Recovering From A Torn ACL
Your anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is an essential ligament that provides stability to the knee joint. This ligament is one of the most commonly injured areas of the knee, so proper care and precautions are vital for maintenance. Regardless of how you sustained a tear in your ACL, our team at Island Sports Physical Therapy will be there for you throughout the recovery process. We offer personalized treatment plans for a variety of sports-related injuries and other conditions. Contact us when you need Physical Therapy in East Meadow that you can count on.
ACL Surgery:
Most commonly, an ACL tear requires surgery. For example, if your knee buckles when putting weight on it or if you are an athlete, your doctor will most likely determine that surgery is necessary for proper treatment. During the procedure, the surgeon will remove the ligament and use a graft as a replacement. This graft will be comprised of tendon taken from another part of the body, usually the knee or hamstring. In most cases, you will be able to return home later that day, depending upon the severity and the preferences of yourself and the surgeon. Once the surgery has been completed, the next steps towards recovery will be to partake in physical therapy in East Meadow.
Length Of Recovery:
Depending on the severity of the injury, recovery time will vary from patient to patient. For some, the typical recovery period is six to nine months after surgery. For others, it may take between eight months and a full year to make a complete recovery. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, you can undergo physical therapy in East Meadow to help expedite your recovery time and get you back to doing what you love.
Treatment – Physical Therapy in East Meadow:
Taking part in physical therapy after surgery will help to restore strength and stability in the knee. The goals of physical therapy in East Meadow are divided into four phases, which are outlined below:
1. Helping To Heal the Knee: Phase one is all about protection and healing. The main goals are to start the process of restoring range of motion and regaining correct usage of your quadriceps muscles. You will learn to walk properly with your crutches and may even receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation to improve your ability to gently contract your knee.
2. Tossing the Crutches: The goal of this phase is to limit the use of crutches while still protecting the knee. During this phase, exercises to improve control of your quadriceps and increase the strength of your hips and hamstrings will be incorporated into your routine. Hopefully, performing these exercises will allow you to begin walking normally again.
3. Getting Stronger: During this phase, the goal is to build up enough strength to begin walking or even lightly jogging. This will be the time where your physical therapist will test the integrity of the repaired knee. If you are pain-free and it is determined that your knee is stable, you may be allowed to begin jogging.
4. Almost Back To Normal: In this final phase of physical therapy, running and normal physical activity can slowly be incorporated back into your life. However, it is important to remember not to overdo this, as pushing too hard can often reverse any progress you have made.
Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow:
Throughout the rehabilitation and recovery process, it is important to listen to your body. Some patients may be ahead of schedule while recovering, while for others it may take longer than usual. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, our team will work to develop the perfect recovery plan to get you back on your feet. We can help you reach your recovery goals within a safe and appropriate timeframe. Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us to begin your journey to recovery today!
Rehab Exercises For a Strained Hamstring
Although it is a very common injury (especially among athletes), not everyone understands the full details when you strain your hamstring. Your hamstring comprises three muscle groups on the back of your leg that allow you to bend your knee. When these muscles become strained, the body experiences muscle overload, usually caused by muscle contraction or shortening.
Not all hamstring strains are the same. One of the most painful hamstring strains is called an avulsion tear or a tear in which the tendon is no longer attached to the bone. Although essentially all hamstring strains are painful, physical therapy can help! Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow offers sports specific therapy to help you get back on your feet.
Weightlifting Tips
Are you looking to expand beyond your typical cardio routine at the gym? Well, weightlifting might be just what you are looking for. It offers the same, if not more, benefits than your usual cardio sweat session on the treadmill. This form of resistance training can often seem challenging to someone new, but with some of these helpful tips, you can do it yourself! If you have been searching for physical therapy in East Meadow, contact Island Sports Physical Therapy. We have trained physical therapists available to help tailor a weightlifting routine that’s right for you. They can also assist you in getting more comfortable with performing these types of exercises. Continue reading to learn some useful tips for weightlifting:
Some helpful tips
Often, the overall goal when it comes to weight loss is to lose fat and maintain muscle mass. Weight training allows for you not only to lose fat while sustaining your muscle but it also helps to improve your metabolism as well. This combo makes weightlifting not only optimal for those looking to get super fit but also to lose weight.
