AC Physical Therapy in Wheat Ridge Colorado » Health

Pelvic Health and Wellness

admin — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:35:30 +0000

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.

Season’s Greetings from AC Physical Therapy

admin — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:35:27 +0000

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

Seasons Greetings and Healthy Holidays 2008

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:35:29 +0000

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!