by Stemedix | Jan 29, 2024 | Parkinson's Disease, Lyme's Disease, Osteoarthritis, PRP, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Therapy, Stroke
Orthopedic rehab is a type of rehabilitation designed to help people who have been injured, had surgery, or have degenerative conditions. Its goal is to aid patients in regaining mobility, balance, and function in their musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic rehab also focuses on finding ways to alleviate pain.
If you have suffered an injury or gone through surgery, or if you have a degenerative condition that affects your mobility, orthopedic rehab could be the right option for you. But what can it help with, and what can you expect from the process?
What Conditions Can Orthopedic Rehab Help With?
Orthopedic rehab is a conservative treatment that can benefit patients of all ages who are suffering from issues that affect their range of motion, joint flexibility, muscle strength, and body function.
It can help with conditions like:
- Joint pain
- Arthritis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Lyme disease
- Scoliosis
- Stroke
- Spinal stenosis
- Knee instability
- Carpal tunnel
- Osteoporosis
- Sciatica
This type of rehab is usually essential for those recovering from joint replacement surgeries and similar procedures. It can also help with pelvic floor issues.
Orthopedic physical therapy is important after certain surgical procedures, including those like:
- Knee replacement
- Rotator cuff replacement
- Knee arthroscopy
- Hip replacement
- Cancer surgery
- Heart surgery
This type of rehab can help to normalize your gait, improve your range of motion, and even prevent excessive scar tissue buildup.
It’s also helpful for people who’ve suffered a chronic injury. A chronic injury is damage that occurs over time, generally because of small movement patterns that lead to repetitive injuries to your bones, joints, or tendons. Tennis elbow or carpal tunnel are examples. With rehabilitation, you can learn how to move without injuring yourself.
Benefits of Orthopedic Therapy
Orthopedic therapy helps increase your mobility. Mobility can be limited after an operation, while recovering from an injury, or when dealing with degenerative diseases. This type of therapy utilizes stretching and exercise strategies to slowly increase your range of motion.
Orthopedic therapy also helps with pain management so that you don’t have to rely as much on pain medications. Therapists can massage the treatment area, increasing circulation and decreasing inflammation. Some orthopedic therapy options use ice packs for dealing with inflammation and heat packs for loosening tension.
Better blood circulation, which orthopedic therapy helps with, also brings oxygen and nutrients to the treatment area. This makes it easier for injuries to heal.
You can also help avoid re-injuring yourself. Therapy assists by teaching you to move safely while also showing you how to gain strength in the area.
Types of Treatments Offered in Orthopedic Therapy
When you turn to orthopedic therapy, you can benefit from a few different types of treatments.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Orthopedic therapy often relies on thermotherapy (heat therapy) and cryotherapy (cold therapy) to treat musculoskeletal swelling and pain.
E-Stim
Electrical stimulation can help diminish pain. With E-stim, your therapist attaches a device to the treatment area. The two main types of devices they may use include TENS, which uses low-voltage electrical currents to offer pain relief, and NMES, which sends electrical impulses to the nerves.
Exercise Therapy
You will get an exercise plan that helps you increase mobility, strength, and balance. You will get a chance to practice them with the therapist so that you can then repeat them at home.
Soft Tissue Manipulation
Soft tissue manipulation is a kind of manual physical therapy in which your physical therapist massages your ligaments, fascia, and muscles. It helps optimize muscle function while also decreasing tension. It may also be effective at improving blood circulation.
Laser or Light Therapy
Low-level lasers and light therapies can help with muscle performance. They have the potential to reduce muscle fatigue and help tissues repair after an injury.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses the growth factors in your blood to encourage healing at the treatment area. It’s an option that often complements other orthopedic therapies.
What an Orthopedic Rehab Plan Can Look Like
The orthopedic plan your healthcare provider recommends will consider your injury, overall health, abilities, and goals. You will have a personalized and unique program that your team can adjust as you progress through it.
The first step is to determine whether you can benefit more from an inpatient or outpatient orthopedic rehab program. In more complex situations, inpatient care is usually the right choice, while outpatient options are better suited for minor injuries.
Most patients start each rehab session with physical therapy. These sessions can last between 30 and 60 minutes. Those with more serious issues can begin lying on an exam table while the therapist performs some passive exercises. You may then have to perform the same exercises on your own.
Your therapist may then continue to show you more stretches and exercises to incorporate into your home routine. Some of the exercises may even rely on weights or bands.
Orthopedic rehab also focuses on helping patients perform everyday tasks. If you have trouble walking, the session can involve relearning how to do this correctly to avoid falls and further injuries. If you have had a joint replacement, you may relearn to walk with the support of the therapist before moving on to walkers and other devices.
Patients who need to improve grip strength will likely spend a significant amount of time in the session practicing grabbing things of increasing weight.
For patients who have degenerative diseases, balance exercises are particularly useful. They can help the patient better understand where their body is in space. Some of these exercises can include standing on one foot and raising or lowering a foot or knee.
Getting the Care You Need
Orthopedic rehab offers the chance to regain your strength, balance, range of motion, and more after suffering an injury or going through surgery. It is also useful in the process of managing degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
By combining various types of therapies, including PRP therapy, you have the chance to get relief from pain while also preventing future injuries.
by Stemedix | Jul 10, 2023 | Lyme's Disease
Lyme’s disease, also known as Lyme’s borreliosis, is a tick-borne infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi or, less commonly, Borrelia mayonii. It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus) in North America and Ixodes ricinus in Europe.
