Physical Therapy in Huntington
The knees are a very delicate and intriguing part of the body. We use our knees everyday for nearly every task as long as we aren’t sitting. Our knees give us the ability to walk, run, and jump the way we do. As sports and aging will do to a person, the knees take some damage and can begin to hurt over time. Sometimes, the worst happens and there can be an injury that may require surgery and/or physical therapy to fully repair and make you feel good as new. One major injury that happens to the knee is when there is a meniscus tear. The meniscus is 2 pieces of cartilage that provides cushion between the thigh and shin bones. The meniscus can be damaged in activities that put a lot of stress on the knees or involve sharp turning or twisting. Meniscus tears are a common injury in football.
When the meniscus is torn, there is general pain in the area and possible swelling. To repair the meniscal tear, there is traditionally arthroscopic knee surgery involved, although it isn’t always required. Meniscus repair surgery is usually successful, with 90% of patients being satisfied afterwards. After surgery, it is essential to get physical therapy. The physical therapy may involve small, easy exercises to get your leg muscles back to their original status. It involves exercises like quad sets, which require you to lay your leg straight on the floor and tighten the thigh muscles to get the back of the knee to touch the floor for about 5-10 seconds.
A physical therapist can be of great use for someone who needs to recover from meniscal surgery. Island Sports Physical Therapy has a total of four locations throughout Suffolk County and two locations throughout Nassau County. Give us a call to schedule your evaluation today.
Body Conditioning for Track and Field
Although track and field is mainly running, it is important to keep the entire body conditioned during the off seasons. Strength and conditioning is important in track and field because the athlete that is in the best shape and most prepared should win. It is impossible to have a weak upper body and throw the shot put far, it is also impossible to be generally weak and undynamic and run the hurdles the fastest. When an athlete is lacking strength and conditioning, an athlete usually suffers technique. This is champions are made in the off-season.
Three important parts to keep in mind while training during the off season is strength training, training on the track, and thinking about your diet.
Muscular endurance is important for track for your body to get through intense training drills and practice in general. Since practices can be long and draining, it is hard to get in the weight room during season, so off-season is the perfect time to get in the weight room and put in extra work. Weight training can also improve your body for season to prevent aggravating injury during season. Weight training will make muscles stronger and less likely to be pulled. Squats and calf raises are advised for the lower body and bench press and upright rows are suggested to strengthen the upper body.
It is important to stay on the track even during off seasons. The ideal off-season track workout is starting with a low intensity run as a warm up. After the warm-up move to interval drills. Interval drill would be jogging at a light speed for 30 seconds, build up the job to a 20 second moderate pace, finish up the minute with a 10 second full speed burst. It is advised to repeat this interval drill for three to five minutes with a 45 second rest period in between each set.
One last key to maintaining your fitness for season is watching your diet. Plenty of protein, fish, fruits and vegetables along with staying hydrated will help you during and after your intense training sessions.
If you need any help coming up with an off-season training program, Island Sports Physical Therapy has fitness programming and would love to help you prepare for your upcoming season. For a fitness plan, or for any physical rehab, call 631-462-9595, or log onto our website www.islandsportspt.com and make an appointment for any of their 6 convenient locations across Long Island.
Tennis Safety
While we are in the summer months, you should be taking advantage of the great weather to get in more exercise. One outdoor activity that is enjoyable, as well as a great form of exercise, is tennis. While playing tennis, you can play with a partner for fun or competitively, and when playing tennis you should play with the proper precautions and practice your skill and performance on and off the court.
Before the competitive play, you should always warm up. Warming up increases the flow of blood around the body and loosens muscles. This reduces risks or sprains and enhances your play. Focusing on dynamic stretching for the entire body with special emphasis on the upper and lower body is key to getting a proper warm-up.
As you play the game, keeping posture in mind will not only reduce your risk for injury but will help you play better when serving or swinging the tennis ball.
The 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist in Tennis, Lindsay Davenport, stressed the importance of correct form. Davenport also shared her secret weapon to obtaining the perfect tennis form, and that secret is three-way lunges (stepping forward, laterally and backward.) This exercise tones the quads and creates good tennis form because the lunges mimic the motion of hitting low shots. Davenport suggests doing 10 to 20 lunges four days a week on each leg.
Davenport also mentioned the importance of alternating tennis practice with other exercises. Davenport said her tennis training is hitting and stroke drills at a neighborhood court, weight training, pilates classes and footwork, and plyometric drills.
With all athletes in all sports, the hardest part of preparing for a big match is in the mind. Davenport explained keeping your head in each point is the toughest thing about tennis. You need a sense of calm and a big sense of belief. Her pre-game preparation consists of spending a few moments in silent and visualizing the game before every match.
