Brooklyn Physical Therapy News- Evolve NY
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!
Perfect Posture
Posture is the ability to hold our bodies in an upright position while sitting and standing, working against the pull of gravity. Good posture is when your body parts are in correct alignment. Ligaments and muscles help us maintain a good posture, but occasionally they do get tired which can lead to bad posture.
What is Posture?
Posture is the ability to hold our bodies in an upright position while sitting and standing, working against the pull of gravity. Good posture is when your body parts are in correct alignment. Ligaments and muscles help us maintain a good posture, but occasionally they do get tired which can lead to bad posture. Ultimately, if you continue to slouch and have bad posture, you will more than likely start to feel aches and pains and increase your chances of sustaining an injury.
Why is maintaining good posture important?
Again, good posture is when your body parts are in the most correct alignment. This means in this position, your muscles, ligaments, and other body structures are in the most efficient position, therefore in the least damaging positions. Keeping bones and muscles properly aligned helps prevent our bodies from developing degenerative conditions such as arthritis or chronic pain. It also reduces your risk in acquiring injuries, since we know that our structures are in the optimum alignment. Your risk of muscle strain or overuse conditions is also likely reduced. Lastly, good posture looks... good! And makes you feel good! Research also suggests that sitting or standing up straight has positive psychological effects.
On the other hand, bad or poor posture has its consequences. When we assume bad posture for a long period of time, such as when we slouch in front of a desk or television, we start to develop the lower back aches or neck pains because our bodies are not supposed to be positioned this way. It puts us at risk of muscle strains or ligament sprains. When body structures are not aligned properly, they will usually get tight or overly stretched which results in muscle weakness. Because of the weakness and misalignment, it becomes more challenging to correct the poor posture.
Here are some examples of poor posture that are commonly seen (but not corrected) in the workplace:
Slouching - who doesn’t slouch in front of a desk at work right? When work gets boring and stressful, we would just slump on our chairs with the very bad back support. Get into the habit of sitting up straight, it’s actually proven that you’re much more productive this way. Another good thing to do is take a 10 minute movement break every hour to stretch your muscles and prevent them from tightening up.
Text Neck - we get to see this everywhere now! This is when we look down on our mobile phones for a long period of time and can result in mild or severe neck pain. Text neck can also be seen when we’re lying down with numerous pillows stacked under our head and neck just so we can use our phones comfortably. A way to prevent this posture is to hold your mobile phone up a bit higher so you don’t have to look down as much.
Rounded shoulders - this poor posture can be seen in standing, sitting and even lying down on the bed! It’s when the shoulders are positioned a little more forward that the ear. In correct postural alignment, your shoulder blades should be aligned with your ear. This position places a lot of stress on your upper back and neck muscles. People with this posture often complain of heavy and painful shoulders. A good way to prevent this is to lightly exercise the shoulders throughout the day by rolling them back or doing a couple of shoulder shrugs.
What can I do?
Breaking out of bad posture is quite challenging. It takes time, a lot of effort, and a lot of exercise. But it can be corrected and reversed! Here are the top three stretches that you can do at home that will surely help you loosen up.
Chin tuck - move your chin towards your chest and hold the position for 6 to 10 seconds. This exercise can stretch AND strengthen your neck muscles! It’ll help you regain normal, or close to normal alignment of your neck and shoulders. It’ll also help in preventing any more neck pain.
Wall stretches - This exercise basically helps with rounded shoulders. It opens up the chest and loosens front shoulder muscles. Face a corner of a wall, place your hands up high on the wall forming a letter “V”. Gently flex at the hip with your upper body moving towards the floor. You should feel a good amount of stretch in the chest and shoulder area. Hold this position for 6 to 10 seconds, and repeat 10 times.
Runner’s stretch - This exercise opens up the abdominal and hip areas. It also helps stretch the legs and gluteal muscles. In standing, step one foot forward and flex your knee into a deep lunge. Flex all the way the floor until you feel a good amount of stretch at the hips! Hold it for 6 to 10 seconds, and repeat 10 times. Don’t forget to do the other leg as well!
Remember, poor posture can be corrected, but again, can be quite challenging. It needs practice, determination, and a lot of conscious effort. However, if your poor posture has been an issue for a long while, then you might want to consider the help of a Physical Therapist.
Click here for more information on our general physical therapy services and physical therapy for posture
About Evolve Physical Therapy of Brooklyn
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.
Multiple Locations!
Physical Therapy and Pain Management
Physical Therapy and Pain Management- Pain is primarily a protective mechanism of the body, it is our body’s way of telling us that there is something wrong. It can feel sharp or dull, it can come and go or be constant. Physical Therapy is a recommended alternative by doctors instead of solely relying on medications as it eliminates pain through movement, exercise and body awareness.
Physical Therapy and Pain Management
Pain is primarily a protective mechanism of the body, it is our body’s way of telling us that there is something wrong. It can feel sharp or dull, it can come and go or be constant. If you have never felt pain, then you might be at risk of hurting yourself or that you may never be aware if there’s something wrong with your body. You can experience pain in one area of the body, but can also feel it in various parts at the same time. Physical Therapy is a recommended alternative by doctors instead of solely relying on medications as it eliminates pain through movement, exercise and body awareness.
What is Pain?
There are two types of pain, acute and chronic. Acute pain is pain that comes quickly, can be severe but goes away immediately when the initial underlying cause is eliminated. It is usually because of an initial injury, sickness or disease, or inflammation. This is easy to diagnose and should last in most cases, 3 to 6 months. After acute pain goes away, you can go on with life as usual. However, acute pain can also lead to chronic pain.
Chronic pain is one that persists even when the initial injury is healed. This usually lasts longer than 6 months. Chronic pain can have debilitating effects and can influence every aspect of an individual’s life. It can affect a person physically, emotionally, and/or mentally. Sometimes, this type of pain becomes apparent even when there is no past injury or initial damage. Chronic pain is often times difficult to diagnose because of numerous contributing factors. For example, a patient is experiencing severe back pain. His back pain can be a result of the poor posture he assumes when at work, poor lifting techniques at the gym, or maybe he has un-diagnosed scoliosis. Chronic pain can also be a sign of a disease such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia.
A closer look on how pain works...
Pain management is largely a part of physiotherapy. It is often the first step of treatment. Before we discuss how physical therapy can help with pain management, let’s understand how pain works and why it can persist.
When you are injured or develop a painful diagnosis, the nerves in your body will send information to the brain about the affected area. The brain then analyzes this information and classifies if this pain means there is a threat to the body or not. If the pain signal means that there is a threat, the brain will send signals to protect your body. For example, when your finger touches a hot stove, your brain will immediately send signals to tell your arms to withdraw your hands. This protects you from getting hurt.
When pain becomes constant, your brain and nervous system switch into “high alert” mode making your body and extremities highly sensitive. The nerves and cells in the rest of your body becomes highly sensitive too that even a soft touch or any other gentle kind of stimuli is perceived by the brain as pain that poses a threat to the body. This mechanism continues in a cycle even when the initial cause has healed.
Common Causes
Acute pain comes in quickly and has a specific source. This is usually because of an injury such as a bone fracture, muscle strain, or ligament sprain. You can also feel this type of pain after surgery, get sick, or when you get into an accident.
