Columbia Supreme Location 

Knee Pain- Common Causes, treatment, and prevention. 7PM

 

 

 

What is Fibromyalgia?
 
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a non-articular rheumatic disorder that includes wide spread musculoskeletal pain in all four quadrants of the body as well as fatigue. This syndrome can be identified by a number of symptoms rather then one specific malfunction. To name a few, symptoms include whole body stiffness, fatigue, muscle soreness, stress/anxiety, gastrointestinal complaints, and headaches to name a few.
 
 
What Can Help?
 
A team approach between your doctor, physical therapist, and other health care providers in order to treat each symptom can help combat symptoms. A team approach is necessary to educate on coping strategies, stress management, sleep patterns, energy conservation, and nutrition. Your physical therapist can help with the prescribed physical conditioning and coming up with self-management techniques to help control the FMS symptoms at home. Your physical therapist or doctor may also prescribe aquatic therapy treatment.
 
 
Why Aquatic Therapy?
 
The National Fibromyalgia Association released a statement from FM Online Newsletter that follows, "A new study from A University in Ankara, Turkey, took a close look at the efficacy of aquatic exercises for people with FM, comparing patients enrolled in an aquatic exercise program and those in a home-based exercise program. By the end of the five week study, there were statistically significant differences between the groups in number of tender points and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scores. The average of reduction in pain was 40 percent in the aquatic exercise group and 21 percent in the home-based exercise group- but pain reduction remained significant in only the aquatic exercise group." 
 
Aquatic therapy in a warm-water pool provides relaxation; increases ease of movement, and can help combat symptoms. Many functional activities can be preformed in the water without pain and limitations that are usually experienced on land. Typically a good stretching and strengthening program would be included in the aquatic therapy. This aspect of the program helps maintain or increase flexibility in tight/stiff muscles, and the strengthening can reduce the strain placed on the muscles.  Current CPAT Fibromyalgia patients report that the aquatic program has helped them build self-confidence along with the ability to accomplish their physical therapy goals. The goal of the aquatic program is to increase endurance levels of activity, increase tolerance of exercises, and to increase the overall fitness level while still combating pain. 
 
Please contact your heath care provider or Chesapeake Physical and Aquatic Therapy to learn more details about the aquatic program we offer, and the personalized program that is waiting for you.

 

We are fortunate at CPAT to be able to help so many great people return to what is important to them in life- many times in a way that was better than before we met them.  That is what drives us to do what we do.  Below is a story form one of our patients- a patient whose story might be very similar to yours- or could be! 

 

"Holy Cow, they'd never believe it....if my friends could see me now..." The lines from this old song seem to say it all. I had a total knee replacement. Although I had been in pain for almost a year, nothing prepared me for the work that was ahead of me as I entered into the next phase of my life, post surgical rehab. I spent the first three and a half weeks at home with in-house care that included a visiting therapist three times a week and a visiting nurse twice a week. I hobbled into the surgeons office for my three week follow up visit, to be told my flexion was only 65 degrees and my extension was equally poor. If I could not get to 90 degrees by six weeks, I was told I would be a candidate for "surgical manipulation" under general anesthesia.

 

Panicked, depressed and convinced that I was never going to get anywhere near 90 degrees flexion, I entered into the world of my beloved "physical terrorists" at Chesapeake Therapy. There was no way I was assured that I was going to hit that 90 degree mark by the sixth week, and was told we had plenty of hard work to do, but everyone was committed to my full rehab. So with Mary, Renee, and Meghan along with their trusty aides Janice and Cara, I began a five day a week therapy program that tested my strength, boosted my spirits, and gave me my life back. At six weeks I met and exceeded my 90% goal. I was allowed to rest for about five minutes before my therapists set new more ambitious goals...climbing the stairs, riding a bike, doing the infamous "wall slide". Through it all my therapists became my greatest cheerleaders and champions.

Whether in the pool or on land, their goal was to return me to my full and active life. Seven weeks after surgery, I was back at work full time. Eight weeks past, I was again traveling and walking the beach. Today, four months later, I am once again going for long bike rides, hiking with my grandchildren, and enjoying every aspect of my life.
It was with a little sadness, but great gratitude, that I accepted my "graduation" t-shirt on Friday, just shy of four months post surgery and almost three months to the day that I entered Chesapeake. I could never have done it alone, and will always remember these wonderful health professionals as my own personal miracle workers"

 

For more success stories, please click here.  To share your experience or leave us feedback, please visit our online survey.