Celebrating 25 years! 

   

                                          

   McDonald Physical Therapy News 

 

June 2014  

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Fran's Favorite Quotes

 

"Reach for something, or you will fall for anything

  
 
Are you looking for a way to jumpstart your rehab and get back on your feet sooner?
 
Call us for more information regarding our AlterG� Anti-Gravity Treadmill�. The AlterG provides up to 80% body weight support to reduce the stress and strain on your body.
 
AlterG - Running, Injury and Rehab Equipment
Watch this video for more information

Join the MPT Team as we support these community events:  
 
6/8-6/14
 
6/28
 
8/16 
 
8/17

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Dear Friends,
  

Every once in a while, we all need to be proud of what we are doing in this world of ours. This newsletter will be our time. :-) 

 

What does an owner of a favorite South Bend breakfast restaurant, an ex-Mayor turned Governor, and a well-known head college football coach have in common? When they had knee, shoulder and back surgery (respectively)? They were all sent to McDonald Physical Therapy (MPT) for their physical therapy. 

 

Why were these high profile patients sent to MPT when each one had an unusually challenging surgery? We believe, it is because the surgeons and patients know that we have a reputation for having success with challenging surgical patients. They know, when a very active woman runs in a "Tough Mudder Race" and tears most of the ligaments in her knee and she wants to get back to an active lifestyle, MPT gives her the best chance of accomplishing her goal. They know, when an extremely active man just over 60, tears his rotator cuff beyond recognition and doesn't get it surgically repaired for 6-7 weeks (because of an unusually high pain tolerance), and he is an avid golfer, with the energy and mindset of a 21-year-old, MPT is the only place to go. And last but not least, when a younger man has back surgery and is told he may need another in a few months, he is directed to MPT.

  

Our reputation as an, independent physical therapy clinic for the last 25 years in the Michiana Area is something we are all proud to be a part of. One of the three patients mentioned is Peg Dalton, owner of La Peep. She wrote to us following her physical therapy, "The entire staff, from the front to all of the physical therapy team members were outstanding. They gave me what I needed to get stronger every day!"

 

We at McDonald Physical Therapy are honored to have the respect of the physicians of family practice, internal medicine, and orthopedic surgery. If you, a family member or a friend is looking for physical therapy to improve one's quality of life, please call. We would love to help you, or anyone close to you, get their life back by getting "stronger everyday".

 

Enjoy, 
Fran
 
                           
  
Don't Let Low Back Pain Affect Your Life
 
If you have ever experienced low back pain, you are certainly not alone. According to a 2012 survey by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), 61 percent of Americans said they have experienced low back pain, and of those, 69 percent felt it has affected their daily lives. The good news is that most cases of low back pain are not serious and will respond well to conservative, proven treatments such as physical therapy.
    

The symptoms of low back pain vary a great deal. Your pain might be dull, burning, or sharp. You might feel it at a single point or over a broad area. It might be accompanied by muscle spasms or stiffness. Sometimes, it might spread into one or both legs.

There are 3 different types of low back pain: 

  • Acute - pain lasting less than 3 months
  • Recurrent - acute symptoms come back
  • Chronic - pain lasting longer than 3 months

Most people who have an episode of acute pain will have at least one recurrence. Often, low back pain occurs due to overuse, strain, or injury. It could be caused by too much bending, twisting, lifting-or even too much sitting. But just as often, the actual cause of low back pain isn't known, and symptoms usually resolve on their own.

 

 How Is It Diagnosed?

Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation that includes:

  • A review of your health history
  • Questions about your specific symptoms
  • Tests to identify any problems with posture, flexibility, muscle strength, joint mobility, and movement
  • Tests to identify signs or symptoms that could indicate a serious health problem such as broken bones or cancer
  • Assessment of how you use your body at work, at home, during sports, and at leisure

For most cases of low back pain, imaging tests such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not helpful for diagnosing the cause. However, if your physical therapist suspects that your low back pain might be caused by a serious health condition, the therapist will refer you to other health care professionals for evaluation

 

How Can a PT Help?

Your physical therapist can help you improve or restore mobility and reduce low back pain-in many cases, without expensive surgery or the side effects of medications.

If you are having low back pain right now:

  • Stay active, and do as much of your normal routine as possible (bed rest for longer than a day can actually slow down your recovery.)
  • If your pain lasts more than a few days or gets worse, schedule an appointment to see your physical therapist.

Not all low back pain is the same, so your treatment should be tailored to for your specific symptoms and condition. Once the examination is complete, your physical therapist will evaluate the results, identify the factors that have contributed to your specific back problem, and design an individualized treatment plan for your specific back problem. Treatments may include:

  • Manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, to improve the mobility of joints and soft tissues
  • Specific strengthening and flexibility exercises
  • Education about how you can take better care of your back
  • Training for proper lifting, bending, and sitting; for doing chores both at work and in the home; and for proper sleeping positions
  • Assistance in creating a safe and effective physical activity program to improve your overall health
  • Use of ice or heat treatments or electrical stimulation to help relieve pain
  • 

Can This Be Prevented? 

As experts in restoring and improving mobility and movement in people's lives, physical therapists play an important role not only in treating persistent or recurrent low back pain, but also in preventing it and reducing your risk of having it come back.

Physical therapists can teach you how to use the following strategies to prevent back pain:

  • Participate in regular strengthening and stretching exercises to keep your back, stomach, and leg muscles strong and flexible
  • Keep your body in alignment, so that it can be more efficient when you move
  • Keep good posture - don't slouch!
  • Use good body positioning at work, home, or during leisure activities.
  • Keep the load close to your body during lifting
  • Ask for help before lifting heavy objects
  • Use an assistive device, such as a dolly or wheelbarrow, to transport heavy objects
  • Maintain a regular physical fitness regimen-staying active can help to prevent injuries
  • 
     Call us today at 574-233-5754 for
    an evaluation!
     
    Article provided by : moveforwardpt.com
   

 

Direct access + YOU + McDonald Physical Therapy = Immediate CARE!

Do you have pain in your back, neck, shoulder, knee or arm? Do you have pain when you exercise, garden or when going about your normal routine?

If so, now you can call us... directly and get immediate relief as you no longer have to see your physician first. We now can address your pain and get you back to your healthy self without you having to take that step!

We want you back in the game TODAY! Call us for an evaluation at 574-233-5754