordinary individuals who do not participate in sports or activities, but who put strain on their bodies, can participate in regular fitness programs facilitated by personal trainers or fitness instructors. It is important to let their instructors know that they have just finished a bout of Physical Therapy. They will likely adjust their program for you to protect your still healing body.
Finding the Right Program
It can be overwhelming to find the right program for you. There are loads of gyms, clinics and centers available for you, but finding the right trainer and program is important.
Here are some steps to take before deciding on a program:
Figure out the pre-exercise and dynamic warm up and cool down routines that are perfect for you. If it’s not painful, and it’s warming your body up (or cooling it down) in a good way, then it’s perfect.
If the exercise of program hurts, then you need to find another one. Remember that even though you’re done with PT, your body is still in the process of healing. Your body mechanics are completely different pre-injury to post-injury, so listen to your body. If it’s painful, then you should stop.
Find a program that you enjoy. It can be lifting weights in the gym (supervised, of course), yoga, pilates, cross fit, swimming or even dancing! Choose a program that you will love, so that it will be easier to maintain and continue!
Why do I still need a Fitness Program?
Again, even though you have graduated from a PT program, your body is still healing and there is still a risk of re-injury. We want to prevent that. We also want to maintain whatever gains you obtained during your sessions with your PT! Other reasons to work out after PT are:
To further rebuild muscle - Did you know that staying in bed for two straight days can already have muscle wasting effects on your body? Or that sitting in front of the TV/desk all day can actually weaken your muscles? Your muscles need to be continually challenged for it to maintain its strength, but it’s more important to challenge them post-injury or post-rehab.
To restore bone strength and density - muscles put pressure and load on our bones. When a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, there can be a certain level of muscle wasting and atrophy, and therefore a decreased bone density and strength. Load your muscles, and they will load your bones. This will protect you from fractures and musculoskeletal pain.
To improve mental health - Sometimes, people get depressed, angry or lonely after an injury, surgery or even physical therapy. This is because they feel the difference in their bodies and may feel that they are not the same. Enrolling in a fitness program will help with a person’s emotional or mental well-being, while also addressing their physical needs.
To improve overall health and wellness - Even if Physical Therapy had your body in an improved state, your cardiovascular system may still have a hard time keeping up. If you’re a runner, you might have a hard time returning to your normal running distance and routine. Even if you’re a stay at home mother, you might still have a hard time doing chores or chasing the kids. A consistent fitness program will help everyone ease back into their normal self.
As much as we love seeing our patients, it’s better to see them doing well and injury-free!
Would you like assistance creating a custom fitness program? Give us a call! 1-718-258-3300
About Evolve Physical Therapy-
Advanced, One on One, Hands On Physical Therapy in Brooklyn-
Parkinson's Boxing Training - Active Release Physical Therapy - Sports Physical Therapy NYC - Manual One on One Physical Therapy Brooklyn NYC - Hand Physical Therapy - Running + Gait Training - Soft Tissue Physical Therapy- Pediatric Physical Therapy - Schroth Method - Pre-Hab Physical Therapy - TMJ Specialists- Post-surgical Physical Therapy Care - Occupational Physical Therapy Clinics - Orthopedic Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, NY
Multiple Locations!
Physical Therapy for Seniors
Senior Care and Physical Therapy for Elderly People- Physical Therapy is suitable for all ages and sizes. From birth to old age, you can bet that there is a Physical Therapist ready to accommodate your concerns. Back pain, shoulder pain, strength or balance issues, a physical therapist can help you…
Senior Care and Physical Therapy for Elderly People
Physical Therapy is suitable for all ages and sizes. From birth to old age, you can bet that there is a Physical Therapist ready to accommodate your concerns. Back pain, shoulder pain, strength or balance issues, a physical therapist can help you. In Physical Therapy for the elderly, the sessions are geared to help the individual to be independent, or to be able to move around safely at the very least.
Physical therapy for seniors has many benefits. As we have mentioned, the goal of therapy is to get you back to your feet safely. You don’t need to spend your days confined in a bed, or a chair, or be under a strict, watchful eye of a doctor. Here are some of the benefits you can get from PT:
Here are some of the benefits you can get from PT for Seniors:
Ease pain - don’t be afraid of pain! It is actually a protective mechanism and it tells us that something is wrong. Your physical therapist (along with your primary doctor) can help you identify where it’s coming from and hopefully eliminate it.
Prevent surgery - Before considering having surgery, try a conventional prehab physical therapy session first. It’s best to avoid it since surgery and its entire process - the operation and recovery - is an ordeal that comes with its own set of risks.
Recover from an injury or surgery - this is what physical therapists are best at, recovery. They are part of the after surgery physical therapy rehabilitation team that aims to return you to your prior function before your injury/surgery.
Physical therapy for the elderly does not only involve post injury rehabilitation, you can also take sessions to prevent any accidents and injuries from happening.
Improve flexibility and strength - as we get older it gets harder to move around and easier to just sit and be sedentary. With physical therapy, you can receive a fitness regimen that is appropriate for your level. Your physical therapist will also teach you how to stretch your muscles and have you lift a dumbbell or two. Stretching your muscles will make it a little bit easier to move, and the building up of strength will help you maintain your current independence.
Improve balance and coordination - falls are the leading cause of injury in the elderly. This is partly because of medication use, cognitive impairments, and sensory deficits. A physical therapist will likely address any balance problems with exercises that are fun, moving, and challenging.
Manage age related issues - old age is associated with emergence of several health conditions that tend to occur only later in life. These are called geriatric syndromes and can be a result of several factors that include falls, cognitive impairment, frailty, hearing loss, and vision issues to name a few.
