Eating healthier heals inflammation?

Every day our therapists are treating more and more patients with chronic joint pain.

We notice the biggest reason is related to their diet. Foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, high sugar and refined carbohydrates have been shown to increase inflammation in injured muscles and joints.

Some of these studies conducted have shown that a lack of fruits, vegetables, and nuts in the diet can actually cause joints to break down. An increase in refined grains and lack of fiber intake can expand these inflammatory markers. Additionally, low to moderate sugar sweetened drinks have been shown to increase inflammation even in healthy individuals.

One of the ways improve your diet is to avoid all refined carbohydrates, increase your fruit, nut, and vegetable intakes, and avoid drinking soft drinks. If you are unsure what to do next, then contact one of our therapists at Trilogy Therapy Services. We look forward to hearing from you, please contact us at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837


Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!!!

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Isn’t it ironic that with all the advancements in today’s healthcare that something as simple as exercise can create the most measureable benefits to your health? Exercise is a great way to boost your immune system. It also lowers the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and obesity.

But why don’t people exercise?

Maybe it seems too hard. Maybe it is something else. Maybe they don’t know how to do it. Maybe they don’t think they need it. Regardless of your physical ability, you HAVE TO EXCERCISE. Exercising can help prevent many things. It prevents weight gain and helps maintain weight loss. Worried about disease or something else? No matter your current weight, being active boosts your lipoproteins or “the good cholesterol in your body” and decreases the unhealthy triglycerides. This keeps your blood flowing smoothly and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Exercise is not only healthy physically but also mentally.

Nothing is better for increasing your energy and confidence levels. In a recent study done in 2015 by the American Psychiatric Association, regular exercise can prevent depression and physical activity stimulates the various brain chemicals to make you feel happier and relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and a boost in self-esteem.

Even if you have a busy schedule, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

If you want to lose weight or meet specific goals, you will need to exercise more. Remember to check in with a Trilogy Therapy Services therapist before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven’t worked out it in a long time. When you are ready to do so, please contact us at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837


Facts about Falls

Did you know that every year millions of elderly people (those 65 and up) may experience a detrimental fall? One out three elderly people fall each year. However, less than half consult their doctor after a fall. Did you know that falling once doubles your chance of falling again? It crucial that you know why it happens and what you can do to prevent future accidents.

Why does this happen?

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury along with being the most common cause of non-fatal trauma hospital admissions among elderly adults.
  • There are almost 3 million fall-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms every year.
  • Every 11 seconds, an elderly person is treated for a fall while every 19 minutes one dies.
  • There are over 800,000 hospitalizations and 27,000 deaths every year due to falls.
  • Falling is expensive! In 2013, the total cost of fall injuries was almost $35 billion. This number is expect to increase as the population ages and may reach $68 billion by the year 2020.

Regardless of injury, a growing number of older adults fear falling and as a result limit their social engagement and activities. This results in further physical decline, isolation, helplessness, and depression among those 65 and up.

Research has identified that there are many risk factors that contribute to these fall statistics. Lower body weakness, Vitamin D deficiency, walking and balance difficulties, improper use of medicine, such as sedatives and antidepressants, vision problems, foot pain resulting from bad footwear, and last but not least, the environment and hazards associated with it.

Injuries from Falls

The most common injury from a fall is a fracture in the hip, pelvis, spine, hand, ankle, arm, or leg. The hip is the most serious type of injury from a fall and is the leading cause of injury and loss of elderly independence. The healthier an elderly adult who has been hospitalized in a nursing home for a broken hip is, the more likely they are able to live on their own after proper treatment and rehabilitation. Most of those who cannot return to an independent lifestyle after such injuries had physical and/or mental disabilities and many needed long-term nursing home care.

How Trilogy Therapy Services can help prevent falls in nursing homes?

Fall prevention that occurs in nursing homes presents a host of challenges. It requires not only the combination of medical treatment, rehab, and environmental changes, but proper fall prevention can be implemented at the staff, organization, and patient levels. The most effective way to intervene is to address multiple factors with the nursing home staff. The therapists at Trilogy Therapy Services assess patients after a fall to identify and address risk factors associated with underlying medical conditions, making changes in their nursing home environment to make it easier for them to move around safely, provide them with hip pads to prevent hip fractures, create and structure exercise programs to improve balance, flexibility, walking ability, and strength in their nursing home, and teach other residents who are not impaired strategies to avoid their own potential hazardous situations.

