WHO'S IN SURGERY WITH YOU??

Many of our patients have no idea who all is in the operating room with them when they go in for their procedure, and that's really no surprise. It's very common for multiple people who are not vital to the procedure to be present - some may even be there just to learn, or manage equipment being utilized. When you have surgery, a team of medical staff helps the surgeon during the operation. Who is on the team depends on the type of surgery. Most teams include the following professionals:

Surgeon

A surgeon has finished 4 years of medical school and 4 or more years of special training after medical school. Most surgeons have passed exams for board certification. The American Board of Surgery is the national group that gives this certification for general surgery in the U.S. Some surgeons also have the letters FACS after their name. This means they have approval of the Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

Anesthesiologist

An anesthesiologist has finished 4 years of medical school and 4 years of special training in anesthesia. Anesthesiologists may get additional training in certain surgery specialties. This might be neurosurgical anesthesia or cardiac anesthesia. The anesthesiologist takes part in all 3 phases of surgery: before, during, and after.

Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)

The nurse anesthetist gives you anesthesia care before, during, and after surgery or labor and delivery. The nurse constantly watches every important function of your body. He or she can change the anesthesia medicine to make sure you are safe and comfortable. A nurse anesthetist has a bachelor's degree in nursing and at least one year of experience as a registered nurse in a critical-care setting. He or she also has at least a master's degree from a nurse anesthetist program. Nurse anesthetists must pass a national certification exam to become CRNAs.

Operating room nurse or circulating nurse

Registered nurses are registered and licensed by each state to care for patients. Some nurses focus on a certain field such as surgery. The operating room nurse helps the surgeon during surgery. Operating room nurses are certified in various areas of surgery. Nurses must pass an exam to be certified.

Surgical tech

Surgical techs assist with the surgery by setting up a sterile operating room. They get supplies and surgery tools ready. And they hand the surgeon the tools he or she asks for. They must pass an exam to be certified by the National Board of Surgical Assisting (NBSTA).

Residents or medical students

In many teaching hospitals, resident doctors in training and medical students may be a part of the surgical team.

Physician assistant

Physician assistants practice medicine under the supervision of a doctor. They may act as an assistant to the surgeon. Or they may close incisions with stitches (sutures) or staples.

Medical device company representative

Sometimes surgeons will have a representative from a company that makes medical equipment in the operating room. Such equipment might be artificial joints, spine stabilizers, or pacemakers. The representative can help the surgeon with sizing and function of the equipment.

IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT (ARRHYTHMIAS)

My child's heart seems to beat very fast. Does she have an irregular heartbeat?

Your child's heart rate normally will vary to some degree. Fever, crying, exercise, or other vigorous activity makes any heart beat faster. And the younger the child, the faster the normal heart rate will be. As your child gets older, her heart rate will slow down. A resting heart rate of 130 to 150 beats per minute is normal for a newborn infant, but it is too fast for a six-year-old child at rest. In a very athletic teenager, a resting heart rate of 50 to 60 beats per minute may be normal.

The heart’s regular rhythm or beat is maintained by a small electrical circuit that runs through nerves in the walls of the heart. When the circuit is working properly, the heartbeat is quite regular; but when there’s a problem in the circuit, an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, can occur. Some children are born with abnormalities in this heart circuitry, but arrhythmias also can be caused by infections or chemical imbalances in the blood. Even in healthy children, there can be other variations in the rhythm of the heartbeat, including changes that occur just as a result of breathing. Such a fluctuation is called sinus arrhythmia, and requires no special evaluation or treatment because it is normal.

So-called premature heartbeats are another form of irregular rhythm that requires no treatment. If these occur in your child, she might say that her heart “skipped a beat” or did a “flip-flop.” Usually these symptoms do not indicate the presence of significant heart disease. 

