Sleep Hygiene - More Beneficial Than You Think  

Sleep Hygiene - More Beneficial Than You Think  

Nearly one-third of the general population experiences problems with sleep. Research has shown that mental health difficulties, obesity, cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many other health conditions are associated with lack of sleep. Poor sleep is common in individuals who are living with painful musculoskeletal conditions that have a significant negative impact on their lives. Musculoskeletal conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia are frequently associated with sleep issues.

Alzheimer’s Disease and How Occupational Therapy Can Help 

Alzheimer’s Disease and How Occupational Therapy Can Help 

Occupational therapists help individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease maintain their independence and safety as it relates to their participation in activities of daily living. This is achieved through training in interventions including exercise programs, adaptive equipment, durable medical equipment, environmental adaptations/modifications, implementation of compensatory strategies, and/or task modification

Osteoporosis – It’s Personal 

Osteoporosis – It’s Personal 

My grandmother was a tall strong farm women who I greatly admired.  Yet as she aged, around the time of my grade school years, she began to shrink.  By the time college came around she was stooped over and had lost over 8 inches in height – from a tall (for her generation) 5 foot 9 to barely 5 feet tall.  Her clothes fit oddly due to the large hump in her back.  She had an official diagnosis of osteoporosis. 

There are plenty of concerning statistics on the prevalence of bone loss in our population.  Here are a few: 

Mental Health and Aging

Mental Health and Aging

Tuesday October 10, 2023, is World Mental Health Day. Mental health disorders impact everyone from children to older adults. Approximately 15% of adults 60+ have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Depression and anxiety are the most common diagnoses and can present in many ways. It is often under-diagnosed and even when diagnosed, often under-treated in the primary care settings especially when experienced by older adults. Older people have many life stressors including the loss of loved ones, a drop in socioeconomic status with retirement, and decline in physical and/or cognitive abilities.  All these changes can increase isolation and loneliness.

Using Innovative Therapy to Address Chronic Pain  

Using Innovative Therapy to Address Chronic Pain  

Pain is a serious and costly public health issue. The National Institutes of Health calls pain "the universal disorder." In its most benign form, pain warns us that something isn’t quite right, that we should pay attention, take medicine, or see a doctor. At its worst, pain robs us of our productivity, well-being, and, for many who suffer from extended illness, it dramatically affects how we live our lives. 

At Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness, we have many tools to manage pain. One of our newer more innovative tools is the Neubie. The Neubie is an FDA-cleared system that uses electrical stimulation to bring about neuromotor change.

The Slip Trainer -- Our NEW and Exciting Falls Prevention Tool

The Slip Trainer -- Our NEW and Exciting Falls Prevention Tool

When you lose your balance, your body can react in many different ways. With the goal of preventing injuries, we want to make sure our bodies have the strength, speed, and reflexive response to step and re-stabilize without overly relying on our arms. The slip trainer is a our newest tool to help us train your balance to optimize your ability to catch yourself fast enough with your feet to prevent injury if you slip or trip.

The Neubie – Unlocking Peak Physical Performance 

The Neubie – Unlocking Peak Physical Performance 

What do Saquan Barkley, Jameson Taillon, John Isner, and Mike Tyson have in common? They all have used the Neubie to recover from injury or improve their athletic performance.  Athletes across all levels of competition are always looking for competitive advantages over their opponents. Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness provides individuals with the opportunity to unlock their peak physical potential through the use of the Neubie. The Neubie is an innovative treatment tool which can improve recovery timelines from injury or surgery, while also accelerating muscle strength gains and endurance to return individuals to sport or other meaningful physical activity to pre-injury levels and beyond.

Kinesiotape – The Basics 

Kinesiotape – The Basics 

Kinesio Taping is a method that is applied to the body to help reduce pain and inflammation for various medical conditions. According to Kinesio's website, the method uses a specially designed elastic therapeutic tape known as Kinesio Tex Tape to lift the skin microscopically and aid the body's natural healing process. It is a non-restrictive method that allows for full range of motion and is appropriate for many stages of treatment plans.

Busting 5 Myths about Osteoarthritis (OA)

Busting 5 Myths about Osteoarthritis (OA)

Many people have x-rays or MRIs that indicate OA. This doesn’t mean you are destined for a life of pain. Strengthening the muscles around the painful joint, learning proper movement and joint protective strategies are just a few of the techniques that our physical therapists use to help you better manage your pain and keep on moving. In this blog we explore the FIVE Myths about Osteoarthritis.

Simple Fall Prevention and Recovery 

Simple Fall Prevention and Recovery 

Have you fallen in the past year? Have you been advised to use a cane or walker to get around safely? Do you feel unsteady walking? Are you worried about falling? Have you lost feeling in your feet? Do you steady yourself by holding onto furniture while walking at home? If you answered yes to any of these questions you may be at risk of falling. Although falls occur in an instant they can have serious and costly consequences. 

Is it Lymphedema or Lipedema? 

Is it Lymphedema or Lipedema? 

As a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, I often see clients and other healthcare professionals confused by the difference between lymphedema and lipedema. At Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness, our CLTs (Certified Lymphedema Therapists) are specially trained to assess the clinical features of both conditions to determine the appropriate treatment.   This blog breaks down the difference in presentation and treatment of both.

Reduce Anxiety Symptoms Using Physical Therapy 

Reduce Anxiety Symptoms Using Physical Therapy 

Physical therapy (PT) is the field of allied health concerned with movement. PT treatment preserves, enhances, or restores physical function impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability. It addresses impairments that reduce functional activities such as sitting, standing, walking, and running. Physical therapy uses exercise, physical modalities (such as soft tissue manipulation or electrical stimulation), and patient education and training, to help people be able to move their bodies in order to participate in activities of daily living and activities of choice. Impairments treated with PT are frequently associated with pain, stress and anxiety, and abnormal muscle tension.  

Is it “Normal Aging” or Dementia? 

Is it “Normal Aging” or Dementia? 

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month. We wanted to take this opportunity to talk about the difference between Dementia and the effects of “Normal Aging” on our memory.  If you are concerned that you or a family member is developing issues with memory, contact your physician to discuss your symptoms.  

May is Arthritis Awareness Month 

May is Arthritis Awareness Month 

Did you know arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States? According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), arthritis impacts 60 million individuals (24% of the US population) each year! Arthritis has become widely accepted as a blanketed term for joint pain associated with general “wear and tear” or overuse over years of activity.  Arthritis Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to distinguish between the different types of arthritis and how each can be best managed to minimize symptoms and maximize function for optimal quality of life: