You’ve probably heard the term “Long COVID” which is defined as any symptoms or conditions that linger after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Long COVID can even include new conditions that develop as a result of that infection, and the symptoms may last weeks, months, or even years. What you might not know is that Long COVID is common. In 2022, about one in 13 people in the US, (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm)or 7.5% of the population, had Long COVID, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC). People with Long COVID need ongoing care and treatment, and depending on the symptoms, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants can offer some help.  “Early recognition and effective management of the potentially disabling effects of long COVID can lead to improved outcomes and quality of life,” according to the American Physical Therapy Association.(https://www.apta.org/patient-care/public-health-population-care/long-covid/benefits-of-physical-therapy-for-individuals-with-long-covid2) “Physical therapists can help individuals with safe rehabilitation during long COVID recovery and empower them to self-manage lingering chronic symptoms.” Long COVID is complicated because the virus can affect so many parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, brain, and gastrointestinal system. Long COVID symptoms can include fatigue, heart palpitations, brain fog, shortness of breath, joint and muscle pain, dizziness, changes in smell or taste, and depression and anxiety, to name a few.       People over 40, those with multiple or more severe COVID infections (although it can happen even with mild infections), and people who aren't vaccinated are at higher risk of Long COVID,(https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html) according to the CDC.       While not everyone is a candidate for physical therapy, physical therapists are often an essential part of the care team for people who develop Long COVID.  So where does physical therapy come in?  Research is ongoing to determine what treatment plans offer the most benefit to Long COVID patients.        One case study found that a 37-year-old woman with Long COVID who had physical therapy (https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/6/pzab098/6177704)sessions twice a week for 8 weeks had an improvement in muscle strength, physical function, and exercise capacity.            Physical therapy sessions may be able to improve shortness of breath; decrease anxiety, stress, and depression; and increase lung capacity, according to one 2022 study in the journal Frontiers.(https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.907603/full)       In short, physical therapy and physical therapy assistants can often help many patients with Long COVID. Talk to your doctor about what the right course of treatment might be for you. Resources:      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9628454/(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9628454/) https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm(https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm) https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/long-covid.htm(https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/long-covid.htm) https://www.apta.org/patient-care/public-health-population-care/long-covid/benefits-of-physical-therapy-for-individuals-with-long-covid2 (https://www.apta.org/patient-care/public-health-population-care/long-covid/benefits-of-physical-therapy-for-individuals-with-long-covid2) https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/102/4/pzac005/6506311?login=true(https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/102/4/pzac005/6506311?login=true) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.907603/full (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.907603/full) https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/recovering-from-long-term-covid-19 (https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/recovering-from-long-term-covid-19) https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/6/pzab098/6177704 (https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/101/6/pzab098/6177704)

We are proud of our work helping patients return to an active lifestyle from falls. However, the best case is to avoid falls altogether, so here are five tips to keep in mind during our icy conditions: 1. Stay Present. For the most part we are highly adaptable creatures and recognize changes in surfaces quickly adjusting our stride patterns automatically without conscious thought. And it’s this great skill that can lead us to a false sense of security on ice. Often our patients’ story go like this: “I don’t know what happened, all of the sudden I found myself on the ground.” It’s a sign that we are all busy and thinking about what we are going to do next. Opportunity for falls and injury arise when our thoughts are far from present and our moves are on auto-pilot. Our tip: Stay Present when moving! Take care for ice you see, as well as, the ice you cannot see… like black ice, as well as, hidden ice. 2. Walk Like a Penguin. Our favorite caution sign in the area advises to change your gait with icy conditions. A slight bend in your back with your feet pointed out to increases your center of gravity. Take small steps and keep flat-footed. This approach may appear like an awkward penguin shuffle but it’s a way to stay stable on ice according to the Center of Disease Control research. 3. Avoid Hills and Stairs. Steep paths combined with uneven surfaces create opportunity for gravity to move you in unintended ways. Consider taking the flatter path to your mailbox in icy conditions and save the steeper shortcut for another day. If you cannot skip the hills or stairs altogether then be sure to use handrails, keep your hands out of your pockets, and move slowly. 4. Be Aware of Weather Conditions. We know that water freezes when the temperature reaches 32°F and conditions are right for ice. However, judging your next outing to be easy based on a temperature above 32°F can be deceiving. Research shows that ice is much slipperier when it's melting. As a result, it important to understand the temperature change and be aware that an icy path you navigated successfully yesterday could be more slippery today as the temperature warms ups. 5. Wear the right shoes. Dr. Philip E. Martin, professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University, advises people to, “Consider a shoe's material properties, noting that a rigid leather sole is far from ideal as it offers a significantly weaker grip compared to a rubber sole. Of course, traction-improving treads, cleats, or spikes can help too." Recent research by iDAPT, the research arm of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute—University Health Network, has tested and rated the slip resistance of nearly 100 boots showing that only 10% of commonly found boot brands in Canada rate highly for icy conditions. Brands like Keen, Merrell and Timberland were among the 30 brands and 100 models tested. For test scores visit WinterLab We hope you liked our icy conditions tips! And as much as we want to see you this winter, we prefer you “like” us on Facebook, walk like a penguin and stay upright on the ice this season. Sources: 1. Science-Approved Tips for Walking Across Ice” https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/529853/how-to-walk-across-ice-without-falling 2. “Slippery Boots: Most Winter Footwear Fails Test of Walking on Ice” https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/winter-boots-tested-ice-1.3867531

