Knee Replacement Exercises to Do After Surgery

Knee replacement surgery is usually done if you have severe arthritis or any condition that makes it difficult for you to walk. If you are planning to get a knee replacement done or have already done it, exercises will help to restore the strength and motility of your knee. They also hasten your joint’s recovery after the surgery

Right after the surgery, the physiotherapist will advise some rehab exercises to help you climb stairs, walk, and carry out other daily chores.

The main aims of knee replacement exercises are:

  • Restoring the knee movement
  • Strengthening your leg
  • Helping to walk with the new knee

Knee Replacement Exercises

Exercises will help to improve the blood circulation to your limbs and prevent blood clots. They will also improve the knee movement and strengthen your muscles. Some of the exercises are:

Straight Leg Raises

Tighten up the thigh muscles and fully straighten the knee. Now, lift your leg several inches above the bed and hold for 5 – 10 seconds. Slowly return to the original position. Continue this till your thighs are fatigued.

Alternatively, you can also do this exercise while sitting. Tighten the thigh muscles and straighten your knee. Now, hold it in this position unsupported for 5 – 10 seconds. Continue this till your thighs are fatigued.

Quadriceps Sets

To perform this exercise, tighten up the thigh muscles. Now, try to straighten the knee and hold for 5 – 10 seconds. You can repeat this exercise 10 times, followed rest for a minute. Continue this till your thighs are fatigued.

Knee Straightening Exercises

Place a rolled cloth or a small towel between your heel and the bed. Now, tighten the thighs and straighten your knee. Try to hold the fully straightened knee for 5 – 10 seconds.

Continue this till your thighs are fatigued.

Ankle Pumps

For executing this exercise, move your foot up and down by contracting the shin and calf muscles. You can continue this for 2 – 3 minutes. This exercise can be continued until the swelling subsides and you regain complete functioning of the knee.

Knee Bends

There are various ways of performing this exercise. Let’s have a look at them:

  • Sitting unsupported knee bends: Sit on the bedside or chair with your thighs unsupported. Now, bend your knee until the foot touches the floor. You can slide your body to increase the knee bend. Hold this position for 5 – 10 seconds. Straighten the knee. You can do this till your thighs get fatigued.
  • Sitting supported knee bends: Sit on the bedside or chair with your thighs supported (foot behind the heel for support). Now, bend the knee as much as you can. Hold this position for 5 – 10 seconds. You can do this till your thighs get fatigued.
  • Bed supported knee bends: While lying, slide the foot towards your arse so that your knee is bent. Place the hell on the bed and hold this position for 5 – 10 seconds. You can do this till your thighs get fatigued.

In case you are not noticing any change after these exercise or feeling any discomfort, kindly consult your physiotherapist.
Find out advanced physiotherapy clinics in Ottawa.

dry needle therapy

What are the benefits of dry needling therapy?

Dry needle therapy, for your body, is the best medicine to relieve pain. That sounds ridiculous but don’t knock it until you try it. In this article, we will talk about various aspects of dry needling benefits to give you a clear of what is it.

What is dry needling therapy?

Dry needling therapy is such treatment that eases muscular pain. Otherwise known as intramuscular stimulation, it includes insertion of a thin needle into trigger points or tight muscles of your body. The goal is to improve tissue condition and restore muscle function.

How Does Dry Needling Therapy Work?

It is not something when the physiotherapists insert the needle at the points, and you start feeling better. The internal mechanism is that the needle forms a lesion on the affected area. In return, it triggers a process of physiological mechanisms, which remodels the injured and inflamed soft tissue. One benefit is there is no medication injected, and the entire procedure is painless.

What kinds of pain does dry needling treat?

Dry needling therapy could help you with various conditions:

    • Low back pain/tension
    • Neck pain
    • Tennis elbow
    • Migraines
    • Spinal dysfunction
  • Joint dysfunction
  • Sciatica

Dry needle therapy techniques

The first dry needling technique is called sparrow pecking. The action is fast, and the needle stays inside the trigger point, under the skin, quickly.

