3 Stretches to Ease Lower Back Pain

Chronic and acute back pain can be debilitating and very disruptive to your daily life. Back pain can range from a dull constant ache to a sudden sharp pain that makes it uncomfortable to move. Acute back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks and will usually get better on its own. Chronic back pain lasts for more than three months. If you are experiencing back pain there are many ways to treat it, depending on the type of pain you experience and its root cause. Some common methods of treatment include hot/cold packs, exercise, physical therapy, injections, and surgery.

Research suggests that core strengthening exercises and stretching can be the best way to ease back pain. As we age, our muscles become shorter and lose their elasticity. By stretching the muscles in your back, you strengthen them. As your muscles become stronger you begin to avoid pain, improve posture and range of motion, and maintain a higher quality of life.

These simple stretches may help you treat and avoid acute back pain:

Piriformis Stretch: Lie on your back and cross one leg over the other; gently pull the knee toward the chest until a stretch is felt in the buttock area. Hold for 30 seconds. Rest. Repeat 3 times.

Back Stretch: Lie on your stomach. Use your arms to push your upper body off the floor. Hold for 30 seconds. Let your back relax and sag. Repeat.

Seated Gentle Back Bend: Starting seated, feet flat on the floor. Bring your hands to your lower back, with your fingers facing down and thumbs wrapped around your hips toward the front of your body. Press your hands firmly into your hips/lower back and inhale. As you exhale, gently arch your spine, leading with your head. Your chin should be tilted up, face to the ceiling. Hold for 5 full, deep breaths. Gently and slowly come back to the neutral starting position. Repeat 3 to 5 times.

*Stretches should never cause pain. Stop immediately if you feel any discomfort. Consult with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

How Therapy Can Help

If these simple stretches don’t alleviate your back pain, physical therapy may be an option for you! A physical therapist will assess your condition and come up with an individualized treatment plan with key exercises to improve your condition. Talk to your doctor today about how physical therapy could help!

 

Source: American Chiropractic Association, National Institute of Arthritis

Fun Ways to Stay Active Indoors this Summer

Summer allows us to enjoy many outdoor activities and time with family and friends. Barbecues, swimming, and trips to the beach make summer an exceptional time of year! For aging adults, the summer months can also be hazardous to your health. Problems like dehydration, sunburn and exasperation of pre-existing conditions are common after too much sun exposure. It’s important to stay safe when the temperature rises.

Staying active is very important no matter the season. On days when the summer sun is too intense for outdoor activities, moving indoors may be the best option. Here are some fun activities older adults can do to stay active and beat the heat:

  1. Get your steps in and explore a museum or aquarium
  2. Visit a local senior center to socialize and enjoy outings and activities
  3. Take dance lessons for a fun way to stay active
  4. Walk and window shop at an indoor shopping mall
  5. Join a health club that offers group fitness and aquatic classes
  6. Go bowling with friends or join a bowling league
  7. Workout at home with weights and bands or invest in easy-to-use home gym equipment

Therapy Can Help Aging Adults Stay Active & Independent
Exercise is extremely important in managing many common symptoms of aging. Physical therapists evaluate your needs and teach you how to exercise appropriately for joint mobility, muscle strength and fitness. It can help strengthen the muscles around your joints, help you maintain bone strength, give you more energy to get through the day, help you control your weight, improve your balance and help you enhance your quality of life. Occupational therapists help older adults to safely do the things they want to do, stay active and live well despite limitations. Talk to your doctor today about the benefits of therapy!

Cool off this summer with a refreshing slice of watermelon!
At 92% water, this favorite summer snack is a great source of hydration and loaded with essential vitamins. Watermelon also contains high levels of the antioxidant lycopene, a famous cancer-fighting substance found in tomatoes.

7 Things We Know Up-front About the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM)

HTS is feeling optimistic as we read the latest reimbursement model change proposed by CMS and released late afternoon on Friday, April 27th. If you haven’t had the chance to dive into RSC-1, this was gearing up to be the biggest reimbursement overhaul since PPS.

