SERC Physical Therapy

𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖....
Athletic trainers are board certified and licensed health care professionals who are experts in emergency situations, injury management, and rehabilitation. They are trained to treat a range of injuries, such as concussions, heat stroke, orthopedic injuries, and sudden cardiac arrest.

Athletic trainers are the real MVPs of any athletic department!

If you have pain around the kneecap that worsens with activity, you may have a common condition called runner's knee. Don't let the name fool you, though-- this condition can affect anyone, not just runners.

Physical therapy is ideal for dealing with runner's knee because it addresses the underlying structural issues that affect the knee joint to reduce pain and improve mobility. It can involve manual therapy, exercises, dry needling or electrical stimulation, and gait training for patients with overuse injuries. Patients are also taught lifestyle modifications to avoid future problems.

If you are experiencing knee pain, visit a clinic near you to get the care you need to feel better. https://bit.ly/3kRh62q

Concussion care is an important part of a full recovery. Proactively treating concussions with physical therapy helps athletes return to sports faster and more safely. It can also lower the risk of second impact syndrome and reduce symptoms like disequilibrium in just 4-8 weeks, compared to years if left untreated.

Contact a clinic near you for treatment after a concussion. https://bit.ly/3kRh62q

Athletic trainers provide a number of benefits to athletes, such as injury prevention, rehab and recovery, performance programs, and more to ensure athletes perform at their highest level.

Athletic trainers work closely with local physicians and coaches within an organization or institution to tailor a program to best fulfill their sports medicine needs. Our staff has been trained in the latest scientific information available. We pride ourselves on providing care and customer service that exceeds the overall expectations of our athletes, parents, physicians, and administrations, resulting in an athletic trainer-to-patient experience like no other.

Neck and shoulder tension can be more than an inconvenience - it can have serious consequences. Headaches, sleep issues, and limited range of motion in the upper body can all be the result of ignoring tension in this area.

Physical therapy is a great way to manage chronic tension, pain, and stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Your therapist will create a personalized treatment plan that may include exercises to strengthen the neck and supporting muscles, manual therapy, and modalities like cold, heat or electrical stimulation. Your therapist will also advise on posture, stress and lifestyle factors to help you manage muscle tension and achieve relief.

Find a physical therapy clinic near you today.https://bit.ly/3kRh62q

Spring is a great time to get your body moving with a functional fitness program. Functional fitness is an emerging trend focusing on building strength and endurance for everyday activities. It helps to improve balance, coordination, and overall wellbeing while developing a strong and healthy body.

We've highlighted a few functional exercises to consider as you jumpstart spring fitness.

IN HONOR OF NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINING MONTH, Our Upstream Family of clinical care would like to recognize frontline workers helping keep our communities safe - our Athletic Trainers.

Our Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals and highly dedicated to the job at hand. They can be found in high schools, colleges, corporations, and clinics and they play a vital part in impacting health care through their actions.

We deeply appreciate each and every one of you for your commitment to your profession, contribution to your communities, and our , and the positive impact you have on peoples’ lives. Please join us in applauding these front-line healthcare heroes this month, and every month.

Knee pain can be caused by a variety of factors and can range from minor discomfort to severe immobility. Luckily, knee pain can be treated effectively with physical therapy.

Treating knee pain involves a comprehensive approach to address pain and strengthen and stabilize the joint. Rest, nonprescription medication and physical therapy are the first, most conservative treatments prescribed for common knee injuries and conditions. However, if you have knee pain, swelling, or stiffness that does not improve after treatment, it's time to see your doctor.

Don't put it off any longer - contact a clinic near you to get the help you need. https://bit.ly/3kRh62q

We love celebrating our patient successes and hearing their inspiring stories! Share your journey with us, and let us know what makes you smile!

What was your favorite moment while receiving care?

Physical therapy is an important part of managing low back pain. It can help improve strength, function and disability, as well as reduce pain. Your physical therapist will complete a comprehensive evaluation and immediate treatment to meet your individual needs and goals.

Are you ready to take charge of your low back pain and start your physical therapy journey?

