Common summer Injuries

Ankle sprains

Ankle injuries and, most commonly, sprains are one of the most common injuries suffered by people. Uneven terrains, sudden movement, or inadequate warmups contribute to the risk of ankle sprains. An ankle sprain can be painful and debilitating and leave you, once again, inactive like in wintertime! However, physical therapy can help. Therapists can create a treatment plan to reduce the pain and swelling and design a range of motion exercises to strengthen the joint and get you back on your feet. They can also provide information about the best footwear, bracing, and preventative activities for warmup before exercising to prevent the recurrence of the same problem.

Knee injuries

One of the most commonly injured joints in the body is the knee. It is crucial to seek the proper treatment immediately, as avoiding treatment can progress into a torn ACL. The ACL is the ligament that helps connect the thigh bone  (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). Injuries to the ACL occur most commonly during sports that involve sudden stops or change of direction, jumping or landing. Many people hear a popping sensation in the knee when an injury occurs. Serious injury can result in surgery if not treated immediately. Seeking help from a physical therapist as soon as possible can solve the problem before it progresses. The therapist can design a treatment plan with strengthening exercises, stretches, stability and more to reduce the risk of an ACL injury.

Shin Splints

Shin splints are injuries in the front of your lower leg when the tibia becomes inflamed and painful. The cause is often increasing your activity level too quickly, causing repeated stress on the lower leg. Risk factors for shin splints include inadequate warmup, muscle imbalances in the lower leg, running on hard or inclined surfaces, overuse, or incorrect running shoes. Physical therapy can correct this injury with the correct exercises, stretches and massages to alleviate the condition and get you up and running sooner than you think.

Shoulder injuries

Summer activities like swimming, kayaking, tennis, or golf can put excessive stress on the shoulders. This could result in injuries such as rotator cuff strains, dislocations, shoulder instability or frozen shoulders. Physical therapists employ various techniques in the treatment and prevention of shoulder injuries. They can also advise you about proper exercises, warmups, and posture to alleviate and prevent pain and injuries in the shoulder and improve joint mobility.

Tennis/ Golfer Elbow

Tennis and golfer’s elbow is a form of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons that connect the forearm to the elbow. Tendonitis is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons, with repetitive minor shock on the affected areas. The difference between tennis and golfer’s elbow is that with tennis elbow, the tendons are damaged on the outside of the elbow, whereas with golfer’s elbow, the tendons on the inside

of the elbow are damaged. These injuries are not necessarily caused by participating in the sport, but any hand, wrist, or forearm movement can lead to strain or damage of the muscles and tendons in that area. For example, repetitive flexing, gripping, or swinging can cause tiny tears or pulls in the tendons. Furthermore, improper throwing, lifting, or hitting, poor conditioning, and too little warmup can contribute to tennis or golfer’s elbow.

Physical therapists are trained to differentiate and diagnose between these two. Then, they will set up an individual training plan, guiding you to heal the tendons with appropriate exercises and correct warmup sessions to avoid repetitive injuries.

Back Pain

After winter’s prolonged inactivity, your body is not accustomed to physical movement such as running, jumping and other strenuous movements. In addition, sudden physical activity increases the risk of strain on back muscles. Therefore, it is imperative to start the season with exercises and stretches that the physical therapists will provide to prevent back injuries and immobilize you for the summer months.

Fractures

There is always the risk of falling, tripping, or slipping when participating in physical activities like soccer, softball, cycling, hiking, or any other physical activity you participate in during the summer months. This can lead to fractures and sprains that require medical treatment and long rest periods. Fortunately, physical therapists can give you specific exercises, treatments, and stretches to avoid serious injuries or fractures before participating in the activity.

Prevention is better than cure

A physical therapist can help you reach your best in whatever activity you participate in. So, before you start, consult a physical therapist for advice and guidance on activities, movements, stretches, and exercises to help you achieve the optimal this summer.

Physical therapists provide safety exercises that challenge and improve your balance and physical activity. They can help avoid injuries and strengthen the muscles to prevent severe damage and eliminate pain. Stretching and strengthening, according to the instructions of a physical therapist, can only improve your physical activity and mobility.

Where to go? RGV Physical Therapy

At XO Physical Therapy centers in McAllen, Mission, and Weslaco, you can find dedicated staff who fully understand your need or injury to design a customized treatment plan. They are dedicated to helping you to recover and achieve your physical fitness goal. Turn to them for compassionate care and personalized attention. Make an appointment now for help from the best physical Therapy Center.

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If you find traditional land-based physical therapy out of your league, you can make aquatic therapy your best friend. If you are an aquaphilia, aquatic therapy healing may be all you need this summer. So, what’s aquatic therapy? Let’s find out.

What is aquatic therapy?

Aquatic therapy (AT) is a type of physical therapy performed in the pool/underwater. The therapy uses the resistance of water to treat countless medical conditions.

Aquatic therapy is much easier to perform than physical therapy due to the physical properties of water, like hydrostatic pressure, drag force, thermal conductivity, and so on. For instance, aquatic therapy is suitable for the elderly with arthritis and joint pain, as exercises performed underwater are easier to follow. The gravitational pull underwater is lesser, enabling elderlies to perform the exercises with minimal effort.

Who should go for aquatic therapy? 

Aquatic therapy is suitable for people of all age groups. It helps cure chronic conditions like arthritis, autism, balance disorders, depression, and lower back pain.

Any medical condition requiring pain reduction and improving overall body mobility is suitable for aquatic therapy.

What are its benefits?

Aquatic therapy healing has several benefits. It’s more of a bliss in the summertime. Here is what aquatic therapy healing does to your body:

Relaxes the muscles

One of the top benefits of aquatic therapy is that it performs magic on the body’s muscles. AT is performed in warm water, which acts as a soothing balm for sore and tired muscles. As the blood flow in the body increases due to warm water, the stored lactic acid (responsible for sore muscles) is flushed away, immediately allowing the tensed muscles to relax.

Furthermore, AT also reduces the chances of accidental muscle injuries like muscle spasms and muscle tears.

