There is a running joke among physical therapists that Title IX was the best thing to ever happen to the profession of physical therapy. Theoretically at least women's sports should be on par with men's sports. So why I ask you do young ladies still wear skirts when playing field hockey and lacrosse? Were these sports invented in Scotland or something. Let's face it, it's sexist. Not that I'm complaining mind you as there seems to be an explosion of leopard and neon print shorts underneath. The boys playing lacrosse wear padding and full face masks and the ladies wear a pair of goggles apparently because they just don't play as rough. Well let me tell you one thing oh New Jersey High School Sports Officials the desire to win and the ferocity of play have nothing to do with gender. One could make the argument, if one were an enterprising attorney that facial injuries occurring during lacrosse because of inadequate equipment may make school systems liable for injuries. I'm just saying. Perhaps it's time to put away antiquated rules and make them standardized across the sports especially where facial fractures and concussions are concerned. And why are the one pound weights always pink, huh?
Friday, September 11, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Fun with Twitter
If you came here from a twitter link then I am sorry to disappoint you. I'm not really from Switzerland and my posts on twitter are pure fantasy... well maybe. The part about me being meglomanical is true as is the development of the "Glover Method". What I have learned through years of frustration over inventing an exercise that is soon stolen by no talent hollywood hardbodies with a distribution deal is this; name everything after yourself whether it's been used for years or not and people will pay attention. Make it hard to get and charge an arm and a leg for it and people will lay down their credit cards at your alter. Thus the "Glover Method". Over the coming months I may leak some "Method" development tips but that's about it. However, I'm glad your here and when the DVD is ready I'll be expecting the cash to flow.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
What your kids won't tell you
As a physical therapist I frequently see an influx of high school athletes at the beginning of each season. This is usually not due to any injury on the field but rather a flare up of an injury from the previous season.
The main problem is once a sports season ends the athlete typically has a month or two off before the next one begins. During this time of relative inactivity whatever was bothering the athlete tends to subside and gets placed in the back of the mind of both parents and athletes. Don't let this happen. The end of the season is when any chronic injury needs to be addressed. These conditions are usually treated with relatively simple flexibility and strengthening activities. Knee problems such as Osgood-Schlatter or Sinding-Larsen Johannsen are a great example of this situation as is non-specific shoulder pain in baseball pitchers. I implore you, even if they stop complaining about it, take them to a specialist so they don't miss playing time during the next season, nothing is sadder than a sidelined senior.
Another problem is the athlete who doesn't complain about pain or just "works through it". This is quite noble but is likely to end up in a more significant problem. An example could be a strained achilles tendon that eventually snaps requiring surgery or perhaps an ankle sprain that causes a more serious ACL injury due to abnormal movement patterns. Parents must be aware of everything their athlete does. Look at how they are walking after practice, limping a little may be a clue. Using tylenol or advil without complaining about a headache, may be a clue. I am just as guilty of this as anyone as my oldest son can attest.
If you have any doubt about the proper course of action to take, a high school athletic trainer is usually a good first step or a physical therapist such as myself. Be proactive, a short stint of rehabilitation can frequently educate you in what to do without severely impacting a season in progress and may prevent missing any time from a future sports season.
The main problem is once a sports season ends the athlete typically has a month or two off before the next one begins. During this time of relative inactivity whatever was bothering the athlete tends to subside and gets placed in the back of the mind of both parents and athletes. Don't let this happen. The end of the season is when any chronic injury needs to be addressed. These conditions are usually treated with relatively simple flexibility and strengthening activities. Knee problems such as Osgood-Schlatter or Sinding-Larsen Johannsen are a great example of this situation as is non-specific shoulder pain in baseball pitchers. I implore you, even if they stop complaining about it, take them to a specialist so they don't miss playing time during the next season, nothing is sadder than a sidelined senior.
