Reddy Care Physical Therapy

Men vs. Women on Pain-Who Suffers More

Women feel pain more intensely than men, according to a new study of 11,000 men and women who were patients at the Stanford Hospital and Clinics.

Researchers analyzed electronic medical records of patients’ reports of pain across a range of different diseases, and found a distinct gender-driven difference in how much discomfort patients say they felt. The study included 47 disorders — from cancer to back conditions and infectious diseases — and more than 161,000 patient-reported pain scores. The patients were all asked by nurses or other health personnel to rate their pain on an 11-point scale, with 0 representing “no pain” and 11 signifying the “worst pain imaginable.”

3D Printing: The Future of Prosthetics

A few nights ago at Singularity University designer and Stanford lecturer, Scott Summit delivered a lecture on 3D printing that left the entire class speechless and with little doubt that 3D printing is going to change the world.

One example that Scott gave of how 3D printing is impacting people around the world is in the construction of prosthetic limbs. Losing a limb can be devastating for people; imagine jumping off a diving board and waking up 30 minutes later to be told that you’ll never walk again. Such trauma can cause many patients to want to commit suicide as they believe they’ll never lead a normal life again.

Exercise Improves Sleep Activity

People sleep significantly better and feel more alert during the day if they get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week, a new study concludes.

A nationally representative sample of more than 2,600 men and women, ages 18-85, found that 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week, which is the national guideline, provided a 65 percent improvement in sleep quality. People also said they felt less sleepy during the day, compared to those with less physical activity.

Relieving Neck Pain and Headaches

Whether from chronic tension, a whiplash injury, intervertebral disc disease, or progressive arthritis, the neck can be a hidden and severely debilitating source of headaches. Such headaches are grouped under the term “cervicogenic headache” indicating that the primary source of the headache is the neck.

There are well mapped out patterns of headaches relating to multitude of points in the neck and shoulder-blade region. In addition the discs between your vertebrae and each joint level in the upper neck can quite often contribute to headaches. Even headaches located mostly in the forehead, or behind the eyes are very often “referred” pains that come from problem areas at the back of the neck and base of the skull.

Will You Have Back Pain as You Get Older?

If you think that growing older automatically leads to back pain, here’s some great news; it doesn’t! Many people suffer from pain which can be chronic or from previous injuries. Yet, many people still believe their aches and pains are a natural part of aging. They’re not.

A good physical therapy program can help maintain your physical abilities, as well as maximize your potential for enjoying normal activities. An effective physical therapy program can also prevent or limit physical deformity, and allow you to enjoy for example walking, bending, reaching, running and playing tennis or golf. Range of motion and strengthening exercises can prolong your mobility which has been proven in reducing other chronic debilitating conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

How to Use Technology to Achieve Your 2012 Fitness Goals

Ready to make 2012 an outstanding year? Here are some simple ways to use the technology at your fingertips to reach your health and fitness goals:

1. Put your goals where you can see them.

New Year’s resolutions have a tendency to disappear a few days into January, so put your goals where you can see them. We recommend putting “I WILL…” and your resolution on the homepage of your computer, your mobile device, and your monitor at work so that your goals are in your face every time you power up your machine, make a phone call, or check your email.

Commit to a Workout Plan and Reach Your Fitness Goals

Just like you organize your work schedule, your kids schedule, and your life, you need to plan for your health and fitness. Life is too busy for a haphazard fitness plan.

Here are 4 keys for a successful health and fitness program:

• Clarity: Set SMART (Specific Measureable Attainable Realistic Timely) goals: Write down what you want to achieve with your fitness/health. Is it weight loss, strength, improved function or overall fitness? Set long term goals with intermediate goals for along the way. Writing it down will help you develop a clear road to success.

Studies Show Direct Access Saves Money

According to a recent study in the journal Health Services Research, patients who bypassed the physician and went directly to a physical therapist, had, in many cases, lower overall costs, fewer visits and lower overall healthcare use for the injury.  The study also showed that patients who self-referred were just as active with medical care before, during and after treatment, proving that continuity of care is not comprised.

New York is a Direct Access state, which means that patients can go to a physical therapist without a Doctor’s prescription.

Congratulations to our Wear It To Win It Champion!!

Congratulations to our November 2011 Wear It To Win it Champion, Elaine Weiss (our first WITWI CHAMP)! Wear your Reddy-Care PT t-shirt and enter you name in our monthly raffle for a $25 visa gift card!! We are so happy for you Elaine!

Finding the Source of Your Leg Pain

The hip and knee joints are incredible marvels of the human body. At times they have to withstand up to 6 times your body weight in force, and be able to twist in many different directions with stability and control. The knee joint is the second most complicated joint in the body and has to move in many directions including forward, backward, side to side, and rotating. These combination of movements are called accessory motions and are needed for normal walking, running, squatting, and kneeling.