Chronic pain is present even when there is no obvious damage to the body. Some common causes of chronic pain are arthritis, cancer, nerve damage, and fibromyalgia. Some factors like bone and joint malalignment, muscle and soft tissue tightness, and weakness such as those found in lower back pain patients, can contribute to chronic pain.
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
The goal of physical therapy with pain management is primarily to find and fix the source of the problem, instead of just treating the symptom. Physical Therapists will use a number of treatment strategies to help you manage your pain.
Treatment Modalities. Modalities make use of electrical, thermal, or mechanical energy that can influence physiological changes in the body. A Physical Therapist may use electrical stimulation to help numb the painful area. He can also choose to use either a hot or cold compress to help lessen your pain. Another machine he can use is the ultrasound which generates sound waves to create heat inside a muscle or joint. These modalities are used in conjunction with exercise and other procedures to alleviate pain. Modalities can relieve pain, improve blood circulation, reduce swelling and muscle spasms.
Manual Therapy. Your Physical Therapist will do all the hard work in this part of your session. Manual Therapy is a specific, gentle, hands-on approach in which your Physical Therapist will try joint mobilization or manipulation to improve your alignment, increase range of motion, and consequently improve your symptoms of pain.
Exercise. The treatment modalities and manual therapy techniques are usually used to prepare your body for exercise. Your Physical Therapist will teach you stretching and strengthening exercises to help your body move with ease and comfort. This can be quite challenging but these are graded-exercises and specifically tailored for your individual level and needs. Exercising even just for 30 minutes everyday can help you improve your posture and movement. Being strong and flexible will reduce the strain and stress on your body, therefore decreasing your pain as well.
Your Physical Therapist will also teach you about pain in general. How it occurs, and what you can do to manage it at home. They will also teach you a home program which consists of exercises that you can safely perform independently. Lastly, your physical therapist will also teach you proper body mechanics. This will help you move about your surroundings in a safe and correct way, such as how to lift a bag of groceries to prevent lower back pain or how you should sit in front of your desk to prevent neck pain and shoulder pain.
The Takeaway...
Always remember that pain is a normal and vital part of our life since it helps us protect our body. However, we must also learn how to manage pain. It is important that we be able to address pain while it is still “acute” and stop it from progressing to the “chronic” type which more or less prevents us from living our best lives. Pain medications are appropriate for some cases, but they just mask the pain and do not address the source of the problem.
For sure, your Physical Therapist will work with you in figuring out what strategies would be best for you to manage your pain.
About Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, NY-
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.
Multiple Locations!
1-718-258-3300
Sports Physical Therapy
What is Sports Physical Therapy? As an athlete, you may need physical therapy for an injury over the course of your career. You may also decide to take part in physical therapy exercises to improve your athletic performance. At Evolve, we provide a wide array of sports physical therapy services to help you improve and maintain your athletic skill levels.
What is Sports Physical Therapy?
As an athlete, you may need physical therapy for an injury over the course of your career. You may also decide to take part in physical therapy exercises to improve your athletic performance. At Evolve, we provide a wide array of sports physical therapy services to help you improve and maintain your athletic skill levels.
What Can You Expect from Physical Therapy for Sports Injuries
When you come to Evolve for our sports therapy services you can expect us to take the following into account when developing your recovery plan: the type and severity of your injury, the requirements of your sport, and your individual body mechanics.
Our sports physical therapy services will incorporate multiple strengthening exercises to help you recover from your injury. The Evolve team can also teach you preventative exercises so that you can avoid re-injury.
What physical therapy services does Evolve offer for athletes?
Prehabilitation: Prehabilitation, or prehab, is a great way to prevent injury during your athletic training. By incorporating the stretches and exercises that are included with prehab you can also begin to increase your athletic performance.
Manual Therapy: Manual therapy is a hands-on type of physical therapy that is used to reduce the pain and discomfort associated with your injuries. It can also help to improve your mobility in any of your affected areas.
Deep Tissue Massage: With a deep tissue massage we use pressure to treat the affected tissues to release any small knots that have formed, and to relieve stiff muscles.
Why should you see a sports physical therapist?
If you have a sports related injury it is important that you find a facility that is built to fulfill your needs. By seeing a certified sports physical therapist, and attending a facility that has a lot of experience treating sports injuries (like us at Evolve), you will be setting yourself up for a much faster recovery. While every injury brings its own set of unique challenges, our team is prepared to get you back into the best shape of your life.
At most physical therapy facilities that are able to treat athletic injuries, you will have access to the equipment and experienced specialists that you need to recover.
Click here to learn more about sports physical therapy services at Evolve.
The Most Common Sports Injuries
Pulled Muscles: A pulled muscle is probably the most common sporting injury. Whether you did not warm up properly, or maybe you have over exerted yourself at practice, these are not a fun injury to have.
Runner’s Knee: If you are a runner, athletic or recreational, you may have experienced runner’s knee. Manual therapy treatments can be beneficial to reducing this pain in and around your knees.
Shoulder Injuries: If you play a sport that actively uses your shoulder like baseball, volleyball, or tennis you may experience some type of shoulder injury. If you must have surgery, or your injury persists, then physical therapy is a great option to help promote healing.
Shin Splints: These frequently occur in athletes who spend a lot of time running. These pains occur near your shin bone and can be treated with stretching and icing.
Achilles Tendonitis: Another injury that is popular among sports that require frequent running, Achilles tendonitis can occur when your calf muscles have been overused. To prevent this condition from occurring, prehab exercises are a great place to start.
Click here for more information on sports physical therapy in Brooklyn
Work with Evolve for Leading Sports Physical Therapy Services
Do you need to learn injury prevention techniques, enhance your athletic performance, or help with healing a persistent injury? At Evolve, our team can find the solutions that you need to improve your athletic abilities and find healing for sports injuries. Give us a call today to schedule your first consultation free of charge. Call - 1-718-258-3300
About Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn-
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.
Multiple Locations!
1-718-258-3300
Orthopedic Physical Therapy Services at Evolve
Orthopedic Physical Therapy Services- Orthopedics is a branch of medicine concerning the musculoskeletal system. These are comprised of your muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. If you have concerns with any of the mentioned body parts, your doctor will likely refer you for Physical Therapy.
Orthopedic Therapy
Over a person’s lifetime, they will more than likely get an injury or illness that will affect their muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons as a result of their activities and lifestyle. These conditions will limit you from doing your daily activities and even prevent you from work or recreational activities. These types of injuries or illnesses can affect one’s independence, mental state, and quality of life. If you are one of these people, you will more than likely benefit from the services of an orthopedic physical therapist.
Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Orthopedics is a branch of medicine concerning the musculoskeletal system. These are comprised of your muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. If you have concerns with any of the mentioned body parts, your doctor will likely refer you for Physical Therapy. Orthopedic Physical Therapy is the most common form of physical therapy. It includes assessment and treatment of the musculoskeletal system when they are affected by illness or injury due to trauma. This branch of PT can be Pediatric, Geriatric, Sports Related or Work Related.
Pediatric - this involves treatment of children and teenagers with bone fractures, scoliosis or growing pains.