As we age, we are prone to more sickness, injury, and health conditions.
What are the most common conditions physical therapists handle?
Stroke - one of the most common conditions a PT will handle. With stroke, a part of the brain loses its function and also makes some parts of our body lose function. A PT’s job then is to teach you how to move around using both the good and bad (the one that lost its function) side of the body.
Fractures - remember that falls are the leading cause of injury in seniors? Hip or knee fractures are often a result of a bad fall. Most elderly with fractures often report that they fell from the bed while getting up or slipped in the bathroom. Even before your stress fractures or broken bones are fully healed, your physical therapist will prescribe exercises. These exercises will prevent you from being sedentary while waiting for the injury to fully heal.
Arthritis - arthritis involves swelling and inflammation around the joints. It is painful and usually worsens with age. The goal of therapy is to relieve you of the pain and teach you ways to manage it. Your therapist will also give you tips and strategies to make independent living easier. For example, a PT might have you use a cane to lessen the pain in your knee when walking for long periods.
Hearing that you need therapy can be scary and cause anxiety. It is not uncommon to see apprehension among patients in the clinic, but it helps to know what to expect to calm your nerves.
Here are some of the treatments you can expect:
Cold or Hot compress - if you have stiff muscles and joints, this will help you loosen up. Muscles tend to stiffen or harden when there is pain and swelling, and we need them to relax. We usually use the cold compress to numb a painful area, and we use hot compress to help tense muscles relax.
Electrical Stimulation - this is another way to lessen pain. When electricity is used for pain, a patient will usually feel a comfortable tickling or vibration on the skin which masks the pain for a little while. When a patient has paralysis (such as after a stroke), electrical stimulation is used to reeducate muscles to facilitate and produce movement.
Manual Therapy - this is a physical treatment used to decrease pain and realign joints to improve posture and alignment. As we age, our bodies become stiff, which makes it harder to move. It mostly includes joint mobilization, joint manipulation and massage that helps lessen stiffness.
Exercises - physical therapy is really all about the exercise! There are exercises to address your strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. Exercises are tailored to your needs, diagnosis and current fitness level. It will be hard at first, but you will be happy with the results!
Hydrotherapy - this treatment strategy involves a dip in the pool. It is different than swimming because it still requires you to do a set of exercises. If you have painful joints such as with arthritis, hydrotherapy will help you accomplish the exercises pain-free!
Where can seniors get physical therapy services?
There are a lot of options available! If you suffered an injury or are in the hospital, your doctor will likely refer you to a physical therapist within that hospital. After being discharged, you may still need additional sessions to help you return to normal. You can get outpatient physical therapy services in the same hospital or in a private healthcare clinic. If mobility or transportation is an issue, you can also choose to see your physical therapist in the comfort of your home. Assisted living facilities are also available services for our seniors. In most cases, these facilities already have their own in-house physical therapists that can help you with your symptoms.
Click here for more information about our physical therapy services for seniors-
https://evolveny.com/physical-therapy
About Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn-
Brooklyn's Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics-
There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of bio-mechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
Multiple Locations!
Got Back Pain? You May Need to See a Physical Therapist in Brooklyn
Got Back Pain? You May Need to See a Physical Therapist in Brooklyn, NY-Back pain is a major health problem worldwide, it is one of the leading causes of disability among older adults. It can affect a wide range of age groups, and it frequently affects daily life, sleep patterns, work performance, and a decrease in overall general well-being.
Got Back Pain? You May Need to See a PT
Back pain is a major health problem worldwide, and it is one of the leading causes of disability among older adults. It can affect a wide range of age groups, and frequently affects daily life, sleep patterns, work performance, and a decrease in overall general well-being.
Common Causes of Back Pain
While back pain is easily felt, unfortunately, the main cause is not easily diagnosed and identified. This is why medications are not enough to drive away back pain, and why physical therapy is important. A physical therapist may help to identify the main cause of the problem. According to research, the single most common cause of back pain is mechanical stress or soft tissue injuries.
Mechanical Issues - this refers to a muscle strain or a ligament sprain. A strain happens when your muscle is stretched and pulled to a capacity it can’t accommodate. This commonly happens due to overuse, fatigue, poor alignment and improper use of a muscle. For example, we can strain our back muscles if we perform a deadlift incorrectly. Another mechanical issue, a sprain occurs when a ligament (the structure that holds our bones together) is stretched and pulled. When this happens, it is then a muscle’s responsibility to hold the joints together, ultimately resulting in fatigue and pain. If this is the cause of your back pain, rest, stretching, and strengthening exercises are usually implemented during therapy.
A herniated disc & degenerative disc disease - a disc is found in between our vertebral spine. It’s a jelly-like structure that functions as a shock absorber. Sometimes, a disc slips and wedges out in between where it’s supposed to be, and compresses the nerve roots found behind the spine. This then causes pain that corresponds to the nerve it is impinging on. With this type of back pain, one can also expect pain to be present in parts of the lower extremities. Intervertebral discs also go through the usual wear and tear we experience as we age, so they lose water and their jelly like consistency lessens which affects their shock absorbing function. Since they cannot resist forces well, the ultimate result is also back pain.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction - another condition that causes back pain is an issue with the joint that joins your sacrum at the bottom of your spine to your pelvis. Dysfunctions happen when there is too much or too little movement in this area. There is too little movement when we are very tight around the hips and pelvis, and there is too much movement when we are very flexible around the joint. Both of these circumstances lead to instability. A physical therapist can spot a sacroiliac joint dysfunction through special tests.
