Physical therapy isn’t just for severe pain or after an accident or injury. Physical therapy can help patients of all ages with painful conditions, illness, or injuries that limit their regular ability to move and function.

October is National Physical Therapy Month, and Redefine Healthcare wants to urge patients to learn more about the discipline and how it can be applicable to your needs and goals. Here are five reasons you might consider seeing a physical therapist.

• Improve mobility, balance, and strength. If you have trouble standing, walking, or moving, physical therapy can help. Stretching and strengthening exercises can help restore your ability to move. Physical therapy helps take care of your body’s mechanics.
• Avoid surgery. When physical therapy eliminates pain or heals an injury, surgery may no longer be needed. When surgery is unavoidable, pre-surgical physical therapy can help with a better outcome. By heading into surgery strong and in shape, you can bounce back faster.
• Prevent injury. Physical therapy can be a preventative type of care. Participating in sports or exercising can increase your risk for specific types of injuries, and physical therapists can design appropriate injury prevention programs.
• Manage aging. We are at risk to lose muscle mass and strength as we get older, leading to conditions like joint pain and arthritis. Physical therapists can help patients recover from surgeries like a joint replacement, or manage symptoms of degenerative conditions conservatively.
• Help control a disease or condition. Physical therapy can effectively manage conditions outside of chronic pain and injury, like those of the heart, lungs, or weight. For example, exercise can help control blood sugar, which may be one component of an overall diabetes management plan.

Redefine Healthcare offers the newest pain management and physical rehabilitation treatments in multiple New Jersey locations. Top-rated physical therapists and massage therapists provide long-term pain relief and the most up-to-date techniques for avoiding future injury. Visit our center if you experience persistent neck pain, upper/lower back pain, or sciatica.

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According to the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, overuse injuries account for 50 of all sports injuries. While all overuse injuries differ in location and severity, these injuries are mostly preventable.

An overuse injury occurs when bones, ligaments, muscles, or tendons are put under ongoing stress with little time to rest or heal. Because they are the result of repetitive trauma, overuse injuries develop over time, due to training or technique errors like incorrect form, not giving the body enough time to rest and heal, or focusing on one activity for too long.

Common Overuse Injuries

• Tennis Elbow: Lateral epicondylitis, known as tennis elbow, occurs when the tendons in your elbow are overworked, caused by repetitive gripping activities, like tennis or weightlifting. The pain of the tennis elbow occurs primarily where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the outside of your elbow.
• Golfer’s Elbow: Similar to tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow develops in those who repeatedly use their wrists in gripping activities. However, pain associated with a golfer’s elbow occurs on the inside, rather than the outside of the elbow.
• Rotator Cuff Injury: The rotator cuff tendons stabilize the shoulder joint by attaching muscles originating at the shoulder blade to the head of the humerus. These tendons are commonly irritated with repetitive overhead activities or liftings like swimming, tennis, or baseball.

Treatment for Overuse Injuries

• Cutting back the intensity, duration, and/or frequency of an activity
• Ice and/or heat therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications

If conservative treatments don’t alleviate symptoms, a sports medicine doctor at Redefine Healthcare can evaluate your condition and suggest a proper treatment plan, which may include one or more of the following interventional techniques:

• Physical therapy
• Regenerative medicine
• Injections

Preventing Overuse Injuries

• Warm-Up: When your body temperature increases during a warm-up, your joints loosen, allowing for increased blood flow to your muscles, which puts less stress on your joints and tendons.
• Pace Yourself: Instead of jumping right into a new sport or pushing yourself too hard during a new exercise routine, give your body time to acclimate by gradually increasing your intensity and activity level.
• Rest & Recover: Prioritize rest so your body can heal. Listen to your body and stop if you have signs or symptoms of injury.

If these injuries sound familiar and you think you may be suffering from an overuse injury, don’t allow your condition to get worse. Schedule an appointment at Redefine Healthcare with our experts in sports medicine by calling (732) 906-9600.