Island Sports Physical Therapy is encouraging you to enhance your own games as you watch the 2016 summer games. Island Sports Physical Therapy has six convenient locations across Long Island and offers services in sports training, sports therapy, and a fitness program, along with physical therapy rehabilitation that can help you with your sports injuries or training.
Physical Therapy in East Northport
Compartment Syndrome is a very rare condition, which sees less than 20,000 cases in the United States per year. Compartment Syndrome can be very dangerous and very painful. It happens when there is pressure buildup from internal bleeding or swelling of the tissues. A deeper look into what happens is that blood or fluid fills a compartment where a wall of tissue called the fascia struggles to expand because it isn’t meant to. In emergency situations, surgery is required to relieve the pressure buildup. Compartment Syndrome may be caused by a broken arm or leg or by the actual treatment of the fracture, whether it be the casting or the surgery itself.
Whether there is surgery involved or not, a physical therapist will play an important role. They will help you to regain your range of motions in your arm, leg, knee, or whatever else it is that has compartment syndrome. The physical therapist may help you gain strength in your core so that you are better stabilized as your arms and legs are in motion. The physical therapist may also use techniques such as massaging and may also use tools like ultrasound to help improve the flexibility of tissue and speed recovery.
If you are looking for a physical therapist on Long Island who can help you recover from your compartment syndrome, using Island Sports Physical Therapy is the right choice. Island Sports Physical Therapy has six locations in total, making it easier than ever to get to one of the branches. They have one located in each of Nesconset, Coram, East Northport, Huntington, East Meadow, and Glen Cove. The physical therapists at Island Sports Physical Therapy are top notch and will do everything they can to help you properly recover and excel after compartment syndrome surgery.
National Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
July is here and it is National Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. It is important to recognize that although arthritis is more prevalent in older adults, it afflicts people of all ages including children. Understanding the disease and including its’ symptoms and treatment options can be beneficial to the child in the long term.
Taking the proper precautions to help prevent arthritic symptoms in children, will make their prognosis more manageable. Keeping the child at a healthy weight by eating well and exercising will help reduce the intensity of flare-ups as well as promote overall health and well-being. Teaching your child safety when getting active and playing sports will help prevent potential injuries. Sports injuries are also a huge trigger of arthritis, so doing your best to prevent an injury will also help in reducing your chances of being symptomatic. For children who have not already been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, an injury in childhood may lead to arthritis down the line. This is why it is critical to visit a physical therapist if you have an injury. A physical therapist will help optimally heal your injury that will help you avoid further complications down the line. In addition, a physical therapist will teach you exercises to relieve arthritic pain as well as strengthen the muscles around the afflicted area so that it takes the pressure off of that area.
The month of July is a great time to educate yourself on all things related to arthritis as well as help spread the word. Whether it’s due to an injury or genetic or environmental factors, Juvenile Arthritis is something to be concerned with. If you live in the Long Island area, Island Sports Physical Therapy has locations in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties to help you assuage arthritic pain as well the proper healing of various injuries. Call us today!
Cycling Safety
Cycling is a great mode of transportation if you are traveling locally; it is also a great form of exercise. Whichever reason you are cycling, it is good to practice safety methods because there are a lot of potential risks involved.
Cycling incidents often happen as a result of a crash with other cars on the road. Not being aware of your surroundings when driving can open you up to the possibility of potential injuries. Avoid wearing headphones as they inhibit your ability to react to changes in road conditions resulting from traffic. Cycling accidents are also caused by the conditions of the road including conditions due to weather. One of the other most important things to do when cycling is to wear a helmet at all times, this is a precautionary measure to take because if you do happen to fall or get in an accident you’ll at least have some protection of your head. Also one of the best ways to stay safe when cycling is to simply obey the rules of the road and avoid aggressive riding. If you need to cycle at night, make sure you are riding in properly lit areas as well as have reflectors on your bike. Wearing fluorescent clothing that is easily visible at night is also a great safety precaution.
Prior to cycling, it is important that you stretch. Dynamic stretches will prep your muscles for the tasks at hand. Whether it’s some jumping jacks or walking lunges, stretches will help warm-up your muscles and help you to avoid injury. If you notice any pain or discomfort during your bike ride it is important to seek out medical attention immediately. Often catching an injury early gives you a better prognosis in the long run. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, our physical therapists can help evaluate your pain and provide a course of treatment so that you can cycle pain-free.
Cycling is a great thing all around for your own health as well as creating fewer carbon emissions by not driving a car. As long as you respect the rules of the road and everyone else on it and take the proper precautions for protective equipment your chances of getting into an accident are greatly reduced and will be able to have the most enjoyable experience while cycling.
With 6 locations in the Long Island area in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Island Sports Physical Therapy is here to serve you. Contact us to make an appointment today!
