Fleming PT: Helping Arthritis Pain

Fleming PT: Helping Arthritis Pain

Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body HELPING ARTHRITIS PAIN In a recent study, 83 patients with osteoarthritis were divided to receive either hands-on physical therapy or a sugar pill that actually did nothing to help their pain without them knowing. The group that received hands-on therapy, had therapy to the knee, low back, hip and ankle as required. They then performed a knee exercise program in the clinic and at home. The group taking the sugar pill had just low intensity ultrasound, a form of deep heat, to the problem area. Both groups were treated at the clinic twice weekly for 4 weeks. (continued inside)

www.flemingptconsultants.com

HELPING ARTHRITIS PAIN Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

Inside: • It’s Time To Live Life Without Arthritis Pain

• Healthy Recipe

• Exercise Essentials

• Patient Success Spotlight

(continuedfromoutside)

Tests were done to measure how well the people were doing compared to their initial visit, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 1 year later. The results were very impressive showing the patients who had hands-on physical therapy, combined with specific exercises had significant improvements in their pain, mobility and function. By 8 weeks, patients were able to walk further and faster with much less or completely resolved pain.

mobility. Other benefits included less need for surgery with only 5% of patients in the treatment group having undergone surgery as compared to 20% with the placebo group. In general, if you are suffering from osteoarthritis, especialy of the back, hip or knee, physical therapy decreases the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis and may delay or prevent the need for more invasive treatments, like injections or surgery. Isn’t it time you did something about your arthritis and pains? Call us today at Fleming Physical Therapy so we can make a positive difference in your life. Look inside to learn more about our programs and say good-bye to your aches, pains and joint stiffness.

ROBERT FLEMING PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, Owner

Their joint stiffness, aches and mobility had improved by 55% compared to the placebo group who had no treatment. At one year, patients in the treatment group still were doing great in terms of less pain and more

Annals of InternalMedicine: February 1, 2000 vol. 132 no. 3 173-181.GailD.Deyle,MPT;Nancy E.Henderson,PhD,MPT; Robert L.Matekel,MPT;MichaelG.Ryder,MPT;MatthewB.Garber,MPT; andStephenC.Allison,PhD,MPT,ECS

www.flemingptconsultants.com

As we age, the discs in our spine can wear, begin to bulge, and become narrowed. These changes can put strain on the cartilage, ligaments, and joints at the involved level of the spine and may cause pain. The cartilage covering the joint surface can begin to fray and wear away over time. If your cartilage wears down so that your bones begin to rub together, it can result in enlarged joints, inflammation, stiffness, and pain. As Osteoarthritis (OA) of the spine progresses, your body will try to repair it by growing new bone. This bony growth is called a “bone spur.” Spur development can result in a condition known as spinal stenosis. Most often this disorder affects men and women over 50 years of age. If the spurs enlarge, they can create a narrowing of the spaces in the spine. The narrowing can involve small or large areas and can result in pressure on nerves near the involved joints, resulting in symptoms that may include pain, tingling, numbness, or burning. It's Time To Live Life Without Arthritis Pain Exercise: Exercise is the most important treatment to lessen your pain and improve your mobility. Your physical therapist will prescribe specific low-impact activities that will strengthen your spine, abdomen, and hip muscles. Stretching: Specific stretching exercises will be prescribed for your spine, based on the results of your initial evaluation. Combined with strengthening, stretching may help slow the progression of the disease. Symptom management: Symptom management means learning to feel better and remain active. Sometimes people are fearful that increased activity will worsen their symptoms or increase their pain. Your physical therapist will help you learn how to be more active without worsening your symptoms. He or she will help you find your appropriate activity levels, and develop a unique program to keep you moving. FlemingPhysicalTherapycanhelpwithavarietyoftreatmentoptions, including:

Healthy Recipe

FRUITY YOGURT ICE POPS

Ingredients • 2 cups fresh blueberries, raspberries, strawberries & sliced bananas, mixed

• 1/4 cup white sugar

• 8 small paper cups

• 8 popsicle sticks

• 2 cups plain/vanilla yogurt

Directions Place the mixed blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, sliced bananas, yogurt, and sugar into a blender. Cover, and blend until fruit is chunky or smooth, as desired. Fill paper cups 3/4 full with fruit mixture. Cover the top of each cup with a strip of aluminum foil. Poke a popsicle stick through the center of the foil on each cup. Place the cups in the freezer for at least 5 hours. To serve, remove foil and peel off the paper cup.

www.flemingptconsultants.com

Patient Success Spotlight

Refer A Friend

“I like the fact that at Fleming Physical Therapy, the therapist is working directly with me and truly seems interested in my health. They say the most important thing is that I feel I am better, not any particular test saying I am better. I like that.” – J.K. “The therapist is working directly with me and truly seems interested in my health.” “...I would highly recommend anyone to go to Fleming Physical Therapy. They are the best!” “I always feel so welcome and feel like I am the most important person to them when I am in the office. You just don’t seem to get this kind of attention everywhere you go. It is the reason I would highly recommend anyone to go to Fleming Physical Therapy. They are the best!” – S.F.

Do You Have Friends Or Family Unable To Do The Following:

Who Do You Know That Needs Our Help? � Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely � Sit for long periods comfortably � Walk for long distances � Live an active and healthy lifestyle If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to Fleming Physical Therapy today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly to schedule an appointment.

www.flemingptconsultants.com

Exercise Essentials Try this movement to help relieve arthritis pain.

Win A $20 Giftcard!

Call IN & Win!

Stretches Lower Back

FOUR POINT ARM RAISE Start on hands and knees, hips and shoulders at 90°. Lift one arm out front. Bring it back down and then repeat on opposite side. 8-10 times on both arms.

www.simpleset.net

MISSPELLED MANIA EDITION! You could be the winner of a $20 gift card! Enter our drawing by being one of the first 10 people to call with the misspelled word in this newsletter. Call in at an office near you! CALL IN AT A LOCATION NEAREST YOU!

SCHENECTADY 518-346-0605

AMSTERDAM 518-212-6291

GLOVERSVILLE 518-921-4189