Geriatric - this involves treatment of orthopedic cases affecting the aging population.
Sports Related - the dark side of sports is that you can get injured anytime even with training. An athlete would need Orthopedic Physical Therapy to recovery from injury or surgery.
Work Related - these involve patients that perform activities that require repetitive work. Repetitive motions often result in pain, decreases in flexibility, and decreases in strength.
Common Conditions-
This specialization of Physical Therapy focuses treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Some of the conditions that are commonly seen are:
Fractures - any break in the bone. Fractures commonly occur because of accidents, slips, falls, or sports injuries.
Strains - an injury affecting the muscle. A muscle strain happens when a muscle is overly stretched resulting in microtears within the affected part.
Sprains - this type of injury is similar to a sprain, only it affects the ligaments. It is also a result of the ligament being overly stretched due to a sudden movement or action.
Tendonitis - this occurs when a tendon (the structure which connects a muscle to a bone) is inflammed. This can cause pain and affect a person’s participation in daily activities.
Bursitis - an inflammation affecting the small, fluid-filled sacs called bursa. A bursa acts like a pillow that cushions the bones, muscles and ligaments near the joint.
Post-operative conditions - if you have just gone surgery of your bone, muscle, tendon, ligament or joint, you will most definitely need to undergo orthopedic physical therapy.
Remember, these conditions can affect any area of our body! It can also affect any person regardless of their age.
Evaluation and Treatment
The human body is made for movement and the musculoskeletal system helps the human body move and interact with the environment. Physical Therapists are also called movement specialists. They are particularly trained in the treatment and rehabilitation of orthopedic cases. Before proceeding with treatment, your Physical Therapist will first conduct a thorough assessment and evaluation. This will determine your current status in terms of pain, flexibility, mobility and functionality. Part of the assessment is formulating goals of treatment. It is important that you let your PT know what you want to achieve after your series of treatments. Your Physical Therapist will then design a program of treatment that will best suit you based on your current status and goals.
Therapists have a number of treatment strategies that they use to accommodate your body’s problems. These strategies are what they will use during the course of your treatment.
Modalities - these include hot / cold packs, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or laser. These are provided by machines and are mostly used to control your pain and inflammation, especially during the first few times you see your PT.
Assistive Devices - these include crutches, walkers, canes or a wheelchair. You might need one of these to help you move around when you’re still recovering from an injury or post op.
Orthotics or Prosthetics - Orthotics makes use of artificial devices such as splints and braces while Prosthetics uses an artificial body part. These devices help in supporting body parts that are impaired (orthotics) or amputated (prosthetics).
Manual Therapy - this treatment strategy involves quite a few things. A PT can perform kneading to release your muscle and fascia, joint manipulation and joint mobilization. This is the part where you relax and the PT does all the hard work!
Exercise - the main tool to help a patient recover from an orthopedic condition.
Exercise is the most important component of Orthopedic Physical Therapy. Here, a PT will give you a set of things to do uniquely tailored for you based on his initial assessment and findings. When a person is diagnosed with an orthopedic case, the person is most likely experiencing pain, a decrease in motion or flexibility and some muscle weakness. Exercises will typically include:
Stretching Exercises - this is to help increase your flexibility and prepare structures for more challenging activities.
Strengthening Exercises - whenever there is pain, a slight muscle weakness will always be present. Strengthening these weakened muscles helps get rid of the pain.
Balance Exercises - this is usually prescribed to patients with lower extremity injuries. This can be hard since your PT will have to challenge your limits, but it can be fun too!
Endurance Exercises - some orthopedic injuries are a result of repetitive motions making your muscles and other structures tire easily. Endurance exercises are designed to be repetitive, as you are training your muscles to be able to perform motions for a prolonged period of time.
Plyometrics - this exercise focuses on generating power. This type of exercise will require your muscles (or you) to exert maximum effort to produce maximum results.
Finding the right PTs
There are some Physical Therapists that have undergone specific training to treat orthopedic conditions. These PTs have the letters “OCS” attached to their names. It stands for Orthopedic Certified Specialist. You can ask your doctor for a referral, but you can also choose to come directly to a Physical Therapist you trust.
Orthopedic Physical Therapy will help you return to function but it can be quite challenging since it will require you to endure a little bit of pain and discomfort. Your hard work, dedication, and active participation really is the key to full recovery. Here at Evolve, we can guarantee that our team of Physical Therapists will help you face these challenges.
Click here for more information on our orthopedic physical therapy services in Brooklyn
About Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn-
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.
Multiple Locations!
Squats for Oddballs
What is a Squat? For those that do not know, the squat is THE exercise that is never missed out in most workout regimens. It’s a very effective exercise as it recruits all the major muscle groups of your lower extremities, including your core.
What is a Squat?
For those that do not know, the squat is THE exercise that is never missed out in most workout regimens. It’s a very effective exercise as it recruits all the major muscle groups of your lower extremities, including your core. Squats aren’t only present in the gym or in a workout, it’s also incorporated in our daily lives! We squat when we get something from the floor, we squat when we pull weeds in the garden, we squat when we go to site down, etc. Read on to find out more on how to do squats properly, especially if you have a long femur or are a tall person. ;)
How to Do a Squat Correctly?
The squat is easy to do during a workout, but it's also easy to do it incorrectly, and even more so if you have a long femur or are a tall person. It’s extremely important that a person do a squat (or any exercise) in the correct form to prevent injuries like strains, sprains and pain. So how do we make sure we’re doing the right thing? Here are some tips!
Try to feel for a stance you are comfortable with. If you’re not sure where to start, you can stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Angle your feet slightly outward, but you also point them straight forward if that feels more comfortable too.
Put a little tension on your abs, and then slowly bend at the knees, as if you’re sitting down on a low stool.
Look straight ahead, do not look up or down. You can hold your hands up in front of you so you can make sure you’re still upright. If your hands start pointing towards your feet or at the floor, then you might be flexing your trunk forward.
Sometimes, we still get it wrong.
Unfortunately, there will be times that we may assume the wrong form of a squat. It’s usually because of a number of things that can easily be addressed like, poor hip and ankle mobility and muscle imbalance. Luckily, these two reasons can be reversed. We can stretch our hips and ankles, and strengthen them a little bit more too so that we can achieve the proper form. Another reason a person can have the wrong form is having a long femur. The femur is a long bone where the muscles in your thigh is attached. Some people are born with long femurs, with a short torso, or short tibia (the bone on your lower leg). Since this is purely an anatomical reason, there really isn’t a corrective exercise for this in most instances.
What’s wrong with a long femur?
When your femur is relatively longer than the structures connected to it (the torso or the tibia), it’s harder to achieve a squat with good form. When a person with a long femur squats, they usually have an excessive forward lean. This increases their risk for a low back injury since the back is stretched too much and strains the muscle. The forward lean is necessary for their bodies since it keeps them in balance; it keeps their center of gravity close to their base of support. They also tend to move the knees too far forward (usually over the toes) also increasing risk for knee injuries. Long-femured persons will also have trouble doing a deep squat.
How to squat successfully if you have a long femur
Even though we can’t change the parts of our body, there are ways to successfully perform a squat without getting injured.