Here are some helpful tips to know before you start implementing a weightlifting routine:
- Don’t go too heavy – Meaning, don’t pick up weights that are causing you pain while trying to complete a full set. Try to start lighter and work your way up to a higher weight as you become stronger over time.
- Balance is key – Make sure not to repeat the same weightlifting routine too often on a certain body part. Try scheduling a workout routine to keep your weightlifting balanced.
- Warm up – Don’t just jump right into your weightlifting routine without a proper warm up. A five-minute warm-up will help allow your muscles to loosen up and perform better during your weight training.
- Don’t let momentum take over – It’s easy to allow momentum to propel your lifts. This can defeat the whole purpose of weightlifting, making it too easy on your muscles. Try holding your lift for at least one to two seconds and then take a full two seconds to return to your starting position.
- Keep mixing it up – Keep challenging yourself by changing your repetitions/sets, weights, or movements. This will help to shock your body and push it to its fullest capability.
It’s important to keep in mind that you don’t always have to spend that much time lifting weights to see results! It’s more about challenging yourself when lifting the proper weights that’ll help you build strength in your muscles. When you start physical therapy in East Meadow, our staff will be able to work with you to perfect your technique and make sure you’re executing your routine correctly.
How can Physical Therapy in East Meadow help me?
If you are interested in implementing a weightlifting routine and aren’t quite sure where to start, contact Island Sports Physical Therapy. We offer physical therapy in East Meadow, making it convenient to meet with and get the proper guidance from our trained physical therapists. We can also help advise you on how to prevent injuries that can occur while weightlifting. Don’t wait, contact us today to make an appointment!
Post-Stroke Physical Therapy
Did you know that more than 795,000 Americans suffer from a stroke each year? Well, recovering from a stroke can be just as daunting as that number sounds. Rehabilitation after a stroke can often be a lengthy process. Most stroke patients are trying to recover parts of their brain that have been impaired. It can affect not only their speech but also their cognitive, sensory, and motor skills, as well. Putting in the work is vital for stroke patients, but also having the right support can make a huge difference. If you have been searching for physical therapy in East Meadow, contact Island Sports Physical Therapy. We offer a wide range of services, as well as rehabilitation physical therapy for stroke patients. This can make a huge difference in your recovery process.
How does the brain recover after a stroke?
There are several possible ways that stroke patients can regain function in their brain:
- Changing the way certain tasks are performed and completed.
- If blood flow were restored to certain parts of the brain, cells would be able to begin functioning the same way, again, over time.
- Certain parts of the brain may step in and provide support for the areas that were affected or damaged by a stroke.
The skills you can recover
The overall goal of rehabilitation is to regain the normal function that a patient had before the event of a stroke. Some of the skills you can work to achieve through rehab include:
- Speech Skills – Strokes can often cause a language impairment called Aphasia. This condition affects how one speaks and formulates sentences. Aphasia can also make physically speaking very difficult.
- Speech and language therapists can help those suffering from aphasia regain control of their muscles. This can, in turn, help them be able to talk more clearly and coherently.
- Cognitive Skills – Stroke patients can also experience loss of judgment, impaired thinking and reasoning abilities, and memory loss.
- It can also alter some of an individual’s personality traits. Patients recovering from a stroke can seem more withdrawn or quiet than their usual self, or vice-versa.
- With the loss of judgment comes the ability to act more careless or recklessly. This poses a safety hazard to both themselves and others. Physical therapy and occupational therapists can help stroke patients regain their cognitive abilities through specific exercises and repetition.
- Motor Skills – After undergoing a stroke, it can cause certain muscles on one side of the body to be affected. This can make an individual’s sense of coordination weak and even make it difficult for them to perform simple functions, such as walking.
- Physical therapy can help strengthen these muscles, therefore increasing overall balance and coordination.
- Sensory Skills – Sensory inputs can also be affected after a stroke such as the ability to feel hot/cold surfaces or pressure. This can also pose a safety hazard, making physical therapy extremely helpful. Therapists can work with you to help you adjust to the changes and increase your sensory function.