You might expect to work with a physical therapist to help you recover from an operation. But did you know you can also take a proactive approach to improve your outcome and increase your chance of a smooth recovery after surgery?

Your physical therapist helps you increase muscle mass and physical stamina so you are in the best condition to tolerate surgery and tackle recovery. PT before surgery will make you stronger and help you get moving faster. The quicker you are mobile after surgery, the less likely you are to experience muscle loss.

Consult your healthcare provider and schedule a physical therapy screening to determine if prehabilitation is right for you.https://bit.ly/3kRh62q

Success stories are the best stories! We love hearing about our patients and how their lives have been improved after receiving the care they needed. It's so wonderful to know that we can make a difference in people's lives, and that's why we do what we do!

Share your experience with us!

We are excited to announce the opening of our newest clinic in West Little Rock, AR. The clinic is located at 222 Wellington Hills Rd Ste 100 and can be contacted by phone at 501-604-8088.

Clinic director Keely Norman, who opened SERC's Benton clinic in 2021, earned a bachelor's degree in movement science from the University of Michigan and a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. She is certified in orthopedics and manual therapy.

Keely has a special interest in treating gymnasts, dancers, and cheerleaders, drawing on her experience in competitive gymnastics with the Michigan club team and eight years of coaching gymnastics.

For more information and to request an appointment, please visit us online: https://bit.ly/3HUfDUI
Be sure to like our clinic's page for news and updates: https://bit.ly/3IqpMtJ

Winter weather can be beautiful, but it also can be dangerous. Slips and falls can occur quickly and result in serious injury. To help keep yourself safe, here are a few tips to prevent winter slips and falls.

What is Dry Needling? This specific technique involves small needles that are placed into muscle trigger points. Trigger points are the “knots” or tight bands you feel when muscle becomes dysfunctional. Dry Needling is a great way to reset the tissue by creating an environment for proper healing. It’s best utilized to reduce muscle tension and to decrease muscle pain/soreness. Several of our clinicians are certified and four others (pictured below) have just recently become trained in order to further aid patients in their recovery.

Call us to find out more about Dry Needling or any of the different services we offer at SERC!

As weight-bearing joints, our ankles experience a lot of wear and tear. But you can take steps to build ankle strength and address tight or weak ankles before an injury occurs. Start with simple and effective exercises:
𝟏. 𝐓𝐨𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐮𝐩𝐬 / 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐥𝐬
•Stand up and place small items on the ground. (marbles, dice, or towel)
•Use your toes to pick each item up and drop it into a cup or bowl.
•Do two sets of 10 on each foot.
𝟐. 𝐀𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭
•Sit in a chair with your knees bent.
•Lift one leg a few inches off the ground and draw the letters of the alphabet with your foot.
•Repeat on the opposite foot..
𝟑. 𝐇𝐞𝐞𝐥-𝐓𝐨𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬
•Find a flat open space.
•Walk forward only on your heels for five steps.
•Now switch to walking only on your tip-toes for five steps.
•Continue walking in this alternating pattern for 1-2 minutes.

Because these exercises are low-impact, you can do them daily or a few times per week for optimal results. If ankle pain and stiffness continue, discuss your symptoms with your physician and physical therapy team. https://bit.ly/3kRh62q

We love to hear our patient success stories. How has your life improved through your experience with us? Are you moving better and feeling better? Do you have a therapist you want to applaud?

Share your experience with us!

Did you know that a few simple changes in your daily routine and a commitment to improving your posture can be the difference in alleviating some of the back pain you feel from poor posture?

Physical therapy can identify your trouble areas and help correct your posture by strengthening supportive muscles, improving spinal health, providing education, and pointing out alternative methods of performing certain routine activities.

To improve your posture with PT contact a clinic near you - https://bit.ly/3kRh62q

Is your neck causing your headache? Muscle tension and posture problems can lead to neck pain that radiates to the head. Fortunately, relief is available through physical therapy.

