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Diabetes is a serious disease that can affect anyone at any age. Today, people are developing diabetes at younger ages and at higher rates. The National Diabetes Statistics Report notes that 37.3 million Americans—about 1 in 10—have diabetes. They further report that about 1 in 5 people with diabetes don't know they have it, and 96 million American adults have prediabetes. Chances are, you know someone with diabetes. It may even be you.
Some signs and symptoms of diabetes include:
Diabetes can take a severe toll on your quality of life, affecting you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Although there is currently no cure for diabetes, there are many things you can do to manage it and limit its health complications and impact on your life. You may even be able to prevent diabetes with proper care. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas can no longer make insulin or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin produced. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose from food pass from the bloodstream into the cells, allowing the body to produce energy. Not being able to produce insulin or use it effectively leads to raised glucose in the blood and, over time, can damage the body, organs, and tissues. Fortunately, commitment to a healthy lifestyle, including weight control, proper nutrition, regular exercise, and other lifestyle changes, can help manage diabetes. Physical activity and exercise are essential and effective ways to lower high blood glucose levels. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, seeing a physical therapist can help you learn to manage blood sugar levels and improve your overall health. Implementation of effective interventions can delay the onset of diabetes. How can seeing a physical therapist help? We are movement experts. We help people participate in a safe, effective exercise program, which improves the ability to move and helps lower blood glucose levels. We enhance the quality of life through hands-on care, education, and prescribed movement. When you see one of our physical therapists, we will comprehensively evaluate your strength, flexibility, and endurance. We will measure your hemoglobin A1C, a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels. It's one of the most commonly used tests to help you and us manage your diabetes. We will customize a treatment program that addresses individual problems and needs. Your treatment will improve your motion, strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and coordination, decrease your pain levels, lower your blood glucose and A1C levels, and increase your ability to perform daily tasks. Let us help you manage diabetes! Leaking urine does NOT have to be a normal part of aging. While it's true that older people are prone to urinary incontinence, many factors increase your risk, including obesity, pregnancy, childbirth, constipation, weak pelvic floor muscles, prostate issues, and menopause. If the pelvic floor muscles weaken, you may have urinary leakage, urgency, and frequency problems. More than 13 million people in the United States deal with urinary incontinence. While urinary incontinence affects more women, men deal with the issue too.
Urinary incontinence is any undesired urine leakage. There are different types of urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence can be embarrassing, especially in social situations. Dealing with urinary incontinence may cause you to avoid daily activities or limit your interactions. But you don't have to change or restrict your activities because there are many remedies for urinary incontinence. It is treatable! Some people may find relief by making simple lifestyle changes like limiting drinking and avoiding caffeine and carbonated drinks. Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can help too. But sometimes simple lifestyle changes and kegel exercises are not enough. We recommend pelvic floor physical therapy as a conservative treatment option. Pelvic floor physical therapy is a form of physical therapy that helps you to engage your pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor physical therapy for urinary incontinence is much more than muscle strengthening. While muscle weakness may contribute to the problem, it's often more about coordination and muscle imbalance. At Rainey Pain & Performance, we have therapists who specialize in pelvic floor therapy. There are a variety of treatment options we utilize to manage urinary incontinence.
It's important to keep the pelvic floor muscles strong to support the bladder and organs properly. Treatment options depend on your type of bladder control problem, how serious it is, and what best fits your lifestyle. We'll help you identify, strengthen and utilize the proper muscles. Let us help you tackle urinary incontinence. Leaking urine is never normal. We can help you improve it. Give us a call today! Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. The hips, knees, hands, and spine are the most commonly affected joints. Arthritis is not a single disease but an umbrella term that includes a variety of different types. Some of the more common examples are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
While physical therapy might not be the first treatment you think of for arthritis, it probably should be. A lot of people with arthritis choose to use medication to manage their pain, stop activities that hurt, and wait for things to get bad enough to have a joint replacement. But this isn't a great plan - all medications have side effects, even over the counter ones. Reducing activity leads to muscle atrophy and even stiffer joints. Even though joint replacement surgery usually has good outcomes, it does come with its own set of risks and a painful recovery. Physical therapy has been extensively researched as a treatment for arthritis, and demonstrates good outcomes. Physical therapists typically start with exercise as the base for arthritis treatment. Exercise helps to regain lost joint motion, decrease feelings of stiffness, and strengthen muscles surrounding the affected joint. These benefits are all somewhat obvious. What surprises many people is that exercise has been shown to be as effective as medication for pain relief in many types of arthritis, without the side effects. Physical therapy has more to offer people with arthritis than just exercise though. Education helps people understand their condition, what to expect, and how to manage it. As experts in human movement, physical therapists are especially good at helping people modify the way they perform certain tasks or activities to reduce strain on joints affected by arthritis. They can also suggest ways to modify the environment at work or home to reduce pain and improve function. They may also suggest things like braces, orthotics, or other devices that can help maintain mobility and reduce pain. On top of all of that, PT has been proven to be a cost effective treatment, too. With so many techniques that are proven effective in helping people with arthritis, physical therapy is a recommended first line treatment for many types of arthritis. Now that you have a better understanding of what PT can do, hopefully you'll think of PT first when you think of arthritis too. If you have a neurological disorder, you know how it affects your life. Your movement may be limited, and you may not be able to work as independently as you wish. Fortunately, there is an option, physical therapy. Working with a physical therapist can help you regain as much mobility as possible and restore as much function as possible.
