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If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal-cord injury, you know that this can be life-changing. You will want to include a physical therapist on your team of healthcare providers. Cheyenne, WY physical therapy treatment will help you achieve the most out of the rehabilitation process.

How Physical Therapy Helps After a Spinal Cord Injury

Here are the benefits of working with a physical therapist after your injury:

• Recovery of sensory and motor functions are improved
• Reintegration into everyday life is more streamlined
• Motivation is increased

Working one-on-one with a physical therapist means a relationship is created, and this relationship can go a long way toward the injured person making continued improvements physically and emotionally.

The Importance of Physical Activity

Being active physical is important for anyone, and it is especially vital after suffering from a spinal cord injury. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a guideline of at least 150 minutes each week of aerobic exercise and two days a week of resistance training. For those with spinal cord injuries, physical activity has been shown to improve walking as well as strength and function of the upper body.
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation offer these tips for staying active, whatever your injury and ability.

What You Should Look for in a Physical Therapist

Spinal cord injuries can change your life as well as your family member’s lives. Not only are spinal cord injuries stressful, but they require expensive care and treatment.
Choosing the right physical therapist will be crucial to your recovery after injury, so you want to make sure you are getting someone who has the experience and qualifications to work with patients who have your type of injury. Go ahead and ask your physician for recommendations, but you also want to do a bit of homework on your own before deciding on which physical therapist you will work with.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind:

• Check their credentials carefully.
• Find someone who has a personality that will mesh well with yours, and meet them in person ahead of time, if possible. Even the most qualified physical therapist will hinder your progress if your personalities clash while you are undergoing treatment.
• Ask for information about their approach to working with a patient with a spinal cord injury such as yours.
• Read their online reviews to find out what past and current patients have to say. This can provide quite a bit of insight into how they work when they are with patients.

To learn more about living with a spinal cord injury and how physical therapy can help, give us a call. North Platte is your go-to local physical therapist in Cheyenne, WY to provide the physical therapy that will get you feeling better. Our expert staff is respected throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas for providing superior and customized physical therapy services. We can handle any of your physical therapy needs—including for spinal cord injuries. Fill out our contact form to get started and to find a location near you.

Are you undergoing medical issues, dealing with aches and pains, or other ailments? In many cases, physical therapy in Cheyenne, WY could help you recover. Physical therapy is often a go-to to improve or even eliminate issues. In many cases, choosing to see a local physical therapist could even lead you to save thousands in the long term. Review these top six reasons for physical therapy that you may benefit from.

Prevent Surgery

Surgery can hard on the body, as well as hard on the wallet. Once you have your surgery, you will also most likely need to work with a physical therapy after. When you take advantage of premier physical therapy to combat an ailment, you can improve a condition just through a series of stretches and exercises. Various muscles and areas are strengthened. This is a great option to consider, especially for sports injuries, tears, strains, and more.

Reduce Headaches

If you deal with headache pain on a frequent basis, you are not alone. Millions and millions of Americans suffer from headaches each year, not having success with treatment options. It is important to understand the common causes of headaches and using physical therapy to help. Headaches occur for a variety of different reasons. This is where a physical therapist will assess your needs. From there, they will come up with a plan tailored to reduce any pain and enhance your quality of life.

Help with Muscular Pain

From sports to the work day, these items can take a toll on the body. If you suffer from muscular aches, physical therapy will help alleviate the pain. In some cases, it can even eliminate it. If you aren’t sure if certain pains are normal, especially if they have not gone away in months, work with your physician to explore the extent of a potential injury.

Increased Mobility and Balance

As you grow older or have continuous motions day in and day out, you may notice you aren’t as nimble as you once were. This can be everything from being able to fully extend your arms in certain positions or walking properly even though you might be battling a knee issue. Or, you may not feel as stable. Physical therapy will help your range of motion to help those pains and help you gain more strength to help you maintain your balance.

Treat Common Illnesses

Do you suffer from arthritis? Deal with pain due to a TMJ disorder? Or possibly swelling, also known as lymphedema? These and more can all be improved by going to a local physical therapist. From exercises and stretches, to massages, physical therapy can become a long-term solution to several different types of illnesses and ailments. If you are dealing with symptoms, talk to a physical therapist to see if they can come up with a plan that’s right for you.


So you may be wondering, “what can physical therapy do for me?” It may change your life for the better! No matter what your ailment, the team at North Platte Physical Therapy is here to help you create a plan. It is best to act now to be on your way to a healthy and happy future! Contact us today to set up your appointment.

Did you hear the words “stand up straight” frequently when you were a child? If you heard this over and over, it might have sounded like maternal nagging when your mother said that to you, but she knew what she was talking about. Good posture is an essential part of good health. Because so few people truly grasp the importance of good posture, your Gillette WY physical therapist takes some time in this article to discuss the necessity of good posture.

What Exactly Is Posture?

Your posture refers to the way you hold your body while you are standing or sitting. Having good posture means that your body is aligned properly against gravity. We don’t consciously maintain posture, but our muscles do it for us. The hamstrings and large muscles in the back are vital for maintaining good posture.

Why Is Good Posture Important?

When we have good posture, we put less strain on our muscles and ligaments. In addition, correct posture means:

• Muscles are used correctly so joints are not subject to undue wear.
• Ligaments are less stressed so injury is less likely.
• Muscles work more efficiently, meaning there is less muscle fatigue.
• We are less likely to suffer from strains and pains.

You can read more on the importance of good posture from the educators at Harvard Medical School in this article, Why Good Posture Matters.

What Happens When Posture Is Poor?

When you repeatedly have bad posture, this leads to excessive strain on your muscles. This will subject you to an increased risk of injury as well as back pain.

What Contributes to Bad Posture?