PT treatment techniques to address cervicogenic headache pain include:
*𝙀𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 for both work and leisure activities to lessen neck tension
*𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨 including soft-tissue and cervical joint mobilization to improve cervical motion and reduce muscle tension
*𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 for the head and neck muscles with an emphasis on improving posture and neck alignment
*𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨 to increase blood flow to the head, reduce tension in the neck muscles, and alleviate stress

Find a clinic near you to see if you're a good candidate for neck pain and headache treatment with physical therapy. https://bit.ly/3kRh62q

Black History Month, observed nationally since 1976, is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans, past and present – as well as think about our role in making the world a better, safer, and more equitable place.

Within the field of physical therapy, we take this time to reflect on the contributions of historic African Americans like Lynda Woodruff, Vilma Evans, Arnold Bell, Thelma Brown Pendleton, Mary McKinney Edmonds, and Leon Anderson. These individuals had the courage and perseverance to lay the groundwork for all to pursue careers in physical therapy across the country. I hope you will join me in reflecting not only on history but on the power we have individually and collectively to change and transform our world.

At Upstream and our family of clinical care, we honor and value the individuals throughout our organization and the profession as a whole for the contributions they are continuing to make to ensure a better future for patients and therapists alike.

Ron Kuerbitz
CEO
Upstream Rehabilitation

February is American Heart Month, the perfect time to focus on your heart health and ensure you do all you can to keep it healthy! ❤️

To combat heart disease, we need to improve our diets and levels of physical activity. Below are recommendations from the American Heart Association for physical activity and nutrition:

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡:
•30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least five days per week.
•25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least three days per week
•Moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least two days per week for additional health benefits.
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥
•An average of 40 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity three or four times per week.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐭
The key to a healthful diet is eating nutrient-dense foods versus calorie-dense foods. Our diets should consist of high-quality proteins, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and limited amounts of sugary foods and beverages.
Make small, subtle lifestyle changes that you can sustain. It may take longer to see positive results, but your odds of success will be greater.

Good luck and good heart health!

Effective Hand and Wrist Stretches

We rely on our hands and wrists to perform countless functions every day, which is why you should address any discomfort, pain, or tightness.

Take a look at some of these effective stretches to help alleviate hand and wrist pain, improve flexibility, improve range of motion, and restore function. Before beginning any exercise or stretching routine, you should consult a healthcare professional or physical therapist.

Effective Hand and Wrist Stretches

We love to hear our patient success stories. How has your life improved through your experience with us? Are you moving better and feeling better? Do you have a therapist you want to applaud?

Share your experience with us!

The list of running shoe brands is long, and there are many good options. But finding the perfect shoe for your feet and running style should always be about function, not fashion. Here are five tips to get you on the right track:

𝟏. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲. Measure the fit of your shoe while standing. You should be able to fit a thumb’s width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. For appropriate shoe width, make sure that your entire foot stays within the insole.
𝟐. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲. By shopping later, you will know how the shoe will feel when you are a few miles into your run, which is usually when runners start to notice any issues with their shoes.
𝟑. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬. These stores tend to have well-trained staffs that know a lot about shoe styles and brands and have a lot of personal experience with running shoes. Also, most stores that cater to runners will have treadmills, allowing the trained staff to analyze your gait and make suggestions based on how you run.
𝟒. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧. If the store does not have a treadmill, ask whether you can run for a few minutes in the parking lot. If the shoes are uncomfortable after a short test run, you can bet they will not be comfortable five miles into that training run.
𝟓. 𝐁𝐮𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲. Determining when you need new running shoes is generally based on how many miles you have run in them. Opinions differ, but almost all running gurus say your shoe mileage should top out at 500 miles. After that distance, you deserve a new pair of shoes.

If you suffer from joint pain, stiffness, or inflammation due to arthritis, you should know that gentle exercise, like aquatic therapy for arthritis, may just be the treatment you need to feel and move better.

Exercising in water reduces the stress and load placed on arthritic joints. Other benefits of water aerobics for arthritis include:

•The ability to move joints more freely
•Increased mobility and flexibility without pain
•Strengthened muscles without the use of weights
•Compression of the limbs and joints in water improves blood flow and reduces swelling

On top of all these valuable health benefits, it’s also just plain fun! If you would like more guidance, your physical therapist can point you in the right direction.