Widen your stance - Normally, putting your feet shoulder-width apart is enough, but if you have a long femur, it is best that you assume a wider stance instead.
Point your toes out - Some people like their feet parallel, or pointing it straight forward, but to achieve that low, deep squat, you have to externally rotate your hips and point your feet and toes outwards.
Raise your heels - a good squat needs good ankle mobility. You can stand with your heels on a slightly elevated surface (just about an inch) to be able to achieve a deep squat with good ankle mobility
It can be a little bit challenging when you first try out an exercise regimen, especially if you normally live a sedentary lifestyle. To minimize mistakes and lessen your risk of injuries, try to practice first in front of a mirror a few times during an exercise. It also helps to be conscious of yourself and how your body parts are positioned. Effective exercise also needs a little bit of concentration. If you’re having a hard time doing exercises on your own, a Physical Therapist is a highly qualified professional that can surely help you out.
Click here for more information about our Brooklyn physical therapy services
About Evolve Physical Therapy-
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.
Multiple Locations!
Occupational Physical Therapy Services
What is occupational therapy? You may need to have occupational therapy if you have been injured, or have a chronic condition that affects your ability to complete daily activities. Your occupational therapist can not only treat your physical body, but your motor skills, emotions, and behavior as well. At Evolve, our team can help you reach all your daily living goals.
What is occupational therapy?
You may need to have to go in for occupational therapy if you have been injured or have a chronic condition that affects your ability to complete daily activities. Your occupational therapist can not only treat your physical body, but your motor skills, emotions, and quality of life as well. At Evolve, our team can help you reach all your daily living goals with our specialized occupational therapy services.
How can an occupational therapist help you?
Every occupational therapy plan will start with an evaluation of your health history, recent injuries, as well as what activities you need help with to perform your normal daily routines. We will use this information and work with you to create your individual occupational therapy treatment plan. An occupational therapist can also help you with the following:
Education on how to prevent injuries
We can educate you on your individual healing and treatment process
Train and educate you on how to complete daily activities correctly.
We can also teach you how to modify and adjust daily living activities to be more comfortable and ergonomically correct.
Click here to learn more about occupational therapy services in Brooklyn
Where can I find an occupational therapist?
Occupational therapists work with people of all ages. You can find them almost anywhere including:
Physical Therapy Clinics
Schools
Hospitals
Home Health Care
Assisted Living Facilities
Outpatient Medical Centers
What can an occupational therapist assist you with?
There are many different activities of daily living that they can help you relearn how to do. Below are a few examples
Dressing
Bathing
Eating
Functional Mobility
Communication
Meal Prep
Work Activities
And more!
What kinds of injuries or health problems can your occupational therapist help with?
Below are a few of the many different conditions that our team can assist with.
Arthritis: This is inflammation of your joints that causes pain and can get worse over time. An occupational therapist can teach you how to adjust your home or place of work to better suit your condition. They can also help you learn how to modify your everyday activities.
Stroke: When someone has a stroke, depending on how large it is and what area of the brain is affected, you may need occupational therapy to relearn daily activities.
Brain Injury: Depending on the severity and the type of brain injury that you have, you may need to work with an occupational therapist to relearn how to complete daily tasks and regain anything that you may have lost.
Joint Replacements: Having a joint replaced can be a painful process. You may realize after your surgery that you are struggling to regain the mobility that you once had. This is where physical and occupational therapy comes in. By taking part in a plan that has been customized to your abilities you can learn how to take your life back.
Multiple Sclerosis: If you have multiple sclerosis an occupational therapist can help you with daily living activities, home management tasks, and work related duties. Each of these can be tailored to suit your current activity levels.
Our Occupational Therapy Services Can Help You Check Off All Your Daily Living Goals
Here at Evolve, our highly skilled team is ready to help you find the strength and mobility you need to get your daily life back in order. With years of experience in the physical therapy field, we know that every body and situation is different. Our holistic approach to occupational therapy will find the solutions that you need. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Click here to learn more about occupational therapy services in Brooklyn
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 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 Physical Therapy of Brooklyn Set to Host Free Educational Parkinsons Disease Event
Brooklyn Physical Therapy Network, Evolve Physical Therapy, to Hold New Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Options Event; "Managing the OFF Periods in Parkinson’s" at Mayan Yisroel, Sept. 12th, 2019.
Brooklyn Physical Therapy Network, Evolve Physical Therapy, to Hold Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Options Event; "Managing the OFF Periods in Parkinson’s" at Mayan Yisroel, Sept. 12th, 2019.
Do you or someone you know struggle with Parkinson’s disease symptoms? If so, this free event is for you and your loved ones!
Find out about some of the latest innovative Parkinsons disease treatments, programs, and breakthrough’s currently available for those living with PD and much more!
Hear from Parkinson’s experts and learn about the many different Parkinson’s disease therapies and treatments for the "OFF" periods of Parkinson’s Disease.
Featured Speaker-
MIRAN SALGADO, MD Chairman Department of Neurosciences Chief of Neurology Director, Parkinson’s Disease Program
When?
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
12 PM - 1:30 PM
Where?
MAYAN YISROEL
3315 Avenue N, Brooklyn, NY 11234
Come join us in the fight against Parkinson’s with a treatment educational event by Acorda Therapeutics.
Please RSVP by Monday 9/9 by calling 718.258.3300 or email info@evolveny.com
Check out Evolve Physical Therapy’s RockSteady Boxing Program for People Living With Parkinson’s-
About Evolve Physical Therapy of 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 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!
Physical Therapy After Surgery & Post Op Care
Post-Surgical Care and Physical Therapy
Have you just had a major surgery and need help getting back to where you were prior to? At Evolve, our team of highly experienced physical therapists can help you over the course of your healing and recovery process.
Post-Surgical Care and Physical Therapy
Have you recently had a major surgery and need help getting back to where you were prior to injury and now surgery? At Evolve, our team of highly experienced physical therapists can help you over the course of your healing and recovery process.
Your physical therapy plan can start to take place a few hours to a few days after surgery. Evolve is an outpatient physical therapy clinic that can work with you to improve your strength and mobility post-surgery.
Post-Surgery Recovery Goals
The primary goal of completing a physical therapy plan post-surgery is to return to your previous activity level. Your physical therapist can help you develop a plan to complete daily activities, as well as teach you how to modify any movements until you can make a full recovery.
What post-operative treatment methods might be used?
There are many different types of physical therapy methods that may be utilized over the course of your post-operative treatment. Below are a few examples:
Flexibility and Range of Motion Exercises
Exercises to strengthen Your Muscles
Coordination Training
Manual Physical Therapy
Click here to learn more about our post-surgical care physical therapy services.
Surgeries that Require Postoperative Physical Therapy
It is very common that if you have surgery you will need physical therapy to heal properly. Here are a few of the most common surgeries that require postoperative physical therapy.
Hip, Joint, and Knee Replacements: Completing a physical therapy exercise program is key to your recovery during this type of surgery. These exercises will help you to build your muscles back up around the area that was replaced so that you can get back to your regular daily activities faster.