Facet Joint Dysfunction - Facet joints are like the pillars of your spine. They connect vertebrae to one and another. Facets can be inflamed when there are degenerative changes. This can cause pain when you turn your back a certain way or if you try to bend forward or backward. When facets undergo degenerative changes, they can also affect the discs, thus causing even more pain to an individual.
Trauma - Fractures and dislocation of spinal segments and parts can also occur, especially in contact sports. These can also result from a very bad fall, or a vehicular accident. Trauma to the spine not only causes back pain, but it can also put a person at risk of paralysis.
There are also more serious underlying causes of back pain like cancer and osteoarthritis. The goal of physical therapy is not just to eliminate the pain, as medications do, but also define and eliminate the source of the pain itself.
You May Need to See a PT
If you’re in a lot of pain, you would most likely choose to lie down and rest, to let it go away by itself. However, studies suggest that resting will only make your back pain worse! This is because your muscles grow weaker with tightness and fatigue when there is pain and bed rest promotes even more weakness.
So what should you expect from a typical physical therapy appointment? A PT will help you decrease the pain you are feeling by using physical agents like hot and cold compresses, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound therapies. Physical therapists may also try to do manual therapy in which they use soft and deep tissue massage to loosen your muscles, and joint mobilization techniques to loosen up tendons or ligaments. Lastly, they will teach you exercises that will help stretch and strengthen structures around your spine.
Williams and McKenzie Exercises
These two are almost always incorporated during exercise in a physical therapy program. Williams exercises are all about flexion of the spine, while McKenzie exercises are all about extension. They both consist of about five to six exercises or positions that you have to hold and perform, that stretch and strengthen your spine at a certain level. While they both try to address your pain, it is extremely important to know what is causing your back pain before performing any type of exercises. Williams and McKenzies are only meant for certain types of diagnosis. For example, if you have spinal stenosis, structures in your spine are crammed together when you extend your back. In this scenario, your PT will teach you William’s Flexion Exercises. In cases where a disc is bulging, your PT will likely teach you McKenzie’s Extension to help decrease the backward displacement of your disc.
Think of your spine as the mast of a ship. It’s a tall pole that’s placed in the center of a ship, with lots of attachments but only a few supports. Your spine is surrounded by internal organs, ligaments and muscles. Your muscles are one of the main supports of your spine, so it’s important to keep them strong and healthy. If they tighten up or weaken, they cause back pain. Don’t forget to ask your PT for a home exercise program, and make sure to follow it!
Preventing Lower Back Pain From Returning
There is always a risk for back pain to return. So here are tips to prevent it from recurring:
1- Remain active. Live a healthier lifestyle!
This includes having a balanced diet. You should try to avoid being overweight since it increases the load on your spine. There is still much work to be done after Physical Therapy for back pain, so it is best if you can find a fitness regimen that will fit your schedule and lifestyle to prevent your muscles from being atrophied and stiff. It can be as simple as a low-aerobic activity like brisk walking in the morning, a 10 to 15 minute full body stretch before going to work, or swimming for an hour every weekend. Some patients feel comfortable with enrolling in yoga and pilates classes, since these types of exercise incorporate both stretching and strengthening in their poses. Exercise is very important as a lot of patients return to PT because their muscles went back to their original state, causing a recurrence of back issues.
2- Work on proper posture, and learn proper body mechanics
It’s quite hard even for the most fit individual to maintain proper posture at all times. One way to help yourself to keep a good posture is exercise, and another is learning proper body mechanics. Body mechanics is a term used to describe how to move around efficiently and without hurting yourself. There is a right way to lift that heavy box of paperwork, and there’s a proper way to move furniture.
3- Reduce stress and quit smoking!
While back pain is as real as can be, one big factor that can affect it is stress. Having back problems while sitting in front of a desk at work? It will probably worsen if you are stressed and anxious about a deadline. Even worse, what started as just lower back pain can extend up until the upper back, or radiate down the legs- i.e.- Sciatica. Don’t forget to get some “me” time, meditate, and relax. Also, stop smoking. It’s not yet entirely clear how smoking specifically affects back pain, but it does narrow your blood vessels, which can result in decreased nutrients delivered to the spine and back area.
Suffering from back pain? Give Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn a call today! 1-718-258-3300
NYC's Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics-
There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of biomechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
Multiple Locations!
Evolve NY's Holistic Physical Therapy Services in NYC
Physical Therapy Services with Evolve - Are you looking for a physical therapist who not only creates a customized treatment plan, but also focuses on finding and treating any underlying health issues that you may have? At Evolve, we are a physical therapy clinic that values individualized treatment and a holistic approach.
Physical Therapy Services with Evolve
Are you looking for a physical therapist who not only creates a customized treatment plan, but also focuses on finding and treating any underlying health issues that you may have? At Evolve, we are a physical therapy clinic that values individualized treatment and a holistic approach. With our 3-step process we will focus on evaluation, healing, and strengthening. We provide dynamic physical therapy so you can be fit for life.
If you are in need of immediate physical therapy services, please call- 1-718-258-3300
Below is a comprehensive list of our available services and treatment plans:
Manual Physical Therapy:
Manual physical therapy is a type of treatment that utilizes soft tissue techniques to relieve tension in damaged tissue. This type of therapy will be initiated at your evaluation and continued over the course of your physical therapy. It has proven to be able to decrease back pain, muscle spasms, and joint dysfunction. Click here to find out more about our manual physical therapy services
Prehabilitation:
Prehabilitation or prehab is used to help prevent an injury before it occurs. It is also used prior to having surgery to speed up recovery times. At Evolve, we use postural correction, functional strengthening, and mobility drills to address asymmetries, prevent injury, and optimize performance.
