SERC Physical Therapy

Physical therapists are specifically trained to diagnose movement dysfunctions, which can lead to pain, decreased activity, or even disability. Still, there are many misconceptions about the causes of pain and how physical therapists can help you deal with them. Have you told yourself any of these 4 untruths? https://bit.ly/3o7eT2H

What is Neurological Rehabilitation? Neurological disorders affect millions of Americans. The nervous system is a complex system that controls all of the workings of your body. When you have a condition that affects the nervous system, symptoms can include difficulty with moving, balancing, talking, swallowing, and even breathing. In addition, neurological disorders can affect your memory and ability to learn. Common neurological disorders treated with physical therapy inclu...de: * Parkinson’s Disease * Multiple Sclerosis * Stroke * Spinal cord injuries * Traumatic brain injuries * Guillan-Barre Syndrome * Vestibular and Balance Disorders * Alzheimer’s Disease * Cerebral Palsy How can it help? A physical therapist will perform a comprehensive evaluation of function and discuss issues relating to maintaining your independence. Treatment will be tailored to your specific needs and can help to maintain and regain function that was lost due to an injury or disease process. Programming may include strengthening, manual therapy, balance and gait training, and assistive technologies to help you achieve your maximum functional potential.

Your body has just done one of the most remarkable things it will ever do: grow another human being. After 9 months of waiting, you are probably excited to finally be home with your new baby. Much of your focus and energy during the coming weeks and months will be on baby, but remember that you also need to take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself will ensure that you have the strength to take care of baby too!

We love to hear our patients’ success stories. How has your life improved through your experience with us? Are you moving better and feeling better? Do you have a therapist you want to applaud? Share your experience with us!

Meet Autumn: One of our patients with a remarkable story. Autumn had been paralyzed from the neck down as the result of contracting Guillain-Barre syndrome. Learn about her exceptional journey from wheelchair to wearing high heels, climbing stairs and walking across stage to receive her high school diploma. #UpliftedLives

Ready to run? Not so fast! Many of us have heard about the value of warming up before an activity, but what does that actually mean? Here are our top 5 warm up tips: * Warm-ups should mimic the activity you plan to perform: a jog before interval running, for instance.... * A general rule is to warm up at least 10 minutes before any activity that you perceive as somewhat hard or a heart rate of 130 or more beats per minute. A less-rigorous activity does not severely stress the body and almost is a warm-up itself. * The warm-up should be completed close enough to the actual event such that you do not return to a resting heart rate, but with enough time elapsed to allow some relaxation of the muscles. * A good warm-up should include dynamic stretching or stretches that include movement as opposed to static holds after heart rate has increased. The idea is to simulate movements that you will be performing within the activity but in a slow, graded and progressive way. For example, walking lunges can increase stride length and elongate body tissue to prevent strain while performing the activity. * Consider performing the activity in partial-practice at full speed once some priming has been completed. So if you are planning to race for 20 minutes, it would be ideal to run a few times at your intended speed for about 20 seconds each to get your body ready to perform at your desired level. See more

TIME IS RUNNING OUT ACT NOW TO STOP MEDICARE CUTS Congress must act immediately to stop drastic Medicare cuts from effect on January 1st. These regulations, proposed by unelected government regulators, would cut some Medicare services by up to 10% - limiting access to needed care for seniors during a health crisis. There is pending legislation in both the U.S. Senate (S. 5007) and U.S. House (H.R. 8702) that would stop these Medicare cuts.... Your help is needed - contact your Senator and Member of Congress today. Ask them to support and pass S. 5007 and H.R. 8702 before the adjourn for the year. Time is running out text APTA to 52886 or visit our take action page. It takes just a few minutes to protect seniors from these unnecessary Medicare cuts. Don’t wait take action right now! #FightTheCut https://bit.ly/34iYwsR

THIS is Telehealth - Provides an option for patients looking to take extra precautions during this time of time of change and uncertainty. - Allows patients to participate in their physical therapy treatment from the comfort of their own home. - Can be used to complement your in-clinic treatment plan.... - Quick access to care with no office wait. - Diagnosis, consultation, education and care management of their current condition. - Minimizes requirement to travel to a physical therapy clinic. - Telehealth PT also allows patients who live in a rural or far-away location to get quality care right at home. - Gives patients greater freedom to schedule appointments that meet their own specific schedules. Listen to one of our patients with a Telehealth success story: https://www.youtube.com/watch

Meet Eli: One of our patients who is a living example of determination, perseverance and courage. Read about his recovery from a traumatic brain injury and becoming "Stronger Every Day." Be inspired. Be UPLIFTED. #MotivationMonday

Our associates make physical therapy fun with the #ChaChaSlideChallenge!

