Seven Oaks Physical Therapy and Fitness Center

12/31/2019

We would like to wish you a safe and Happy New Year.
And if one of your goals for 2020 is to be pain free, give us a call!

11/27/2019

Planning on doing your annual Turkey Trot before feasting this Thanksgiving? Good news! Running is good for you.

“Research has found people who are non-runners have higher rates of osteoarthritis than people who are recreational runners. (Interestingly, the trend reverses for people who run competitively.)”

Running is an effective, cost efficient way to exercise, but can cause injuries such as patellafemoral pain and IT band syndrome if not progressed appropriately.

“In these cases, the culprit is usually doing too much too fast, Dr Barton said... problems occur when people don't give their bodies enough time to strengthen and adapt to the repetitive movement.”

A good way to avoid these overuse injuries is to slowly increase running volume-no greater than 10-15 percent increases per week- and allow adequate time for recovery.

Incorporating running specific strengthening exercises such as lunges and single leg squats are also important as running is a single leg activity. At Seven Oaks, we can make sure you are performing these exercises correctly and running the right amount.

Running is often blamed for knee pain but, done right, it can actually make your knees healthier. The trick is to ease into it and give your body time to strengthen and adapt.

11/01/2019

Call before you fall! Here at Seven Oaks Physical Therapy, fall prevention is one of our top priorities in our patients. One of the best ways to determine fall risk is falling, which can be detrimental to your health and well being. Come see us before it gets to that point! We have many resources and tools to help reduce fall risk.

Monday, October 21, 2019 Senate Report Calls for More Emphasis on Falls Prevention The US Senate Select Committee on Aging has released a report on falls prevention that presses for more concerted efforts to prevent falls among the elderly—including wider access to physical therapy and community-b...

09/26/2019

Tendon injuries, especially Achilles tendon injuries, are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries commonly seen in physical therapy clinics. Surprisingly, antibiotics can increase your risk for tendon injuries.

“...Data show that a class of antibiotics, called fluoroquinolones, increases the chances that a patient can injure their Achilles tendon.”

Although the mechanisms for why fluoroquinolones can cause tendon injuries are unclear, researchers have a few hypotheses:

“One study in rats, for example, found that treatment with the antibiotics led to cellular degeneration in the tendons; other research has found that the antibiotics increase the expression of certain enzymes that break down collagen—which makes up 70% of tendons.”

Although the risk is small and tendon injuries from antibiotics are rare, it’s important to be aware of these complications.

If you come to us with a tendon injury, be sure to let your physical therapist know if you have recently been on antibiotics.

Of course, if your physician has prescribed antibiotics, it is important for you to follow the prescribed course of treatment. Always ask your physician if you have questions about your medications.

https://lermagazine.com/article/a-common-class-of-antibiotics-can-lead-to-tendon-rupture

09/10/2019

Knee replacements are becoming more and more common. Most of us can probably name at least one person in our life that has had a knee replacement.

Usually, knee replacements are a straightforward surgery and recovery that leaves patients feeling satisfied and more functional than they were before surgery.

However, a 2018 study showed that up to 20% of people are dissatisfied with their knee replacements. This may seem like a lot, but the truth is that there are nine common reasons that people end up unhappy, and there is something you can do about each reason.

One reason that we see at Seven Oaks is that patients go into surgery with unrealistic expectations about recovery time.. For most people, it can take at least 6 months to a year to really recover and restore full knee motion and strength.

Another reason for dissatisfaction is rushing into surgery. Often, PT prior to knee replacements can help reduce pain and delay surgery. Going into surgery with better strength and mobility will only help improve the eventual results.

At Seven Oaks, we are no stranger to knee replacements and all of our PTs are prepared to help you work through and overcome any challenges that may arise.

Considering knee replacement surgery? A 2018 study found that 20% of people are unhappy with the results. Here’s what can play into that dissatisfaction.

07/30/2019

Put that phone down and get moving! The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans has been published by the Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity has a myriad of health benefits.