If your pediatrician says that your child has a true arrhythmia, it could mean that her heart beats faster than normal (tachycardia), very fast (flutter), fast and with no regularity (fibrillation), slower than normal (bradycardia), or that it has isolated early beats (premature beats). While true arrhythmias are not very common, when they do occur they can be serious. On rare occasions they can cause fainting or even heart failure. Fortunately, they can be treated successfully so it’s important to detect arrhythmias as early as possible.

Signs and symptoms 

If your child has a true arrhythmia, your pediatrician probably will discover it during a routine visit. But should you notice any of the following warning signs between pediatric visits, notify your doctor immediately. 

• Your infant suddenly becomes pale and listless; her body feels limp. 

• Your child complains of her “heart beating fast,” when she’s not exercising. 

• She tells you she feels uncomfortable, weak, or dizzy.

• She blacks out or faints.

Diagnosis

It's unlikely that your child will ever experience any of these symptoms, but if she does, your pediatrician will perform additional tests and perhaps consult with a pediatric cardiologist. In the process the doctors may do an electrocardiogram (ECG), to better distinguish a normal sinus arrhythmia from a true arrhythmia. An ECG is a tape recording of the electrical impulses that make the heart beat, and it will allow the doctor to observe any irregularities more closely. 

Sometimes your child's unusual heartbeats may occur at unpredictable times, often not when the ECG is being taken. In that case the cardiologist may suggest that your child carry a small portable tape recorder that continuously records her heartbeat over a one- to two-day period. During this time you'll be asked to keep a log of your child's activities and symptoms. Correlating the ECG with your observations will permit a diagnosis to be made. For example, if your child feels her heart "flutter" and becomes dizzy at 2:15 P.M. and the ECG shows her heart suddenly beating faster at the same time, the diagnosis of tachycardia will probably be established.

Occasionally irregular heartbeats will occur only during exercise. If that's the case with your child, the cardiologist may have your youngster ride a stationary bicycle or run on a treadmill while her heartbeat is being recorded. When your child is old enough to participate in sports, ask your pediatrician if any special tests or restrictions are necessary.

Source - 11/21/2015

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)

HEART DISEASE: REDUCE YOUR CHILD'S RISK

Heredity is clearly an important risk factor for conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. However, researchers are steadily gathering strong evidence about how diet influence development of diseases. Experts agree that healthy eating habits from an early age can lower the risk of developing several deadly diseases later on. A diet designed to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious diseases is one that benefits the whole family, adults and children alike. 

Risk Factors for Heart Disease 

Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States and most industrialized countries. The chief risk factors are:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High blood level of cholesterol
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity
• Family history of early-onset heart disease

Following a Heart-Healthy Diet From an Early Age 

American children and adolescents, on average, eat more saturated fat and have higher blood cholesterol levels than young people their age in most other developed countries. The rate of heart disease tends to keep pace with cholesterol levels. One study found early signs of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in 7% of children between ages 10 and 15 years, and the rate was twice as high between ages 15 and 20. 

According to the American Heart Association, a heart-healthy diet from an early age lowers cholesterol and if followed through adolescence and beyond, should reduce the risk of coronary artery disease in adulthood.

All children older than 2 years should follow a heart-healthy diet, including low-fatdairy products. For children between the ages of 12 months and 2 years with a family history of obesity, abnormal blood fats, or cardiovascular disease, reduced-fat milk should be considered.

Is There a Family History?

When you and your children first saw your pediatrician, you were probably asked if there was a history of heart or vascular disease in your family. If your children were young, their grandparents were probably relatively young as well and may not have had a heart attack or stroke (even though they may have been headed for one). If heart disease in the grandparents becomes apparent later on, be sure to bring it to your pediatrician’s attention at the next checkup. 

Cholesterol Testing for Adopted Children  

Complete biological family medical histories are not usually available to adopted children and their parents, even for those adopted in open proceedings. To prevent the development of diseases linked to high blood cholesterol levels, adopted children should be screened periodically for blood lipid (fat) levels throughout childhood. 

