As we go through different stages in life, from childhood, adolescence and adulthood into our senior years, it becomes even more important to adopt a healthy lifestyle. As they say, prevention is always better than cure.
​Common conditions and illnesses experienced by seniors:
As one grows older, there are changes in the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, endocrine systems. Some common conditions and illnesses include:

• Mental health issues
• Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal disorders
• Chronic diseases (heart disease, respiratory diseases and diabetes)
• Sexual dysfunction
• Menopause in women and andropause in men
• Risk of cancer

By addressing common risk factors and improving overall health and wellness, it is possible to maintain and enhance the quality of life as one grows older. Healthy eating, physical activity, avoiding smoking, conservative use of alcohol and the practice of mental wellness can reduce or even prevent common diseases. A physical therapist can help you improve your health and wellness with a well-balanced exercise and injury prevention program.

• Ultrasound to heal connective tissue (tendons and ligaments).
• Manual therapy which includes mobilizations, manipulations and massage.
• Resistance training to boost muscle strength.
• Cold compress for acute injuries and heat to relax muscular spasms.
• Low level laser for muscle and connective tissue injuries.
• Functional electrical stimulation to restore muscle strength.
• The use of tape to support muscles and joints.

​The sooner you work with a physical therapist, the better. If you or someone you know is over the age of 50, advise them to take steps to be proactive about their health. Call us today and learn more about what physical therapy can do for you.

A fracture can occur in one of three possible locations – at the top near where the femur joins the pelvis, in the middle of the thigh bone, or the bottom near the knee joint. The femur reaches a breaking with a fall (a particular risk for seniors), vehicle accident, or during competitive sports.
Regardless of the location of the fracture, an individual will experience extreme pain and movement restriction. Tingling or numbness in the area may accompany the pain, along with swelling and the inability to walk, stand or tolerate pressure on the leg. If left untreated, complications may include uncontrolled bleeding, blot clots, infection and pneumonia.
​The femur is a major weight-bearing bone and the rate at which it heals is dependent on factors such as age and underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. Full recovery can take approximately 12 weeks to several months and may require surgical intervention.

​The use of water as a medium to reduce pain and swelling, increase strength and improve mobility is also helpful. Massage under the guidance of a physical therapist also helps relieve pain and improve mobility. Several exercise programs can be prescribed to build core and pelvic floor strength to aid in balance and prevent falls. In some cases, physical therapist may recommend mobility devices such as crutches and canes.

Let's face it - no one wants to be in crutches or have to struggle to walk. Hip pain can impact every aspect of life, from getting out of bed in the morning to driving and walking.
The good news is that physical therapy has two significant benefits for anyone with hip pain:

• Improve healing so you have less pain and can get back to the things you enjoy doing.
  
• Prevent further damage to the hip joint and reduce your risk of falls.

The benefit of physical therapy extends beyond strength improvement in the hip joint and pelvic muscles. This can also help reduce or treat low back pain, improve posture and boost the quality of life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing hip discomfort, call us today (516) 616-0942. Let us help heal your pain.

Common symptoms:
The most common symptoms related to whiplash include:

• Headaches
• Neck pain and stiffness
  
• Shoulder pain
  
• Dizziness
  
• Jaw pain
  
• Arm pain/weakness/ tingling
  
• Back pain

n most cases, the potential for recovery is high, especially with the right care as early as possible. A return to activity as soon as possible helps significantly. Although symptoms may be around for a while, the pain will improve within a few days or weeks. Be sure to continue with the medicines prescribed by your doctor to aid with early movement.
Remember that prolonged inactivity does NOT help. Keep moving - it's important. Avoid staying in the same position for too long to avoid tightness and loss of flexibility.
Exercise plays a big role in recovery. Simple neck and shoulder exercises are safe and effective. Stretching, strengthening and coordination exercises should be done regularly each day.
Physical therapy, in conjunction with standard medical care, has been shown to be the best choice to decrease pain, improve mobility and help you return to normal daily activities after a car accident. 
If you have had a car accident, the first step toward recovery starts with us. Schedule your risk-free appointment with your physical therapist. Let us help you return to a healthy, pain-free life once again.