There are many ways that prehabilitation can benefit you. These would include but are not limited to: help to correct muscle imbalance, improve flexibility, fix joint alignment, normalize the stability of your core, and it can also help to improve the overall endurance of your muscles. Click here to find out more about our prehab physical therapy services
Parkinson's Boxing Training:
Rocksteady boxing is used to help people who have Parkinson’s disease regain strength and mobility. These exercises the target gross motor movement, balance, core strength and rhythm have been proven to slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The boxing moves are adapted and designed to help patients regain control of their range of motion, and improve overall quality of life.
At any stage of this disease, those who attend these boxing classes will find that they are able to regain and start to build up their strength and flexibility again. Along with the increased range of mobility perks, boxing training can also help you work out any pent-up stress. Click here to find out more about our Parkinsons Disease physical therapy services
Running and gait:
This is a form of therapy that helps people regain the ability to stand, walk, or run. It can also be used to help athletes preform their best, or recover from a sports related injury. To access where it may be best to start improving these areas, your physical therapist may have you walk or run on a specialty treadmill that captures your movements. This allows them to point out what needs to be improved, and start to implement a treatment and recovery plan. Click here to find out more about our runners physical therapy services
Pediatric PT and Adolescent:
We have a dedicated team of therapists who specialize in physical therapy for pediatric and adolescents. We can implement therapy programs to meet all your family’s goals and help improve function and mobility for your children with our innovative physical therapy programs. Our creative and fun techniques will be a hit with kids as well as teens. Contact us for a consultation today to discuss available treatment options. Click here to find out more about our pediatric and adolescent physical therapy services
Schroth Method:
The Schroth Method directly accesses spinal movement and muscle tightness caused by scoliosis. With the Schroth method, we want to de-rotate, elongate, and stabilize the spine. This therapy will help restore muscle memory, posture, and alignment. Since Scoliosis is unique for anyone with the condition, our highly skilled therapists will develop a custom plan to fight back against your scoliosis, and help to prevent further rotation of your spine. Click here to find out more about our scoliosis physical therapy services
Hand Therapy:
By utilizing hand therapy, you can treat unique muscle groups, tendons, and ligaments. This kind of treatment can help you develop and regain your fine motor skills in your fingers, hands and wrists. Patients who qualify for hand therapy may have had a sports injury, or an accident that has caused them to lose mobility and function of their hands. Click here to find out more about our hand physical therapy services
TMJ Dysfunction Treatment:
We can help correct TMJ without surgery with our treatment plans. At Evolve, we can begin to heal issues with your temporomandibular joint that connects your jaw to your skull. Based on your current condition, we will develop a plan to help eliminate jaw pain associated with TMJ. The following are a few types of therapy that can be used to relieve this kind of pain: manual therapy, low-load exercises, and specialized pain treatments. Click here to find out more about our TMJ physical therapy services
Soft Tissue Therapy:
Here at Evolve, for musculoskeletal injuries, we use instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM) to heal muscles and joints that cause pain during movement. This will improve range of motion, strength, and pain perception.
Here are a few reasons we utilize soft tissue therapy:
Soft Tissue Therapy can improve your range of motion
Reduce swelling and decrease pain
Reduce any adhesions that have formed
Prevent scar tissue build up
Lengthen muscles and tendons
Restore mobility and functionality of affected areas
There are many types of soft tissue techniques that may be incorporated into your treatment plan. Some of the following may be used during the course of your treatment: sustained pressure, direct oscillations, and parallel mobilization. Click here to find out more about our soft tissue physical therapy service
Post-surgical Care:
At Evolve, we are an outpatient facility. We align our treatment plans with our patients long term sports and activity goals. Our experienced physical therapists follow the latest and best protocols when creating your treatment plan. We will develop a close relationship with your surgeon and doctors so that we can work together as a team. It is important to us that you reach your highest fitness goals. With us, good enough just doesn’t cut it. Click here to find out more about our after surgery care physical therapy services
Orthopedic Physical Therapy- every physical therapist in our team is skilled to deal with injury or illness that affects your bones, joints, muscles, tendons or ligaments. These are mainly fractures, strains, sprains or postoperative conditions.
Our physical therapists will have you go through a thorough assessment before laying out a plan of treatment that is in line with your goals. You can expect to use modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound and hot/cold application. We will teach you exercises that will help boost your healing, return you to function and to prevent re-injury. Click here to find out more about our
Orthopedic physical therapy can feel hard at first, as you start learning your exercises and moving through your pain. Treatment sessions are focused on rebuilding your flexibility, strength and function to help you get back on your feet. Click here for more information about our orthopedic physical therapy services
Occupational Physical Therapy- we also specialize in conditions related to daily function and movements and related injuries to your job. Certain hazards at the workplace can cause your body to feel aches and pains that make you susceptible to repetitive strain injuries-a.k.a- (RSI).
RSI, also known as work-related pain, is the general term used to describe muscle, nerve or tendon pain caused by repeated movements and overuse of our joints. It is also caused by improper posture, malalignment, vibrations, compressions, and other cumulative trauma. It can cover a wide range of painful musculoskeletal disorders.
