Top 10 Benefits of Drinking Water

1. Increases Energy & Relieves Fatigue – Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you think, focus and concentrate better and be more alert. Also your energy levels remain boosted.

2. Promotes Weight Loss – Removes by-products of fat, reduces eating intake, reduces hunger, raises your metabolism and has no calories.

3. Flushes Out Toxins – Gets rid of waste through sweat and urination which reduces the risk of kidney stones and urinary tract infections.

4. Improves Skin Complexion – Moisturizes your skin, keeps it fresh, soft, glowing and smooth. Gets rid of wrinkles.

5. Maintains Regularity – Aids in digestion as water is essential to digest your food and prevents constipation.

6. Boosts Immune System – Water helps ward off sickness by boosting immunity. Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu, cancer and other ailments like heart attacks.

7. Natural Headache Remedy – Helps relieve and prevent headaches which are commonly caused by dehydration.

8. Prevents Cramps & Sprains - Proper hydration helps keep joints lubricated and muscles more elastic so joint pain is less likely.

9. Puts You in a Good Mood – When the body is functioning at its best, you will feel great and be happy!

10. Save Money - What more, its free and far more cheaper than any other drinks in the market.

Pregnancy related back pain & effective Physical Therapy

Are you suffering from lower back pain during your pregnancy? Well you are not alone; there are over 50% of pregnant women who experience lower back pain during this period. This pain could not only prevent you from working & taking care of your home but also put you in debilitating pain. Pregnancy-related lower back pain can have multiple reasons like postural changes, ligament laxity and weight gain, which results in decreased stability of the hips & back.

The good news is that you will be able to manage your pain and alleviate it completely. It has been shown that physical therapy can help you decrease or even eliminate pregnancy-related low back pain and improve your function through methods like spinal stabilization exercises, manual therapy, and education about simple things like standing, sitting, lifting, support pillows use, and even on how to toss and turn in the bed. Exercises will emphasize the stomach - abdominals, pelvic floor and buttock/hip muscles to help stabilize the pelvis

The hormone relaxin production is increased during pregnancy to ten times the normal levels. The purpose of relaxin is to help the pelvis adapt and prepare for childbirth by softening connective tissues and ligaments around the pelvis, pubic symphysis, and sacrum. These changes will allow the baby to pass through the birth canal. Unfortunately, due to the increased release of relaxin, your sacroiliac joint and lumbar joints may become unstable and can move out of alignment which in turn contributes to your pain. Research has shown that it is safe and effective for your physical therapist to perform gentle muscle energy techniques or manual therapy to correct the alignment and allow you to train your muscles in proper position.

You are not alone and you do not need to suffer with low back pain during pregnancy. It has been shown that regular & proper exercise, education, and manual therapy is the best safe and most effective treatment to lower back pain.

Herniated disc Physical Therapy & treatments

Disc herniation or herniated disc is the leaking of soft inner gel in the disc to the spinal canal. This occurs when the disc degenerates. Once inside the spinal canal, the herniated disc material puts pressure on the nerve, causing pain to radiate down the nerve leading to sciatica or leg pain (from a lumbar herniated disc) or arm pain (from a cervical herniated disc).

Few passive treatments involve:
1. Deep Tissue Massage:  It uses pressure to relieve the deep muscle tension and spasms, which develop to prevent muscle motion at the affected area.
2. Hot and Cold Therapy: heat may be used to increase blood flow to the target area. Blood helps heal the area by delivering extra oxygen and nutrients. Blood also removes waste byproducts from muscle spasms. Conversely, cold therapy slows circulation. This reduces inflammation, muscle spasms and pain. An ice pack may be placed on the target area, followed by an ice massage, which can be followed by a spray fluoromethane that cools the inflamed tissues.
3. Hydrotherapy:  Hydrotherapy may involve sitting in a tub with warm water. It gently relieves pain and relaxes the muscles.
4. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): A TENS machine uses an electrical current to stimulate the muscles. Electrodes that are taped to skin send a tiny electrical current to key points on the nerve pathway. This reduces muscle spasms and triggers the release of endorphins, body's natural pain killers.
5. Traction: The goal of traction is to reduce the effects of gravity on the spine. By gently pulling apart the bones, the intent is to reduce the disc herniation.

