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Physical therapy for knee pain involves a thorough evaluation and assessment of your entire lower extremity from your hip to your foot. Your PT can assess your knee pain and prescribe the right treatments — including exercises and modalities — to help decrease your knee pain and improve your overall mobility.
Anatomy of the Knee The human knee is a hinge joint that is comprised of the tibia (shin) and the femur (thigh). The patella, or kneecap, is located in the front of the knee. The knee is supported by four ligaments. Two shock absorbers, each called a meniscus, are found within the knee. Pain in the knee can be caused by repetitive trauma and strain or injury. Occasionally it occurs for no apparent reason. When knee pain occurs, you may experience functional limitations that include difficulty walking, rising from sitting, or ascending and descending stairs. What Type of Knee Pain Do You Have? If you experience knee pain, it is important to determine if the pain is acute, sub-acute, or chronic in nature. This can help guide proper diagnosis and treatment.
If knee pain persists for more than 2-3 weeks, you should visit a doctor, physical therapist, or another healthcare provider to rule out any major problem and to ensure proper diagnosis and management. What to Expect From Physical Therapy for Knee Pain If you are referred to physical therapy for knee pain, the initial visit is important to ensure correct diagnosis and proper management. During this visit, your physical therapist will interview you to gather information about the history of your problem, about the aggravating and relieving factors, and about any past medical history that may contribute the overall problem. From the information gathered during the history, a focused examination will be conducted. The examination may consist of several sections including, but not limited to:
Exercise should be your main tool for treating your knee pain. Exercises to help your knee pain may include:
If knee pain persists for more than two to three weeks or occurs as the result of major trauma, a visit to a physician or healthcare provider is recommended. The knee is a major joint in the body that is responsible for walking, climbing stairs, and rising from a seated position. Pain in the knee can limit one or all of these activities. By working with your physical therapist and by keeping the knee joint mobile and strong, problems with knee pain may be avoided, and your mobility can be maintained.
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For seniors recovering from injury or illness and for those experiencing chronic pain, physical therapy can help relieve pain and restore physical functions such as flexibility, strength, balance and coordination.
Elderly physical therapy combines a combination of approaches including stretching, walking, massage, hydrotherapy, and electrical stimulation among others. The goal of physical therapy for seniors is to make daily tasks and activities easier. And to make seniors as independent as possible. Among the circumstances where physical therapy can be valuable are for those:
The first goal is to reduce pain and swelling if there is any. Then, a PT will apply various techniques to increase flexibility, strength, coordination and balance. These techniques usually involve exercise such as stretching, lifting weights and walking. PTs can also combine an assortment of other therapies, some that may help, and others that may not. It’s often a trial and error process. Types of Physical Therapy Manual Therapy is therapy performed by the hands of the therapist with the goal of relaxing the patient, reducing pain, and providing more flexibility. It includes:
Heat Therapy relaxes muscles and improves blood circulation, which is useful for loosening stiff joints from osteoarthritis or other conditions where you’ve been immobilized. Heat is also used to loosen muscles before exercise. Hydrotherapy uses water to treat diseases and to maintain health, healing soft tissues, increasing blood flow, and relaxing the entire body. Electrical stimulation uses electrical current to create a desired effect in the body. For instance, electrical current can scramble pain signals to cover feelings of pain. Electrical stimulation is used to contract muscles in stroke victims and those with arthritis. Electrical stimulation is the general term that describes the use of electrical current to create an effect in the body. There are several uses for electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation therapy is often used in conjuction with cold laser therapy to provide better healing. Physical Therapists educate patients in every session. Patients are taught how to perform daily tasks, protect their body from re-injury, perform exercises at home, and how to make their homes a safer place. Ultrasound uses high-pitched sound waves to reduce muscle spasms and relax the muscles before and after exercise. Treating Specific Conditions with Physical TherapyThe medical community is finding that physical therapy can be used to help patients with a variety of diseases and medical conditions—some obvious, some less so. Most people 65 and over have some arthritis in their spine, even if they don’t have the symptoms. Physical therapy can help offset future symptoms by using aquatic exercises, hot packs, electrical stimulation and other techniques.
