Have you noticed a sudden change in your voice? Or, do you have moments of no voice at all? Often times, this can be a result of Muscle Tension Dysphonia which is known to be one of the most common voice disorders. Changes in the way the voice sounds or feels may be due to tension in the muscles that assist in vocal production.
For adults with chronic illness, taking medication in a timely manner is an essential part of everyday living. As occupational therapists, we work with clients to maintain independence in their medication management, which includes everything from communicating with pharmacists, to reading prescription labels, to making a habit of taking the right medicine at the right time of day. We partner with clients, including those with low vision, limited coordination, and memory difficulties, to safely manage their medication. If you are having difficulty with medication management, talk to your occupational therapist about finding solutions to stay in charge of your health.
By definition, pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential damage to a structure in the body. (International Association for the Study of Pain). Pain is the brain’s protective mechanism to detect threats to the body and is NORMAL!
The majority of the people we treat as physical therapists are experiencing some form of pain, including acute after recent injury, subacute, or post-operative. This kind of pain is adaptive and should follow typical timelines of healing/recovery with several approaches to treat including modalities, exercises, manual treatments and education. Easy right? Well, it can be for some but unfortunately, as many people know firsthand, it is not always that easy.
LSVT BIG consists of frequent repetition and increased complexity of tasks as the individual progresses. This frequency and complexity is key to helping people with PD live a more active, confident, and independent life. It is never too early or late to begin LSVT BIG treatment! Treating before noticing changes in posture, balance and general function can help prevent issues in the future and maintain optimal functioning for years.
One in two women and one in four men will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis.
In the US, osteoporosis affects over 10 million adults
Osteoporosis has a yearly societal cost of over 22 billion (and that is from 2002)
Currently, osteoporosis is underdiagnosed AND undertreated
Staggering statistics, numbers to some, but to those of us who have a family history of brittle bones and have lost height – its personal.
Is there hope? YES! Here are some simple things you can do to start improving your bone health TODAY.
Yoga can be a great benefit for those who live with Lymphedema by providing a safe exercise practice to decrease symptoms as well as promoting mental wellbeing. A recent research study has shown that participants who completed consistent yoga practice for a period of three months experienced less swelling and pain as well as improved mobility (Int. J. Yoga, 2016).
If you or a loved one has been affected by a stroke, there are many ways that our rehabilitation team can support your recovery. Here are some updates about our team’s approach, including how we use our neuromuscular electrical stimulation Neubie device to promote improved efficiency of your recovery. Each therapy area has a specialized focus but we all work together to focus on the whole you!
October 10th is World Mental Health Day. We invite you to explore your quieter side with one of these restorative yoga poses. These are perfect if you need to find time to slow down and release tension in the body. These poses are meant to be held for a longer duration with the support of props to maximize comfort. Find a comfortable spot on the floor and grab a few pillows, you can give one a go or try all of them!
In Yoga, breathing practices or “Pranayama” has long been known for bringing physiological, psychical and mental benefits to its practitioners. The root meaning of the word “prana” means “life-energy”. Breath control has many benefits in other contexts outside of yoga. For example, many are taught to breath out when exerting effort when exercising or completing heavy lifting to protect their spine. First responders are also taught to use their breath to remain calm and mentally effective during emergency situations. These are just small examples of how learning breath control may enhance your quality of life and mental fortitude.
As a caregiver for a person with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), you know things are always changing. Your spouse may have no difficulty getting dressed and then one day buttons are a struggle. Communication for people with PD can also change over time, but there are several approaches you can use to adjust and adapt to those changes.
As research continues to shed light on the benefits of PT for pain, and as a necessity for post-surgical rehab, it is becoming more commonplace for surgeons to prescribe PT BEFORE their patient’s major surgeries as well. Some studies have shown that this step can diminish the need for post-operative care by 30%! This process has been coined Prehabilitation or “Prehab” and the advantages are clear.
