Physical Therapy for Sports-Related Injuries
Physical therapy may be required when a person injures a part of their body while playing 
sports or engaging in strenuous physical workouts. Therapy is most commonly recommended when someone is not able to use or move a specific body part the way that they used to before the injury.
A physical therapist's primary job is to restore an athlete's ability to be active, strong and in motion so that they can get back to engaging in physical activity like they used to prior to the injury.
One way a physical therapist assists a patient is to teach them exercises that target injured muscles in order to decrease the discomfort and pain they may be experiencing. Many times the therapist will supervise the exercises until the patient is sufficiently able to do them on their own. Common forms of exercise include strengthening exercises, stretching and aquatic therapy.
Physical therapy is also often recommended after an athlete undergoes surgery, so that they can learn how to cope with any limitations they now face as a result. Some of the benefits of therapy are reduction of muscle spasms and pain, increased joint motion, healing of the soft tissue, stress reduction and increased endurance and muscle strength.
A good physical therapist will help an athlete not only recover from injury, but also educate them on how to prevent future injuries. Allegheny Medical's physical therapy program can help get you back into peak form and return to your normal sports activities as soon as possible. Please visit our page on our physical therapy services to find out more.
Arthritis: A Difficult But Manageable Condition
Arthritis occurs when there is inflammation in one or more of your joints, for example your wrists or knees. The biggest symptoms of arthritis are stiffness and joint pain, while the two most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when a person's immune system attacks the joints and causes inflammation, leading to pain and swelling.
Along with stiffness and pain in the joints, other symptoms that are often experienced include fatigue, fever, night sweats, redness, weight loss and breathing problems. Arthritis can eventually end up destroying the bone and cartilage in the joints.
Some of the most common risk factors for arthritis are obesity, past joint injury, age and family history. Women are also more likely than men to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
When arthritis is severe, it can interfere with your daily routine, making many everyday tasks much more difficult. Before seeking medical advice, it is a good idea to gather information about your family's history, your symptoms, previous medical problems you've had and any medications you take. This will allow your doctor or specialist to help you better.
Once you have made an appointment to be seen, your doctor will most likely have you get lab work, such as the testing of bodily fluids like urine and blood. You may also have X-Rays or an MRI done so that problems can be detected and treated more precisely.
The treatment of arthritis focuses on improving joint function and alleviating your symptoms. You may need to experiment with different combinations and types of treatments, such as therapy, medications and surgery.
For personalized help and treatment of your arthritis symptoms, please call Allegheny Medical today. Our PeopleCare team consists of specially trained physicians, nurses, dietitians, physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists dedicated to solving individuals key health problems and addressing their health needs. Complimentary, personalized consultation appointments can be scheduled by calling (412) 494-4554.
Healthier Employees are Happier Employees
The title of this blog post might sound like an obvious statement, but this basic truth has not always been understood by employers.
According to an article* in Corporate Wellness Magazine, "Healthy employees are more productive, use less sick days, are more present when at work and return from injuries and/or illnesses quicker. They improve team morale...healthy and happy employees give energy, they do not sap energy."
With rates of medical insurance and lost productivity costs due to absenteeism reaching all-time highs, corporate wellness programs are becoming more and more common.
It is vitally important that employees become educated about how to improve their health and then maintain it with a healthy lifestyle. Employee wellness programs can be one of the best ways to educate and inform workers. The good news is, when the costs associated with implementing a health and wellness program into a company are taken into consideration, they are often minimal when compared to the savings that can be enjoyed in insurance, increased productivity and boosted employee morale.
Some ideas for elements of corporate wellness programs include bringing nutritionists to work sites, setting up lunchtime walking groups, offering discounts on gym memberships, implementing fitness challenges, holding health fairs and more.
Through Allegheny Medical WorkCare wellness programs, you can help your employees maintain a healthy lifestyle. It cannot be stressed enough that healthy employees are generally happier and have a higher level of job satisfaction and lower absenteeism, which results in increased production.
Please visit the WorkCare section of our website or call our facility at (412) 494-4550 to find out more.
*Source: http://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/article-detail.php?issue=issue-1&article=creating-individualized-wellness-programs
Looking for Quality Sports Medicine Treatment?
The SportsCare team at Allegheny Medical consists of specially trained nurses, dietitians, 
physicians, physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists providing sports performance training and injury treatment management. SportsCare’s programs combine lifestyle, fitness and behavior management with quality medical treatments, and are personalized based on the assessment of each athlete's ability and health.
SportsCare programs are unique. Here at Allegheny Medical, we start by performing an in-depth evaluation of an individual's health status and athletic ability. The performance-based training program we create is a completely personalized performance plan. Based on our assessment of the athlete's athletic ability and health, our training staff will develop a performance-based training program that will ultimately help individuals achieve greater athletic outcomes and increase their performance. Every athlete is tested, screened and counseled prior to beginning the customized training program.
Each athlete will receive a variety of educational materials focusing on diet and nutrition information, performance enhancing exercises and personalized performance training instruction.
Dr. Neal Fanelli and his team have more than 20 years experience working with professional Olympic and amateur athletes. Dr. Neal has specifically assisted the National Football League by working with athletes that played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Allegheny Medical and their top-notch SportsCare team can truly keep you "stronger, healthier and faster for life."
Complimentary, personalized consultation appointments at Allegheny Medical can be made by calling (412) 494-4554.
Maximize Your Performance Potential
Allegheny Medical offers a 10-week complimentary performance conditioning program with
weekly nutritional counseling and medically supervised workouts on state-of-the-art equipment. The program was developed with the intent to improve the community's level of health, beginning with those who serve the community and its citizens. Allegheny Medical believes strongly in helping keep those who risk their lives for others healthy--and to do so without a cost to those individuals.
The program is currently being offered to service organizations that may benefit from increased levels of health. These days, emergency workers face a multitude of challenges on the job which require more strength, endurance and speed than ever before. Fortunately, the athletic trainers at Allegheny Medical can help you get in the best shape of your life in just a few hours per week.
For example, after a 10-week program, the officers of the Robinson police department experienced an average weight loss of 16 pounds, an average 25% increase in cardiovascular fitness, an average 24% increase in strength improvement and an average waist size decrease of 9%. Many other firefighters and police officers have also completed our program with outstanding results.
How is Allegheny Medical able to offer this program as a complimentary service? The reason is that we are funded by medical services provided as well as by referrals from organizations. We have board certified physicians in internal medicine and orthopedics, a doctor of physical therapy and a doctor of chiropractic care. We also have twenty years of experience working with professional, Olympic and amateur athletes at a variety of levels, and we would love to design a program that meets your needs.
There are limited enrollments yearly, so give us a call at 412-494-4554 for a consultation today.