The other technique is non-trigger point treatment; which treats a broader landscape of the central nervous system. Instead of inserting needles only in the area of pain, the experts insert needles in the surrounding areas of the affected region.

What are the benefits of dry needling?

The top benefits of dry needling therapy are:

Relax Tight Muscles

The first benefit of dry needling therapy is it acts as a reset button for your chronic pain. For instance, if you suffer from back pain, dry needling functions through changing the electrical activity in the region, which results in a positive response.

Improve Blood Flow

One of the connected dry needling benefits is that with relaxed muscles comes improved blood flow.

Decrease Pain & Release Neurotransmitters

Some of the neurotransmitters that can block pain transmission to the brain through the spinal cord are beta-endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins.

Dry needling releases tension, by stimulating these chemicals, which alleviates the pressure in the muscles, that have caused the pain.

Improvement in Range of Motion

If you’re an athlete who is constantly on the go and have fluid movement. To have a full range of motion is key to your success. For instance, for a batsman, you have to take care of a whole lot of things when a ball comes across you. In the process, the entire upper body is involved. In the case of glitches, during batting or fielding, you might suffer from shoulder or back injury. In that case, one of the dry needling benefits for back pain or shoulder injury is it relieves tension and pressure in trigger points to give your flexible movement.

Treat Chronic Pain

Dry needling therapy can be a part of a large plan, which manages body parts like shoulder pain, back pain, neck pain, headaches, plantar fasciitis, tennis/golf elbow, sciatica and more.

Is dry needling the same thing as acupuncture?

If you compare dry needling and acupuncture, you find similarities in the types of needle used and the procedure of treatment.

However, dry needling help relieves pain by opening up a person’s energy flow. By contrast, acupuncture stimulates the trigger points or muscles that are irritable.

Conclusion

If you are thinking to choose between acupuncture or dry needling therapy as a treatment option, the choice comes down to a matter of preference. Let us discuss your choice as you visit us.

How does Prenatal and Postpartum Physiotherapy Work

With all the changes that come in the body during pregnancy, both visible and invisible, personal upkeep is super important to prepare for a healthy delivery. For the same, it would be a good idea to look at the wonderful world of prenatal and post-partum care.

How can Prenatal and Postpartum Physiotherapy help pregnant women?

For prenatal care, perineal massage is the best option to get your body ready for childbirth. Massaging the area helps by loosening the muscles that need to stretch as your baby emerges into the world.

Besides, during pregnancy, lower back pain, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence are common.

In cases as such, you can opt for pelvic floor exercises such as prenatal workout for a strong core.

When should you start prenatal physiotherapy treatment during pregnancy?

There is no specific time to start prenatal care before pregnancy, However,  during the care regime, physiotherapists would help with the pain in the back with mild prenatal workouts and education on adjusting posture.

Do you need post-partum physiotherapy?

The need depends on whether you are having a natural baby birth or a caesarian. However, good prenatal care will make your post-partum recovery easier. If you had a natural birth, you are ready for the postpartum care in the first month. All you have to do is follow a set of essentials postpartum exercises after delivery to regain body posture and mechanism.  For c-section moms, however, you need to wait a few extra weeks before returning to make sure your abdomen is healing well before resuming therapy.

However, you will not be returning to abdominal exercises until about six months after giving birth, but other postpartum exercises can still be performed.

Why should you visit a physiotherapist for postpartum care?

Here are some of the reasons why women may want to visit  a physiotherapist for postpartum care:

Physiotherapy for Pregnant Women

You will get an assurance of proper care combined with the prenatal workout to make the body is aligned well and be ready to carry a baby. The best part is you will learn how to correctly perform Kegel exercises which will help strengthen the pelvic floor in preparation for childbirth.

Physiotherapy Assists with Posture Changes during Pregnancy

Some of the physiological changes that come with pregnancy include an increase in body mass, retention of fluid and laxity in supporting structures. In most of the cases as such, proper loading and alignment of the spine and weight-bearing joints causes back and pelvic pain that is associated with pregnancy.