As you can see, physical therapy can help seniors in about every area of health care imaginable. If you’re recovering from surgery or an illness or living with a disease, ask your doctor about physical therapy. PT can give you back your independence by increasing your mobility and making daily tasks easier. Physical Therapists can be given to seniors in a wide variety of living situations ! The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body that allows you to run, jump, and stand on the balls of your feet. Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon, often due to chronic overuse, that leads to swelling, pain, and irritation. Physical therapy is the most common treatment for Achilles tendonitis, decreasing pain, strengthening the affected area safely, improving mobility and flexibility, and allowing patients to return to daily activities and sports in a timely manner. What is the Achilles Tendon?The Achilles tendon is the largest, strongest tendon in the body that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. The Achilles tendon is used to jump, walk, run, and stand on the balls of the feet. When a person pushes off the ground, force is transmitted down the calf muscles through the Achilles tendon to the foot to allow a person to run or jump; when landing, the Achilles tendon helps to control the ankle’s position when the foot comes back to the ground. It can withstand a high amount of stress from running and jumping, but is prone to irritation, overuse, and degeneration. What is Achilles Tendonitis? Achilles tendonitis is a common condition that occurs when the Achilles tendon becomes irritated and inflamed due to repetitive stress on the tendon or a sudden increase in the amount of or intensity of exercise that places too much stress on the Achilles tendon. Achilles tendonitis can occur within the tendon itself or at the point where the tendon attaches to the heel bone. There are two types of Achilles tendonitis:
Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis include:
Source Physical Therapy for Achilles Tendonitis Physical therapy is the first line approach to managing Achilles tendonitis. Physical therapy can decrease pain and swelling of the Achilles tendon, strengthen the affected area, improve mobility and flexibility, and help patients return to their daily activities and sports safely and gradually. The physical therapist completes a thorough evaluation of the heel, calf, and ankle and assesses foot posture, strength, flexibility, and movement, including functional movements (such as standing, walking, stepping on stairs, heel raises, and squatting). Physical therapy treatment for Achilles tendonitis includes:
The hip is a ball and socket joint consisting of the thigh (femur) and the pelvis. There are many ligaments that support the bones, which provide considerable stability to the joint. Numerous muscles also attach around the hip to help move the joint.
Hip pain can be caused by many factors. Often, you may start feeling hip pain for no apparent reason. Sometimes recreation or sports puts repetitive strain on the hip causing pain. Because the hip is a major weight-bearing joint, arthritis of the hip is a common problem. The hip is responsible for such functional activities as walking, running, rising from sitting, and climbing stairs. Pain in the hip can limit these activities. Where Hip Pain Is Felt The hip is close to the low back, and it can be difficult to determine if your hip pain is truly coming from the hip or coming from your low back. The location of your symptoms can often help to solve this problem.
What to Expect From Physical Therapy for Hip Pain Your first visit to physical therapy for hip pain will begin with an initial evaluation. This visit is important to ensure correct diagnosis and proper management. During this visit, the physical therapist will interview you to gather information about the history of your problem, the aggravating and relieving factors, and about any past medical history that may contribute to the overall problem. From the information gathered during the history, a focused examination will be conducted. The examination may consist of several sections including, but not limited to:
Passive treatments like heat or ice may feel good, but active engagement in your PT program through exercise has been proven to be the best treatment for hip pain. Exercises to improve hip strength or mobility may be prescribed by your physical therapist. You also may have to perform exercises at home each day as part of a home exercise program. It is important for you to be an active participant in physical therapy, and ask questions if you have any. Exercises to improve the mobility or strength of your hip are important to keep your hip healthy. Simple exercises performed once daily are a good way to keep the hips working properly. As your hip pain improves, advanced hip strengthening may be another option to maximize hip function. Research has also shown that joint mobilization techniques can help improve short and long-term pain in patients with hip osteoarthritis. This improvement in pain may also be accompanied by improved hip mobility. The hip is a major weight-bearing joint in the body and is responsible for many functional activities such as walking and running, sitting and standing, and climbing stairs. Pain in your hip may limit your normal activities. Research has shown that working with a physical therapist can help improve your pain and overall mobility. By keeping your hips strong and mobile, hip pain can quickly be eliminated and a rapid return to normal activity can occur. Medicare will pay for physical therapy that a doctor considers medically necessary to treat an injury or illness — for example, to manage a chronic condition like Parkinson’s disease or aid recovery from a fall, stroke or surgery.