How can Physical Therapy in East Meadow help me?
If you or someone you know needs physical therapy in East Meadow, post-stroke, Island Sports Physical Therapy might be the place for you. We offer services ranging from post-stroke physical therapy to education and fitness plans to help get you acclimated back to your old self. Contact us today to see how Island Sports Physical Therapy can help you!
Good Heart Health
The heart is the center of the cardiovascular system and is responsible for most of the functions keeping us alive, therefore making sure it’s in tip-top shape is crucial. There are many ways in which we can sustain good heart health. Whether it’s through diet and exercise or following up with a cardiologist. These are all measures we can take to help promote a healthy heart and lifestyle for years to come.
Physical Therapy and a Healthy Heart
Physical therapy has been proven to play a key role in sustaining good heart health. By incorporating both strategic diet plans and workout regimes to boost cardiovascular health, it can help prevent and strengthen one’s heart. If you are looking to help boost your own heart health, check out physical therapy in East Meadow at Island Sports Physical Therapy. Here, we can help provide you with the tools and knowledge necessary to help keep your heart in the best shape possible!
Diet
A cardiac diet typically consists of a meal plan with wholesome and fresh foods. It also places emphasis on making sure to eat moderate portions throughout the day. Here is a list of some cardiac-friendly foods:
- Spinach
- Oats
- Salmon
- Pistachios
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Tuna
- Olive and Peanut Oils (in moderation, of course)
These foods are typically low in fat and sodium, all while containing higher amounts of protein and fiber. By eating lower-fat and unprocessed foods this can help keep cholesterol levels and blood pressure low. Some of the main foods to avoid are processed or “packaged” snacks, canned vegetables, and foods containing high amounts of trans/saturated fats, sodium, or sugar. Determining what to eat and what not to eat can be difficult at times. Physical Therapists can help ease this process by assessing a patient’s current diet and determining what needs to be substituted or eliminated.
Exercise
It’s called “cardio” for a reason. Exercise is one of the main ways a person can better their heart health. It’s recommended that a person does 30 minutes of exercise at least five times a week. This can mean a brisk walk or even resistance training at the gym. The main goal of exercising for cardiac health is to get the heart rate up. By doing just a little each day, it can have major health benefits on your heart. Here’s a list of exercises you can do to help get that heart rate up:
- Cardio- walking, jogging, running, biking or swimming
- Stretching
- Strength Training – incorporating weights or bodyweight (yoga)
Physical Therapy in East Meadow
If you’ve been searching for physical therapy in East Meadow, visit Island Sports Physical Therapy. These skilled physical therapists can help assess your current weight/diet plan and help you make adjustments to improve your heart health. They can also suggest a workout regime specific to your needs. Don’t wait! Start your journey to better heart health today!
Are you or a loved one in search of a geriatric physical therapist? At Island Sports Physical Therapy, we offer an excellent program. As we age, we tend to grow more dependent on medications to feel our best. However, this is not necessary. Physical therapy is often a better alternative than medication, especially in geriatrics.
Physical Therapy For Chronic Illness and Disease:
As people get older, the risk for certain diseases and illnesses, unfortunately, tends to increase. Luckily, physical therapy can be used to help geriatric patients manage these different chronic illnesses and diseases successfully. Physical therapy can help aid:
- Arthritis: Physical therapy uses techniques to help reduce any discomfort and prevent any future pain that may occur as a result of arthritis.
- Stroke: Typically, loss of muscle strength on one side of the body occurs after a stroke. Physical therapy can also use movement therapy to help the individual strengthen the weak limb while stimulating the part of the brain that controls movement and helps to restore proper function.
- Incontinence: Physical therapy can help patients identify certain muscles and know how to use them effectively. Pelvic exercises are used to enhance strength in the muscles controlling the bladder.
- Parkinson’s Disease: Sadly, this disease in geriatrics is irreversible and progressive. But, physical therapy can help improve quality of life and flexibility for those suffering from this disease.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: Physical therapy for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia can help improve memory functions and delay the development.