Treatment

Trilogy Therapy Services focus is to prevent injuries to those who are at risk for falls. We will put together a comprehensive physical therapy fall evaluation, which includes, but not limited to: a thorough history, balance assessment, functional mobility assessment, and muscle strength evaluation. Once the various impairments have been identified our experienced physical therapy team works with the nursing home patient and/or elderly person to develop a treatment plan that will help avoid future falls. The treatments that our nursing home patients receive consist of balance training, education on fall prevention, and strength/endurance training. Our ultimate goal is for our nursing home patients to transition from our program into their own home environment for the long-term.

Contact Trilogy Therapy Services, especially if you experience a fall injury regardless of your age. Our experienced team of therapists will choose treatments to help restore normal movement and aid in getting you back to your normal daily life. And if you are in the Russellville, Dover, Little Rock and all other central Arkansas areas, please give us a call at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837

We look forward to seeing you soon and have a great week.


Pre and Post Pregnancy Physical Therapy

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One of the most common issues for pregnant women is lower back pain. Lower back pain can be extremely uncomfortable and can linger even after the baby is born. More then likely pregnant women experience these symptoms due to: additional weight gain, stress, or poor posture. As the baby grows it shifts a woman’s center of gravity forward. This shift will generate stress to lower back and may cause women to have poor posture and slump forward.

Who is affected?

Over 70% of women will develop lower back pain during their pregnancy. In recent years, the average age of first-time mothers has increased significantly. Many women are waiting to have children after they finish school or pursue a career. The average age women having their first child are between ages 24 and 25. Women between ages 30 and 34 consist of 22% of first-time mothers. Fertility experts caution women in their 30’s not to wait too long to start trying, especially if a couple wants multiple children. It’s important to consult your doctor before attempting to pregnant in order to avoid complications.


Our licensed physical therapists offer strength, flexibility and stabilization programs. Long-term stress on the lower back can linger. So our staff is here to help make your pregnancy a positive and less painful experience. Not addressing these issues might leave you vulnerable to other injuries. So if you’re a new mother, or know someone who is or is expecting, please contact us at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837


Why you should forget everything you think you know about MCL Injuries

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What is the MCL and why should I be careful? 

Your MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) is a wide and thick band of tissue that runs down the part of your knee from the thighbone to the shinbone. The main function is to keep the knee stable and prevent the leg from extending way too far inward. So when you injure it, it can really impact your day to day life and it can take a long time to recover from.

Types of MCL Injuries

  1. Grade 1 Injury: Usually gets better in 1-3 weeks and may only need crutches and home treatment for short time.
  2. Grade 2 Injury: Usually this one gets better in a month but you may need to wear a hinged knee brace and limit the weight put on your leg.
  3. Grade 3 Injury: This injury requires a hinged brace for a few months and can take 4-6 weeks to properly heal.

So how does it happen? 

An MCL injury can occur with any activity that involves bending, twisting, or quick change of direction with your legs. It is usually caused by a direct blow to the knee and this is the most common leg injury in sports. Usually the knee is hit on the outer aspect which causes it to stretch and/or tear the MCL. When it happens you will immediately feel pain in the right inside of your knee. You may not hear a pop or tear, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Many times people will try and walk it off, treating it with pain medication, but the more pressure you put the knee, the greater the injury can become.

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When Golden State Warriors all-star guard and current NBA MVP, Steph Curry sprained his right knee while guarding a Rockets player during this year’s NBA playoffs, it didn’t seem like a big issue. However, when Curry’s left foot appeared to slip on the court first, causing him to lose his balance, he wasn’t able to plant his right foot. His leg twisted awkwardly at the knee and he fell forward to the court. This injury caused Him to miss Games 2 and 3 and almost caused them to lose the first round playoff series. Luckily, he treated it in time or we might not have had the thrilling Western Conference 3 game comeback!

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Next Steps:

Now you know little more than you did before. If you experience this kind of injury, please contact your Trilogy Therapy Physical Therapist immediately. They can choose specific activities and treatments to help restore normal movement and aid in getting you back to your normal daily life. So if you are in the Russellville, Dover, Little Rock areas, please give us a call at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837

We look forward to seeing you soon and have a great week.


Coming back from ACL Injury

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We’ve seen it far too often when watching sports, a star athlete is heading down the field to make a great play, but right before he can make the game winning score, goes down holding his knee, and carted off while you wait to find out if he is going to be okay, as you realize “their goes your season”.  More than likely you have just witnessed an ACL injury and you didn’t even know it.  ACL injuries are most commonly associated with sports, but they can happen to anyone, at any time.

So what is the ACL?

The anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) are one of four ligaments in the knee that connects the femur to the tibia.  The ACL is used to stabilize the knee, controls the rotation of the leg, and forward movement of the tibia.

Who does this affect and the cause?

Approximately 200,000 Americans experience ACL-related injuries each year.  Almost half of these injuries require reconstructive surgery.  ACL tears are four to six times more likely in females than in males.

