Better Balance Reduces Falls

While one in three adults over age 65 will experience a fall, age is not the only culprit in one’s risk of falling. Problems with balance affect people at all ages and stages of life.

There are a number of factors that could hinder balance, including: vision, eye coordination, concussion, problems with the middle ear, the ability to feel sensations through one’s foot, range of motion in ankles or hips and medication (including common blood pressure medications). Read more.

Living with Spinal Stenosis

You start your day feeling fine and decide to head to the local mall. As you start to walk through the mall, pain begins in your thigh. You find a bench, sit down and the pain goes away. What you may be experiencing is spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column that causes pressure on the spinal cord or the openings where spinal nerves leave the spinal column. Read more.

Childhood Speech Delays

Does your baby babble? It’s always a good sign if he or she does.

It is normal and healthy for babies to babble and experiment with vocals even before they recognize words,” says Janelle Hiester, MS, CCC-SLP/L, a speech-language pathologist with Good Shepherd’s Pediatrics Program. “A baby’s lack of ‘babble’ or ‘baby talk’ could be an early sign of a speech delay or disorder.”

To recognize signs of a speech disorder, pay close attention to a child’s speech patterns. Read more.

Start Walking for Fitness

Consistent, brisk walking can reduce the risk of heart disease by the same amount as more vigorous exercise such as running.

According to Amy Flynn, MS, an exercise physiologist at Good Shepherd’s Optimal Fitness Center, your first step before beginning a walking program is to discuss it with your family physician, who may know something about your medications or conditions that may impact your ability to exercise. Read more.

Short-term Rehabilitation: You Have a Choice

You may have noticed ads and billboards in the region promoting short-term rehabilitation. But did you know you have the right to choose an inpatient rehabilitation facility following an illness or injury, such as an orthopedic injury, stroke, multiple trauma, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury or amputation? Read more.

Staying Strong as We Age

Many assume that loss of muscle strength and function – debility – is an unavoidable part of the aging process. The reality is that adults can often remain physically active throughout their lives, and there is help for older adults who need to regain strength and improve their ability to perform everyday activities. Read more.

Female Athletes and ACL Tears

Did you know that female athletes are more susceptible to ACL (anterior cruciate ligament of the knee) tears than male athletes? There are a number of reasons, including basic anatomy, differences in the way a female’s muscles contract and react, hormonal influences and biomechanical considerations related to the position of knees during athletic activities. Read more.

What's New at Good Shepherd?

Good Shepherd’s staff works to provide the latest therapies and technologies to our patients. Here is what is new at Good Shepherd:

• Vision Therapy Program
• Interactive Metronome (IM) Therapy
• Environmental Control Experience Center

Read more.

Everyone's at Risk for Concussion

Athletes seem to get all the headlines when it comes to discussions about properly managing the effects of concussion, a type of traumatic brain injury. But concussions also can be caused by automobile accidents, falls and other blows to the head. People of all ages — athletes and non-athletes — can suffer from a concussion, and it is important to evaluate and treat the symptoms for all concussion patients. Read more.

Stay Connected to Good Shepherd

Want to keep up with what’s new at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network? Here are ways to stay connected to Good Shepherd. Read more.

Treat Back Pain Without Surgery

Almost 75 percent of people report back pain at some point in their lives. Fortunately, most are able to find relief without surgery.

“Many people can relieve pain with therapy and lifestyle changes,” says Dennis Duerring, physical therapist at Good Shepherd Physical Therapy. “Surgery is always a last resort.”  Read more.