Another problem is the athlete who doesn't complain about pain or just "works through it". This is quite noble but is likely to end up in a more significant problem. An example could be a strained achilles tendon that eventually snaps requiring surgery or perhaps an ankle sprain that causes a more serious ACL injury due to abnormal movement patterns. Parents must be aware of everything their athlete does. Look at how they are walking after practice, limping a little may be a clue. Using tylenol or advil without complaining about a headache, may be a clue. I am just as guilty of this as anyone as my oldest son can attest.
If you have any doubt about the proper course of action to take, a high school athletic trainer is usually a good first step or a physical therapist such as myself. Be proactive, a short stint of rehabilitation can frequently educate you in what to do without severely impacting a season in progress and may prevent missing any time from a future sports season.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Prescription vs. Referral
Being a physical therapist I may be biased but I think a profession that not only gives you the satisfaction of helping people plus the ability to tell them what to do every time you see them is unparallelled. I plan on giving insight into the field of physical therapy, into the outpatient setting and passing along a little wisdom on dealing with physicians, insurance companies, coaches, and all manner of related subjects.
First lesson: The difference between a Prescription and a Referral
Basically a prescription is written by your physician and is a tool used to request physical therapy services. It must have several elements A) a diagnosis, or what is wrong with you B) Frequency, how many times a week to come to therapy C) Duration, how many weeks to come to therapy D) Requested Services, I like evaluation and treat as indicated best, however, many surgeons have protocols that provide this information E) Date prescription was written F) Physician's Signature, yes, I know the nurse signed it but it's still a formality.
A Referral is issued by your primary care doctor depending on whether you have an insurance that requires one. Not all insurances require a referral. When you need a referral your primary care doctor is acting as a gatekeeper for health care and is deciding if you really need physical therapy, kidney dialysis, Neurosurgical Consultation, MRI, etcetera. Even if you have a prescription from a specialist such as an orthopaedic surgeon you may still need a referral to get care.
Now to make matters more confusing, your primary care doctor at least here in New Jersey can use the referral as a prescription for physical therapy. So what is the whole point of this explanatory blog? It is simply this; a prescription and a referral are two seperate things, usually. If you need a referral to go see a specialist, get blood work, etc., you will also need a referral for physical therapy services regardless of whether your specialist wrote you a prescription for physical therapy. So when the insurance specialist at your therapy provider asks whether you have a referral and prescription you'll know what they're talking about.
Oh, by the way, your primary care doctor is very busy and will usually take 3 days to process a referral so trying to call their office from the physical therapists office is futile. Just reschedule your physical therapy evaluation. It'll be less stress on everybody.
First lesson: The difference between a Prescription and a Referral
Basically a prescription is written by your physician and is a tool used to request physical therapy services. It must have several elements A) a diagnosis, or what is wrong with you B) Frequency, how many times a week to come to therapy C) Duration, how many weeks to come to therapy D) Requested Services, I like evaluation and treat as indicated best, however, many surgeons have protocols that provide this information E) Date prescription was written F) Physician's Signature, yes, I know the nurse signed it but it's still a formality.
A Referral is issued by your primary care doctor depending on whether you have an insurance that requires one. Not all insurances require a referral. When you need a referral your primary care doctor is acting as a gatekeeper for health care and is deciding if you really need physical therapy, kidney dialysis, Neurosurgical Consultation, MRI, etcetera. Even if you have a prescription from a specialist such as an orthopaedic surgeon you may still need a referral to get care.
Now to make matters more confusing, your primary care doctor at least here in New Jersey can use the referral as a prescription for physical therapy. So what is the whole point of this explanatory blog? It is simply this; a prescription and a referral are two seperate things, usually. If you need a referral to go see a specialist, get blood work, etc., you will also need a referral for physical therapy services regardless of whether your specialist wrote you a prescription for physical therapy. So when the insurance specialist at your therapy provider asks whether you have a referral and prescription you'll know what they're talking about.
Oh, by the way, your primary care doctor is very busy and will usually take 3 days to process a referral so trying to call their office from the physical therapists office is futile. Just reschedule your physical therapy evaluation. It'll be less stress on everybody.
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