Ouch! Joint pain adversity creates Opportunity.

As a businessman and Physical Therapist, I often ask folks to look at joint pain as an opportunity. Here is what I mean.



In business, there is always opportunity in the face of adversity. As an example, GE suffered from a slump in sales during the early 70s until the roll out of the microwave oven. Chrysler Auto almost went belly up in the 80s, bailed out by the government and energized with new leadership, became the textbook example of how to seek opportunity in the face of adversity.

In Physical Therapy, we challenge assumptions. To say its joint pain "because I'm just getting old" diminishes your opportunity to maintain an active, independent, and pain-free lifestyle.

Guess What? Your joint pain is your bodies communication system screaming "Opportunity". Your brain teaches right from wrong, informing your brain of movements to avoid. Perfect time to do a self S.W.O.T of your joint!

For example, a man recently in our clinic with plantar fasciitis:


Strength: His other foot! All other joints in good shape right now!
Weakness: He can't walk without immobilization of my left foot.
Opportunity: Insurance covers a doctor appointment and Physical Therapy
Threat: If I ignored, vulnerable knee, surgically repaired years ago, will act up (again!).


He went to the doctor last night, took much anticipated x-ray, learned more about his specific foot (also with heel spur, tendonitis, and mile OA), and starting active PT us.


Next week, he returns to running! He took advantage of the opportunity to see a specialist after assuming for the last 6 months he could work through it. Self S.W.O.T created his opportunity, and now he is on the road to recovery.


Robert Babb, PT, MBA

Broad Street ReRunners High

Broad Street ReRun 2011 is over, and a whole buncha people ran through the wet streets of Lansdale and Upper Gwynedd last Saturday, May 14th, hooting and hollering, doing it the Broad Street way.

Special Thanks to the hundreds of kids, parents, brothers, sisters, moms, dads, grandmoms, granddads, police, fire, ambulance, and all others who took a few hours out of their Saturday Morning to contribute to this worthy cause.

Look for winners, information for next years run, and pre-register now to save!

www.broadstreetrerun.com

See you next year on the Broad Street, Lansdale/Upper Gwynedd!

Call out for Volunteers!

The Broad Street ReRun is in need of Volunteers!

Set up, clean up, Table loaders, Water handouts, and a whole lot more. Consider emailing us today (wkfiles@comcast.net) to volunteer your time to this awesome cause. See http://www.broadstreetrerun.com or www.ptwinstitute.com for more information.

Upper Gwynedd's Broad Street ReRun is for Champions!

Mellissa Heinz is a 21 year-old student and champion swimmer from St. Francis College in Pennsylvania with a zest for fitness and sports. What separates her from others is just some defect in her genes, limiting her clotting factor in her blood. Taking care of herself is more than just exercise, but its exercise and protection, prevention, and a little common sense.

" Living with a bleeding disorder has certainly not slowed me down, and I want to show others that it doesn't have to slow them down either", states Mellissa. Mellissa should know too, just finishing her college swim carreer this past spring as back to back division one Northeast Conference Swim champs! Since swimming is behind her, she now takes on a new challenge, starting with the 5 mile Broad Street ReRun, in Upper Gwynedd and Lansdale, on May 14th this year.

Consider joining Mellissa and over 1000 other runners by running this great event in support of those in the Delaware Valley who manage bleeding disorders day in and day out.

See http://www.broadstreetrerun.com/ for more information.

Robert Babb, PT, MBA

Foot Pain Gotcha waving the white flag???

First step in the mornings causing you to jump? The pain in the bottom of your foot severe enough you can’t walk around the home without shoes? Good chance, its the ol heel spurs or plantar fasciitis syndromes, both painful conditions that affect your quality of life.

Because many folks may be living with a heel spur, which may or may not be painful, treatment for this “Painful Foot Syndrome” is often the same at the conservative level, then more focused if conservative treatment fails.

Conservative treatment may include active rest, part of which may mean identifying the activity that causes the pain the most and eliminating it from your routine for several weeks or months. As an example, if running on the treadmill has become painful, change your routine to elliptical conditioning.

Also, worn down or old (greater than 3 to 6 months) running sneaks or daily shoes may warrant a closer look into your shoe wear and foot function. Physical Therapists, podiatrists, and even running store personal can differentiate difficulties with both the front and rear portions of your foot. They can recommend shoe orthotics or inserts that may offer more support to imbalances in your foot. Or it may be something simple as reaching into your wallet and getting a new pair!

Self-treatment may include a variety of modalities including ice (10 minutes after activity and up to 10 times a day), heat (Consider foot warmers!) and self-stretching, foot massage, and warm baths. Physical Therapy research suggests the use of nighttime splints (which keep a low grade stretch to your foot) may help.

Finally, physical therapy can help with modalities of ultrasound, electrical stimulation, manual mobilizations and stretching, and identifying underlying imbalances that may be causing this problem. Physical Therapists are trained in musculoskeletal evaluations, biomechanics and dysfunction with movement.

For a complimentary screening of your foot pain or any other joint pain issues you may want a professional to look at, call PTW today (215-855-9871) to schedule an appoiintment with one of our 12 Physical Therapists.

Last Call for Defibrillator Give Away!

Log onto www.ptwinstitute.com for forms, fill out for an organization, community center, or individual who may have a need for a defibrillator. Next week, Folks from PTW, Village Tavern, the Reporter, and the Montgomery Township Business Group will vote. Cast your entries today, you have to know someone, someplace that could use one! Don't be caught without one when in need.

Difference in Opinions (Physical Therapy vs. Family doctors)

Family docs have your best interest in mind, Physical Therapist (PT) have your movement and mobility interest in mind.

For example: When you say:

"I have pain"

Doc says: Don't do it

PT says: Do it a different way

or, When you say:

"I sprained my back"

Doc says: Rest it

PT says: Active rest it

or even, When you say:

"I sprained my knee"

Doc says: Immobilize it

PT says: Quad set it, if pain free, couple thousand a day

Who is right??? Both are. Your doctor expects a joint to heal, a Physical Therapist expects you to heal while you are maintaining or restoring your function.

Call a PT today for your ache, injury, or surgical recovery.

Robert Babb, PT, MBA

The Physical Therapy & Wellness Institute

http://www.ptwinstitute.com/

References:

www.aafp.org/afp/20000315/1779.html