Additional Information  

• Healthy Active Living for Families
• The 5 Food Groups: Sample Choices
• Overcoming Obstacles to Physical Activity
• What About Fat and Cholesterol? 
• Your Family Health History & Genetics 

Source - 11/21/2015

Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know (Copyright © American Academy of Pediatrics 2011)

HIP DYSPLASIA DETECTION IN KIDS

Why does my pediatrician check my baby's hips at each check-up?

Hip dysplasia (developmental dysplasia of the hip) is a condition in which a child's upper thighbone is dislocated from the hip socket. It can be present at birth or develop during a child's first year of life. 

No one is sure why hip dysplasia occurs (or why the left hip dislocates more often than the right hip). One reason may have to do with the hormones a baby is exposed to before birth. While these hormones serve to relax muscles in the pregnant mother's body, in some cases they also may cause a baby's joints to become too relaxed and prone to dislocation. 

Factors that may increase the risk of hip dysplasia include 

• Sex - more frequent in girls 
• Family history - more likely when other family members have had hip dysplasia 
• Birth position - more common in infants born in the breech position 
• Birth order - firstborn children most at risk for hip dysplasia 

Detecting Hip Dysplasia 

Your pediatrician will check your newborn for hip dysplasia right after birth and at every well-child exam until your child is walking normally. 

During the exam, your child's pediatrician will carefully flex and rotate your child's legs to see if the thighbones are properly positioned in the hip sockets. This does not require a great deal of force and will not hurt your baby. 

Your child's pediatrician also will look for other signs that may suggest a problem, including 

• Limited range of motion in either leg 
• One leg is shorter than the other 
• Thigh or buttock creases appear uneven or lopsided 

If you live in the state of Kansas as opposed to Missouri, you can visit a physical therapist like our own Hope Hillyard at Champion Performance and Physical Therapy for an assessment of possible hip dysplasia. If special tests are found positive, at that point it may be beneficial to schedule an appointment with your Pediatric physician for further imaging or testing. If your child's pediatrician suspects a problem with your child's hip, you may be referred to a pediatric orthopedic specialist who has experience treating hip dysplasia. 

Hip dysplasia is rare and in spite of careful screening during regular well-child exams, a number of children with hip dysplasia are not diagnosed until after they are 1 year old.

Source - 11/21/2015

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)

PT FOR ATHLETES

If you’re an athlete, you know that long periods of training followed by performing at peak levels can take a toll on your body. Whether you’ve experienced an acute injury or have become hurt as a result of overuse, the professional physical therapists from Champion Performance and Physical Therapy in Prairie Village, Kansas can help you get back in the game with their effective sports physical therapy programs.

If you’re an athlete considering sports physical therapy, take a look at some of the ways in which you could benefit from treatment at Champion:

• Less Downtime: Sports physical therapy helps athletes regain muscle strength without damaging the injured area further. This will help you proactively work to repair injured tissue and get back to your training or active recovery period faster and with less downtime.
• Better Odds For A Full Recovery: Instead of letting an injury “ride its course,” physical therapy takes a proactive approach to healing and thus increases your odds of making a complete recovery. Under the care of a physical therapist, you’ll also know exactly when you can resume your normal activity levels again, whereas athletes who don’t seek physical therapy often try to do too much too soon and risk re-injuring themselves.
• You’ll Receive Tailored Treatment: Some athletes make the mistake of trying to rehabilitate their injured body part on their own, but this approach overlooks the fact that each body and injury is unique. The professionals at Therapy Works utilize a number of different treatment methods and have the skills, knowledge, and experience to tailor their sports physical therapy program to the unique needs of each patient.

Click on the contact information tab on our website menu for a full list of contact options. 

www.kcchampionperformance.com

WHAT EXACTLY IS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST?

As described by the American Physical Therapy Association

Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.

PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

Physical therapists provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes. State licensure is required in each state in which a physical therapist practices.

The Physical Therapy Profession

Physical therapy is a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function. Physical therapists:

• Diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities.
• Restore, maintain, and promote not only optimal physical function but optimal wellness and fitness and optimal quality of life as it relates to movement and health. 
• Prevent the onset, symptoms, and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions, or injuries.