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With several feet of snow hitting New Jersey already this year, there’s a good chance you’ve spent more than your fair share of time shoveling. We know it’s not everyone’s favorite activity, but Redefine Healthcare can help make it easier and finish out this winter injury-free.

Proper Snow Shoveling Technique

Using the proper technique for shoveling snow can prevent injury and increase efficiency. Moving heavy shovels full of snow repeatedly without proper form can put you at a huge risk of injury.

• Warm-up. Just as you would for other forms of exercise, loosen up with some stretches and bring your heart rate up gradually with some light calisthenics before shoveling.
• Grip near the shovel blade to keep it close to you when lifting the snow to reduce strain on your back.
• When lifting, squat with your legs apart, knees bent, and back straight.
• Work different muscles by switching between a right-handed and left-handed stance.
• Your shovel doesn’t need to be full of snow every time! Shoveling smaller amounts for a longer amount of time can be less strenuous than trying to toss heavy chunks.
• Take breaks. Snow shoveling can be equivalent to both aerobic exercise and strength training. We recommend staying outside for no longer than 40 minutes at a time. Break up that chunk of time into 10- or 20-minute intervals and drink plenty of water.
• Make shoveling a workout. If you’re shoveling snow properly, you’ll be working your glutes, hamstrings, quads, abs, lower back, upper back, and shoulders. Once you nail your form, make shoveling a double-duty chore and up the fitness factor!

Common Snow Shoveling Injuries

1. Back Injury
2. Shoulder Pain
3. Pulled or Strained Muscle
4. Injury From Falling or Slipping

While we hope you’ve made it through the past couple of snowstorms injury-free, if you’ve sustained any of the following injuries or are experiencing back pain, neck pain, or any other symptoms, see the pain experts at Redefine Healthcare. Schedule an appointment by calling (732) 906-9600 or at RedefineHealthcare.com.

The post How to Prevent Injury: The Proper Snow Shoveling Technique appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Redefine Healthcare is excited to announce our new physical therapist, Dr. Bhumi Patel, PT, DPT as our newest addition to the Physical Therapy Division.

Educational Background

While Dr. Bhumi Patel is Redefine Healthcare’s new physical therapist, she is not new to the world of physical therapy. Dr. Bhumi Patel received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Seton Hall University in New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She is certified in Blood Flor Restriction Training and LSVT-BIG Program. Dr. Patel has worked in a variety of settings including home-care and outpatient clinics, with prior internships as a student in sub-acute rehab and acute hospital care. She is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Specialties

By incorporating evidence-based literature into her treatment program, Dr. Patel strives to keep her patients engaged and active in the community. Aside from treating musculoskeletal and spine disorders, Dr. Patel has a special interest in vestibular rehabilitation. With a passion for movement science, Dr. Patel has been treating patients with orthopedic, neurologic, gait, and balance diagnoses at Redefine Healthcare. Dr. Patel believes in providing excellent care to her patients with empathy and compassion to help them reach their functional goals in their recovery process. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, hiking, and traveling.

If you would like more information about our new physical therapist or Physical Therapy Division, please contact us at (732) 313-2610.

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Redefine Healthcare would like to wish you well during these difficult times. We understand that our patients still need care and will thus be keeping our doors open. We would like to assure you that we are following all preparedness and prevention guidelines established by the CDC to protect our patients and staff. Our patient’s health and wellness are our utmost priority.

Additionally, we are now offering Telemedicine Pain Management appointments to patients who might not feel comfortable coming into the office. During these telemedicine appointments, one of our board-certified physicians will conduct a thorough screening of your symptoms over the phone. To the best of their ability, they will then suggest an appropriate coarse of action for you.

We wish you all safe and well.

Please call Redefine Healthcare at (732) 313-2610 for the most up-to-date news on the status of our practice or to schedule your appointment.

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Physical medicine and rehabilitation, or PM&R, is not a well-known specialty, but it packs a powerful punch for those who benefit from it.

