Running Injury Treatment in Brooklyn

If you are looking someone that specializes in the treatment of running injuries, we can help.  Our doctors of physical therapy and expert staff not only treat people with running related injuries, we are avid runners, triathletes, and competitors.  We know what you are going through…that’s what makes us the logical choice for running injury treatment in Brooklyn.

Running is Your Passion – You’re Part of a Special Group We Can Relate To

Running has grown to become one of the most popular forms of exercise in the country, as more than 40 million Americans claim that they run on a regular basis. If you count yourself as one of the many runners out there, then you’re clearly on to something. As runners are well aware, regular running has been associated with a host of health-related benefits, which include reduced blood pressure, a lower risk for heart disease, better sleeping habits and brain performance, and an improved mood with less stress and anxiety. However, sometimes these health benefits come at a painful price.

Running Injuries are Common

There is only one small problem: running lots of miles frequently puts a great deal of stress on the legs and feet.  As a result, runners are at a fairly high risk for getting injured, especially those that run extreme distances like marathoners and long-distance runners.

running specialist Brooklyn
Approximately 25% of all runners are dealing with some type of injury at any given point in time.  Most running-related injuries affect the knees, ankles or feet, and they can either result from a single incident or develop over the course of time. Some of the most common running injuries include shin splints, runner’s knee, Achilles tendinitis, patellar tendinitis, ankle sprains, jumper’s knee and patellar instability. The symptoms of each of these conditions are different, but they all prevent runners from doing what they love in a similar way.

We are the Running Specialists in Brooklyn

There are several ways to hasten the recovery process after an injury and help runners return to their routine as quickly as possible, but the best way to accomplish this is with physical therapy. Our running specialists in one of our four Brooklyn offices have worked with a number of locals…both amateurs and elite athletes.  In fact, the owner of Park Sports Physical Therapy was a competitive triathlete himself.  Each running rehab program will be different based on the type and seriousness of the injury, but your first visit with us will consist of the following:

  • A thorough past medical history
  • A review of your current complaints
  • A complete physical exam
  • A dynamic biomechanical analysis of your gait
  • Footwear evaluation and review
  • Custom treatment program
  • A plan to get you back on the road

So if you’re currently dealing with any type of running-related injury or are concerned with your risk for experiencing an injury in the future, we strongly recommend that you schedule some time with one of our doctors of physical therapy as soon as possible.  Doing so will get you back to your running routine and help keep your injury risk at a minimal moving forward.

Visit our Contact page to schedule an appointment at one of our four convenient locations.

 

 

Post Surgical Rehabilitation in Brooklyn

If you just had an operation for a muscle or joint problem, then you need want to experienced clinicians that provide some of the best post surgical rehabilitation in Brooklyn.

A Park Sports Physical Therapy treatment program will help shorten the road to recovery after surgery.

After an injury occurs, the first thing most people think about is recovering as quickly as possible and getting back to doing what they love.  For most injuries, physical therapy is considered the best possible option to help accomplish this goal.  Physical therapists are experts at diagnosing injuries and creating treatment programs that are personalized for each patient based on their particular condition.  The treatments they provide are also supported by countless research studies that continue to come out.

Sometimes You Need a Surgeon…then Great Post Operative Rehabilitation in Brooklyn

Not all injuries can be treated with physical therapy alone.  In some cases, a person’s injury might be too severe, or they may have already tried physical therapy and it failed to bring about any major improvements.  In these cases, surgery may be recommended as the next option.

Patients with severe osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, chronic low back pain, tears of the meniscus, ACL or Achilles tendon and many other injuries may consider surgery if their condition doesn’t improve trying after physical therapy.  These patients should carefully weigh the benefits and risks of surgery, since there is no guarantee that it will lead to a successful outcome.  If the patient decides to go through with surgery, it’s also important to realize that it may take some time to completely recover.

Once again, this is where our physical therapists can help.  One of the best possible ways to ensure a positive outcome and shorten the road to recovery is by participating in a physical therapy program after undergoing surgery.  Depending on the surgical procedure, physical therapy can begin right away or soon afterwards, and it will focus on bringing the patient back to full strength as quickly as possible.  Treatment usually includes a variety of modalities including:

  • Neuromuscular reeducation,
  • Post-tetanic stretching,
  • Hands-on mobilization,
  • Progressive strengthening exercises,
  • Functional training with a walking device if one is being used, and
  • Education on how to return to activities with a minimal risk for future injuries.

The benefits of having post-surgical physical therapy can be seen in the results of this recent study:

The study showed that patients who received both outpatient physical therapy and a home-exercise program improved in range of motion, the 6-minute walking test, and health-related quality of life. Patients who received outpatient physical therapy also had significantly fewer days from the date of surgery to physical therapy discharge.
Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27851675

Nobody wants to have surgery, but it may be necessary if your injury or condition is too severe.  If you find yourself in this predicament, the best way to ensure a fast and successful recovery is to follow a physical therapy program that’s created specifically for you.