Positives of Physical Therapy in East Meadow for Geriatrics:
After an older individual becomes impaired in some way, whether it’s from an illness, injury, condition, or surgery, it can be difficult for them to recover and gain back their independence. Our team at Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow will develop a personalized treatment plan to ensure patients get back to their active lifestyle.
Some of the main benefits of physical therapy for geriatrics include:
- Reducing the risk of falls
- Treating pain without drugs
- Reducing risk of infections
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
From decreasing pain or restoring balance, to helping manage chronic illnesses, physical therapy offers a wide range of benefits to improve quality of life in geriatric patients. Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow can help you and your loved ones. Contact us to get started today!
Athlete’s Arthritis
While arthritis is a condition most of us have heard of, it’s not something that we completely understand. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and it’s responsible for both joint pain and joint disease. Also, contrary to popular belief, arthritis can affect people of all ages, not just individuals who are older. Those who are especially vulnerable to arthritis are athletes, who are constantly putting wear and tear on their bodies. Researchers have seen that the risk of having hip or knee arthritis is 85 percent more likely in athletes. Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow, East Northport, Huntington, Coram, Smithtown, and Glen Cove, can provide the best possible treatment for anyone suffering from arthritis.
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is something that affects many current and former athletes. Osteoarthritis is when the cartilage between your joints slowly breaks down, resulting in friction between your bones which results in swelling, stiffness, and pain. Because of high-impact pressure on joints from sports like basketball or football, your body is being put at risk. Island Sports Physical Therapy has the staff and resources available to treat any injury you get.
How to Treat Arthritis
The first step to treating any symptoms of arthritis is to get the best care possible. Physical therapy in East Meadow is a great way to recover from any joint pain you may have and can prevent any future discomfort from occurring. Here are some ways physical therapists can treat your arthritis:
- Posture – physical therapists can teach you the best body mechanics and proper posture for pain relief and improved function for daily activities.
- Treatment Options – splints and braces to support weak joints have the ability to reduce the stress that may be put on your body. Other treatments like hot and cold therapy can also help ease stiffness and joint discomfort.
- Environment – changing your living arrangement can certainly help in a recovery process. Ergonomic chairs can provide excellent support for your body and relieve back and hip pain.
- Exercise – aside from improving muscle strength, exercise can also reduce pain and improve blood circulation. Losing any excess weight can also result in less stress put on the joints. In fact, a recent study found that losing a pound can be the equivalent of nearly four pounds of pressure off the knee.
- Proper Resting – with proper exercise, allowing yourself to get enough rest is important in treating arthritis. Long periods of rest can result in tight joints. Scheduling periods of rest can help you avoid stiffness, while also averting the possibility of overworking your joints.
Treatment as soon as possible can make the recovery process for treating arthritis more successful. While rehabilitation may be difficult, it will allow you to do the things you love without having to worry about chronic pain. Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow can help athletes and people of all ages improve their lives and treat their arthritic pain. Contact us today.
Knee Injury
The knee is a complex, large and major joint in the human body. It is composed of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. The knee has a great responsibility for us as it is required to support the full body’s weight when standing, walking, and running, therefore it is to no surprise that many athletes experience knee injuries while playing sports.
Knee injuries vary in type as well as severity. Some common knee injuries that athletes can face include:
- Patellar fracture
- Patellar dislocation
- ACL tear
- PCL tear
- Meniscal tear
- Tendon tear
- Ligament injuries
While these injuries may not be life-threatening, they can very well be life-altering if not treated properly or cared for immediately. When first injured, it is imperative that the athlete ceases activity and follows the RICE method immediately:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
If symptoms persist or worsen, it is suggested that the injured athlete visits a medical professional immediately. Depending on the severity of the injury, the doctor will suggest one of the following treatments:
- Immobilization
- Physical Therapy in East Meadow
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Surgery
In order to treat knee injuries, physical therapists induce a variety of techniques, including, but not limited to, heat and ice therapy, stretches and exercises, ultrasound therapy, and electrical nerve or muscle stimulation. The goal of physical therapy in East Meadow for a knee injury is to strengthen the knee and the affected area and restore full mobility to the knee. Treatment duration depends on the severity of the case, but it is likely that the patient will be required to undergo a couple of sessions per week for about two months. The end goal is to restore the knee to full health, all the while avoiding the complications of surgical intervention.
At Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow, our therapists have the skills and knowledge necessary to fully heal your injured knee. If you’re looking for an experienced PT that will give you a personalized treatment plan and be with you every step of the way, look no further. Call us to schedule an appointment today and relieve your pain!
Physical Therapy in East Meadow
The elbow is not a simple joint. Like the shoulder, it is fairly complex, allowing us to perform a wide range of motions with our arms. However, because it is so diverse in movements, that leaves it open for different types of injuries and pain. The elbow is made up of three major bone structures including the upper arm bone or humerus and the two bones that make up the forearm- the ulna, and radius. At the end of each of these bones, there is cartilage that helps aid the quick and smooth movement of the elbow. Cartilage also helps absorb shock or injury from a fall or hit. The cartilage is supported by even stronger tissues called ligaments which are attached to your arm muscles by tendons. All of these pieces making up the whole system work in unison to grant the elbow flexibility.
The entire joint system is surrounded by nerves, so if anything happens to one part of it, it can cause a lot of pain throughout. The most common injuries that occur in the elbow are dislocation, fracture, strains, and sprains. Strains are the most easily inflicted and, luckily, are the least painful. These occur when you lift something that is a bit too heavy or overuses the elbow with vigorous movements found in such activities like sports or dancing. Sprains are more likely to affect athletes who perform throwing motions for items such as balls or racquets.
Ways to avoid these injuries- or elbow pain in general- would be to do a lot of strength training and stretching. Strength training prepares you for lifting or throwing any kind of weighted object. When it comes to being prepared for movement without pain, the best people to discuss your joints with are physical therapists. At Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow, we offer sports and movement training to help athletes avoid elbow pain or serious injury. Our dedicated staff understands that everyone is different and takes the time to accurately evaluate each patient to develop the best possible course for recovery. ISPT has offices in East Northport, Huntington, Nesconset, Glen Cove, and East Meadow to better serve the residents of Long Island for all their physical therapy needs. Give one of our offices a call today!
Common Causes of Carpal Tunnel Pain
Wondering what carpal tunnel pain is? Carpal tunnel pain is a numbing weakness that goes through the hand due to pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. This nerve controls the movement and feeling in the thumb and the first three fingers. The cause of carpal tunnel pain is the pressure on the median nerve that causes the nerve to swell. There can be a lot of factors why the nerve swells.
One factor may be an illness that contributes to arm pain, swelling in the joints and soft tissues in the arm to reduce blood flow to the hands. The illnesses or conditions that can cause these pains can include obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, diabetes, lupus, and hypothyroidism.
Broken wrist bones dislocated bones that cause new bone growth from the healing of bones or bone spurs takes up room in the carpal tunnel which puts more pressure on the median nerve.
Carpal tunnel pain can also be caused by work-related factors. Work-related factors could include repeated hand and wrist motions. Repeated motions cause the membranes around the tendons to swell. Other work-related factors that can contribute to pain are forceful or repetitive hand movements, hand-arm vibration, or working for long periods in the same or awkward positions.
If you think you are getting carpal tunnel pain, pay attention to your symptoms. If your hand feels numb or “falls asleep” often, that can be the first sign. If you have numbness, tingling and pain in strictly your thumb and first three fingers, that can also be a sign of carpal tunnel pain. Other symptoms would include burning pain that travels up your arm, wrist pain that interferes with sleep, or weakness in the muscles of the hand.
Curing carpal tunnel pain can be nonsurgical or surgical depending on the pain and symptoms. Nonsurgical treatment to avoid surgery would include avoiding positions that overextend your wrist, wrist splint that holds your hand in a neutral position during the day or night, pain medication to reduce inflammation, treatment of underlying conditions such as diabetes or arthritis, and steroid injections into your carpal tunnel area to reduce inflammation.
Before you let your body get surgery, you should listen to your body. If you feel pain, chances are there is something wrong. So exercise your wrists but don’t overextend it, make sure they’re comfortable when you’re sleeping, and get help by a physical therapist before you consider surgery.