What Is PM&R?

In the simplest terms, PM&R is a specialty in medicine that helps to restore functionality to people who are living with a disability due to a disease, a disorder, or an injury. A PM&R physician oversees multidisciplinary care avenues that address the patient’s physical, emotional, medical, vocational, and social needs.

A PM&R physician, or a physiatrist, addresses more than the pain associated with a disability. While doctors may prescribe medication to mask the pain, a PM&R doctor treats the whole person by collaborating with a variety of health care professionals to design a holistic program that includes physical therapy, stretching exercises, massage, and medicine for short-term relief.

Who Should See a PM&R Physician?

Anyone who wants treatment for conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons may benefit from PM&R support. Here are examples of when you should consider seeing a PM&R physician:

• An accident left you with limited function or pain.
• You are recovering from the effects of a stroke or other types of nerve damage.
• You experience chronic pain from a stress injury or arthritis, or you have back problems that continue for more than three months.
• An illness has diminished your ability to move easily.

How a Physiatrist Treats Your Condition

A physiatrist will tailor a plan to address the specific needs of your ailment. For example, if you have chronic neck pain, there are short-term and long-term options and medical procedures to help. For short-term pain relief, engage in massage and stretching—a doctor may also prescribe medication to lessen your discomfort. Your doctor could prescribe strengthening exercises to prevent future pain. If surgery is necessary, he or she will work with your surgeon before and after the procedure.

A PM&R physician determines realistic goals, finds relief for your pain, and works with you to achieve success in rehabilitation and exercise programs. Your physiatrist is there when you have setbacks and will reassess a new strategy, make changes, and create new goals so that you never feel alone in your quest for improvement.

Benefits of Rehabilitation

Disabilities are typically not curable but improving the lifestyle of someone with a disability is vital in maintaining their sense of well-being. Rehabilitation doesn’t reverse or undo the damage, but it does restore a person’s bodily functions in a positive direction. A patient will find that they improve in the following ways:

• Treatments help to prevent complications from the disability.
• Function improves, allowing for greater movement in the areas reduced by the disability.
• Tools allow the patient to adapt to their environment.
• Coaching the patient as well as the family helps them to adapt to changes in lifestyle and mentality.

If you can perform an activity after rehabilitation that was impossible before, the psychological impact is enormous. The mental effects of returning to work after a successful rehabilitation process can also be immensely encouraging.

By visiting us and seeing a PM&R physician, you will be on your way to functioning at your highest level. Contact us today to partner with a physiatrist for a treatment plan tailored specifically for you.

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Great news!

Beginning this March, Redefine Healthcare will now be offering Chiropractic treatment at our Edison location. If you live near Edison, your drive to access excellent chiropractic services will be a lot shorter—but drive safely! The after-effects of a car accident represent one of the leading reasons why people visit their chiropractor’s office. We are an excellent resource for addressing pain management and building strength to decrease recovery time after an accident occurs.

For most people, pain is inevitable at some point in their lives, but taking preventive measures increases the likelihood of recovering more quickly or avoiding injury altogether.

Prevention

Your spinal health is vital to your productive and active lifestyle. Taking preventative steps increases your ability to build strength and flexibility.

• Preventive chiropractic care increases your range of motion by boosting flexibility. When your muscles and joints are tight, you are at an increased risk of straining them, even during your light daily routines. Adjustments improve your joints’ ability to move so that your muscles can do their work.
• Your spine supports your body. A chiropractor’s adjustment will improve your posture, which has a direct effect on the neck, back, and leg areas. The more you stand or sit up straight, the less likely it is that you’ll experience minor aches and pains.
• Have you noticed minor pain? You may think that it isn’t worth addressing unless it worsens, but focusing on the issue earlier means that you can stop it before it becomes problematic.

You can stay one step ahead of aches and pains if you visit our offices as a preventive gift to yourself. If you do face a sports injury or find yourself rear-ended in an automobile accident, you will have a stronger and more flexible body to begin the healing process with as you pursue care.