Neurological conditions span a wide range of presentations, from movement limitations such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, Cerebral Palsy, or a stroke, to central nervous system limitations such as fibromyalgia, overactive sympathetic nervous system, anxiety, insomnia, or chronic pain in general. A few common neurological conditions: Parkinson's Disease - Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects the brain's nerve cells. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremors, slurred speech, and uncontrollable facial expressions. Multiple Sclerosis - Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord. Signs include pressure, fatigue, and exhaustion. As multiple sclerosis progresses, it can be crippling. ALS - ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It is a progressive neurological disease. It normally occurs in the hands, legs, and extremities before spreading to the central part of the body. Frequent cramps or weakness in the hands or legs are common. At Rainey Pain & Performance, we have physical therapists and functional pain managers who specialize in neurological conditions. Dr. Mike Davis heads up our neurological department with his assistant Brian Kuhn. They are specially trained in the treatment of individuals with neurological disorders. They are dedicated to utilizing the most current, evidence-based treatments so patients can engage in meaningful and purposeful daily life activities. Dr. Michael Davis routinely speaks and consults with programs around the Cochise and Tucson area delivering best practices including:
First-time visits begin with a detailed, comprehensive examination. Together we look at the entire picture of your health. We work to understand and know the why behind the what to treat and relieve symptoms of neurological challenges. Following the assessment and diagnosis, our therapists will work with you to plan a treatment approach. Treatment is individually tailored to address your specific problem areas to achieve maximum functional potential. We will work on balance, strengthening, and stretching. We will work on retraining the muscles and the brain to work together. Our physical therapists use the LSVT BIG program to treat people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. While there is no known cure for Parkinson’s Disease, the LSVT BIG program significantly improves fine and gross motor control, allowing people to be more confident on their feet and manipulate objects with their hands. Physical therapy is vital for patients who have had or currently have neurological injuries or diseases. The nervous system is complex and regulates all the workings of your body. When something goes wrong with your nervous system, you can have trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Physical therapy can help you perform certain activities to avoid losing your independence. If you're suffering from a neurological disorder that keeps you from living the life you want, give us a call today. Additional Resources: Most people will suffer from some lower back pain at some point in their lives. Low back pain is common. Unfortunately, many people with low back pain don't get treatment that aligns with evidence-based practices.
Low back pain is the most common complaint of patients that visit Rainey Pain & Performance. Our physical therapists and functional pain managers treat all types of low back pain and will help improve and restore your mobility and reduce your pain. Symptoms of low back pain vary. Your pain may be dull, burning, or sharp. You might feel pain at a single point or over a broader area. Your pain could include muscle spasms or stiffness and may even spread into the legs. It used to be believed that the cause of low back pain was related directly to the tissues of the body, but we now understand that low back pain is more complex. Several conditions may relate to low back pain including degenerative disk disease, fractures, herniated disks, and osteoarthritis. One common myth about low back is avoiding or limiting physical activity. Proper stretching of the muscles and active exercise will significantly help maintain a normal range of motion and relieve muscle suffering. Physical therapists are movement experts. We will improve your quality of life and help you relieve back pain. We will begin by determining what kind of back pain you're dealing with. Is it irritation or pressure on a nerve? A disk bulge or spinal stenosis? We will review your health history, ask about your symptoms, and provide a detailed, thorough examination that assesses your movements. Our goal is to improve and restore mobility. Treatments may include manual therapy, specific strengthening exercises, education about taking better care of your back, and proper training for lifting, bending, and sitting. Physical therapy can be a more holistic alternative to surgery, medication, and other treatment methods. One of our patients shares her story, " I am a 61-year-old active female. I saw Dr. Rainey for lower back pain that had exacerbated to the point where I was unable to stand for long periods of time. I had approximately six sessions with him and the pain was mostly gone. During these sessions, Dr. Rainey was attentive, concerned, and answered all of my questions. He appeared to put a lot of thought into his work. During my last session, he massaged my lower back in a manner best described as feeling like a little bit of heaven. I was able to return to the gym and continue walking in my neighborhood and in the Huachuca Mountains. I even hiked the Grand Canyon in November 2019." ~Leslie S. We look forward to helping you find relief from low back pain. Schedule an appointment today and improve your quality of life! Additional Resources:
You may typically think of physical therapy as a treatment for injuries or muscle pains, but did you know that it can also help get rid of your headache pain? Headaches affect 47% of the global population. Many headaches are harmless and resolve gradually. However, frequent headaches and migraines can severely impact your quality of life and your ability to participate in daily activities.
