Category Archives: Everyday Health

All About TMJD

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Looking for information on TMJD and Physical Therapy?

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) is a condition that affects the jaw joint and the muscles responsible for its movement. In addition to surgical treatments, there are several non-surgical treatments available for TMJD.

If you’re experiencing TMJD symptoms, it’s important to talk to a doctor about your treatment options. Conservative treatments, like physical therapy, have a high success rate and are typically recommended first.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Pharmacotherapy: Medications can be used to manage pain and other symptoms. Keep in mind, that a specialist or general practitioner may recommend prescription medication. These included but are not limited to: over-the-counter pain relievers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen can also be used. Of course it is always most desirable to remedy this cause of the issues through physical therapy methods as opposed to pharmaceutical options.

Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can examine you to determine the root cause of your TMJD symptoms. They may also check your neck and shoulders for any issues that could be contributing to the problem. Exercises and other techniques may be prescribed to help manage TMJD symptoms.

Nightguards and Splint Therapy: Custom-made by a dentist or oral surgeon, these devices are to be worn at night to prevent grinding or clenching of teeth, which exacerbates TMJD symptoms.

Injections: Joint injections with hyaluronic acid and muscle injections with Botox can help relieve pain and relax the jaw muscles.

There are many treatment options. More specifically for more severe cases there are also surgical treatments available for TMJD. However, surgery is generally only recommended if other treatments have failed.

Surgical Treatment Options

Arthrocentesis: This involves injecting needles into the jaw joint to remove tissue breakdown products and reduce inflammation.

TMJD Arthroscopy: This is a more invasive procedure that involves placing needles into the joint and using an arthroscope to look inside and perform surgical procedures to remove scar tissue, smooth out bone, or attempt to reposition the disc.

Arthrotomy (Open Joint Procedure): This is a more invasive surgery that is performed under general anesthesia. Surgeons make an incision to remove adhesions, osteophytes, fibrous or bony ankylosis, and/or tumors.

If you’re experiencing TMJD symptoms, talk to a doctor about your treatment options. Physical therapy and other non-surgical treatments can be highly effective in managing TMJD symptoms, and surgical options are available if needed. Physical therapy, in many cases is highly effective in the treatment of many TMJD cases both acute and chronic. Check out our team of highly trained clinicians here at Elite Therapy Solutions. For a Chester County location: Give us a call at 610-696-3305. For a York/Adams County location: Give us a call at 717-840-1874 to set up an initial evaluation. We can see patients within 24-48 hours, and we allot an hour of evaluation time. We pride ourselves in being on the cutting edge of TMJD treatment diagnosing and techniques to get you back to pain-free living!

TMJ

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Commonly misunderstood as a diagnosis for jaw pain, the abbreviation “TMJ” actually stands for TemporoMandibular Joint, which is where the temple and the mandible meet to form your jaw joint. When it becomes dysfunctional, it is appropriately termed TMJD (TemporoMandibular Joint Dysfunction) or just TMD (TemporoMandibular Dysfunction).

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Overview of Our TMJ Assessment:

  • Posture Analysis
  • Assess upper and lower c-spine mobility
  • Palpate head, neck and jaw musculature
  • Strength test lips, cheeks, tongue and jaw muscles
  • Measure jaw motion and observe tracking
  • Classify whether or not the joint is involved

 

Have a Pain Free Holiday!

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The holidays are here!

No matter what you celebrate around this time a year, there are so many traditions to follow. Whether it is lighting candles, rolling out cookie dough, or decorating a tree. There are tons of beautiful moments to share with your family and friends. So many of these activities involve your upper extremities. What if you were hindered because of hand, wrist, or arm pain? Thankfully we are here to help!

How can we help?

With the help of occupational and physical therapy, we can get you back to making holiday memories.

First…

We would want to look to strengthen and mobilize the muscles that are impacted. We would want to build up the muscles that may be weaker and hope to improve the overall movement of any sort of joint or muscles that may be affected. This can be done with various stretches, exercises, and hands on manipulation from our therapists!

Next…

We would want to analyze any activities you wish to complete and see if there is any way to modify your activities to complete them pain free. This could involve repositioning your hand and wrist placement to use other muscles that may be stronger. This new placement could take pressure off of underperforming muscles, giving yourself less pain. Or we could implement  different gadgets that could be used instead of doing everything by hand. For example, tubing could be added to utensils to make a grip bigger, this way you use larger muscles in your hand then smaller muscles that may be weaker. 