We are grateful for our associates that strive to make a difference in their communities. Each week we will be featuring some of the ways that we are giving back in our #SaturdayStories. Harvesters - The Community Food Network and local Kansas City affiliate of Feeding America, provides food and related household products to more than 760 nonprofit agencies including emergency food pantries, community kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s homes and others. They also offer ...education programs to increase community awareness of hunger and teach about good nutrition. Through Harvesters Stamp Out Hunger campaign, our associate Ms. DeeDee Naumann and her daughter, provided 50 volunteer hours preparing 7000 plastic grocery bags and envelopes to aid in a food drive for Harvesters. To support her volunteer efforts Pillars sent relief to Harvesters in the form of a grant in the amount of $2,500 to help stamp out hunger, which falls in line with our overall efforts this year to fight for food security for families and neighbors in our communities. #PillarsDailyBread

Every year, December brings us holidays and wintry weather and every year in our clinics we encounter patients who have fallen while walking on the snow and ice. The incidence of falls often is higher in the elderly. Statistics show that about one-third of the elderly population over the age of 65 fall each year. To prevent slips and falls this winter: 1) Take your time to get to your destination 2) Wear footwear with rubber soles to help provide better traction... 3) Take small steps to maintain your center of balance 4) Avoid carrying heavy bags, especially on steps. Having both hands free helps to maintain balance 5) Hold onto the car for support when getting in or out See more

Our Top 8 Reasons to use Telehealth Physical Therapy: 1. Provides an option for patients looking to take extra precautions during this time of time of change and uncertainty. 2. Allows patients to participate in their physical therapy treatment from the comfort of ... their own home. 3. Can be used to complement your in-clinic treatment plan. 4. Quick access to care with no office wait. 5. Diagnosis, consultation, education and care management of their current condition. 6. Minimizes requirement to travel to a physical therapy clinic. 7. Telehealth PT also allows patients who live in a rural or far-away location to get quality care right at home. 8. Gives patients greater freedom to schedule appointments that meet their own specific schedules. #FeatureFriday #Telehealth See more

Our clinics are CLEAN. Our highly trained staff practices industry-exceeding techniques to ensure our facilities, linens and equipment are disinfected and handled properly each day. We follow all CDC guidelines for hand-hygiene, provide thorough sanitation between patient sessions and ensure access to hand sanitizer stations for all. Each clinic will always continue to adhere to additional safety measures and procedures as required by individual state guidelines. To read more about our the steps we are taking and our FAQ for protocols in place, please visit: https://serc.urpt.com/coronavirus-update-clean-safe-ready/

An estimated 23 percent of American adults suffer from arthritis, making it a leading cause of work pain and disability. But there is good news! You can take action to treat this disease and get back to doing the activities you love in your daily life. Though it seems counterintuitive, studies have shown that one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis is exercise. Read on for some evidence-based reasons why exercise is so important: https://serc.urpt.com//benefits-of-exercise-for-osteoarth/

Is prehab right for you? When considering orthopedic surgery, prehabilitation, or prehab, prior to joint replacement prepares the body for extensive surgery and can assist in decreasing recovery times. In fact, with 4 weeks of prehab, postoperative functional exercise capacity increases significantly and individuals with better physical fitness prior to surgery have been shown to have better postoperative outcomes.

Invest in yourself - not only during your physical therapy visit, but at home. One of the biggest components of success in physical therapy is the home exercise program, or HEP. One could say the HEP is up to fifty percent of the reason you will achieve better outcomes; considering the average physical therapy visit ranges from 45-60 minutes, which may not be enough time to make the drastic change you need. The home exercise program will most likely be prescribed on the firs...t day and be geared toward your goals and the treatment that made you feel and/or move better. For example, if the radiating symptoms from your low back lessened after treatment on your back, your therapist will send you home with an activity to reinforce that movement on day one. Make sure your therapist teaches you the exercise and provides instructions on a take-home piece of paper that also includes frequency, duration, and number of sets and reps so you know what is expected of you. Staying motivated and adhering to your HEP can be difficult, but it likely will speed your pain relief or return to function. #MotivationMonday

Tell congress that you oppose Medicare cuts to speciality providers. We believe everyone deserves access to physical therapy! Click here to #FightTheCut www.urpt.com/FightTheCut

This year, Upstream’s Pillars with Purpose is fighting for food security across the nation and has hosted a fund and food drive. Some of the numbers are already in: 8,351 pounds of food and 18K in donations...and we aren't done yet. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we gather data to report the final numbers. While the food drive may have ended, you can still join the fight with a monetary donation, visit https://pillarswithpurpose.org/fight-for-food-security/. #PillarsDailyBread

Outpatient therapy can play a vital role in helping the adult population continue to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. By providing services such as orthopedic rehabilitation, wellness programs, pre-habilitation, fall prevention, and pelvic health services, our trained clinicians can help improve independence, strength/conditioning, balance, and overall general well-being. Proposed Medicare cuts could limit your access to these very programs and services that keep you active and healthy. Help us #FightTheCut by visiting urpt.com/FightTheCut

Happening now! We continue to fight for food security in our communities! This 5k was to benefit the Earl Besch Fund, which gives food to families in a local school district. So proud of these kids for running hard, understanding why awareness of the issue is important and for the teachers and district for supporting this great effort! #PillarsDailyBread

It’s a wrap! There is nothing more fitting than closing out #PTMonth with those that make a difference every single day: Our physical therapists. All are committed to helping our patients achieve their physical goals and improve the quality of their lives. Thank you!

Adhesive capsulitis, commonly referred to as frozen shoulder, occurs when the joint capsule and soft tissues surrounding the shoulder become inflamed, swollen, and contracted. This causes bands of scar tissue to restrict joint mobility, which leads to stiffness, a limited range, and gradual loss of overall motion in the shoulder joint. This loss of motion can ultimately lead to loss of function for the entire upper extremity, especially with reaching and overhead activities. If you are suffering from frozen shoulder, physical therapy can help! #PTHumor #PTMonth