Tendon/Ligament Reconstruction: Physical therapy services post-surgery will incorporate a combination of coordination, strength, and flexibility exercises. It can also help to relieve pain after tendon and ligament reconstruction.
Spinal Surgery: After a spinal surgery, your physical therapist will form a treatment plan that is specific to your surgery, body type, and the condition of the tissues in your body. By taking part in these exercises you can speed up recovery and reduce the potential of frequent episodes of back pain.
Shoulder Surgeries: When you have surgery on your shoulder you may notice that you have trouble with basic everyday tasks like getting dressed or doing your hair. Often times a post-surgery physical therapy plan is needed to get you back to where you were prior to the surgery. A few of the most common shoulder surgeries include: Rotator cuff repairs, labrum repairs, shoulder replacements, and fracture repairs.
Post-Surgical Care Recovery Services with Evolve
If you have recently had a surgery then chances are you need physical therapy. It is the best way to regain the strength and mobility that you had prior to surgery, and it can increase your chances at making a full recovery. Contact us today to learn how we can help you restore function and mobility with our innovative physical therapy services. Your first consultation is free of charge. We look forward to working with you!
Click here to learn more about our post-op physical therapy services.
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 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.
Multiple Locations!
1-718-258-3300
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.
Multiple Locations!
Evolve Physical Therapy Updates New Location in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Evolve Physical Therapy Relocates One Physical Therapy Clinic to New Location in Park Slope, Brooklyn…
Evolve Physical Therapy Relocates One Clinic to New Location in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Hello from the team at Evolve Physical Therapy!
We wanted to send out an update to confirm with everyone that we do in fact have a 3rd location. The newly updated physical therapy clinic is located in Parkslope, Brooklyn on the front side of Harbor Fitness!
About Our 3 Physical therapy Clinic Locations:
Our very first location is in the Marine Park neighborhood in Brooklyn and offers two studios. One of the studios is focused on healing existing physical issues and conditions while the second studio is solely devoted to specialized strength training . Move between the two as you improve your physical wellness. Relax with complimentary coffee, tea and spa water.
Our first Harbor Fitness location, also known as Evolve's 2nd physical therapy clinic, is located in the Mill Basin neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. At this specific location, Evolve offers both advanced holistic physical therapy services and specialized fitness programs by our friendly, personable staff, while utilizing the latest in cutting edge physical therapy equipment and state of the art fitness technology.
Why we opened up a 3rd location? Convenience for YOU of course!
Our 3rd addition to the Evolve Physical Therapy locations list is located at Evolve's second Harbor Fitness location in Park Slope, Brooklyn. At this new location we focus specifically on strength training and strength development as a method of injury rehabilitation and injury prevention.
In short, Evolve's physical therapists will assist you with a personalized physical therapy program to get you back feeling 100% better!
Check out our new Park Slope Physical Therapy Clinic
New Physical Therapy Services Now Offered by Evolve's Personable and Professional Physical Therapists-
Offering physical therapy services and individualized treatment programs for different parts of the body including- carpel tunnel, planter fasciitis, hand therapy, TMJ, neck tension, muscle tightness, tight calf muscles, prehab, post surgery recovery and care, specialized sports treatment physical therapy programs, soft tissue therapy, and pediatric physical therapy programs for kids and growing teenagers.
Benefits of Using Evolve's Physical Therapy Services-
There are many potential health benefits of receiving holistic physical therapy treatments, massage therapies, chiropractic sessions, and other types of therapy treatments. Some of the benefits include: increases in blood and oxygen flow to problematic areas, increased flexibility, reduces stiffness, improves range of motion, increases optimal muscle function, reduces pain levels associated with injuries and conditions, improves success with chronic pain management programs, increases injury recovery times, assists with injury prevention, enhances overall physical performance, etc.
For more information on all of Evolve's advanced holistic physical therapy services in Brooklyn, please visit:
https://www.evolveny.com/physical-therapy/
“Our ultimate goal At Evolve is to utilize core techniques and offer a wide range of specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, and enhance physical strength”. Louis Ezrick, CEO of Evolve Physical Therapy.
Ready to get Started?
Evolve's Official Online Patient Registration Form:
https://www.evolveny.com/patient-registration
About Evolve Physical Therapy
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.
Schedule a Consultation with Evolve's holistic physical therapists below-
Phone# (718)258-3300
Evolve Now Carrying High Quality CBD Products
Evolve Now Carrying GreenRoads Premium Grade CBD Oils and CBD Infused Topicals, CBD Coffee, CBD Tea, CBD Gummies, and more!
Evolve Now Carrying GreenRoads Premium Grade CBD Oils and CBD Infused Topicals, Coffee, Tea, Gummies, and more!
Recently, the use of CBD oil has been increasing in popularity because of a reform in cannabis laws. Let’s talk about what it is and how it can affect your Physical Therapy sessions positively!
What is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol is one of over 60 chemical compounds found in cannabis plants. It’s the second most heavily concentrated compound found next to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD, on the other hand does not have any psychoactive effects, meaning it does not produce the euphoria connected with marijuana use. The CBD compound is commonly used for medicinal purposes. This is what we have at Evolve.
How Is It Obtained?
There are a number of ways how CBD is extracted. The whole plant can be soaked and all its components are extracted and used. When only certain parts are needed, alcohol or carbon dioxide are used in the extraction process. The most common process used is extraction using an alcohol (specifically, using ethanol).
CBD is extracted from industrialized hemp. Hemp is a sub variety of the cannabis plant and generally contains more CBD compound than the THC. For hemp to be considered as industrialized, the amount of THC (the compound that causes the “high” feeling) it contains should be less than 0.3%. CBD Oil from industrialized hemp is legal thanks to the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the Farm Bill. New Act of 2019
The Potential Benefits…
The use of CBD oil has been increasing in popularity because of its many potential benefits. Pain relief is one of them and also the most sought after benefit. Our body has an endocannabinoid system which is involved in regulating a number of body functions such as sleep, appetite, pain and immune system response. This system interacts with the CBD to produce its pain relieving effects. Aside from addressing chronic pain, inflammation and joint stiffness can also be improved by this substance. Studies also suggest that CBD oil can reduce anxiety and depression since it can interact with a brain receptor called serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and behavior. CBD is also prescribed as an alternative drug to patients diagnosed with cancer. Patients with cancer state testimonies that it helped them manage cancer related symptoms and cancer treatment side effects such as nausea, vomiting and pain.
CBD Oil and Physical Therapy
Physical Therapists and other healthcare practitioners are progressively looking at CBD Oil as an adjunct to treatment sessions as more and more studies prove it really is beneficial for their patients. The general goal of your therapist is to ease your discomfort and improve your motor function and using CBD oil can add to the productivity of your session. For example, some individuals have severe back pain that they cannot tolerate the exercises taught to them. A Physical Therapist can take advantage of CBD’s pain relief benefits so this patient can at least achieve some of the exercises. Some patients feel anxious going into physical therapy. CBD can also potentially help ease their anxiety before going into a session. Relief from pain and anxiety can help individuals reach better results from their therapy sessions.
CBD Oil at Evolve!