Car Accidents

No amount of prevention can protect you from another person rear-ending you in an auto accident. The good news is that chiropractors are an excellent resource to address these kinds of injuries.

When someone hits your car from behind, forces measuring thousands of pounds impact your supporting tissues around the spine and neck. These tissues, ligaments, and vertebral discs stretch and tear, disrupting your joints. Spinal shifting and misalignment add up to the potential for a lot of aches and pains.

Pain from a car accident may not appear for days or even weeks after the accident. Pain medication does a satisfying job at masking the pain. However, a chiropractor will get to the underlying injury, whether it is a spinal issue or whiplash.

The Long-Term Solution to Managing Pain

Chiropractic care will address lost mobility after an injury. Adjustment relieves the pressure on the nerves and muscles as it realigns the spine. There are times when the pain goes away immediately upon alignment. Corrective exercises increase the body’s full range of motion, relieving even more pain.

Your long-term solution to supporting your body’s natural healing process begins with that first drive to your chiropractor’s office. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to relieve pain and build a healthier spinal structure to prepare for the unexpected.

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You do your best to eat a healthy diet, but when you sustain an injury, your food becomes about more than just fueling workouts; it becomes about helping your body recover. An injury means that you should shift your perspective on nutrition from giving yourself the energy to get through the day, to fighting inflammation and promoting repair. Cleaning up your diet while you’re recovering can help your injury heal faster and get you back on your feet sooner.

Eat More Fresh Produce

Vitamin A helps your body produce white blood cells, which can fight infection. This is important because infection is a risk with any injury. Vitamin C is known to promote faster and better healing of skin and flesh wounds, making it important for injuries that involve broken, cut, or scraped the skin. Vitamin C can also help repair cartilage and connective tissues by encouraging the production of collagen, an essential protein used to build blood vessels, bone cells, and scar tissue. You can find these crucial vitamins in abundance in foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, kale, strawberries, oranges, and peppers.

Choose The Right Protein

Protein is a critical building block in the creation of new cells. Lean meats are rich in protein, making them one of your best allies when it comes to recovering from an injury. Some proteins function as bridges between damaged tissues, helping with their repair. That means that eating meat is a meaningful way you can help ensure optimal healing. In particular, fish offers not only protein but also omega-3 fatty acids, which quell the inflammation that can interfere with the healing of injuries such as sprained ligaments, bone fractures, and tendinitis. Be sure to include plenty of fish such as tuna, salmon, and trout in your diet as well as lean turkey, chicken, and sirloin. Milk and eggs are also excellent sources of protein.

Don’t Skip Breakfast – Especially Cereal

Fortified cereal contains zinc, a mineral proven to boost the immune system and help wounds heal. Red meat contains lots of zinc, but so do fortified cereals, with some delivering 100% of your recommended daily allowance in just one serving. You don’t need to overdo it on zinc – in fact, too much of this potent mineral may suppress your immune system and lower your HDL (good) cholesterol. Cereal and other whole-grain carbohydrates in moderate amounts supply plenty of zinc for optimal healing. Also, ensuring that you consume enough carbs helps ensure that your body uses the protein you eat for healing and repairs.

Consider Supplements

Vitamin D and calcium are especially crucial in nutrition if you have a bone-related injury. Some foods contain vitamin D, but this particular vitamin is more natural to get from supplements or even from the sun. However, if you’re spending most of your time indoors recovering from an injury, you aren’t likely to be getting enough sunlight for your body to produce sufficient amounts. Particularly if you usually avoid dairy, you can benefit from a supplement. Always discuss all supplements you take with your doctor to be sure they are safe for you, but do ask whether you should be taking calcium and vitamin D while you recover.

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Redefine Healthcare announced today that they would be offering same-day, minimally-invasive pain treatments at their four New Jersey locations: Union, Clifton, Edison, and Paterson. Patients now have some options for quick pain relief depending on their individual needs. Redefine Healthcare offers the following five minimally-invasive pain relief treatments, among others.

