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Posts from the ‘Physical Therapy’ Category

Aug 6

Wisconsin travel therapy jobs hit the spot

For the adventurous travel therapist, a 13-week assignment in Wisconsin offers a state full of varied and interesting sites. From romantic cabins with cliff-side seclusion to sandy beaches to urban hot spots with exciting nightlife, Wisconsin offers a full range of fun activities and beautiful scenery, to boot.

Physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and speech-language pathologists are high-demand positions in Wisconsin right now. Three of the hottest areas for these jobs are Marshfield, Richland Center and Niagara. These opportunities include completion bonuses, sometimes up to $5,000, and many 360 Healthcare Staffing employees enjoy their Wisconsin experience so much that they “re-book” and stay for two or three more rotations.

360 Healthcare Staffing also offers temporary-to-permanent placements in Wisconsin, giving each employee an opportunity to “try out” a location before committing to a permanent placement.

So let’s take a closer look at this state and what makes it great.

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Aug 6

Freedom through Functionality helps older adults stay healthy and fit

I was recently reading about the benefits of exercise. I know it’s a good idea, but I am always impressed by just how much evidence exists in support of both aerobic and strengthening exercise, particularly for people over 65.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older people of all ages and physical conditions can benefit from exercise and from staying physically active. It gives them the freedom and independence that allows them to live a full and active life.

Though we all know how important it is to stay active, it is equally important to exercise safely. Did you know that one out of three adults age 65 and older fall each year? One of Aegis Therapies core programs, Freedom Through Functionality (FTF), is modeled on clinical evidence and research about strength building. It is a highly effective way to increase an older person’s mobility, independence and alleviate his or her risk of falls.

Freedom Through Functionality is a unique machine-based strength-building program for seniors and includes Nautilus equipment modified specifically for the senior population, exercise programs developed by experts in geriatric rehabilitation and the clinical expertise to produce desired results.

The Nautilus equipment has comfortable seats and pads for postural support, controlled range of motion, enclosed weights and smaller weight increments to ensure that no matter what a person’s age or physical condition may be, they can exercise safely and to their physical potential. The program is monitored by trained personnel who work with individuals and make sure that they perform the exercises correctly.

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Aug 1

Ten ways to manage stress as a travel therapist

For physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, helping others is a way of life. Day in and day out, these professionals provide compassionate, quality care with dozens of patients on a one-on-one basis. But caring for others can make them vulnerable to depletion, stress and fatigue. So how do these helpers help themselves?

Learning to manage the pressure is key because if they don’t keep themselves strong and in balance, they are not able to be there others. In fact, if therapists are stressed and don’t have a good outlet for that stress, they can potentially put their patients at risk. This is because people are more error-prone when they’re stressed, burned out, fatigued or ill.

Here are ten sure-fire ways to cope effectively with stress:

1. Exercise. This earns a top spot on the list because it’s such a powerful tool for reducing stress and increasing a sense of well-being. Study after study points out this fact. And you don’t have to run a marathon to reap the benefits—moderate, regular exercise is sufficient, from walking and yoga to gardening and swimming.

2. Keep a gratitude journal. Counting life’s blessings is an ancient practice. Almost 2,000 years ago, Roman poet Ovid said, “Thanks are justly due for boons unbought.” So buy yourself a small journal at your local bookstore, put it in your purse or bag and start keeping track of the wonderful things in your life. Do it every day and don’t repeat yourself. You’ll discover all manner of big and small things that make your heart grateful. Plus, this journal is a comfort when you’re feeling down—it’s a reminder that even in tough times, you are luckier than you think.

3. Identify stressors. The same things don’t stress everybody out. So know your stressors, acknowledge those triggers and develop a plan to deal with them. Some events are out of your control and require acceptance. Others respond to action.

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Jul 25

The Golden State offers golden opportunities for travel therapists

For occupational therapists and physical therapists, travel therapy in California is an exciting proposition. These are hot positions in high demand, particularly in the Fresno, Merced, Madera, Sanger, Bakersfield and Shafter areas, fantastic locations between Los Angeles and the Bay area.

These locations often offer completion bonuses, sometimes up to $15,000, after a 13-week assignment. Pay is quite competitive, and at 360 Healthcare Staffing, we also offer temporary-to-permanent placements in California. Essentially, it is a 13-week “try out” for an assignment before committing to a permanent position.