These physical therapy exercises & techniques help in achieving core stability, flexibility, stress reduction of muscles & also strengthen them.

Sprained Fingers, Physical Therapy treatments, exercises

Finger sprains are very common among athletes and people who play ball games like basketball, volley ball, etc. It usually occurs due to hypertensive forces that bend the fingers backward or sideways. A sprained finger may also occur in contact sports due to a collision with another player or when tackling, or in martial arts or boxing. It can also occur due to repetitive strain associated with overuse.

Sudden onset pain and swelling are the usual signs of a sprained finger. Sometimes, this might be seen only on the next day of the injury. Treatment of a finger sprain in the initial 48 – 72 hours is important to reduce the bleeding, swelling and inflammation of the finger joints. This should involve following the R.I.C.E regime that comprises of rest, regular icing, and use of a compression bandage and elevation of the affected limb.
Physiotherapy for a sprained finger can hasten the healing process, ensure an optimal outcome and reduce the likelihood of a recurrence.

Treatment may comprise:

• soft tissue massage
• anti-inflammatory medication
• electrotherapy (e.g. ultrasound)
• finger taping
• joint mobilization
• ice or heat treatment
• finger bracing
• exercises to improve flexibility and strength
• activity modification advice
• a gradual return to activity program


Exercises for a sprained finger

• Hand Open and Close
• Finger Adduction to Abduction
• Tennis Ball Squeeze

All these exercises must be only performed under medical advice or supervision of a physical therapy professional . 

Degenerative Disc Disease, Symptoms & Exercises

Degenerative disc disease is a term that is used to describe the normal changes in the spinal discs of a person as he grows old. Spinal discs are compressible soft discs that separate the interlocking bones which make up the spine. The discs act as shock absorbents for the spine thus allowing it to be flexible, bend, and twist. Degenerative disc disease can occur throughout the spine, but it most often occurs in the discs of the lower back and neck.

The changes in the discs can result in back or neck pain or even serious problems like:
• Osteoarthritis
• Herniated disc
• Spinal stenosis
These conditions may put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves causing pain and may even affect the nerve function.

Common symptoms include:
• Pain that gets worse when sitting.
• Pain that gets worse when bending, lifting or twisting
• Periods of severe pain that come and goes.
• Pain can affect the low back, buttocks and thighs or the neck, depending on where the affected disc is, radiating to the arms and hands
• Numbness and tingling in the extremities
• Feeling better changing positions often or lying down
• Weakness in the leg muscles or foot drop

Different factors can cause disc degeneration, age being a major one. Specific factors include:
• Drying of disc fluid: When we are born, the disc is about 80% water. As we age, the disc dries out and doesn't absorb shocks as well
• Injuries that can cause swelling, soreness and instability.
• Daily activities and sports cause tears in the outer core of the disc.

Exercises:

Different types of exercises are recommended, each depending on the patient's diagnosis. Floor exercises like abdominal bracing, double-knee-to-chest or low back stretches, extension exercises, modified sit-ups, knee-to-elbow exercises, seat lifts, mountain and sag exercises, hamstring stretches, and extension flexibility exercises.
Swimming exercises are some of the best activities for back pain. Aerobic exercises improve endurance if performed regularly. Relaxation exercises are good for relieving muscular tension that may aggravate back pain.

Sleep Disorders, causes & effective treatments

Sleep disorders are medical issues that involve sleep patterns. Certain sleep disorders can interfere with the normal physical, emotional & mental functioning which can be caused due to numerous external reasons like depression, anxiety, trauma or life transition. These symptoms typically involve difficulties related to sleeping, including difficulty falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive sleep time, or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep. It is a relatively common disorder.

If you experience any trouble getting to sleep or sleeping comfortably over the night, if you are waking up too early or have a hard time waking up at all, or if you are overly tired during the day, you may have one of the following sleep problems.

