A stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to die. Strokes can cause a variety of symptoms like weakness, paralysis, speech difficulties, memory loss, cognitive problems, and emotional changes. The benefits of physical therapy after a stroke are widespread.

Physical therapy is an important part of recovery from a stroke that aims to help survivors regain their functional mobility and independence. PT helps survivors of a stroke stimulate damaged nerves and muscles, promote circulation to affected areas of the brain to promote healing, learn to move and use their affected body parts as much as possible, regain mobility and strength, as well as to prevent or reduce complications such as muscle stiffness, spasticity, pain and falls.

Physical Therapy After Stroke

Physical therapy usually begins as soon as possible after the stroke, ideally within two days. The duration and intensity of PT depend on the severity and type of stroke, the medical status of the patient, as well as the individual’s goals and needs.

Stroke recovery doesn’t just involve a physical therapist, though. It takes a team of professionals, including a physiatrist (a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation), a neurologist (a doctor who specializes in brain and nervous system disorders), nurses, an occupational therapist, a speech-language pathologist, a dietician, a social worker, a neuropsychologist, and a case manager.

The physical therapist will assess strength, balance, coordination, range of motion, sensation, pain, and functional abilities. Then, based on the assessment and the individual’s goals, the physical therapist will design a personalized treatment plan.

Physical Therapy Interventions

• Exercises to improve muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility
• Activities to improve balance, posture, gait, and mobility
• Training to use assistive devices such as walkers, canes, or wheelchairs
• Education on how to prevent falls and injuries
• Manual therapy to relieve pain and spasm
• Electrical stimulation to activate muscles and nerves
• Biofeedback to enhance awareness and control of muscle activity
• Hydrotherapy to use water resistance and buoyancy for exercise
• Constraint-induced movement therapy to encourage use of the affected limb by restricting the unaffected one
• Mirror therapy to use visual feedback to stimulate movement of the affected limb

Physical therapy after stroke can take place in different settings. It usually starts in a hospital. The survivor may then move thought a subacute care unit and/or an inpatient rehabilitation unit before being discharged home. The person will then usually receive home health therapy or continue treatment in an outpatient clinic depending on their level of function and needs. The physical therapist will work closely with the stroke survivor and their family to determine the best path for their rehabilitation, and to ensure continuity of care.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy After Stroke

Physical therapy has lots of benefits for stroke survivors, such as:

• Improving functional mobility and independence
• Enhancing quality of life and well-being
• Reducing disability and dependence on others
• Increasing self-confidence and motivation
• Preventing or minimizing complications such as contractures, pressure sores, or infections
• Reducing the risk of recurrent stroke or other cardiovascular events
• PT can also have positive effects on the brain itself

Physical therapy after stroke is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It requires individualized assessment, planning and evaluation. It also requires active participation and collaboration from the stroke survivor, their family, and their caregivers. Stroke recovery is a long-term process that requires patience, perseverance, and dedication.

However, physical therapy can be rewarding and empowering for survivors. It can help them regain their functional mobility and independence, improve their quality of life and well-being, prevent or reduce complications, and make the most of their recovery.

With summer approaching and school ending for the year, most parents will be hearing “be sure your child is reading over the summer”.  So why the big push to keep kids reading? And is it REALLY that important? The answer is yes, it is very important. From September to June, children consistently engage in reading activities at home and school that support growth.

“Summer slide” is a term that has parents and teachers anxious about their child’s progress and retention for those sunny two months a year when school is not in session. This concept of “sliding back” from the level students reach by the end of their school year while home over the summer, is a true developmental reality for some young learners. Practicing skills learned during the school year is necessary for those skills to shift from new learning to usable skills and eventually into habit.

Why is Reading so Important?

The benefits of reading are undeniable. Research claims it takes a many as 17 exposures for a child to securely add a word to their vocabulary. Literacy research shows depth of vocabulary is links directly to a child’s literacy level and ability to read complex texts. Maintaining twenty minutes a day over the summer is critical. This will help at least maintain student literacy levels through the development of their vocabulary.

One elementary principal compared reading to exercise, encouraging kids to read to strengthen their reading skills. Just like exercising keeps muscles in shape, reading keeps the brain in shape. If you don’t exercise, you lose muscle, and if you don’t read, you will lose literacy skills.

Summer reading is not only for helping kids maintain learning while school is out, but also for fostering social-emotional development. Reading fiction is one of the best ways for children (and adults!) to develop empathy. While the reader may not personally experience every problem captured in the storyline of a fiction book, by moving through it from the character’s point of view, readers develop empathy skills for others who are experiencing challenges, even those with which we are less familiar. This can also lead to good conversations with your reader. Expanding a child’s vocabulary and emotions provides a deeper understanding. It also provides background information of people, places, concepts, and things in the world around us.

