Specialized Physical Therapists can help with Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence

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According to Moul et al, the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence at 3 months after radical prostatectomy is 17 to 54 % and 5 to 38% at 6 months post surgery. A study by McCallum et al reported that gains in continence will occur up to 2 years, but major gains occur in the first 3 months. Physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor physical therapy can help men accelerate improvement with continence post prostatectomy by providing individualized treatment plans and strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.

The pelvic floor muscles attach to the bottom of the pelvis forming a sling or hammock of muscle which support the internal organs. These muscles contract to help stop the flow of urine and gas and assist with normal sexual function.

Physical therapy can help you learn how to properly contract the pelvic floor muscles in order to increase their strength so they function normally. During your therapy, an individualized progressive exercise program for pelvic floor and core strengthening will be given. Education regarding healthy toilet habits, urinary urge control, and fluid intake will also be provided. Biofeedback training and electrical stimulation may be used to achieve better control of continence.

At Fauquier Health Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, our pelvic physical therapy team has completed extensive training in pelvic physical therapy through the American Physical Therapy Association’s section on Women’s Health. Our therapists utilize a variety of techniques as well as education to ensure each patient’s needs are addressed. All pelvic floor treatments are conducted one-on–one in a private setting.
If you feel you may benefit from this service or would like to hear more, please call us at 540-316-2680. Or click on the button below to ask a question.

Helping People Communicate

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May is Better Speech & Hearing Month

Speech-language pathology services seek to optimize individuals' ability to communicate and swallow, thereby improving quality of life. Speech-Language Pathologists work with the full range of human communication and its disorders, improving quality of life by reducing impairments of body functions and structures, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and barriers created by various health conditions and/or environmental and personal factors. We evaluate, diagnose, and treat language, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly.

Health conditions and/or environmental and personal factors that may affect communication and swallowing might include: stroke, TIA, traumatic brain injury, developmental delays/disorders, cancer of the head, neck and throat, neurogenic disorders (i.e. Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Dementia, Cerebral Palsy), voice disorders, stuttering, auditory processing disorders, and Autism Spectrum Spectrum disorders.
Speech-language pathologists often work as part of a team, which may include teachers, physicians, audiologists, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and others. We serve individuals, families, and groups from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Services are provided based on applying the best available research evidence, using expert clinical judgments, and considering clients' individual preferences and values.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), founded in 1925, is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 140,000 members and affiliates who are speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally. ASHA is committed to ensuring that all people with speech, language, and hearing disorders receive services to help them communicate effectively. For more information, go to http://www.asha.org/.

At Fauquier Health, our ASHA and state certified Speech-Language Pathologists provide assessment, intervention, and management to a diverse clientele. Fauquier Health offers outpatient speech-language therapy services to adults in the Medical Office Building on the hospital campus:

• 253 Veteran's Drive, Warrenton, Virginia

We also provide services for children, in two locations:

• 493 Blackwell Road, Warrenton, Virginia
  
• 7915 Manassas Drive, Gainesville, Virginia

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the benefits of speech-language therapy, or would like to make an appointment with one of our speech-language therapists, please call us at: 540-316-2680. Or click on the button below to submit an inquiry via email.

Discussion Group focuses on Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

The Fauquier Health LIFE Center is pleased to offer the second in a series of free health discussions, focusing on pelvic floor dysfunction to help you cope with chronic pain from symptoms of medical conditions you may be too embarrassed to discuss with doctors or friends.

Our guest speaker is Dr. Gina Moore (OB/GYN) who will be discussing diagnosis and treatment of painful gynecological conditions and symptoms that contribute to pelvic, abdominal and low back pain. Also, a trained exercise physiologist will be providing information on an individualized exercise/stretching program, compatible with instructions from your doctor or physical therapist, that can help reduce your pain. Both a morning and evening session will be offered to accommodate your needs.

Guest Speakers:
Gina Moore, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
http://www.warrentonwomen.com/
LeAnn McCusker, Director, The Life Center

Location:
The Fauquier Health LIFE Center, Studio 1
419 Holiday Court (Suite 200)
Warrenton, VA 20136

Dates:
Monday, May 10, 2010 Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm
Thursday, May 20, 2010 Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm

To register for one of the sessions, please call the Life Center at 540-316-2640.

If you need any further information or have any questions, please contact Marilyn Caine at 540-349-9325 or mcainepfd@aol.com

Occupational Therapy helps individuals live life to its fullest

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April is Occupational Therapy Month

Occupational therapy enables people of all ages live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. It is a practice deeply rooted in science and is evidence-based, meaning that the plan designed for each individual is supported by data, experience, and “best practices” that have been developed and proven over time.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on “doing” whatever occupations or activities are meaningful to the individual. It is occupational therapy’s purpose to get beyond problems to the solutions that assure living life to its fullest. These solutions may be adaptations for how to do a task, changes to the surroundings, or helping individuals to alter their own behaviors.

