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Physical and occupational therapy are effective solutions to help with many aspects of our health and wellness. These disciplines aim to improve day-to-day function and quality of life. These therapeutic interventions are performed by licensed and registered physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) in the home environment. If your loved ones are experiencing pain, injury or decline in function, they may greatly benefit from working with a physical therapist or occupational therapist. In addition, we have an exceptional team of therapists who would love to help you and your loved ones reach their goals. CareAparent was named the Star Tribune readers choice Minnesotas Best 2022 bronze winner in physical therapy. Physical therapy is provided by physical therapists examine each person and then develops a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability. Find out more about what physical therapists do. Here are some reasons why your loved ones may benefit from physical therapy services performed in their homes: Balance improvement: A physical therapist can help with fall prevention and provide skilled instruction and education in balance exercises. Strength training: Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for strengthening, and these exercises can be individualized for your loved ones to perform at home. Pain reduction: A qualified physical therapist delivers techniques to decrease pain that are very effective and can help improve your loved ones quality of life. Endurance training: Energy conservation techniques and other exercises can help with your loved ones ability to efficiently perform daily tasks and activities of daily living. Occupational therapists help patients by looking at how you are currently doing a painful activity or task, and coming up with a plan to help make performing that activity less painful. Learn more about what occupational therapists do here.  There are numerous reasons your loved ones may benefit from working with an occupational therapist. Here are a few examples: Improvement with self-care tasks: An occupational therapist can help your loved ones with tasks related to self-care such as bathing and getting dressed in the morning. Memory and cognitive skills: Occupational therapy may assist with improvement in sequencing and learning certain tasks. Home safety: An occupational therapist can assess, educate and guide your loved ones in improvement of their home environment so that they are in the safest environment possible to adapt with aging in place. Both physical and occupational therapy services are beneficial in helping your loved ones reach their goals. Our skilled and compassionate professionals work with clients so they can live effectively and safely in their homes.   For more information please contact us at www.careaparent.com or call 651-702-4663.  

Back pain can have many causes, and many times, back pain will resolve itself in two to four weeks with rest, ice and heat. In fact, 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives, making back pain one of the most common reasons people visit back pain clinics or miss work.  Back pain that lasts longer than a few weeks is not normal.Causes of Back PainMuscle Strains-Did you know that muscle-related pain is one of the most common reasons for overall back pain? It is true. Muscle related pain can be caused by improper lifting techniques, overuse, poor posture or a sudden awkward movement or fall.Spinal or Disc Problems-Bulging or Herniated Discs: Spinal discs are soft cushions between vertebra. Sometimes, the soft jelly-like substance inside the disc can bulge out of place or rupture, putting pressure on the surrounding nerves causing back pain. Disc related back pain can be caused by an injury. Interestingly, some people who have bulging or herniated discs will never experience any back pain.Sciatica-Sciatica refers to pain that stems from the sciatic nerve, a large nerve extending from the lower back down the back of each leg. Sciatica is not a disorder, but a symptom of another underlying problem, such as spinal stenosis, a pinched/irritated nerve in the lower back or a herniated disc.Other Painful Conditions-If you have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, compression fractures, arthritis or osteoporosis you may also experience pain in the back. These back pain conditions can be treated with conservative, minimally invasiveRisk Factors for Back Pain-There are a few factors that can increase your risk of developing back pain, such as: smoking, obesity, age, physical labor, sedentary work and depression.Diagnostic Testing-To help determine the cause of your back pain, there are several diagnostic tests that can be performed by a back pain doctor or back pain specialist. These may include Xrays, MRI, CT Scan and an Electromyography (EMG). An X-ray shows the alignment of the bones in your spine and whether you have any broken or arthritic bones that may be causing back pain. MRI and CT Scan tests show images of