REPOST: Lift With Purpose: Fundraiser to help young boy receive physical therapy

Cerebral palsy is caused by a lack of oxygenation to the infant’s brain during childbirth and results in stunted locomotor or physiological development later in life. This article features former cerebral palsy sufferer Alex Nicely, whose extensive physical therapy has enabled him to walk, and how he has been raising funds and awareness to help other cerebral palsy patients in need of treatment.

Image Source: dnj.com

MURFREESBORO – For Alex Nicely, who has cerebral palsy, weightlifting is more than a sport; it’s become a way of life for him.

And he’s holding a weightlifting meet at Gold’s Gym on Saturday to benefit Lift With Purpose, a nonprofit he founded to help children with cerebral palsy receive much-needed therapy.

“If a baby goes without oxygen (during birth) there is damage to the brain and that damage depends on how long the baby goes without oxygen. It affected only my lower extremities,” said Nicely, who was unable to walk on his own until he was 5.

But when he did start walking, he could only go short distances. Then puberty hit.

“When I was 13, I went through a growth spurt. My muscles grew, but my bones didn’t because of the cerebral palsy,” Nicely recalled.

By 14, he was bound to a wheelchair.

“My parents could not accept this fate for me. They researched for months for the best alternative because traditional physical therapy was bearing no results,” Nicely said.

His parents eventually found an intensive physical therapy in Poland, and it was pricey — $10,000 total.

“This type of therapy was not approved for use in the States and was very expensive. With help from our church to get things started and the generosity of the community, all the funds were raised so that I could undergo the treatment I needed,” Nicely said.

The treatment involved the use of a weighted Adeli suit, which was originally developed in Russia to help cosmonauts counteract the effects of weightlessness. Nicely’s family traveled to Poland for four to six weeks at a time over a period of five treatment sessions. He had to wear the Adeli suit six days a week for six hours a day while undergoing the “intensive treatment,” he said.

Purpose of the suit was to build “muscle memory.” So when he would return home after each visit, he continued intensive exercise.

Ten years after being confined to a wheelchair, the 25-year-old can now dead lift 405 pounds and squat 285 pounds. But Nicely wanted to pay it forward, so to speak, and help others.

“I wanted to find a way to help people not as fortunate as I was. So I took my love of weightlifting and combined that with my desire to help others and created Lift With Purpose,” Nicely said.

He decided to start a clothing line targeting the weightlifting community and use profits “to help others combat these expenses (of therapy),” he said.

And still, he wanted to do even more. So he devised a plan for the weightlifting meet on Saturday at Gold’s Gym, known as “The Mecca” for the community of power lifters.

All the proceeds from entry fees for Saturday’s meet will benefit a young boy named Ethan, whose left arm and right leg are affected by cerebral palsy. With assistance, the boy’s family will be able to take him to a clinic in Utah.

“It’s about $2,000 a week and most insurances don’t cover it because it’s considered still experimental. So we want to send him out there for a week or maybe two weeks,” Nicely said.

All of the proceeds from the clothing sales also benefit others with cerebral palsy to receive treatments and equipment they need.

“As a result of these experiences, I have learned to never take my abilities for granted,” Nicley said. “As a result I am now walking and doing more than I thought I ever would.”

Former investment banker Doug Sparks is a world-class pole vault athlete who founded Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPT), a recruitment network that connects licensed physical therapists with the medical and healthcare institutions that need them. For news on fitness, injury management, and physical therapy, follow this Google+ page.

REPOST: 7 Tips to Prevent Summer Sports Injuries

Summer is the time for outdoor activities and sports, but with it comes the possibility of injury. Chelsea Rice of the Boston Globe writes about the rising frequency of sports injuries in the summer months and what individuals can do to prevent them.

Boston , MA - June 20th, 2014--Rob Demerski (cq) of the North End practices tennis with his daughter Chase,6, at Prince St. Park tennis court. Image source: Boston.com

Summer is the high season for trauma, especially in the Northeast. It’s a time when more people are outside and active after being cooped up indoors for the long winter months. As a result, we often jump back into sports literally with a full swing despite being a little out of shape. It’s a behavior that seasonally results in higher numbers of injuries and emergency room visits.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), nearly 2 million people every year suffer sports-related injuries and are seen in the emergency department for treatment, the cost of which can range from $2,294 for a sprain and $7,666 for an arm fracture.