Evolve Physical Therapy now offers high quality medicinal CBD Oils! Our Physical Therapists are informed and knowledgeable about using this product however, we still advise that you ask your doctor information regarding possible CBD interaction with other medications that you are taking. CBD oil along with Physical Therapy will likely help you in your treatment and recovery.
CBD podcast-
https://painexam.libsyn.com/li-ming-zhou-lac-on-cbd
About Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn-
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.
Multiple Locations!
Physical Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients
Physical Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients- What are the goals of breast cancer physical therapy? If you have to undergo a complex and demanding surgery, such as a mastectomy, physical therapy has an important role to play in your recovery. Pre- and post-operative rehabilitation consists of physical therapy procedures…
Breast Cancer and Physical Therapy
Nobody plans for breast cancer, but it is a reality that more and more women are having to face. When you hear that you have breast cancer, it can feel like your world has been ripped apart. It is very scary and disorientating. I want you to know though, other women have been where you are right now, not knowing what to do. But as soon as they found the strength to take positive steps towards their recovery, they immediately felt more in control.
Recovering from breast cancer with physical therapy
To understand how to treat breast cancer, it is important to understand that it is primarily a system disease that triggers off a whole bunch of physiological responses. Therefore, as it is a system disease it requires a systematic approach. A systematic approach, built on multidisciplinary teamwork, will ultimately result in a well-rounded treatment program. Surgical procedures are the foundation of treatment in the first phase of this disease and are not to be ignored as the initial line of defense. Together with surgical procedures, there are other complementary therapies that can greatly contribute to both the pre- and post-surgical period. Physical therapy can help the patient to successfully endure the surgical procedures, and recover quickly to regain independence.
What are the goals of breast cancer physical therapy?
If you have to undergo a complex and demanding surgery, such as a mastectomy, physical therapy has an important role to play in your recovery. Pre- and post-operative rehabilitation consists of physical therapy procedures that aim to ease the stressful changes happening to your body and prepare you for the time ahead. The main goal is to be as strong as you can going into the operation so that your recovery period is as short as possible.
What should I expect from prehabilitation therapy?
I want to stress to you that we will explain everything in full to you so that you are 100% confident about what the therapy will consist of. When you start the prehab therapy process, we will give you all the necessary information on how to behave in certain situations and how you can help yourself by exercising, and therefore ensure a healthy foundation for the tough period to come.
Our team at Evolve will make an assessment of your stats, overall strength, postural integrity, range of motion, etc. This will give us a clearer picture of what we should work on so that you can go through this period more easily. Also, we will explain every potential complication that can come as a result of this surgery, so that you will be equipped with how to overcome them.
What should I expect from post-surgery rehabilitation?
After a mastectomy, we work with our patients systematically in order to avoid any complications from lymphedema and muscle contractions. We also look to provide assistance with:
Reducing pain
Preserving a range of motion in the shoulder joints
Achieving normal circulatory and respiratory functions
Improving your quality of life in regular daily activities
What is lymphedema and how can physical therapy help me with it?
After breast cancer surgery, upon removal of axillary lymph nodes, lymphedema or swelling of the arm can occur. Arm lymphedema very often manifests after the standard radiological treatment. Usually, lymphedema retreats within 2-3 months, when the new lymphatic network establishes.
Fearing it may worsen over time, most patients make the same mistake of not engaging the affected arm in any unnecessary activity. However, inactivity of the operated shoulder and arm leads to deformities, contractures, stiffness and further loss of functionality. In order to avoid that, we will lead you through a series of exercises that will ensure re-establishment of normal functions of the arm.
How we do this here at Evolve:
Exercises are done slowly, rhythmically, in a seated position and without resistance.
Exercises are performed in combination with breathing exercises, giving you a bonus respiratory kinesitherapy session!
Other exercises for retaining normal strength in the upper arm, as well as grip strength which is essential in daily life, are also carried out.
Evolve will provide total support in the rehab period
Usually, 1 or 2 days after the operation, patients can return home and slowly start to engage in normal activities. This is the point where you need to start the rehab period with a program of targeted physical therapy. Your period of convalescence and healing should be packed with various activities that not only restore previous functions of the limb but provide you with the necessary motivation and mental strength, something that is even more vital in life situations like this.
Breast cancer can have an incredible impact upon your mental health, affecting your motivation going through the rehab period. Our team is here to support you with physical therapy and rehabilitation, but also to provide firm ground whenever you feel that you've hit a wall or don't believe physical therapy will make a change. This is all completely understandable, but you can rest assured that the Evolve team will support you while facing this situation head on. The first step is to come and see us at one of our physical therapy clinics in Brooklyn, NY. We will explain everything you need to know and start the process as soon as you are ready.
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 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!
What is Soft Tissue Physical Therapy
Soft Tissue Physical Therapy Services- What is Soft Tissue Therapy? Soft Tissue Therapy is a type of physical therapy that focuses on your ligaments, muscles, tendons, and fascia. This kind of therapy is often used to help you recover after an accident or injury.
What Does Soft Tissue Therapy Mean?
Soft Tissue Therapy is a type of physical therapy that focuses on your ligaments, muscles, tendons, and fascia. This kind of therapy is often used to help you recover after an accident or injury.
A soft tissue injury often occurs when too much tension is going on in your muscles. You may have more of a risk to have these happen in areas of your body that have been previously injured. At Evolve, our physical therapy services can help you heal your soft tissue injuries and learn how to prevent them as well.
When situations might you need soft tissue therapy for?
Injury Recovery
Desk Job Pains
To Prevent Injury
Tight Muscles
To Maintain Flexibility
And more!
Could you benefit from soft tissue therapy?
There are many ways in which you can benefit from Soft tissue therapy. It can help you with sporting and other injuries, as well as improving your flexibility and mobility.
Treatment Methods for Soft Tissue Therapy
Listed below are a few of the types of treatment that we can use during soft tissue therapy sessions.
Soft Tissue Release: Soft Tissue Release is when pressure is applied to your affected muscles. It specifically targets tension in the affected muscle which allows for you to actively stretch while releasing the areas of pain.
Myofascial Release: The myofascial release method focuses on relieving tension and tightness in your trigger points. It is used over a larger area to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Trigger Point Therapy: This type of therapy is not the most comfortable, but it is effective. Direct pressure will be applied to your trigger points to reduce pain.
Common Soft Tissue Injuries
Here are a few of the soft tissue related injuries that we see the most often.
Sprains: A sprain is the most common type of injury and happens when a ligament has been torn. Ligaments are the part of the body that connects your bone to your joint. Sprains can be very painful, and some will require physical therapy to heal.
Tendonitis: This happens when a tendon becomes irritated or inflamed. It can occur in any tendon, but is most common in your shoulders, knees, and elbows. By using physical therapy to stretch and strengthen your muscles you will be able to reduce the pain that occurs with tendonitis.
Stress Injuries: A stress injury is when you have a repetitive injury located in the same place. These can occur due to overuse or improper form. These are most common in athletes but can happen to anyone. At Evolve, we can help you to reduce the pain your stress related injury is causing, as well as teach you injury prevention methods.
Are there ways that you can prevent soft tissue injuries?
If you are wondering how to prevent injuries from reoccurring to your soft tissues there are a few ways that you can do so.
Make sure that you stretch to warm up and cool down during exercise.
