Women's Health PTs are physical therapists who have advanced training and experience in assessing and treating specialized conditions including pelvic pain, pain and dysfunctions in pregnancy, incontinence and others. This training is obtained as post-graduate continuing education in specific areas.
Regina Davis, PT, Karrie Giger DPT, and Kristen Pierce, DPT, of Fauquier Health Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, are the most extensively trained physical therapists in Women's Health in the Warrenton, Virginia area. They are currently pursuing certification in Pelvic Physical Therapy through the Women's Health Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.
If you feel you may benefit from Women's Health physical therapy and would like to learn more, please call 540-316-2680 and ask to speak to Regina, Karrie or Kristen.
We understand it may be difficult or uncomfortable to discuss some Women's Health issues initially. If you would prefer to ask a question anonymously, please click on the button below. You will receive an email response within 24 business hours.
The most anticipated moment for a parent is the sound of a child's first words. But what if the words are delayed, jumbled, or never come at all? Speech and language problems can affect early learning and self-esteem. Give your child a chance by seeking proper treatment from a speech-language pathologist.
Reach Your Full Potential
As we strive to reach our full potential, speech and language problems can hold us back. To some it may be a delay in talking or difficulty swallowing. Others may be unable to speak clearly or comprehend because of a stroke or accident. Speech and language problems can affect anyone at any age. If you are concerned that a disorder is going untreated or are unable to find proper treatment, consult a speech-language pathologist.
Communication Disorders Do Not Discriminate
Millions of Americans have a communication or swallowing disorder. These disorders affect people of all ages, from all walks of life. For them, simple thoughts like "Thank you" and "I love you" may be impossible to convey. If you are concerned that a disorder is affecting your education, professional life, or personal relationships, consult a speech-language pathologist.
Communication for Life
Speech and language disorders can affect anyone at any age. Millions of infants, children and adults in America suffer from a communication or swallowing disorder. Whether it's a difficulty in swallowing or a disorder such as stuttering, delayed language or a voice problem, a person's ability to learn and interact with others can be affected. If you suspect you or a loved one may be experiencing a communication or swallowing disorder, consult a speech-language pathologist.
Questions? Click on the button below to ask a Speech-Language Pathologist.
If you would like to learn more about Speech-Language Pathology, visit the American Speech-Language Hearing Association website at www.asha.org
Adults aren't the only ones who need rehabilitation therapy to maximize their physical, mental and social abilities. Some children and adolescents also need specialized services to build strength, achieve their functional potential and develop the skills they need at thome, at school and within their communities. Children may benefit from rehabilitation services if they have or are recovering from:
Birth defects or birth injuries
Neurological, musculoskeletal or rheumatological conditions
Developmental delays
Feeding problems
Acute traumas
Bone fractures and other orthopedic problems
Accidents
Injuries
Burns
Cancer
Surgery
Chronic diseases (such as sickle cell, heart or kidney diseases)
A Team Approach
Kids who need rehabilitation services receive care from a mulitdisciplinary team of specialists who are trained to handle the unique needs of pediatric patients. The team includes physical, occupational and speech therapists who evaluate and assess the child's functional limitations.
Rehabilitation specialists design individual treatment plans to help mazimize patients' independence and the quality of their lives. Team members use a variety of techniques and technologies that can help:
Support patients' growth and development
Prevent future complications and impairments
Relieve pain
Improve kids' cognitive abilities
Improve strength, coordination, range of motion and fine motor skills
Relax muscles
Develop kids' self-care skills
Enhance speech and language skills
Teach kids' how to use wheelchairs, braces and other assistive devices
Short and Long Term Care
Some pediatric patients may need only short-term rehabilitation therapy to address certain acute injuries or issues. Rehabilitation, however, can play a major role in health care for kids with complex, lifelong conditions.
While children and adolescents undergoing therapy may be tackling difficult issues, rehabilitation professionals provide services in an age-appropriate way that keeps pediatric patients engaged. For example, therapists may use fun activities to help kids develop key coordination, motor and hand-eye skills that may improve their walking, feeding or handwriting skills. The gains children make during rehabilitation therapy often help boost their self-confidence and self-esteem, giving them a sense of accomplishment.
Developments in Pediatric Therapy
>>Kristine Trimble, Alicia Lutman and Heather Smith comprise the pediatric rehabilitation team at Fauquier Health. The pediatric office is located at 493 Blackwell Road in the Warrenton Professional Center in Warrenton, Virginia. Over the past few months, the rooms have been renovated and updated. New therapeutic tools have also been added, which the children see as "new toys".
Kristine Trimble, PT, DPT is the pediatric physical therapist who provides therapy for children with torticollis, gross motor delays, traumatic brain injuries, acquired brain injuries, cerebral palsy and dyspraxia. She also implements aquatic therapy.
Alicia Lutman, MOTR/L, ATC is the pediatric occupational therapist who works with children with fine motor delays, visual processing deficits, autism, developmental delays, traumatic brain injuries and handwriting difficulties.
