There’s an epidemic going on right now, and it’s sure to be invading the offices of healthcare professionals around the nation. Unlike the opioid epidemic, this issue is a little harder to identify. It could be found in the pee wee football player that takes a hard hit. Or, it could be a college soccer player that takes a ball to the head. Undiagnosed concussions have been plaguing sports for decades now, and health professionals are still trying to diagnose them correctly. What we once deemed as “getting your bell rung” is now scientifically proven to be a much more serious issue. Luckily, a new initiative to perform baseline concussion testing is catching concussions at an early stage before they can turn into some even more deadly. Below we’ll take a look at the importance of baseline concussion testing and why it could be a lifesaver to thousands of athletes every single year. The Importance of Baseline Concussion Testing Apply to allied travel assignments here! What is Baseline Concussion Testing? Before we can get into the importance of baseline concussion testing, we first need to know exactly what it is. Those who are unfamiliar with the test, might think that asking “how many fingers am I holding up?” would cover it. Unfortunately, this isn’t exactly the best practice. Instead, the baseline concussion test is a little more extensive. Baseline concussion testing is a pre-season exam that assesses an athlete’s balance and brain function. This includes learning and memory skills, the ability to pay attention or concentrate, how quickly he or she thinks and solve problems, as well as for the presence of any concussion symptoms. Healthcare professionals can then use this as a starting point when they test a patient who may have had a concussion. Let’s take a look at the importance of baseline concussion testing below. Comparison Is Crucial One of the toughest things about diagnosing a concussion is that your sample size is only one person. Since every individual is different, each patient must be on a case by case basis. All are different. Baseline testing gives health professionals the ability to diagnose and treat the issue based on the specific case. A baseline test creates a “normal” that is comparable to the current situation. This will give insight into the injury and will ensure that...
Michael Phelps created quite the buzz in Rio when he showed up to the platform sporting some concerning bruises. However, we quickly learned that there is no cause for alarm, as they are a common side effect due to cupping. Cupping is an ancient Eastern physical therapy practice of strategically placing cups on the body to create suction, known in the industry as myofascial decompression. This method stimulates blood flow and decompresses tissues with negative pressure. It’s ideal to decrease swelling, aid healing to acute injuries, and relax tense muscles. It’s no wonder why Phelps turns to cupping to decompress after a long day of competing. But he is hardly the first Olympian to use this technique. Although cupping is becoming an increasingly popular trend among U.S. athletes, you could have spotted a Chinese swimmer or two sporting the same red circles in Beijing four years ago. Cupping is typically followed up with a massage or paired with acupuncture to expedite the benefits. More than just a way to soothe sore muscles, cupping treats a wide a variety of ailments, such as asthma and arthritis. K tape takes the silver Cupping isn’t the only form of physical therapy that’s creating a buzz at the Olympics in Rio. Viewers are getting curious about the brightly colored tape seen on volleyball players. Far from being a fashion statement, kinesiology tape, or k tape, is popular among athletes as they aid recovery and mobility. This ultimately leads to better performance. Like cupping, k tape is another Eastern medical alternative that was developed in the 1970s. K tape supports or activates a specific muscle when strategically placed, and it allows promotes lymphatic drainage to decrease swelling. It may seem useless to spectators. But it works because the skin is being gently pulled from hard working muscles to increase blood flow, just like cupping. Do you see the trend here? Not just for athletes, k tape pairs nicely with other forms of physical therapy to treat other ailments, like patellar tendonitis. Naturally, a professional best applies k tape, but the technique is simple enough that most athletes are known to apply it themselves. Another form of therapy that is popular among athletes is the massage system, NormaTec. Best described as an “air massage”, sore athletes slip into a suit designed to compress air. This creates a pressure onto muscles to speed...
Robots, video games, and designer bracelets—What comes to mind? It might be safe to say that physical therapy wasn’t your first thought. With our growing technological world, there are some physical therapy gadgets out there that are making rehabilitation more fun. they’re while shortening patients’ healing times and improving overall comfort. But don’t take my word for it, check out these five futuristic healers. 5...