Finally

We would be here to support you every step of the way, whether it be in one of our clinics or in your home! We are happy to visit your home and assess for safety, furniture placement, and modifying everyday activities to keep the pain from recurring even after the holidays are over. 

Come visit us!

Elite is happy to help you be your best this holiday season and into the new year. Call today to schedule therapy so good, it’s Elite!

Long COVID? No Thank You!

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The U.S. is officially two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and we are continuing to see it’s effects on our communities and families. Many who are infected with COVID-19 have been able to recover, but there is still a portion of survivors who are suffering from on-going symptoms. Mallory Yu of NPR reported, “A study published in JAMA Network Open found that about 30% of participants across multiple age ranges reported persistent symptoms more than six months after their COVID-19 infections.” Yu goes on to explain that there were an estimated 200 symptoms that patients are experiencing post COVID, ranging from the nervous system to the brain to the musculoskeletal system. 

These symptoms that follow COVID, or the patients that suffer these symptoms, are known to be suffering from “Long COVID” or could be called “long haulers.” And recovering from these long-term conditions can be difficult when assimilating back into everyday life. If there is an occupation where someone stands on their feet all day, or has to teach a class of students, recovery can now look impossible. Instead of waiting for symptoms to go away on their own, or accepting that this might be a new reality, there are ways to start improving your strength, mobility, balance, and overall confidence. Thankfully, physical therapy is here to help!

 

There are multiple kinds of recovery a person can experience. A person can go through recovery after a surgery, after an injury, or even after an illness. With physical therapy, a patient is able to see increased strength, use adaptations in their everyday life to make tasks easier, and create more stability physically and mentally. There are some long term symptoms of COVID that may stick around, but with the help of a physical or occupational therapist, navigating those symptoms to get back to normalcy becomes much easier. But in the best case scenario, physical therapy can relieve those symptoms! Terry G., a former patient of Elite Therapy Solutions, stated, “I want to thank the whole crew for the 8 weeks of rehab here.  It has been a tremendous comeback after 5 weeks in the hospital battling COVID-19.  I am back to almost all of my normal activities thanks to them!”

 

Do not let COVID slow you down, call today for physical therapy so good, it’s Elite!

National Active Aging Week

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We are all aging, every second of every single day, and that is something worth celebrating! This week is National Active Aging week, and it doesn’t mean that we are all actively aging; but it means that we should all try to remain active while we age. Regardless of if you are 23, 43, or 63, continuing to stay active is crucial to our health and that is what this week is all about.

Did you know, as we age, our physician visits increase by 30%? Our body is more susceptible to wear and tear as we get older, which keeps us from doing the things we love. Some of the most common conditions that individuals over 50 years old suffer from are:

  •         Arthritis
  •         Osteoporosis
  •         Joint Replacement
  •         Balance Disorders
  •         Overall Deconditioning and Muscle Weakness

Thankfully, we have seen amazing results at managing these conditions after going through physical and occupational therapy with Elite.

Everyday activities like gardening, going grocery shopping, and so much more can be made easier. Don’t let your age keep you from doing what you love, let us help you get back and better than ever!

Becoming Balanced

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We are all seeking balance in our lives, between work and home and everything in between. But what about physical balance? Balance problems can be caused by a number of conditions including: 

  • Stroke 
  • Arthritis 
  • Diabetes 
  • Multiple Sclerosis 
  • And so much more! 

 

And these balance disruptions can be disrupted within the body from vision to the muscular system, all the way to the inner ear. There are multiple ways to treat these systems with physical therapy. With muscle strengthening and stretching, position training, and inner ear retraining, you could feel good as new!  

 

After balance is treated, the benefits are endless. Patients will experience less falling, and with that, comes confidence in their abilities to do more activities. Overall balance, mobility, and strength is increased which leads to more movement, better posture, and increased flexibility. If you would like to see these results, schedule your appointment today!  

Stay on (the) Track!

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Did you know that 40 million people in the United States run regularly? However, it also comes with a high risk of injuries. Yearly, up to half of runners report an injury. Some of the most common injuries associated with running include:

  • Runner’s knee
  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Shin splints
  • Hamstring injuries
  • Plantar fasciopathy
  • IT band syndrome
  • Stress fractures
  • Sprained knees and ankles

 

While physical therapy can treat many of these overuse injuries, we want to share some tips to keep you healthy and safe on your next run! 

