Pilates and the MELT Technique- Are They for YOU?

Laura Gideon is one of our dynamic Pilates instructors who synergistically blends the teachings of Joseph Pilates, F.M. Alexander Techniques of postural training, and the MELT (Myofascial Energetic Lengthening Technique) method into her exercise therapy sessions. Pilates and Alexander are integrated into a proprietary blend of exercise sequences designed to develop STRENGTH, SYMMETRY, and RANGE of MOTION along with FLEXIBILITY.  The benefits reaped are strong CORE muscle development (abdominals, hips, pelvic floor, back & gluteals), enhanced flexibility, improved posture and muscle balance.  However, all of this cannot be achieved without proper breathing, concentration, focus and flow which are the cornerstones of Pilates. Results may be achieved using floor and/or mat exercises in addition to also using several other pieces of equipment. With the use of a soft foam roller, the Melt method techniques enable your body to be brought back to a more ideal state by directly enhancing body awareness, rehydrating connective tissue, reducing stiffness and pain and decreasing stressors that accumulate from daily living.  Let us know if you want to try out something new, if you haven’t tried it already.

Are You Stacking Your Joints Properly?

Sonja Reese is a Physical Therapist at Goodman Physical Therapy and talks frankly about posture:

We need to have our head and ears over our shoulders, and our shoulders over our hips.  The more the spine or a particular joint does not deviate from the axis it was created, the more movement we have.   For example:  bring your head way forward, exaggerate forward head posture and try turning your head.   Notice how little movement you actually have when you do this…  now bring your head as far back over your shoulders and try turning your head again…notice the increase in motion.

This applies to all joints of the body; and muscles that are stronger and more dominant will pull the joint out of the neutral axis.  Thus, correct posture of all joints and muscle balance is important for maintaining motion and flexibility, and preventing injury. 

Call our office at 310-441-1102 if you’d like to discuss your concerns about posture.  We’d love to hear from you.

Left/Right Discrimination: Do You Have It?

Thanks to the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute for providing such great information and supporting the latest in brain research:  Research shows people in pain often lose the ability to identify left or right images of their painful body part(s).  For instance, when viewing pictures of body parts they are slower and/or less accurate than somebody without pain at determining whether the image is a Left or Right body part.  This ability appears to be important for normal recovery from pain. The good news is that the brain is plastic and changeable, if given the right training for long enough. So with the appropriate tools, a bit of work, patience and persistence, it is possible to improve the ability (speed and accuracy) to discriminate between Left and Right body parts and movements.  Read the book “Explain Pain” for more information on how mirror neurons work to assist in decreasing and eliminating pain.

Important News for Patients Effective January 1, 2014

Effective January 1, 2014, patients can have access to any physical therapist and their services in California without having to have a medical diagnosis and they can have immediate treatment for up to 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first.  

This news is very exciting both for the physical therapy profession in California and for the consumer, patients!  The old law only allowed for a Physical Therapy evaluation (or initial consultation), fitness and wellness services, and treatment for a condition if there was a medical diagnosis attached to it.  Even though this is exciting news, insurance companies still require an MD/doctor’s prescription for physical therapy that has a diagnosis on it in order for treatment to be billed and paid by insurance;  I have hope that one day this too shall vanish.  READ the article below for more detail from the American Physical Therapy Association about our Direct Access to Patients.  

Friday, October 11, 2013    http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/NewsNow/2013/10/11/CA/

Signing of AB 1000 Concludes Busy Legislative Year for California Chapter

California residents will have improved access to physical therapist services due to a bill that was signed into law by Gov Jerry Brown on October 7. The signing of the bill, known as Assembly Bill 1000, marks the end of a challenging legislative journey for physical therapists in the state in 2013.

Under the previous law, patients could only be seen for an evaluation, fitness and wellness services, and treatment for a condition that had been the subject of a medical diagnosis. AB 1000, which goes into effect on January 1, 2014, expands patient access to physical therapist services for immediate treatment for up to 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first.

“With the ability to evaluate and provide interventions to the direct access patient immediately, physical therapists in California can quickly address the needs of their patients,” stated APTA President Paul A. Rockar Jr, PT, DPT, MS.

While the end result of AB 1000 helps California physical therapists achieve the longstanding goal of direct access, the final version also includes language that allows physical therapists to be employed by medical professional corporations. This aspect of the bill was not without controversy, and created debate among some California chapter members, given that the legislation combined two significant and unrelated public policy issues. The provision of the law allowing medical professional corporations to employ physical therapists stipulates that a physician, surgeon, podiatrist, or other referring practitioner must inform patients that they may seek physical therapy treatment services by a practitioner of their own choice, and that the practitioner does not have to be employed by the medical corporation. The legislation also authorizes the organization of physical therapy professional corporations with majority ownership by physical therapists that, as well, may employ other health professionals.

1.  What does this mean for patients?  PATIENTS DON’T HAVE TO WAIT, AND CAN ACCESS OUR SERVICES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A NEW INJURY.  NO PHYSICIAN DIAGNOSIS OR REFERRAL IS REQUIRED!

2.  How can we prepare for consumer direct access January 1st, 2014?  SPEAK TO YOUR INSURANCE CARRIERS TO ENSURE THAT PATIENTS RECEIVE THE FULL BENEFIT OF THIS DIRECT ACCESS.  WE AT GOODMAN PHYSICAL THERAPY  WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE AND INSERVICE AND EDUCATE OUR STAFF TO KEEP UP WITH THIS AUTONOMY AND WELCOMED NEW LAW.

3.  Will we change our billing practices with consumer direct access?  NO.  GOODMAN PHYSICAL THERAPY  WILL STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW INSURANCE BILLING GUIDELINES.

Education is power, so let’s educate Californians!

Deena Goodman, PT, WCS, BCB-PMD and your Goodman Physical Therapy team