Dangerous Workouts
Being in good shape benefits the human body not only physically, but mentally as well. Studies show that those who exercise regularly have better cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health than those who don’t. However, it is important that you don’t push your body too far to the point where you are harming yourself more than you are benefiting yourself. Overtraining occurs when the body goes through physical trauma and stress at a faster rate than it can recover. It is important that you know the causes and symptoms of overtraining and how to adequately rest and recover from physical activity.
If your muscles are constantly sore, you find yourself tired even after adequate rest, you are irritable, or noticing returning bodily pain, you might be overtraining. In order to prevent this, experts suggest taking sufficient rest after working out and spacing out the days you work out. If this isn’t a viable option, it is important that you should incorporate active rest into the end of your workout in order to properly heal your body. One should also make sure that they maintain a balanced diet and consume enough calories to match what their body is burning, as well as vitamins and nutrients.
Island Sports Physical Therapy has six convenient locations on Long Island and has the knowledge, experience, and resources to maximize your physical performance. They strive on educating their patients along with individualized treatments in order to solidify the patient’s recovery and prevent re-injury for years to come. ISPT knows the benefit of hard work on their part combined with hands-on care in order to ensure maximum recovery for those they serve.
As physical therapists, they understand the benefits of working out and staying healthy and have the necessary training in order to ensure that your workouts are constructive and injury free. They can provide you with the best fitness plan available for your current needs. They cater to all ages and understand how beneficial exercise can be to older people and the steps and precautions that need to be taken in order to ensure total functionality and healthy aging.
Island Sports Physical Therapy has locations in East Northport, Huntington, Nesconset, Coram, East Meadow, and Glen Cove. They can be reached online at https://islandsportspt.com, or their administrative office can be reached by phone at 631-462-9595.
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.
Benefits of PT For People Over 65
Usually, when people think of physical therapy, they think of people addressing injuries they may have suffered through playing sports or rebuilding muscle tone after surgery. However, people ages 65 and older are starting to participate in physical therapy just to stay in shape, prevent diseases, and other medical ailments like arthritis, Parkinson’s, or to simply enhance balance and strength.
Geriatric Rehabilitation is booming as it is recommended by many to “fight aging”. Although no one can literally fight to age, geriatric rehabilitation definitely helps to make older people feel more nimble. It is said that by the age of 65, just about everyone has arthritis in their spine, it’s just a matter of whether they experience symptoms or not. With geriatric rehabilitation, seniors can combat this arthritis with the assistance of a trained professional, rather than medicinal methods which can be harmful to your body. Rehabilitation’s main focus is to allow the elderly to gain and maintain their independence as they can get around unassisted and take care of themselves. Life expectancy around the world is increasing due to geriatric rehabilitation. This is because it directly affects a person’s frailty, speed, and ability to live independently, which are all important factors in life expectancy, especially as one gets older.
The physical therapists at Island Sports Physical Therapy can help with geriatric rehabilitation, as they address the unique physical and medical problems associated with aging. The geriatric rehabilitation offered at Island Sports Physical Therapy helps blood-pressure control, diabetes control, enhancing muscle strength, enhancing balance, and the prevention of osteoporosis. Choosing Island Sports Physical Therapy would be a wise choice as they not only direct the geriatric rehabilitation, but they also incorporate aspects of teaching, prevention, fitness, and wellness into the geriatric rehabilitation program.
Golf Safety
With summer in full swing, everyone wants to get outside and hit the links for some leisure and some fun with friends. When out golfing it is important to practice safety strategies so that you can get through a full round of 18 holes without any negative side effects happening.
Most people would tend to think of golf as being one of the safest sports out there. For many cases, this may be correct. However, because of the physicality of the sport, injuries can happen and it is important to be proactive. Like with any sport, it is important that you have a thorough warm up before participating in it. In order to protect yourself from injury, doing dynamic stretching is important to getting your muscles prepper for the activity ahead is beneficial. For golf in particular, focusing on the arms, shoulders, and abdomen is the correct first step.
It is also a known fact by many health professionals that carrying a golf bag that is too heavy can lead to back problems such as poor alignment. Leaving your golf bag on a golf cart or using a push cart is a safer method. If you have tension in your back before you even start the game you can be further injured when swinging the golf club.
Another thing to be on the lookout for while on the course is stray golf balls. Not everyone who is playing golf on your course is a seasoned golfer and sometimes people hit their ball array. Also if you do shank your ball, make sure to yell fore so fellow golfers know to take cover: It is proper etiquette and is a safe method. Another thing to be aware of is the weather, many golf courses like the beautiful golf courses in Smithtown, New York such as Smithtown Landing are open courses which leave you unprotected from the sun. Staying hydrated and wearing a proper hat and sunscreen will protect yourself from potential heat illness or sunburn.
Golfing is a great sport and is a fun and social activity to enjoy with friends or work colleagues. It is a great way to get outside and enjoy the weather as well as get some exercise. By practicing good safety techniques, it will allow you to have the most enjoyable experience possible for games to come.