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Physical Therapists in Fishkill, Dutchess County, NY

Year: 2016

Harrison Physical TherapyBlog2016
By admin General Info

Tips for a Pain-Free Holiday Season

 

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we’re officially getting into the busy holiday season! Whether it’s hosting dinner at your house or traveling to spend time with your loved ones, this tends to be a busy time of the year.

Unfortunately, after the fun is over, sometimes we’re left with pain and soreness in our muscles & joints. Long hours standing, preparing meals, cleaning the house, driving our cars, flying on airplanes, or even sitting on couches…all of these seemingly “simple” tasks can quickly turn into aches and pains which can last long after the holidays are over.

Whether you’re currently recovering from an injury, or just want to avoid one, take a minute to read through a few tips & tricks from the therapists at Harrison Physical Therapy to help you make this a memorable – and pain-free – holiday!

PREPARING MEALS

If it’s your turn to host a holiday party this year, that probably means that you’ll be doing some meal preparation. Typically, this involves a lot of standing, bending and lifting items to/from the fridge or oven, and repetitive motions such as stirring, chopping, or mixing. All of these activities may result in sore muscles, achy joints, and stiffness in your lower back and neck.

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  • Take frequent breaks when preparing meals. A mix of brief walking and sitting can help to prevent pain from creeping up on you when cooking and preparing meals. Standing too long can really take a toll on your body!
  • When lifting heavy objects, be sure to lift with your legs. Avoid bending or twisting your back and keep the object as close to your body as possible to avoid over-straining your muscles. Ideally, if you have someone who can help you with this, now is the time to ask!

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TRAVELING FOR THE HOLIDAY

If you’re one of the millions of people traveling to a loved one’s home for Thanksgiving, be aware of the effect that prolonged sitting can have on your body. Lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain can be made worse by sitting for a period of time. If you’re currently dealing with pain, the seemingly innocent act of sitting can make it much worse.

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  • If you’re driving (or a passenger in a car), be sure to take frequent rest stops. Get out of your car and walk for at least one minute before continuing your drive. A sneaky trick is to be sure to drink a lot of water as you drive…not only is it good for you, but it will force to you stop frequently to use the restroom!
  • If you’re flying to your destination, be sure to take frequent breaks from sitting. Walk to the restroom on the plane just to get some movement, as prolonged sitting in a tight space on an airplane can be a recipe for stiff joints and muscles. And for good measure – before you board the plane, be sure to walk a bit and perform some “heel raise” exercises to get the blood flowing in your legs. This helps to prevent blood clots from forming on plane rides – a very real danger that you can help to prevent with the right action!

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SPENDING THE HOLIDAY AT HOME

So maybe you don’t have to travel, and maybe you don’t even have to prepare any meals. But don’t be fooled – sometimes not enough activity can be just as dangerous as too much…especially if you’re recovering from an injury.

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  • Be sure not to spend too much time sitting on that couch! While it might be soft and comfortable, if you spend too much time sitting on a couch, it results in a lot of pressure on your lower back, neck, and other joints in your body. Try to resist the urge to just “chill” for the day – be sure to get some physical activity. And no, moving your fork to your mouth doesn’t count as exercise!

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Whatever your plans for this Thanksgiving, know that you can prevent aches and pains from happening just by following some (or all) of these simple tips!

Above all, we wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday Season!

By admin General Info

Why Harrison PT?

 

What continues to drive Harrison Physical Therapy’s growth? Why do we get so many repeat customers and referrals from past patients? Why do specialists from major medical centers look to us to take care of their patients? Why are we able to recruit the best physical therapists in the area? The reason is simple: better therapists, better care, located in an office that strives to provide the highest level of care in a setting dedicated to getting you better.

People do not need to live with the pain or physical deficits that they did in the past. With the cost of healthcare skyrocketing, physical therapy is playing a bigger role than ever before. If you can fix a shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle or spine condition with a couple a visits to Harrison PT and save the cost of multiple MD visits, MRIs, and surgery, then why wouldn’t you? Why would you just see the physical therapist down the hall from the doctor’s office, the one that is closest to your house or the guy who works in your gym when you could take a short ride to Fishkill and have access to some of the most highly recruited physical therapists who have training and expertise that is second to none?