Sometimes people work in an environment that leads to bad posture, especially those who have to sit or stand for long hours. Some people just have abnormally tight muscles. Other poor posture contributors include stress, pregnancy, obesity, and high-heeled shoes.

Can Poor Posture Be Corrected?

Yes, it can be corrected but it is not always an easy process. Having awareness about your posture and standing up straight like your mother recommended will help. 

If your posture is causing problems in your life, you should consider getting professional help such as that of a physical therapist. Physical therapy can help correct poor posture by working with you on strengthening the muscles that are causing your poor posture. Physical therapy can also help you increase flexibility, which can help to reduce the strain your poor posture is having on your spine.

If you decide to go to physical therapy to improve your posture, take a look at this list to help streamline your first visit.

Don’t let bad posture cause other issues with your overall wellbeing. North Platte is your go-to local physical therapist in Gillette, WY to provide the physical therapy that will get you feeling better. Our expert staff is respected throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas for providing superior and customized physical therapy services. We can handle any of your physical therapy needs—including your back pain. Fill out our contact form to get started and to find a location near you.

Did you know more than half of all Americans have reported feeling stress in their life? Several of those deal with every day’s challenges on top of their current stresses and anxiety, without any plan to help the situation. Some types of stress should be addressed by a physician or with premier physical therapy in Casper, WY. Other matters can be addressed on your own, without any medication at all! Explore some of the top ways to help manage your stress.
 

Breathing Exercises
 

Practicing breathing exercises can be an excellent way to reduce stress. By practicing breathing exercises, you can force your body to slow down and reset. Physically, you can feel better in a matter of minutes. How? When taking deep breaths, messages are sent to the brain that can slow a fast-beating heart and other symptoms of stress and anxiety. Try some of these tips to get started:
 

• Sit in a quiet room in a comfortable position. For some, standing or laying down is more relaxing, feel free to choose what you like.
• Cancel out internal thoughts by thinking of something you can repeat over and over in your head. It can be a specific word, phrase or noise.
• Choose an amount of time you will dedicate to breathing. Silence your phone and put it on another side of the room to avoid distractions, but you can set a subtle alarm, so you know when to complete your exercises. This way, you will not be checking in on the time.
• Close your eyes and take deep breaths and exhales. Breathe in and take a deep breath for three seconds, and exhale for six. Repeat this. Focus on how you feel and the word, phrase or noise you choose to cancel out running thoughts.
• Can’t sleep? Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique that claims to help you nod off in 60 seconds.

 

Food

 
One of the best ways you can control stress is through eating. Certain types of food will help you feel better, hence reducing stress. Some of these foods include:
 

• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Berries
• Dark Chocolate
• Nuts
• Oatmeal
• Oranges
• Red peppers
• Salmon
• Spinach
• Tea
• Turkey

 

Physical Therapy for Pain
 

Various aches and pains throughout the body can be a contributor to stress. Things such as the neck, shoulder, and back pain can and should be assessed by a professional. By visiting a local physical therapist, you can enhance your quality of life by reducing or even eliminating pain. In addition, if you feel certain “tight muscles,” ask your physical therapist about dry needling. Also known as “trigger point dry needling,” small needles are strategically placed to loosen trigger points. Common areas include the neck, back, shoulders, temples, knees, and feet.
 
As you work to reduce stress in your life, North Platte Physical Therapy is your go-to physical therapist. Our team will work with you, so you can reduce pain. Through a series of customized exercises, you will feel much better and ready to accomplish anything. Contact us today to see how we can help you!

One of the most common extracurricular activities for high school students is sports. From basketball and soccer, to track and volleyball, there are a variety of ways students can get involved and be active. However, in this crucial stage in development, it is helpful to have someone on staff that can help students practice their sport safely, or properly recover after an injury. Learn more about the top types of high school student injuries and how trainers and physical therapy in Cheyenne, WY will assist. 

 
Injuries in High School Sports
 

Being active is one of the best ways to stay in shape and healthy. In high school, students have a plethora of options to find an activity that is fun to keep them going. However, with frequent movements comes the risk for injury. Some of the most common injuries among students in sports include:
 
● Strains and sprains: After a quick impact, whether it is with a ball or other student player, strains and sprains can arise. A strain is when a muscle or tendon has torn. After this happens, the area may significantly swell and can become painful and difficult to move. A sprain is when a ligament tears. Ligaments are important as they connect the bones, making it painful when injured. A student may notice the area becoming swollen quickly, bruised, and very painful.
● Concussions: As one of the most common injuries in high school students, concussions must be taken seriously. This type of brain injury can happen when students run into each other or a ball or object comes into harsh contact. It is crucial administrators have the knowledge of concussion and reporting behaviors in high school athletes with or without access to an athletic trainer. Signs include dizziness, fogginess, confusion, slow responses, memory loss, headaches, fatigue, sleep issues, and other negative quality of life symptoms.
●Fractures: A common injury in student athletes are fracturing. It is imperative to work with a trainer to ensure the fracture properly repairs to avoid long-term damage.

 
Prevention

A go-to way to prevent sports injuries is working with a premier trainer. A trainer will work with an athlete on proper posture, form, and motion. When a student is equipped with the tools to do their best on the field, it will help them from making movements that will lead to injuries.
 

Treatment

If a student does sustain an injury, the doctor will make the initial diagnoses and methods of treatment. However, it can be difficult to ensure a student is doing all the instructed tasks for recovery. This is where athletic trainers will help. Their background in physical therapy will work one-on-one with a student to keep them on track. A trainer will also assist with the motions to help during the recovery process.
 
If your student does not have a trainer at their high school, North Platte Physical Therapy offers sports medicine services. Each of our local athletic trainers has the proper licensing and are board certified. You can count on our team to help your student be successful in sports. Contact us today to see how we can help!