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Upcoming Events
4.1.12
Cincinnati Gorilla Run
4.5.12
Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Parade
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Patient Testimonial | |
"My experience at OPTC was definitely above my expectations. The therapists were supportive, informative and ready to assist in my program. I would definitely suggest that you give them an opportunity to assist you in your PT program." | |
~ OPTC Patient Judith Kottman |
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Oxford Physical Therapy Centers News |
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Greetings!
Greetings from Oxford Physical Therapy Centers!
This month's newsletter features our Blue Ash Center, which has relocated (the new address is below)! We know this nice weather gets people outside and moving therefore Rob Schwab, PT, DPT, the Mason Center Manager, has provided some great information on orthotics. In addition, there is information about how to properly stretch to avoid injuries, (featured in the Health & Fitness section of the Cincinnati Enqurier), written by Julie Rigling, PT, DPT, the Blue Ash Center Manager. |
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Clinic Feature |
 Our Blue Ash Center has relocated! Our new address is Kenwood Corporate Center, 9395 Kenwood Road, Suite 107, Cincinnati, OH 45242.
Julie Rigling, PT, DPT, is the center manager at Blue Ash. Julie has been with OPTC for over 6 years! She received her undergraduate and masters degrees at the College of Mount St. Joseph and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine.
Brian Adkins, MPT, CSCS, CGFI, is one of our physical therapists at our Blue Ash Center. Brian received his undergraduate degree from Ohio University and his masters degree from Andrews University. Brian is also a Titleist certified golf fitness instructor. He enjoys treating golf patients and helping them decrease their golf score!
Austin Brady, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist at our Blue Ash Center. He received his undergraduate and masters degrees from Ohio University. Austin enjoys spending time treating his aquatic patients! We schedule patients in the water on Monday & Wednesday from 12-2pm and Tuesday & Thursday from 3:30pm-5:30pm.
Julie, Brian, and Austin are joined by PT Aides: Tori, Kelly, Aaron, and Alex and Leslie and Debbie at the front desk. |
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Orthotics | |
For anyone who is active on their feet, whether it is with work or health and wellness, shoe wear becomes increasingly important. With any sport attire or work attire, there is typically an ideal shoe to wear and most individuals can gain sufficient support through the proper shoe. It is important to make sure that you have the proper supportive shoes, but if that doesn't give you the added support needed, you may need to add an additional device for support. There are two ways in which this can be achieved:
- Insert: Typically an over the counter device that can be placed in a dress, work or athletic shoe for support.
- Orthotic: Device or insert, which is placed inside your footwear, to change the mechanical function of the foot.
Most inserts that are used can be purchased at various locations such as sporting good stores or running stores and are your basic Dr. Scholl's or Powerstep type devices. Inserts are mainly fitted to an individual by size of the shoe and support needed; these are basic and are not custom fit to the individual's foot structure.
So why would anyone need orthotics? When the use of inserts does not provide enough support and does not decrease pain and discomfort, you may want to invest in an orthotic. An orthotic is custom fit to the individual's foot; meaning it provides specific corrections to the foot to promote better function of the foot.
Most common reasons for getting orthotics:
- Severe flat feet or high arches
- Attempted to change shoe wear and didn't have any change of symptoms
- Foot, ankle, knee, hip, or back pain
- Possible leg length discrepancy
- Poor walking mechanics
Who can benefit from orthotics?
- Anyone at any age
- Athletes
- Direct Access patients (doctor's prescription is not required)
- People with pain at work (orthotics can be made to fit most dress shoes)
What is the process of getting orthotics?
 
(Materials used to make casts) (Finished left and right foot casts)
- Call and schedule an appointment at any of our 11 convenient locations.
- Your foot and ankle will be evaluated by one of our therapists to better understand what support you need.
- Your physical therapist will then take a plaster cast of each foot.
- The plaster cast will be sent off site to a company we work with to fabricate your orthotic from the cast that was made by your therapist.
- The orthotic is then mailed back to our center and fitted to your feet.
*Your orthotic comes back to our center within 1-2 weeks.
After you receive your orthotic, it is important to understand that there is a slow progression to acclimating yourself to them. It is typically recommended that you build up wearing the orthotic an hour a day until you are able to wear them during a full work day.
Most benefits are typically noticed between 3-4 weeks after initial use of them and they can typically last up to one to two years. Orthotics are made to make your symptoms improve and you should not have any pain when using them. The goal is to allow your feet to have better mechanics and to provide better body alignment. With the right support, you can benefit from better shock absorption, support through your arch, and pressure redistribution.
What do I do if I feel that I could benefit from orthotics?
If you feel that any of your lower extremity or back pains could be attributed to lack of proper support in your feet, let us take a look! You can come see any of our physical therapists at any of our 11 locations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky!
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How to Properly Stretch | |
We have all done it before - skipped our stretching to get to the more "important part of the workout". But saving a few minutes here and there by nixing the stretches may just end up causing damage and costing you hours of rehab in the long run. So why is proper stretching one of the key elements necessary to avoid injury?
Our bodies function best when our muscles are flexible and "warmed up." Stretching is one way to help increase the blood flow to active areas and decrease tissue stiffness. This will also allow one's joints to move through the full range of motion which will cut down on increased wear and tear on the joint surface and overuse of tendons. It also helps to decrease muscle soreness and can improve one's performance with your chosen activity. When stretching, there are a few things to remember:
- Do not bounce; slow, controlled motion through a range is okay.
- Streching should not be painful! You should only feel a gentle tension with the stretch.
- Always protect your spine.
- Maintain 30-60 second holds and repeat the stretch several times.
- Make sure you stretch the following groups: hip flexors, piriformis (posterior hip/buttock region), hamstrings, quadriceps, groin muscles, ITBand, calf muscles, chest, biceps, and triceps.
- White it can be argued both ways, most research supports stretching briefly after doing a light warm-up and definitely after finishing a work out to receive the most benefits.
Keep in mind, stretching is not a guarantee you will never develop an injury. If you begin to develop pain that lasts longer than one week and is not consistent with an increase in your activity level, is sharp and localized to a specific area, or appears to radiate down your arm and leg, seek advice from a physician or physical therapist. |
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As always, we are here to help you maintain your active lifestyle. All of our centers offer free injury screens. If you or someone you know are not feeling 100% we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you.
Best,
The Oxford Physical Therapy Family
P.S. Please take a moment to "Like" us on Facebook! |
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