Posted February 27, 2022 | Elite PT News
Is the source of your low back pain a mystery? You’re not alone: Nine out of 10 patients don't know the primary cause of their back pain. The problem is that most people seek treatment after they’ve begun exhibiting symptoms of back pain. While this may seem logical on the surface, we’re here to tell you that there’s a better way.
The key is to go to a physical therapist before you begin to see the signs and symptoms of back pain. I’m sure that right about now you’re asking, “Why would I do that?” One, because physical therapists are trained to recognize the physical dysfunctions that may one day lead to back pain. And two, because eight out of 10 Americans suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives, so the chances are good that you could become a statistic one day.
You might be thinking to yourself, “now I know I should see a physical therapist before I am in pain, but what if I am in pain RIGHT NOW?” You are in luck! Our team at Elite Spine & Extremity Physical Therapy consists of all Doctorate trained Physical Therapists who are well versed in assessing your low back and/or sciatic pain, determining the root cause of your problem, and helping you determine the best route of care for you. If this interests you, contact us now!
If you are still curious how we may be able to help you, our philosophy of patient centered care, or our process and treatment styles, please click on the hyperlinks.
Click here for more information on how annual check ups can help deter common recurrent orthopedic problems like low back pain!
More information below on how annual checkups can help deter common recurrent orthopedic problems like low back pain!
Posted March 16, 2020 | Elite PT News
Like most other businesses, organizations, and government agencies, our management team at Elite Spine & Extremity Physical Therapy has been diligently monitoring the developing situation regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Posted September 16, 2019 | Elite PT News
The role of "patient-specific" exercises in managing LBP is controversial. Some people believe that any exercise is good for low back pain, while others believe that the direction and type of exercise prescribed can make a difference in recovery time and pain modification.
While general exercise is not bad at all for most conditions, there may be situations where being more specific may be a good thing.
So why should you care about specific exercise?
Posted July 29, 2019 | Elite PT News
Think about the last time you made a big purchase, say $1,000 or more. Did you go out and buy the first thing you saw? Take one recommendation from somebody? Or did you research it, learn some things, compare it to other options, and select something that was right for you? Most people tend to be educated and research large purchases like cars, televisions, or the newest iphone. So why do we so often fail to do this with healthcare? By becoming more educated healthcare consumers we can go from passive patients who take the first recommendation that comes from a practitioner to an active consumer who weighs options and makes choices. Here are some questions to talk through with your practitioner the next time a healthcare decision comes up.
Posted July 22, 2019 | Elite PT News
Most people spend a lot of time researching and weighing options for a large purchase or a decision like changing a job. When it comes to healthcare, however most people don't do much research or consider options at all. A 2010 Gallup poll showed that 70% of people feel confident in their doctor's advice and don't feel the need to do their own research or get a second opinion.
Posted June 19, 2019 | Elite PT News
VBC means a reorganization of systems around the needs of the patient, necessitating shifts in perspective and culture. Switching medical provision to teams and units that integrate the full cycle of care together is another key element. The integrated practice units (IPUs) are a group of wards that care for patients with similar clinical needs.
A switch to patient-focus drives benefits that patients can see. Sixty-seven percent of Leaders said patients were more satisfied with their care in the past year, versus 39% of Followers; 70% of Leaders said patients reported a better quality of life than a year ago, compared to 46% of Followers.
Posted June 14, 2019 | Elite PT News
Recent research is showing that surgery might not be needed as often as we think. A large review estimates that 10% to 20% of surgeries might be unnecessary. The reasons for so many unneeded surgeries being performed are varied, but the most common are that more conservative options aren't tried first, or lack of knowledge by the patient and health care team.
For musculoskeletal problems like back and joint pain, sprains, and strains, seeing your PT before a surgeon can help keep you out of the operating room and get you back to life without surgery. Studies have shown that physical therapy can be just as good if not better than surgery for a multitude of conditions and carries less risk. Some examples would include rotator cuff tears, meniscal tears, spinal stenosis, low back pain, and osteoarthritis.
Physical therapy can't fix every problem, and for some patients surgery IS the best choice. However, research is showing that surgery isn't a cure-all, and is sometimes very risky. In most cases, starting with physical therapy is the right choice, and for many patients, PT is the only treatment necessary.
Posted March 27, 2019 | Elite PT News
From Thursday March 28th to Sunday March 31st, we will be out of the office at the Stuart McGill course! Check out below for more infromation.
Posted March 24, 2019 | Elite PT News
"Neurological symptoms and abnormal findings on MR images are keys to diagnose the spinal diseases. To determine the significance of MRI abnormalities, we must take into account the (1) frequency and (2) spectrum of structural abnormalities, which may be asymptomatic. However, no large-scale study has documented abnormal findings of the cervical spine on MR image in asymptomatic subjects."
Posted March 21, 2019 | Elite PT News
Degenerative changes are commonly found in spine imaging but often occur in pain-free individuals as well as those with back pain. We sought to estimate the prevalence, by age, of common degenerative spine conditions by performing a systematic review studying the prevalence of spine degeneration on imaging in asymptomatic individuals.