Knee Osteoarthritis

The Facts:

More disability and clinical symptoms result from osteoarthrtits (OA) of the knee than any other joint.  While the exact cause of knee OA is unclear, its prevalence is known to increase with age and in females.²
 
Clinical symptoms of OA include: ¹
• joint pain (specific to the knee and hip are complaints of "deep, aching pain"³
• tenderness
• decreased movement
• a grating sound and/or sensation in the joint
• occasional swelling, and varying degrees of inflammation.
 
OA is distinguished by a progressive loss of articular cartilage, sclerosis/hardening of the subchondral bone, joint space narrowing, and osteophyte (“bone spur”) development.⁴ All of these changes can lead to:
• pain
• loss of muscle strength
• limitation in activities of daily living
• decreased mobility
• overall reduced quality of life

 

Mythbusters:

 

Myth:

Patients with knee osteoarthritis will should simply follow a "cookbook" approach to exercise, because they will achieve the same benefit from doing a few basic exercises as they would seeing a therapist one-on-one.

 

Fact:

A 2006 study compared home-based PT program (consisting of home exercises, and one follow up clinic visit) versus clinic-based treatment (consisting of 8 treatment sessions of supervised exercise, individualized manual therapy, and a home exercise program). 

• After 4 weeks, both groupd did show improvements based on outcome measures, but...
• Clinic-based group: 52% improvement
• Home-based group: 26% improvement
• Clinic-based group also reported great satisfaction with treatment, and less reliance on pain medications

 

Myth:

Aquatic physical therapy is superior to land-based PT in treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

 

Fact:

Systematic reviews have shown both land-based and aquatic therapy programs are beneficial treatment plans for knee OA. 

• Two of the four studies showed greater pain reduction with aquatic therapy
• The other two studies showed greater strength gains with land-based therapy
• No research exists on the long-term benefit of aquatic therapy

With this in mind, patient tolerance may be a guiding factor in choosing the initial plan, but patients will likely benefit more from eventual progression towards a land-based program.
 

Wellness Challenge

For any of you "New Year's Resolution" folks, the therapists at both our Peoria and Washington offices can now sympathize with your pains.  That's right, we just finished up a 10-week Wellness Challenge (beginning at the start of 2013), coordinating with teams all from within the Rock Valley system.  This was a competition based on various wellness categories (not just focused on weight loss), and we know that sometimes all it takes is that competitive edge to get us going!

Although we didn't place too high in the competition, I think it's safe to say that we all got some friendly reminders about things we can do to improve our overall health and well-being.  Even for us, who consider ourselves to be fairly health-conscious, we can admit that there are areas where we were definitely slacking.

I thought it might be nice to share with our readers the type of categories and activities that we tracked during this time period.  Although you don't have to score yourself with a point system, feel free to use these ideas to jumpstart your own personal Wellness Challenge.

 

 

RVPT = Quality Spine Care from Start to Finish

Not all physical therapy treatments are created equal.  Here is an "at-a-glance" look at our background and process:

• Utilization of Clinical Outcome Tools for Assessment
• Treatment-based Classification Systen for Spine Care
• Evidence-based Treatment Approach to Patient Care
• Use of Manual Therapy Including Thrust and Non-thrust Mobilization
• 3 Clinicians Board Certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
• 1 Clinician Board Certified in Sports Physical Therapy

• One Therapist from Start to Finish (Evaluation and Treatments)
• Conveniently Located on the North Side of Peoria and in Washington

We are passionate about continuing the growth of our profession, and how we can more effectively help our patients.  Here are some of the causes we are involved in, related to education:

• Collaborative research with Bradley University for low back pain and hip pain
• Collaborative research with St. Ambrose University on treatment-based classification ssytem for the cervical spine
• Evidence-based clinical updates sent to the referral community quarterly
• Low back pain pilot program with John Deere Medical Group, looking at improving outomes and reducing costs of care
• Partnership with St. Ambrose University for a Manual Orthopaedic Residency Program
  
• Pilot program with University of Iowa for a Post-graduate Extended Clinical Affiliation

Please contact either of our Peoria-area offices for more information on how we may be able to help your spine complaints:

Washington, IL // (309) 444-1030
Amy Johnson, PT, OCS
Kyle Cottone PT, DPT, OCS

Peoria, IL // (309) 243-1989
Luke Acklie, PT, OCS, SCS, CSCS
Rachael Mulch, PT, DPT
Kyle Cottone, PT, DPT, OCS

Snowday!!

After a huge let-down late last week, we did finally get some wintery mix headed our way throughout today!  We still were able to get quite a few patients in the door, and what better way to welcome them in - than our newest staff member and doorman? :-)

 We're glad some of you stayed home and stayed safe from the elements.  Hope you enjoyed curling up with some hot cocoa and and good book!  See you tomorrow!

 

International Pancake Day @ RVPT

How do food and physical therapy go together?  Well, they don't really... that is, unless you're at Rock Valley on a special occasion like this!  In honor of International Pancake Day, we served up a delicious breakfast all day long to our loyal patients.  Homemade buttermilk pancake batter, topped with your choice of fresh strawberries, blueberries, chocolate chips, and of course butter and maple syrup.  Yummmm!

And we even got the boys to sport these lovely aprons!!

Welcome Shannon!

Shannon has joined our Washington team to staff the front desk, and help welcome you to our facility.  She has worked in the medical community for over 12 years, in both a clinic and reception capacity.  Shannon resides in Pekin and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.  She also spends free time sewing and crafting beautiful gifts and trinkets.  Her warm smiling face is a wonderful addition to our clinic!

 

If you are in Peoria, you may also see her occasionally helping out in our office on Fridays.

Welcome Kyle!

Kyle received his Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Integrated Physiology from The University of Illinois in 2003. He received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from St. Ambrose University 2005 and completed a year-long Orthopedic Residency Program through St. Ambrose and Rock Valley in 2006. He became board certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy in 2008 and was a primary mentor for the orthopedic residency program through St Ambrose and Rock valley from 2008-2011. Kyle is a member of the Orthopedic section of the American Physical Therapy Association and a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy.

  
Kyle grew up in Normal Illinois and currently lives there with his wife and daughter. Kyle enjoys football, golf, and spending time with his family.  He will be serving the area by practicing 3 days per week in our Peoria office, and 2 days in Washington.