Enhance mobility and balance

Aquatic therapy is known to help kids and persons with autism. The reason is that water’s physical properties help build better mobility and balance. The water’s buoyancy helps patients stay well-balanced and keeps their body movements in coordination when performing exercises underwater.

As per research based on the effects of aquatic therapy on children with autism spectrum, it was found that AT had significant improvements in their physical and behavioral competence. The therapy sessions also directly impacted their motor skills and social behaviors.

Not only for kids with autism, but AT is also helpful to elderlies in regaining their lost body movement. Due to the water’s buoyancy, patients who find it harder to perform exercises on land can move their bodies much easier underwater. Also, there are fewer chances for patients to fall/trip.

Heals injuries that cause pain

Aquatic therapy is also beneficial for medical conditions that cause severe pain. The warmth of the water acts therapeutically, helping patients to deal with shoulder pain, back pain, and other pains caused due to stiff muscles.

The hydrostatic pressure of water also tends to help patients deal with the pain effectively.

Water exerts more pressure on the body than air. This compresses the muscles and thus provides relief from chronic body aches.

Another reason why aquatic therapy is helpful in pain is that it improves blood circulation in the body. When the body receives proper interrupted blood flow, it helps relax the muscles and eases body pain.

A study based on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy mentions that only aquatic therapy has long-term benefits regarding pain management. The research further studies the effect of aquatic therapy on fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and how pool-based exercises have a long-lasting effect on FMS.

Initiates swelling to go down

There are many diseases treated by physical therapy, but not all methods are as painless as aquatic therapy. Aquatic therapy can effectively decrease the swelling resulting from edema, hormonal changes, or fluid retention. The warm water acts as a catalyst for recovery.

The warmth of the water enables fluid drainage around the swelling body part, aiding in quick healing. Hydrostatic pressure, one of water’s physical properties, decreases swelling. This pressure acts perpendicular to the body’s surface, thereby reducing swelling.

Refreshes the body

On top of everything, aquatic physical therapy overall provides a refreshing feeling. The aquatic therapy healing therapists ensure the patient feels relaxed and enjoys the therapeutic process.

Apart from relieving the said medical condition, the activities involved during aquatic therapy make it more enjoyable and entertaining than land physical therapies.

RGV Physical Therapy

You are just one step away from curing chronic medical conditions like osteoarthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, and more if you go for aquatic therapy healing in Rio Grande Valley. We are one of the leading physical therapy providers in RGV, providing services like aquatic therapy, fall prevention and balance training, arthritis management, and more. Contact us today to learn more.

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Why physical therapy is essential for spring sports training

Physical therapy is the way to go if you want to reach your peak on the field and your overall body. It is extremely beneficial in ensuring that your muscles are a working cog in a well-oiled machine. Experts and top-tier coaches suggest that physical therapy should be a part of everyone’s routine, regardless of what sport you play.

A Modern rehabilitation physiotherapy worker with woman client

Physical therapy for athletes ensures that the different parts of your body work in harmony and coordination. Muscular coordination focuses on the movements of the joints and muscles, tendons, and nerves. Slowly increasing the intensity of the workout in a planned and strategized manner prepares the athlete to attain desired weight and fitness goals progressively.

How physical therapy can help

Not being able to perform on the big day after months of training due to a slight mishap is the most frustrating thing that can happen to an athlete. Physical therapy ensures you’re back on the field asap, up and ready to take on the world of sports. Key muscle groups need to be strengthened when recovering from an injury, and physical therapy helps push healthy blood to those areas. Immediate rest after an injury can only go so far in recovery. It is also important to get the wheels turning again.

Sport Injury. African Woman Suffering From Knee Trauma While Jogging With Boyfriend Outdoors In Summer Park, Caring Man Massaging Painful Area

Physical therapists can also identify issues arising from biochemical causes that may be contributing to your pain/discomfort. While treating the symptoms is also an effective approach to solving this issue, getting to the root of the problem is guaranteed to alleviate the pain. Pain sometimes lingers when the cause is not addressed. Our physical therapists ensure that there is no residue left.

Another common issue with athletes is that since many only specialize in one sport, they only focus on the muscles needed for that sport. For an athlete’s overall health and well-being, all your muscles need to be strong, not just a few. This is why our physical therapists also include cross-training in many routines so that athletes are ready for their sport and anything else life throws at them.

Cross-training reduces the disparity between the different muscles with different strength levels, which causes straining and injuries. The slow and steady build-up of different workout techniques helps athletes train faster and more efficiently so that they can achieve the most of what their body has to offer.

A Modern rehabilitation physiotherapy woman worker with man client

Injury prevention with physical therapy

Many people are under the impression that physical therapy is only helpful for those recovering from an injury. The truth is that physical therapy also helps in prevention before an injury actually takes place! Many have come to us asking for exercises they can incorporate into their daily workout routines. Knowing how to exercise a specific muscle group without overdoing it is important, so they aren’t overworked and stretched too thin. Our trainers can also let you know when to take a step back and give your muscles some breathing space. Help is always available when injuries take place, but it’s also necessary to have the players on the field in the first place.

How physical therapy can improve your spring sports performance

In a lot of sports, there are times when one’s joints are taken to the limit of the tissue’s strength. Muscles may be able to pull off a lot of things, but only if they are eased into the motions carefully with plenty of guidance. Our physical therapists ensure that a muscle group’s full range of motion is accessible to the athlete without pain, resistance, stress, or apprehension.

It is easy to undermine the role of physical therapy in injury prevention in sports. You must ensure you know how to position your body and move a certain way to achieve the best results. Small details about positioning and technique are essential to a great performance and result. Bad posture and poor technique are the perfect ingredients for a bad ligament tear or pulled muscle. Our physical therapists help you train with specific tools and movements that ensure safety, performance, and maintenance of good physical strength.

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This Valentine’s Day, gift your loved one/s the gift of health and wellness in the unique form of physical therapy sessions at XO Physical Therapy. Health is wealth, and what better gift could there be than tools to forge a healthy body? If you’re still skeptical about the gift-ability of a physical therapy/workout session, read on to find out more. You’re sure to see the merits of such a thoughtful gift.

Cute smiling senior couple exercising in gym

Physical therapy: What is it?