Medicare Part A, which includes hospital insurance, or Part B, which covers outpatient treatment, might cover this service depending on the circumstances and the setting. The same holds true for occupational and speech therapy. Medicare Part A pays some or all of the cost of physical therapy you receive at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. It might also cover such services at a skilled nursing facility or at your home after a hospitalization lasting at least three days. Whether you incur out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and coinsurance, and how much they are, will depend on the setting for the treatment and how long it lasts. Medicare Part B can pay for outpatient physical therapy you receive:
Unlike with Part A, prior hospitalization is not a prerequisite for Part B to cover physical therapy. Medicare used to set an annual maximum for what it would pay for outpatient therapeutic services, but the cap was eliminated in 2018. This government health insurance program no longer limits what it will pay in a given year for a beneficiary to receive medically necessary therapeutic services. However, keep in mind that treatment recommended by a physical therapy provider but not ordered by a doctor is not covered. In this situation, the therapist is required to give you a written notice, called an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage or ABN, that Medicare may not pay for the service. If you choose to proceed with the therapy, you are agreeing to pay in full. If you have questions about coverage and costs for therapeutic services, call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) Physical therapy can help restore normal physical functioning and reduce and eliminate various limitations or disabilities caused by disease, injury, or a chronic health condition. Physical therapy can help you maintain your independence and your ability to perform activities of daily living. If you qualify for Medicare due to age or a disability, you may have help covering the costs of physical therapy services that will improve your movement and overall health while reducing the risk of potential injury in the future.
What is Physical Therapy? There are a variety of different therapy options available to patients, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services. Physical therapy focuses on restoring and increasing joint mobility, muscle strength, and overall functionality. All of these factors play key roles in improving quality of life and affecting the activities and hobbies you are able to participate in. Physical therapists are able to use their extensive knowledge and training to help your body move better and work more effectively. They have the ability to speed up the recovery process after an injury or surgical procedure and help prevent any further complications. Do Medicare Benefits Cover Physical Therapy Treatments? Medicare does offer coverage for all physical therapy treatments that are prescribed by a physician and deemed medically necessary to improve your specific health condition. In most cases, your therapy treatments are covered by Medicare Part B. Part B is responsible for covering medically necessary outpatient procedures and services. If you do receive your physical therapy at a doctor’s office or other outpatient center, Medicare will cover 80 percent of the Medicare-approved cost. This cost is predetermined by the insurance company as the maximum amount they will pay for a specific service. You will be required to pay the additional 20 percent of the treatment out of pocket. Keep in mind that you will also be responsible for paying your monthly premium and any additional amounts until you reach your deductible. Individuals can continue receiving physical therapy treatments as often as needed, but if you do reach a certain amount of visits and your total charges exceed $2,000, your physician will be required to submit additional information regarding your health and case-specific details. If Medicare deems your treatment to be medically necessary, your therapy may continue and the insurance will continue to pay 80 percent of the approved amount. Physical Therapy at Home If you are homebound and require physical therapy treatments to occur in your own home, you may receive coverage through your Medicare benefits for home health care. Specific requirements must be met to receive home health care, including being homebound and needing skilled nursing services intermittently. Physical therapy services must be performed by a licensed physical therapist, and regular checkups with your physician must be maintained. If you do receive coverage for home health services and require medical equipment that has been prescribed by your physician, Medicare Part B can help. You will likely pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for any durable medical equipment you may need, such as wheelchairs, oxygen supplies, or hospital beds, as long as you rent or purchase your equipment through a Medicare-approved supplier that accepts assignment. Medicare Advantage are required to provide the same Part A and Part B benefits as Original Medicare, but many plans provide additional coverage. Check with your plan for exact costs if you require physical therapy. https://www.medicare.org Pain is a common symptom of many diseases and injuries. Often, pain treatment is necessary to alleviate the effects of painful conditions. Unfortunately, there are many treatments that are ineffective at best and are actually dangerous to the body, which is why it is important to use your doctor or physical therapist’s advice.
