Upcoming Events

5.13 - 5.15.11

Spring Jam Tournament

5.16.11

FF YMCA Screens

5.25.11

Strong and Safe Night

6.4.11

Steady Strides 5K

6.10 - 6.12.11

Pre-National Showcase Tournament

Patient Testimonial 

A patient works on improving her stability as part of her treatment program created by Jamie Bayliss.

At Oxford Physical Therapy Centers Hyde Park/Red Bank location, we offer a wonderful pre/post-natal program. Pregnancy can significantly affect overall daily functioning, given the physical and hormonal changes before and after delivery. Women's bodies can become less stabile (due to ligamentous and muscular changes), susceptible to mal-alignment, and prone to pain/injury. Physical Therapy can help and is often beneficial even years after having a baby, due to the lasting effects of the above noted changes.

Our Specialized Pre/Post-Natal Program Includes:

As part of our Pre/Post-Natal Program, we're kicking off a summer series, "Strong Moms." The first presentation in this series, "Strong and Safe" is coming up on Wed, May 25 at 7:30pm.

This is a wonderful, free opportunity for moms (ranging from soon-to-be mommies to those with newborns to those with children up to age five and beyond) to learn about staying healthy and pain free. 

• The "Strong and Safe" night will include:Discussion of the changes in the body both before and after pregnancy and the resulting vulnerability to injury (and how to prevent it!)
• Information on Preventing Injury during day-to-day activity with babies and children (including lifting and getting into/out of the car)
• Free injury screen for any participants who would like a physical therapy assessment of their aches and pains
• Presentation by a certified car seat specialist on the new car seat standards, followed by a free safety check of your own car seats in your car.

Don't miss out on this wonderful, free opportunity! Registration is required, as we have a limited seating. Please register by sending your name and contact information to: gina.meyer@oxfordphysicaltherapy.com

If you are interested in Pre/Post-Natal Rehabilitation at our Hyde Park clinic, please call 513-631-1988 for more information. We can provide this service without a doctor's prescription and can still bill through insurance!

This May, we'd like to wish all the Mothers our there Happy Mother's Day and give them the gift of staying healthy as many take advantage of the good weather (it's coming!) by getting out to do some gardening.

Gardening can be tough on your back because it often involves spending hours in a poor posture while weeding or planting.

Let's begin by discussing the Neutral Back Position in order to apply these concepts while gardening.

A healthy spine as three natural curves:

• The neck, or cervical spine, curves slightly inward
• The mid back, or thoracic spine, is curved outward
• The low back, or lumbar spine, curves inward
  
  These natural curves are the result of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that attach to the vertebrae of the spine working together in harmony. Without these supporting structures, the spine would collapse. They support the spine just as guide wires support the mast of a ship.
  
  In your spine, the guide wire system is made up mainly of the abdominal and back muscles. The abdominal muscles provide support by attaching to the ribs, pelvis, and indirectly to the lumbar spine. The muscles of the back are arranged in layers, with each layer playing an important role in balancing the spine. By using these muscles together, you can change the curves of your spine, like when you bend over to pick something up.
  
  Neutral alignment involves preserving the natural curves in your spine by keeping the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that attach to your spine working together in harmony both in the garden and throughout daily activity. You can do this by being conscious of your posture and positioning. This is important to help cushion your spine from too much stress and strain.
  
  Now let's apply this...
  
  Tips to Prevent Pain and Injury While Gardening
  
  1. Try not to bend or twist your back or neck, which can stress structures and cause pain. Work on keeping a neutral alignment (by maintaining the three natural curves in your spine) will help prevent pain.
  
  2. Use kneeling pads, and work within your immediate reach to avoid bending forward. An alternative is to work on all fours, maintaining a normal spinal curvature and supporting some of your weight with your arms.
  
  3. To get up and down, keep the back in a neutral position and use your leg muscles while engaging your core muscles by pulling your navel "in and up."
  
  4. Don't spend too long in one position. Take a break to get up and move around, this prevents stiffness and excess stress on muscles and joints.
  
  5. Unless you have raised garden beds or do only container gardening, work in a kneeling position.