When working with an occupational therapy practitioner, strategies and modifications are customized for each individual to resolve problems, improve function, and support everyday living activities. The goal is to maximize potential. Through these therapeutic approaches, occupational therapy helps individuals design their lives, develop needed skills, adjust their environments (e.g., home, school, or work) and build health-promoting habits and routines that will allow them to thrive.

By taking the full picture into account—a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup as well as their environment—occupational therapy assists clients to do the following:

· Achieve goals
· Function at the highest possible level
· Concentrate on what matters most to them
· Maintain or rebuild their independence
· Participate in daily activities that they need or want to do.

Areas that Occupational Therapy can help include:
· Pediatrics
· Orthopedics
· Neuro-rehabilitation
· Acute care
· Skilled-nursing
· Geriatric
· Hands

Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to http://www.aota.org/.

Fauquier Health offers occupational therapy services to adults in the Medical Office Building on the hospital campus in Warrenton, Virginia. We also provide services for children, in two locations:

• 493 Blackwell Road, Warrenton, Virginia
• 7915 Manassas Drive, Gainesville, Virginia

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the benefits of occupational therapy, or would like to make an appointment with one of our occupational therapists, please call us at: 540-316-2680. Or click on the button below to submit an inquiry via email.

Pediatric Aquatic Physical Therapy at Fauquier Health

Sabrina Love enjoys aquatic therapy at Fauquier Health!

Fauquier Health now offers pediatric aquatic physical therapy in our pool on the Fauquier Hospital campus in Warrenton. The therapeutic pool, with water kept at 92 degrees, is an ideal atmosphere to enable our young patients to move freely without the confines of gravity.

• The water enables children with disabilities to go through the developmental progression in a fun environment.


• Children with sensory impairments are often able to accomplish more & progress faster when aquatic therapy is incorporated in their rehabilitation program.


• Children with neurological impairments are able to facilitate movement that is inhibited by gravity on land.


• Life long skills can be acquired, encouraging fitness later in life.
  

We currently have two pediatric therapists who are certified by the Aquatic Therapy Rehab Institute to provide these services:

• Kristine Trimble, PT, DPT, ATRIC


• Pam DeRivero, LPTA, ATRIC
  

Catherine Arellano and Pam DeRivero take a moment to clown around for the camera.

If you feel you or someone you know may benefit from aquatic physical therapy, or would like to know more, please give us a call at: 540-316-2680 and ask to speak to one of our certified aquatic therapists. Or, click on the button below to submit a question via email:

Patient Accolades

Our outpatient rehabilitation department prides itself on the many positive comments and outstanding scores we receive on our Press Ganey patient surveys. Some of our patients are kind enough to take the time to write a letter about their experience with us. The following is one of those letters. Kudos to Joan Wolf for providing exemplary care, and a big thank you to Mr. McCarthy for allowing us to share his thoughts here...

It was my great good fortune to be assigned Mrs. Wolf as my therapist during extensive therapy periods following surgeries for knee replacements in January and October of 2009.

That Mrs. Wolf proved to exceed my expectations in the professional performance of her duties as a therapist should perhaps be no surprise. However, it was as a concerned caregiver that she did surprise me. I came to Mrs. Wolf following my first surgery very depressed at ever achieving my recovery goals. She recognized the symptoms immediately and began a process of rebuilding my self-confidence so that in a short period she had us both working towards the goal of complete success in regaining mobility in that leg. Mrs. Wolf's careful attention to this aspect of recovery significantly reduced the therapy time needed when I had my second knee replacement in October.

In my experience, no other individual caregiver, in a long life rich with surgical experiences, has so embodied the very best in applied techniques as well as concern for the patient.

Thank you, and I am,
Very truly yours,

John W. McCarthy

Thank you, Mr. McCarthy, for your very kind words!

We welcome you to a discussion on "Other" Women's Health Issues

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Fauquier Health LIFE Center is pleased to offer you the first in a series of free health discussions, focusing on gynecological/urological conditions contributing to pelvic floor dysfunction including, but not limited to, incontinence and pelvic pain. This group will help you learn about and cope with symptoms that you may be too embarrassed to discuss with your doctors or friends.

At our first session, our guest speaker is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in women’s health issues at the Fauquier Health Outpatient Rehabilitation. She will be discussing how you may benefit from pelvic physical therapy to treat your symptoms. Also, a trained exercise physiologist will provide information on how an individualized exercise/stretching program, compatible with instructions from your doctor or physical therapist, can help reduce your pain or other symptoms. Both a morning and evening session will be offered to accommodate your needs.

Guest Speakers:
Kristen Pierce, PT, DPT, cert. MDT
LeAnn McCusker, director of the LIFE Center

Location:
The Fauquier Health LIFE Center
419 Holiday Court (Suite 200)
Warrenton, Virginia 20186

Dates:
Wednesday, February 3 , 10:00 am
Wednesday, February 24, 6:00 pm

To register for one of the sessions, please call the Life Center at 540-316-2640.

If you need any further information or have any questions, please contact Marilyn Caine at 540-349-9325 or click on the button below to send her an email: