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!
What Are The Different Types of Physical Therapy?
What Is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is the practice of using physical medicine to help improve a patient’s mobility and function. Physical therapists help patients prevent or manage their injuries, achieve function, restore ability, and maintain long-term benefits. Because physical therapists can treat such a wide range of people and conditions, it is broken down into specialties so that you can find the right medical professional that is experienced in handling your specific complication. If you are looking for physical therapy in East Meadow, our staff at Island Sports Physical Therapy is ready to help you start feeling better today.
Different Types Of Physical Therapy:
The practice of physical therapy is broken down into many specialties, and even more sub-specialties. However, there are certain specialties of physical therapy that are often the main focus. These main specialties include the following:
- Pediatric: This branch of physical therapy focuses on detecting, treating, and managing any issues, injuries, disorders, or diseases that affect the physical bodies of infants and children. This includes any problems associated with the muscles, bones, and joints of the patient. Pediatric physical therapists may also see adolescent patients as needed. Pediatric physical therapists help treat conditions such as cerebral palsy, torticollis, and spina bifida, as well as any acute injury a younger patient may be experiencing.
- Geriatric: Physical therapists specializing in geriatric care focus on complications that arise as patients naturally age. Such complications typically include arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and/or joint replacement and complications, and osteoporosis. These physical therapists create specialized therapy programs to help their patients regain mobility and reduce pain.
- Orthopedic: Orthopedic physical therapists deal with complications within the musculoskeletal system. They manage and treat disorders and injuries, and they can assist with many surgical recoveries. If a patient has had complications or surgery affecting the muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, or bones, then this type of physical therapy can assist. Examples of this include sports injuries, arthritis, tendonitis, fractures, and bursitis.
- Cardiovascular Rehabilitation: These physical therapists deal with cardiopulmonary disorders and surgeries. The main goal of this type of physical therapy is to restore endurance and functional independence in patients. If you have recently had a heart attack or heart surgery, cardiovascular rehabilitation at our location for physical therapy in East Meadow can help expedite your recovery process.
- Neurological: Therapists in this specialty work with patients who have neurological complications. Some examples of these complications include ASL, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and/or stroke. These therapists work to reduce the effects of symptoms that may arise from these conditions, such as paralysis, loss of balance, and difficulty walking.
- Sports: Sports physical therapists help athletes to recover from injuries sustained on the field. They work to analyze the cause of the injury and determine a treatment plan to help athletes return to their full potential after suffering from an injury. Common injuries treated by sports physical therapists include ACL injuries, tendon tears, and both simple and compound fractures.
Contact Us Today!
Physical therapists work to relieve many different types of ailments and symptoms experienced by a wide range of people. Because the field of physical therapy is so extensive and can benefit a large number of patients, physical therapists often specialize in treating specific issues or age groups to be able to better help their patients. If you require physical therapy in East Meadow, contact us us at Island Sports Physical Therapy and see how we can help you attain optimal wellness.
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NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH
With the warm weather beginning to dissipate, those in the community may not be as willing to participate in exercise/outdoor activity. For patients, this could be an issue, as a lack of physical activity can lead to injury or deteriorations of health. One of the many national health observances that’s recognized throughout the month of October is National Physical Therapy Month. The goal of this observance is to help raise awareness in regards to physical therapy and the role these therapists play in helping patients find pain relief, improve mobility and functionality, and live an overall healthier life. If you have been considering physical therapy as a treatment option, then look no further than Island Sports Physical Therapy in East Meadow. For years, we have been treating patients with specialized methods and have provided comprehensive evaluations. Essentially, there is no better time to stop by then during October, as we encourage all of our patients and their families to get involved and partake in healthy activities this month.
Benefits of physical therapy:
Aside from serving as a potential alternative treatment method for surgery and medications, the following benefits also come along with physical therapy treatment:
- Pain management.
- Possibly avoiding surgery.
- Improved mobility.
- Improved movement.
- Injury recovery.
- Fall prevention.
- Stroke or Paralysis recovery.
- Improved balance.
- Proper management of age-related complications.
Common conditions treated by physical therapy:
A physical therapist can work directly with you and assist in any stage of the healing process. Whether you have just been diagnosed, or have recently started your recovery process, physical therapy in East Meadow can serve as your primary beneficiary. Depending on your reasoning for signing up, a physical therapist will construct an exercise-based treatment plan, along with self-management recommendations, that can help you succeed and attain the goals that you’re targeting. Someone who is seeking out physical therapy will typically suffer from one of the following conditions:
- Cardiopulmonary Conditions
- ex): COPD, CF, or MI
- Hand Therapy
- ex): Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Trigger Finger
- Musculoskeletal Dysfunction
- ex): Back pain, rotator cuff tears, or TMJ
- Neurological Conditions
- ex): Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, injury to the spinal cord, MS, vestibular dysfunction, or traumatic brain injuries
- Pediatric Conditions
- ex): Developmental delays, CP, or muscular dystrophy
- Sports-related Injuries
- ex): Concussion or Tennis Elbow
- Women’s Health and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- ex): urinary incontinence or lymphedema
How can physical therapy in East Meadow help?