  • Cross-train – weightlifting to strengthen quads and hips; yoga to increase flexibility.
  • Stretch after your run.
  • Your longest run should only make up 20% of your weekly total mileage.
  • Don’t increase mileage by more than 10% per week.
  • Get running shoes that fit properly and feel comfortable. 
  • Change your running shoes every 350 – 500 miles.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Consume adequate calories, carbs, healthy fats, and protein.
  • Beginners should start with intervals of walking and running.

 

 

1 Callahan, Lisa. “Running Injuries of the Lower Extremities.” UpToDate, 28 Oct. 2018, www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-running-injuries-of-the-lower-extremity.

2 7 Most Common Running Injuries. Pt Health, 23 Apr. 2018, www.pthealth.ca/blog/the-7-most-common-running-injuries/#.

School’s Back, Game On!

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As we approach the end of the summer, we all know what that means…back to school time. Student athletes are gearing up for their preseasons after a year of quarantine, and as the games begin the injuries are bound to follow. Did you know, high school sports contribute to almost 2 million injuries each year? From sprained wrists to back pain, we are here to help your children bounce back to the sports they love! But before they step foot on the field, here are some tips we suggest in order to prevent any athlete’s seasons from getting cut short.

1. Stretch: It is crucial that every athlete stretches before and after any practice or game to keep the muscles loose.

2. Don’t play when you are injured: Continuing to play while injured could lead to more injuries or worsening any condition.

3. Rest: When you overwork your muscles they are more prone to strain and pain, it is important to take rest days when needed.

4. Drink water: Proper hydration is key to keep your muscles moving and your body feeling good. When we sweat we lose water and we need to replenish it after any activity.

Bye Bye Back Pain!

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Did you know that nearly 80% of all Americans will experience an episode of low back pain at some point in their lives? …Or that back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and a leading contributor to missed workdays?

The good news: Physical Therapy can not only relieve the pain but fix the cause of chronic back pain!

Our clinicians at Elite Therapy Solutions have extensive experience treating pain due to:

• Muscle or ligament strains

• Bulging or ruptured discs

• Arthritis

• Osteoporosis

• Skeletal irregularities

• Posture

Seeking physical therapy first can also both save time and money. Compared to patients who waited or never saw a Physical Therapist, those who went to physical therapy first had lower out-of-pocket costs, pharmacy costs, and outpatient costs. They were also 87% less likely to need an opioid prescription, 28% less likely to need imaging services, and 15% less likely to make an emergency room visit.

Research has also proven that the sooner a patient is treated, the faster they will recover. We offer appointments within 24-48 hours for this reason! With 3 convenient locations, we’re here to help your patients feel their best with the most enjoyable PT experience!

5 Tips for Summer

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Summer is finally here! 

It’s been a long winter, spent lounging in those big baggy sweaters, hoodies, or sweatshirts and forgetting about that “itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini” hiding in the depths of your dresser drawer. Before you start panicking about swimsuit season, here are 5 tips to flatten that stomach and tone your limbs just in time for summer!

1.  Drink lots of water:

Such a simple step, but it has a great impact! Did you know, when you are dehydrated, your body can mistake thirst pangs for hunger pangs? Before you grab for that over-processed snack pack to tide you over until supper time, try drinking a glass or two of water. Chances are, you are dehydrated and your body thinks that you are hungry instead. Also, try substituting beverages you would normally drink for a glass of water.

2. Eating smaller portions:

Reducing your portion size by only 20% can make a big difference in your drive to swimsuit bliss and become a lasting healthy lifestyle habit.

3. Don’t forget fiber and protein:

Fiber allows your body to be able to move fat and waste through your system more quickly, while protein takes longer to digest. Both give you that “full” feeling longer, making your tummy happy until your next meal.

4. Eat healthy snacks between meals:

Eating small, healthy snacks throughout the day keeps you from overeating during meals and stabilizes your blood sugar. Here’s the kicker though: it’s important to understand which snacks you should eat and which snacks you should pass up. A common misconception is to grab for the high-carbohydrate snacks, such as pretzels or yogurt… While these foods are relatively healthy, they are not very filling, leaving you unsatisfied before the next big meal. Stick to snacks high in protein and fiber, such as nuts, legumes, or “portable fruits”, such as strawberries, oranges, or peaches.

5. Exercise regularly:

Finally, a common myth to flattening your tummy is to do hundreds of sit-ups or crunches per day. Stop! There is no such thing as spot burning fat zones. And after the first 20 or 30 reps, your body gets lethargic and you end up “cheating”, therefore not getting the full effect of the exercise and potentially causing damage to your musculoskeletal system. The best way to tone up in time for summer is to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. 

With these tips in mind, you can get your body swimsuit ready in no time!