By J.L of Jacksonville, Florida
When my rheumatologist ordered physical therapy, I asked that she refer
me to Dr. Joanna Frantz. I knew of Dr. Frantz through my sister-in-law,
who was a patient of hers. She highly recommended her as a Physical
Therapist.
On my initial visit to In Motion Physical Therapy, Dr. Frantz created a
program of therapy based on my rheumatologist's diagnosis and my age. I
am a senior citizen with a need to strengthen my back and address joint
and muscle issues. I went to therapy twice a week for two months,
followed by once per week for the third month. Each session lasted an
hour and home exercises were also prescribed.
Dr. Frantz gradually increased the exercises to strengthen my back and
core muscles. The activities progressively became more challenging, but
she never pushed my beyond my ability. I felt such satisfaction when I
was able to reach the more difficult goals and began to realize the
benefits of improved range of motion and flexibility.
I found it easy to develop a sound doctor-patient rapport with Dr.
Frantz from the beginning. She is a caring and sensitive encourager.
With her expertise, I would recommend her as a Doctor of Physical
Therapy for patients of any age.
The environment at In Motion Physical Therapy is very spacious and
inviting, with attractive interior design. The equipment and tools are
state-of-the-art and are kept sanitary. Office manager, Carolyn Weaver
and the staff are always most pleasant and courteous. I truly enjoyed my
visits there.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Moviegoers Knee
Just came from a movie with my husband. A great rainy day pass time. As we were coming out of the theater, someone behind me was saying how her knee hurts after sitting through the movie. I said to my husband, "she has moviegoers knee." He kinda laughed, but it is a real problem. The technical term is patellofemoral pain syndrome, but moviegoers knee is much easier to say! I then said, "I can fix that. Wish I could turn around and give her a card, but that would be weird." So, I'm going to blog about it, so that others know and can pass it along.
Definition: Moviegoers knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, describes general pain at the front of the knee which comes on gradually with symptoms increasing over a period of time. The patella does not move or 'track' in a correct fashion when the knee is being bent and straightened. This can lead to damage to the cartilage on the underside of the patella resulting in inflammation and pain.
Symptoms include: aching in the knee joint particularly in the front, swelling, pain with movement after inactivity, pain worse with walking hills or stairs, clicking or cracking when bending the knee, prolonged sitting can become uncomfortable, weakness in the quadriceps and tightness in calf, quadriceps, hamstrings and iliotibial band.
Causes: Syndrome usually occurs over time with improper exercise, stretching and balance. Typically the muscles on the outer part of the leg (lateral aspect of quadriceps, iliotibial band and lateral retinaculum) become stiff, short and over strengthened and the muscles on the inner part of the leg (vastus medialus of quadriceps and part of the adductors) become weakened. The muscled on the outer part of the leg will then have a greater pull on the patella and the patella starts to track more to the outside. Overtime, this will become painful.
Treatment options: It is important to first seek out a sports medical professional to evaluate your condition. If the diagnosis is in fact patellofemoral pain syndrome, the following will most likely per prescribed. Usually an anti-inflammatory, rest, ice and physical therapy. A physical therapist will evaluate your posture, strength, flexibility and gait pattern to determine where you are out of balance. Using specific exercises designed for your needs, your physical therapist will set you up with a program to correct your muscle imbalance and alignment and provide shoe inserts if needed. Surgery is only an options for extreme or chronic cases.
For more info about this and other joint pain problems, please feel free to contact us!
Definition: Moviegoers knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, describes general pain at the front of the knee which comes on gradually with symptoms increasing over a period of time. The patella does not move or 'track' in a correct fashion when the knee is being bent and straightened. This can lead to damage to the cartilage on the underside of the patella resulting in inflammation and pain.
Symptoms include: aching in the knee joint particularly in the front, swelling, pain with movement after inactivity, pain worse with walking hills or stairs, clicking or cracking when bending the knee, prolonged sitting can become uncomfortable, weakness in the quadriceps and tightness in calf, quadriceps, hamstrings and iliotibial band.
Causes: Syndrome usually occurs over time with improper exercise, stretching and balance. Typically the muscles on the outer part of the leg (lateral aspect of quadriceps, iliotibial band and lateral retinaculum) become stiff, short and over strengthened and the muscles on the inner part of the leg (vastus medialus of quadriceps and part of the adductors) become weakened. The muscled on the outer part of the leg will then have a greater pull on the patella and the patella starts to track more to the outside. Overtime, this will become painful.
Treatment options: It is important to first seek out a sports medical professional to evaluate your condition. If the diagnosis is in fact patellofemoral pain syndrome, the following will most likely per prescribed. Usually an anti-inflammatory, rest, ice and physical therapy. A physical therapist will evaluate your posture, strength, flexibility and gait pattern to determine where you are out of balance. Using specific exercises designed for your needs, your physical therapist will set you up with a program to correct your muscle imbalance and alignment and provide shoe inserts if needed. Surgery is only an options for extreme or chronic cases.
For more info about this and other joint pain problems, please feel free to contact us!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
How to Choose a Top Physical Therapist: by Dr. Joanna Frantz
Just as you would do research
to pick a lawyer, insurance agent or even a new car, you should do the same
when choosing a physical therapist.
Fortunately in FL, you can seek a physical therapy evaluation and
treatment without a physician referral. When you receive a referral for PT from your primary physician, you can still
choose whom you would like to see. There
are several important factors when choosing a therapist.
·
Education – what
degree does the therapist hold?
·
Background – does
the therapist have training in the type of treatment that is specific to your
diagnosis?
·
Location – is the
facility close to work or home? Typically you are getting PT several times per
week.
·
Clinic philosophy
– Are you being seen one-on-one? Will
you be with the same therapist from evaluation to discharge?
·
Treatment
philosophy – is treatment passive based, modality based, manual based, exercise
based, or a combination? Is treatment
protocol based or individual diagnosis based?
To search and learn more about top Physical Therapists in
your area, you can go to the APTA web site, search for a therapist in your area
and read their profile.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tips on Avoiding Running Injuries: by Dr. Jennifer Bhullar
Secondly, increase training slowly. The 10% rule for most people is the maximum increase per week. The next tip requires you to make sure you are in the proper running shoe. A therapist and speciality running store associates are good resources for helping you find the best shoe for you. Once you find the proper shoe make sure to replace you running shoes every 350-450 miles of running.
Lastly, make sure to stretch at the end of your running session. Stretching will decrease muscle soreness and help maintain flexibility.
Any further questions about running programs, contact Dr. Bhullar: therapy@inmotionjax.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