The terms "physical therapy" and "physiotherapy," and the terms "physical therapist" and "physiotherapist," are synonymous.

As essential participants in the health care delivery system, physical therapists assume leadership roles in rehabilitation; in prevention, health maintenance, and programs that promote health, wellness, and fitness; and in professional and community organizations. Physical therapists also play important roles both in developing standards for physical therapist practice and in developing health care policy to ensure availability, accessibility, and optimal delivery of health care services. Physical therapy is covered by federal, state, and private insurance plans. Physical therapists' services have a positive impact on health-related quality of life.

As clinicians, physical therapists engage in an examination process that includes:

• taking the patient/client history,
• conducting a systems review, and 
• performing tests and measures to identify potential and existing problems.

To establish diagnoses, prognoses, and plans of care, physical therapists perform evaluations, synthesizing the examination data and determining whether the problems to be addressed are within the scope of physical therapist practice. Based on their judgments about diagnoses and prognoses and based on patient/client goals, physical therapists:

• provide interventions (the interactions and procedures used in managing and instructing patients/clients),
• conduct re-examinations,
• modify interventions as necessary to achieve anticipated goals and expected outcomes, and
• develop and implement discharge plans.

Physical therapy can be provided only by qualified physical therapists (PTs) or by physical therapist assistants (PTAs) working under the supervision of a physical therapist.

UNDERSTANDING HEALTH INSURANCE TERMS

Navigating your way through health insurance benefits can be a challenge. It is very important to understand the terminology especially when deciding which benefits will work for you and finding a plan that will best meet your needs. This brief glossary will provide insight for some of the more common terms when dealing with health insurance.

co-insurance: in indemnity, the monetary amount to be paid by the patient, usually expressed as a percentage of charges.

co-payment: in managed care, the monetary amount to be paid by the patient, usually expressed in terms of dollars.

consumer driven health care (CDHC): refers to health plans in which employees have personal health accounts such as an health savings account, medical savings accounts or flexible spending arrangement from which they pay medical expenses directly.

deductible: the portion of medical costs to be paid by the patient before insurance benefits begin, usually expressed in dollars.

denial: refusal by insurer to reimburse services that have been rendered; can be for various reasons.

eligibility: the process of determining whether a patient qualifies for benefits, based on factors such as enrollment date, pre-existing conditions, valid referrals, etc.

exclusions: services that are not covered by a plan.

flexible spending arrangements (FSAs): an account that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses during the year. FSAs are usually funded through voluntary salary reduction agreements with an employer.

gatekeeper: in managed care, it refers to the provider designated as one who directs an individual patient's care. In practical terms, it is the one who refers patients to specialists and/or sub-specialists for care.

health maintenance organization (HMO): a form of managed care in which you receive your care from participating providers.

health savings account (HSA): a savings product that serves as an alternative to traditional health insurance. HSAs enable you to pay for current health expenses and save for future qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis.

managed care: a method of providing health care, in which the insurer and/or employer (policyholder) maintain some level of control over costs and utilization by various means. Typically refers to HMOs and PPOs.

member: a term used to describe a person who is enrolled in an insurance plan; the term is used most frequently in managed care.

non-participating provider: any health care provider or organization that does not have a contractual agreement with an insurance company to provide care to eligible patients for a contracted or discounted fee. Patients can receive services from non-participating providers if they have out-of-network benefits as a part of their insurance plan or if they wish to pay cash for the service but they will miss out on in-network discounts. (Same as "out of network provider")

open enrollment: a set time of year when you can enroll in health insurance or change from one plan to another without benefit of a qualifying event.

out-of-pocket: money the patient's pays toward the cost of health care services.

participating provider: a health care professional or organization that has a contractual agreement with an insurance company to provide care to eligible patients under certain defined conditions and often at discounted and/or contracted fees. (Same as "in network provider")

payer: the party who actually makes payment for services under the insurance coverage policy. In the majority of cases, the payer is the same as the insurer. But, as in the case of very large self-insured employers, the payer is a separate entity under contract to handle the administration of the insurance policy.

