BenchMark Physical Therapy

An estimated 23 percent of American adults suffer from arthritis, making it a leading cause of work pain and disability. But there is good news! You can take action to treat this disease and get back to doing the activities you love in your daily life. Though it seems counterintuitive, studies have shown that one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis is exercise. Read on for some evidence-based reasons why exercise is so important: https://benchmark.urpt.com//benefits-of-exercise-for-oste/

Is prehab right for you? When considering orthopedic surgery, prehabilitation, or prehab, prior to joint replacement prepares the body for extensive surgery and can assist in decreasing recovery times. In fact, with 4 weeks of prehab, postoperative functional exercise capacity increases significantly and individuals with better physical fitness prior to surgery have been shown to have better postoperative outcomes.

Invest in yourself - not only during your physical therapy visit, but at home. One of the biggest components of success in physical therapy is the home exercise program, or HEP. One could say the HEP is up to fifty percent of the reason you will achieve better outcomes; considering the average physical therapy visit ranges from 45-60 minutes, which may not be enough time to make the drastic change you need. The home exercise program will most likely be prescribed on the firs...t day and be geared toward your goals and the treatment that made you feel and/or move better. For example, if the radiating symptoms from your low back lessened after treatment on your back, your therapist will send you home with an activity to reinforce that movement on day one. Make sure your therapist teaches you the exercise and provides instructions on a take-home piece of paper that also includes frequency, duration, and number of sets and reps so you know what is expected of you. Staying motivated and adhering to your HEP can be difficult, but it likely will speed your pain relief or return to function. #MotivationMonday

Tell congress that you oppose Medicare cuts to speciality providers. We believe everyone deserves access to physical therapy! Click here to #FightTheCut www.urpt.com/FightTheCut

Our last #PTMonth #SaturdaySpotlight is on Kurtisha Norris, PT, DPT, CSCS. Kurtisha choose the physical therapy profession after observing a physical therapist working in a BenchMark clinic. She quickly fell in love with the profession throughout that experience and was fascinated by the power of the various treatment options to help patients reach their goals. She remembers how fun the environment was and how it made her excited to come back each day. Kurtisha learned that h...er passion for movement and the importance of integrating it into daily life was aligned with the goal of physical therapy. The opportunity to commit to sharing this and improving the quality of peoples' lives was one that she could not pass up. Kurtisha says her favorite part of the job is celebrating with her patients after they reach each and every goal. She loves to see the surprised looks on their faces and hearing the words "I didn't think I would ever be able to do that again."

We need your help! Voting for the Best of 2020 with Best Self Atlanta Magazine ends on November 2nd. We would love for you to cast your vote for BenchMark in the category of "Best Physical Therapy Center!"

This year, Upstream’s Pillars with Purpose is fighting for food security across the nation and has hosted a fund and food drive. Some of the numbers are already in: 8,351 pounds of food and 18K in donations...and we aren't done yet. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we gather data to report the final numbers. While the food drive may have ended, you can still join the fight with a monetary donation, visit https://pillarswithpurpose.org/fight-for-food-security/. #PillarsDailyBread

Outpatient therapy can play a vital role in helping the adult population continue to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. By providing services such as orthopedic rehabilitation, wellness programs, pre-habilitation, fall prevention, and pelvic health services, our trained clinicians can help improve independence, strength/conditioning, balance, and overall general well-being. Proposed Medicare cuts could limit your access to these very programs and services that keep you active and healthy. Help us #FightTheCut by visiting urpt.com/FightTheCut

Happening now! We continue to fight for food security in our communities! This 5k was to benefit the Earl Besch Fund, which gives food to families in a local school district. So proud of these kids for running hard, understanding why awareness of the issue is important and for the teachers and district for supporting this great effort! #PillarsDailyBread

Last day of #PTMonth #SaturdaySpotlights and we're sad to see it come to an end. We've got a few more coming at you today to finish off the month strong, starting with Remi Onifade, PT, DPT, M. Ed. Remi says she became a physical therapist after always considering the medical field as an appropriate career to be independent, societally respected, and in a position to help the black community. She believes if you like your profession and it is something you could do for free depending on circumstances, you will be successful. As a physical therapist, Remi has found solace in the day-to-day interactions with her staff, using her hands to "fix" a problem, and creating an environment within the clinic that the community she is serving is using as their provider of choice.

It’s a wrap! There is nothing more fitting than closing out #PTMonth with those that make a difference every single day: Our physical therapists. All are committed to helping our patients achieve their physical goals and improve the quality of their lives. Thank you!

It is not too late to be heard! Use your voice to help us prevent devastating, proposed Medicare cuts that reduce patient access to physical therapy! Click the link to #FightTheCut www.urpt.com/FightTheCut

Adhesive capsulitis, commonly referred to as frozen shoulder, occurs when the joint capsule and soft tissues surrounding the shoulder become inflamed, swollen, and contracted. This causes bands of scar tissue to restrict joint mobility, which leads to stiffness, a limited range, and gradual loss of overall motion in the shoulder joint. This loss of motion can ultimately lead to loss of function for the entire upper extremity, especially with reaching and overhead activities. If you are suffering from frozen shoulder, physical therapy can help! #PTMonth #PTHumor