The RSC-1 has now been modified and renamed to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM). The new model is designed to improve the incentives to treat the needs of the whole patient, instead of focusing on the volume of services the patient receives. CMS noted that RCS-1 received considerable feedback expressing concerns with the complexity of RCS-1. As a result, CMS has made significant changes that we are feeling pretty good about. If passed, this would take place starting October 1, 2019 — which means we don’t have much time before it becomes reality.

 

Here are 7 things we know up front about the PDPM changes to note:

  1. PDPM will be Much Less Complex than RSC-1
    Under the RSC-1, there were actually over 130,000 different possible classifications. The PDPM reduces this by nearly 80%. RUGs will certainly be going away, but this may make the reimbursement calculations much less of headache for all parties involved.
  2. Therapy is Detailed in the Discharge PPS Assessment
    A proposed modified section O requires PT, OT and ST details on all PPS discharge assessments for all Medicare A discharges (including those who DC from the facility). Therapy details include: start and end dates, total individual minutes provided, total concurrent minutes provided, total group minutes provided, and total days provided. This may be CMS’s way of safeguarding against underproviding and ensuring that patients receive what they need versus greatly reducing or eliminating necessary therapy services.
  3. PT & OT are Separate Payment Categories
    Under the RSC-1 model, PT and OT were a combined payment and ST was considered separate. Noting the obvious concerns, we are happy that each discipline will receive their own payment classification. Additionally, the new model eliminates the cognitive impairment factor from the PT and OT classification.
  4. Group & Concurrent Allow for a Total of 25%
     Under RSC-1, it was proposed to allow 25% group therapy and 25% concurrent therapy. Under the PDPM, there is a 25% group and concurrent therapy combined allotment.
  5. Section GG is Even MORE Important
     Replacing section G with GG for the functional component is required for PT & OT payment classifications, as well as,nursing case-mix classification. 6 areas are scored and totaled for the functional measure: eating, oral hygiene, toileting, sit-to-lying, lying-to-sitting on bed, sit-to-stand, chair/bed-to-chair, toilet transfer, walk 50 feet with 2 turns, and walk 150 feet. HTS implemented mandatory use of the CARE Tool for all therapists in 2014 to ensure that our outcomes and benchmarks are congruent with CMS.
  6. Reduced Burden of Multiple Assessments
     The reduction in required assessments as proposed with RCS-1 remains in the PDPM. Only 2 PPS assessments are required: 5-day assessment and D/C Assessment. PDPM adds an optional “Interim Payment Assessment” (IPA) which would allow for a resident to be re-classified if criteria are met.
  7. Reduction in Reimbursement with Length of Stay
    PDPM calls for reduction in reimbursement correlating with length of stay for PT, OT, and Non-Therapy Ancillary (NTA) classifications. For PT and OT, days 1-20 would be reimbursed at the full rate. On day 21, a decreasing adjustment factor of 2% is applied every 7 days throughout the remainder of the stay. NTA days 1-3 are reimbursed at an increased adjustment factor of 3. Day 4 through the remainder of the stay, the reimbursement is adjusted to a factor of 1. These adjustments are based on Medicare’s research indicating PT, OT, and NTA costs decrease the longer the resident stays.
Read More About the PDPM:

We Are Optimistic and Committed

We continue to be optimistic considering the enormous changes we are facing with this new payment model. CMS has an open forum and NASL and other groups are already collaborating on the details. CMS posted provider-specific impact data reflecting FY 2017 payment under RUG-IV compared with what the payment would have been under PDPM. After a full review, the total payment was indeed budget neutral.

You may view your SNF’s impact by following the link above (“CMS provided tools”). As we know more information, we will gladly pass it along. We are committed to being good partners in rehabilitation by informing our clients and colleagues with the most up to date information on rehabilitation and post-acute care.

Cassie Murray, OTR, QCP, IASSC CYB
Executive Director of Clinical Services
Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc.
cmurray@htstherapy.com | 800.486.4449 ext 210

HTS is a leading contract therapy and wellness provider in the Midwest. As the trusted authority in post-acute rehabilitation, our clients look to us to not only maintain exceptional clinical collaboration and outcomes, but also to be a trusted partner in helping their organizations perform better. Since 1988, HTS has been an independently owned, trusted, ethical provider of therapy services for senior living communities, home health agencies and hospitals.