Heather Smith, MS, CFY-SLP is the pediatric speech lauguage pathologist who works with children with receptive and expressive language delays, apraxia, feeding delays, autism, developmental delays, articulation/phonological processing disorders, and acquired and traumatic brain injuries.
Fauquier Health is the only local facility to offer physical, occupational and speech therapies all at one convenient, child-friendly location. If you need further information please call 540-316-2680. Or click on the button below to ask a question or request additional information. Your email will be answered within 24 business hours.
Friday, April 10, 2009 March 12, 2009 was a proud day for Margaret Blue. She became a member of Marriott's "Quarter Century Club", marking 25 years of service as a chef. Margaret thoroughly enjoyed everyone she came in contact with during her years with Marriott. Despite a debilitating neurogenic problem that causes her to have decreased balance and weakness, this amazing woman has only missed one day of work in 25 years--because of a snowstorm!After a recent injury, Margaret came to our clinic for strengthening and to improve her walking. She has worked closely with her physical therapist, Bruce Edwards & our student from Shennandoah, Brooks Brady. Margaret credits them for helping her become strong enough to walk up to receive her 25 year service award, something she was not sure she would be able to do after her injury.Margaret has a beaming smile for everyone she meets. Her positive attitude is contagious, and the reason she has come so far. Congratulations Margaret, on your achievements!
If you would like to know more about our services, or have a general question regarding rehabilitation services, please call us at 540-316-2680, or click on the button below to submit an email inquiry.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY HELPS INDIVIDUALS LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST
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.
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/.
If you feel you or someone you know may benefit from occupational therapy services please call us at (540) 316-2680 to learn more. Or click on the button below to ask a question.
It has been fun while it lasted but thanks to an invitation from my physical therapist colleague Dr. Eric Robertson, I will now be doing my Physical Therapy related blog authoring at www.npathinktank.com (soon to be ptthinktank.com). We will also be joined by fellow colleague and blogger Roderick Henderson, PT for what should be topically varied content relevant to our profession from various perspectives.
I hope you will follow and join us at this new virtual water cooler as fellow community members and stakeholders in our future as physical therapists. I’m looking very forward to what should be an informative, enlightening and occasionally even entertaining venture with my fellow bloggers and colleagues.
Urinary incontinence, or the complaint of involuntary leakage of urine, is not just something that happens to older people. This condition can affect men and women of all ages. The National Association for Incontinence estimates that 25 million Americans experience urinary incontinence.
Stress Incontinence is a sudden involuntary loss of urine on effort or exertion. This may occur with activities such as exercising, sneezing, coughing or laughing. Stress incontinence usually results from weakness and lack of support in the muscles of the pelvic floor. Women with stress incontinence often have “under active” pelvic floor muscles. Causes may be pregnancy or childbirth, injury or trauma, surgery in the vagina or rectum, episiotomy (during childbirth), or lack of exercise or use.
Urge Incontinence is the loss of urine that occurs as soon as you get the urge to urinate. Women with urge incontinence often have weak and “over active” pelvic floor muscles.
Mixed Incontinence is involuntary loss of urine associated with urgency and also with exertion, effort, sneezing or coughing. Mixed incontinence can include any combination of the causes of stress and urge incontinence.
Many symptoms of urinary incontinence are caused by pelvic floor muscle weakness and dysfunction. Our specially trained pelvic floor physical therapists are the ideal healthcare providers to help you gain control over your symptoms. Our therapists use their specialized medical training to evaluate your problem and design an individualized treatment program to meet your specific needs.
Physical therapy can:
Give you control over your bladder and your life
Save money and embarrassment by allowing less use of pads and undergarments
Reduce use of medications for incontinence
Possibly prevent the need for surgery
Physical therapy treatment may include:
Education on diet and nutrition to avoid food and beverages that may irritate the bladder
Advice on how to change behaviors that make symptoms worse
Techniques to increase awareness of the correct use of muscles that control urinary flow
Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor
Exercises to stretch and strengthen other important muscles to help you gain control
Techniques to decrease urinary urge and frequency
Biofeedback to help you re-train your muscles
Electrical stimulation to improve awareness and strengthen muscles
You should be referred to a pelvic physical therapist if:
You leak urine during normal daily activities
You leak urine with sneezing, coughing, or laughing
You have difficulty starting a urine stream
You have trouble holding urine when you feel a strong urge to go
You urinate frequently (more than every 3-4 hours during the day, up more than once to urinate at night)
You have difficulty getting to the bathroom because of other problems such as pain or balance.
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. Our therapists use a variety of techniques as well as provide you with education to ensure your needs are addressed. All pelvic floor treatments are conducted confidentially with your therapist in a comfortable, private setting.
If you feel you may benefit from this service and would like to hear more, please call us at 540-316-2680. Or click on the button below to ask a question.