• Oversleeping

• Snoring

• Nightmares in Adults

• Bed-wetting

• Insomnia

• Sleepwalking Symptoms

• Parasomnias

• Night Terrors

• Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Central Sleep Apnea

• Narcolepsy

• REM sleep Behavior Disorder

• Sleep Paralysis

• Sleep-Related Eating Disorders

• Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder

• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

• Hypersomnia (Daytime Sleepiness)

• Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Therapy for Sleep Disorders

Some sleep disorders are caused only due to a medical condition, while many others often have psychological reasons. Many sleep disorders arise during a difficult transition in a person’s life, or because of depression & anxiety. Psychotherapy can be instrumental in helping one work through a sleep disorder, regardless of the cause.

Consult your physician or therapist to determine the reason for any of this type of symptoms that gives you sleeping disorders. Most of the different types of psychotherapy treatments focus on changing behaviors, setting and achieving goals, becoming better self-aware, learning relaxation skills, and empowering the client to take control of his/her own situations. After establishing the root cause, therapists can teach people various skills to change unwanted sleep patterns. 

Scoliosis, Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Scoliosis is a sideways or lateral curvature occurring in the normally straight vertical line of the spine. Scoliosis seen in children and teens does not cause any noticeable symptoms and is not very obvious until the curve of the spine becomes moderate or severe.

What Causes Scoliosis?
There are many types and causes of scoliosis, including:
• Congenital scoliosis
• Neuromuscular scoliosis
• Degenerative scoliosis
• Idiopathic scoliosis

Symptoms of scoliosis
In children and teenagers, scoliosis often does not have any noticeable symptoms. Most of the time scoliosis does not cause pain in children or teens. Adults who have scoliosis may or may not have back pain.
• One shoulder is placed higher than the other one
• One side of the rib cage appears elevated compared to other
• One shoulder blade sticks out more than the other
• One hip appears higher or more prominent than the other
• The body tilts to one side
• The waist appears uneven
• One leg may appear shorter than the other

Treatments for scoliosis include:

Braces: If the spine curvature lies between 25 degrees to 40 degrees and there is a minimum period of 2 years for optimum bone development, the most common treatment is bracing. This is done to halt progression of the curve. It may provide a temporary correction, but usually the curve will assume its original magnitude when bracing is eliminated.

Surgery: For people with curvature more than 40 degrees to 50 degrees are usually considered for surgery. Surgery ensures that the curve does not worsen. It does not perfectly straighten the spine too. Metallic implants are used to correct the curvature and hold it in the correct position until a bone graft, placed at the time of surgery, consolidates and creates a rigid fusion in the area of the curve. Scoliosis surgery usually involves joining the vertebrae together permanently-- called spinal fusion.

20 Reasons your legs are paining, Physical therapy for leg pain

Leg pain affects 85% of the world population. Its underlying cause varies from one to other in many ways. Leg pain might be a symptom of any of the following health conditions.

• Sprains and strains
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Charley horse
• Radiculopathy
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Multiple schlerosis
• Spinal stenosis
• Varicose veins
• Sciatica
• Arterial embolism
• Shin splints
• Pulmonary embolism
• Osteochondrosis
• Osgood-schlatter disease
• Arteriosclerosis
• Polio
• Compartment syndrome
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Necrotizing vasculitis
• Standing on ground with flat feet

Physical therapy treatments and exercises can help you minimize the effects of leg pain and its complications in life. But before that you have to seek medical advise on what actually is the underlying cause of the pain.

We at Optimum Rehab Physical Therapy would be happy to discuss any of these options with you in more depth if you like. Our goal is to ensure optimal health for you. We are located at twin locations of Upper East Side and Wall Street, New York city.

We are available for consultation on postural concerns, sports medicine, muscle tension evaluation, orthopedic rehabilitation, proper stretching and physical training, and proper fitness for healthy individuals and those facing chronic medical conditions as well as rehabilitation post illness/injury. Our therapists are direct access licensed where you don’t need any medical prescription for consultation. We also treat in consultation with your referring physician, all according to your convenience.