bone, muscle, tissue, nerves, blood vessels, tendons and ligaments. These tests can show disc herniation, muscle tears, ligament problems and can help your clinic doctor or back pain specialist understand your back pain. Electromyography (EMG) is a test used to study nerve and muscle function.Back Pain Treatment Options-At Nura, our clinic doctors and back pain specialists value the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. There are a number of treatment options that help reduce back pain, which include:Physical TherapyEpidural Steroid InjectionDiscographyFacet Joint InjectionTrigger Point InjectionRadiofrequency AblationSacroiliac Joint InjectionIntracept Proceduremild Procedure (Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression)Minuteman Procedure (Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion)Preparing for Your Doctor Appointment-Before your back pain appointment with your clinic doctor or back pain clinic specialist, take note of some important facts.Is your back pain the result of an injury?What movements increase or decrease your back pain?What are the symptoms you have been feeling?How long have you had this back pain?What does your back pain feel like? Dull, aching, stabbing or shooting?What type of work do you do?What treatments or medications have you already tried to resolve your back pain?Call Nura Pain Clinics for further information at 763-537-6000 or visit www.nuraclinics.com

It can be difficult to know if your parent or loved one needs to visit a senior rehab center. However, when an aging loved one needs extra help with their recovery it is one of the options to consider. Senior rehab centers cater to your aging loved ones unique medical needs and will help to speed up their recovery. In turn, this saves you and them precious time and helps them have the best opportunity for regaining their health and independence.There are a variety of factors that can contribute to the decision for your senior parent to go to a senior rehab center, like the one at Grace Pointe. Below we will review common reasons for senior rehab center care, what it looks like, and the reasons why Grace Pointe Senior Rehab Center is a great choice for you and your family.What Is Senior Rehab Care?Senior rehab care must be ordered by a hospital physician or their primary care provider for a patient who requires extra support and supervision during their recovery. It can be an option for a  patient who has not returned to their baseline following an injury, illness, or surgical procedure. All rehab care services are designed to help seniors recovering from an injury or a variety of serious medical events. Some examples of care services provided in a senior rehab center include occupational therapy, wound care, intravenous (IV) therapies, and physical therapy. Physical therapy is a service often provided in a senior rehab center to help seniors gain back mobility, balance, and flexibility, or even to manage pain on the road to full or partial recovery. The important thing to remember about rehabilitation centers for seniors is that it is usually a type of temporary, short-term care for patients. The sole purpose in most cases of senior rehab care is to regain back as much strength to go back to where and how they were living prior to the accident or incident, if possible.Top Reasons for Senior RehabThere are a lot of reasons why your aging loved ones physician may recommend rehab services. The top conditions for a post-hospitalization stay include:Broken Hips or FracturesJoint Injuries or ReplacementAneurysmParkinsons DiseaseNeurological ConditionsStrokeHeart AttackArthritisOsteoporosisBrain InjuryTumor/CancerMultiple SclerosisLimited MobilityFrequent FallsAmputationSwallowing IssuesPneumoniaDoes My Parent Need A Senior Rehab Center?Choosing the proper care plan for your senior parent after an accident or medical happening can be challenging. A lot of times the same short-term care services, like senior rehab, are connected to the long-term care facilities they might need now or in the future, so choosing the right location is pivotal. What can help make this decision easier is understanding your senior parents day-to-day abilities and activities. This can help you and the hospital team determine if they do or do not need senior rehab services to help them return to their lives and speed up their recovery. If they cannot carry on with their daily activities and habits, a senior rehab center is a great option for recovery.The Grace Pointe Senior Rehab Center ExperienceAt Grace Pointe, we are committed to giving seniors somewhere to recover post-surgery or after having a major illness that is both comfortable, caring, and private. Grace Pointe has 26 studios dedicated to post-hospital, short-term rehab. Our Senior Rehab Center experience provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies provided in an elegant, home-like setting.Learn more about our Senior Rehab services by clicking here. And explore all of our Care Services and how they can help assist you and your aging parents in the Greeley area today!