No matter what stage of life your loved ones may be in, physical ailments, be it a lack of flexibility or an achy back, often plague our daily lives. Physical therapy is perfect for those seeking help regaining the highest functional mobility level possible. While some might say a healthy mind = a healthy body, it’s not surprising that vice versa can also be true.

Why physical therapy sessions make the perfect valentine’s day gift

When one hears physical therapy, they often associate it with people who have gotten into major accidents and need professional help to deal with grave physical ailments, but that need not always be the case. Below are some reasons we think gifting your loved one a physical therapy session (or two!) would be a unique and truly thoughtful gift.

• Each person’s life has its own set of stressors. Physical therapy sessions, be they in the form of aquatic exercises or general non-water related activities, have proven more often than not to be great stress busters. If your partner needs a much-needed break, this might just be it.
• With XO Physical Therapy’s range of sessions that are available and presided over by professionals, you get a variety of activities to choose to gift. Physical therapy sessions for lower back pain, shoulder pain, training for fall prevention, balance training, and so on are a few of the many activities you can gift.
• Not only are physical therapy sessions a very practical gift, but s also very unique. Away from the old and the obvious, in with the new and thoughtful.
• The last and most obvious advantage of getting your loved one a physical therapy session as a gift is for their general health and well-being.

Gift idea for individuals: Customized physical therapy programs

If a solo rest day out for your loved one is what you’re looking for, individual therapy sessions are just what they need. Gift them customized physical therapy sessions with professionals at XO and get all ailments diagnosed, be it back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, or even just precautionary balance prevention sessions. They will soon be on their journey to a better and healthier future, one where you are definitely present.

Relaxing atmosphere. Happy delighted man smiling while doing a back massage for his patient

Gift idea for couples: Couples massage and physical therapy packages

Or better yet, if your partner feels skeptical or iffy about the physical therapy sessions and process, reassure them by getting yourself a couples subscription too. Not only will this encourage them to take up these sessions, but it will also greatly benefit your overall relationship as a couple. This way, you both can reap the benefits of a healthier body and forge even deeper bonds as a loving couple undergoing this challenge together.

Elderly woman and man doing exercises with physiotherapist on gymnastic balls

Give the gift of health and wellness this Valentine’s Day

Now that we’ve got you considering physical therapy as a gifting option, it is important to remember that you can’t simply trust anybody with your loved one’s body and well-being. Physical therapy alters the body physically and should be done with the utmost care.

Professionals and trainers at XO are the leading provider of physical therapy services in McAllen, Texas, and are truly the best. We have centers in locations like Mission, Rio Grande City, and Weslaco, Tx. With our team of enthusiastic and well-trained professionals, our customized plans guarantee only the best of the best to ensure any goal is reached.

So what are you waiting for? This Valentine’s Day, give your loved one the ultimate gift of good health and wellness and show them how much you care for them. They’re sure to thank you in the short and long run.

The post Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: Physical Therapy Sessions appeared first on XO Physical Therapy.

But if you want to improve your health and wellness in 2023, you should consider making physical therapy resolutions this year. In this post, we’ll tell you the many amazing benefits of including physical therapy in your wellness plan, why you should add it to your new year’s resolutions list, and how you can achieve those resolutions without fail.

Benefits of Physical Therapy in Overall Health and Wellness

Here are some excellent benefits of physical therapy that improve your health in many ways.

Injury prevention

Various stretching and strengthening exercises in physical therapy make your muscles and joints stronger and more flexible. So, they can better resist wear and tear, making you less prone to injuries.

Better mobility

By stretching and relaxing your muscles, physical therapy exercises also improve your body’s mobility, which helps you perform physical activities with greater ease and efficiency.

Improve natural recovery

For people who have suffered injuries or undergone surgery recently, physical therapy regimen can help them improve the recovery rate of their body by restoring the tissues, muscles, and joints to their natural state.

Prevents a wide range of health conditions

Regular physical therapy prevents conditions such as postural dysfunction, chronic pain, osteoporosis, and arthritis. It also improves cardiovascular health, which lowers your risk of heart disease.

So, by making it a habit to perform physical therapy exercises regularly, you’ll be able to experience all these health benefits and improve your quality of life. Strong and flexible muscles and joints also improve your body language and aesthetics and help you become productive in all physical activities. Another key point is that even for people who are going to the gym and working out, physical therapy will help their muscles recover and prevent injuries that can occur during gym workouts.

How to Make Physical Therapy Resolutions and Achieve Them Without Fail

Most people think that physical therapy is only used for treating certain health conditions or is prescribed by doctors to recover well after surgery. But many fail to realize that even people generally in good health and not suffering from any ailment can still benefit from physical therapy. As we explained its benefits above, physical therapy prevents injuries and various conditions, allows you to attain better mobility and good posture, and even improves your body aesthetics.

So with that in mind, one of the resolutions you can make this year is to make the physical therapy regimen a regular part of your life. Much like going to the gym or performing normal exercise, you can make time every day or fix weekly sessions to do some physical therapy exercises. Of course, such exercises are usually prescribed by a professional physiotherapist, so there are three things you must do for your new year’s physical therapy resolution:

• Find and visit a reliable, professional physiotherapy clinic.
• Have the physiotherapist perform a general body examination to determine which exercises suit you.
• Practice the exercises regularly, initially at the clinic itself, where the therapist teaches you how to do each exercise correctly, and later at your home in your own time.

The exercises are usually not too intensive either, so it will be easier than lifting heavy weights in the gym and returning home with sore muscles. However, as with any resolution, we know that it can be hard to maintain consistency. You may get excited about physical therapy in the first few months, but the motivation might fade away with time. So if you want to stick to your resolution with complete determination, here are some additional tips and techniques that can help:

Start easy

Only focus on the first step at the start – to schedule a visit to a physical therapy clinic. You don’t even have to wake up at five in the morning or put in a lot of effort. Just find a good clinic, contact them and fix an appointment. You’ll have completed the first part of your physical therapy resolution just like that!

Take small steps

After the physiotherapist has prescribed all the exercises, the main thing is to set aside time to perform them. It’s best to start slow, with maybe just two to three sessions a week, each lasting for just about 10 to 15 minutes. That way, it will seem easy and not feel too challenging.