policyholder: purchaser of an insurance policy; in group health insurance, this is usually the employer who purchases policy coverage for its employees.

preferred provider organization (PPO): a form of managed care in which the member has more flexibility in choosing physicians and other providers. The member can see both participating and non-participating providers. There is a greater out-of-pocket expense if member sees non-participating providers.

premium: the cost of an insurance plan shared by employer and employee.

provider: one who delivers health care services within the scope of a professional license.

reimbursement: refers to the payment by the patient (first-party) or insurer (third-party), to the health care provider, for services rendered.

PT GUIDE TO WRIST FRACTURE

A wrist fracture is a break in one of the bones near the wrist. In the United States, 1 out of every 10 broken bones diagnosed is a wrist fracture. Injury can occur as a result of a trauma, such as falling while playing sports or simply tripping when walking down a sidewalk. Children are susceptible to wrist fractures because of the high-risk sports they commonly play. A child may sustain a wrist fracture falling off a bike, playing football or soccer, or falling off playground equipment. Wrist fractures are also common in women after menopause, and frequently occur in the elderly population due to falls. A physical therapist can help individuals who have sustained a wrist fracture regain normal wrist motion, strength, and function, and learn how to prevent future fractures.

What Is Wrist Fracture?

A fracture is a crack or a break in a bone. Wrist fractures due to falls happen most often when people stretch the arm straight out to catch themselves as they fall. The wrist is made up of 8 small bones called carpal bones, and 2 bones in the forearm called the radius and the ulna. A wrist fracture is diagnosed when any of those bones breaks or cracks. The most frequently fractured bone is the radius, the bone in the forearm that is closest to the thumb.

There are 3 types of bone fractures:

• Type 1 – a "nondisplaced" fracture, where the bone is broken but is still in a normal position.
• Type 2 – a fracture where a fragment of bone is shifted from its normal position.
• Type 3 – the most serious type of fracture, with multiple breaks of the bone or bones.

Type 1 and 2 fractures usually are treated without surgery. Type 3 fractures, however, usually require surgery.

How Does it Feel?

A fractured wrist is usually painful and movement is affected. If you have sustained a wrist fracture, you may experience:

• Pain in the area of the fracture, which could be anywhere in the wrist, depending on which bone was affected. The pain can radiate from the wrist into the fingers, and even into the forearm.
• Swelling in the wrist and possibly in the hand, usually on the top surface of the wrist and hand.
• Tenderness to touch in the wrist.
• Difficulty and pain when moving the wrist or fingers      

How Is It Diagnosed?

An x-ray is the best way to diagnose a wrist fracture. If you have sustained a fall and are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, you need to visit an emergency room, an urgent-care center, or your physician to get a complete diagnostic x-ray.

If a physical therapist suspects that you have a wrist fracture, the therapist may arrange for an x-ray and refer you to an appropriate physician. Your physical therapist can check for damage to other joints and muscles, and make sure that the nerves and blood vessels in your wrist, forearm, and hand have not been affected by the broken bone. In most cases, people with fractures visit a physician with a specialty in managing bones and joints (an orthopedist). Depending on the type of fracture, the physician might prescribe a cast or a sling to immobilize the area for a period of time until the fracture is healed. The amount of healing time varies, depending on the individual and the type of fracture, and can be anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks. If the fracture is severe, surgery will be required. The recovery time may be longer following surgery, depending on the severity of the injury.

How Can a Physical Therapist Help?

Your physical therapist will work with you following a wrist fracture to help you regain normal wrist motion, strength, and function, and will provide education and training to help you prevent future fractures.

While Your Wrist Is In a Cast or a Sling

While your bone heals, your arm will be in a cast or a sling to keep it still and promote healing. During that time, it is important to ensure that the arm does not get too stiff, weak, or swollen. Depending on the amount of activity that is allowed for your type of fracture, your physical therapist will prescribe gentle exercises to keep your shoulder, elbow, and fingers moving while you are in the cast or sling.