As Southern Tier Physical Therapy of Binghamton wraps up 2022, we take a moment to reflect on our year. Excited to expand our certification credentials in the Graston Technique (GT). Our Physical Therapy Assistants, Karen and Autumn, certified on this technique that provides better patient outcome through instrument assisted soft tissue manipulation. The GT therapy intervention is highly effective for managing pain and restoring optimal range of motion in many cases of musculoskeletal dysfunction. GT therapy is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables therapists to detect and break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The non-invasive technique uses specially designed stainless steel instruments with the following proven results: Decreased pain Decreased overall time of treatment Faster time to recovery/rehabilitation Improved range of motion Reduced need for anti-inflammatory medication Your physical therapist (PT) moves these instruments over your injury delivering the dual purpose of identifying scar tissue/fascial restrictions and breaking up these adhesions. Over time, this process transforms soft tissue injury into healthy tissue by reducing and/or eliminating adhesions, alleviating associated pain and restoring range of motion. GT therapy is clinically proven to achieve faster and better outcomes for acute and chronic conditions such as: Achilles Tendinitis/osis (Ankle Pain) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Wrist Pain) Cervical Sprain/Strain (Neck Pain) Chronic Repetitive Stress (Trigger Finger, Skier’s or Gamekeeper’s Thumb) Fibromyalgia (Widespread Muscle Pain and Tenderness) Iliotibial Ban d Syndrome (ITB) (Hip/Knee Pain) Lateral Epicondylitis/osis (Tennis Elbow) Lumbosacral Sprain/Strain (Back Pain) Medial Epicondylitis/osis (Golfer’s Elbow) Myofasial Pain Syndromes Patellofemoral Disorders (Knee Pain) Plantar Fasciitis/osis (Foot Pain) Rotator Cuff Tendinitis/osis (Shoulder Pain) Scar Tissue/Post-surgical Scarring (one completely closed) Shin Splints Women’s Health (Post-Mastectomy and Caesarean/C-Section Scarring) GT therapy is recognized and widely used in the industry by over 43,000 trained clinicians. A recent study showed that GT therapy combined therapeutic exercises had a 31% improvement in the ability to bend and injured thumb over a three-week course of therapy. For an injury like this, we work closely with your orthopedist to transition you from immobilization into therapy with the goal to manage your pain and maximize your range of motion. We hear great things regarding what GT Therapy means to our patients’ recovery. One STPT of Binghamton patient recovering from an elbow fracture expressed gratitude after her first GT therapy session, “it’s like my elbow just returned from a spa day! I didn’t realize how much low level pain I had until it was gone… what a relief!” We would love to hear more about your GT therapy experience and welcome you to share your comments. And speaking of gratitude… a big thank you for the best gift of 2022… your vote for Best of Binghamton!!! What an honor to be recognized as the best our community has to offer in Physical Therapy as seen in the Press & Sun Bulletin’s Readers’ Choice Award!! Reference: 1. “Graston Technique Combined with Therapeutic Intervention as an Alternative Treatment for a Grade III UCL Sprain: A Case Study” http://clinat.indstate.edu/index.php/clinat/article/view/95