Gradually increase the frequency and intensity

When you’re doing light exercises a few times each week, you’ll eventually get used to it. As things start feeling a little too easy, slowly increase the frequency, for example, one session every alternate day, and move on to more intensive exercises. You can even increase the duration of each session if you have more time to spare.

Reward yourself along the way

Don’t forget to keep up your motivation by rewarding yourself from time to time. How you choose your reward depends on what you like, so it’s all up to your preference. For example, after completing a week of physiotherapy, you can treat yourself to your favorite dish on the weekend.

At the end of the day, remember not to have too big goals and expectations. If you are busy, just go for a quick 5-minute session every day. Physiotherapy exercises don’t need special equipment or a lot of space, and can be done easily at your home. Simple stretching exercises can even be performed in your office cabin during lunch breaks. That’s the best part of physiotherapy resolutions. Sticking to them is much easier as it doesn’t require too much effort, like working out in the gym.

And while it may not be the most effective means of losing weight or building muscles, there’s no denying that it has many more health benefits which regular workouts do not offer.

Finding the right physical therapy clinic

As we mentioned, the first step towards your physical therapy resolutions is to find and visit a reliable physical therapy clinic. And it takes more than just an online search. There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the right clinic, such as:

• Checking their licenses and certifications to ensure their credibility.
• See what other customers have to say about their services.
• Contact them and enquire about their services to check if the staff possess the required medical expertise.

And, of course, even when you visit them, be mindful of their facility, infrastructure, and equipment. A reputed clinic will definitely have a well-equipped and properly managed facility.

Fulfil Your Physiotherapy Resolutions this New Year with XO Physical Therapy

Do you want to strengthen your muscles and joints, improve physical health, and improve mobility? If so, it’s high time to include physical therapy in your resolution list for this year.

And if you’re based in Texas, you don’t need to worry about finding the best physiotherapy clinic. Come over and visit XO Physical Therapy, one of the leading providers of physical therapy services in McAllen, TX, with a team of highly experienced professional physical therapists and medical professionals.

Whether you are seeking pain management, recovering from any injury, or simply longing for better health, we can help you achieve your wellness goals through the many benefits of physical therapy exercises. Contact us to explore our range of physical therapy services and/or to schedule an appointment with one of our expert physiotherapists.

The post New Year, New You: Physical Therapy Resolutions for 2023 appeared first on XO Physical Therapy.

Corticosteroid injections and surgical procedures can treat carpal tunnel syndrome, but those are not the only options. A more convenient and non-invasive method of easing the symptoms of this condition is through physical therapy and applying various massage techniques.

In this post, we’ll explain carpal tunnel syndrome and also talk about some effective massages for carpal tunnel in RGY, McAllen, that can benefit people suffering from it.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where the median nerve is pinched or compressed in the carpal tunnel.

Let’s clear out two things first:

1. The median nerve is a nerve that runs through your arms all the way to your wrist and palms
2. The carpal tunnel is a slender passage through your wrist and into your palms.

There are various factors that can cause your median nerve to get pinched and compressed in the carpal tunnel, such as:

• Inflammation in and around the wrist and palm area due to conditions such as arthritis.
• Intensive force and pressure on hands due to physically demanding work, usually experience by people working in construction, industrial processes, etc.
• Prolonged pressure on wrists due to the office and computer jobs.

Apart from these, many other factors can create tension and stress in your hands and wrists and eventually lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Can physical therapy and massage treat carpal tunnel syndrome?

Yes, carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the many conditions treated by physical therapy.

Of course, if the condition is very severe and too far gone, you may need injections or even surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. However, if you practice caution and get it diagnosed at an early stage when the symptoms are still mild, then physical therapy and massage can be very effective in managing the condition and alleviating the pain and other symptoms. Many doctors also suggest people with this syndrome should first try out massage therapy from a qualified practitioner before even considering the possibility of invasive treatments.

When performed regularly and efficiently, massage therapy can treat symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome by releasing pressure in the median nerves and gradually restoring motor function.

4 effective massage techniques to treat carpal tunnel syndrome

Certified massage therapists use various techniques to relieve the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The techniques can vary in terms of pressure applied, types of strokes and movements, and targeting different areas between the palm and the forearm.

Here are four effective, tried and tested massage techniques for carpal tunnel syndrome:

1.    Low-pressure warm-ups with Effleurage

Effleurage is a type of massage technique where the therapist applies light pressure using their palms in continuous circular strokes. This technique is mainly used as a warm-up to prepare the muscles and nerves in your arms and wrists for a deep tissue massage later. The strokes are long and slow, increasing the blood circulation in the applied area. This technique also slightly increases the temperature in the arms and wrists, improving blood circulation.

2.    Deep tissue pressure with Petrissage

After warming up the muscles and tissues with effleurage technique, the therapist then applies pressure that reaches deeper into the muscles. One of the deep-pressure massage techniques is Petrissage.

Petrissage primarily uses kneading movements – applying pressure to the forearm, then slightly pinching and pulling back the skin. These two motions are continuously repeated while moving along the forearm and wrist. Petrissage technique also improves blood circulation, and along with that, it increases the flexibility and elasticity of the muscles and tissues.

3.    Glided pressure with Friction Technique

Friction technique is performed with the fingertips and thumbs, starting from the wrist and gliding through the arm until the elbow, applying deep pressure to a specific arm and wrist area. This technique releases tension in the nerves, muscles, tissues, tendons, and ligaments of the forearm, thus reducing stiffness and improving overall flexibility.

4.    Manipulating sensory receptors with shaking movements

Shaking movement is usually applied at the end of the massage. All it requires is to gently shake your arms for a few seconds as per the instructions of your massage therapist. The benefit of this technique is that it manipulates the sensory receptors with mixed signals, alleviating pain to some extent and loosening the muscles and tissues.

A massage therapist applies these four techniques’ combination in certain order for best results.

Relaxing massage for carpal tunnel in McAllen, RGV, TX

For anyone experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s advisable to get a proper diagnosis immediately. Once your diagnosis confirms this condition, it’s best to look into physiotherapy and massage techniques as it is an effective, non-invasive treatment method. Fortunately, if you’re located in and around McAllen, RGV, you no longer need to search online for ‘massage for carpal tunnel near me.’

