Here in Culpeper, I start my weeks working out with some very inspirational people at 5:30 in the morning … the early morning cycling crew of Powell. Iron men and women that have challenged my body and mind in all the best ways. This morning I was reminded of something very important: The race isn’t the … Continue reading
Filed under Clinical Revelations …
Signs and Symptoms Detectives Unite: Eyebrow elevation? Bell’s Palsy vs CVA
Remember that a stroke is a medical emergency and time sensitive, if you suspect a stroke call 911 immediately. “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” – Sherlock Holmes Alright detectives, here are the facts: Your … Continue reading
Making Waves in the TURTTLE Pool ~ Aquatic Physical Therapy
Today I got to spread my wings as a physical therapist …my water wings ! Powell Wellness Center has an amazing therapy pool: Therapeutic Unique Rehabilitation Two Temperature Lap and Exercise Pool! Seriously, check this out: It has warm pockets for therapy, two-lane walking oval with chest-high water that provides a slight current for extra … Continue reading
Handy Nerves.
A patient walked in to clinic today and said: “I get the strangest tingling in my hand when I reach into the back seat of my car. It is just in my palm, my thumb, and my pointer finger…it feels SOOO strange!” Hmmm, ok. Want to give that a try at home? Stretch both your … Continue reading
S.I.T.S yourself down and learn about the Rotator Cuff!
My outpatient rotation is starting off swimmingly…and that isn’t just because our facility has a sweet therapy pool (ha! ok, ok sorry I’m a little tired still from the adjustment to my new home and clinic life). Sometimes (serendipitously) patients seem to cluster themselves. In my first few days I have seen several Rotator Cuff … Continue reading
First of the Last ~ Final Clinical Rotation in Culpeper, VA
Our lives are filled with many firsts. Every once in a while we have a unique last first. My classmates and had the FIRST day of our LAST clinical rotation today! I’m delightfully exhausted, stimulated by the new environment, fantastic new coworkers, and all the lovely challenges that come with beginning something new. I couldn’t … Continue reading
Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Critical Care Rehabilitation ~ We all have piece to contribute #icurehab
This weekend was the second annual Critical Care Rehabilitation Conference at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. We focused on evaluating and discussing the most current research being developed to understand and improve patient outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Perhaps the most potent message from the weekend is the utmost importance of a interdisciplinary team … Continue reading
Sehnsuch nach den fehlenden Stücken
I’ve often felt life to be a large puzzle. Not the easy-peasy 100 piecer with some predictable Thomas Kinkade bridge on it…it is the kind with thousands of pieces, large color blocked fields, and no box cover to sneak a peak at the final picture. The image appears to be constantly changing as more and … Continue reading
An Anthropologist in the OR ~ Witnessing the before and seeing the after
Today I saw a whole new side of physical therapy…the before. Before I get them out of their cloudy soft hospital bed and get them walking in their grippy socks through the hospital halls with my rolling walker. Before they ended up in that bed, something happened. Now, many of my patients come into the … Continue reading
Like a marsupial ? Craniectomies status post TBI (traumatic brain injury)
I suffer from pervasive and malignant foot in mouth syndrome (IE ~ stream of consciousness speaking without filtration) I just get so excited sometimes and my mind just leaps to places perhaps it shouldn’t go. Well, I had a mild case of “FIMS” this week when speaking to a surgeon about a new patient I … Continue reading