How To Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor Muscles
Men and women should regularly exercise their pelvic floor muscles. It is highly recommended that women do pelvic floor exercises daily to prevent weakness and, if needed, to improve the strength of their pelvic floor muscles.
As with any muscle, consistently performing the right exercises always helps. Gentle exercises (like walking regularly) can also help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Step three = Pace yourself
You need to train your pelvic floor muscles just as you would with any other muscle group, through repetition.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with one of our skilled physical therapists and we will be happy to steer you in the right direction.

So how can physical therapy help women (and men) tone and strengthen muscles, especially in the pelvic area?
Physical therapists can design a full pelvic workout, including exercises called "Pelvic Clocks" and "Kegels" to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic region.
To find out how you can benefit from these and other exercises, call our office today at (516) 616-0942 to schedule an appointment. Let us help you regain control of your pelvic floor muscles. 

What causes ACL injuries?
ACL injuries are common in contact sports, especially football and soccer. If your foot is planted on the ground and something causes your knee to bend backward, twist, or move from side to side, your ACL could tear. Jumping and other sudden movements can also damage the ACL. Therefore, skiers and runners are at risk for ACL tears too. An ACL tear can affect any athlete. In fact, the NASCAR title favorite Denny Hamlin tore his ACL playing baseball, as reported by the Associated Press on January 26, 2010.
Individuals who do not engage in contact sports could also suffer from an ACL injury as a result of falling off a ladder or twisting their knee while climbing stairs. As with the rest of our bodies, the ACL gets weaker and more prone to injury with age, making individuals over 40 at a greater risk for injury.
How will I know if I have an ACL injury?
Typically, the first sign of an ACL injury is moderate to severe knee pain, but there are other symptoms as well:

• A popping noise or sensation in the knee when the injury happens
• Severe knee swelling within the first hour or two after the injury, which could indicate bleeding inside the knee
  
• The inability to move your knee because of the pain, swelling, or both
  
• An incredibly unstable feeling in your knee when you try to walk, or if it buckles or gives out on you
  

Remember, don’t let it go untreated. If you do, you can cause more damage to your knee joint. So be sure to make an appointment with your doctor if you suspect an ACL injury.

• Flexibility routines
• Strengthening exercises
• Stabilization movements
• Endurance activities

Your physical therapist at Healing Touch PT will work with you to determine the best plan of action, based on your activity level before the injury and the current functionality of your non-injured leg. By working closely with us, you might be able to strengthen the quadriceps and hamstring muscles that support your knee enough to avoid surgery and further injury. This varies from one case to another, but we can assure you we will go out of your way to minimize surgical involvement.
We can help you experience both short-term relief and long-term recovery from your ACL injury. Please call us to schedule a consultation today. We also offer preventive strengthening programs to assist you or an athlete in your family to stabilize and strengthen the knee joint, minimizing the possibility of ACL injuries. After all, "Prevention is better than cure".

Why is childhood obesity a problem?
There are several medical issues directly associated with obesity:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
  
• Respiratory disease
  
• Increased risk of injury

After a child turns 6, the chances that obesity will persist into adulthood increase by 50%. The sooner obesity is treated, the greater the likelihood that the individual can achieve a normal adult weight.

So what contributes to childhood obesity?

• Diet: High-fat diets, irregular meals, and inactivity continue to be primary contributors to obesity. Limit/avoid the “empty calories” like sodas, candy, and chips.
• Inactivity: Inactivity is widely recognized as a contributor to obesity. Children aged 6 to 11 years watch 23.5 hours of TV per week and adolescents ages 12 to 17 years watch about 22 hours. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition assessed the effects of reducing television watching and video game-playing in obese 3rd and 4th-grade students. The results showed that the body fat level of the children who received the intervention for 6 months dropped significantly compared to the controls.

