Amber’s Addition « AC Physical Therapy in Wheat Ridge Colorado

‘Amber’s Addition’

Happy Holidays 2010

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our patients for their support in 2010. The support of patients like you, are the key to our continued success. We celebrated our third year of business in September which is no small feat in this economy. We credit that achievement in large part to our our patients and the personal referrals we have received from them! We feel privileged to provide physical therapy services to you, your friends and your family.

We are dedicated to the health and wellness of our patients in everything we do. We have had a great year full of continuing education course bringing additional specialized services to our patients. Most notably we have started providing a technique called trigger point dry needling. This technique is designed to target localized pain in trigger points when combined with manual therapy techniques provide instant relief. This technique is somewhat like acupuncture but when combined with manual therapy is tremendously effective in pain reduction. The needle provides local muscle fiber stretch and results in collagen reorganization and restoration of normal tissue tone in knotted up regions within the muscle itself. We have seen some amazing results with this technique.

We also have had some exciting changes with our staff.

Carrie Matter (Anderson) MS, PT and her husband welcomed their first born, Liam in August. She has been on maternity leave since August but is planning to come back on a part time basis in January. Mom and baby are doing wonderfully. We are looking forward to her return in January!

To ensure there was no interruption of care with our patients we were excited to welcome Christy Lawson, PTA. She comes to us with 20 years of physical therapy experience. Her special interests include aquatic therapy, pelvic floor therapy for pelvic pain and incontinence, wound care and orthopedic manual therapy. She also has a great deal of experience in balance and gait training. She has been a great addition to our staff.

Ashley Lyons (Dutro) PT, DPT continues to provide excellent patient centered treatments in orthopedics, gait/balance , vestibular therapy, headache sand craniofacial pain including tempormandibular joint therapy. She is also our new dry needling provider and is really excited about the fantastic results she has observed in her patients. She plans to continue her dry needling education in 2011.

Amber Carpenter BS, MPT is our provider for specialty services in wound care, pelvic floor rehabilitation and pilates. She keeps busy providing wound care services to patients in their homes if they are unable to find appropriate transportation which is a tremendous service to our patients. More and more she is seeing patients respond positively to pelvic floor rehabilitation. Specifically, following internal manual therapy techniques, patients with multiple years of coccygeal pain are reporting relief for the first time and are able to sit comfortably for the first time in years!

We have had a wonderful year in 2010 and look forward to your continued support in 2011 in our mission to provide customized compassionate care to the members of our community.

Sincerely,
Amber, Ashley, Amy, Carrie, Charlene, Christy, Erin, Kelsey and Tina

Tags: Holiday Greetings
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Apply now! We have a new opening to join our team.

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Advertised positions are for versatile roles containing both clinical and administrative duties. A detailed list has been complied and there is often cross over between the clinical and administrative roles. Whether clinical or administrative, employees are required to have basic computer skills and phone skills. All other listed duties are considered on the job training and not required skills prior to hire.
Administrative -
1. Answer the phone
2. Greet patients
3. Inform therapist of their next patient’s arrival
4. Be aware of the flow and function of the clinic and the changing needs based on the schedule.
5. Explain insurance benefits to patients based on pre-authorization/verification process.
6. Gather patient co-pays and payments toward their deductibles.
7. Explain intake paperwork to patients.
8. Schedule new patients.
9. Insurance verification.
10. Scan paperwork.
11. Make bank deposits.
12. Schedule follow-up patients
13. Follow up on referrals from doctors.
14. Reminder phone calls for patient visits.
15. Help with any and all tasks that have yet to be completed.
16. Leave a list of duties for the incoming or remaining staff member of things to do if not working directly with patients.
17. Fax initial evaluations and progress reports to referring Dr.’s office.
18. Mail

Clinical roles
1. Modalities for patients
2. Clean Rooms, gym and equipment
3. Laundry
4. Remind patients to schedule their follow up appointment
5. Supply notification – if running low on anything must notify.
6. Water level in hydrocollator
7. Refill Gel
8. Tidy up
9. Magazine clean up and weed out
10. Electrode transfers to discharge
11. Answer phones
12. Help with any and all tasks that have yet to be completed.

Please submit resume’s by email to acphysicaltherapy@gmail.com or by fax to 303-432-2296.

Tags: aide, clerical, employment, jobs
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Careful with your shovel!!

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Ergonomic snow shovel

An ergonomic shovel will help prevent injury to your neck shoulders and back. Its worth the money to avoid needless injury because we all have to shovel during the winter season. It is important to be especially aware of your body mechanics during the spring because the snow is very wet and heavy. Rather than lifting the shovel, try to push the snow. Here is a link to an ergonomic snow shovel.