At Harrison PT we always encourage potential patients to come in to take a quick tour of the facility and have a brief meeting with one of our therapists about how we can assist them. Once people visit our facility, our enthusiasm and dedication is often contagious and patients leave motivated to attack their injury knowing that they have the right team to work with them.

Harrison PT has the most friendly and thorough office staff who will assist you in verifying any insurance benefits and can schedule you with one of our top therapists who treat orthopedic and sports injuries on everyone from adolescents to patients into their 90s. We alter each treatment to meet your specific goals and needs and promise to do our best to make your rehabilitation a positive experience and help you achieve your highest functional level possible. Do not hesitate to call Harrison PT today!

By admin Patient Info, Shoulder

What Is Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?

 

Rotator cuff tendonitis, often called shoulder tendonitis, is a common condition affecting the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles that help stabilize the shoulder when it moves. However, there is a particularly poor blood supply to the rotator cuff, making it a fairly common site of injury for patients of all ages. Symptoms can include pain and weakness with lifting, performing overhead or reaching activities, or while sleeping. It is not unusual for a patient with rotator cuff problems to describe a history of several years of constant or intermittent symptoms.

Physical therapy treatment for rotator cuff tendonitis includes a combination of modalities (moist heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and ice) and soft tissue mobilization/massage to aid in the healing process. Treatment will also focus on range of motion and stretching to restore flexibility as well as strengthening exercises to develop the rotator cuff and surrounding muscles. Patients generally begin to see an improvement in their condition within the first month and usually make a full recovery within two to three months. However, if tendonitis is not addressed it can progress to a tear, which can make rehabilitation more challenging and may even necessitate surgical intervention. The good news is rotator cuff surgery followed by rehabilitation performed by a qualified physical therapist usually has a good outcome and allows patients to return to their active lifestyle.

By admin Direct Access, Patient Info

My Physicians Have Their Own Physical Therapy Practice. Can I Still Come to Harrison Physical Therapy?

 

The short answer is YES. Any time physical therapy is ordered, you the patient/customer have the legal right to choose the place that you feel will give you the best care available. However, some of our previous patients have wrongfully assumed that they are not able to attend our facility because the treating physician has recommended their own or another facility. A physician can recommend that you see the physical therapist(s) working for them, but they cannot force you to attend their own practice. You have the right to choose which physical therapy practice you would like to attend.

In our experience, the area physicians highly respect Harrison Physical Therapy and they have not had any problems with patients requesting to be treated at our facility. In fact, we have treated many of the area’s physicians and nurses and they themselves can attest to the outstanding care we provide. At Harrison Physical Therapy there is a reason that our most recent survey indicated that 98% of our patients felt that their problem or complaint “greatly improved.” Come see why are we the leader in rehabilitation in the Hudson Valley.

By admin Direct Access

Got an injury? Come see us first!

 

Did you know that New York State has direct access to physical therapy? Patients can now attend up to 10 treatments within 30 days without a prescription. If you have an injury, ache, or pain that is limiting your ability to enjoy life to its fullest, call now and do not delay your treatment.

For the most part, the majority of non traumatic injuries should start with physical therapy. If physical therapy fails, then the use of medications, injections, MRIs, and surgery come into play. Having treated thousands of patients over the past twelve years, Harrison Physical Therapy has worked with nearly all of the specialists in the area who treat musculoskeletal injuries, and we can help guide you through the process of choosing a specialist if necessary. We can help you answer questions like: What type of specialist do I see? An orthopedist, physiatrist, neurologist, pain management specialist, rheumatologist, or podiatrist? If I have a shoulder injury or a back injury, do you recommend the same person? We will help direct you to the person who we have seen the best results from and who we feel can help you with your specific need. At Harrison PT, we help you get results!