At evolve, our physical therapists are well trained to spot these kinds of conditions and what could have possibly caused it. They will treat and manage your pain, give you exercises to stay pain free, and teach you strategies on how to prevent it from recurring. Click here to find out more about our occupational physical therapy services
Sports Physical Therapy- in sports, every athlete is prone to injury. In sports physical therapy, one of our our missions at Evolve Physical Therapy is to prevent and to minimize the risk for sports injuries.
Since our physical therapists are well versed in sports physical therapy, there are also trained to improve your form and performance through exercises that they provide. But sometimes, athletes do get injured, and again physical therapists are responsible to help them get back to the field.
Our physical therapists will often perform manual therapy, some soft tissue and deep tissue massage to loosen up muscles that stiffened because of an injury, after which you will start exercising to build your strength, endurance, balance and coordination. All of these exercises will help you return to your sport in tip top condition. Click here to find out more about our sports physical therapy services
Do You Need a Physical Therapist That Can Provide Specialized Treatment for Your Injury or Condition?
Regardless of your current condition we can formulate a plan to get you back to your best self. From accident to injury, we have physical therapy specialists that will dedicate themselves to your healing.
We have three prime New York City locations that are devoted to helping you recover. Our main physical therapy office is 3319 Avenue N, located in the heart of Marine Park in Brooklyn. This location features a tranquil and relaxing spa-like environment. Our second location, 6161 Strickland Avenue, is in Mill Basin’s Harbor Fitness, and is designed primarily for athletic patients. Our third and final location is 191 and 15th Street, located at Park Slope's Harbor Fitness. This facility is meant to push you even further in your physical therapy or fitness treatment. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with our team. Give us a call to schedule a consultation! 1-718-258-3300
About Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn-
NYC's Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics-
There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of bio-mechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
Multiple Locations!
Muscle Knots and Trigger Points
Muscle Knots, Trigger Points, and Physical Therapy- Did you know that our body can develop little bumps and knots within muscle tissue? You might even have one right now! If you’re experiencing body pain, chances are a muscle knot is causing your pain.
Muscle Knots and Physical Therapy
Did you know that our body can develop little bumps and knots within muscle tissue? You might even have one right now! If you’re experiencing body pain, chances are a muscle knot is causing your pain.
What are Muscle Knots?
Muscle Knots are those small, bump like areas in your muscles that cause pain when pressed or touched. They’re formally called a Trigger Point, and it literally does what it is called. It “triggers” a painful sensation where it is found, and can also affect nearby areas. The medical dictionary defines it as, a hyperirritable spot, a palpable nodule found in the taut bands of skeletal muscle. These annoying little spots can develop anywhere in our body, specifically in areas that are tense and tight. Aside from causing pain, muscle knots also commonly decrease a person’s range of motion.
What Causes Muscle Knots?
Muscle Knots or Trigger points are a result of muscle tension and tightness. Anyone can develop them, even an active athlete can have them. Muscle tightness usually comes from repetitive motion and activities. For example, if you are a weightlifter, you train the same weight lifting muscles everyday (and neglect some other muscles), therefore repeating the same movements every time you exercise. This tends to result in muscle tightness on certain areas. Muscle tension on the other hand can be a result of stress, such as when an office worker is stressed out about work. Muscle tension can also come from direct trauma or pain.
When muscles are tensed and tight, they cut off the blood supply of the microstructures within the muscle so all the dirty metabolites and waste by-products of these structures do not drain properly. Furthermore, muscle fails to relax after tensing up. This happens when a muscle is overworked, such as when we perform repetitive motions. The build up of these waste material is thought to be the muscle knot or trigger point. In another example, when the muscle experiences trauma, the muscle tenses, contracts and tightens as a means to protect itself from further injury. This is primarily a protective reaction mechanism of the body that blocks off blood supply, resulting in another accumulation of waste in an affected area. We must also remember that these occurrences are involuntary movement within the muscle. We cannot willfully control the chain of events that happen within these structures.
What are the signs and symptoms of a trigger point?
Symptoms usually start with a localized pain in a muscle when pressed and may cause pain in another area. For example, pressing a trigger point found in the shoulder may cause a headache. This is called “referred pain”. Typically, it starts with muscles that are involved in maintaining posture such as the neck, shoulders and low back, but may still develop in other muscles like the calf, quadriceps or hamstrings.
In your first session with a Physical Therapist, they normally would conduct an assessment and evaluation to determine what your body’s current status is. Your PT will perform a physical exam where he will try to find and palpate your muscle knots. He will pay close attention if he can elicit a muscle twitch, a transient, small or palpable muscle contraction. Oftentimes, a physical therapist can also elicit a jump sign in which an individual is startled by intense pain - this reflects the extreme tenderness of a trigger point. Aside from this, your PT will also check your range of motion because frequently, there is a limitation or a decrease in range caused by muscle knots. Lastly, your posture will also be examined, since trigger points are most commonly found in muscles involving posture.
Trigger points are commonly disregarded in a diagnosis. This is because there are no laboratory or imaging techniques that can confirm if you have a trigger point. Diagnosis is based purely on medical history, physical examination, and physical manifestations.
How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
The goal of physical therapy is to help you manage the pain and prevent it from recurring. After a thorough assessment, treatment usually starts off by breaking down the trigger point and releasing the muscles that are tight. There are a number of treatment modalities that your physical therapist can use to break down the knots. Manual techniques such as massage, stretching, manual therapy, soft-tissue therapy, active release therapy, and ischemic compression techniques are used to release the muscle and further break down the knot. A technique called the Stretch and Spray is also an option to use. With this technique, your PT will stretch the affected muscle and spray a vapocoolant spray - a cold modality - to numb the pain you feel when a knot is pressed or stretched. Your muscles will also need strength and re-conditioning after the muscle knot subsides as they are more than likely in a bad shape after all that tension and then sudden release. Your Physical Therapist will curate an exercise program based on his evaluation. Aerobic exercise should also be part of your rehabilitation program to increase your overall endurance.