There are different types of headaches, including tension (muscular), neck joint related (cervicogenic), migraines, and secondary headaches from underlying conditions. Tension headaches are rarely debilitating, but there is no need to prolong suffering. Tension headaches are caused when neck and shoulder muscles tighten up. Constant stress is the leading cause of tension headaches. Women are more likely than men to suffer from tension headaches. Cervicogenic headaches stem from the structures in the neck and radiate into other areas. This type of headache may occur gradually or due to an injury. Cervicogenic headaches symptoms include decreased ability to move head or neck, neck pain, muscle tenderness, shoulder/arm pain on the side of the headache, weakness, dizziness, and nausea. Migraines can be severe and disabling. Migraines are disorders in the central nervous system and involve the nerves and blood vessels. Migraines can be triggered by light, noise, odors, dehydration, lack of sleep, and many other factors. Neck pain is a large trigger. There are many treatment options for headaches, but physical therapy is one of the best treatments. It is natural and holistic and comes with no harmful side effects. Medications affect the central nervous system to address dysfunction, while physical therapy works on the muscles and joints and also affects the central nervous system. Physical therapy can provide relief and a long-term solution for headache and migraine sufferers. Headaches are often connected to other injuries that can be treated concurrently if needed. Working with a physical therapist helps decrease or resolve the intensity and frequency of headaches. It reduces medication use, improves function and mobility, and improves motion in the neck. When you see one of our physical therapists, we will perform a clinical examination to diagnose the type of headache and develop an effective treatment plan. We begin with in-depth testing to rule out serious causes and ensure appropriate treatment methods. We will help you uncover the underlying sources that may be leading to your current pain and look for any connections like poor posture or spasms of the face muscles. Treatments vary and are combined. Some treatment options include neck manipulation, dry needling, identifying headache-producing trigger points and applying the correct pressure to help the muscle soften, and specific neck exercises. We will show you how to relieve muscle tension, to further prevent headache pain from returning. We will recommend exercises and demonstrate/teach correct posture so you can alleviate pressure and pain between treatment sessions. We have had patients see immediate improvements, while others need to attend more treatment sessions, this all depends on the severity and root of the pain. One patient shares her experience with physical therapy, "I made an appointment with Dr. Rainey after dealing with chronic migraines for years. I've used all sorts of medications and injections, but physical therapy probably has helped the most. I have never felt rushed or unheard with Dr. Rainey and the staff; they are all very nice and pay attention to what you are saying. If one thing doesn't work, they will try something else. My headaches, neck aches, and tension issues decreased substantially after a few visits and recommended exercises. Super happy with my experience here, and will continue to use the office when my family or myself need PT." ~Rachel S. If you are experiencing recurrent headaches, have tried other remedies with no success, and are looking for more natural treatment, schedule an appointment today with one of our physical therapists. Additional Resources: Fibromyalgia is primarily a central nervous system disorder that has a primary feature of central sensitization. One of the mechanisms of this is mitochondrial dysfunction, which means (at the cellular level), the body does not produce enough energy. This creates the four hallmark features of fibromyalgia- fatigue, widespread pain, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty concentrating. People with fibromyalgia often have other symptoms, but these are the four hallmarks. Other symptoms include muscle pain, burning or twitching, depression and anxiety, insomnia, headaches, and numbness in the face, arms, leg, hands, or feet.
