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Each year there are roughly 3 million injuries and illnesses caused by the workplace. Wyoming in particular had 13,000 reported non-fatal work related injuries. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports in their October 2015 news release that these numbers are down, 2.8 million people are still getting hurt on the job. A workplace injury is frustrating! It can put you out of work temporarily during your recovery, also leasing you to have to deal with workers compensation and ensuring you have income during this time. It is best to always practice safe work practices but inevitably, accidents may happen. Here are some preventative measure and how local premier Casper physical therapy can help.

1. Workplace Safety:  When working in a warehouse, out in the field, etc., it is important to familiarize with common accidents you may be prone to. Review safety precautions regularly and don’t let up. It is easy to get injured when you let your guard down. When using a forklift, be sure to take all precautions. Keep aware of your surroundings and wear proper safety gear. When driving through areas where people may be walking, keep aware and avoid narrow areas. For ladders, make sure you are using a sturdy ladder on a dry even surface. Do not alter the ladder if you need to climb higher and never use the top level. In fact, stay about three steps down from the to ensure safety. Then in many outdoor and indoor applications, wear proper protection. This includes eyewear, face protection and hard hats.
2. Office Tips: Workplace injuries can occur with those who primarily sit at a desk all day! It is important to make sure you are sitting in the proper position. Posture is key and sitting in a slumped or improper position can lead you to several problems down the road. Keep your neck and shoulders relaxed. Be sure to get up and walk around every so often. Not only will this help keep you moving throughout the day but also is one of the top ways to help avoid eyestrain. While you type, be sure to keep your wrists straight.
3. Physical Therapy: If you have experienced a work related injury, physical therapy can be a great option to get you back to work. You can also have a swift recovery and understand better ways to avoid the accident from happening again in the future. Your first visit will normally be an initial meeting to evaluate your injury. They will also let you know approximately how many sessions you might need. From there, your physical therapist will work with you on various exercises. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move in.

If you have been injured on the job, North Platte Physical therapy is your go-to Casper physical therapy office. Many of our therapists are certified in pre-employment, job performance and return to work evaluations including Functional Capacity Evaluations. We’ll help you restore the quality of the affected areas and get you back to work! Learn more about how we can help you overcome your work injuries and find a location near you!

The proper health and functioning of your body is required to perform daily routines and to fulfill professional obligations. However, many work injuries can impair your health and facilitate debilitating injuries. Although the injuries can prevent you from completing the tasks of your job, physical therapists can provide evaluations and treatments to help you recover and get back to work as soon as possible. If you have experienced an injury from your job, you should learn more about the work injury treatments that the best Wyoming physical therapy services can provide.

Rehabilitation
Premier Casper physical therapists can help you rehabilitate after suffering from work-related injuries. Many jobs expose the employees to safety hazards and injury risks.  Industries that can be very dangerous include construction, manufacturing, carpentry, farming, factory, roofing, and many other industrial occupations. Physical therapists can provide treatment for most injuries that employees commonly experience. The therapists often implement customized exercise programs and stretching routines that would be most conducive for your injury and for your body. You can also rehabilitate from your work injury by having the experts apply technological modalities, such as ultrasound, Tens Units, and electrical stimulation devices. As a result, the physical therapy professionals can implement a work injury treatment program to alleviate the pain, accelerate the recovery process, and restore the proper functioning of your body.    

Prevention
You would also benefit from the prevention treatments that top Wyoming physical therapy services can provide. The prevention treatments can help protect you from recurring the same injury or from experiencing new injuries affiliated with your occupation. The therapy experts can identify the physical requirements of your job, determine the specific problems that your body is experiencing, and develop strategies to overcome those physical limitations. Many preventative programs can help you perform professional tasks. For instance, the experts can show you the proper body mechanics and effective movement techniques that can help you safely and successfully fulfill the obligations of your job without incurring any injuries. The therapist can also teach you stretches and exercises that you can perform on your own to expand your range-of-motion. While the preventative programs can protect you from incurring future injuries, the programs can also improve your performance levels by enhancing your strength, flexibility, and body mechanics.  

Evaluations
The best Casper physical therapists can also conduct evaluations for work injuries. The Functional Capacity Evaluation enables the experts to conduct a series of tests, customize the tests according to your professional occupation, and determine whether or not you are physically able to perform the duties of your job. If you are not ready to resume work activities, the experts can provide proof of your injury and document the specific impediments that prevent you from being able to perform the given tasks. After you have rehabilitated, the experts can also conduct return-to-work tests to verify if you are officially ready to get back to work. The return-to-work tests help the experts determine if you are prepared to safely and effectively perform the professional obligations without incurring injuries. Additionally, the experts can collaborate with your employers throughout the entire process to ensure that the evaluation tests and documentation requirements are handled properly.  

Contact North Platte Physical Therapy to treat your work injuries. Our expert staff has earned a prestigious reputation for providing superior physical therapy services and for satisfying customers throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas. We provide personalized physical therapy services, we use the best treatment techniques available, and we would be glad to develop a treatment program that can help you rehabilitate from work injuries and maximize your performance levels.

Unfortunately millions live everyday with chronic pain. Chances are your work with a physical therapist is reducing its effects but there may be certain things that you are doing that may actually be enhancing your pain. By avoiding these things you may be able to augment the effects of your therapy and lessening the effects of your chronic pain. As with anything, check with your doctor or physical therapist before making any dietary changes but making small changes in concert with the work of your physical therapist may speed your journey to a pain free life.

