Tag: therapy

6 Bits of Inspiration from Ascend 2017

Here are a few key takeaways from this year’s Ascend conference, which therapy professionals can put into action whether or not they attended this past weekend.

from WebPT

The overarching theme of Ascend 2017—the fourth-annual installment of rehab therapy’s premier business summit—was, quite simply, “Think big.” But, based on what we learned from our esteemed group of speakers over the course of two inspiration-filled days in Washington, DC, a more accurate tagline for this year’s conference might have been, “Think differently.”

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Happy National Physical Therapy Month!

October is the time to recognize the impact PTs and PTAs have on their patients’ lives and in their communities.

October is National Physical Therapy Month, as it has been dubbed by the American Physical Therapy Association, and the month serves as a time to recognize the impact PTs and PTAs have on their patients’ lives and in their communities.

One way to celebrate is by participating in the Global PT Day of Service on October 14th. Founded two years ago by a team of passionate PTs, PTDOS has seen over 8,000 PT and PTA volunteers make a difference across 42 countries around the globe. PTDOS encourages PTs and PTAs to give back to their communities by working in a pro bono physical therapy clinic, serving in a soup kitchen, cleaning up a community garden, or via any other means that contributes to the greater good.

PTs and PTAs, will you take the pledge to give back this year? If so, click here to pledge to serve.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The Mind Has It

Exploring the merits of cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, namely the act of mindfulness, in your therapy practice.

from Evidence in Motion

I went to PT school way back in the Dark Ages, when everything was extremely heavily pathoanatomically based and while we talked about the biopsychosocial model, no one was particularly clear on how to implement it. However, I think most of us are well aware of the advances we have seen in pain sciences and the impact of the –psycho- piece of that, and hopefully more of us are clearer on how to implement it, at least with our patients with chronic pain. Cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques have become a huge part of my practice (which is largely patients with chronic pain, many of whom have some pelvic floor component-though not all), far more than I would have ever thought back in PT school when I was busily memorizing information about upslips, downslips, and counternutations!

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The Real Story About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Research shows that the condition is a true physiological disease. Here’s what to look for, and how PTs are helping those who have it.

from PT in Motion

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has come a long way since the 1980s, when it was widely dismissed as “yuppie flu” and was suspected by many health care providers of being a psychological rather than a physiological condition.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

5 Things I Wish I Had Learned in PT School

There are just some lessons that, as a PT, you simply cannot learn in a formal educational environment.

from WebPT

I am not one of those people who bounded out of physical therapy school, brimming with confidence and ready to take on the world. I didn’t lead any groups or clubs during school. I made absolutely no effort to network. And I wound up spending the first two years of my PT career bouncing around a bit, trying to find my footing in the physical therapy industry. While I had a really solid clinical education in PT school, there are some thingsthat you simply cannot learn in a formal educational environment, because these lessons end up being pretty unique to you as an individual.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Man Moves Paralyzed Legs Using Device That Stimulates Spinal Cord

Researchers say these results offer further evidence that a combination of this technology and rehabilitation may help patients with spinal cord injuries regain control.

from Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic researchers used electrical stimulation on the spinal cord and intense physical therapy to help a man intentionally move his paralyzed legs, stand and make steplike motions for the first time in three years.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Going Global for Back Pain Treatment

Of the millions of Americans suffering from back pain, there are an equal number of possible treatments and technologies that we, as physical therapists, need to explore and administer.

from Physical Therapy Products

As widespread and pervasive as back pain is, physical therapists cannot treat it with a broad brush. There is no one-size-fits-all approach therapists can take to help patients find relief. Whether it’s chronic or acute pain, no two conditions are the same—and even if they were physiologically similar, the solutions could be widely different because the patients, themselves, are different.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Sensory Strategies for the School Based OT

For the child with sensory challenges, the classroom can be an overwhelming place—OTs can help ease their struggle with these strategies.

from The OT Toolbox

For the child with sensory challenges, the classroom can be an overwhelming place. All of the sensory systems are touched on in the classroom. When sensory systems are challenged, learning is a struggle. School based OTs are often times consulted when students struggle with physical or sensory issues that result in educational deficits. Previously, The OT Toolbox has shared free ways to incorporate sensory motor experiences into the classroom. You might be looking for more resources that can be used to address many sensory needs in the classroom. Read on for sensory resources for the school based occupational therapist and strategies that can be incorporated into OT in the school.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

I Am Not Defined By A Technique

Our profession naturally has many different treatment techniques, but at the end of the day, it is our reasoning approach that we should value over the technique itself.

from Evidence in Motion

I am a physical therapist. I am a physical therapist who uses manual therapy. One who uses exercise in many forms. I use pain neuroscience and specific treatments to address persistent pain (PNE, graded motor imagery, graded activity and exposure). I dry needle. I use heat, ice and, hell, sometimes I might use ultrasound. However, the most important clinical “technique” of all: the reasoning on how, when and why I use them.

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Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The Conceptualization of NDT-Based Handling Techniques for Infants: Two Perspectives

An in-depth look at the Neuro-Developmental Treatment/Bobath frame of practice applicable for infants with and/or at risk for cerebral palsy and related neuromotor disorders.

By Gerard J. DeMauro, PT, MSPT, C/NDT

Having trouble viewing the embedded PDF above? Click here to access it directly.

Gerard J. DeMauro, PT, BS/MS, C/NDT has been a physical therapist for nearly 40 years. He began as a physical therapy assistant with children with severe developmental disabilities while completing pre-requisite courses for admission to physical therapy school. He then attended and successfully completed a bachelor’s level physical therapy curriculum. He immediately began his clinical career working with children with cerebral palsy and related developmental challenges. He then successfully completed a work/study advanced master’s degree program with a specialization in developmental disabilities.

In addition to many staff and supervisory clinical positions, Mr. DeMauro has taught at a variety of colleges and universities, both as an adjunct and as a full-time assistant professor. He has published numerous articles and co-authored an article and book chapter. Gerard has been a frequent presenter at conferences and continuing education courses. He is currently maintaining an private clinical practice serving infants and young children with, or at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. Gerard is trained and certified in pediatric NDT, having completed an eight-week course. He has also taken a three-week advanced NDT course specifically on baby treatment. He is a former member of the NDTA Board of Directors and remains an active member of the NDTA.

Mr. DeMauro can be reached via email at gdemauro101@aol.com, if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.