Some of the most known risk factors for fibromyalgia include age, gender, family history, trauma, and other disorders like lupus, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia affects around 5 million adults, 80-90% of the woman. It isn't easy to diagnose because there is overlap with so many other conditions. It is also a condition without a cure. Unfortunately, the cause of fibromyalgia isn't really known. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia affects the way the brain processes pain signals, amplifying the sensation of pain throughout the body. Although there is no definitive cure at this time, there are treatments that can help. Physical therapy is one of them. We will help you understand and manage your pain, reduce your fatigue and improve your function and quality of life. Improving sleep and exercise are often the two essential areas to make the most significant change. At Rainey Pain & Performance, we have several ways to help with this. One of them is our full-body fibromyalgia stretching and end-range strengthening program that leaves people feeling invigorated. Increasing flexibility and strengthening muscles through a maintainable exercise routine are important ways physical therapists help reduce fibromyalgia pain. If you deal with the aches and pains of fibromyalgia, the thought of beginning an exercise program may make you cringe. However, it can do you a world of good in the long run. Stretching increases flexibility and helps tight, stiff muscles loosen up. We will instruct you on the proper way to stretch muscles, tendons, and ligaments. We will educate which low-speed and low-impact activities are best and less stressful on the joints. We will help you build strength and improve range of motion. We will show you ways to get relief from deep muscle pain and help you make sensible decisions about daily activities will help prevent painful flare-ups. Since fibromyalgia often comes with disrupted or unrefreshing sleep, we work to improve your sleep. We begin with a detailed physical evaluation, considering your overall wellness. Along the way, we will educate about sleep hygiene. A few helpful tips include going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day so you can reset your biological clock, use your bed only for sleep, training your brain that bed equals sleep, and avoid napping during the day, making you more tired at night. If these tips are not enough, we have a trained doctor in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Living with fibromyalgia can be overwhelming and debilitating, but with the right help, it doesn't have to be. Schedule an appointment today with one of our physical therapists, and we will help increase your quality of life. Chronic pain is ongoing and persistent, lasting at least three months and sometimes many years. Over one hundred million Americans currently live with chronic pain, and all people experience pain during their lifetimes. Unfortunately, pain is often not well understood by many people, including health professionals, creating more frustration for many people. Often people get incorrect information from places and doctors that seem credible and like they know what they’re talking about and it can even make sense, but it is not supported by research or doesn’t explain the full picture.
The causes of chronic pain vary. Certain medical conditions like trauma, diabetes, and fibromyalgia are more likely to cause chronic pain. Even after injury and physical tissue have healed, some may experience chronic pain as pain is created in the nervous system. Chronic pain affects each person experiencing it differently. Common complaints are everything hurting, sudden stabs of pain, fatigue, joint pain, muscles aches, and loss of stamina. For some, it brings great fear and anxiety. These emotions often only exacerbate pain. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience." Many factors contribute to pain. A common term that doctors use is biopsychosocial. Pain affects our bodies, our minds, and our social life. Conversely, our bodies, minds, and social life affect our pain. Pain is not simple. If it were, then it wouldn't be an epidemic in America! At Rainey Pain & Performance, we work with many people suffering from chronic pain. Our physical therapists and functional pain managers take a holistic approach with each person suffering from ongoing chronic pain. We teach the science of pain, self-management strategies, and identify activities that are safe and not safe to do. We identify the recovery limiting factor. It may be a biomechanical problem, it may be a problem with your exercise routine, it may be a misunderstanding of what is safe or not for you, or it could be something else. We pinpoint the source of the pain and provide you with an accurate diagnosis. When attending physical therapy for chronic pain, your first session will be a detailed evaluation. You will be asked questions about your pain, how it affects your life, what makes it better or worse and what previous treatments you have received, and the outcome of those treatments. Our physical therapists and functional pain managers may perform various tests and measures to understand anything contributing to your pain. Through various treatment methods, including manual therapies, personalized exercises and stretches, dry needling, education, and pain neuroscience, we restore balance, coordination, flexibility, and strength, improving your movement and function and alleviating pain. Treating injuries with physical therapy will improve circulation to the joints and tissues, promoting healing. Physical therapy is a safer alternative than opioids for chronic pain. No one wants to live in pain, and no one should put their health at risk to be pain-free. Opioids mimic the chemicals in your body, helping relieve pain, but they do not help your body heal. Long-term consumption is not a good solution for managing pain. Seeing a physical therapist can provide long-lasting pain relief without the risk of harmful opioids. As professionals trained in the science of movement, we help get your body moving, releasing natural endorphins. The side effects include improved mobility, strengthened muscles, and decreased pain. Physical therapy is a safer way to manage your pain. Chronic pain can saturate all aspects of your life. Our unparalleled physical therapy and functional pain management may be your answer. Schedule an appointment today. Additional Resources:
The anterior cruciate ligament, often known as the ACL, is one of a pair of cruciate ligaments in the knee. It provides stabilization for the knee joint. Injuries to the ACL are often sports related. However, a torn, stretched, or ruptured ACL can be caused by repetitive physical stress or a sudden direction change. Women are more likely than men to experience an ACL tear.
