Total Body Physical Therapy Provides Guidance for College Bound Residents of Fairfield County

As back-to-school season is upon us, once again, the owners and practitioners at Total Body Physical Therapy are often asked what should college bound students look for in school based physical therapy programs.

Here is some no nonsense guidance for students:

When speaking with a physical therapy clinic, whether on campus or independent, be sure to understand the size of the therapy clinic.  Inquire as to how many therapists are on staff and the hours of operation.

Be sure to find the right therapist who will provide one-on-one services that are necessary for successful outcomes.  Do not settle for centers that function like factories.  This may lead to poor results.

Patient load is absolutely crucial.  A physical therapy center that is overloaded cannot maintain the quality of service.

Proximity and location of the therapist should be convenient.  Is the center on school grounds or would the patient need to drive to the location?

Students need to ask what medical staff is already employed by the school and what their expertise is.  If any of the staff are physical therapists, ask about the services available and the opportunity to speak with a therapist.

If you are currently attending physical therapy, before leaving for school, be sure to speak with your existing physical therapist about coordinating the referral to a new clinic.  In most cases, a good physical therapy team will be able to communicate your needs to the other therapist.

Be sure to understand what the typical response time is for the new therapist.  Will the therapist respond to call or emails within 24 hours?  What is the availability of appointments?

Total Body Physical Therapy of Norwalk, CT is available for questions and discussions at their location on 166 East Avenue in Norwalk, CT

They may be reached via phone at 203.957.8162

Website: http://www.totalbodyphysicaltherapy.com/

Recognizing Changes in Your Body After The Birth of a Child

Recognizing Changes in Your Body After The Birth of a Child

Some of the most important physiological and bio-chemical changes occur in the post-partum phase of a women’s life.  Yet, few women and their physicians know the proper way to respond to the changes.  The most commonly talked about elements and experiences discussed by many are post-partum depression.  While this is an absolutely vital and essential discussion point of the postpartum phase, many women experience a myriad of ailments that are infrequently discussed among women’s groups, physicians, and physical therapists.

Among the most common occurrences in post-partum women can be Diastasis Recti or abdominal wall separation.  The recti abdominis are vertical muscles that run alongside of the anterior wall of the body. The recti adbdominis has the job of holding in your internal organs and providing additional stability to your core.  During pregnancy, hormones have a role in relaxing these muscles to allow for the proper accommodation of the fetus.  After the birth of a baby, some women can experience this separation, while others do not.

For over 40% of women, the recti abdominis does not return to normal without proper treatment. Unfortunately, simple crunches will not work and are most often the cause of exacerbating the problem. Women who have approached physicians who do not specialize in women’s health issues may not get the necessary results for this to correct.

Before any treatment, we recommend you speak to a Women’s Health Specialty Physical Therapist.  It is important to discuss your individual history.  Too many women approach this problem without the full comprehension of the case and possible long-term impact of the problem.

If you are one of the many women who experience or think that you are experiencing Diastasis Recti, please feel free to reach out to us and Dr. Hope Bove will be glad to speak with you privately and discuss your options to find out if women’s health physical therapy is the right fit for your on your road to recovery.

Dr. Hope Bove may be reached directly at 203-957-8162.

Total Body Physical Therapy Celebrates Two Years in Business

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Norwalk, CT : For immediate Release

This week marks a special time and an opportunity for Total Body Physical Therapy in Norwalk, CT to thank the greater Norwalk and Fairfield County community.  With a lifetime of medical experience and business acumen Hope Bove, MBA, DPT, Brian Elmo, MPT, ATC, CSCS and Alison Farrell, MS, ATC, LAT celebrate two years with their new venture in Total Body Physical Therapy.

With over 40 years in the Physical Therapy space and a solid base of referral sources, the vision of running a practice with dedicated partners and a supportive community is beginning to form nicely.  “Our goals from the start was to create an environment where the patient feels that our service is a one-to-one patient to practitioner ratio.  I think we have succeeded”, says Dr. Bove.

With a location in the heart of the medical community in East Norwalk, the business has already made great strides with medical professionals and patients.  According to Brian Elmo, one of the partners and therapists, “The support and referral sources we have built for the last 10 years have given us the sustainability and opportunity for growth in the coming years.  This has been a great venture and fantastic study in our own thesis and application of our talents”.

The acumen of the three partners is testament to their craft and respect in the medical community.  With a combined 40 years in the physical therapy field,  a slew of professional certifications, one Doctor of Physical Therapy degree , 3 Masters Degrees (MBA, Physical Therapy, and Sports Therapy), and three Bachelor’s Degrees (B.S., Sports Medicine, Exercise Science and Athletic Training) , the feedback to the functionality and fruitfulness of the physical therapy practice speaks volumes.  “The most valuable aspect of our business is the relationship we have built with our patients and our referring physicians.  The feedback we consistently receive is absolutely crucial to how our practice is run.  We are so proud to be able to deliver on our promise to this community”, said Alison Farrell.

All of the partners are proud to call Connecticut home for their practice and bring with them an awesome array of higher education.  Fairfield University, Sacred Heat University, University of Connecticut, and Southern Connecticut State University, Old Dominion University, Ohio University and Bryant College are among the alma maters for the three partners.  “ Not only are we graduates of these fine universities, we support the local colleges by offering internship opportunities to students in the area.  We are committed to giving back to the community both in the services we provide and giving opportunities to the next generation of students in this fast evolving science”, said Dr. Bove.

The field of service and expertise for the practice includes all aspects of sports injuries, pre and post operative procedure recoveries, pre-natal and post-partum care, post radiation, radical mastectomy and reconstructive surgeries, CRPS,  TMJ dysfunction, scoliosis, total joint replacements, balance problems, movement pattern syndromes, and Infants and children with muscular torticollis and plagiocephaly.   Patients that visit the practice range in age from infants to the elderly with varying sports including rowing, swimming, baseball, tennis, skiing running, yoga, and football.

When asked on how the next two years will be for the fast growing group, all responded with an assertive get-go attitude.  “With a sound foundation and solid expertise, we are committed to our community and providing outstanding service for our patients.  We have always believed that our ability to be successful and grow the business in this community has to begin and continue with great relationships with our patients and surrounding physicians and our steadfast commitment to delivering our one-on-one method,” said Alison Farrell.

The group may be reached in Norwalk at 166 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851.  Appointments are required.  Contact Total Body Physical Therapy at 203.957.8162 or info@totalbodyphysicaltherapy.com.  You may visit the website at http://www.totalbodyphysicaltherapy.com/ .

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Pregnancy and Low Back Pain

Pregnancy and Low Back Pain
Physical Therapy Can Reduce Back and Pelvic Pain During and After Pregnancy

Experts estimate that anywhere from 24% to 90% of women experience low back or pelvic-region pain when they are pregnant. Many women find that this pain goes away when the baby is born. However, more than a third of women still have pain 1 year after giving birth. Physical therapy during and after pregnancy can help decrease low back and pelvic pain. Common treatment options include education, exercise therapy, manual therapy, braces, or a combination of these treatments. Learning new ways to per
form home and work activities as well as relaxation techniques can help ease the pain. A study published in the July 2014
issu eof JOSPT reviewed the best published research to better understand the benefits of physical therapy in treating women with back and pelvic pain during and after pregnancy
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Pregnancy and Physical Therapy

Pregnancy and Physical Therapy

Physical therapy during pregnancy can be useful for remedying common discomforts like back pain or for enhancing your body’s ability to have a smoother pregnancy and birth. Physical therapy is not just for recovery. Talk to your health care provider about incorporating physical therapy into your prenatal care.

The reasons for back pain vary from person to person, but the majority of back pain concerns can be accounted for by one of the following reasons:

  • an increase in hormones
  • a change in the body’s center of gravity
  • gaining additional weight
  • a decline in posture
  • added stress

Over the last 40 years, the average age of women having their first child has risen from 21.4 to 25 years of age. Due to the fact that many women are juggling both the demands of pursuing higher education and the competitive nature of today’s workforce, more women are having their first child after the age of thirty five.

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