The Emotional Factor
Children, like adults, can eat in response to moods. Emotions that commonly lead to overeating include sadness, loneliness, anger, and celebration. Children can learn to identify their feelings before eating and control the “misinterpreted” urges to eat.
Obese children report a greater number of life changes (indicative of stress) compared with other adolescents. Depression, anxiety, social and behavior problems are commonly reported by obese children.

Encourage daily activity in obese children. Sports participation contributes to improved fitness levels, specifically increased endurance, strength, self-esteem, energy, and often, improved mood. Family involvement is crucial.
​A physical therapist can identify what (if any) changes family members must make to improve the health and fitness level of everyone in the family—not just the obese member. The parents must become good role models with their eating, exercise, and stress management. Strive for an attitude of "we're going to do this together."

A WORD OF CAUTION:
If you (or a loved one) feel unsteady on your feet, see one of our skilled physical therapists for reducing your (or your loved one's) risk of falls.  Our therapists can also recommend balance exercises that are just right for you, based on your current physical condition. Call us today to learn what we can do for you. Healing Touch Physical Therapy's client representatives are standing by to assist you.
Call today at (516) 616-0942 to see how we can help you be more mobile and be more independent with your daily activities.

You know that exercise is important and has several health benefits. However, there are hidden benefits of exercise that you may not be aware of. Here are the top 5 reasons to exercise:

Reason #2: To Increase Muscle Tissue
Increased strength allows you to complete your day-to-day tasks with ease. Imagine if simple things like walking, going up the stairs, picking up groceries, or playing with your children became easier and more enjoyable. What would that do for you?
A well-designed, progressive exercise plan helps tone your muscles.
Reason #3: To Drop Pounds of Fat
The best benefit of exercise is fat loss. It is no secret that a combination of exercise and a balanced meal plan is the best-known way to lose fat. Here's what fat loss can do for you:

• Your clothes fit better
• People around you begin to compliment you on your new appearance
• When you look in the mirror, you look several years younger
• Your energy levels soar
• You feel great!

Reason #4: To Control Blood Sugar
Regular exercise helps stabilize blood sugar levels. If you or someone you know has type 2 diabetes (or is at risk for type 2 diabetes) exercise will help your body to better utilize sugar since exercise positively impacts insulin sensitivity. A combination of weight loss and improved blood glucose control has several health benefits. You should consult your doctor before you begin any exercise with the intention to control your blood sugar.
Reason #5: To Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels
Exercise helps your heart in 2 ways:

1. Weak heart muscles pump a relatively small amount of blood with each beat. Essentially, your heart is putting in a lot of effort with every beat. By exercising, you strengthen your heart muscles so they pump more blood with less effort; this decreases the pressure on your arteries.
2. Exercise increases HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels in some people. This decreases your risk for heart disease. Other heart disease risk factors such as weight, diabetes, and high blood pressure also improve with regular exercise. You may want to speak with your doctor about your salt intake as well.

It's common knowledge that stretching and exercising are great ways to improve flexibility and posture, but did you know that a physical therapist is the perfect professional to teach you the proper techniques to encourage healing and prevent further injury? 
Many of us are our own worst enemies, pushing our bodies beyond their limits. Certain activities such as moving furniture, lifting heavy boxes, gardening, or shoveling the driveway can all lead to pain and/or injury to the lower back. Back pain can also occur without overexertion. Staying in the same position for too long is a common trigger. In some cases, low back pain increases with stress and lengthy bouts of inactivity.
If you or someone you know has low back pain, we can help.
While you wait for your appointment, which we always provide in a timely manner, here is a helpful suggestion. If you find the pain unmanageable in between appointments, you can find short-term relief by laying flat on the floor and placing your feet on a chair. Make sure your shins are parallel to the floor (place a pillow under your ankles if the chair is too low). Staying in this position for 10-12 minutes will ease tension in your lower back. Also, avoid strenuous activity untill the pain subsides.
If a slipped disk or another type of problem is the root of your pain, you may have a harder time finding relief at home. In this case, we need to evaluate you and identify the best course of action. Follow our advice as your expert physical therapy providers and perform the exercises prescribed to you, staying conscious of your physical limitations. Listen to your body!