Graston Technique®-trained clinicians use GT instruments to effectively and efficiently address soft tissue lesions and fascial restrictions while treating acute and chronic conditions. GT treatments will not be appropriate for all conditions but can be highly beneficial for many. Here’s a brief list of a few conditions treated with GT. · Achilles Tendinitis/osis (ankle pain) · Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (wrist pain) · Cervicothoracic Sprain/Strain (neck pain/whiplash) · Fibromyalgia · Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITB) · Women's Health (post-mastectomy C-Section scarring) · Lateral Epicondylitis/osis (tennis elbow) · Lumbosacral Sprain/Strain (back pain) · Medial Epicondylitis/osis (golfer's elbow) · Myofascial Pain Syndromes · Patellofemoral Disorders (knee pain) · Plantar Fasciitis/osis (foot pain) · Rotator Cuff Tendinitis/osis (shoulder pain) · Scar Tissue/post-surgical scars (once completely closed) · Shin Splints · Trigger Finger

Megan Shofkom, PTA Ÿ Karen Eaton, PTA STPT of Binghamton now offers a new therapy treatment using the Graston Technique®. The Graston Technique®, also known as Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, or IASTM for short, employs manual treatment using 6 highly specialized stainless steel GT instruments. IASTM may be helpful for treating tendons and fascia tissues inflamed from injuries due to overuse, sprains, nerve entrapments and even to reduce restrictions caused by surgical scars. Some more commonly known injuries treated by IASTM are tennis elbow, ankle sprains, carpal tunnel, Achilles pain, iliotibial band syndrome (ITB) and plantar fasciitis. IASTM may be appropriate and effective for other conditions, too. IASTM has been proven to increase the production of cells, also known as fibroblasts producing the make up of the collagen in the connective tissues. This increase in activity helps facilitate the healing of injured tissues. The cells respond to the pressure applied from the IASTM instruments and help to increase blood flow to the areas accelerating the healing process. IASTM can help reduce pain to the affected area, increase range of motion and improve the patient’s recovery time. 📷The Graston Technique® trained therapist first determines if IASTM is appropriate for the patient’s condition. Then, before IASTM is used on the tissues, the therapist will warm up the tissues of the treatment areas by either active patient exercise as in riding a bicycle, or passively with heat, massage and stretching. The therapist generally spends a few minutes working on the affected area in various ways. Depending on the stage of injury, the patient may be sitting at rest or the therapist may put the area on stretch or even work on the patient while they do exercise. After each treatment with IASTM, the patient will perform a series of exercises specific to their diagnosis and functional limitations. IASTM, used in conjunction with other manual techniques, can be effective in reducing the patient’s pain and accelerating the patient’s healing. If you have questions regarding the Graston Technique® and its appropriateness for you contact Pat Foley, PT, at our office located at 17 Charles St, Binghamton NY at (607)-771-8181.

Each year STPT of Binghamton collaborates with SUNY Broome Physical Therapist Assistant Program professional staff to present a seminar to second year PTA students. The seminar gives the SUNY Broome seniors insight to professional careers as physical therapist assistants from experienced professionals. These sessions prove valuable to students nearing completion of their academic requirements as they prepare to begin professional careers. In February, Pat Foley, PT, Megan Shofkom, PTA, and Karen Eaton, PTA, of STPT of Binghamton presented a seminar highlighting specialty programs including treatments for women's health, osteoporosis and pelvic floor biofeedback therapies to the students. They explained treatment techniques and protocols and quizzed the students along the way. 📷Most years the students attend this seminar in the STPT of Binghamton clinic located at 17 Charles Street in Binghamton. Students have an opportunity to meet with professional staff, tour the clinic and hear from professionals who are treating patients every day. This year to ensure the safety of all participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, the seminar was presented as a webinar via ZOOM and a webcam. Pat, Megan and Karen described various conditions, hands-on procedures and some of the daily challenges they face. The students answered many questions posed by the presenters and asked a few, too. Special thanks to the dedicated staff at the SUNY Broome Physical Therapy Department and to the team at STPT of Binghamton for making this year’s seminar a success despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Best of luck to the SUNY Broome students as they complete their course work and final exams.