In the United States, HHS data shows that the sports with the highest number of injuries among individuals above the age of 25 are:

• Bicycling – 126.5 per 100,000 individuals

• Basketball – 61.2 per 100,000 individuals

• Baseball and softball – 41.3 per 100,000 individuals

• Football – 25.2 per 100,000 individuals

• Soccer – 23.8 per 100,000 individuals

But you don’t need a contact sport to end up at the doctor’s office this summer. Plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, stressed fractures, and pulled muscles also occur in higher frequency as runners, high school, and college athletes begin training in earnest during the warmer months for fall sports and race season.

“Common things this season are chronic overuse injuries and acute traumatic reinjuries,” said Dr. Daniel Osuch, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine at New England Baptist Hospital and is a part of the physician group Orthopedics New England. Common overuse injuries include tendonitis and stress fractures. “These injuries don’t necessarily correlate to experience level either. Everyone from experienced runners to novices training for their first 5K end up in my office from these injuries.”

It’s gorgeous outside! How can we prevent these injuries and still have a good time? Here are six tips from Dr. Osuch.

1. Stay hydrated.

“Good nutrition and hydration is a good way to keep muscles working efficiently and avoid secondary problems,” said Dr. Osuch. “Dehydrated muscles won’t work as efficiently, so you’re more likely to have a cramp or pull a muscle.”

ASPE computations from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for 2012. Image source: Boston.com

For activities that last longer than 45 minutes to an hour, Dr. Osuch suggests a sports drink with electrolytes or carb replacement in addition to water, but he warns that drinks like this tend to be high in sugar. “Half water is best with a sports drink.”

2. Take a warm-up lesson.

If it’s your first time playing a sport, or if you haven’t played in a while, don’t be afraid to take a lesson.

“Hire a trained professional who will pick up on those bad habits and poor form and correct you,” said Dr. Osuch. “Whether it’s golf, running, or even swimming, bad technique with strokes in swimming can give you shoulder and lower back pain.”

If you can’t afford a private session, Dr. Osuch suggests finding an experienced friend or someone who is familiar with the sport, or even watching self-help videos online to learn good tips. Bad habits from poor form can result in both acute injuries and chronic injuries like tendonitis.

3. Find a workout partner.

Having a friend with you, first of all, makes the sport or activity more fun. But second, and perhaps more importantly, you will have someone there.

“It’s important during these summer sports to watch out for one another and have someone who can troubleshoot poor technique and make sure you’re being safe,” said Dr. Osuch. “Especially in the summer when people are biking or swimming, it's good to have someone with you in case someone bad happens and you do get injured.”

4. Get the proper equipment.

One of the most effective ways to prevent injury is to wear the proper shoes. Dr. Osuch advises people to be sure they’re playing the sport a specific shoe is meant for and on the surface it’s meant for. Wearing kleeted shoes meant for soft ground on artificial turf, or running in tennis court shoes are both mistakes that can lead to summer sports injuries or chronic pain. For athletes complaining of pain, Dr. Osuch says he often asks about shoes first.

“Make sure you have new shoes with good arch support and firm heel support. If you feel the back of the shoes and squeeze them, they shouldn’t be easily compressable,” said Dr. Osuch. “Minimal running shoes are good for some people but not all people. Those shoes can predispose people with tendonitis, but the trouble is I see people when they already have tendonitis and the shoes have failed.”

Especially if you have flat feet or pronate when you walk, Dr. Osuch says supportive shoes make a huge difference in preventing injury.

5. Be mindful.

For runners, being mindful of where you run and how you run can be just as important as proper shoes.

“Lots of people run facing traffic, so if you always run in the road in the same direction, you’re always landing with one foot higher than the other foot, which predisposes you to tendonitis as well,” said Dr. Osuch. “It’s also important to change the surface. So don’t always run on the road. Run on the sidewalk, track, or trail.” Find paths as well with different curves or hills to keep it fresh as well.

Dr. Osuch also warns people to be wary of changing grips in golf or tennis. “Generally, be sensitive and mindful if you do something new,” he said. “If you develop pain relatively shortly thereafter, then take a step back and readjust, or call in an expert.”

6. Prepare your muscles.

One of the best ways to prevent injury is to build the target muscles for the sport or activity you’re getting back into. Dustin Martin and Brian Weller, co-owners of Barry’s Bootcamp Boston, have singled out a few of their favorite summer activities and strength training moves that can help improve performance and prevent injury.