Excessive stress on this ligament could cause it to stretch too far, which could result in a tear.  People generally characterize the injury as a “pop” of the ligament followed by intense pain and swelling.  Many would expect most ACL injuries to be a result of direct contact injuries. However, 70% of all ACL tears are the result of non-contact injuries. An ACL tear can occur when someone:

  • Twists their knee while keeping their foot planted on the ground
  • Suddenly stops while running
  • Suddenly shifts their weight from one leg to the other
  • Jumps and lands on an extended (straightened) knee
  • Stretch their knee farther than they should
  • Experiences a direct hit to their knee

What treatment is right for me?

After experiencing an ACL injury, loss of leg strength, motion, and stability of the knee happens. It is important to regain motion and strength as soon as possible. Surgery may not be necessary, but exercise to regain muscle and knee motion should begin before starting treatment. If you do not treat this injury, you may even develop osteoarthritis in your knee. You want to start slowly and not push yourself to the point where you feel pain. Consult your therapist (Trilogy Therapy) about the best progress for exercise. Your physical therapist at Trilogy Therapy will design a physical rehab program for you that takes into consideration your normal level of activity, fitness, and extent of your ACL injury.

Coming back from ACL Injury

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When three-time Super Bowl MVP, Tom Brady, experienced his own battle with an ACL injury in the 2008 NFL season.  The New England Patriots’s quarterback rehabbed in the offseason and came back to play the next season.  All while he was only ten to eleven months out of post-op recovery. This is a remarkable recovery that displays his incredible work ethic and patience. ACL injuries are never fun, but with the right mindset and work ethic, the results will show and you can recover from it.

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So if you are in the Russellville, Dover, Little Rock areas, please give us a call at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837 We look forward to seeing you soon and have a great week.


Therapy Talk: Truth about Body Weight and Knee Pain You Didn’t Know!

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For this week’s Therapy Talk, we are going to delve into the truth about your weight and how this can effect your knees.

How is body weight and my knees connected?

You may occasionally think about how your body weight can affect your knee pain, however you may not know how traumatic this effects you just by adding a few pounds to your body. Add body weight places an extra load on the joints that increases the stress the joint can handle. This also accelerates the breakdown of cartilage. But did you know that for every 1 pound of extra weight, the amount of force placed on the knee while walking can be up to 5 extra pounds? 10 pounds of added weight can make the knee feel the force of 50 pounds! Now multiply this by 1,000 steps a day and you are at a whopping 50,000 pounds of force on your knee!

No wonder the top 20 percentile for obesity has a 10 times the normal risk of knee osteoarthritis! Furthermore, just imagine walking down a hill versus walking on level ground. It can be even higher, up to 2-3 times the force. In fact, women who wear high heels are at a 23% greater risk according to studies conducted on knee pain.

What does this mean for me?

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So as overweightness decreases, the development of osteoarthritis in the knee can greatly be reduced. For every 10 pounds of weight loss, those who were of average height lowered their risk by 50%. Researchers in a recent study at Duke demonstrated that a 10% reduction in body weight in elderly men decreased their risk by 20% and 32% for women.

Finally, when you are ready to contact someone in the Russellville, Dover, Little Rock areas, please give us a call at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837

We look forward to seeing you soon and have a great week.


Therapy Talk: Rheumatoid Arthritis

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In our first ever Therapy Talk we covered the topic of osteoarthritis. Today we’re going to discuss rheumatoid arthritis and how it can effect you since it is the second most common form of arthritis. This autoimmune disease affects nearly 1.3 million people in the United States, and 75 percent are women. Early signs of this disease typically develop in those between the ages 30 to 60.

How do I tell if I have Rheumatoid Arthritis?

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Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include stiffness and joint inflammation. Other signs are decreased energy levels, loss of appetite, low fever, firm lumps under the skin, and dry eyes and mouth. Your hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, and knee are most likely affected. Anyone experiencing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis should be checked by your doctor. Early recognition is vital to prevent further damage of cartilage. When there is a loss of cartilage, spacing between bones become smaller and smaller. This not only decreases mobility, but can also lead to joint deformity. Joint damage is extremely painful and cannot be reversed. Sandy Koufax had his Major League Baseball career cut short due to rheumatoid arthritis in his left pitching elbow. Koufax retired from baseball at age 30, after pitching 12 seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. Widely considered by most as one of the best pitchers of all time, the six-time all-star was the youngest player ever to be elected in to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

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So what does that mean for you?

As we said above, early detection is key. Our physical therapists assess Rheumatoid Arthritis in an ongoing manner. Each patient is evaluated to see how joint flexibility, muscle strength, bone alignment, endurance, mobility, and the ability for normal daily living. It is a delicate balance to enhance your mobility without over tiring oneself or creating arthritis flare ups. The object is to help you maximize your independence and it’s important to treat your arthritis because management of your symptoms preserves and conserves independent living. It can effect anyone, regardless of age and it is important to educate yourself to prevent further problems or prevent potential rheumatoid arthritis. Lastly, though this might seem the hardest and most painful, exercise, exercise, exercise! The results may surprise you but exercising can regularly help lubricate joints and prevent further and excessive stiffness. Working out helps strengthen your muscles. Your joints rely on this as a kind of continuous support because it means less work is put on them and they can fully function with less imitation. So it is important to exercise, but make sure you do it properly and safely.

Finally, if you receive treatment for your rheumatoid arthritis, you are more likely to have an active life and are able to participate in various social and work activities. So when you are ready to contact someone in the Russellville, Dover, Little Rock areas, please give us a call at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837

We look forward to seeing you soon and have a great week.


Therapy Talk: Why should you Exercise?

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We all know what it is like to be resistant to the idea of exercise. Many of us, every New Years make that resolution to spend more time at the gym. And yet, we time and time again ignore it because we are simply too busy. When those time occur, I want you to look back at this article for solid evidence for why exercise is so important.

Muscle Strength Decline

Did you know that after the age of 35, muscle strength declines 8-10% every 10 years of your life? By time you are in your 50s and 60s you can lose as much as 30% of your muscle. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that physical inactivity is the 4th leading risk factor for death. A recent study has even indicated that being inactive has such a high risk that those who sit for longer than an hour each day are at increased risk of death. A 12 year study by the New England Journal of Medicine stated that retired men who walked for 2 or more miles a day lived longer than those who walked less than a mile each day.

Related to disease prevention, those who exercise have a lower risk of colon and breast cancer. Individuals who have good physical function after they turn 40 lower their risk of stroke by as much as 50%! According to a study by the journal Neurology that climbing stairs, kneeling, bending and lifting can help elongate life by 41%. Men and women who are physically active at least twice a week are also at lower risk of developing heart disease than those who sit at home. Research published in the International Journal of Obesity demonstrated walking 4 or more hours a week could also reduce risk of gaining weight around the waist.

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As former NFL running back Stan Edwards once said, “Those who think they have no time for exercise will have to find time for illness.” So now is the time to get up, get to the gym, visit your local therapy office (Trilogy Therapy Services) and be healthy today!

So when you are ready to contact someone in the Russellville, Dover, Little Rock areas, please give us a call at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837

We look forward to seeing you soon and have a great day.


Therapy Talk: Osteoporosis

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Part of our treatment process involves educating each of our patients.  This not only assists in the recovery process, but also aids in the prevention of further injuries.  So in this week’s Therapy Talk we will discuss a little bit about osteoporosis, what it is, who is affected, and osteoporosis treatments.

So what is Osteoporosis exactly?

Osteoporosis is a condition where thinning bones become weak and brittle. Common symptoms often include stooped posture, loss of height, back pain, and bone fracture. Anyone with osteoporosis potentially runs a high risk of a bone fracture to occur. The most common places where an osteoporotic fracture can develop are in the hip, wrist, forearm, ankles, and back bones.

Who is affected?

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Over 54 million Americans worldwide are affected by this condition.  The National Osteoporosis Foundation predicts that this number will rise to 71.2 million by the year 2030.  Women who are over the age of 50 with a low body weight are most likely at risk for osteoporosis. Furthermore, one in three women will experience osteoporotic fractures and one in five men will experience an osteoporotic fracture within their lifetime.  That being said, an osteoporotic fracture happens once every three seconds, resulting in over 8.9 million annual occurrences.

Osteopenia is often considered the “precursor” to osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis and osteopenia are related conditions linked to bone loss. Academy Award winning Actress Gwyneth Paltrow experienced her own battle with osteopenia.  Paltrow wrote in a recent post:  “I suffered a pretty severe tibial plateau fracture a few years ago (requiring surgery) which lead the Orthopaedic Surgeon to give me a bone scan, at which point it was discovered I had the beginning stages of osteopenia. This led my western/eastern doctors in New York to test my Vitamin D levels, which turned out to be the lowest they had ever seen (not a good thing).   I went on a prescription strength level of Vitamin D and was told to…spend a bit of time in the sun.”

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So what are the Treatments for Osteoporosis?

We at Trilogy Therapy Services in Dover, Arkansas recommend that anyone with osteoporosis focus on healthy dieting, weight-bearing exercise, and medication to prevent any further bone loss. Supervision by one of our licensed physical therapists is recommended and advised to prevent any additional fractures. If you have any further question and are ready to contact someone in the Russellville, Dover, Little Rock areas, please give us a call at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837. We look forward to hearing from you.