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Active Physical Therapy Welcomes Three New Team Members!

This year, we’re very grateful to add some really great people to the Active team!   Kelly Wood joined the team at Active in November of 2018.  She has been in medical administration for over 18 years. She lives in Ishpeming with her husband of 27 years and enjoys four wheeling, snowmobiling and quilting in her spare time. Noelle Champion was born and raised in Ishpeming. Noelle has over 25  years of customer service experience & enjoys the daily interactions with the patients. Noelle has been married for 28 years to her spouse  Kevin. Family is very important to her and she loves spending time with them whenever she can. Tori Escovedo comes to us with a wide range of work experiences including phlebotomy, OBGYN, Family Medicine, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies.  Tori is married and has three grown...

Pain while Running? Consider a Running Assessment.

Do you have lower body pain when running?  Have you tried “everything” and are not getting better?  If you can answer yes to these questions…you should consider having a running assessment done.   What does a running assessment involve? A running assessment is done through video taping you running for a short time (10-15 minutes) on the treadmill at a pace you are comfortable with.  The recording is then analyzed using normalized values for knee angles, foot positions and body alignment. Most often running assessments are done when a runner is having pain or has an injury and after the assessment a personalized plan of care can be given to you to address the issues.   What happens after an assessment? After a running assessment is done, and you are given a personalized plan of care, and exercises to help you become a more efficient runner and work towards...

Top 5 Basketball Injuries from the 2018 / 2019 Season

With March Madness just around the corner, we wanted to take a look at some of the injuries which have made basketball season interesting so far.  Here are the top 5 injuries of the 2018-2019 Season. Warning: Some videos below may contain images which might make you a little squeamish. Kevin Knox of the New York Knicks Sprains Ankle Let’s ease into things with an ankle injury from Kevin Knox in a game against the Boston Celtics.  Knox is driving hard to the rim and steps just a little too far outside his ability to maintain a stable ankle.  You can see his ankle collapse into a position called inversion. He immediately loses his ability to maintain his balance and goes down.     Caris LeVert of the Brooklyn Nets Suffers Leg Injury A little further up on the intensity scale, this injury features Caris Levert going...

Concussions and Our Kids (Part 2 of 2): Special Considerations for Head Injuries in Children

Last week’s blog discussed special considerations for head injuries in our children, and some of the things needed to keep in mind if your child ever suffers a head injury. This week we will discuss recovery.  The road to recovery for my daughter was pretty simple, but a little challenging to navigate. As I mentioned in the last blog, symptoms can be ambiguous and difficult for the child to describe, so I really had to put on my investigator hat to dig deep and find out how she was doing.   Recovery is Much More Favorable in Children When a Concussion is Handled Appropriately Immediately After Injury. In general, children take longer to heal from a concussion, and expected full recovery is around 4 weeks.  However, if the immediate injury is handled inappropriately, the recovery process can be lengthened, or the current injury made much worse.   With my...

Concussions and Our Kids (Part 1 of 2):  Special Considerations for Head Injuries in Children

I knew it would happen eventually…I got a call at work from my daughter’s school nurse.   “Your daughter bumped her head at gym class.  She said she was a little blurry at first, and she has a headache.  But, otherwise she seems to be doing OK.” She had slipped and fallen in gym class, and smacked the back of her head on the floor.  Now, this is something that I’ve seen countless times in the athletic realm, so for the most part it was business as usual for me.  However, when it’s your child (and not someone else’s) suffering, things can get a little hazy. The tough thing about concussions in young children is that they can’t be seen with the naked eye, they’re clouded by ambiguity and complicated by young age.  For example, when you ask a teenager or adult about their knee pain, it’s pretty easy...

New Year, New Insurance?

For many people, a New Year can mean insurance changes for them.  Knowing the basics of your new (or current) insurance plan is critical to you.  Co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, out of pocket max, visit limits..these are only some of the things to consider as we enter a new calendar year.   In order to best service our patients, at Active PT we ask our patient’s to check into their co-pays prior to coming in to start therapy.  We also find it most helpful if you are aware of any prior authorization needed or visit limits you may have. Every insurance is different, and within each insurance company there are many, many plans.  Staying proactive and informed with your insurance plan will save you a lot of headaches in the long run. As always, please bring your new insurance cards in so we can update your chart!

Gaining Knee Extension After Surgery is a Key Component of Recovery

The knee joint has two main motions known as Flexion (the ability to bend) and Extension (the ability to straighten).  It does also rotate very slightly, but that’s a different discussion for different day. When it comes to post-surgical care, it’s very important that your journey with a few things such as pain control, maintenance and monitoring of incision sites, and of course range of motion (ROM).  Range of Motion is often the first step in the process of restoring the full function of the knee. In order to have a fully functioning knee joint, it must first move efficiently. Whether you’ve just had a Meniscus Repair, Total Knee Replacement, or ACL Reconstruction, ROM limitations are normal and expected following surgery – for a time.  Your surgeon may prescribe a Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine to help restore motion immediately following the procedure.  This is a machine that moves...

Water Intake is important year-round

The colder temperatures during winter months have many of us reaching for warm liquids to drink, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, but drinking water continues to be important and should not be forgotten.  The great water debate, how much water should you be drinking a day is a question that often gets asked in the clinics. The answer isn’t as simple as we once thought. Each individual’s water needs depends on many factors including your health, how much you weigh, how active you are, and where you live. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work properly. For example, water: Gets rid of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements Keeps your body temperature normal Lubricates and cushions joints Protects sensitive tissues Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration.  Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. So, what’s the answer to...

Caution! Upper Arm Fractures Are an Increased Risk During the Winter Months!

Last month, we discussed tactics for preventing falls in the winter months.  Whether this means you’re actively participating in a strength and conditioning program, or you buy one of the 10 best traction cleats for snow and ice (or both), it’s important to understand the risks associated with slippery conditions.  One of the most common injuries that can result from a fall outside in the winter time (especially in the elderly1-4), is the Proximal Humerus Fracture. Fractures of the proximal Humerus often happen as a result of falling.  Falling incidents can be on an outstretched hand, a fall directly onto the shoulder, or even landing on the elbow.  Forces are transmitted through the humerus and are more than the bone is able to withstand. The result is a broken upper arm, or Proximal humerus fracture.  Other causes of proximal humerus fractures can be from a direct force trauma, such...

Do You Yoga?

If you have done any physical therapy at Active PT, your therapist may have given you a list of stretches to do at home to help speed your recovery along.  Many times these stretches “hurt” and we can be resistant to doing them because of the pain that may be involved. Yoga is a great way to stretch your body and relax your mind.   For many when they hear “yoga” they think…”well, I can’t do that, I’m not flexible”, or “only women do yoga”.  Yoga is an exercise program anyone can do. Not only does it increase your flexibility, but it also improve posture, increases blood flow, protects your spine, and builds muscle strength.  Yoga uses breathing techniques and mind-body connection to relax into poses letting your body stretch more comfortably. As a busy Holiday season approaches, do your body a favor and slow down for even 30...

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