To get rid of the postpartum problems, you have to try some sets of exercises after delivery which strengthens the Core stability. In connection, the training of the postpartum exercises is one way to help prevent and treat back pain during and after pregnancy.

How to Push Correctly During Labour

Physiotherapists can help teach women how to push effectively during childbirth, which includes the knowledge of perennial massage on the pelvic floor. Pushing correctly changes the effect of pelvic trauma.

Physiotherapy Assists with Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

Some conditions that arise from trauma to a woman’s pelvic floor include incontinence, pain during intercourse, and pelvic organ relapse.

After the pregnancy, an assessment with a rehab plan assists in the recovery of the pelvic floor.

Conclusion

Checking on a physiotherapist for prenatal workouts, or postpartum care can help both with the prevention and treatment of pain and any post-pregnancy problem such as recovery after childbirth. Whatever your needs and whatever your pace, we’re happy to work with you to keep you happy and comfortable throughout your pregnancy. Let’s get in touch.

 

The role sports rehabilitation therapist in recovery of your injury

What is sports physiotherapy?

Sports physiotherapy is a sports injury treatment procedure.  The rehabilitators help the athletics with the pain, injury, or illness involving the musculoskeletal system.

The sports rehabilitation therapist plans the treatment schedule as such that they recover from and prevent the injury occurrences. Usage of various manual based therapeutic interventions like exercise, movements are likely to give positive results.

What is the multidisciplinary approach of sports rehabilitation therapists?  

The sports therapy session includes the involvement of a team of sports rehabilitation therapists. They make up the variations in the form of sports physicians, physiotherapists, rehabilitation workers, physical educators, coaches, athletic trainers, psychologists, and nutritionists aligned to work with a multidisciplinary approach.

What are the Principles in sports injury treatment?

The major principles that lay the foundation for any sports physiotherapy session are:

Avoid aggravation

To avoid any unnatural bypass during sports injury treatment, it is a good idea to stay calm.

Timing

The fact is sooner the patients can start the sports physiotherapy session, in case of any injury, better is the recovery graph for them. Dragging the time will only make things worse. 

Compliance

To ensure compliance, it is important that the sports rehabilitation therapist inform the patient of the content of the program and the expected course of sports injury treatment.

Individualization

The response of each Sports physiotherapy differs over every individual. Individual physiological and chemical differences profoundly affect a patient’s specific responses to an injury

Specific sequencing

A sports injury treatment program should follow a specific sequence of events. It is the body’s physiological healing response that determines the specific sequence.

 Intensity

The intensity level of the Sports physiotherapy program must challenge the patient and the injured area. However, a well-defined sports rehabilitation therapist sees that the intensity is fatal to worsen the situation.

Total patient

While treating the injured part, it is also essential that the unaffected areas of the body stay finely tuned. This means keeping the cardiovascular system at a preinjury level and maintaining range of motion, strength, coordination, and muscle endurance of the uninjured limbs and joints.

What are the stages of Sports Physiotherapy?

The body’s initial symptoms are the inflammations. As you get to see this symptom after any sports injury, you know it’s the time you go see a sports rehabilitation therapist.

Initial Stage of Physiotherapy

The aim during the initial phase of the sports physiotherapy is to limit the tissue damage. As it turns out, it relieves pain, controls the inflammatory response to injury, and protects the affected anatomical area. 

Control pain and swelling

During this phase, the sports rehabilitation therapist focuses on Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Further, they often advise isometric exercises for strengthening. The exercise helps when a range of motion is restricted due to the fracture or acute inflammation of a joint. 

Intermediate Stage of Physiotherapy 

In this phase, a sports rehabilitation therapist applies a proper amount of restorative stress to help repair the damaged tissue with similar issues.