We have four physical therapy clinics here in Brooklyn.  Click here for contact information.

Scoliosis Treatment in Brooklyn

The clinicians at Park Sports Physical Therapy are experts in scoliosis treatment in Brooklyn.  Below is some information on scoliosis and how we can help.

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis  is a condition where patients present with a sideways curvature of the or backbone or spinal column.. These curves can be C-shaped, or more commonly, are S-shaped or C-shaped. Most patient develop idiopathic scoliosis, which means there is no known cause of this diagnosis.

How is Scoliosis Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of scoliosis is the result of a healthcare practitioner performing special tests, a physical exam, taking a thorough health history, and an x-ray of the spine. If the x-ray reveals a sideways curvature of 25 degrees or more and is consistent with the health history, exam, and special tests, the diagnosis is made. X-rays also provide additional value in that they help determine the direction, location, and shape of the sideways curvature.

Who Gets Scoliosis and What is the Cause?

As mentioned above, the cause of scoliosis, in most cases, is unknown. There are two ways that healthcare experts define scoliosis:

  1. Structural – structural scoliosis is a situation where the bones of the spine become twisted and have formed a lateral curve and it is fixed or unchanged. Injuries, birth defects, infections, or diseases can cause this.
  2. Nonstructural – this is a type of curve that is temporary. Identifying the underlying cause and treating us often effective

Scoliosis with an unknown cause typically shows up in kids during the age of 10-12 but people of all ages may develop scoliosis.  Here are some patterns that are common with scoliosis:

  • Girls develop scoliosis more than boys
  • Scoliosis runs in families
  • It is rarely painful

Physical Therapist Directed Scoliosis Treatment in Brooklyn – It’s Our Specialty

Clinical research has demonstrated that exercise therapy can improve a scoliosis patient’s strength, endurance, and lung function. There is controversy as to whether exercise can slow or even reverse scoliosis. There is some evidence that a specific exercise approach as outlined here in this case study. https://scoliosisjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1748-7161-8-S2-O10. As such, several of our physical therapists have been trained in the Schroth Method here in Brooklyn.

The Schroth Method is defined as follows (reference: https://www.schrothmethod.com/about-schroth-method):

Schroth Exercises are customized exercises for the patient’s scoliosis deformity.

The method teaches patients how to:

  • Correct spinal rotation and increase lung capacity with a rotational breathing technique.
  • Help restore normal spinal position with pelvic corrections, breathing technique, and stabilizing isometric contractions.
  • Improve posture during routine daily living, not just during therapy.

Try Physical Therapy/The Schroth Method Before Aggressive Treatments

Treatment for scoliosis is medical observation, bracing, and in severe cases, surgery. Before aggressive, invasive treatment, it makes sense to try a conservative, natural treatment approach.

For More Information, Give Us a Call

If you or a loved one has scoliosis, give us a call to learn more about our scoliosis treatment and the Schroth Method here in our Brooklyn offices.

You can contact us at one of our four locations for more information.

Garfield Place Clinic
325 Garfield Pl | Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 230-1180

Sixth Avenue Clinic
670 6th Ave | Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 369-2560

Clinton Hill Clinic
973 Fulton St | Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 622-0224

Union Street Clinic
808 Union St | Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 398-8800

Pediatric Physical Therapy in Fort Greene

Are you looking for pediatric physical therapy in Fort Greene? If so, please read below to learn more about our specialists and services.

Physical therapy for kids (pediatric PT), is a specialized service within the physical therapy profession. Just like some medical doctors specialize in pediatrics, some physical therapists (PTs) become pediatric PTs as well. Our pediatric physical therapists are licensed healthcare providers and work with kids to:
  • Achieve independence,
  • Facilitate learning opportunities,
  • Increase strength and endurance,
  • Increase participation in function, family life and social play,
  • Make caregiving for parents easier,
  • Improve motor development and function.

Our Pediatric Physical Therapy in Fort Greene is Appropriate for the Following

We specialize in the evaluation and treatment of:
  • Autism disorders
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Developmental Delays
  • Down syndrome
  • JRA (Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
  • MD (Muscular Dystrophy)
  • Neurologic and neuromuscular conditions
  • Orthopedic problems
  • Pulmonary disorders
  • Spina bifida
  • Torticollis

Treatments Offered

The pediatric physical therapists at Park Sports PT are specially trained to provide the following treatments:
  • Developmental activities
  • Movement and mobility
  • Strengthening
  • Motor learning
  • Balance and coordination
  • Recreation, play, and leisure
  • Adaptation of daily care activities and routines
  • Equipment design, fabrication, and fitting
  • Tone management
  • Use of assistive technology
  • Posture, positioning, and lifting
  • Orthotics and prosthetics
  • Cardiopulmonary endurance
  • Safety, health promotion, and prevention programs

What Happens During Your First Visit?