Just reach out to us at Xcell Orthopaedics Physical Therapy, as we have a team of highly experienced, certified physical therapists who are specialized in the most effective and reliable massage techniques for carpal tunnel syndrome. Our expert therapists can help you recover from this condition without having to experience much pain and discomfort. Contact us for more information, and let us help you naturally achieve better health.

The post 4 Massage Techniques For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome appeared first on XO Physical Therapy.

If the condition is detected early, physical therapy is the best treatment for scoliosis. Here are the answers to some of the questions asked about pt for scoliosis.

Physical therapy for scoliosis FAQs

What kind of physical therapy is done for scoliosis?

Physical therapies are of different types. No one physical therapy fits all. In scoliosis, the Schroth method is the most commonly used physical therapy. Given the needs of each patient, the Schroth method aims to de-rotate, stabilize and elongate the spine through customized exercises. It uses a 3D approach to address the issue as the scoliosis backbone looks S- or C-shaped from different directions.

Schroth’s method uses three approaches: achieving muscular symmetry, using a breathing technique to rotate the spine, and using mirrors to develop an awareness of the posture in the patient.

How long is physical therapy for scoliosis?

The length of physical therapy for scoliosis highly depends on the severity of the problem.

If detected early, physical therapy can benefit sooner. A patient attending pt for scoliosis once or twice a week can start to witness benefits within 4 to 6 weeks (a month and a half). Each session is about 40 to 45 minutes.

Furthermore, the degree of the curve determines the length of physical treatment. For instance, less than 20-degree curvature can be corrected by mild exercises, whereas a more than 50-degree curve may require bracing, rigorous physical therapy, and surgery.

What is the most effective treatment for scoliosis?

Physical therapy is the most effective treatment for scoliosis as it is a non-invasive and natural treatment. The patient does not need to undergo any surgery or take medications. Moreover, physical therapy or physiotherapy is best recommended for any muscular or spinal issues.

What is the fastest way to get rid of scoliosis?

The fastest way to get rid of scoliosis is bracing. Just like braces are used to align teeth, scoliosis braces keep your posture in check and slowly correct the curvature of the spine. Bracing, when accompanied by pt for scoliosis, gives the fastest results.

There are three types of scoliosis braces:

• The Boston brace

It is a plastic jacket body that covers most of the upper and lower back. It is also considered one of the most effective braces in scoliosis.

• SpineCor brace

It uses plastic bands covering most of the upper body straight from the neck to the legs. The crisscross patterns of bands keep the body posture in check.

• Genisgen brace

These braces are shaped like one-side shoulder tops. Made from German technology, the Genisgen brace has various advantages over the Boston brace.

Can a physical therapist help with scoliosis?

A physical therapist is a right person to help with scoliosis. However, pt for scoliosis should be performed by an experienced physical therapist. Depending on the degree of your curve and the severity of the problem, you should first consult a physical therapist for scoliosis treatment in McAllen before making up your mind.

A physical therapist you consult should know at least one of the two therapies for scoliosis: the Schroth and/or SEAS methods.

Can physical therapy make scoliosis worse?

No, physical therapy does not make scoliosis worse, provided an experienced physical therapist conducts the physical therapy. Just specializing in treating back pain does not make a physical therapist a scoliosis physical therapist. A Schroth-certified physical therapist should be looked for pt for scoliosis.

Is chiropractic or physical therapy better for scoliosis?

A chiropractor optimizes the spinal cord structure to ease pain in muscles and joints. Thus, chiropractic won’t correct the curvature of the spine but only helps ease the pain in scoliosis.

On the other hand, physical therapy works on eliminating the curvature and straightening the spine through exercises and other methods. For this reason, choosing physical therapy over chiropractic is a wise decision.

How do I straighten my scoliosis spine?

To straighten your scoliosis spine, you can perform several exercises like cat and cow stretch, pelvic tilt, arm/leg raise, and so on. However, depending on the degree of the curve (Cobb angle), you should first consult a scoliosis physical therapist and not perform exercises without their guidance.

Scoliosis Treatment in Rio Grande Valley (McAllen, Mission, Weslaco)

The best scoliosis treatment in Rio Grande Valley is physical therapy. If the cobb angle is more than 50 degrees, physical therapy coupled with braces is the best and fastest way to treat scoliosis.

Not only effective for scoliosis, but there are over 20 diseases treated by physical therapy. Physiotherapy has its benefits, which can be applied to treating scoliosis. XO physical therapy has physical therapy clinics in Mission, Rio Grande, Weslaco, and McAllen. Book an appointment today for a physical therapy treatment of scoliosis!

The post What Can Physical Therapy do For Scoliosis And Where to Take it appeared first on XO Physical Therapy.

Commonly Asked Questions About Certified Vestibular Therapy

1.    What does vestibular therapy help?

Vestibular therapy or vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a treatment program consisting of various exercises specially designed to help with vestibular adaptation, the substitution of the eye movement system, substitution by vision, somatosensory cues, postural strategies, and habituation. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy also helps with the enhancement of gaze stability and postural stability. It promotes vertigo relief and makes life easier.

2.    Who performs vestibular rehab?

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is performed by specially trained and certified vestibular therapists or physiotherapists. These therapists develop individualized programs for each patient, depending on their condition. Many physical therapy centers provide vestibular rehabilitation programs by certified physiotherapists and movement experts.

3.    How long does it take for vestibular rehabilitation therapy to work?

Depending on the severity of a patient’s condition, the time for rehabilitation therapy could vary. However, in most cases, if a patient follows their programs regularly, he/she will begin to notice changes and feel relieved from vertigo in just 4-6 weeks. It is recommended that you follow the program for 6-12 weeks or until you stop feeling dizzy to ensure complete recovery.

4.    Why do I feel worse after vestibular therapy?

The exercises for vestibular therapy may make you feel more dizzy, nauseous, and sometimes even queasy, but this is only temporary. These exercises stimulate the brain to understand and sort out new movement patterns. The reaction you are experiencing is very normal. Be consistent with the exercises; the intensity of dizziness and nausea will decrease over time. Communicate with your therapist to better understand your symptoms and get necessary modifications to your program if required.