“...physical activity fosters normal growth and development and can make people feel better, function better, sleep better, and reduce the risk of a large number of chronic diseases. Health benefits start immediately after exercising, and even short episodes of physical activity are beneficial.”

Adults should aim for 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise a week. Children and adolescence should strive for 60 minutes of aerobic activity per day. The best kind of exercise is the one you love and are motivated to get out there and do. So go dance, swim, run, bike, whatever!

https://health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition/pdf/PAG_ExecutiveSummary.pdf

07/19/2019

https://www.facebook.com/GetPT1st/photos/rpp.849514988427567/2390331417679242/?type=3&theater

It sounds scary, but it's a lot more common than you would think. Almost everyone has something "abnormal" on an MRI, but that doesn't mean it has to be painful or that only surgery will help. Know your options.

07/11/2019

Did you know that stars Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe have previously sustained ACL injuries? Morgan tore hers while a senior in high school and Rapinoe tore hers at the end of 2015.

However, they both persevered through the rehabilitation process to lead their country to two World Cup Championships. In this blog from 2016, Rapinoe talks about her experience early on in the rehabilitation process.

“The greatest temptation of rehabbing from an injury such as an ACL tear, is the recovery takes its sweet ole time healing, and you focus on everything you cannot do...I try really hard to focus on what I can do today, gains I can make in each rehab session, approach that with positivity, and with a smile, and try to get a little better everyday.”

All sports injuries, no matter how big or small, take time to heal. This is where Seven Oaks Physical Therapy comes in. We are knowledgeable about the healing process and skilled at progressing through the rehabilitation process. If you have a sports injury, give us a call today!

June 9, 2016 One day at a time. Everyday. Everytime. No matter what. That’s how I came back from the first two, and that’s how I am coming back from this one. I get asked basically every day about my knee, how my knee is feeling, how my rehab is going, when I will be able to play agai...

06/26/2019

If you find yourself staring at your phone or computer all day, the best thing to do is put the phone down and MOVE!

“There really isn’t a perfect way to hold your phone,” he says. “The best bet is not to hold the same posture for too long….Robertson suggests setting an alarm on your phone for every 15 or 20 minutes.”

If you still find that you are having pain, come see us so we can address any postural imbalances or weakness to help make your work day as painless as possible.

The great horn debacle of 2019 is just the latest addition to a sprawling list of hysterical reporting on posture and technology.

06/19/2019

If you are struggling with issues such as pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, diastasis recti, prolapse or other pelvic floor conditions, Seven Oaks Physical Therapy can help!

We now offer Women’s Health Physical therapy and treat numerous conditions for pre and postnatal women.

Contact us for more information!

As a mother of two young children, one birthed by unplanned C-section, the other at…

06/05/2019

http://www.startribune.com/we-can-t-all-be-tiger-woods-minnesota-doctors-say-spine-surgery-isn-t-for-everyone/509829082/

Do you want to be the next Tiger Woods? Spinal fusion may not be the answer! Research has shown that lumbar surgeries are not always effective long term solutions for low back pain.

“... There is little research evidence that fusions work better for common lower-back ailments than less-invasive procedures or nonsurgical options...You want to try to treat conservatively, because surgery is not necessarily the best answer.”

At Seven Oaks Physical Therapy, we offer a unique spinal strengthening program called Medex and we incorporate a variety of core strengthening exercises into our rehabilitation protocols for low back pain.

“Strong core muscles can in some ways replace the stability that’s lost when discs erode.” If you are suffering from low back pain, give us a call today!

The contradiction between Tiger Woods' success and efforts to limit fusion surgery — at least as a first-choice option for low-back pain — reflects one of the great tensions in American medicine.

05/07/2019

Did you know that walking can be great exercise for people of all ages and activity levels?

When you have arthritis, it can feel like you can’t do much exercise without causing yourself extra pain. But there are ways to make walking more fun!

“Those living with arthritis...can enjoy and benefit from improved strength and endurance from walking.”

Where are some places you enjoy going for walks? Comment below!

Those living with arthritis, an estimated 54 million American adults, can enjoy and benefit from improved strength and endurance from walking.