How Physical Therapy Helps Pain.
The general goal of physical therapy is to target muscle areas where pain exists. When muscles are stronger they do a better job of supporting joints and improving mobility. Using resistance bands, weights, and low impact aerobic exercises will target weak areas and increase flexibility while lessening pain.

Pain Enhancers to avoid.
Certain things can increase the pain itself or the effect of pain on your body and mind. Smoking is all around bad for you and it is known to increase chronic pain. When people are in pain, it causes stress and anxiety for which they sometimes turn to cigarettes as a coping mechanism. This only makes the problem worse, especially for those with back injuries as smoking contributes to spinal disc deterioration as well as osteoporosis. Tobacco use also makes users feel pain more acutely and increases sensations of discomfort. There are plenty of free resources to help you get tobacco free! Start today!

Those suffering from chronic pain often turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism as well. Alcohol may have short term pain reduction effects but overall it may just make the problem worse. Drinking can disrupt your sleep cycle which may already be altered because of the pain you are experiencing. Lack of restful sleep reduces your body’s ability to heal itself, thus prolonging your pain and discomfort. It can also lead to depression and irritability.

Stress can also enhance the body’s pain response as well as disrupting other systems such as sleep and cognitive functioning. Both of these are imperative to your healing process. Find productive ways to manage stress. Take up meditation or other mindful practices. Join a support group for others with chronic pain. Talking to someone who really understands what you are going through can be very helpful. If there’s a new hobby or skill you’ve been wanting to learn, now is the time. Finding a way to distract yourself is the best cure for pain as well as stress reduction.

Things to Do for Pain Free Living.
The exercise that you do with your physical therapist is target specific and no doubt helping you with pain management. Speak to your therapist about other exercises that might be beneficial for you to do on your own that won’t risk re-injury or cause setbacks. Exercise naturally releases endorphins improving your mood overall while also blocking pain signals. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces joint stress aiding in flexibility and pain management.

Eating a healthy diet has a great many benefits and may also assist you in pain elimination. Foods that help with inflammation can be especially beneficial. Grill up some fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, sardines, or mackerel. The Omega-3 that they contain acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. Green leafy vegetables boost antioxidants to speed healing and reduce inflammation as well. Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are a great source of ellagic acid which decreases inflammation and illuminates joint pain.

You will reap the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle long after your physical therapy has been completed. If you have questions about physical therapy as a treatment for chronic pain contact North Platte Physical Therapy Today!

Coming to Monument Physical Therapy in Gering, NE!  We are offering a 1 day clinic for older drivers to come have their vehicles checked out to make sure they are safe on the road!  Saturday July 23rd from 9:00 am - 11:00 am.  Contact us at 308-633-5361 if there are any questions!! 

Each year, over 12,000 Americans are injured resulting in a spinal cord injury. This unfortunate accident can result in a multitude of effects from a loss in function or respiratory issues. It is best to try to be cautious when playing sports, working and lifting or other strenuous activities to ensure you do not sustain one of these injuries. If you do, one of your options to recover or gain some of your mobility back is to see a physical therapist in Casper, WY.

1. What is a Spinal Cord Injury? When a person damages their spinal cord, which is roughly 18 inches long and starts from the base of your brain and goes down to the middle of your back, there are a multitude of effects it can have. According to the Shepherd Center, these injuries can result in a loss in function, mobility and feeling. The nerves exit and enter at each level and they explain communicate with different areas of the body. Being that the spinal cord carries nerve impulses from the brain to the rest of the body, when damaged, you can see how it can greatly change someone’s life.
2. Complete and Incomplete Injuries: Spinal cord injuries are categorized into “complete” and “incomplete.”  The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains that a “complete” spinal cord injury means your spinal cord is unable to send signals to anything below it usually resulting in paralysis. You may have total paralysis, known as tetraplegia, or partial paralysis called paraplegia, which usually affects the lower part of the body. For those diagnosed with an “incomplete” injury, there is still some movement and sensation below leaving those with the ability to be able to move and function. Those with “incomplete” injuries are able to use various therapies, medicines, braces and other devices to rehabilitate. While you may not have a full recovery, there are aids and devices to help you live as comfortably as possible.
3. Symptoms: Upon experiencing a potential spinal cord injury, there are several emergency signs and symptoms to take note of. If you experience any of these symptoms or are worried you have a spinal cord injury, it is best to contact your doctor immediately. The first is extreme back pain and pressure in your neck, head or back. Next, if you notice weakness or numbness in certain parts of you body, which could be a sign. You may also have loss of bladder or bowel control and have issues balancing and walking. Last, you may notice that you struggle with your breathing or have an injury that leaves your neck or back in an odd position.  

If you find that you are a victim of a spinal cord injury, North Platte Physical Therapy is your local premier Casper physical therapy go-to to help you increase the quality of your life post-injury. We can work with peripheral nerve stimulation, bio feed-back and brushing/sensory integration techniques by transfer training, ambulation training, stretching, strengthening, balance and neuro-muscular re-education. Our top goals are to help you eradicate pain, increase function, instruct self-management and educate you on the biomechanics. Learn more about spinal injuries and other neurological services and fill out a contact sheet for more information.