If the trigger point causes too much pain, your PT can use electrical stimulation to lessen the pain. Doctors can also perform a steroid injection to the trigger point to lessen the pain and tenderness and make it easier for you to perform daily tasks.
What can you do at home?
Success of a physical therapy rehabilitation program also depends on your diligence to perform exercises given by your physical therapist. You should continue stretching and strengthening your muscles at home. You can opt to use hot or cold compresses and applying it to the painful area. If you can’t take the pain, there’s no harm in taking pain medications prescribed by your doctor. You can also try self massaging your painful muscles and joints, heating pads, cold compresses, or use use a tennis ball (any firm ball actually) or a glass bottle to massage your painful areas.
Trigger points form because of stress and tension, lessen these factors by learning relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises and meditation. Muscle tension and tightness results from improper posture and alignment, you should then adjust your ergonomics based on your needs. For example, fix your workstation at the office so you’ll be able to sit and work comfortably without straining your neck, shoulders and back. Live a stress-free life by getting more rest and sleep, eating healthy, engaging in regular physical activity like swimming, running, or cycling.
In Conclusion…
Muscle knots or Trigger Points, can potentially have a debilitating effect on our everyday function. Do not wait until the pain is unbearable before consulting a doctor or a Physical Therapist. Keep in mind, your physical therapy session is just one half of your road to recovery. Your physical therapist will show you how to eliminate, manage, and prevent trigger points from hopefully ever happening again.
Brooklyn's Premier Physical Therapy Clinics-
There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of biomechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
Got Pain? Schedule a Consultation Today! Walk Ins Welcome.
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Bicep Tendinitis and Bicep Tendinosis
What is bicep tendinitis? Biceps tendon injury causing severe bicep pain is very common in sports that include shoulder rotation and elevation of the arm above the head, such as baseball, basketball, swimming, tennis, etc. It comes as a risk with every activity demanding repetitive overhead movements.
How to Heal Bicep Tendonitis
If you are an athlete or regularly play sports, you may be familiar with the frustration and pain associated with the “dreaded” bicep tendonitis injury. When you get this injury, I know you want to fix it as quickly as possible. Just hold your horses for a minute though, if you don’t give yourself the proper amount of time to heal, you will potentially cause severe complications in the future.This does not mean you will be permanently on the bench, it just means that you will need to plan for a period of recovery before your return to the field.
This guide will help with explaining what happens to your body when you get bicep tendonitis and how my team of highly trained, experienced physical therapists and certified fitness specialists will help you overcome it.
What is bicep tendonitis?
If you get bicep tendonitis, you will most certainly know about it. The pain is noticeable when you use your arm, and often gets worse as you continue to use it. The damage from this injury affects the long head of the biceps muscle. There are several ways the biceps tendon can be damaged; from within the shoulder joint (SLAP lesion), or it can be damaged in the region where it passes through the intertubercular sulcus on the front side of the humerus, or you can have a ruptured tendon of the long head.
A bicep tendon injury causing severe bicep pain is very common in people that play sports which include shoulder rotation and elevation of the arm above the head, such as; baseball, basketball, swimming, tennis, etc. If you are repeatedly swinging a bat or throwing a ball, you are more likely to experience problems in the bicep and shoulder areas. The technical explanation for what is happening to your arm is that you are experiencing a shallow humerus intertubercular sulcus, which causes the tendon to pop out or sublux. Tendon subluxations cause damage and inflammation of the tendon and its sheath, something which is called Tenosynovitis.
Unfortunately, things can get a bit worse and you could develop secondary bicep tendonitis as a result of shoulder impingement syndrome or shoulder instability. In these cases, there is increased contact between the tendon and bone structures in the shoulder joint.
I know that the explanation of what is happening to your bicep can sound extreme, but it is not, and you will be able to fix it. The rest of this guide will show you how to recognize what is happening and what my team at Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn can do to get you back on track as quickly as possible!
How do I know if I have bicep tendonitis?
You may have bicep tendonitis if you spot some of the following symptoms:
pain on the front side of your shoulder
pain during physical activity involving the shoulder joint and lifting heavy objects
increased sensitivity and palpitations of the muscle
However, to be certain that you are suffering from bicep tendonitis, we will perform a few tests, including:
Speed's Test – the patient flexes his or her shoulder by lifting the arm to a horizontal position in front of his body. The physical therapist applies mild to moderate resistance on the distal region of the arm, while the patient tries to hold the arm horizontal. If there is bicipital tendinitis, pain will increase during these activities, while constantly keeping our eyes focused on the position of the tendon in the sulcus, and its eventual subluxation.
Flexion of the elbow joint – this is the main movement done by the bicep, and if a patient experiences pain while performing this movement pattern, with or without applied resistance, it is possible that there is tendonitis of the long head.
Besides a regular physical examination, other diagnostic tests are required in order for us to be absolutely sure that we are dealing with tendonitis of this particular muscle. These tests include an x-ray and ultrasound scan of the shoulder joint. If it becomes clear that you have bicep tendonitis, we will not hesitate to get you started on a rehab program right away.
So how are you going to fix my bicep tendonitis?
