Physical Therapy Blog

Receiving an osteoporosis diagnosis can feel overwhelming and even scary, but it’s also an opportunity to take proactive steps toward better bone health. In many cases, your favorite activities are still within reach - understanding the condition and taking the right actions can help mitigate its effects and improve your quality of life. This guide covers how osteoporosis is diagnosed, the practical steps to take after a diagnosis, ways to build a support system, and the initial treatment options to consider, including physical therapy.

Neuropathy is a condition that affects millions of people, especially as they age. While it is often associated with discomfort or pain in the hands and feet, one of the most profound and often overlooked effects of neuropathy is how it can impact balance. As our bodies rely heavily on the nervous system for coordination and stability, damage to the nerves can disrupt these essential functions, increasing the risk of falls and injuries.

Surgical interventions often come with an inevitable recovery period, whether minor or major. However, there is a proactive approach that can significantly influence surgical outcomes: prehabilitation, or prehab. Prehab involves preparing the body for surgery through a tailored exercise and health regimen, primarily physical therapy. We love helping our patients at EW Motion Therapy prepare their bodies and minds for surgery, getting clear on expectations, and assuaging their fears. You may decide that our services don’t fit your needs. However, you can still read this article as we explore the importance of prehab before surgery, the critical components of an effective prehab program, and how prehab seamlessly coordinates with rehabilitation (rehab) post-surgery to enhance overall recovery.

Living with a limp can pose unique challenges to staying active, but it doesn't mean you have to give up on leading a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Understanding the underlying causes of a limp, how to adapt your exercise routine, and the crucial role of physical therapy can empower you to stay active and maintain your well-being. This guide aims to provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of staying active with a limp, ensuring that you make well-informed decisions for your health.

Living with Parkinson's disease means managing a complex and ever-changing array of symptoms. Optimal care involves a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together professionals from various medical fields to address the wide-ranging impacts of the condition. We love our clients with Parkinson’s at EW Motion Therapy, and we always consider it a privilege to be a part of their care team. Many of our physical therapists are LSVT Big-certified and are ready to create custom treatment plans to address the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. You may decide that our services don’t fit your needs, but understanding the roles of these professionals and knowing how to find the right ones for your unique needs can make a significant difference in managing Parkinson's disease effectively.

Balance is an integral part of our daily lives, influencing everything from walking and standing to climbing stairs and participating in sports. As we age, it's common to notice changes in our balance, often leading to concerns about whether we can ever return to the levels of stability we enjoyed in our youth. While aging is inevitable, there are strategies you can employ to keep moving and stay healthy, including physical therapy. We love helping our senior patients at EW Motion Therapy move safely through individualized treatment and group balance classes. Even if you decide that our services don’t fit your needs, you can still read on as we explore the dynamics of balance, how and why it changes over time, and the role physical therapy can play in restoring balance.

We all stumble and fall at different points - I’m sure you’ve even tripped on your own feet before. While falls can happen at any stage in life, for older adults, falls can become much riskier. As we age, falls can cause a lot more damage, like broken hips and head injuries, and moving through your daily routine might require a higher level of caution. It’s essential to be mindful of your fall risk and all the factors that can contribute to it, but you should not let it keep you from doing the activities you love. A physical therapist can be a great person to help you modify your favorite activities or daily routine with safety in mind - we do this every day for our clients at EW Motion Therapy. But even if you decide our services do not fit your needs, you can still read on to learn when to start thinking about fall risk, the three categories of contributing factors, and how physical therapy can help.

Once you retire, it can be tempting to use your newfound free time to do absolutely nothing. While that is part of the reward of retirement and should be enjoyed, staying active as you age is vital. Whether you go on walks around your neighborhood or enjoy fitness classes at your local senior center, there are myriad ways for you to get in your daily exercise. But you may be more worried about fall risk, which is a valid concern for many older adults. So how do you stay active while staying safe?

Think about how your feet feel after a long walk or hike. They hurt a little, right? Typically the pain goes away after resting for a while, but if you continue to have pain in the bottom of your foot, you may have plantar fasciitis. It’s a common condition, especially if you have flat feet or don’t have correctly-fitted shoes. But what can you do? Should you ice it and hope for the best?

When you start a new exercise program, it can take a while to start seeing results. If you stay consistent while not pushing yourself beyond what you can handle, over time, you will feel better and improve your fitness. You logically know when you start a fitness program that you will not lose ten pounds on the first day - true progress that lasts takes time to build, but if you are investing in yourself, it is always worth it.