After you have scheduled an initial evaluation at the Fort Greene area office, you should arrive about 20 minutes before your scheduled time with the therapist.  We will have you fill out the appropriate paperwork.  (Note, we will verify and inform you of your insurance benefits beforehand). One of our pediatric therapists will perform a thorough evaluation of your child including:
  • Taking a past medical history,
  • Exploring current challenges your child is having,
  • Problems with daily activities, and
  • What you and your child hope to achieve with physical therapy treatment (i.e. goal setting).
  • The PT will then perform a detailed physical and functional evaluation to assess your child’s limitations.
  • Finally, she will go over a treatment plan with you (and communicate it to your child if they are capable of understanding it too).

Care for Your Child is Extremely Personal – We Encourage You to Contact Us Today

There’s nothing more important to a mother and father than the wellbeing of their child.  We understand it is a very sensitive issue and we are here to help.  Please contact us to learn more about our pediatric physical therapy in Fort Greene.

You Can Call Us at (718) 230-1180

   

Hamstring Injury

You are probably watching the World Cup 2014. Did you notice that there are several elite players injuring their hamstring muscle in a seemingly innocuous situation? In fact, hamstring injuries are very common. It is a tear in a fleshy muscle behind the thigh. Depending on severity of a tear, the injury classified from mild to severe using a grading system. The tear is caused by sudden acceleration in sports like running, soccer, tennis. It can also happen in a routine situation as in trying to catch your toddler, or running after a bus. There is a sudden, sharp pain behind your leg and the person cannot straighten his knee without pain.

I noticed in the early morning on my way to my office in Clinton Hill, groups and individual runners from Fort Greene and Prospect Heights are dashing toward Prospect Park dodging traffic on Atlantic Avenue and Grand Army Plaza. Sudden accelerations and stopping probably is not the most ideal way to start your work out.

There is no foolproof way to completely avoid hamstring injuries. However, the risks can be minimized by paying attention to the principles of muscle strength and flexibility. Individual flexibility should be maximized by a regular stretching program as well as a period of warm-up and stretching before the intended athletic activity. Park Sports Physical Therapists are experts in designing such a program. Our Clinton Hill location has space and equipment for assessment and rehabilitation of sports related injuries like a hamstring pull. Carefully designed individualized stretching routine will address imbalances that may lead to a hamstring pull. Optimal individual hamstring strength is at least half of the strength of the quadriceps muscle (muscle of the front of the thigh). Also, there should be minimal imbalance in strength between the right and left legs (the injured hamstrings should be about 90% as strong as the uninjured hamstrings). If necessary, a weight-training program should be instituted to optimally achieve these goals. In an evaluation of an injured athlete, particular attention is paid to the relative flexibility of opposing muscle groups, not just the hamstrings and quadriceps pair.

An additional aspect of recovery is proper nutrition. A well-balanced diet and appropriate fluid intake are essential to avoid electrolyte imbalance. It is even more important when exercising in a hot weather. Dehydration can lead to muscle cramping, thereby increasing the chance of muscle injury. Overweight people have a higher risk of muscle injuries in the lower extremities. Some experts have also advocated the use of nutritional supplements, such as antioxidants. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts at prevention and treatment, hamstring injuries will continue to be a common bane of the high-performance athlete as well as the “weekend warrior.”

Ankle Sprains

As a former competitive athlete, I sustained multiple ankle sprains. My personal experience and my knowledge acquired through my profession puts me in a good position to give an expert advice on ankle sprain. Ankle injuries has become one of the most common conditions we treat in our clinic. Several factors contributed to such an occurrence. One of them is an increase in sports activities and sports participation. Ankle sprains in general by far the most common sports related injury. In fact there are more than 30,000 ankle sprains in the US per day. Most of those sprains are mild GradeI type that will go away in 2-4 weeks. I am concerned about more severe sprains, approximately 25% of injured persons will go on to develop chronic ankle instability. Surgery may be appropriate in those cases. There are several risk factors for developing ankle sprains. Probably the biggest factor is a history of a previous sprain. In an ankle that has been already sprained the ligaments are less taut, resulting in the ankle feeling less stable. A typical mechanism of an injury is "rolling" on the outer surface of the foot and causing quick and sudden stretch to the lateral ligaments. Other risk groups are people with stiff ankles, athletes in contact sports. Women are 25% more likely to sprain their ankle than man. In more severe cases, Grade III sprains, the ligaments are completely torn. In some cases surgery is required. The person may have difficulties putting weight through their ankle, and in many instances this condition makes performing recreational activities impossible. It may lead to a development of premature arthritis, since the normal distribution of forces acting on the joint are disrupted, the articular cartilage wears out much faster. MRI examination is the most useful tool in determining the degree of ligament injury. For GradeI and GradeII sprains Physical Therapy is most helpful. The therapist cannot make your ligaments tighter, but he can teach you specific exercises to improve muscular support around the ankle joint, thus providing dynamic stability. Physical Therapy for all ankle sprains will focus on balance training and proprioceptive control, that is an awareness of your ankle joint position in space. Our goal is to decrease your chances of re-injury and return to your fun activities.