Archive for the ‘Physical Therapist’ Category
The Science of Radiology – Equipment Plays a Vital Role
May 17th, 2010 | 
Author: One of the most advanced streams of medical science, radiology has been instrumental in identifying diseases and irregularities within the human body. In itself, this domain encompasses multiple means of diagnosing someone’s condition – fluoroscopy, radiography, CT scan, etc. However, the most important factor that is the mainstay of how accurately a condition can be identified is the radiology equipment that is used for carrying out all these procedures.
In the medical equipment market today, there are numerous options as far as radiology is concerned. It is very easy to get confused among all of them, but the fact still prevails that one mistake in choosing the right radiology equipment can cost a lost to your patient’s and your reputation. Hence, it is vital that you do proper research before zeroing in on the one you want to buy. It is important to keep in mind present as well as future requirements, since these devices are generally very expensive, and you certainly wouldn’t want to keep on purchasing new equipment every 2 years.
Reliability is another factor that is obviously high on the priority list. Regular servicing is one thing, but if the equipment calls for considerable expenditure in terms of maintenance, you should probably look for other options, since radiology equipment in itself is very expensive, and adding more running cost to it would only make it all the more cost-bearing in the longer run.
And lastly, look forward to the features that you want in the equipment. Often, it so happens that a piece of equipment would seem like the best possible deal until you get into the nitty-gritty. Simply put, you would not want to invest in something that would not serve the full purpose.
So that’s it, all the point you need to consider before buying radiology equipment. And remember, it’s not only about the money that is being spent, but people’s lives and your reputation that is at stake. So choose wisely!
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Do Not Wrap Or Brace a Sprained Ankle – Here is Why
One of the main parts of R.I.C.E. is compression. Remember, R.I.C.E. stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. So, in addition to rest, ice and elevating your ankle, it also suggests you compress your ankle and this is usually done with a wrap or brace. Although this seems like a harmless technique to help heal a sprained ankle, rehab experts now agree that this is not the best way to heal an ankle sprain. And, in fact, it can slow down the healing process and hurt your ankle recovery.
Why you should NOT Wrap or Brace a Sprained Ankle
When you wrap or brace an ankle sprain, you are doing it with one purpose in mind- to reduce swelling and restrict movement. The reason to restrict movement is so that you do not cause any further injury. That may sound like a good thing, so you do not cause further injury which may seem reasonable on the surface, but consider the following:
- A brace or wrap is not very effective at reducing swelling. There are much more effective treatments for reducing swelling. And this does not include ice. (ice is only effective at reducing swelling for 48 hours after the sprain.
- A brace or wrap will weaken the ligaments and reduce range of motion which slows down the healing process AND causes a much higher risk of future injury.
When you sprain an ankle, there is extensive damage to the ligaments in and around the ankle joint. In order to heal the injury, it is vitally important that you break up scar tissue, reduce swelling, and increase strength in the ligaments. A wrap or brace is a crutch that your ankle will rely on during the healing process. In effect, it will force the ligaments in your ankle to stay weak instead of fully recover. The wrap will not allow your ankle to move naturally as it recovers which will also inhibit a natural and healthy range of motion. In short, your ankle will heal unnaturally and badly. This will put you at an increased risk of injury in the future. And since most people continue to wear a wrap or tape up their ankles after the sprain, they continue to keep their ankles weak and inflexible. This is a recipe for disaster over time.
Instead of using a wrap or brace for a sprained ankle, rehab experts agree that you should incorporate a much more proactive rehab regimen. This does not mean going for a jog on your sprained ankle. But, it does mean, using active rehab techniques that you can do at home which will heal the injury in a natural and complete way. Instead of laying in bed, icing your ankle for weeks with a brace or wrap on it, you need to do specific exercises, stretches and other effective rehab techniques that will have far more benefit than a brace or wrap.
In effect, you will be strengthening your ankle instead of weakening it further from a brace or wrap. You will be helping the body speed up the healing process dramatically, since the ligaments will heal more naturally. Left to heal by themselves under a wrap or brace, the ligaments will heal very poorly. Rehab experts know understand that the body responds best to a more active approach. Again, it does not mean over-doing it. You want to continue to rest most of the time, but push yourself gently as you stretch and exercise the ankle.
So, what is the difference in healing time? With the typical R.I.C.E. treatment, including a wrap or brace, you can expect a recovery time of 4-8 weeks. And even once you are better, your ankle will be weak and stiff. You may feel the need to continue wearing a wrap or brace like a crutch. Of course, that will continue to keep your ankle stiff and weak and put you at a higher risk of another ankle sprain.
However, with a good active rehab program, you can expect to be walking normally and pain free in about a week. In addition, your ankle will not need the use of any kind of wrap or brace, since it will be strong and have regained its natural range of motion. Obviously, this puts you at a much lower risk of future injury and is a significantly safer and better way for you to play sports, walk run, etc.
Don’t Shrug Off Those Shoulder Injuries
The shoulder is among the most important body parts. We use it for shooting balls, throwing objects, blocking, balancing, and many other things – all of which can result in injuries varying from mild to major. An athlete should take any injury to his shoulder seriously. One must identify the injury immediately, apply proper treatment, and prevent it from happening – if that’s possible with any athlete.
The shoulder joint has the least bone-to-bone contact. It has a higher interplay with the muscles and cartilages, which lessens the friction and stress against it. However, this also means that more soft tissues are vulnerable to damage. The entire joint is composed of three bones: the humerus, the shoulder blade, and the collarbone. Some argue that the breastbone should be considered a part of it. Nevertheless, they all function as one.
There are a lot of movements that can cause shoulder injury. The first, called an overhead motion, involves the overstretching of the forearm and hand from the body. Repetitive movements have also been a cause of many shoulder injuries. Among the common injuries related to these are tendinitis, rotator cuff injury, and osteoarthritis. In sports, rotator cuff injuries are quite common. While these may be more frequent among baseball pitchers, other athletes like golfers, swimmers, and football quarterbacks also have their share of this pain.
A shock, fall, or any force that strikes the shoulders can also result in a major injury. Other examples of injuries include shoulder dislocations, separated shoulders, and bone fractures – especially the collarbone.
Rest is necessary for any injury. If the athlete experiences pain when moving their arms and shoulders, immediately have them stop. They should put ice on the injured area for about 20 minutes several times a day for the first three days succeeding the injury report.
Getting advice from a physical therapist is important. An athlete should be able to perform basic movements soon enough; however, severe injuries may take more time as well as operations. It may be a bit expensive and complex, that’s why the injured person must be able to determine with his or her physician what operations are necessary.
You can avoid or lessen the probability of getting injured by simply following certain disciplines. These include paying attention to correct body mechanics. Increasing your upper body flexibility and strength are also critical. Both can not only prevent injuries on the shoulders, they can also promote your sport performance. Lastly, don’t slack on stretching and doing warm-ups before any match or game practice.