At Island Sports Physical Therapy, you can find the personalized care you deserve. If you suffer from any of the above conditions, or just want to work on managing your overall health, we can help! We offer a variety of services that can offer you the individualized treatment you need, including some of the following:
- Orthopedic Care.
- Spinal Rehabilitation.
- Sports Specific Therapy.
- Geriatric Rehabilitation.
- Children’s Injuries.
- Fitness Programming.
For more information on how you can begin physical therapy in East Meadow, visit our website or give us a call to schedule your appointment!
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!
Physical Therapy in Glen Cove
Experiencing chronic pain on a daily basis can make ordinary tasks much more challenging. Patients who are forced to put up with chronic pain typically tend to worry that the discomfort may never subside. For the thousands of working Americans that experience chronic pain, it can complicate simple tasks and inhibit their ability to focus. At Island Sports Physical Therapy in Glen Cove, we are focused on making our patients feel pain-free with low-risk solutions. For chronic pain, surgery may become an inevitable requirement, but it can take weeks to recover from and can give you hefty bills that take years to pay back. Physical therapy is a more sensible solution and can be much more price efficient.
Having a job while enduring chronic pain is highly strenuous and can undoubtedly become bothersome to deal with. In some cases, patients chose to work at home if they experience such pain because going to an average desk job can be too much of a challenge. Research has suggested that 1 in 4 working people experience work-related pains. Naturally, 9 out of 10 of those people choose to commute to work rather than stay at home. Continue reading for some tips to improve your chronic pain and make the best of your working life:
Talk To Your Boss
Instead of suffering in silence, make sure to tell your boss what you’re feeling. Taking an extra 10-minute break or leaving the office for a couple of minutes can be simple solutions to make you more comfortable at work. They’ll understand if your discomfort has become unbearable, and will be willing to work with you to make sure your situation is optimal.
Customize Your Workspace
Equipping your desk with supplies to make you feel more at-home is an essential part in decreasing your chronic pain. If you are a person experiencing back pain, you might find it helpful to leave a seat cushion at your desk. Other items such as stress balls, small massagers, and heating packs can all be easily hidden and kept away from other people.
Go To Physical Therapy
Medications can be addictive and dangerous, whereas physical therapy is a low-risk solution to chronic pain. At Island Sports Physical Therapy in Glen Cove, we create customized treatments to help clients receive a method that’s right for them. Our physical therapists can show you stretches to help improve movement and reduce your pain.
Island Sports Physical Therapy in Glen Cove is dedicated to helping our patients live a pain-free life. Physical Therapy is an excellent option for people seeking a customized treatment plan with minimal risk involved. Contact our office today to make an appointment or to learn more about how we can help improve your quality of life.
Physical Therapy in Nesconset
Preparing yourself to embark on a run may seem like a precarious task, but this exercise holds many benefits. Before you decide to stay in and watch T.V., consider all of the prosperities that running can offer you instead. When plotting a routine, remember to formulate a plan that will allow you to be consistent. Without strict discipline, you’re more likely to brush your regular running habits off to the side in favor of more relaxing activity. Despite what you may have been lead to believe, running is not a quick solution for weight loss. Researchers say going for a longer; the slower run is more beneficial than just doing an abrupt 10-minute mile. At Island Sports Physical Therapy in Nesconset, we can help you create a running schedule that will jump-start your weight loss journey. Continue reading for recommended tips and suggestions.
Continue reading How Frequently Should You Be Going For Runs?
Building Upper Body Muscle
Often, patients are fixated on the possibility of building strong and lean muscle mass in the upper body. Naturally, this could be due to the desire to develop strength, prepare for an athletic competition, or improve balance and agility to help prevent injury. Physical therapy can play a critical role in the promotion of muscle mass. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, offering physical therapy in Huntington Station, NY, our therapists are here to help you reach your individual fitness goals and muscular potential. There are several initiatives you can take to build muscle mass in an effective and maximizing manner.
Are you aware that the winter months are prone to back injuries, herniated discs, and compression fractures for patients? This can be secondary to poor conditioning, lousy shoveling habits, sudden falls, and accidents. Physical therapy plays a critical role in preventing injuries and improving fitness habits during the cold winter months. If you are contemplating physical therapy in East Northport, our clinic at Island Sports Physical Therapy offers geriatric rehabilitation, children’s injuries treatment, fitness programming, spinal rehabilitation, and orthopedic services. We believe that patients deserve the best chance to recover, and this features up-to-date equipment, education, and adequate time and services spent on each patient. When preparing for winter, a vulnerable time for many patients to be susceptible to falls and injuries, it is imperative that you keep in mind the many benefits of physical therapy.