If you are training be sure to gradually increase your training regimen.
Allow a proper recovery time between workouts.
Wear good footwear during athletic and everyday activities.
If you are doing an activity that is causing you pain, stop.
Soft Tissue Therapy with Evolve Physical Therapy in Brooklyn
If you have had an accident or injury that has caused damage to any of your soft tissues, we are here to help. By taking part in a physical therapy recovery plan you can shorten your recovery time, and start to find relief from you pain. You can give us a call today to schedule your first consultation free of charge. Call-1-718-258-3300
Click here for information about Soft Tissue Therapy In Brooklyn
Brooklyn's Premier 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!
Multiple Locations!
TMJ Therapy
Physical Therapy Services for TMJ
For those suffering with TMJ it can often feel like there is no end. At Evolve, our industry leading TMJ physical therapy techniques can help you with pain management to help you start finding relief today.
Physical Therapy Services for TMJ
For those suffering with TMJ it can often feel like there is no end. You may have heard that you just have to push through and deal with the pain that it can cause. At Evolve, our industry leading physical therapy techniques can help you with pain management to help you start finding relief today.
What is TMJ?
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder affects your temporomandibular joints and can cause pain and jaw issues. These joints are located on each side of your face and attach your jaw to the bottom of your skull. Some symptoms of TMJ include: Pain in your jaws, earaches, painful chewing, stiff muscles, and it can even affect how your teeth align. You may also notice pain and popping sounds in this area if you have this condition.
Can TMJ be diagnosed?
If you have checked out the symptoms and are wondering if you have TMJ, there are a few ways to find out. You can have your doctor or dentist check for any inflammation on or around your jaw. A test can also be done to check out how well your jaw moves. In addition to these, an x-ray can be taken to get a closer look at your joints.
What can cause TMJ?
There are quite a few things that can cause TMJ to occur. Below are a few examples.
Injuries
Dislocated Jaw
Grinding Your Teeth
Teeth That Aren’t Aligned
Treatment Options for TMJ
There are a few different ways to help manage the pain and discomfort caused by your TMJ.
Pain Relievers
Limiting Jaw Movement
Jaw Exercises
Physical Therapy for TMJ Pain and Irritation
At Evolve, we have a few physical therapy methods that can help you to reduce pain and improve the mobility of your jaws. We’ve highlighted a few below.
Manual Therapy: This type of physical therapy is a hands-on method that can improve jaw mobility and assist as a pain management technique. Find out more about our manual therapy services.
Soft Tissue Mobilization: This will focus on the muscles that surround your jaw to help eliminate trigger points. It can also reduce tenderness through hands-on mobilization. Eventually it can help you to relearn how to properly move your jaw.
Posture Awareness: By learning about your posture, you can find out what positions may cause your TMJ symptoms to become worse.
Each of these methods have been proven to help decrease pain and improve motion. Click here to learn more about TMJ services with Evolve.
Alternative TMJ Treatment Options
If the treatment methods listed above do not help, you may need to consult with your doctor and consider the following treatment methods.
Prescription Medication
Mouth Guards to Prevent Grinding
Braces to Fix Teeth Alignment
Anti-inflammatory Shots
Find Relief Today with Our TMJ Physical Therapy Services in Brooklyn
If you are experiencing pain and discomfort associated with TMJ, you’ve come to the right place. At Evolve, we can help you start to reduce your pain through our innovative physical therapy services. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions about our TMJ services.
Call to Schedule a Consultation!- 718.258.3300
Got Pain? Schedule a Consultation Today! Walk Ins Welcome.
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.
Multiple Locations!
Physical Therapy and Stroke Recovery
Physical Therapy and Stroke Rehabilitation: The following article is a quick guide that you can use as a starting point to give you an idea of what a stroke is, what can cause a stroke, how a stroke rehab program is the most suitable decision after having a stroke, and how we can work together to overcome any of the stroke’s lasting effects on your body.
Physical Therapy and Stroke Rehabilitation
As most of us probably already know, having a stroke is perhaps one of the most terrifying situations a person could ever go through. Fortunately though, if you ever have a stroke, you don’t have to sit there and accept the damage the stroke has done to your body. There are steps that we can take to get you to a point where you regain function of your body while also building up your strength. The following article is a quick guide that you can use as a starting point to give you an idea of what a stroke is, what can cause a stroke, how a stroke rehab program is the most suitable decision after having a stroke, and how we can work together to overcome any of the stroke’s lasting effects on your body.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is when brain tissue is damaged due to a lack of nutrients and oxygen. This is what we call a cerebrovascular accident. The most common cause of a stroke is the clogging of a blood vessel in your brain, causing certain parts of it to rapidly fail. This type of event is an ischemic stroke, where as the bursting of a blood vessel is a hemorrhagic stroke. Both of these types of stroke are equally terrifying. Both of these types of stroke can cause severe damage to the nervous system and dramatic loss of motor function. The extent of damage a stroke can cause widely varies depending on the section of the brain and where the stroke related “hot spot” is located.
What are the common signs of a stroke?
Sudden numbness and weakness
Sudden headache, dizziness, problems with coordination, and loss of balance
Changes in eyesight
Slurred speech and confusion
What are the risk factors for a stroke?
High cholesterol and triglyceride levels
High blood pressure
Smoking
Diabetes
Cardiovascular conditions
Obesity
Lack of physical activity
The last two points, obesity and lack of physical activity are the biggest risk factors for a stroke. Now, I know that sometimes I can talk about them a lot but these two risk factors are important as they are something that you can control. When you are at Evolve you will need to face the possible consequences of your past lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean that you have to live with these consequences. We all hope that a stroke won’t happen to us, but if it does then there is a thing or two we can do to help.
What does the rehab program entail after a stroke?
The first thing we do is an initial assessment, which is absolutely crucial so that we can judge your overall postural tone as well as your level of sensory deficit. It is extremely important that before we start you on your rehab program that we have a clear picture of how you feel and how you will respond to the different physical therapy activities. We always follow the moto "Primum non nocere", which is a fancy way of saying do no harm.
The initial phase of treatment is all about reeducating any muscles that have lost motor functions. If we are dealing with the loss of function in either an arm or leg, the therapy will focus on achieving joint movements through a full range of motion. We will start with passive movements at first until you experience some regeneration going on and traces of contraction. Then we move on to aided movements, where you will need to try as hard as possible to gain control of the affected limb.
As we move through the process and as you improve, we will move on to more complex tasks, including working to achieve fine motor activity in the hands and fingers. This is a very important segment because achieving success here in therapy will give you a lot more independence and self-confidence in your daily life.
Before starting the stroke rehab program, you must understand that every treatment is individually adjusted, and it depends on the patient's current status. It is crucial that you continue to perform the physical therapy movements and exercises at home, and make it into a daily routine. That way you can work on getting better every day and we can make sure that you are not missing any opportunity to make your stroke recovery quicker.
What results can you expect from stroke physiotherapy?
How long you can expect to undergo stroke rehabilitation depends on the severity of the stroke. In a lot of cases, you can expect to see results typically around 3 to 6 months. After this period, the longer you continue the physical therapy sessions and recommended daily routines, the more longer lasting results you will achieve.
