Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital Physical Therapy

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving from your local rehab family! We hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday with loved ones!

07/13/2022

Come help us celebrate the retirement of Jean Angell today at 2pm in the conference room!

08/31/2021

Our Doctor of Physical Therapy, Kayla Honas, is now certified in dry needling (DN)!

DN is a form of therapy in which fine needles are inserted into myofascial trigger points, tendons, ligaments, or near nerves in order to stimulate a healing response in painful musculoskeletal conditions. Dry needling is NOT acupuncture or Oriental Medicine; that is, it does not have the purpose of altering flow of energy (“Qi-pronounced chee) along traditional Chinese Meridians for the treatment of diseases. In fact, dry needling is a modern, science-based intervention for the treatment of pain and dysfunction in musculoskeletal conditions such as neck pain, shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, knee pain, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and low back pain.

Call 620-930-3714 if you want to learn more or to get scheduled!

01/13/2021

MLMH PT needs your input on dry needling!

What is dry needling? Dry needling is a skilled intervention using a thin filiform needle to pe*****te the skin that stimulates myofascial trigger points, musculature and connective tissue for the management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders.

What are the benefits of dry needling? Dry needling may provide relief for some muscular pain and stiffness. In addition, easing the trigger points may improve flexibility and increase range of motion. That’s why this method is often used to treat sports injuries, muscle pain, and even fibromyalgia pain.

Will my insurance pay for dry needling? Yes and no. Most private insurances currently do not reimburse for dry needling treatment. Most worker’s compensation and VA insurances will reimburse for this treatment.

How much will it cost? An average treatment with dry needling will cost $30. This includes dry needling of several sites for a max of 15 minutes. The number of treatments needed will vary with the type and severity of the patient’s issue at hand.

Please let us know if you would be interested in this service! Thank you!

12/01/2020

Great info by Mommy & Me PT- she is the expert and said it best when she said:

✨W-SITTING✨
This is a bit of a controversial topic, in my opinion. A lot of people feel REALLY strongly about it in one direction or another. So, what’s the deal with w-sitting? Is it good, bad or indifferent? Here’s my opinion!

W-sitting is just like it sounds: the feet are tucked behind and pointed away from the body! This position can be a common transitional position for babies/toddlers, and it isn’t necessarily a concern if they are able to easily move out of that position and use a variety of other sitting positions!

Unfortunately, prolonged w-sitting can lead to serious problems with core strength and can cause damage to the hip/knee joints:

+W-sitting creates a large base of support, meaning your core is basically turned off. The wide position of the legs is creating stability, so the tummy doesn’t have to do the work. This position also prevents weight shifting and decreases the ability to cross midline. All of these factors can lead to poor motor skills and coordination.
+This position puts a lot of excess pressure on the knees and can lead to in-toeing while standing or walking.
+If your baby/toddler ONLY sits in this position or sits this way more than 50% of the time, it could be a red flag for core weakness, low muscle tone or poor sitting balance.
+If you see your child sitting in w-sitting, encourage a new sitting position like criss-cross, legs out straight in front or side sitting. Pick a simple phrase like “feet in front” and use it consistently to redirect your child. You can gently reposition the legs to reinforce the verbal cue initially!
+If your child has difficulty sitting in other positions, it could be an indication of something else going on. It is worth mentioning to your pediatrician and/or seeking an evaluation from a PT!

09/24/2020

We are spirited here in the PT Department today for “Twin Day”!

05/27/2020

Free to anyone who needs a walker. Call us at 620-930-3714

04/21/2020

We have some exciting news here in the MLMH Therapy Department! Please help us welcome occupational therapist, Gwen Hageman. Gwen has been an occupational therapist for 20 years. She has a passion for working with orthopedics, especially hands. Her current goal is to become a certified hand specialist. She has spent the last several months preparing and plans to study and take the exam this fall. In addition to providing her skilled services here at MLMH, she also works at Patterson Health Center. Gwen grew up in St. Leo and currently lives there. She has 5 children between ages 3-13 who keep her very busy. In her limited spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends. She also loves to run and play volleyball. We are excited to welcome Gwen to the team!

03/09/2020

Have you ever wondered if exercise helps or hinders your immune system? Check out this short article to be informed!

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/well/move/exercise-immunity-infection-coronavirus.html?te=1&nl=well&emc=edit_hh_20200305&campaign_id=18&instance_id=16484&segment_id=21880&user_id=d4d9bf5deb43686c7049b90d3f90871d®i_id=10389174520200305

Does exercise help or hinder our bodies’ ability to fight off infections? It depends.

01/29/2020

Have you ever wondered if your desk, chair, and computer are positioned correctly? Poor ergonomics can contribute to neck pain, back pain, headaches, and much more! Take a look at this checklist to assess your work station!

01/02/2020

10/31/2019

Physical Therapy & Materials Management Departments are celebrating Halloween as dominoes today! Who do you think will get knocked down first?! ;) What are you dressing up as? Share your costumes in the comments below!

10/14/2019

Pain, especially chronic pain, can be a debilitating condition. It is the #1 reason why most people seek the attention of a physician or physical therapy. Department Head of Physical Therapy, Dan Bertholf, recently became certified to use the Dolphin Neurostim. The Dolphin Neurostim is the world’s first hybrid device specifically designed for the treatment of chronic/acute soft tissue pain. The Dolphin is not only safe, but very easy to use. It applies brief, concentrated microcurrent impulses to specific treatment points that naturally reduces nervous system stress, relaxing muscle tone and releasing the body’s natural pain killers, endorphins. This multi-pronged effect on the body’s nervous, muscular, and endocrine systems is the reason why the Dolphin Neurostim works so fast and effectively with many chronic pain conditions.

10/02/2019

Pain does NOT always mean there is tissue damage! Inciteful article explaining different aspects of pain. Check it out!

http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/2019/5/Feature/ChronicPain/

Feature Rewiring the Brain to Ease Chronic Pain Strategies for treating pain are evolving—and physical therapists are helping to lead the way. By Chris Hayhurst | May 2019 Physical therapists (PTs) are very comfortable treating musculoskeletal conditions and prescribing programs that restore or im...

10/02/2019

October is National Physical Therapy Month! Click on the following link to learn more. This website includes "Find a PT" directory, symptoms and conditions guides, health tips, podcasts, and more.

https://www.choosept.com/Default.aspx