Most people with wrist fractures will slowly return to exercising the other arm and the legs, so that the rest of the body doesn't get out of shape while the fracture is healing. Your physical therapist can help you adapt your exercise program, so that you can maintain your overall strength and fitness without interfering with the healing of your wrist.

When the Cast or Sling Is Removed

After your cast or sling is removed, your wrist will most likely be stiff, and your arm will feel weak. Your physical therapist will examine your wrist, and select treatments to improve its function and restore strength to your arm.

Your rehabilitation will include treatments to:

Reduce Pain. Your physical therapist might use either warm or cold therapeutic treatments, or electrical stimulation, to help control pain or swelling in your wrist, hand, or arm.

Relieve Stiffness. Your physical therapist may use skilled hands-on techniques (manual therapy) to enable your joints and muscles to move more freely with less pain.

Increase Your Strength and Ability to Move. Physical therapists prescribe several types of exercises during recovery from a wrist fracture. Early on, your physical therapist can help you begin to gently move your elbow, using "passive range-of-motion" exercises. As your arm gets stronger, you can exercise it yourself without weights ("active range-of-motion" exercises). Once the bone is well-healed, you can begin to perform resistance exercises, using weights or elastic bands. In addition to prescribing range-of-motion and strengthening exercises, your physical therapist can help you retrain your muscles to react quickly when you need to protect yourself from a fall.

Get Back to Your Daily Activities. Your physical therapist will help you remain independent by teaching you how to perform your daily activities (eg, dressing, working on a computer, and cooking), even while wearing a cast or a sling. Once you can move your arm freely without pain, your physical therapist may begin adding activities that you were doing before your injury, such as using your arm for dressing, grooming, and housekeeping. Your physical therapist will design your individualized program based on an examination of your wrist, goals, level of physical activity, and general health.

Prepare for More Demanding Activities. Depending on the requirements of your job or the type of sports you play, you might need additional physical therapy tailored to meet specific demands. Your physical therapist will develop a specialized program to address your unique needs and goals.

Prevent Long-Term Disability. Everything your physical therapist prescribes for you will help prevent long-term disability by:

• Returning the arm to a strong level of fitness.
• Restoring full movement and strength in a safe manner, while healing occurs.
• Assessing the fracture to make sure that you can return safely to previous home and work activities.
• Guiding you to a safe return to sports and other physical activities. A return too early after a fracture may increase the risk of another fracture.
• Recommending protective equipment, such as wrist guards, for use during sports.

Can this Injury or Condition be Prevented?

In addition to helping individuals prevent long-term disability following a wrist fracture, physical therapists can help different at-risk populations prevent fractures.

• For the aging population, avoiding falls and other trauma is the best way to prevent fractures. Physical therapists are experts at determining your risk of falling, and can teach you how to perform balance exercises and take precautions to avoid falls. They also can perform work and home safety evaluations to make sure that your daily environment is safe.
• For postmenopausal women with osteoporosis leading to a higher risk of wrist fracture, a physical therapist can teach weight-bearing exercises to help build stronger bones. Your physical therapist also may refer you to a nutritionist for vitamin D supplements or other dietary changes to help make your bones stronger. Education in proper posture and body mechanics and joint protection techniques can be helpful in preventing strain on the wrist and arms.
• For children, wearing proper protective gear, such as wrist guards, can reduce the risk of a wrist fracture when playing certain sports. Making sure that playground equipment your child uses is safe and built on a soft surface can also reduce the risk of wrist fractures due to falls.

5 TIPS TO AVOID CHRONIC PAIN

1. Know Pain, Know Gain. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that understanding how our pain systems work is an excellent strategy in managing it. The great news is that you don’t need to know a lot! Simply knowing the basics of how our brain and nerves work, and their role in pain, can help reduce your chance for developing chronic symptoms. Learn more.