How do I sign up for a stroke rehabilitation program?
Stroke rehabilitation has the best outcome if it is started as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to book your first stroke rehab session at Evolve Physical Therapy today! As soon as you are booked in, we will give you an initial assessment and then we can get underway with your full stroke rehab program immediately. The quicker we start, the quicker you can regain motor function and achieve more independence.
Call: 1-718-258-3300
Or Get Started by Filling Out Our Form Here- https://evolveny.com/contact
About Evolve Physical Therapy-
Brooklyn'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!
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
We Are Hiring!
Evolve Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation is in search of an “Experienced, Certified, Fun, and Friendly Physical Therapist” at our physical therapy clinic located in the Mill Basin Brooklyn, NY neighborhood…
We Are Hiring! Looking for a Fun, Friendly, Personable, and Active Physical Therapist…
Evolve Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation is in search of a fun loving “Certified Physical Therapist” at our Mill Basin, Brooklyn location!
Unlike other outpatient physical therapy and sports medicine facilities, Evolve is 100% committed to our staff. Our goal is to help determined, growth-oriented and fun physical therapists achieve their full clinical potential.
Do you have healing hands?
Do you have a passion for physical therapy?
Do you constantly seek to learn more and improve those skills?
Do you want to control your career?
Do you have more to offer, and your current job does not give you the opportunity to fully express your true potential?
If these skills overlap with yours and you have a passion for helping people, and are always interested to learn, you should consider applying to work at Evolve Fit For Life Physical Therapy.
We offer mentoring on how to achieve clinical excellence as well as training for therapists who have their sights set on management or creating their own performance program.
We offer competitive salaries along with strong upward growth potential, and health benefits.
Join a company where we value our employees with competitive salaries, incentives, health benefits, PTO and 401K!
Must be licensed to work in New York, and new grads are welcomed as well!
Job Type: Full-time
Required education: Master’s or Doctorate
Required experience: New grads may apply, experienced only!
Compensation: Competitive, based on experience
If you think we’d make a good fit, please click below to find out more about the position, benefits, and perks!
What is Hand Physical Therapy?
Hand Physical Therapy in Brooklyn
Hand therapy is a rehabilitation method performed by physical or occupational therapists on patients who have conditions that affect their hands and upper extremities. Hand physical therapy allows patients to recover faster, and return to a healthy, productive lifestyle.
Hand Physical Therapy in Brooklyn
Hand therapy is a rehabilitation method performed by physical or occupational therapists on patients who have conditions that affect their hands and upper extremities. Hand physical therapy allows patients to recover faster, and return to a healthy, productive lifestyle.
A lot of people who have suffered trauma or accidents resulting in injured nerves or tendons, fractures, wounds, scars, burns, and even amputations of the arms, hands and fingers can benefit greatly from hand therapy. Additionally, many people who suffer from conditions such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or neurological conditions can also find relief by visiting a certified hand therapist.
However, keep in mind that a certified hand therapist and a therapist who treats patients with hand or arm conditions aren’t even remotely similar in terms of experience and quality. A certified hand therapist goes through several years of experience in order to attain their certification, while a practitioner can treat their patients without any extra formal education.
Hand therapy aims to address the underlying, bio-mechanical issues of upper-extremity conditions. Hand therapy specialists use a client-centered and occupation-based approach that helps identify the needs of the client. In other words, the patient will express what they want to be able to do in their everyday life that is necessary, so that the therapy focuses on improving their performance of those activities as the main goal.
The end-goal of hand physical therapy is to enable patients to perform all of their everyday activities, while ensuring the rehab process promotes permanent healing of their condition. That being said, hand therapy fosters positive outcomes for patients, allowing them to experience an increase in their quality of life and ultimately, making them independent.
What are the Benefits of Hand Physical Therapy?
As aforementioned, hand therapy fosters many positive outcomes for patients. Depending on your condition, your needs, and dedication to the physical therapy, you will experience One of the most satisfying parts of going through hand therapy is the feeling of restored function and mobility. Our arms are of utmost importance to many pivotal tasks. Experiencing constant pain and loss of function can be hard on anyone, and every condition can take a toll on a person, in one way or another. Conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and arthritis can kill the enjoyment people receive from fulfilling jobs, hobbies, and many everyday activities. The hands are extremely complex body parts, which may require surgery and months of hand therapy, but the end result will justify the means almost every time.
Another huge benefit of going through hand physical therapy, which is also a direct result of restored function and mobility, is the renewed confidence patients experience. People who lose the ability to perform basic everyday tasks and experience pain from being unable to partake in the hobbies and activities they love are oftentimes left feeling vulnerable and dependent on others. Once they go through therapy and slowly go through the process of restoring function to their upper limbs, they slowly gain back the confidence and strength to live independently, as they did before their condition or injury.
Furthermore, while going through the process, the patient gains knowledge about their body, the condition, the injury, and the healing process. This allows patients to fully understand the importance of hand therapy and the importance of taking care of their body. Conversely, the hand therapist in Brooklyn will come to understand the patient and their injury, because even though they may be treating a hundred patients a month, every body, and every injury is different.
Lastly, patients that go through hand physical therapy experience reduced stress, which is caused by pain in the wrist, elbows, hands and shoulder tension. Moreover, not only do people in pain experience stress, they have trouble sleeping and decreased coping abilities. A certified hand therapist understands this and will work with you to relieve pain. Once you’ve started hand therapy, your ability to function will improve significantly.
What Does Hand Physical Therapy Involve?
The first step to a successful road to recovery from hand physical therapy is forming a close patient-therapist relationship. Therapists usually begin the process by assessing their client, their functional deficits and desired goals from the therapy. This allows the therapist to understand what the client wants, enjoys and values, and what they both need to do in order to get them back on track. This allows both parties to set goals collaboratively. The patient, on the other hand, will understand that the process will address their entire lifestyle, body and mind, including social and psychological issues, not just the injury itself.
Next, the therapist will likely start with a few preparatory methods, such as muscle strengthening, range of motion, physical agent modalities and specific hand therapy exercises. Alternatively, the therapist may decide that performing purposeful activities are the better solution. As the patient progresses, the focus of the therapy is broadened into addressing the performance of the client’s desired life activities, tasks and occupations.
The therapist closely monitors the patient’s progress, and chooses activities accordingly in order to ensure they relate to the actual activities the patient will be doing during and after the rehab process. And even though the activities may not be tailored to help with healing the condition or injury itself, they may still be used as a way to help patients return to a healthy psychological state and social well-being while their bodies heal. Adaptations can be made at any point during the recovery process if that’s what the patient desires.
When the time comes, a certified hand therapist may provide adaptive equipment and splints that will help the patient facilitate instead of inhibit participation in everyday activities such as eating, dressing or driving.
However, keep in mind that every hand therapist can have unique treatment methods and approaches to hand therapy, so you shouldn’t expect to get the same treatment everywhere. Also, don’t forget to differentiate between a certified hand therapist and a therapist or practitioner who treats hand, arm and finger conditions, because the difference is more than adding the word “certified”.
For more information on holistic hand therapy services, please visit-
Brooklyn's Premier 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!
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