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Recently I had the opportunity to attend a Maitland Spine course which is known as the cornerstone of modern manual therapy. Maitland manual therapy is a school of thought that is patient centered and allows the clinician to develop treatment plans based on the symptoms that the patient experiences. It focuses on conservative mobilizations of the joints in the spine to achieve improvement in motion and reduction of pain with both mechanical and neurophysiologic effects.
These graded mobilizations are adjusted based on patient feedback and are performed within the patients level of comfort. Research has shown that this conservative approach of manual therapy has the same long term outcomes on pain and function as spinal manipulations or adjustments. At the course, I learned about the examination, assessment, and treatment planning for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
The course was very hands on and allowed all clinicians to practice on each other for multiple hours. It was a great experience and I am excited to incorporate what I learned at the course in patient care here at Head to Toe Physical Therapy of Topsham.
~ Dr. Dillon Fink, PT, DPT
The season of spring has a wonderful ability to encourage us all to be in happier, healthier states of being. Living in New England, we are all subject to winter confinement and decreased energy due to lack of Vitamin D. So what does that mean? GET MOVING!
I hope that you are using this beautiful weather as a sign to get going. If you have been one of my patients in the past, you will know that I encourage you to set goals and meet them. Do you have goals for this summer? What is stopping you? Can we help you obtain them?
Once you've identified your goals and limitations, don't hesitate to contact us! Feel free to drop by to simply say hello and share how well you are doing!
Until next blog folks-Christina
By the time she turned 90, Virginia felt depressed. She was suffering from the effects of diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension, and her ability to participate in daily activities was declining.
"I used to stay home, had nothing to do, was having trouble getting in and out of bed, walking short distances, and getting short of breath," Virginia said.
Her family noticed, and took action.
"My daughter called and arranged for me to see a physical therapist I had seen in the past," Virginia said.
Her goals were to get stronger, improve her balance, and learn how to move more safely. Her treatments included balance exercises as well as catching and kicking balls, and doing "obstacle courses."
After a few months, Virginia noticed a difference. She was able to get in and out of chairs and her bed without assistance, and she was walking longer distances without feeling short of breath. Best of all, she didn’t feel isolated anymore.
"Now, I am outgoing and happy," said Virginia, who is now able to regularly attend church, visit friends, and take trips to the shore with her family. "I even went back to work for a few hours each day. Not bad for a 90-year-old!"
Thanks to the creativity of her physical therapist, Virginia said her treatment was "hard, but fun." And the results speak for themselves.
"My neighbors have made positive comments about the change in my personality and lifestyle," Virginia said. "I am proud of the progress I have made with physical therapy. I have a life now."
Explore more patient stories like this one!
Blog post from Move Forward. Physical Therapy Brings Motion to Life website