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a procedure often used on patients who have sustained compression fractures of the spine. During this procedure, the patient lies face down, and the physician inserts a thin tube into the injured vertebra via a small incision. A special balloon is inserted and inflated, which pushes the caps of the fractured vertebra apart, restoring the structure as carefully as possible to its normal shape. The balloon is then removed, and the space created is filled with bone cement to maintain the shape. Kyphoplasty is most effective when performed within eight weeks of the onset of the injury.

Vertebroplasty

Similar to kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty is used to reduce pain after a compression fracture of the spine. During this procedure, bone cement is injected directly into the interior body of the vertebra. Compression fractures likely to respond well to vertebroplasty are commonly seen in patients with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is most often seen in post-menopausal women, but it can also affect women and men with hormonal imbalances. Tumors are another reason for the weakening and fracturing of the spine. Delaying treatment can lead to the fracture collapsing further and being more difficult or impossible to treat appropriately.

M.I.L.D. (Minimally-Invasive Lumbar Decompression)

M.I.L.D. is used to treat patients with LSS (lumbar spinal stenosis). LSS refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes the nerves to be compressed. This condition can cause pain and numbness, as well as difficulty with standing and walking.

M.I.L.D is an innovative x-ray-guided percutaneous treatment that can reduce pain and increase mobility while preserving the spine’s structural integrity. “The procedure offers people an alternative to open spine surgery that is still effective and allows them to stay active and maintain their independence and quality of life,” says a spokesperson from Redefine Healthcare.

M.I.L.D. is performed under sedation through a tiny incision. The surgeon will guide a unique tool between the bones, scrape out the ligament, and make the spinal canal wider to minimize nerve compression. They will also inject contrast material into the epidural space to help with positioning and ensure precise placement throughout the procedure.

Patients typically recover quickly from M.I.L.D., as spinal mechanics are not disrupted, and the bony architecture of the spine is undisturbed. Most patients return home the same day and begin the rehab program that includes regular walking and participation in physical therapy for optimal healing.

Percutaneous Decompression

Percutaneous decompression is useful for patients experiencing pain, numbness, or other difficulties related to a herniated (bulging) lumbar disc. This condition typically causes pain in the lower back that may radiate down one or both legs and feet. During percutaneous decompression, radio waves are used to dissolve the excess disc tissue, relieving the pressure on the nerves. This treatment can be done on an outpatient basis because complications are unlikely.

Endoscopic Foraminotomy

Endoscopic foraminotomy is used to reduce neural pressure caused by a herniated disc, bony spurs, scar tissue, and other spinal conditions. Many patients achieve pain relief with this procedure, even when other treatments have been unsuccessful. A back surgeon inserts a special endoscope into the spinal nerve canal and removes a small piece of bone to open the nerve canal. During the procedure, any bone spurs or scar tissue can also be removed.

Because these treatments are minimally invasive, they generally have shorter recovery times, and patients can usually return home the same day. For more information, contact Redefine Healthcare.

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Redefine Healthcare is pleased to announce that they will be offering chiropractic treatments at their four New Jersey locations.

Many people with back pain seek chiropractic treatment as a means of holistic pain relief. This form of therapy can help with back pain caused by overuse, sports injuries, accidents, muscle strains, and more. Other reasons for seeking chiropractic care include neck, arm, and leg pain or headaches.

Understanding Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors focus on aligning the musculoskeletal structures of the body by using hands-on spinal manipulation and other treatments. The theory behind chiropractic care is that having the spine appropriately aligned helps enable the body to heal itself. Often, this can occur without medication or surgery. According to Redefine Healthcare sources, chiropractic manipulation can restore mobility to stiff or injured joints after a repetitive stress injury or a traumatic event such as a fall.