ACL injuries generally cause swelling, stiffness, and pain. Sometimes a "popping" noise can be heard at the time the injury occurs. This often comes with intense pain and swelling within an hour. Since the ACL is the major knee stabilizer, any injury to it sometimes causes the knee to give out or buckle when a person tries to walk or change direction. After tearing your ACL, the first goal should be decreasing pain and swelling. When at home, you can treat your torn ACL with PRICE, Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Schedule an examination with one of our physical therapists as soon as possible. When you see one of our physical therapists for ACL pain, we will conduct a detailed, thorough evaluation. We will ask what you were doing when the injury occurred, if you felt pain or heard a pop when the injury occurred, if you experienced swelling within the first few hours following the injury, and if you felt the knee buckle or give out when you walked or changed directions. We will use a gentle hands-on approach to determine the likelihood of an ACL tear. We will run additional tests if needed to assess possible damage to other parts of the knee. Several factors play into a decision whether or not to have your ACL reconstructed. We can help you identify if surgery is needed. If you don't have to have surgery, our physical therapists will work on restoring your muscle strength, agility and balance so you can return to the activities you love. We will use tailored exercises specific to your injury and modify activities to release stress on the knee. The primary problem in ACL reconstruction recovery is that people do not recover sufficient quadriceps strength. Our physical therapists use cutting-edge methods of testing quadriceps strength to ensure that athletes have as low of risk as possible of re-injuring their ACL. If surgery is needed, prehabilitation prior to surgery is extremely important. Our goals before surgery are to help you minimize pain and swelling, restore knee range of motion, especially extension, and restore muscle activation. These should not be overlooked and will help in recovery. After surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will most likely encourage you to see a physical therapist. Your treatment program will include:
Can ACL injuries be prevented? Improving balance and strength can lower ACL injury rates. If you've torn your ACL, had ACL surgery, or suffered from some other type of pain, contact Rainey Pain & Performance. Our team of professionals is here to help you decrease your pain and increase your performance. Additional resources we have available for athletes looking to prevent injury:
According to the CDC, Arthritis is the most common cause of disability among adults in America. It limits everyday activities for millions of people. If you don't have arthritis, chances are someone you know does.
Arthritis is a diagnosis that means you have pain related to changes in your cartilage, the bone below the cartilage, and inflammation of the synovial membrane. These changes often cause joint swelling, stiffness, and pain. You may be at risk if you are older, obese, have had previous joint injuries, or have a family history of arthritis. Osteoarthritis means that bones are getting closer to each other. There may be bone spurs, changes in the cartilage, and the end of the bone, which is commonly called degenerative joint disease. Interestingly, arthritis is often considered the cause of pain as people age. However, many other factors affect the pain, and arthritis may not be the primary cause. Many people are skeptical that anything can be done for their arthritis. This is often because they have friends who haven't found relief, or another doctor has told them that it's only going to get worse. The first steps to dealing with arthritis are learning the facts, understanding the condition, and knowing that there is help along the way. Unfortunately, there is no cure yet for arthritis, but there are a lot of current treatments that help arthritis. Physical therapy is one of them. Our physical therapists are excited when someone comes in with arthritis because of how much improvement these patients typically see. Many people walk out the first day with noticeable relief from their arthritis pain. Rarely do we not see at least a 50% improvement in pain over the course of treatment. Like you, many are skeptical initially, but we do have great success with osteoarthritis. Physical pain from arthritis might tempt you to stay still as movement can cause pain. You can avoid pain by not moving, but that won't help you out in the long run. Joints that don't move will stiffen even more and become even more sensitive to pain! Physical therapy interventions help you increase your range of motion and decrease your pain. How does it do this? It improves the health of all the tissues in and around the joints and makes them more tolerant to activity. We begin by giving a thorough evaluation to determine how much arthritis plays a role in your pain to provide you with the best treatments. The most common interventions include targeted exercise for range of motion and increased load tolerance, joint manipulation, and dry needling. Arthritis is a pain. (Literally!) But that doesn't mean you have to stop living. There are ways to treat it. You can feel better. Call and schedule an appointment today! Additional resources we have available for those with arthritis:
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