Joint ROM and Muscle Conditioning

Possible exercise forms during this phase include strengthening of the uninjured extremities and areas proximal and distal to the injury, aerobic and anaerobic exercises. A sports rehabilitation therapist will make you do this regime to improve strength and neuromuscular control of the involved areas

Advanced Stage of Physiotherapy

After the collagen fibers are down, the body regains the new tissue, allowing the athlete to gradually return to full activity. During this phase, a sports therapist will communicate on the particular essential sports strategies to identify and correct risk factors, thus reducing the possibility of re-injury. 

Monitoring

During this phase, the sports therapists monitor load balancing that can aid in determining whether an athlete is adapting to a training program. Objective (performance, physiological, biochemical) and subjective measures (mood disturbance, perceived stress, and recovery and symptoms of stress) are all options for athlete monitoring.

Conclusion

If you or someone you know is an athlete who needs sports injury treatment, consider working with an expert sports physiotherapist. In fact, you don’t have to wait until you are injured, because a physiotherapist can help an individual improve athletic performance and minimize injury. Get in touch for details.

Understanding the recovery process in a concussion rehabilitation program

The typical situation is somewhat like this—you are playing your favorite sports with such passion, but all of a sudden you tripped over some foot and in no moment, you find your head shed with blood after being hit on the ground. Or maybe you had a car accident that resulted in a head injury. These are some of the generalized traumatic events that got you a head injury leading to a concussion. To get back on feet on time, you need to understand concussion rehabilitation process transparently.

What are the signs of a Concussion?

One of the most common symptoms is a consistent headache. In most of the cases, these are the athletics who get affected, but then it can happen to anyone.

Here are some of the symptoms that help you decide if you need concussion treatment or not. 

  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Double or blurry vision
  • Balance/coordination issues
  • Concentration issues
  • Change in sleeping schedules
  • Behavior or personality changes

What are the reasons for a concussion?

Most of the time, it’s Motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports injuries that are causes of the concussion syndrome. Apart from professionals, some children who fall prey to a concussion, are the growing teenagers that are at higher risk because of their developing brains. 

The high school athlete has a greater risk than the college athlete does. The college athlete a greater risk than the professional athlete does.

What are the types of concussions?

The various types of post concussions syndromes are characterized as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3). The severity is based on the various other factors— loss of consciousness, amnesia, and loss of equilibrium.

For Grade 1 people, symptoms last for less than 15 minutes, but there is no loss in consciousness.

For grade2 people, the situation is quite the same. However, the symptoms last for more than 15 minutes.

Grade 3 people, sometimes, for a sec or two, lose consciousness.

When do concussion symptoms appear?

The timings are variable. Sometimes, you would feel that you need concussion treatment just after the event. For cases as such, the symptoms appear after the blow. Whereas, in other cases, it may take time to figure out the symptoms. 

How is a concussion diagnosed?

During the concussion rehabilitation program, the experts will check on the physical signs, thinking, capability, and mood symptoms and try to determine if the head trauma is a concussion. Other reasons include skull fracture, or something else. We will have verbal, written, or computerized tests or checklists to determine memory. Some of the other factor that confirms the need for concussion treatment is the ability to pay attention and concentrate, and problem-solving ability in a considerable time.

How is a concussion treated?

Few of the important pointers that are essential for the concussion treatment regime:

  • You need to get plenty of sleep at night and rest at days
  • Eat well-balanced meals. 
  • Avoid strenuous physical or mental tasks.
  • Take only those drugs approved by an expert
  • Avoid strenuous activities such as heavy cleaning, exercising, working on the computer, or playing video games.

What is the take for a head injury during a game or sport?

In special cases as such, the athlete with post-concussion syndromes should refrain playing unless the symptom goes away. In order to achieve recovery, during the concussion rehabilitation regime, the athlete might need to wait for 1 to 2 weeks or longer to get back to pact in the sports.

How can I prevent concussions?

Here is some of the point that helps reduce the risk:

  • Be sure to wear seatbelts in the car and buckle children in safety seats.
  • Prevent falls on stairs by putting up handrails.
  • Wear a helmet during sports ventures such as biking, riding a motorcycle, skating, skiing, horseback riding, or playing contact sports.

