The recent snow/ice here in the Northeast made me think about the topic of fall prevention. Even as the weather changes (for the better?), we need to prevent falls especially as a person ages. Data shows nearly 1 in 3 of individuals over 65 years and 1 in 2 over 80...
Spinal stenosis is a condition where the opening for the spinal cord or nerves begins to narrow. This is a slow progressive condition, which generally happens in older individuals. There is no timetable for how slowly or rapidly it may progress. Also, there are...
Don’t let the title fool you…This message is really geared for those younger than 65. Because disability does not just turn a switch and appear at age 65. What you do in the 5, 10, 15 years prior makes a significant difference. What kind of disability am I...
In the U. S. hundreds of thousands of individuals undergo joint replacement surgery annually (over 770,000 combined hip/knee). The actual number of joint replacements needed is probably significantly less. That is if individuals are proactive on the front end in...
This idea of an annual physical therapy exam could eventually become a reality. The healthcare community has discussed the concept of these exams for years. However, it has yet to take hold. Why is that? Simply put….MONEY. Who is going to pay, an insurance company or...
In my clinic I routinely see patients after falls. Some of these falls are preventable, and I want everyone to know how important balance and fall prevention is. Also why balance should be addressed and not ignored. The consequences of falling can be dire and...
A recent patient commented on how they noticed many older adults having visible changes in posture. They questioned whether it is possible to reduce the likelihood of this happening to them. As you might imagine, the answer is not so simple. Some changes are...
If you live long enough, you will likely get arthritis in one or many joints. Arthritis is simply a condition that involves age-related changes to the joints. Think about arthritis like wrinkles on the inside. A genetic link may exist, but does not have to be...
The (Mis)Management of Low Back Pain (LBP) is creating a horrible burden on the healthcare system. While everyone’s case of Low Back Pain is unique, statistics say imaging of the spine will show problems if one is looking for them. This, however, does not mean you...
On numerous occasions patients inform me their doctor told them they are “just getting older”. That they must just “live with (fill in the blank)”. While there are changes that occur in the body as a result of aging that cannot be controlled, there are...