5.    How often should vestibular exercises be done?

Vestibular exercises should be done at least three times a day for a minimum of 6 weeks, or until recovery.

6.    What are the key components of vestibular rehabilitation exercises?

The key components of vestibular rehabilitation therapy are habituation, gaze stabilization, and balance training. This training includes exercises like head-eye movements and different body postures and activities, balance regulating movements while gradually reducing a support base and performing various postures and tasks, repetition of movements to provoke vertigo, and gradually introducing the patient to different sensory and motor environments.

7.    How successful is vestibular therapy?

While other factors have proven to limit recovery, such as with patients with other medical concerns, there is overwhelming evidence showing how successful vestibular therapy is with patients suffering from many vestibular symptoms. Diseases treated by physical therapy and vestibular therapy include conditions like unilateral vestibular hypofunction, chronic dizziness, vestibular migraine, tension-type headache, PPPD, concussion, and many others.

8.    Can vestibular therapy make vertigo worse?

Vertigo, a condition treated by physiotherapy, can make you feel like it is getting worse once you start an exercise program. The exercises in the program have been specifically designed to stimulate the brain for better coordination and stability. You will experience a temporary increase in the intensity of dizziness, but this should not stop you from continuing the exercises. In order to gain relief from vertigo, you must persevere and be consistent with the exercise program. After a few weeks, the intensity of dizziness will gradually decrease.

9.    Can you overdo vestibular exercises?

While it is known that you will feel dizziness and nausea at the beginning of the therapy, it could create confusion regarding the duration and intensity one should normally feel. You should not overdo the exercises if you become queasy and vomit. You can even fall and get physically hurt if the exercises are overdone. Remember to take breaks at regular intervals while exercising to avoid injury.

10. Can vestibular damage be repaired?

The vestibular system consists of inner ear balance organs that process motion, equilibrium, and spatial orientation. It also helps in maintaining a clear vision. Due to age, this system can be compromised by viral infections, inner ear fluid disorders, head injury trauma, benign tumors, and degradation. Depending on the cause and extent of the damage, the vestibular system may or may not be repaired. In many cases, the vestibular system usually recovers from damage through a compensation process, but sometimes it is not always successful. However, vestibular rehabilitation therapy does help with many symptoms of vestibular damage, but the extent of recovery is not always predictable with patients with a brain injury.

Where To Go For Vestibular Therapy In RGV (McAllen, Weslaco, Mission)?

If you are looking for certified vestibular therapy in RGV (McAllen, Weslaco, and Mission), look upon Xcell Orthopaedics Physical Therapy. With expertise in aquatic therapy, knee pain, and post-surgical rehab, Xcell Orthopaedics is one of the leaders in providing physical therapy services. Our team of experts includes certified vestibular therapists who are friendly and passionate about their work. We provide the best service to each patient and personalize each training program to fit your requirements, thereby ensuring every patient regains their quality of life.

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Neck pain physical therapy FAQs

1. Does physical therapy help with neck pain?

Yes, physical therapy can treat different types of diseases and conditions, including neck pain. But the therapist must conduct a proper diagnosis and observation to determine the cause of the neck pain and the appropriate therapy to treat it. Depending on whether the neck pain is due to muscular strain, injury, wearing of joints, inflammation, nerve problems, or other reasons, the physical therapist will suggest the proper therapy and exercise to help ease the pain.

2. What therapy is best for neck pain?

As stated above, the suitable therapy for neck pain can vary based on the actual cause of the pain. So, there isn’t a single exercise or a fixed group of exercises that can treat all types of neck pain.

For example, if it’s a simple case of light stiffness around the neck, it can be treated with simple exercises such as head or shoulder rolls. Cough and mucus can also lead to neck pain in some people, in which case, postural drainage can provide relief. But for more complicated cases such as degenerative cervical disc disease, there are more specific forms of therapy, such as cervical traction.

Only a certified physical therapist can determine the best therapy for your neck pain after carefully diagnosing your condition.

3. What does physical therapy of the neck consist of?

Physical therapy of the neck consists of various exercises that target different areas around the neck. Head and shoulder rolls reduce stiffness and work as a warm-up before other exercises. There are plenty of exercises which include stretching and tilting. Chin tucks are also one of the common physical therapy exercises for the neck. Some forms of physical therapy may also need additional equipment like a light dumbbell or a special setting, such as aquatic therapy, which is conducted inside a pool.

4. How do you assess neck pain?

Diagnosis and assessment of your neck pain are better done by a professional physical therapist. They’ll examine different areas around your neck, try to find the exact regions which are hurting, and check the level of mobility, which means how well you can move your neck around without experiencing discomfort and what types of movements cause the pain to increase in intensity.

However, your assessment can also help the therapist better understand your condition. To assess your neck pain, focus on where exactly you’re feeling it and how you would describe it, like whether its stiffness in a certain region or a sharp stinging sensation at a fixed position. Your observation, experience, and the therapist’s diagnosis will provide the best assessment for your neck pain.

5. Can physical therapy help pinched nerve in the neck?

Yes, various stretching exercises can restore pinched nerves in the neck. In some cases, the therapist may massage the affected area to loosen the tissues and release the trapped nerve. Posture-improving exercises are also important to ensure that the pinched nerve doesn’t worsen due to bad positioning. After the therapist determines the location of the pinched nerve, they will decide which combination of exercises will work best to restore the nerves.

6. What kind of physical therapy is good for neck arthritis?

Neck arthritis is a chronic condition that can be treated with physical therapy in some cases. If the condition is mild and hasn’t reached a severe stage, physical therapy exercises can help to ease the symptoms and improve the strength of the muscles and joints. These exercises include simple movements such as tilting the neck forward and backward, side-to-side, rotations, and retractions. However, such exercises are to be performed only under the recommendation and supervision of professional physical therapists.

7. How do you strengthen your neck muscles?

Physical therapy for the neck is not always about treating pain and symptoms. Some exercises also help to strengthen the muscles around your neck to prevent neck pains from recurring in the future, such as trapezius stretches and cervical retractions. The movements and exercises stretch and then release the neck muscles in a rhythmic pattern, which makes those muscles stronger, more flexible, and resistant to wear and tear.