As a reminder, in order for you to recover quickly from this injury, you must commit to not carrying out your normal work or sport activities. We have to work on your bicep injury intensively and give it the required rest and recovery that it needs to heal. The more committed you are, the easier this will go, I can promise you that. I expect you to ask me, "Am I going to get better soon?" or, "How long is this supposed to take?" We totally understand your frustration to fix the problem as quickly as possible. My team and I at Evolve are here to help you get through your physical therapy treatment program as quickly and efficiently as possible.
So this is how it will go. In the first phase of treatment, we must ease the pain and reduce inflammation of the long head tendon. To reduce pain, in the acute phase you must halt all activities demanding certain effort, especially those involving repetitive elbow and shoulder movement. You may experience some pain relief by pressing something warm on the painful spot. Heat can help in the healing process, increasing blood flow and dispersing algogenic pain substances from the area, but it is crucial that we apply cold procedures first, and then after about 72 hours we can proceed with heat therapy. We will administer cryotherapy, meaning we use cold compress packages and ice cube massages to reduce the inflammatory process affecting the tendon and its sheath.
After cryotherapy, we move on to the fun part, a kinesiotherapy and rehab program consisting of carefully dosed, isometric muscle contractions, followed by isotonic exercises and stretches at the end of each treatment.
In phase two, besides regular bicep tendonitis rehab, we focus on correcting muscular imbalances. It is essential that we evaluate the current strength of all muscle groups surrounding the shoulder, so we can improve the strength and overall stability of this joint. The last thing you want is to have the bicep tendonitis come back and that is why we must take this step to ensure we correct any problems before they come about again.
If you are an athlete and are recovering so you can get back on the field as soon as possible, we will also conduct a movement pattern analysis that is sport-specific, meaning it will help you overcome any irregularities that are causing you trouble and preventing you from playing.
What are the main goals of the rehab program?
Overall, I can guarantee that your rehab program will:
Strengthen your bicep muscle
Strengthen the muscles surrounding and supporting the shoulder
Increase your forearm strength
Activate and strengthen your rotator cuff muscles, which are of utmost importance for the dynamic stability of the shoulder joint
Complete stretching exercises after your workout to remain flexible at all times
How soon can you sign me up?
Today! You know that you can’t delay this any longer. Your bicep tendonitis will not improve by itself and it needs specific help to get it back to full health. If you are an athlete being prevented from playing due to this condition, then you really should have come to see me yesterday.
Don’t worry, the main point is that you act now and act fast. Come down to Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn and we will start working with you immediately.
Call to Schedule a Consultation- 1-718-258-3300
Brooklyn's Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics-
There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of bio-mechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
Multiple Physical Therapy Clinics in Brooklyn!
Call- 1-718-258-3300
Prehabilitation for Sports Related Injuries
It is known that exercising enhances both physical and mental health, but the real question is – when do its effects actually start making a change in your body? The answer is a quite relieving and studies have shown that …
How to Prevent Sports Injury Through Prehabilitation Services
It is known that exercising enhances both physical and mental health, but the real question is – when do its effects actually start making a change in your body? The answer is a quite relieving and studies have shown that as little as one carefully planned and dosed training session can significantly reduce the risk of a heart attack! That is, if you remain consistent and attend your workouts continuously.
Here at Evolve, we can give you the opportunity to prevent things like this from happening. Whether it’s a heart condition, or a common sports related injury like tears or muscle pulls, by conducting prehabilitation exercises you can lessen your chances of an injury. Better safe than sorry, believe me!
Why would you need prehab?
Unlike rehabilitation which represents physical therapy after a certain injury or operation, prehab consists of well-structured and supervised exercises that ameliorate the outcome of a surgery, or lower the risk of training accidents of players on the field. That kind of preparation can be beneficial to your recovery, whatever situation you’re in. Leave your excuses at home, because here at Evolve physical therapy in Brooklyn, we can give you a variety of choices for you to better the odds when it comes to your health.
The Benefits of Prehab Exercises
Physical therapy prior to intense exercise or any other medical procedure can be a crucial step in preventing injuries. I always say that in order for a professional athlete to endure the enormous stress they put on their body daily, they primarily need to be functional and have a healthy postural status. Same goes for everyone else, even if they aren’t in that kind of situation. Whether you need surgery, or you just want to participate for your overall well-being. I myself, along with my team of highly experienced physical therapists here at Evolve, can guide you through a wide range of exercises that will help you prevent accidents such as:
Prehab for Knee Injuries
Injuries of the knee joint are one of the most common among professional athletes, and in many cases very dangerous because they can easily end their career. However, they can happen to anyone, even if they don’t play a professional sport. At Evolve we like to do things strategically and that means approaching the issue from every possible angle, in order to prevent these knee injuries. Our primary goal is to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee, meaning every one that produces knee flexion and extension - mainly quadriceps and biceps femoris muscle, along with other muscles that contribute to overall stability of the joint. The goal is that after you go through our treatment you will be able to easily perform every movement in the knee. We want to make sure that your full range of motion has been restored, and that it remains stable throughout every activity.
Prehabilitation for Cycling Injuries
Prehabilitation is a fantastic method for preventing injury while cycling. Cycling is a beautiful sport, and I personally love it very much. However, there is one thing we should all have in mind when we think of going cycling - it is a highly repetitive sport. In order for us to be able to keep pedaling on and on, we have to engage in this sort of activity well prepared. That means strengthening and conditioning muscles that stabilize joints and take all the impact of those high repetitions. Mainly we mean your hips, knees, and wrists. Not only do they need good support, but you must also be aware of all the other complications that can occur because of an uncomfortable, non-physiological position when sitting on a bike. Our team can conduct different training and physiotherapy sessions that will prevent pain in your cervical and thoracic spine, prevent injuries of ligaments surrounding lower extremity joints, and most importantly to help you be able to enjoy cycling as long as possible without feeling any discomforts!