Biking: Since it involves a steady grind on the legs, you want a lower body that can handle it and get you up those hills without hopping off your bike.

Try this workout:

Right Leg Bulgarian Split Squats – do for 60 seconds, then finish by holding squat for 30 seconds

Left Leg Bulgarian Split Squats – do for 60 seconds, then finish by holding squat for 30 seconds

Goblet Squats – 60 seconds (Repeat 3 times)

Surfing: A full body activity, a strong core is key for handling the board and maneuvering through unsteady waves.

Try this workout:

Jackknife – 60 seconds

Vertical Toe Touch – 60 seconds

V-Ups – 60 seconds (Repeat 2-3 times)

Golfing: Sure you can swing a club with all your might, but a solid core and lower back is what actually gives you the power to drive that ball 300 yards.

Bird Dog Right Arm/Left Leg – 90 seconds

Bird Dog Left Arm/Right Leg – 90 seconds

Superman – do for 60 seconds, then finish with a 30 second hold (Repeat 3 times)

Tennis: Forget the grunts, and focus on toning the arms and shoulders for a killer serve.

Butterfly – 60 seconds

Tricep Kickbacks – 60 seconds

Arnold Press – 60 seconds (Repeat 3 times)

7. Get out there.

“Enjoy it and have fun,” said Dr. Osuch. “In New England we don’t have that much time with the weather being nice to enjoy activites and get out there.”

For more updates and articles on physical therapy and its role in treating injuries, visit this Doug Sparks Facebook page.

REPOST: Explore Health Careers: Physical Therapist

What can the aspiring physical therapist expect from this career path? This entry at ExploreHealthCareers.com discusses the work conditions, pay and education requirements, and responsibilities that physical therapists can expect on the job.

Average salary: $80,000
Years in school: 6 - 7 years
Job outlook: Excellent

Image source: explorehealthcareers.com

Physical Therapists (PTs) provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients with injuries or disease. PTs work closely with patients and clients to restore, maintain, and promote their overall fitness and wellness for healthier and more active lifestyles. Patients may include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low back pain, fractures, head injuries, arthritis, heart disease, and cerebral palsy.

PTs take the patient’s/client’s history and conduct a systems review, and perform tests and measures such as strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function, to identify potential and existing problems. Based on the examination and the physical therapist’s evaluative judgment, PTs determine a patient diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of care that describes evidence-based treatment strategies and the anticipated functional outcomes. Finally, as a part of the plan of care, PTs determine the patient's ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness.

Working Conditions

Physical Therapists (PTs) practice in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, private offices, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and skilled nursing facilities. Most full-time PTs work a 40-hour week, which may include some evenings and weekends.

This position can be physically demanding, because PTs often have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.

Academic Requirements

ll physical therapist education programs have transitioned to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, except one. By 2015 all programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) must award the DPT degree. Individuals who wish to practice as a physical therapist in the U.S. must earn a PT degree from a CAPTE-accredited program, pass a national licensure examination, and meet licensure requirements for the state(s) in which they practice.

Applicants can research admission requirements and apply to multiple PT education programs through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) website.

Visit this Doug Sparks Facebook page for more updates and articles on physical therapy as a practice.

REPOST: ObamaCare, Doctor Shortage To Spur $2 Billion Telehealth Market

Bruce Japsen of Forbes discusses the predicted boom in the U.S. telehealth market which is driven by healthcare sector dynamics ranging from physician shortages to changes in the Affordable Care Act.

A new report from information and analytics firm IHS says the business of telehealth, or remote patient monitoring, will boom to a $2 billion US market thanks in part to the Affordable Care Act and a looming doctor shortage.

 Image Source: forbes.com

The business of treating patients via telehealth in the U.S. will dramatically increase to nearly $2 billion in revenue within five years due to a confluence of events in the health care industry from doctor shortages to provider payment changes under the Affordable Care Act.

A new report from information and analytics firm IHS IHS -0.08% says revenue expansion of the teleheath space — which allows doctors and other providers to monitor patients remotely via various devices, computers and related digital technology – will grow to $1.9 billion in 2018 in the U.S. from $240 million this year.

The trend toward telehealth will be driven by employers, private insurers and the Affordable Care Act, which makes doctors and hospitals more accountable by moving medical care providers away from fee-for-service medicine where they are paid based on volume of services to reimbursement based on the value of care they provide. This trend often uses doctors as a quarterback of sorts in concert with nurses and other allied health professionals to keep patients out of the hospital where care is more expensive.