Therapist owned and managed, our mission is to provide the very best people and programs to move our clients and employees forward so that together we can provide a “hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11 to those we serve. We have grown from a single provider (who has been a longstanding client since 1988) to a company employing over 1,800 therapists in the Midwest and Southern states.

Living With Arthritis

Living With Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition characterized by painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. More than 50 million adults have one of the 100 different types of arthritis. Although we think of arthritis as a disease associated with aging; it affects people of all ages, sexes and races.  It can be life changing and debilitating. In the United States it is the leading cause of disability.

 

Common Arthritis Joint Symptoms:

  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Decreased range of motion

*Symptoms may come and go and they may even change in their severity. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs.

 

Get Moving!

Walking is a great form of physical activity to help manage chronic diseases like Arthritis. In fact, walking has been shown to improve arthritis pain, fatigue, function, and quality of life.  Adults with arthritis are encouraged to get 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (brisk walking) per week and do muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week.

 

Therapy Can Help Manage Arthritis Symptoms

A physical or occupational therapist can help you manage the symptoms of arthritis. Physical therapists evaluate your needs and teach you how to exercise appropriately for joint mobility, muscle strength and fitness. Physical therapists can also recommend exercises for you to do on your own. These exercises might include; range-of-motion exercises, aerobic exercise and strength training. Exercise is extremely important in managing arthritis symptoms. It can help strengthen the muscles around your joints, help you maintain bone strength, give you more energy to get through the day, help you control your weight, improve your balance and help you enhance your quality of life. Occupational therapists can also help by teaching you how to protect and reduce stress on your joints while exercising and performing daily tasks. Talk to your doctor today about the benefits of both physical and occupational therapy for your arthritis needs.

 

Sources: Arthritis Foundation, CDC.gov

Difficulty Swallowing

Speech Therapy involves the evaluation and treatment of people who have trouble with speech, language, cognitive function, as well as swallowing disorders. Adults can develop these problems after a stroke, traumatic brain injury, concussion, or a neurological disease such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS or multiple sclerosis. Having a swallowing disorder, also known as dysphagia, is a challenging condition that can greatly affect a person’s quality of life.

Signs that a person may be struggling with a swallowing disorder:

  • Coughing during or right after eating or drinking
  • Wet or gurgly sounding voice during or after eating or drinking
  • Extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
  • Food or liquid leaking from the mouth or get stuck in the mouth
  • Recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating
  • Weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough

How Can Speech Therapy Help?

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) are uniquely qualified to help people who are experiencing problems with eating and drinking. During treatment, a Speech-Language Pathologist may recommend:

  • Swallowing exercises to improve muscle movement
  • Strategies to help swallow more effectively
  • Food and liquid textures that are easier and safer to swallow

Speech and language disorders affect more than 20 million Americans. Speech Therapy can help anyone struggling with speech, language, cognitive function, or swallowing disorders. Talk to your doctor today about how Speech Therapy can help you have a better quality of life!

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References: nidcd.nih.gov

Life is Good. Occupational Therapy Can Make it Better.

Occupational Therapists work every day to help others live their life to the fullest.

When a person is affected by illness, accident, disability, or a mental health condition, occupational therapists help individuals stay active and live well despite limitations. With the help of Occupational Therapists, people can live more independent and productive lives.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy
Nearly one-third of occupational therapists work with older adults. They perform many types of activities, using many types of therapies, with the overriding goal of helping older adults regain or maintain a level of independence that will allow them to live a healthy and productive life.

Daily Life Activities and Modifications
Occupational therapists help people with daily life activities such as bathing, dressing, feeding, homemaking, and more. By developing individualized strategies, chronic pain and arthritis no longer keep patients from participating in activities. Occupational therapists also provide patients with the tools they need to optimize their home environment in order to promote full participation in life activities.