Conclusions

The only way to avoid post-concussion syndrome is to take prevention in the first place. But then, there are times when it happens when it’s meant to happen. We are at your services in such situations to help you get back on feet and run the road again. If you are some who need concussion treatment for a better recovery. Get in touch with us. 

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence can be termed as an unintentional loss of bladder control and general bladder weakness.  

Types of Urinary Incontinence 

Functional Incontinence — those immobile who are not originally incontinent fail to get to the toilet in time and are placed in absorbent products and therefore are considered incontinent. 

Stress Incontinence — happens when the urethra cannot handle the increased bladder pressure while exercise, coughing or sneezing. 

Urge Incontinence — can be caused by an unexpected, reflex bladder contraction. It is the incompetence to delay urinating long enough to get to a toilet when you get the feeling. 

OAB Incontinence — is the medical term signifying a group of symptoms resulting from involuntary bladder spasm that includes frequency of urination particularly at night and urgency with or without unintentional leakage. 

Overflow Incontinence — occurs when the bladder becomes overly full and overpowers urethral resistance because it can’t be wholly emptied. And also, when there is a frequent leakage of urine without the urge to urinate. 

Total Incontinence — results from the total absence of urinary control which may lead to continuous leakage or periodic uncontrolled emptying of the bladder. 

What is Stress Incontinence (SI)? 

Stress Incontinence is the most common kind of urinary incontinence that occurs during an activity, such as coughing or sneezing. Such an activity causes a small amount of urine to leak from the urethra, which is the tube urine passes through.  

It happens to largely affect women, especially, older ones. Additionally, women who have given birth are more likely to have stress incontinence. This particular condition can have a dramatic impact on one’s life! Did you know there are over 

3.3 million Canadians experiencing at least one of the different types of urinary incontinence? 

What Causes Stress Incontinence? 

Stress incontinence marks movements and activities such as coughing, sneezing, and lifting, or others that put greater abdominal pressure on the bladder. Hence, the leakage of urine. 

Numerous things can account to stress incontinence. For instance, it can result from weak muscles in the pelvic floor or a weak sphincter muscle at the neck of the bladder. A problem with the way the sphincter muscle opens and closes can also result in stress incontinence.  

Chronic coughing, smoking, and obesity may also lead to SI. In fact, any physical changes to the body of a woman can lead to the ailment. Factors that can cause these changes include: 

  • Pregnancy and childbirth, 
  • Menstruation,
  • Menopause, 
  • Pelvic surgery, 
  • Problems with muscles in the bladder, and the urethra, and
  • Weakened muscles around the bladder. 

When suffering from this ailment, the muscles in the pelvis can weaken. This can cause the bladder to drop down into a position that prevents the urethra from closing completely. And, this results in a leakage of urine. 

What Are the Symptoms of Stress Incontinence? 

The main symptom of stress incontinence is a leakage of urine at times of physical movement or activity. For example, 

  • Coughing, 
  • Sneezing, 
  • Laughing, 
  • Standing up, 
  • Exiting a car, 
  • Lifting something heavy, 
  • Exercising, and
  • Sexual intercourse. 

The leakage may be as little as a drop or two, or probably “squirt,” or even a stream of urine. 

How Is Stress Incontinence Treated? 

Self-help techniques and aids can be used to treat mild stress incontinence. In addition, there are a number of treatments available for stress incontinence: 

Pelvic Floor or Kegel Exercises: Kegel exercises or pelvic floor exercises, are a part of your physiotherapy. These assist to strengthen the muscles that support the bladder, uterus, and bowels. A physical therapist can help you learn how to do them correctly. Just like any other exercise routine, how well Kegel exercises work for you depends on whether you perform them regularly. By doing so, you can reduce or even prevent leakage problems.  

