Going Above and Beyond – Customer Service
In this day and age, it can be argued that great customer service is often one of the most important traits that a business can encompass. The Internet has procured the ultimate “informed user,” through such websites as Yelp, WebMD, and Facebook to name a few. In just minutes, individuals can find Mission Statements, reviews, and information on specific businesses, specialists, injuries, and recoveries. Not only is there an overabundance of information available, there is also the opportunity to be able to choose who and what services you would like. In the physical therapy world, it is the right of the patient to be able to choose which facility they want to go to, whether they have a prescription or not (Direct Access). It is these “informed users” that have made customer service such an integral part of a business, transforming the old adage “the customer is always right” to “the customer must receive the best we can give them and more.”
Most people have heard of plantar fasciitis and know that it is a fairly common affliction of the foot. But many fewer individuals know what plantar fasciitis is (and how in the world “fasciitis” is actually pronounced!). Plantar fasciitis (“fash-ee-itis”) is a condition that affects the plantar fascia, a band of dense connective tissue (“fascia”) located at the bottom, or “plantar” surface of the foot, typically at the area of the heel bone (calcaneus). One of the most common foot problems addressed by health care professionals, plantar fasciitis is thought to affect upwards of 2 million Americans per year, and is estimated to affect one in ten individuals during their lifetime.
Ankle sprains are the most common injury of the lower extremity, affecting a large percentage of the sporting population, especially those participating in contact and collision sports such as basketball, football and soccer. Ankle sprains are especially prevalent in younger athletes, with the greatest incidence of injury occurring duringthe mid to late teen years. Ankle sprains are commonly underestimated regarding the functional restrictions that take place and the long-term negative effects that can occur among those affected. Recurrence of ankle sprains is estimated to be as high as 40-70%, especially among individuals participating in higher risk sports. Long-term negative effects can include need for surgical repair of damaged ligaments, and cartilage damage, also known as osteoarthritis. Clearly, the mindset of an ankle injury as “just a sprain” needs to be reconsidered.
Is your child complaining of anterior knee pain during sports/play activities? They may be suffering from Osgood-Schlatter disease, a common inflammatory condition in growing adolescents. Pain from Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs just below the knee, where the patellar tendon is inserting on the tibialturbercle. Symptoms are commonly triggered with sport activities, especially those involving jumping and running. Active children are most susceptible during growth spurts due to the rapid changes taking place in muscles, tendons, and bones. During sports when the child is running, jumping, etc, repetitive contraction of the quadriceps pulls on the patellar tendon, which pulls on its insertion point on the tibial tubercle, causing irritation/inflammation and often a more pronounced and tenderbump on the front of the shin.
After 9 long months of undergoing various physical changes that ends with the most grueling task of all, childbirth, you may be wondering when and how you can start exercising again. While it may seem like the last thing you want to do, exercising following pregnancy can be incredibly beneficial once you are cleared by your doctor. Benefits of exercise postpartum can:
In our last article, we discussed 
Balance is often discussed as something that people need improvements in. But what exactly does the term “balance” refer to? Our sense of balance comes from the input of 3 different sensory systems that coordinate to help us maintain stability. These three systems are the vestibular system, proprioception, and the visual system.