Life Transitions
As we age, we go through numerous transition phases in life, such as retirement, relocation, widowhood, etc. Occupational therapists provide opportunities for patients to recognize the commonalities in their experiences and to gain problem-solving abilities to handle these transitions.

Fall Prevention
People often fall because of bone fragility, slower reflexes, loss of footing, and many other factors. These falls are dangerous as they may result in severe injuries and broken bones. Therapists help inform and instruct patients on staying active, conserving energy, and on techniques and methods of preventing falls.

Celebrate Occupational Therapy Month — April 2018

Occupational therapists dedicate their lives to helping others achieve their best life by helping them overcome life changes after an injury or illness or due to aging. If you think you or a loved one could benefit from the help of an occupational therapist talk to your doctor today!

 

 

Sources: AOTA, www.aota.org

Regaining Control: Managing Urinary Incontinence

Have you ever leaked urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or lift?
Have you ever had a sudden and uncontrollable need to urinate?
Have you ever lost control of your bladder?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may find yourself struggling with urinary incontinence and you’re not alone.

What is Urinary Incontinence?
It’s a condition defined as the inability to hold urine in the bladder. The severity ranges from occasional leaking due to a sneeze to having a sudden urge to urinate that you can’t make it quickly enough to the toilet.

Estimates say that urinary incontinence affects 25 million American adults. Though incontinence is a very common issue, most people don’t feel comfortable talking to their doctor about it or they think it is a normal part of aging. Urinary incontinence doesn’t have to be a normal part of the day-to-day, effective treatment options are available.

Talking to your doctor about urinary incontinence can be a tough subject, but don’t let a feeling of embarrassment keep you from your best life. Some treatments include: medication, surgery, injections, bladder training, fluid/diet management, and exercise. The treatment that you and your doctor decide on will be determined by the severity and the type of urinary incontinence you suffer from.

Therapy’s Role in Treating Urinary Incontinence
Physical and Occupational Therapy can help you regain control over your life and bladder. After performing an initial assessment, your therapist will create an individualized treatment plan specifically for you.

Therapy can provide information about:

  • Diet and nutrition — to help you avoid food and drinks that may irritate the bladder
  • Changing the behaviors that make your symptoms worse
  • Techniques to decrease urinary urge and frequency, such as muscle strengthening or stretching
  • Maintaining a healthy bathroom schedule
  • Drinking healthy fluids regularly to maintain hydration
  • Maintaining a regular exercise regimen or active lifestyle

Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and ask if therapy can help.

 

Sources: Health.com, APTA

Strong at Heart

Did you know that the heart is the hardest working muscle in your body? The heart beats 115,000 times a day, pumping about 2,000 gallons of blood throughout the body. Because the heart works so hard, we need to do our best to take care of it.

By keeping your heart healthy, you decrease your chances for heart disease which can be a very serious condition. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

Take a look at these heart healthy tips to find out what changes you could make today!

Heart Healthy Eating  Did you know foods you eat each day can have a big impact on the health of your heart? Limit foods high in sugar and fat. Instead eat more vegetables, nuts, fish, and chicken. Nutritionists recommend 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day to help prevent disease.

Maintain a Healthy Weight  Obesity can cause high cholesterol, high blood pressure and lead to type 2 diabetes. Losing just 10lbs can have a great impact on lowering blood pressure and reducing risk for heart disease.

Stay Active  You are never too old to exercise. Just like any other muscle in the body, the heart needs exercise to stay healthy. Research shows that exercising 30 minutes a day, 4-5 times each week helps to control blood pressure and strengthen our heart and bones.

 

Easy Heart Healthy Snack • POPCORN SNACK MIX
Try popcorn that’s popped in healthy oil then lightly sprinkle with dark-chocolate chips and nutrient-rich pistachios

 

Implementing these heart healthy changes into your life can help you prevent heart disease or improve your condition if you’re already suffering from heart disease. If you currently suffer from a cardiac/cardiopulmonary condition, talk to your doctor about your treatment plan and ask if Physical or Occupational therapy can help. Cardiac Rehabilitation programs are designed to help you control your symptoms and resume an active and productive life within the limits of your condition.