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The Reformer – Rehabilitation Based Pilates Instruction

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

At AC Physical Therapy we utilize the reformer (pictured on the left) for rehabilitation based Pilates instruction.

Pilates teaches body awareness and posture with easy, graceful movements that improve flexibility, agility and motion. Pilates is designed to develop a strong “core” or center of the body. The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles, and the muscles closest to the spine, which are critical to spinal health. The exercises are designed to develop core control while moving your arms and legs.

Pilates is safe, sensible exercise using a floor mat or specialized equipment. One piece of equipment is the Pilates reformer, which can be modified to provide the right amount of resistance or assistance for people of any age or fitness level. The reformer provides finely tuned exercise resistance that allows one to work very precisely to develop good alignment, core strength, and flexibility. No other exercise system is so gentle to your body while giving it a challenging workout. Many of the exercises are performed in reclining or sitting positions, and almost all are low impact and partially weight bearing for those recovering from surgery or with significant arthritis.

No matter age or condition, it can work for everyone. Pilates exercises train several muscle groups at once in smooth, continuous movements. By developing proper technique patients are actually re-training the body to move in safer, more efficient patterns of motion – invaluable for injury recovery, sports performance, good posture and optimal health.

In conventional workouts, weak muscles tend to get weaker and strong muscles tend to get stronger. The result is muscular imbalance – a primary cause of injury and chronic back pain. Pilates conditions the whole body, even the ankles and feet. The major benefit of Pilates is that it does not compartmentalize the injury; rather it works with the injured limb as it relates to the rest of the body. The body is an amazing machine requiring cooperation between all of the joints in the upper or lower extremity in order to achieve optimal performance. No muscle group is over trained or under trained. Musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping patients enjoy daily activities and sports with greater ease and less chance of re-injury.

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Pelvic Health and Wellness

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

There are a variety of treatment options available for pelvic related pain and dysfunction. Conservative treatment can come in the form of pharmaceutical management but did you know that physical therapy can also help you regain continence, relieve pelvic pain, decrease constipation and strengthen the pelvic floor.
Physical therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of stress and urge related incontinence. If you have ever heard of a “Kegel” exercise and you were not sure you were doing them correctly you are certainly in the majority rather than the minority. Even still, if you think you are doing the Kegel exercise correctly and you are not seeing any change in urine leakage or urge you may actually be doing the Kegel exercise correctly but strengthening the pelvic floor isn’t really what you need. You may have underlying pelvic muscle tension that creates overuse of muscles in the pelvic floor. Often if you feel anxious about leaking urine, the muscles of the pelvic floor can be subconsciously contracting. This can result in pain syndromes, incomplete voiding of bladder contents, recurrent urinary tract infections, painful sex, constipation and even low back pain.
There may be a host of different reasons for pelvic pain, incontinence and sexual dysfunction so first and foremost we recommend you be thoroughly checked by a physician prior to initiating physical therapy. More and more people are talking frankly to their physicians about their symptoms which has lead to a surge of research and articles being written on pelvic symptoms and proposed treatment options. There are a variety of treatment options available including surgery, therapeutic Botox injections, physical therapy, psychotherapists specializing in pain management and sexual dysfunction, pharmaceuticals and acupuncture just to name a few options.
Talk to your physician if you are having symptoms of heaviness, pain or incontinence and ask them to help you explore which option of treatment would be most appropriate for you.
Pelvic pain and/or dysfunction is a private and personal matter but people everywhere have been finding the courage to seek out help for their symptoms, refusing to adjust to the demands their conditions have placed on their daily lives.
Physical therapy for pelvic health related issues typically involves a separate evaluation apart from the examination the physician performs. Interventions include education on the diagnosed dysfunction, therapeutic exercise, gentle and progressive manual techniques to reduce pelvic floor tone when appropriate, and modalities including visual and auditory biofeedback and electrical stimulation for improved pelvic floor awareness and neuromuscular re-education techniques. Patients are given exercises to perform at home and typical follow up is one visit weekly or biweekly depending on symptoms.
Seeking treatment for symptoms has prompted research and increased public awareness that propel medical technology into the future. What is critical to recognize is that you are not alone and that you can empower yourself by knowing and understanding your options. Don’t delay, the best treatment outcomes are with early intervention.

Tags: Amber Carpenter, Health, Pelvic, Physical Therapy
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Season’s Greetings from AC Physical Therapy

Friday, January 2nd, 2009

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we have much to be thankful for. This year ACPT celebrated our first anniversary. To celebrate we participated in the 9 News Health Fair as a big THANK YOU to the community that has supported us in our first year. We continue to enjoy working with the patients and physicians in Wheat Ridge, Arvada and the surrounding community as we have for the last seven years.
We have also enjoyed the numerous continuing educational opportunities that 2008 has provided. We have traveled near and far for courses in Pilates based rehabilitation techniques, post prostectomy incontinence intervention, colorectal dysfunction and interventions and advanced techniques in the conservative management of chronic wounds. With the specialty skills gained in these courses we continue to grow our patient population providing much needed and highly valuable services to the west metro community.
Personally in 2008 both Carrie and I have relocated to be closer to our clinic. Carrie and her family moved from Westminster to Arvada. And YES, Amber finally found a house and moved from Thornton to Wheat Ridge. We are both very happy to be closer to the communities we serve.
As 2009 approaches we have exciting plans to open a separate wound care clinic just down the hall from our existing physical therapy practice. In addition our facilities features the most technologically advanced mechanical traction for the lumbar and the cervical spine, ultrasound, surface EMG, infrared light/cold laser treatments, electrical stimulation and biofeedback for pelvic floor.
As we reflect on 2008, we are most thankful to our patients who support us in our mission to provide compassionate, customized care. Your patronage and referrals of friends and family members is the very cornerstone of our practice.
Happy Healthy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Amber Carpenter BS, MPT

Tags: Amber Carpenter, Health, Physical Therapy
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Seasons Greetings and Healthy Holidays 2008

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Tips for staying well during the holidays - An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…
With all of the tasks and errands to run you are probably not thinking about how to stay healthy during this season. There are some simple no fuss ways to avoid unnecessary injury.
Christmas Lights and Decorations – Hanging holiday decorations can be a perilous task. First, ask yourself if you feel comfortable on a ladder. If not ask someone else to hang them for you, or consider hanging lights in easy to reach places. If your holiday decorations are kept in a high place make sure you have someone to hand your boxed decorations to rather than trying to balance them and descend the ladder. At the end of this holiday season, make sure that to pack decorations in easy to lift and light weight containers for next year.
Food Preparation – This can last for several hours up to several days. Remember that many things can be made in advance and frozen so that marathon cooking is kept to a minimum. This requires a great deal of planning so if you are more of a fly by the seat of your pants kinda chef, consider both standing and sitting on a high stool to avoid spending too much time in any one position. When standing, shifting your weight from one leg to the other is helpful to avoid excessive back fatigue. Also a high stool can provide you with a much needed seated rest break for your back and legs.
Shopping – A very hectic and necessary chore. If you are purchasing a heavy item or many items the store will provide someone to help you carry your purchases out. If that is not automatically offered you can ask for it and they will happily provide it. Avoid overloading yourself or lifting heavy items when there is help available. Most store employ seasonal help for the express purpose of helping their guests out with their purchases. Make sure you are not carrying several heavy bags in one hand. This can cause a stretching injury to your nerves and make your arm or neck uncomfortable. Several trips with light loads are recommended.
Housekeeping – Deep cleaning of your home is often one of the holiday chores in anticipation of upcoming houseguests. Avoid spending more than two hours cleaning per day. This breaks up repetitive and physically taxing activities into small increments decreasing strain on your neck, back, knees and shoulders.
Food and Drink - The holidays are rife with sweet or salty treats as well as caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. You may experience increased urinary urgency and frequency during the holiday season after consuming holiday foods. Remember that keeping your bladder well hydrated with water is helpful for reducing the effects that these dietary irritants have on the bladder. Voiding every two hours or more is considered excessive and you may want to restrict chocolate, coffee, soda or other highly acidic food/drink to promote improved bladder filling and decreasing your risk of urge incontinence.

We sincerely hope these tips help you stay happy and healthy this holiday season!

Tags: Amber Carpenter, Health, Physical Therapy
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AC Physical Therapy, Wheat Ridge, CO

Tuesday, January 1st, 2008

4045 Wadsworth Blvd. Suite 10
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Phone 303-940-1611
Fax 303-432-2296

At AC Physical Therapy we strive to provide quality, customized, and compassionate patient care for a variety of conditions and injuries. Our skilled Physical Therapists work one-on-one with their patients to facilitate resolution of pain, restoration of function and return to activity.

We look forward to helping you achieve your goals. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Hours: 7:00am-7:00pm Monday-Friday

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