The signs and symptoms of Lyme’s disease can vary widely, and they often resemble symptoms of other illnesses, making diagnosis challenging. The most common early sign is a circular rash known as erythema migrans (EM), which appears at the site of the tick bite after a few days or up to a month. This rash may expand over time and can be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
Preventing Lyme’s disease involves taking precautions to avoid tick bites. This includes wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents, checking for ticks after spending time outdoors, and removing ticks promptly and properly. It’s important to be aware of the risk of Lyme’s disease, particularly in areas where infected ticks are prevalent, and to seek medical attention if symptoms suggestive of Lyme’s disease develop after a tick bite.
Who Do You See if You Have Lyme’s Disease Symptoms?
Diagnosing Lyme’s disease involves considering a combination of factors, including symptoms, history of tick exposure, and laboratory tests. Blood tests can be performed to detect antibodies against the bacteria, but they may not always be reliable in the early stages of infection.
If you are experiencing symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease, it is recommended to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional. There are several healthcare providers who can evaluate and diagnose Lyme disease, including:
Primary care physician (PCP): Your first point of contact is typically your primary care physician, such as a family doctor, internist, or general practitioner. They can assess your symptoms, take a medical history, and conduct a physical examination. Based on their evaluation, they may order tests or refer you to a specialist if needed.
Infectious disease specialist: These doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases, including Lyme disease. They have in-depth knowledge and experience in managing various infectious conditions and may provide expertise in diagnosing and managing Lyme disease.
Rheumatologist: Rheumatologists are specialists who diagnose and treat diseases that affect the joints, muscles, and connective tissues. Since Lyme disease can sometimes present with joint pain and inflammation, a rheumatologist may be involved in the evaluation and management of Lyme disease, particularly in cases where joint symptoms are prominent.
Neurologist: If Lyme disease affects the nervous system, such as causing facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), meningitis, or neuropathy, a neurologist may be consulted for evaluation and management.
Dermatologist: In the early stages of Lyme disease, when the characteristic erythema migrans rash appears, a dermatologist may be involved in the evaluation and diagnosis.
It’s important to note that Lyme disease can present with a wide range of symptoms, and diagnosis can sometimes be challenging due to the similarity of symptoms to other conditions. Therefore, it may be helpful to consult healthcare providers who have experience in diagnosing and managing Lyme disease or who are familiar with its prevalence in your geographic area.
Remember to provide your healthcare provider with a detailed medical history, including any recent exposure to ticks or outdoor activities in areas known for Lyme disease, as this information can be crucial in guiding the diagnostic process.
What Treatments Can Help?
The treatment of Lyme disease typically involves the use of antibiotics to eliminate the infection. The specific antibiotic and treatment duration depend on several factors, including the stage of the disease, the severity of symptoms, and the presence of any complications.
If left untreated, Lyme’s disease can progress to more severe symptoms that may affect multiple systems in the body, including the nervous system, joints, heart, and even other organs. These symptoms can include severe headaches, neck stiffness, additional rashes, facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), joint pain and swelling, heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, and cognitive difficulties.
Here are the commonly used treatment approaches for Lyme disease:
Early-stage Lyme disease: If Lyme disease is diagnosed in its early stages, oral antibiotics are generally prescribed. The most commonly used antibiotics include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime. Treatment duration is usually 10 to 21 days, depending on the antibiotic prescribed and the severity of symptoms. Early treatment is crucial to prevent the progression of the disease and potential complications.
Lyme disease with neurological involvement: If Lyme disease affects the central nervous system, such as causing meningitis or facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), intravenous (IV) antibiotics may be recommended to ensure higher antibiotic levels reach the affected area. Ceftriaxone is a commonly used IV antibiotic for this purpose. Treatment duration may vary but typically lasts for 14 to 28 days.
Persistent or late-stage Lyme disease: Some individuals may experience persistent or recurrent symptoms despite initial antibiotic treatment. In such cases, a more extended course of antibiotics may be considered. The choice of antibiotics and treatment duration is determined on an individual basis, and it may involve a combination of oral and IV antibiotics.
It’s important to note that self-treatment with antibiotics or prolonged antibiotic use without proper medical supervision is not recommended. The decision to use antibiotics and the selection of the appropriate regimen should be made by a qualified healthcare professional based on a thorough evaluation of your condition.
Regenerative Medicine for Lyme’s Disease
Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the potential in managing Lyme’s disease-related complications.
Mesenchymal stem cells are a type of adult stem cells found in various tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord tissue. They have the ability to differentiate into different cell types and possess immunomodulatory properties, meaning they can regulate the immune system’s response.
In the context of Lyme’s disease, researchers have investigated the potential of MSCs in addressing the inflammatory response and tissue damage associated with the disease. It is thought that MSCs may help regulate the immune response and reduce inflammation, which could potentially alleviate symptoms and promote healing.
Studies have shown promising results, suggesting that MSCs can reduce inflammation, protect tissues from damage, and improve outcomes. This alternative option is available for those interested in exploring treatment options to help them make informed decisions about what is best to manage their symptoms. If you want to learn more, contact us at Stemedix today!
St. Petersburg, Florida