While doing these exercises, avoid moving your leg, buttock, or abdominal muscles. These exercises should be done every day, five sets a day. Each time you contract the muscles of the pelvic floor, hold for a slow count of five and then relax. Repeat this 10 times for one set of Kegels. 

Manual Techniques: Your physical therapist will perform pressure, massage and stretch techniques on the surface of the muscles in the pelvis, in order to help you contract your muscles more efficiently. 

Biofeedback: A probe is placed in the vagina (for women). This probe is able to read the activity of your pelvic floor muscles for display on a screen. It will help you with your training for it allows you to see how well you are performing your exercises. 

Electrical Stimulation: As mentioned above, a probe is placed in the vagina or in the anus. Thereafter, an electric current is applied to the muscles to help you feel them and to give you the sensation of a pelvic floor contraction. This will help you to perform the exercises more easily. 

Bladder training: It involves teaching people to resist the urge to urinate and to gradually expand the interval between urinating. 

Weight loss: Stress incontinence has been linked to obesity. So, regulating what you consume is a must. 

Timed Voiding: Record the times that you urinate and when you leak urine. This will give you an idea of your leakage ‘patterns.’ Moreover, now, you can avoid leaking in the future by going to the bathroom at those times. 

Medical Devices: Your doctor can insert a device called a pessary into your vagina to stop stress incontinence. A pessary is a ring that, when inserted, applies pressure on the urethra so as to keep it in its normal location. Doing so can decrease urine leakage. Possible side effects from using a pessary include vaginal discharge and infections. 

Injections: Bulking agents are substances that are injected into the lining of the urethra. They increase the size of the urethra lining. Increasing the size creates resistance against the flow of urine. Collagen is one bulking agent that is commonly used. If successful, periodic injections may be needed. 

Surgery: A surgery is performed when other methods for treating stress incontinence fail to deliver.  Now, surgeries are minimally invasive and are performed on an outpatient basis in most cases.  

Conclusion 

If you suffer from this condition, you may want to see the physiotherapist once or twice for advice followed by a comprehensive treatment plan customized for you. 

To do so, reach out to us at RBH Health Physiotherapy and Rehab Centre.

Breast Cancer Rehab

Breast Cancer Rehabilitation

Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast develop out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer. Each kind depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. It can begin in different parts of the breast. A breast comprises of three main parts: lobules, ducts, and connective tissue.  

Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules. It can spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. Such a process is known as metastasis.  

Symptoms of Breast Cancer 

The symptoms vary from person to person. Some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all. Some warning signs of breast cancer are as follows: 

  • New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit). 
  • Thickening or swelling of part of the breast. 
  • Irritation or dimpling of breast skin. 
  • Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast. 
  • Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area. 
  • Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood. 
  • Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
  • Pain in any area of the breast. 

Remember that these symptoms can occur with other conditions apart from cancer too. If you have any signs or symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away. 

What Causes Breast Cancer? 

Post-puberty, a woman’s breast contains fat, connective tissue, and thousands of lobules, tiny glands that produce milk for breast-feeding. Tiny tubes, or ducts, transport the milk towards the nipple. 

In cancer, the body’s cells multiply uncontrollably. It is excessive cell growth that causes cancer. Breast cancer is said to begin in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk. From there, it may spread to other parts of the body. 

Diagnosing Breast Cancer 

Doctors use medical examinations to diagnose breast cancer. They may refer women to a breast specialist or a surgeon. These doctors are experts in diagnosing breast problems. 

Breast Ultrasound: A machine that uses sound waves to make detailed pictures, called sonograms, of areas inside the breast. 

Mammogram: If you have a problem in your breast, such as lumps, or if an area of the breast looks abnormal on a screening mammogram, doctors may have you get a diagnostic mammogram. This is a more detailed X-ray of the breast. 

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A kind of body scan that uses a magnet linked to a computer. The MRI scan will make detailed pictures of areas inside the breast. 

Biopsy: This is a test that removes tissue or fluid from the breast. This, thereafter, is examined under a microscope for further testing.  

Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Treatment 

There exist a variety of breast cancer treatments. It depends on the kind of breast cancer and to what degree it has spread. People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment. 

While you’re being treated for breast cancer, you may not possess the energy you once did. Swelling occurs right after breast cancer surgery and is common. If the swelling persists, you may have a condition called lymphedema. 

Pre-Habilitation: Even before surgery, physical therapy can help. Pre-habilitation is defined as the time of care that occurs between the time of diagnosis and actual cancer treatment. It usually involves identifying any impairments that may affect recovery such as muscle weakness, postural dysfunction, and pain. Educating in lymphedema and risk reduction also accounts to it. Establish an exercise program prior to and after surgery. 

If you have any physical problems that persist after surgery or during treatment, approach a physiotherapist or rehabilitation professional. Together, you and your therapist can design an appropriate treatment plan. Your plan may include: 

Stretching and Flexibility Exercises: Your therapist can help you learn exercises that gently stretch the arms and improve your pain-free scope of motion. He or she can teach you exercises to do at home and advise you on how often to do them. 

Manual therapy: Your therapist also may moderately massage your arm. Using manual therapy, your therapist would gently pull the tissue on your outstretched arm, starting in the upper arm and moving down into the forearm.  

Functional Training: Your physical therapist shall design a treatment plan that enables you to get back to your routine life.  

Postural Training: Physical therapy will address the postural changes after surgery with postural specific exercises and ergonomic assessments. 

Conclusion 

If you suffer from breast cancer and wish to resume your daily routine, reach out to us at RBH Health Physiotherapy and Rehab Centre. 

 

Flat-Foot-orthopedic

Flat Foot

Flat foot, flat feet, or pes planus is a postural defect relating to the collapse or flattening of the medial longitudinal arch. The condition is most often inherited but can occur in adulthood too. Although there are varying degrees of the collapse, people are still able to live absolutely pain-free with flat feet.

Types of Flat Foot.

Flexible Flat FootThe most common type, flexible flat foot involves the arches in your feet to appear only while you lift them off the ground. And, your soles touch the ground entirely when you place your feet on the ground.
This type begins in childhood and is usually painless.
Short Achilles Tendon
Your Achilles tendon links your heel bone to your calf muscle. If it’s extremely short, you might experience pain while you walk or run. This condition causes the heel to lift prematurely during the above-mentioned activities.
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
This type is attained in adulthood when the tendon that connects your calf muscle to the inside of your ankle is injured, swollen, or torn. If your arch is void of the support it needs, you’ll have pain on the inside of your foot, and on the exterior of the ankle.

What Causes Flat Foot?

This condition can be congenital (e.g. from birth) or acquired (e.g. adults, increased exposure to weight-bearing).
Congenital Flat Feet: They occur when someone is born with or susceptible to a more flexible midfoot region resulting in pronation or collapsing of the arch.
Acquired Flat Feet: These are caused by a loss of active (e.g. intrinsic foot and ankle stabilizers) or passive support (ligamentous negligence, hypermobile joints) during vigorous weight-bearing activities. Muscular insufficiency in the ankle and arch stabilizers are the most common factor for flat feet.

Who Is at Risk?

You’re more likely to ail from it if the condition runs in your family. Or if you’re greatly athletic and physically active, your risk increases due to any future foot and ankle injuries. Older people who are prone to falls or physical injury are also at risk.
Others with diseases that affect the muscles, like cerebral palsy, also have a bigger risk. Many other risk factors include obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

Recognizing Symptoms.

Most people have no signs or symptoms associated with flat feet. But some people with flatfeet experience the following:
• Foot pain, particularly in the heel or arch area.
• Pain may get worse with activity.
• Swelling along the inside of the ankle can also occur.