“The majority of these patients are diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases and diabetes and most of them are enrolled in post-discharge services of an average of 30-90 days,” said Roeen Roashan, IHS analyst for consumer medical devices and digital health.

This will increase the patient volume toward these services to more than 3.2 million patients in 2018 from less than 250,000 this year. Meanwhile, the value of the U.S. telehealth market will reach $1.9 billion in 2018 compared to about $230 million today, IHS’ Roashan said. That’s a cumulative annual growth rate of more than 56 percent.

Companies that stand to benefit from this market include: Genetral Electric (GE), Intel INTC -0.39%(INTC), Honeywell (HON), McKesson MCK -0.24%(MCK) and Medtronic MDT -0.12% (MDT).

“Telehealth has been limited in its growth potential in the past due to low reimbursement, lack of physician support, and poor cases of implementation,” Roashan said. “However, we are witnessing changes in the regulatory environment that will increase reimbursement and also more physicians are supporting the idea behind telehealth. In doing so, there are many examples of best practice implementations.”

Health insurance companies as well as state Medicaid insurance programs for the poor and the federal Medicare health insurance program for the elderly are contracting with doctors and hospitals, bundling payments and reimbursing them in ways that encourage quality care and a push for better outcomes through entities like accountable care organizations (ACOs).

If the ACO — which contracts through provider groups with the insurer — reduces costs while improving quality, the providers keep some of the savings.  That is different than payment today that encourages excessive treatment by paying by procedure.

“Telehealth is about increasing the quality of healthcare, in an efficient way,” Roashan said. “Telehealth is proven to decrease readmission rates significantly, while increasing the patient’s perception of quality by keeping the patient at home.

Visit this Facebook page on Doug Sparks for more news and insights on issues affecting the healthcare industry.

REPOST: Fit after 50: Physical therapists can help

Karen Wik, guest columnist to the Citizen Times, writes about how physical therapy could enhance efforts to stay fit in old age.

Image source: citizen-times.com

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Dara Torres famously stated, “Never put an age limit on your dreams.”

During this past summer, Diana Nyad swam 103 miles from Cuba to Florida at age 64.

Every year, many men and women age 50 and older participate in every imaginable team sport and physical activity, running marathons and participating in Iron Man competitions.

We draw inspiration from these individuals, in our communities and in the international news, because they show us what is possible. They create hope that, with care and dedication, we can all continue to live out our dreams later in life.

In honor of this being National Physical Therapy Month, the American Physical Therapy Association is encouraging us to stay “Fit After 50.” Whether your dreams are to hike the Appalachian Trail, avoid a hip replacement surgery or spend a pain-free day playing with your grandchildren, a local physical therapist can help you shape and meet those goals.

Although fitness and activity goals vary, physical therapists are highly trained to design safe, effective treatment plans for a wide spectrum of patients. Physical therapists address chronic or acute back pain, perhaps caused by hours spent perfecting a golf swing or years on the tennis court, by assessing musculoskeletal imbalances.

An individualized treatment plan that includes manual therapy, strengthening or other interventions aim to eliminate the painful symptoms and prevent their reoccurrence.

Sports-specific strength, conditioning and flexibility programs can be custom-designed for patients with dreams of running their first marathons. Some individuals simply dream of regaining fundamental skills like walking to and from the mailbox without pain.

Physical therapists treat the whole person by integrating special tests for balance, range of motion, cardiovascular and neurological functions, muscle strength and joint mobility in order to set realistic goals for individuals recovering from trauma or disease.

Movement restrictions don’t always have to be roadblocks or create fear about being more active.

The aging process involves marked physiological changes, but chronic pain or risk of injury does not need to go hand in hand with being an active adult. Clinical research-based practices help physical therapists stay current and effective in the arenas of pain management and injury prevention.

If you feel sidelined from achieving your goals because of overuse injuries, or have been out of the game for a while and have fears about how your body will respond to new challenges, a local physical therapist can help.


So this month stop defining your abilities by your age — after all, it’s just a number — and start dreaming big.

 A former investment banker, Doug Sparks started Doctors Physical Therapy, a company that focuses on helping doctors, hospitals, and health practices find and contract independent physical therapists.  Visit this Twitter page for more updates on physical therapy.