Though therapists like those at Zenergy come highly recommended, choosing the best health practitioner to help with your individual pain relief is like picking the right doctor. Choosing the best physical therapy to help with pain relief is like picking the right doctor. There are many factors to consider when deciding who you will see on a regular basis. There are several different types of treatment options, ranging from minor procedures to major ongoing treatments. What is Physical Therapy Physical therapy is the field of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, injuries, and pathologies through physical agents, such as exercise, medications, massage, or manual therapy. It is done with the patient working with a physical therapist for the purpose of improving physical function, physical performance, or physical appearance. Physical therapy is the range of medical treatments that help you move and feel better. Physical therapy can help improve strength and mobility and supplement other treatments such as orthotics and exercise. It is a treatment that often works in conjunction with other treatments such as rehabilitation and specific physical activities. Physical therapy is a health specialty that provides services for people with physical disabilities and conditions that cause pain, disability, and/or functional limitation. Physical therapy is directed at restoring, maintaining, and enhancing functional capabilities. It is used to optimize function and quality of life by addressing the patient’s pain, restoring functional capabilities, and improving self-confidence and quality of life. What are the benefits of Physical Therapy? Physical therapy has become a common way for people to recover from illness, injury, and pain-and many people assume it’s at least somewhat effective. But what are the benefits of physical therapy? We often hear that physical therapy has benefits that can help you maintain health and mobility. As you feel the stretching exercises, you may also notice that you move better. Physical Therapy is a type of treatment that is used to help support individuals with injuries, pain, and mobility issues. A physical therapist provides individualized treatment for the purpose of improving movement, mobility, and/or pain. Physical therapists are specialized professionals who have specialized training in how the body moves and works. They provide physical therapy that is based on the individualized needs of the patient. How does Physical Therapy Relieve Pain The human body is a complicated machine and is made up of over 100 trillion cells. One of the most important of these is a muscle, responsible for most of our movements. However, muscles are made up of many different types of cells that work together to keep them healthy, strong, and flexible. When the cells are damaged, muscles can become weak, tight, or even painful. The human body is amazingly resilient, but if something goes wrong, it’s important to see a doctor. Despite the fact that our bodies are great at healing themselves, it’s always a good idea to get help when your pain becomes severe. Physical therapy offers a wide range of treatments designed to relieve pain, improve function, and restore normal movement. Physical therapy is also an effective mode of treatment for many kinds of pain due to injuries. Physical therapy combines the use of various physical exercises along with therapeutic interventions (such as massage, electrical stimulation, and laser therapy) to help patients improve their function and quality of life. Though for some, therapy might not be enough to get over all kinds of pain. For instance, a retired military veteran could have faced difficult conditions and may have physical as well as mental ailments. It could be possible that only therapy won’t work for him, and he might look for additional alternatives such as medical marijuana. Since cannabis and marijuana can provide temporary relief, it can be helpful to keep following regular physical therapy sessions to see positive results. Physical therapy is the process of restoring movement in individuals who have sustained injuries. Physical therapy can help a person with a stroke, a spinal cord injury, arthritis, a nervous system injury, a head injury, a sports injury, a birth injury, a fall, a stroke, or a spinal cord or brain infection. Physical therapists help patients regain the use of a limb, a shoulder, a neck, a back, a hip, a knee, a foot, a hand, a wrist, a finger, a thumb, an ankle, a leg, a foot, a hand, an elbow or a shoulder following an injury. Physical therapy can also help people regain the use of muscle following a stroke, a spinal cord injury, and a stroke. Aside from that, if a person has specific foot and ankle injuries, he can refer to a healthcare specialist – podiatrist can refer you to any podiatric service providers who can diagnose and treat medical conditions and injuries involving the feet. Conclusion: Physical therapy is a branch of medicine that aims to restore bodily functions or structures. Physical therapy is mainly used to treat injuries, muscle problems, surgeries, sports injuries, conditions related to arthritis, and common medical conditions. Physical therapy can be used to improve movement, prevent injuries, and restore normal movement. Physical therapy is particularly important for adults ages 65 and older as muscles and joints tend to lose strength and stability over time. This change can negatively impact older adults' independence in performing daily tasks and movements, like changing positions, standing, walking, and going up and down stairs.
Learn about the types of physical therapy that can benefit older adults. What Is Geriatric Physical Therapy? Geriatric physical therapy is a form of physical therapy specifically geared toward older adults and their unique issues and challenges. Geriatric physical therapy takes into account that older adults tend to become less active over time, experience a decrease in muscle strength, coordination, and reaction timing, and have a lower tolerance for physical activity. Geriatric physical therapy is different from other types of physical therapy because it focuses more on building strength and endurance in older adults to help in the following ways:
Additional Senior Rehabilitation Other rehabilitation services for older adults to restore health and optimal physical functioning include:
Stretches and Equipment for Seniors Geriatric physical therapy generally consists of a variety of exercises that improve strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance to aid in activities and movements and prevent overall deconditioning. Exercises typically include:
