Professional Care PT. How To Recover Quicker And More Compl…

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Meet Dr. Dan Anderson, PT, DPT • Patient Spotlight Patchogue-Medford Alumni join forces to support PMHS Stick-it-to-Cancer Event EAST PATCHOGUE • 191 PATCHOGUE YAPHANK ROAD • EAST PATCHOGUE, NY 11772 • P : 631.775.0971 RIVERHEAD • 806 EAST MAIN ST • RIVERHEAD, NY 11901 •P : 631. 591.0838 ALSO INSIDE: PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SPRAIN OR STRAIN IS YOUR FOOT OR ANKLE PAINING YOU?

IS YOUR FOOT OR ANKLE PAINING YOU? PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SPRAIN OR STRAIN

HOW SHOULD MY SPRAIN OR STRAIN BE TREATED? Foot and ankle pain treatment depends on where the injury happens and how long ago it occurred. If it is not possible to walk more than two or three steps without pain or if the joint looks out of place, it is important to visit a doctor as soon as possible, because a fracture may be suspected. However, within a few hours of compression wrapping and elevation, most people notice that the swelling begins to subside, and they can carry on with most of their daily tasks with minimal discomfort. However, this initial treatment of a foot or ankle sprain does not help strengthen the area and prevent injury in the future. For optimal results, it is best to consult with a physical therapist to see what the best methods would be for healing and avoiding re-injury of the affected area. Once the acute phase of the injury has passed (the point where there is pain), it is possible to prevent future injury through exercises targeted at strengthening themuscles thatsurround theankle.Yourphysical therapist will prescribe certain strengthening exercises to regain your normal levels of function.Thismay includedrawing thealphabetwithyour toes to improve range of motion, performing calf raises every time you stand at the sink, or raising your toes slowly off of the ground when you are standing in line at the grocery store. HOW WILL PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP MY SPRAIN OR STRAIN? Physical therapy is designed to relieve the pain of a foot or ankle problem, improve range of motion, and strengthen your muscles so they are able to take on the shock of normal activities. While pain within your foot or ankle may subside on its own, there are dysfunctions up the chain that can last for years and lead to other injuries. For example, changes in gait pattern can result in ankle injury, making it difficult for you to move around freely. Physical therapy is thebestway tomakesure that these injuriesdonotoccur. Our physical therapists will show you therapeutic exercises that target the muscles that keep the foot or ankle supported. They may even recommend a customized physical fitness program that can help you reduce stress on your feet and ankles. Whether you sustained a sprain or strain, physical therapy is the answer to achieving long-term relief. Contact Professional Care PT today to schedule a consultation or to find out more about how physical therapy can help relieve your foot and ankle pains.

Haveyourecentlysustainedan injury toyour footorankle thathasresulted inpain? Ifso, it ispossible thatyoumaybeexperiencing theeffectsofeither a sprain or strain, depending on what structure was injured (tendon or ligament).While therearemany factors thatcan lead to footandanklepain, sprains/strains are some common examples. Even if your pain subsides, dysfunction may still be present. Ifyouhavenoticed limitedmobility,previousorpresentpain,orother issues with your ankles or feet, Professional Care PT can help. We can determine if the cause of your injury was indeed a sprain or strain, in addition to helping provide you with the necessary treatments for healing. We can also provide you with tips for avoiding re-injury in the future, so you don’t have to worry about avoiding certain activities. WHY IS MY FOOT OR ANKLE HURTING? Whetheryou trip, fall,or twistyour footorankle“wrong,” footandanklepain thatstems fromasprainorastrain isoften theresultofsomesortof injury. However, it isalsocommonlydue toanunderlyingweakness in themuscles of the foot or leg. In fact, any accumulation of factors can lead to insidious onsetofpain, including lossofrangeofmotion,alteredmovementpatterns, balance issues, and overall affected mobility. People who sprain or strain their feet or ankles often find that they are continuously re-injuring that part of their body. Fortunately, this does not have to be the case with the help of physical therapy. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SPRAIN AND STRAIN? A sprain happens when a ligament (the tissue that connects one bone to another) isstretchedor torn.Aspraincanalsohappenwhen there isdamage to a joint capsule, or the part of the ankle or foot that adds stability to the joint. Symptoms of sprains include pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, and sometimes an inability to move your foot or ankle. While sprains happen when there is damage to a ligament, strains happen when there isdamage toamuscleor tendon (the tissue thatconnectsmuscle to bone). Strains usually happen when the muscle suddenly contracts while it is stretched, like when you run or jump. The symptoms of strains are similar to those associated with sprains, making them difficult to tell apart without doing a physical therapy examination. If you are unsure about whether you sustained a sprain or strain, we can help you figure it out.

PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT

“My daughter, Adriana struggles with the consequences of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Von Willebrand’s resulting in numerous joint injuries and pain causing her to limit her activities significantly. She manages to cope due to the benefit of well thought out physical therapy care plans because the few pain management options were unsuccessful. I feel so blessed for the outstanding caring staff at Professional Care PT who gave my daughter her life back.”

Sixteen year old, Riverhead High School Sophomore, Adriana has been a patient at Professional Care PT & Rehabilitation for several years now. Adriana, who loves to spend time with her friends and enjoys listening to music, seems like an average, young teenage girl. Unfortunately, she suffers from several ailments, including Scoliosis and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a disorder that affects connective tissue, primarily the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls. However, with the guidance of her Pediatric Orthopedist, Dr. James Barsi, her team of

doctors from Stony Brook Medicine and her team of physical therapists at Professional Care PT, Adriana has made wonderful improvements. Adriana’s scoliosis was on the cusp of having too severe of a curve. Through extensive physical therapy, the use of her brace and her hard work throughout her rehabilitation efforts, she was able to avoid spinal surgery. We are so proud of Adriana’s determination. She has proven to be a well-adjusted, happy teenager with an amazing personality and willingness to work hard towards her rehabilitation. She is such a pleasure to have with us in the office!

- Daphne (mother)

MEET DR. DAN ANDERSON, PT, DPT

neurologic, and sports-related injuries. He also served as a Certified Clinical Instructor for the practice, helping students from various college and university physical therapy programs gain knowledge and clinical experience. Dr. Anderson was also an adjunct faculty member of the Stony Brook University Physical Therapy Program from 2012 – 2016, providing clinical instruction for classes in orthopedics and health and wellness. Dr. Anderson has continued to expand his physical therapy knowledge and enhance his manual skills through continuing education classes. He has completed all core courses offered through the Institute of Physical Art, which involves rigorous manual therapy training. He has also achieved Level 1 certification in the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA). In addition, he completed clinical internships in orthopedics, acute care, and adult and neurological rehabilitation during his Doctoral training.

Prior to entering the physical therapy field, Dr. Anderson earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the State University of New York College at Cortland, graduating with honors. He spent the next 10-plus years building a career as a successful legislative advocate for paralyzed veterans and people with spinal cord injuries and disorders. However, his interest in health science and his desire to help people achieve more immediate results in improving their health and quality of life led him to pursue a career in physical therapy. Dr. Anderson has a strong interest in orthopedics, sport-specific rehabilitation and performance training, and injury prevention in adolescent athletes.

DR. DAN ANDERSON, PT, DPT, a native of West Islip, NY, has quickly built an extensive resume of work in thephysical therapyfieldsincegraduating from Stony Brook University with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2011. His experience includes work as a staff physical therapist at an outpatient orthopedic clinic in Hauppauge, NY, where he treated patients from pediatrics to senior citizens, with a wide range of orthopedic,

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PATCHOGUE-MEDFORD ALUMNI JOIN FORCES TO HELP SUPPORT 7TH ANNUAL STICK-IT-TO-CANCER EVENT

On Tuesday, February 25th, Professional Care Physical Therapy and Cirigliano Agency of Patchogue, joined forces to help support the 7th Annual Patchogue-Medford High School, Stick- It-To-Cancer Event. The annual floor hockey competition between students, teachers, administrators, and faculty is a fundraiser that financially supports students within the district fighting a major illness. This year’s tournament was in honor of Alexandra Diaz, a 10th- grader who underwent surgery to have a brain tumor removed. As sponsors, both Professional Care PT and Cirigliano agency each pledged a donation of $5 per goal, for a total of $10 for each goal scored throughout the tournament. Together with the efforts and sponsorship from The Silent Night Foundation, other local businesses and various donations from the community, more than $7,000.00 was raised to help Alexandra.

A R E Y O U L E T T I N G Y O U R PA I N H O L D Y O U B A C K ? C A L L T O S C H E D U L E Y O U R A P P O I N T M E N T T O D AY !