McDonald Physical Therapy News
 
"Stronger Every Day"
 
August  2013
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Fran's Favorite Quotes

 

"Take what you do seriously, but yourself lightly!"

  
  
  
Thank you for making
McDonald Physical Therapy your #1 choice in Physical Therapy for the 5th year in a row! 

 

 

Summer

Give-Away

Now thru Aug. 30th, when you refer a friend or a family member to MPT,
we will give you a choice of a $25 gift card to one of the following:
 
Martin's 
 Metro Run/Walk
Ginger Valley 
 Starbucks Coffee
 
That's not all!!
Your name will then be entered to win a
BIG CASH PRIZE
to be drawn on
September 3rd .

 

MPT's

Notre Dame Clinic

reopens for the

school year-

Monday

August 26th

 

St Liam Hall

Rm 229

 

Open Monday-Friday

 

  

 

Hello to all our friends!  
  
With school just around the corner, I will be talking about two issues. The first is for the approximately 100 people that came to our open house for a free evaluation of their back, neck, shoulder, knee or balance problems. We were all surprised to see so many of you coming to be evaluated.
 
Having the freedom to finally be the ones to initially evaluate and treat so many patients is so much more rewarding. We can now see some of our previous patients for back, neck, knee, shoulder, hip, ankle, wrist and balance issues without having to wait for them to see their physician first.
 
We have found, since July 1, 2013, when a patient could finally go to a physical therapist without seeing their physician, that patients started calling in when they initially hurt themselves. We were finally able to get patients in when they were in extreme pain and do something to help within 24 hours!
 
We still encourage everyone to see their physician, and we send their primary care physicians our evaluation and treatment notes on the day of their visit. As a result, we can help reduce the sharp pain in any patient's back, neck, shoulder, knee, etc., while they wait to get into their primary care physician, if they wish.
 
The second issue I wanted to bring up was to thank all the people for coming to our open house last month! Our staff had a wonderful time evaluating patients and sharing good food and great desserts together. A great time was had by all, and we loved hearing about your lives, and in some cases, meeting your children and parents.
 
Thanks for being a part of our lives as we continue to do our best to improve the experience you have when you choose   McDonald Physical Therapy. 
  
Enjoy!
Fran McDonald, PT DPT

 

Workplace Wellness 

 

As summer winds down, and vacations are ending, its time to
settle back into work. It is important to be aware of proper body mechanics in your workspace to avoid injury.
 
Working at a computer work station all day can take a toll on the body. Repetitive activities and lack of mobility can contribute to aches, pains, and eventual injuries. Sitting at a desk while using the keyboard for hours on a day to day basis can result in poor circulation to joints and muscles, it can also create an imbalance in strength and flexibility of certain muscles, and muscle strain. These issues can be easily remedied by taking frequent short breaks, or "micro breaks," throughout your day.
  • Get out of your chair several times a day and move around-even for 30 seconds
  • Roll your shoulders backwards
  • Turn your head side to side
  • Stretch out your forearms and your legs
Additionally, specific guidelines for your work station can help maximize your comfort and safety.
 
Your chair should have the following:
  • Wheels (5 for better mobility)
  • The ability to twist freely on its base
  • Adjustable height
  • Adjustable arm rests that will allow you to sit close to your desk
  • Lumbar support
  • Seat base that adjusts to a comfortable angle and allows you to sit up straight
 The position of the keyboard is critical:
  • The keyboard should be at a height that allows you to have your forearms slightly below a horizontal line-or your elbows at slightly more than a 90 degree angle.
  • You should be able to slide your knees under the keyboard tray or desk.
  • Avoid reaching for the keyboard by extending your arms or raising your shoulders.
  • Try to avoid having the keyboard on top of your desk. That is too high for almost everyone-unless you can raise your seat. The elbow angle is the best test of keyboard position. 
The position of your computer monitor is important:
  • The monitor should be directly in front of you.
  • The top of the monitor should be at your eye level, and at a distance where you can see it clearly without squinting, or leaning forward or backward.
  • If you need glasses for reading, you may need to have a special pair for use at your computer to avoid tipping your head backward to see through bi-focals or other types of reading glasses.               
How can a physical therapist help?
Many physical therapists are experts at modifying work stations to increase efficiency and prevent or relieve pain. Additionally, if you are experiencing pain that isn't relieved by modifications to your work station, you should see a physical therapist who can help develop a treatment plan to relieve your pain and improve your mobility.
     -Moveforward APTA

 

                   
What Physical Therapists Can Help You With:
  • Arthritis
  • Back Pain
  • Neck 
  • Fitness
  • Knee Pain
  • Obesity
  • Osteoporosis
  • Overuse Injuries
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Stroke
  • Sprains, strains, and fractures
  • And much more