 

Sources: Live Strong, CDC, Heart.org, Healthline

Pneumonia Can Be Prevented – Lower Your Risk

Pneumonia is lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the air sacs fill with liquid, rendering them useless for breathing. Having pneumonia is very taxing on the body, especially for older adults. Older adults are more susceptible to developing pneumonia especially after a surgery. Weakened immune systems, pain medications, sedatives, and anesthesia are all factors that contribute to the vulnerability of postoperative patients. Pain medications, sedatives, and anesthesia all cause patients to take shallower breaths. Breathing deeply helps to keep mucus from gathering in the lungs and prevent the development of pneumonia.

The symptoms of pneumonia are often difficult for older adults to recognize as they frequently mirror ailments that are common for the aging population. Pay close attention to changes in your body.

Common Symptoms Include:

  • Coughing up mucus
  • Confusion
  • Fever
  • Lethargy
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Pain in the lungs when breathing or coughing

Recognizing the symptoms of pneumonia is crucial for inhibiting the further development of the illness, but prevention is an even better solution. You can reduce your risk of getting pneumonia by following a few simple tips.

  1. CDC recommends two pneumococcal vaccines for adults 65 years or older.
  2. Get a flu shot every year to prevent seasonal influenza. The flu is a common cause of pneumonia,
    so preventing the flu is a good way to prevent pneumonia.
  3. Stay away from people who are sick.
  4. Manage and prevent conditions like diabetes.
  5. Limit your contact with cigarette smoke.
  6. Healthy habits such as: hand washing, dental hygiene, eating right, exercise, and deep breathing
    exercises after surgery are other important factors to help pneumonia prevention.

Did You Know? Physical Therapy can improve your ability to exercise and address difficulty breathing with helpful breathing exercises. Talk with your doctor to learn if therapy could benefit you.

Resources:
https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/top-pneumonia-facts.pdf
http://www.cpmc.org/learning/documents/pneumonia-ws.html
https://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pneumonia

Don’t Let Diabetes Stop Your Holiday Fun!

Managing diabetes during the holidays can be challenging. Health often takes a back seat to attending parties,
shopping, and travel. Planning ahead and making deliberate choices can make all the difference in keeping
your diabetes in check. Use these tips below to make your holidays healthier!

Plan for Parties

  1. Offer to bring a dish to share. Knowing that you have one healthy option can help you keep your
    carbohydrates in line.
  2. Eat slowly, and savor the holiday treats. If possible, eat near your usual meal time and keep
    carbohydrates within your normal meal parameters.
  3. Skip seconds and plan for dessert. Let yourself indulge but remember to keep it in moderation.

Plan for Travel

  1. Create a travel checklist. This can help you ensure you have packed all your medical supplies.
  2. Create an itinerary and pack snacks. Staying on schedule can help keep meal and medication on track
    throughout your trip. Having snacks on hand can help ensure your sugar level stays where it needs to be.
  3. Check your blood sugar often so you’re aware of any effects travel may have on your body.

Stay Active
Whether you’re attending parties or going to visit family and friends out of state, one of the most important
keys to staying healthy during the holidays is exercise. Exercise is known to help lower blood sugar. Find
time for exercise by taking a couple extra laps at the mall, a rest stop, or the airport.

How Therapy Can Help!
Physical Therapists can help people with diabetes improve their ability to move, perform daily tasks, reduce
pain, and sometimes even lower their blood glucose levels. Physical therapy treatments may also help patients
with diabetes associated skin problems and wounds heal more rapidly than they would without treatment.
If you or a loved one has diabetes, talk to your doctor today about how physical therapy may benefit you!

 

Five-Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies | Source: Martha Stewart Living, March 2015
Nut butter does double duty by replacing both flour and regular butter in these two-bite (gluten-free!) treats.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup almond butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, stir together almond butter, chocolate chips, sugar, eggs, and salt until a dough forms. Place 1-tablespoon mounds of dough 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake cookies until puffed and tops are set, about 10 minutes.