How can You Help with Summer Reading?

Our local Belgrade and Bozeman libraries offer summer reading programs. In addition, here are some additional resources for summer reading programs and ideas

• Kids in 1st – 6th grades who read 8 books this summer can record them in a reading journal. They will then turn it in for a free book with the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading program!
• Half Price Book stores has shifted it’s summer reading to a great page. Visit the Summer Reading Camp to see how kids can earn $5 in Bookworm Bucks to spend at the stores. Kids turn in logs during June & July. Younger kids can be read to. Older kids who can read on their own will record their reading time each month. The website also has some fun free printable camping-themed activities that kids can enjoy this summer too!
• Scholastic is another site that offers a free summer reading program.

Perhaps one of the best benefits of reading over the summer is having a screen-free activity on a rainy day. So kick off the summer discovering the joy of stories, and begin building the  importance of lifelong learning, through reading! If you have concerns about your child’s reading, you can learn more about the Matthew Effect and when Reading is Not Dyslexia.

May is national arthritis month. Arthritis may seem relatively benign – everyone knows someone who has arthritis, but it’s a serious condition, and a serious problem. However, the good news is that physical therapy for arthritis is one of the most effective treatments. Here are some numbers that help put the problem of arthritis into perspective:

• Arthritis is the leading cause of disability, affecting 1 in 5 adults and 300,000 children
• 1/3 of working-age people with arthritis have some kind of limitation in their ability to work
• Arthritis costs $156 billion each year in medical expenses and lost wages
• Nearly 1 million hospitalizations happen each year due to arthritis

The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Managing Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis comes in 2 forms: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs because of wear and tear on the joints over time. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune disease. It occurs because of the immune system attacking the joint lining. Physical therapy can reduce joint pain, improve mobility, and help to prevent further damage to the joints. Using individualized exercises, physical therapists help people manage their condition and reduce discomfort. Physical therapists often combine advice on lifestyle modifications with exercise to maximize improvement. Let’s look at the types of exercise that can help manage arthritis symptoms next.

Range of Motion Exercises

Range of motion exercises gently move affected joints through their entire range of motion, helping to reduce stiffness and improve mobility. For example gentle stretching, tai chi, or gentle yoga.

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise creates repeated motion, moving the synovial fluid in the joints. It also increases blood flow and releases endorphins which reduce pain. Aerobic exercise also helps to control weight. Weight loss is proven to reduce the stress on your joints, which can reduce pain. Aerobic exercise for people with arthritis should be low impact. This would include things like walking, cycling, or swimming.

Strength Training

Strength training is an important part of managing arthritis. It decreases pain, improves strength, and function. Stronger muscles around the affected joints provide better support and protection.

Aquatic Exercise

Another intervention that can help is aquatic therapy. Exercising in a therapeutic pool can be a great way for people with arthritis to get started. The buoyancy of the water helps to relieve some of the body’s pressure on the joints. The water pressure also provides compression on the joints. This offers some stability and pain relief. The movement of your body through the water creates resistance for your muscles. Therefore, you can get stronger in a protective environment.

Physical Therapy Education for Arthritis

Besides designing a custom exercise program, a physical therapist will educate people with arthritis on lifestyle modifications to help mange their symptoms. Some suggestions might include weight loss, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and managing stress. A PT can also modify daily activities to help protect joints affected by arthritis to slow down or prevent progression of symptoms.

Physical therapy is a safe and effective treatment for arthritis and they can coordinate your exercise routine. Current clinical guidelines for treating arthritis include strong recommendations for exercise and other physical therapy treatments. So, if you’re one of the 53 million Americans with arthritis, give your PT a call. They’re a great provider to help you reduce pain, manage your symptoms, and move better.

Physical therapy has lots of benefits for active people. Athletes, performers, weekend warriors, and people who work in physically demanding jobs can all benefit from the expertise of a physical therapist. Here are 3 ways physical therapists help active people stay that way.

Injury Treatment

Active people get hurt. Physical therapists have the knowledge and skills to help people recover from injuries faster. In addition to helping people recover, physical therapists will look for the root cause of the injury and address that as well, to help keep the injury from coming back. If the injury is severe and requires surgery, a physical therapist will guide the recovery and make sure the person gets back to their activity. But in some cases, a physical therapist can help an injured person avoid surgery in the first place. But remember, your PT can’t do your exercises for you!

Physical Therapists Help with Injury Prevention

Surgery isn’t the only thing physical therapists can help people avoid. A physical therapist can also help with injury prevention too. A thorough assessment of an athlete’s strength, mobility, balance, and coordination helps to identify issues that could lead to injury. A PT can then design a program to improve the problem areas before they lead to injury. A PT can also assess an existing training plan and help to identify areas that may lead to sprains, strains, or over training.

