Pre-habilitation
Pre-habilitation is a program specifically designed by therapists to meet the individual needs of a patient prior to a surgery or a medical procedure .This practice is often used for orthopedic surgeries for both acute and chronic injuries and helps to promote optimal outcomes and success.
These can range from an ACL rupture to an osteoarthritic knee waiting for replacement. “Pre-hab” provides patients with pain relieving techniques, stretches, and strengthening exercises needed in order to obtain a smooth and speedy recovery.
The goals of a pre-operative rehabilitation program include mentally preparing for surgery, reducing pain and inflammation, maximizing range of motion and muscular control, education of expectations post-surgery, and improving overall wellbeing and fitness.
The surgeon is only responsible for 50% of outcome success after a surgery or procedure. The other 50% is due to a patient’s commitment to recovery. Patients will feel better about their recovery process if they are able to get out of bed, go to the restroom, and walk around the house independently.
Outpatient therapy provides their patients with exercise programs to perform at home, making patients more comfortable and familiar with the types of intervention they will encounter post-surgery. Our clinic provides a wide range of knowledge and we would love to help you decide what type of care is best for you or your family members.
References
Ries, E. (2016). Better Sooner and Later: Prehabilitation. PT in Motion, 1-12. Retrieved from
http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/2016/2/Prehabilitation/
What You Need to Know About Prehabilitation. (2014, July 1). Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. https://www.burke.org/blog/2014/7/what-you-need-to-know-about-prehabilitation/19
Total Knee Replacement
A total knee replacement is the substitution of weight bearing surfaces in your knee with artificial joints commonly made from mixes of plastic, ceramic, and metal. Knee replacements are commonly prescribed to those who suffer from arthritis which results in painful wear-and-tear in the knees when doing normal daily activities.
After Surgery Care
Following total knee replacement, there are three major factors that need to be monitored by a medical professional:
1) Wound healing
2) Blood clot prevention
3) Muscle strengthening
- Proper wound care speeds up the healing process by preventing infection and leaving minimal scarring. The healthier the wound, the higher the potential for you to have the best function of your knee.
- Blood clots can be very a dangerous complication and those who have had major surgery, such as total knee replacement, can be at risk. However, through proper care and exercise, blood clots can be prevented if treated and monitored diligently. You should inform your doctor if you experience any pain, tightness or swelling in your knee unrelated to your incision.
- Muscle strengthening is vital to the functionality of your knee following surgery. Proper range of motion exercises, joint mobilizations, and other modalities can all be used to improve knee function following surgery.
- A total knee replacement may seem like a scary process, but can be very simple and beneficial when in the right hands. Post-surgery rehabilitation is key to a successful total knee replacement, and all of the above services can be provided here at Yukon Wound Care and Rehab.
Cupping
Cupping has been around for centuries originating in Chinese Medicine. It gained its mainstream recognition after the 2016 Olympics when Michael Phelps was seen with large red circular imprints on his skin, resembling a hickey.
This treatment involves a special “cup” placed on the targeted area of the body, where it is then suctioned into place. The cupping causes an upward negative pressure that produces dilation of the skin which allows increased circulation and decreased inflammation in the underlying tissue. Cupping can be applied in almost any area, such as the neck, lumbar region, gluts, or along joint spaces and tendons. Cups can also be used during therapeutic exercise to facilitate postural correction and muscle activation. It can be used for various reasoning such as pain management, trigger point release or tissue movement for strength training. Utilized for pain management with patient’s suffering from arthritis, sciatica, sprains and headaches to name a few. Can be used for strength training in cases involving diagnoses such as postural muscles, back stabilizers, scoliosis, and knee or shoulder rehab. It is considered a part of physical therapy manual techniques and is provided at no additional cost to the patient.
Cupping is becoming a widely used practice in the therapy world and we are excited to share it with our patients.
Spider Bites in Oklahoma
As the seasons change in Oklahoma, so do the increase reports of spider bites. Seasonal changes cause spiders to look for desired climates within our homes and offices.
The most common Oklahoma spiders are the brown recluse, black widow, jumping spiders, wolf spiders and tarantulas. Brown recluse and black widows being the only poisonous of the species in Oklahoma. Wolf spiders can commonly be mistaken as brown recluse and vice versa.
Signs of a bite can be redness, swelling, burning, itching, small bump or blistering. Sometimes with a black widow bite double fang marks can be visible. A brown recluse bite can present with a discoloration surrounding the bite, forming into a fluid filled blister and then sloughing off into a deep ulcer with black dying tissue.
If someone suspects they have been bitten by a spider, they should wash the area with soap and water. Apply a cool compress over the area and take an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce symptoms. If suspecting a black widow or brown recluse spider bite, contact your primary care physician or an urgent care clinic for appropriate treatment. If a wound area appears, Yukon Wound Care and Rehabilitation has immediate openings with trained professionals to assist with management and wound healing.
What is a wound culture
Wound culture on children and adults is a test that looks for germs like bacteria, fungi or viruses.
If the wound is infected the culture can help determine what kind of germ produced the infection. This helps your provider determine which antibiotic to use. There is nothing to prepare for except telling your child or adult that a q-tip will swab inside the wound and it will sting or burn. In some cases there may be wound bleeding after the culture.
The culture is taken to a lab and tested and if there is infection the culture will be positive and if it does not it is negative. The results will be called to your provider and he or she will decide what antibiotic treatment should be used.
References
Wound Drainage Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/wound-culture.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=p-ptr
Burns
A burn is damage to tissue by heat, chemical, electricity, sunrays or radiation. The Most common Burn occurs from hot liquid such as soup, coffee and boiling water, but other liquids are flammable liquids and gases. Burns are describe by tissue depth and surface area covered.
Burns are measured in degrees 1, 2, 3 and 4th by depth:
1. First degree burn is superficial epidermis damage, such as sunburn with or without blisters.
2. Second degree burn affects epidermis and second tissue layer called the dermis layer.
3. Third degree burn are much deeper damaging epidermis, dermis, hair follicles and sweat glands.
4. Fourth degree burn extends into the fatty layers, fifth involves muscle and sixth involves bone.
Severe burns are extremely dangerous because of systemic complications from a huge full body inflammatory reaction. This inflammatory response can cause an overreaction injuring major organs such as heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels and others.
In most cases burns are treated with clean dry daily dressing using topical antibiotics to prevent infection and ease burn pain. However, in many burn cases daily debridement in an out-patient clinic is needed to remove damaged tissue to allow healing to occur. Severe cases may require acute hospitalization in special burn center.
Our clinic is well trained in burn care and debridement and will provide you care with professional attention and compassion.
References
Burns. (2018, January 2). Retrieved from
https://www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Pages/Factsheet_Burns.aspx