Shoulder pain, Muscle Tears, Pulls and Other Sports Related Injuries
Shoulder injuries are one of the most common ones in sports that mainly require usage of the arms, such as basketball or baseball. Basketball players often have problems with shoulder pain when lifting arms above their head, and why wouldn’t they feel pain when this puts the shoulder joint in a very non-anatomic position? On the other hand, baseball players need to have strong enough posterior muscles of the shoulder joints, in order to avoid tearing of ligaments, glenoid labrum, and more. Besides these, all the other sports carry their risks, but let’s stick to most common cases.
If you feel pain, or if you suffered a muscle tear in the past, you shouldn’t let it happen to you again. There are ways we can help you ensure that you don’t. By performing functional movement patterns as an element of carefully planned and supervised physical therapy, you can achieve the proper posture, stability and overall functionality. Whether we talk about shoulder prehab exercises, or exercises that give you stability and strength in every other critical joint. Undergoing prehabilitation therapy like we offer here at Evolve might just be the missing element for you to have complete enjoyment when participating in sports activities.
What are the main goals of prehabilitation?
Sometimes the external forces that affect our body in various physical activities can be inevitable and dominant, and there is just nothing we can do to stop an injury from happening. This is very common with contact sports. However, I think that in many cases we alone are most responsible for our injuries. All too often we engage in activities while being inadequately prepared!
When I say inadequately, I mean we usually skip the warm up. In my opinion, this is a terrible decision. A moderate warm up will increase the blood flow through our muscles and make them more flexible, decreasing the risk of an injury. Simply put, a 10-minute
Investment of your time can save you weeks of taking painkillers!
Your muscles need to be well conditioned for every specific type of sport. If you jog every morning and then suddenly you decide you want to play football, you will have a major risk of hurting yourself. Every sport has its demands, and if you doubt your strength or overall stability that’s needed for it, undergoing prehab won’t bring you any harm.
Last but not least, you can always give your muscles a nice good stretch whenever you can. Whether you just finished working out, or right before you hit the pillow. Remember, everything you do to contribute to your overall well-being makes you maybe one step ahead of an unpleasant surprise. If you would like to learn more about our prehab services, feel free to give our team a call today.
What is Prehabilitation Therapy?
What is Prehabilitation Therapy? Prehabilitation, or prehab, is a combination of aerobic exercises, strength training, and individual treatment plans to prepare a patient who is about to undergo surgery.
What is Prehab?
Prehabilitation, or prehab, is a combination of aerobic exercises, strength training, and individual treatment plans to prepare a patient who is about to undergo surgery or for athletes.
These exercises benefit your body by getting it ready for the stresses that a surgery can cause. Establishing an exercise routine prior to your surgery is a vital component of your recovery, and you can often start as early as six weeks prior to your procedure. However, your therapist will come up with an individualized plan just for you.
Prior to creating your customized prehab plan, you will have a full body evaluation from your physical therapist. This allows them to formulate a plan to address and correct any areas of muscle weakness.
If you want to avoid any unnecessary pain or injury after a surgery, prehab is the way to go.
Additional Benefits of Prehabilitation Therapy
While prehab is an excellent choice for surgical candidates, that is not the only area that this type of treatment can be beneficial for. If you are an athlete or even an occasional sports player, these exercises can help you too. The movements utilized in prehabilitation methods can help reduce the likelihood of injury during physical activity.
Learn more about our prehabilitation services at Evolve here.
https://www.evolveny.com/physical-therapy/prehabilitation-therapy-brooklyn
The Importance of Prehabilitation Exercises
If you have a health condition where you are looking to avoid surgery, or you know you are having surgery, prehab can help. This physical therapy treatment can allow you to have the best possible results after surgery, or even assist you with avoiding any unnecessary surgeries.
Prehab therapy can help with the following surgeries and more.
Hip and knee replacement
Joint replacement
Orthopedic surgery
Speed up Your Recovery Time with Prehabilitation
Prehabilitation exercises have the ability to help prevent injuries before they happen, as well as provide the possibility of a greater outcome post-surgery.
Having physical therapy before your surgery can help in the following ways:
You will regain your strength faster and increase recovery speed
Shorter hospital stays
It will mentally prepare you for your surgery
It may decrease the possibility of high risk side effects from surgery
An increase the overall outcome of your surgery
Contributing Factors of a Prehabilitation Plan
Prehab is not limited to just a physical therapy plan. While this is a vital part of your prehabilitation treatment, there are other areas of your health that your doctor may want to adjust prior to surgery. These may include: Changes to diet and lifestyle, breathing and meditation exercises, aerobic exercises, and potentially changes to your medication.
Should you consider prehab Therapy?
Almost everyone that is about to have surgery can benefit from a prehab plan. Your doctor can refer you to a physical therapist who can give you an evaluation to determine what course of action would be best for you. Depending on your current pain status, and the type of surgery you will be having, your therapist will customize a movement routine that will help to alleviate pain and promote a positive surgical outcome.
Click here for more information about prehab therapy in Brooklyn
If you are currently an extremely active individual, or maybe not so much, you can gain something from working with a physical therapist prior to surgery. At Evolve, we can help you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Call-1-718-258-3300
Evolve Physical Therapy-
Evolve Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation services the New York community. We evaluate, heal, and strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives.
3 Convenient Locations in Brooklyn- Marine Park, Mill Basin, Park Slope