Redefine Healthcare can treat several conditions including injuries or illnesses involving the back, shoulders, neck, elbows, hips, ankles, and feet. Chiropractic services focus on manual manipulation of the spine to treat lower back pain. During a chiropractic adjustment, the practitioner identifies and manipulates the vertebrae that exhibit abnormal movement patterns or lack robust functionality. The goals include improving function, increasing the range of motion, and reducing pain.

Chiropractors are healthcare providers that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions with an emphasis on manual manipulation or adjustment of the spine. A spokesperson for Redefine Healthcare explains, “The goal of chiropractic care is to reduce pain and improve function. We also work to educate patients on ways to look after their health with ergonomics, exercises, and other therapies.”

A typical chiropractic adjustment involves a short-lever, high-velocity arm thrust applied to a vertebra; patients often notice an audible release of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. This releases pressure in the joint and brings about a sensation of relief. Occasionally, patients experience mild discomfort, but this discomfort lasts for only a brief time, and most patients are happy with the results of their treatment. Some people see their chiropractor exclusively, and others combine the treatment with conventional medical treatment for a powerful healing combination.”

Types of Chiropractic Treatments

According to Redefine Healthcare, the diversified chiropractic technique may be the most popular type of adjustment used by chiropractors. It is the technique a chiropractor is most likely to use when a patient complains of pain from which they need immediate relief. The diversified method is a way of adjusting a disc herniation, which can cause many cases of neck or back pain. As a patient, you will likely receive this technique if you are experiencing “popping” joints as it can help restore them to normal function.

The Gonstead adjustment is one of the most common techniques used by chiropractors, explains a Redefine Healthcare rep. This technique is used to diagnose and treat a range of issues. For example, if a patient has chronic back pain, the chiropractor will aim to locate the problem area along the spine and make the appropriate adjustments. The Gonstead adjustment involves a thorough analysis of the spine and then realigns it accordingly, decreasing or even eliminating inflammation and pain in the region.

The Logan method of chiropractic care is one of the lowest-force techniques available. The Logan technique emphasizes spinal and pelvic distortions and misalignments that affect the structures of the spine. The gentle pressure used in this method can help realign the bones on the spine, a Redefine Healthcare spokesperson explains: “It is also particularly effective at relieving headaches and migraines. It can release stress and tension and restore balance to the entire body. It can also be used to help manage certain conditions such as scoliosis, pregnancy discomfort, and chronic spine conditions.”

Benefits of Chiropractic Treatments

Chiropractic care is considered a safe and effective treatment for many types of back pain, neck pain, and headaches. As a Redefine Healthcare spokesperson explains, “Chiropractic treatments are great for both chronic and acute pain conditions. Even patients with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis often get excellent results. We also see patients with sciatica, hip pain, scoliosis, and a range of other conditions that all respond favorably to chiropractic treatments.”

Another essential thing to understand about chiropractic care is that it treats the cause of the problem–not just the symptoms. “So many chronic pain patients take medications that mask symptoms rather than treating them,” says Redefine Healthcare. “By contrast, chiropractors work to treat the cause of the pain, which naturally alleviates symptoms. This type of care is a drug-free alternative for many people with pain who wish to decrease or eliminate the pain medications they take that have potentially harmful side effects.”

Chiropractors focus on more than just short-term treatment. A Redefine Healthcare spokesperson says, “Chiropractors help in more ways than just spinal manipulation. We look after the whole person and can advise patients on issues such as nutrition and exercise, which are both essential components of a healthy lifestyle. We help many of our patients with exercises for them to do at home that is designed to treat their specific pain condition, offering them the best odds of recovery.”

About Redefine Healthcare

Redefine Healthcare is a treatment center offering a wide range of services including physical therapy, sports medicine, health and wellness initiatives, medical marijuana, and chiropractic treatments. Your practitioner will conduct a thorough evaluation to identify the best type of care for you and will discuss your options with you at the first visit so that you’ll know you’re getting the best possible care. For comprehensive, cutting-edge care, call Redefine Healthcare at (732) 906-9600 or fill out their convenient online appointment request form today.

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