8. Can physical therapy fix a straight neck?

A straight neck leads to stiffness, lack of mobility, pain, and discomfort. But the condition can be improved with physical therapy. Of course, exercises that include a lot of stretching and movement will be quite difficult for people with a straight neck. But a slow approach can make things easier, where the patient starts with exercises involving little movement and stretching, then gradually increases the level of mobility based on their comfort level. So yes, physical therapy can fix a straight neck, but it takes time and consistency. Some doctors may even recommend physical therapy with other treatments, such as medications or neck braces.

Effective Neck Pain Therapy in RGV

Neck pain can cause discomfort and interfere with your daily lifestyle. But with proper examination and exercises, physical therapy can help you ease the pain naturally. If you’re suffering from neck pain and seeking a reliable physical therapy clinic in RGV, then reach out to us at XO Physical Therapy. We have successfully helped people alleviate neck pain and other conditions, all thanks to our team of certified, highly qualified, and, most importantly, friendly and hospitable staff and physical therapists. Contact us to schedule an appointment or consultation at any of our locations in McAllen, Mission, or Weslaco, Tx.

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Lower back pain is very common, afflicting about 80 percent of people at some point in their lives. That does not mean it is something you have to live with. Among the many diseases treated by physical therapy is lower back pain. It has several tools that can alleviate discomfort and return sufferers to a more comfortable, and active, way of life. Here is a look at what you might experience when you choose physical therapy for lower back pain.

Stretching Exercises

Some back pain stems from weak or unused muscles that are simply not limber enough to work effectively, even when completing everyday tasks. Stretching can help. By lengthening the muscles, you can improve their range of motion, increase their strength, and improve circulation to the lower back. That is why stretching can sometimes deliver rapid pain relief, making it an effective way to address acute lower back pain.

Your physical therapist may provide you with stretching exercises during your session as a way to directly address your pain and bring relief from muscle spasms. They may also use stretching as a way to warm you up before you engage in additional exercises. The exact exercises your therapist will use will depend upon your needs and limitations. What they will focus on is implementing stretches that address your pain without aggravating any existing injuries or requiring you to move in ways that cause you additional pain.

Strength Training

Weak muscles may also respond to strength training. While most individuals’ natural response to pain is to avoid any activity that could increase it, lack of exercise can often worsen discomfort. Unused muscles grow weaker and stiffer, making it more difficult to accomplish daily tasks. Sometimes, individuals get caught in a vicious cycle of limiting activity, experiencing worsening pain, limiting their activity even more, and so on.

Physical therapy can help by counterintuitively increasing the individual’s use of the painful areas of their lower back. In particular, physical therapists will typically encourage their patients to engage in strength training exercises, light aerobic exercises, and other approaches designed to strengthen the muscles causing the individual’s lower back pain. As those muscles grow stronger, they become more capable of performing daily tasks, leading to less pain and a more active life.

Posture Improvement

Physical therapy for back pain may also include posture improvement. The rise in work from home setups has led to a rise in postural problems that can contribute to lower back pain. Incorrect desk height or keyboard angles, poor seating choices, and slouched positions can all contribute to back pain. Correcting the weak, sore muscles that result from these mistakes may include what are called movement control exercises.

These exercises teach the muscles of the back how to work together appropriately to support the back and eliminate pain. With the right posture, and strong muscles, individuals often experience a reduction in their lower back pain, and an improved ability to pursue the activities of daily life.

Education

Lower back pain, as mentioned above, is sometimes the result of lifestyle habits that weaken the muscles of the back. Even when lower back pain is the result of injury or illness, education can play a role in helping patients recover.

A physical therapist’s education can include teaching the patient why they are in pain, recommending lifestyle changes to reduce the pain, and assisting them in understanding why certain approaches can help or harm them. Methods to improve posture and work from home arrangements are examples of pain-relieving lifestyle changes.

In addition, physical therapists will regularly teach patients-specific exercises they can use at home to further their recovery, or teach them at-home regimens that they can use to maintain their recovery after they stop attending physical therapy. It is important for patients to implement the lessons they learn from their physical therapist to enjoy maximum benefits from their treatment sessions, and a lasting recovery after they complete PT.

Manual Therapy

Finally, a physical therapist may use manual therapy to alleviate lower back pain in patients. Manual therapy consists of a set of exercises that the therapist implements through touch and massage. This approach consists of massages, dry needling, soft tissue mobilization, passive stretching, other approaches. This type of therapy often works best when coupled with exercises.

RGV Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain

If you are suffering from lower back pain in the Rio Grande Valley, you may benefit from physical therapy tailored to your recovery needs. At XO Physical Therapy, the best physical therapy clinics in the Valley offer expert care to restore your quality of life. Do not allow lower back pain to hold you back from the active, pain-free life you deserve. Contact us today to learn more about how our state-of-the-art facilities and expert therapists can help.

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Even though surgery is designed to strengthen and heal, it can also, temporarily, upend your life and your body. To help you prepare, and recover, from an upcoming procedure, physical therapy can often help. Here is a look at what you need to know about pre and post surgical therapy.

What is pre- and post-surgical therapy?

Physical therapy that prepares a patient for surgery is called pre-surgical therapy, or prehabilitation. Therapy that occurs after surgery in order to help the patient recover is called post-surgical therapy, or rehab. Both of these approaches have recently become more widespread as medical professionals recognize the many benefits this type of PT can offer surgical patients.

Applications of Pre- and Post-Surgical Therapy

Most often, physical therapy occurs around orthopedic surgeries, those procedures that involve the joints or muscles. These procedures can include the following parts of the body:

• Back and spine
• Foot
• Hand
• Ankle
• Shoulder
• Tendons
• Heels
• Hip
• Knee
• Neck
• And more

In these instances, physical therapy helps to support the goals of the surgery by strengthening the area under treatment and helping the patient return to normal function after surgery.

In addition, physical therapy can assist in the preparation for and recovery from a wide range of other surgical procedures. In fact, the application of PT is so wide that patients may want to ask about pre-hab and rehab when faced with almost any invasive procedure.