Improve Performance

In addition to helping people improve areas where they’re weak, therapists can help people get better in areas of strength. A physical therapist can create a program to improve strength, flexibility, coordination, agility or speed. Physical therapists are movement experts. They can break down the requirements of a specific physical task like lifting or throwing, then design a training program that will help people meet those demands.

Physical Therapy is more than just a way to get back on your feet after an injury. It can also help you stay at the top of your game. Whether you’re an athlete, a dancer, or someone who wants to stay in shape, physical therapy can help you reach your performance goals. With the right exercises and treatments, physical therapists can help you improve strength, flexibility, and endurance. They help so that you can perform at your best and lower your risk of injury.

Nearly 5 million people in the United States have fibromyalgia. This chronic condition causes widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues. It can be difficult to manage and can severely impact quality of life. It usually shows up between the ages of 30 and 50, and 80% to 90% of the people affected are women. There is no cure, but the best treatment plans combine exercise, modalities, and education to help manage symptoms. Physical therapists are experts in all three, so they’re the perfect practitioner to help with fibromyalgia!

Your PT Can Give Exercises to Help Your Fibromyalgia

Physical therapists are well known as experts in exercise, so they’re an obvious choice when it comes to helping people with fibromyalgia. Currently, recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia include patient education and non-pharmacological interventions. So the right exercise routine can help with pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and more. A combination of strengthening, stretching, and aerobic exercise is the most effective. You and your PT will work together to find the right type and intensity of exercise to best manage your symptoms.

Modalities To Move Through Fibromyalgia

Exercise isn’t the only tool your PT has to help you with fibromyalgia though. Gentle manual therapy and massage have been shown to help reduce pain and muscle stiffness caused by fibromyalgia. Physical therapists also use modalities to reduce symptoms. For example, your physical therapist may use:

• Electrical Stimulation
• Laser
• Biofeedback
• Dry Needling

Education

Education is another important component in treating fibromyalgia. A physical therapist spends more time with their patients than most other practitioners. Therefore, they have the time to help you understand what’s going on, and what you can do about it. Research shows that people with more knowledge about their condition have better outcomes, more confidence, and cope better.

Physical therapists can help with pain management, strength, mobility, fatigue and function to help patients find relief from their symptoms and improve the quality of their lives. While we still don’t have a cure for fibromyalgia, people can move through it with the right help.

References

1. Therex effectiveness – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5632473/
2. PT for fibromyalgia – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31140398/
3. Exercises for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29185675/
4. Manual therapy for fibro – ​​https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32604939/
5. Effectiveness of exercise with fatigue, etc for fibro – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32721388/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11028838/https://pubmd.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36051912/

Music is one of the most universal ways of expression and communication for people. It is present in our everyday lives, regardless of age or culture. Music is an enjoyable activity in its simplest form, but its influence goes well beyond simple amusement. Music has so many benefits. There have been numerous studies done supporting how music helps, from brain development to improving mental health. 

It is not surprising that there are great benefits of music in child development. Parents use music to calm and sooth children, to express love, and to engage their children. It is so wonderful to know that by this simple act we are impacting our child’s development in so many ways!

The Many Benefits of Music

Studies have been done that show providing musical experiences during childhood can accelerate brain development, especially language and reading skills. Other studies have shown that learning to play an instrument can improve mathematical learning. 

The benefits of music go well beyond that of helping academic achievement. Music stimulates basically all areas of child development! In early development, music helps children learn sounds and meaning of words. Dancing to music enhances motor skills and self-expression. 

Infants recognize the melody of a song before they can understand the words. Quiet background music can help calm and sooth, while simple short songs can be sung about bathing, dressing, and other daily activities. 

How to Incorporate Music

Toddlers are at a movement stage of development and language is erupting! Dance, dance, dance to all types of music. Songs with repetition will encourage language and help develop memory skills. Simple songs, like the cleanup song, can make transitions smoother. Be creative…your child will love it!

Preschoolers! They just love to sing and are so eager to let their everyone hear their voice. They are not self-conscious about their ability and burst with pride when you meet songs with clapping and cheering. Preschoolers typically gravitate towards songs that repeat words and melodies, use rhythms with a definite beat, and have them do things and follow directions. Finger plays are also favorites among this age group.

As children move into school age they begin to develop likes and dislikes of different types of music. Many children express interest in learning to play an instrument, join youth choirs, or simply enjoy putting on “performances” for their family. 

There is really no downside of engaging children, of all ages, or adults for that matter, with music. These are only a few of the benefits of music and ways to incorporate music into children’s lives. Check out Empowered Parents for fun music activities for kids and to learn of other benefits that music has to offer.

There are so many things that provide enormous benefits for kids as they develop. Check out our previous Youth Sports blog to find learn about the many benefits that playing sports provides.