2. Keep moving. Gradually and steadily. Living an active, healthy lifestyle not only improves our general well-being and health, but can also reduce our chances of developing chronic pain. Our body was built to move, and we need to understand that not all aches or soreness is cause for concern. Learn more.

3. Spend time with a good PT. If you experience an injury, or develop the onset of pain, seeing a physical therapist (PT) early on can help address and manage your symptoms. PTs are movement experts who can diagnose and treat injuries and help you identify strategies to better manage your pain. The earlier you seek care, the better the chances you have for not developing chronic symptoms. And there’s no reason to wait: you can see a physical therapist without a physician’s referral in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more.

4. Don't focus on an image. While most of us want a diagnostic image (ie, x-ray, MRI) to tell us “why we hurt,” images actually give us little information about what’s causing pain. A study performed on individuals 60 years or older, who had no symptoms of low back pain, found that more than 90% had a degenerated or bulging disc, 36% had a herniated disc, and 21% had spinal stenosis. What shows up on an image may or may not be related to your symptoms. Once imaging has cleared you of a serious condition, your physical therapist will help guide you back to the life you want to live!

5. Addressing depression and anxiety helps. Your chances of developing chronic pain may be higher if you also are experiencing depression and anxiety. A recent study in the Journal of Pain showed that depression, as well as some of our thoughts about pain prior to total knee replacement, was related to long-term pain following the procedure. Make sure that you talk to your medical provider about your mental health throughout your treatment; it can help make your journey go much more smoothly following an injury or surgery.

The American Physical Therapy Association launched a national campaign to raise awareness about the risks of opioids and the safe alternative of physical therapy for long-term pain management. Learn more at our #ChoosePT page.

Authored by Joseph Brence, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, COMT, DAC @ www.APTA.org

FAMILIES MAKING SMART "MOVES"

Making a commitment to be physically active is one of the best ways families can prevent or combat obesity and its consequences. Physical therapists support the Department of Health and Human Services' Physical Activity Guidelines, which states:

• Children should get 1 hour or more of physical activity a day.
• Adults should do 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 1 hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.

Physical therapists' extensive knowledge of pre-existing conditions (such as type 2 diabetes and obesity) allows them to help people of all ages and abilities establish life-long patterns of physical activity. For those who already are obese, physical therapists can devise safe exercise programs that reduce pain, restore flexibility, and increase strength and cardiovascular endurance. For people with type 2 diabetes, they can design and supervise exercise programs that reduce the need for medications, lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, and help manage glucose levels, among other benefits.

The following tips were designed by physical therapists to help families stay active and incorporate physical activities into their daily lives:

"Smart Moves" for Families

• Plan weekend family activities involving physical activity, such as hiking, swimming, bicycling, mini-golf, tennis, or bowling.
• Help your child plan physical activities with friends and neighbors, such as skating or softball.
• Have your kids brainstorm a "rainy day" game plan of indoor activities involving fitness games such as Wii Fit or Dance Dance Revolution.
• Remember that your family does not need to join a health club or buy fancy equipment to be active. Walking isn't costly and it's easy. So is designing a backyard obstacle course. Weights can be made from soda or detergent bottles filled with sand or water!
• Provide positive rewards for your child when he or she engages in physical activities, such as workout clothes, a new basketball, or an evening of roller-skating.
• Provide positive feedback about your child's lifestyle changes. Remember not to focus on the scale (for you or your child).
• Be your child's "exercise buddy." Plan daily walks or bike rides and set goals together for increasing physical activity rather than for losing weight. It's also great "bonding" time!
• As you schedule your child's extracurricular activities, remember to plan time for exercise and activity as a priority for the entire family. Don't just "squeeze it in."
• Encourage children to try individualized sports such as tennis and swimming. Studies show such activities are the basis of lifelong fitness habits.
• Parents and children can do exercises while watching television (or at least during commercials), such as sit-ups, push-ups, or running in place. Discourage snacking or eating meals while watching.