“Be Well” Blog

Upper & Lower Extremity Lymphedema

At Atlantic Physical Therapy Outpatient Occupational Therapy Clinic in Berlin we specialize in Upper & Lower Extremity Lymphedema . Lymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system, which normally returns interstitial fluid to the bloodstream. Causes of lymphatic dysfunction includes 1) congenital malformation of lymphat... Learn More

National Hand Therapy Week

June 4-10th was National Hand Therapy week. Throughout the week the goal was to raise awareness to the benefits of Hand Therapy. During the week , the American Society of Hand Therapy (ASHT) had their yearly photo contest . The contest was open to members only. Voting was to the public June 4-10. The top photo for 2018 was “ Hands at the Beach- 3 generations of my family”. It is with gre... Learn More

Falling Concerns

Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall. In fact, more than one out of four older people falls each year, but less than half tell their doctor.1 Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.2 There is no reason to remain quiet about your concerns when prevention is achievable. With a proper medical evaluation and physical therapy evaluation falls can be preventable. T... Learn More

Occupational Therapy

Outdoor activities are abundant as nice weather returns here on the Eastern Shore. Skateboarding is a popular sport. Skateboarders are recommended to wear standard safety gear. As with any sport, accidents can occur. In 2015 125,145 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms after being injured skateboarding. Enclosed are pictures of a patient who fell in Ocean City and sustained a wrist f... Learn More

Paddleboarding

As the weather begins to warm up often people will change their exercise routine from the gym to being outdoors. A popular option is to use stand up paddleboarding for strength, endurance, flexibility, and creating a caloric deficit. Stand up paddle boarding is a great low impact option to reap the benefits for the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and most importantly enjoying the be... Learn More

American Stroke Awareness Month

May is American Stroke Awareness Month Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in America; but according to the National Stroke Association, up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable. Prevention is key! There are many things you can do to decrease your risk of stroke. Lowering your blood pressure and keeping your heart healthy are critical to preventing stroke and many other dangerous he... Learn More

Using Crutches

Crutches are so simple to use or are they? Everyone has different body proportions requiring a slightly different setup of their crutches. Your physical therapist can assist with optimizing your crutches for your unique situation. This will ensure appropriate use with the correct gait pattern. Correct usage of crutches may decrease energy expenditure, decrease risk of falls, decrease pain from ... Learn More

Why Try Therapy

Why Can’t I just have surgery? Wouldn’t that just solve the problem? Why should I try therapy? These are questions I hear often when a patient has struggled with pain for a while and is frustrated. But the reality is that for many conditions, physical therapy can be just as effective as surgery in reducing pain and improving function and comes with fewer complications and costs. Some of the... Learn More

Dislocated Elbow

An elbow dislocation occurs when the bones of the forearm ( radius and ulna ) move out of place compared with the bone of the upper arm( the humerus). The elbow joint, formed where these 3 bones meet, become dislocated, or out of joint. A dislocated elbow occurs when the bones that make up the joint are forced out of alignment- typically when a person lands on an outstretched hand during a fall... Learn More

Preventing Falls

Are you worried about a loved one falling? Are you worried about yourself falling? A physical therapist is trained to identify a person at risk for falls and create a plane of care to decrease that risk. Falls can unfortunately result in a fatal injury. According to the Center for Disease Control’s statistics: One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head inju... Learn More

Exercise Benefits for the Aging Population

In adults, age 75 and older, only 8% meet the recommended guidelines for aerobic activity and strengthening. Studies show that an increase of up to 15 minutes a day of physical activity can correlate to a decrease of an additional 4% in mortality from any cause. Here are just a few benefits of physical activity for individuals 75+: Improved balance, proprioception and coordination Increase... Learn More

Workplace Wellness Program

The United States spends more money on healthcare than any other county, but this hasn’t necessarily translated into better health outcomes. Clearly, some major changes need to happen in the way healthcare is managed. We need to look at ways that we can effect widespread change in entire populations of patients to prevent some of the most common ailments. One of the ways we can do that is by mak... Learn More