Flat Feet Treatment.
If your flat feet are painful, your doctor might suggest:
Arch Supports: Over-the-counter arch supports may help relieve the pain caused by flat feet. Or maybe custom-designed arch supports, shaped to the outlines of your feet. Arch supports often reduce symptoms.
Stretching Exercises: Some people with flat feet also have a reduced Achilles tendon. Exercises to stretch this tendon may help.
Physical Therapy: Flat feet may contribute to overuse injuries in some runners. A physical therapist can do a video analysis of how you run to help you improve your form and technique.
Lifestyle Changes: Reducing pain from flat feet may require integrating some changes in your daily routine. For example, introducing yourself to a prescribed diet and exercise program for weight loss to reduce the pressure on your feet. You may also be advised to not stand or walk for elongated periods.

Medication: In order to minimize the discomfort from the troubling symptoms, your doctor might prescribe you medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can relieve swelling and pain.
Foot Surgery: Surgery may be the last resort in many cases and is usually results in a positive outcome. Your orthopedic surgeon may create an arch in your feet, repair tendons, or fuse your bones or joints. If your Achilles tendon is too short, the surgeon can lengthen it to decrease your pain.
Preventing Flat Feet.
Flat feet are usually inherited and can’t be prevented. But, you can prevent the worsening excessive pain by taking precautions such as wearing shoes that fit well and provide the necessary foot support.

Blocked Milk Ducts

Blocked Milk Ducts

The breasts consist of a series of ducts that transport milk from the mammary glands to the nipples while a woman breastfeeds. Blocked milk ducts is a medical condition that can be experienced by such mothers. This condition can cause intense pain, swelling, and itchiness.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a blocked milk duct include:
• Pain in a specific location in the breast,
• A swollen, tender lump in the breast,
• Heat and swelling in the breasts,
• Slower milk flow on one side, and
• Small white dot on the nipple known as a milk bleb.

Occasionally, a blocked duct can result in a low fever. As a fever can also occur due to a breast infection known as lactation mastitis, people who experience fever alongside breast pain should see a doctor.

Causes

Blocked milk ducts are quite common in women who nurse their infants, have recently given birth, and chose not to nurse, or have recently stopped nursing. They are more likely to happen to a breastfeeding woman who does not systematically drain the breast. Because this can allow milk to collect and block the duct.

Women experiencing other breastfeeding issues, such as excessive milk supply, a baby with a weak latch, or pain that obstructs recurrent nursing, are more exposed to this condition.

However, anyone who is breastfeeding can experience a blocked duct. Some risk factors include:

• Recent modification in feeding pattern,
• A poor latch by the baby,
• Not fully emptying the breasts during each nursing session,
• An irregular breastfeeding schedule,
• Short or skipped breastfeeding sessions, and
• Pressure on the breasts due to an uncomfortable nursing position, tightfitting clothes, or a bra with underwire.

Management of Blocked Ducts

• Feed more from the affected side first.
• Softly, stroke your breast towards the nipple during the feed. This may assist the let-down reflex.
• For comfort and to reduce swelling from surplus fluid, apply a cold cloth, or cool gel pack.
• Express after feeding.
• If you have a milk bleb, clean the nipple with a warm moist cloth. Thereafter, rub or scratch off the spot with a sterile needle to allow the duct to open and the milk to flow again.
• Use paracetamol or anti-inflammatory tablets according to directions until the lump clears.
• If the lump has not cleared after the next breastfeed, therapeutic ultrasound treatment (by a physiotherapist) of the affected breast may help clear blocked ducts.
• It is important the breast is well drained within 20 minutes of having the ultrasound treatment. This may be either by breastfeeding or expressing the breast.
• Pursue professional help if a blocked duct hasn’t cleared within 24 hours.

Prevention

• Guarantee correct positioning and attachment.
• Frequent drainage of the breast.
• Adjust your position during breastfeeds. Include underarm position, cradle position or lying on your side.
• Check for a white ‘spot’ on the nipple as this may be blocking the milk duct.

Avoid

• Abrupt elongated gaps between nursing sessions and expressing for your baby.
• Body-hugging or restrictive clothing such as a bra.
• Applying pressure on one area of the breast too tightly, especially close to the nipple.

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