Volume 4, Issue 1

Winter 2010

As we start a new decade it may seem hard to gain momentum or to accomplish your goals for the year, but as we have all heard many times, the key is balance.  Yes, that means eating healthy foods, getting adequate rest, and of course doing Pilates!  But it also means being comfortable getting back into your regular (or slightly healthier) routine and enjoying the moment.

At Andersonville Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio, we have quite an agenda for the new year and although at times it seems overwhelming, it is also very exciting.  As you all know, in the fall we hosted our first Healthy Back Pilates Class and received rave reviews from the participants.  Our next class begins April 6th, and will run for six consecutive weeks.  All spots are currently open, so sign up today!

This class, however, is only a part of our vision for the next year.  In addition to providing excellent one-on-one physical therapy services and Pilates programming, we will continue to add classes that show you how using proper posture, correct movement patterns and exercise can help you stay healthy and avoid injury.  Our goal is to have you independently manage your chronic musculoskeletal problems by giving you the resources to do so.  Once you have learned the basics, you have the option of coming to classes in our studio or continuing your exercise program at home with a DVD.  Above all, your focus should be on the journey of learning how to better take care of your body.

We have established a comprehensive in-house training program for our physical therapists and Pilates instructors.  Although I do not believe all PTs and instructors must have the same style, I do believe that if we speak a common language, we can more easily collaborate when necessary, and our patients will have better outcomes.

You will be able to follow all of this on our newly redesigned website.  We will now be able to update information about the clinic, plus we'll include a blog for you to ask our advice, and for us to share educational information with you.

Yes, it sounds like a big agenda.  But we are going to eat healthy, get adequate rest, do our Pilates, and enjoy our routine!

Pat

Treating Plantar Fasciitis with a Night Splint

The plantar fascia is a ligament full of fibers that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. More than two million Americans seek treatment each year for the pain and inflammation that result when tiny tears occur in the tissue. When the tears are located at the end of the ligament attached to the calcaneous, or heel bone, what you feel is plantar fasciitis or heel pain-a burning, aching or sticking sensation.

As you sleep, your foot naturally and normally flexes downward, and the plantar fascia contracts. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, the initial stretching of the ligament when you arise from bed and put your foot on the floor will be particularly painful.

Wearing a night splint (or more precisely, a dorsiflexion night splint) keeps your foot and toes flexed a bit upward so the plantar fascia does not have the opportunity to contract. Thus, in the morning, you reduce the difference between the ligament's position while you were sleeping and the ligament's position when you place your foot on the floor. This should alleviate a good deal of pain.

Conservative methods of treating plantar fasciitis include other modalities besides a night splint. The simplest include

• rest
• ice packs on your heel for 10 minutes a few times daily
• Strengthening the calf and intrinsic foot muscles and calf-muscle stretches
• Wearing appropriate shoewear, often with an insert

You should also avoid walking barefoot, which strains the plantar fascia. Your doctor may recommend taking a pain reliever like ibuprofen or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Patients with plantar fascitis are often referred to physical therapy for guidance with stretching and strengthening exercises, for shoewear recommendations, and occasionally for custom foot orthotics.

We can help you manage your plantar fasciitis with additional foot devices, such as custom orthotics and pads, as well as a program of physical therapy exercises. In tandem, this regimen can help you avoid foot pain first thing in the morning.

Effective Physical Therapy for Shoulder Dislocations

If you have dislocated your shoulder, choosing the best mode of treatment to get you moving and free from pain as quickly as possible can be a real challenge. One kind of shoulder dislocation, multidirectional shoulder instability, tends to occur in younger adults and may need surgery, along with physical therapy, to provide relief. Care should be taken not to resume any vigorous activity until the shoulder stabilizes.

Athletes, such as gymnasts, swimmers or weight trainers, can be particularly predisposed to multidirectional shoulder instability, because they may lack the normal restraint system in their ligaments and capsule. Because this instability is not triggered by injury, it is vital to follow a physical therapy program custom tailored to your unique case.

While your physician will determine if surgery is the best course of action, physical therapy alone might be sufficient to treat multidirectional shoulder instability in some people. Even if you do undergo surgery, physical therapy will still be the key to successful long-term recovery. The goal of your physical therapy program will be to regain mobility and function, both for daily tasks and for more vigorous exercise or sports activities. Successful treatment depends on several factors:

• the severity of your condition/injury
• the chosen treatment
• the intensity of physical therapy and/or compliance with exercise program

You will be provided a gentle progression of exercises to assist in regaining your motion. Often your motion will be limited for several weeks. After approximately six weeks, you might start more intensive therapy, which could include strengthening exercises using weights or tubing. Over time you will progress to more aggressive functional retraining and return to sport activity such as throwing and serving.

Ideally, you should start your program early on, whether it is the sole treatment or immediately follows surgery. We will ensure that your program will get your shoulder in optimum condition in the most realistic time frame.