Physical Activity Tips Physical activity is important for people of any age, but it's especially important for older adults over 65 to prevent deconditioning and to maintain functional strength, endurance, and range of motion for everyday activities. An increased sedentary lifestyle (sitting or lying down for long periods of time) in older adults can quickly lead to weakness and muscle atrophy, poor balance, chronic pain, poor activity tolerance, and increased risk of falls. Adults ages 65 and older should aim to do something physical every day, even if it is just light activity like walking around your home, cooking, or cleaning. Performing exercises that improve strength, balance, and flexibility should be done at least two days a week. You also should aim to complete at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity over the course of an entire week. Moderate intensity activity includes brisk walking, hiking, aerobics, bike riding, dancing, and sports and recreational activities. Summary Geriatric physical therapy focuses on helping older adults strengthen the muscles they need to complete everyday tasks, such as walking, climbing stairs, and shifting positions. Attending geriatric physical therapy can therefore help older adults remain independent and prevent other conditions that may occur from lack of physical activity, such as muscle atrophy. A Word From Verywell Staying active and exercising is key to aging healthily and preventing deconditioning and chronic conditions that worsen with inactivity. Attending geriatric physical therapy can help jump-start you into a more active lifestyle. Physical therapy can provide you with useful exercises and tips to improve your strength, flexibility, and balance, which will help in your everyday activities at home. Frequently Asked Questions How does geriatric physical therapy help older adults? Geriatric physical therapy helps older adults regain the muscle strength, balance, and coordination needed to improve their ability to walk, their overall mobility and level of functioning, and their independence so they can perform everyday tasks. What exercises are good for older adults? Good exercises for older adults help provide strength, stability, balance, and power to complete everyday movements such as getting up from a chair, going up and down stairs, and walking. Specific muscle groups that may be targeted include the quadriceps and glutes. These are activated through a variety of exercises, including standing up and sitting down in a chair, step-ups, bridges, clamshells, leg lifts, and balance exercises. What exercises should older adults avoid? To avoid injury, older adults should not participate in strenuous exercises that involve heavy lifting and high impact. Exercises should be performed slowly and with good control. Also, they should be completed using only body weight or with light resistance to encourage proper joint movement and muscle activation without putting stress on muscles, tendons, or joints. Often during pregnancy and childbirth, cesarean section ( c-section), or vaginal delivery, pelvic floor muscles can be stretched and sometimes damaged. This can lead to functional problems of the pelvic floor, which can include:
It is important for new moms to wait at least six weeks after delivery before starting therapy, so their bodies has a chance to heal. Pelvic floor physical therapy following childbirth varies depending on the patient’s complaints and goals, however treatment sessions may include:
Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, relieves swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks your lymphatic system. Lymphatic drainage massage involves gently manipulating specific areas of your body to help lymph move to an area with working lymph vessels.
What is a lymphatic drainage massage used for? Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, is a gentle form of massage used to relieve painful swelling in your arms and legs caused by lymphedema. Lymphedema often affects people recovering from breast cancer surgery. Lymphedema happens when your tissues retain fluid left behind after your cardiovascular system sends blood to your tissues and organs. The remaining fluid is called lymph. Normally, your lymphatic system collects your lymph and returns it to your heart via a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. When something disrupts your lymphatic system's process, lymph collects in your arms and legs, making them swell. A massage therapist uses lymphatic drainage massage techniques to move lymph from your tissues to your lymph nodes, which eases the swelling in your tissues. Do lymphatic drainage massages work?Healthcare providers are still studying whether lymphatic drainage massages make a difference. Some studies show people age 60 and below benefitted by having lymphatic drainage massages. How are lymphatic drainage massages done?A lymphatic drainage massage is a two-step process:
Some people benefit from a mechanical process. In this process, you put a sleeve on the swollen arm or leg. The sleeve is attached to a pneumatic pump that pulsates and helps your lymph to drain from your tissues to your lymph nodes. What are some conditions that can benefit from lymphatic drainage massage?Lymphatic drainage massages are often used to relieve lymphedema following breast cancer surgery. Other conditions that benefit from lymphatic drainage massages are:
Will lymphatic drainage massages make my lymphedema go away?You might not see immediate results from lymphatic drainage massages. If you have several sessions without result, ask your healthcare provider about alternative treatments. How can I drain my lymphatic system myself?Talk to your healthcare provider about learning lymphatic draining massage techniques. They will have information to help you decide if you would benefit from doing lymphatic draining massage yourself or by working with a trained massage therapist. What happens if I'm feeling sick after a lymphatic drainage massage? Few people have negative reactions to lymphatic drainage massage. Some people, however, complain of headaches, nausea and fatigue. When that happens, you should ask your healthcare provider about managing your side effects. When should I see my healthcare provider if I'm doing a lymphatic drainage massage?You should call your provider if your lymphedema appears to be getting worse. Lymphedema causes swelling and raises your risk of infection. It's an unfortunate and uncomfortable outcome of some treatments for cancer and other illnesses. Lymphatic drainage massage is one way to relieve your lymphedema symptoms. Ask your healthcare provider if a lymphatic drainage massage might be helpful. |
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