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Home Manual Therapy Spotlight: Self-Mobilization with Movement (SMWM) with SuperBand in Extension

Joint Capsule mobilization is essential in helping patients with joint restrictions improve their mobility. The more consistently the patient can work on capsular mobilization between visits and after discharge, the sooner they can obtain good results. Here is an example of a Self-Mulligan Mobilization with Movement (SMWM) for improving extension using a SuperBand. Typically, for self-hip mobilizations, most individuals over 140 lbs. of body weight will likely want to use a SuperBand with a 100 lb rating, whereas individuals less than 140 lbs may prefer a SuperBand with a 65 lb rating. It can vary on the size of the individual, skill level and goals for treatment. Start by securing the SuperBand to a heavy table or object using a...

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Mobilization with Movement Part 2

Home Mobilization Options for Patients This is the second part of Dr. Tony Rocklin's focus on mobilization with movement that patients can do independently at home, excerpted from his presentation at OPTA 2016. You can watch the first part of this discussion here, see other excerpts here, or listen to the full one-hour presentation here. One of the challenges in treating patients with hip osteoarthritis is that most insurance companies limit the number of visits for physical therapy they will cover, although it is less expensive than reliance on prescription painkillers and NSAIDs throughout the disease. And because it is incurable and degenerative, patients will need continuing treatment. As a result, best practices for physical therapists working with these patients include...

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Mobilization with Movement, Part 1

Mobilization with Movement for Home As May is Arthritis Awareness month, it's worth remembering that 1 out of 5 people in the United States will suffer from hip osteoarthritis during their lifetimes. Hip osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the US today. Unfortunately, our healthcare system has historically only prescribed pain medications and NSAIDs, use of a cane, weight loss, and independent exercise alone while waiting for it to get bad enough for surgery. The period between diagnosis and hip surgery can be, on average, three to six years. As the OA progresses, pain increases, activity decreases, and patients are increasingly at risk for other co-morbidities related to inactivity such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, addiction,...

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Does Obesity Increase Osteoarthritis Risk?

The link between extra weight and increased osteoarthritis risk Doctors have historically advised patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis to lose weight in order to lessen the stress on the joints. Now doctors are also advising overweight patients to lose weight to decrease their osteoarthritis risk. The Arthritis Foundation posted this overview on fat and osteoarthritis and discussed the links between osteoarthritis and obesity in a second post. The latter points out "...year after year of obesity fuels a steady barrage of friendly fire that in turn generates low-level chronic inflammation. Not an inflamed immune system, like an infection but a soft drum-beat of immune proteins that over time can damage tissues such as joints, "˜that's insidious because it's continuous,' says Robert...

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When Arthroscopic Hip Surgery Isn't the Best Choice

Arthroscopic hip surgery increases in popularity The popularity of arthroscopic hip surgery has increased in recent years, with a more than 600% increase between 2006 and 2010 in the United States. But although the minimally invasive procedure, often performed on an outpatient basis, may be preferred, a recent study published in Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery found that it may not be the best option for older patients or those with arthritis. Researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City looked at more than 7,000 arthroscopies in California and Florida with two years follow-up. Dr. David Mayman, an orthopedic surgeon at HSS and senior study author said "One of the goals of our study...

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