Benefits of Pre- and Post-Surgical Therapy

Receiving physical therapy before and/or after a surgery can have numerous benefits for patients who want to recover more quickly and successfully from their procedures.

Pre-Surgical Therapy Benefits

Pre-habilitation has a number of goals, depending upon the patient and the procedure they are receiving. Here is a look at some of the most important goals of this physical therapy approach:

• Teach exercises needed after surgery to improve effectiveness of post-operative rehab
• Mentally and physically strengthen the patient for surgery.
• Reduce surgical complications due to a weakened patient.
• Improve strength, endurance, and flexibility, especially around the surgical site
• Reduce the need for post-operative rehab

Post-Surgical Rehab Benefits

Physical therapy that takes place after surgery often has the goal of restoring as much of the patient’s function as possible, while reducing pain. Here are some of the most important goals of this physical therapy approach:

• Reduce risk of post-operative infections
• Help patients get their strength back
• Reduce the patient’s hospital stay
• Improve circulation to speed healing
• Reduce pain and swelling
• Restoring flexibility and range of motion
• Restoring function
• Preventing the development of scar tissue
• Restoring balance

Treatment Approaches of Pre- and Post-Surgical Therapy

Your physical therapist can choose from a wide range of treatments and techniques to deliver both pre-habilitation and rehab to you around a surgical procedure. The exact approach they choose will probably consist of a set of treatments that work together to help you achieve your goals, and will be customized to your circumstances. Here are some of the approaches a PT may take:

• Exercises
• Stretching
• Electrical stimulation
• Ultrasound
• Heat and ice
• Massage
• Mobility training
• Strength and stability training

When you are facing surgery, seeking the support of a skilled physical therapist can make all the difference in your ability to recover quickly and effectively. At XO Physical Therapy, we provide personalized care in the best physical therapy clinics in the Valley.

The post Pre and Post Surgical Therapy appeared first on XO Physical Therapy.

With more than one-quarter of pregnant women experiencing a fall, pregnancy fall prevention anchored by physical therapy can be an important addition to a mother’s prenatal routine.

Evidence suggests that physical therapy that addresses a woman’s balance, stability, and core strength can reduce her risk of falls and safely navigate her changing body. Here is a look at this approach and its potential effectiveness for expectant mothers.

Pregnancy Fall Risks

Pregnant women experience a relatively high rate of falls, primarily because their bodies undergo significant changes that make it harder for them to maintain their balance. Some of the changes their bodies undergo that can increase their risk of falling include the following:

• Joint instability created by the release of the hormone relaxin
• Changing center of gravity caused by an expanding uterus
• Decreased abdominal muscle strength
• Lack of balance caused by shifting center of gravity and increased weight

These factors can make it harder for an expectant mother to maintain her balance, making it essential that she take steps to reduce her risk of falling while maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Pregnancy Fall Prevention Programs

Formal fall prevention programs for expectant mothers are rare, but there are steps these women can take to minimize their fall risk. Some of the practical steps women can take at home include the following:

• Removing clutter and loose objects, such as throw rugs, that could lead to tripping.
• Wearing flat-soled shoes with a strong tread
• Following doctor’s orders when taking medications such as sedatives or antidepressants, which could lead to drowsiness
• Keeping the home well-lit.
• Using available stair railings and grab bars

The Role of Physical Therapy

One of the most effective steps a pregnant woman can take to reduce her fall risk is to undergo physical therapy. A therapist skilled in prenatal PT can establish an exercise routine that counteracts the high-risk factors that come with pregnancy. Here is a look at the key changes PT can make for an expecting mother.

Physical therapy fall prevention strengthens the core.

Physical therapy can help pregnant women to gently strengthen their core muscles, including the abdominal muscles that often weaken as they stretch during pregnancy. For example, pelvic tilts can improve the core’s stability without additional risk to the unborn child. Other exercises a skilled physical therapist may introduce for added core strength include the following:

• Swimming, a gentle, whole-body exercise
• Pilates, which teaches all of your muscles to work together
• Stretching to improve flexibility
• And more

With a stronger core, a pregnant woman can more easily carry the added weight of her growing uterus and baby, leading to fewer falls.

Physical therapy fall prevention improves balance.

As a pregnant woman’s uterus grows, her center of gravity shifts up and out. This new center of gravity can put the expectant mother off balance, making it harder for her to remain stable when walking, taking the stairs, or navigating clutter.

A physical therapist can implement balance exercises into a fall prevention program in order to help the pregnant woman get used to her new center of gravity and achieve a better sense of balance. Some of the steps the PT may take to achieve this goal include the following:

• Prenatal yoga and Pilates to improve both the core and balance
• Supported balance exercises
• Addressing pain in the hips, pelvis, and back caused by a lack of core strength and balance
• Testing balance to deliver tailored treatment plans
• And more

Physical therapy regimens that improve balance, particularly when tailored to the individual patient, can help expectant mothers safely avoid fall injuries.

Physical therapy fall prevention helps implement new movements.

Movement changes during pregnancy in response to the expectant mother’s bodily shifts. Sometimes, the way a woman moves can lead to pain, and sometimes, pregnancy can limit her movements, making sitting, walking, standing, and lying down more difficult. In order to prevent falls and improve a patient’s comfort level, a physical therapist can often teach a pregnant woman new and better ways of moving.

Often, exercises that improve core strength and balance can also improve a pregnant woman’s movement. Greater strength and flexibility make safe movement easier.

In addition, an attentive physical therapist will listen to their patient’s needs and tailor their movement exercises to their needs. For example, if you need to go up and down the stairs frequently, a PT may be able to help you develop safe habits for doing so. If lying down is difficult, a PT can help you discover new ways of getting in and out of bed.

Physical therapy can serve as an effective and central part of a pregnancy fall prevention program. Here at XO Physical Therapy, with locations in McAllen, Mission and Weslaco, TX we have years of experience in helping patients, including expectant mothers, to address their unique needs with tailored treatment programs. Our state-of-the-art techniques can help you improve your core strength and balance, move safely, and enjoy a safe and fall-free pregnancy. Call us today to learn more!

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