Here’s more about these cities with positions in high demand:

Fresno: This is the largest metropolitan city in Central California’s San Joaquin Valley with half a million people, and Fresno County is the top agricultural producer in the nation. The area has gorgeous weather year-round and, like the other cities listed here, easy access to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon national parks.

From the Fresno Art Museum to the Philharmonic, the arts calendar is full. The city attracts world-renown headline entertainers from Andrea Bocelli to Bon Jovi. And, it’s pedestrian-friendly: A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Fresno the 26th most walkable of the fifty largest U.S. cities.

Merced: With more than 80,000 people, Merced is located in the Central Valley of California, about 110 miles southeast of San Francisco and 310 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The city offers a wide variety of attractions, historical sites, shopping and dining opportunities for the traveling therapist. The city is particularly proud of its arts and culture, from galleries at their Multicultural Center to live performances at Playhouse Merced. Be sure to check out the Big Valley Arts & Culture Festival, Central Valley Blues Festival and MERCO Cycling Classic.

Madera: Also located in the picturesque San Joaquin Valley, Madera has more than 61,000 residents and draws visitors from around the world. The area has a colorful history and heritage reflected in events like the Sierra Arts Trail, Coarsegold Peddlers Fair, Indian Fair Days and Madera Wine Trail Weekends.

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Jul 24

Peripheral neuropathy helped by physical therapy

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., with almost 24 million estimated to have the disease and more being diagnosed each year. Physical therapy can help with one of the common complications of this disease, peripheral neuropathy, by helping diabetics maintain strength, mobility, and function.

Peripheral nerves carry signals to and from the brain and to and from the spinal cord to the rest of the body. A person with peripheral neuropathy has nerves that aren’t working properly. Close to 60 percent of diabetics will develop some degree of nerve damage. At particular risk are diabetics whose blood sugar is poorly controlled. This can cause pain, as well as balance problems or difficulty with walking.

Symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy are dependent on which nerves are affected. Many times, symptoms are slight at first, growing worse over months or years as nerve damage occurs. Commonly, people report numbness, tingling or pain in the feet. Some people, however, may have sudden and severe onset of symptoms.
Diabetic neuropathy symptoms include:

• Numbness, tingling, weakness or pain in the toes, feet, legs, hands, arms, and fingers

• Wasting of the muscles of the feet or hands

• Decreased endurance

• Limited range of motion

• Increased nerve sensitivity

• Dizziness or faintness due to a drop in blood pressure after standing or sitting up

• Abnormal gait when you walk

• Trouble keeping your balance

• Joints that are stiff or contracted

Physical therapy can help with these symptoms and others.

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Jul 11

Physical therapy helps Parkinson’s symptoms

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system. Over time, it affects a person’s movement, often causing tremors and stiffness or slowing of movement. Parkinson’s disease is progressive, meaning that symptoms worsen as the condition progresses over time. There is no cure, but physical therapy can help with symptoms like tightness, pain and weakness, particularly in the muscles and joints.

Physical therapy can help people with Parkinson’s disease compensate for the changes brought about by the condition. These “compensatory treatments,” as they’re called, have the goal of improving a patient’s independence and quality of life by improving movement and function and relieving pain. They include learning different movement styles, strategies and equipment, as well as learning exercises to strengthen and loosen affected muscles.

Physical therapy can help Parkinson’s patients with:

• Balance problems

• Lack of coordination

• Fatigue

• Pain

• Gait

• Immobility

• Weakness

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Jul 6

Feedback from travel therapists essential for improved experiences

When you accept a travel therapy position with 360 Healthcare Staffing, we value your experience and feedback. Throughout your assignment, we will stay in regular contact with you to assist with your transition and gauge any needs you may have in your new position. This blog reviews the information we request from you and how we use it to better your travel experience with 360.

Your feedback helps 360 when you tell us:

• How can we help make travel experience better

• Specific types of situations that were positive and negative on assignment

• Feedback for the 360 internal staff on our performance

• What you would like to be different on your next assignment

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Jul 5

Exercise can prevent, treat lymphedema in cancer patients

For a portion of people with cancer or in remission, lymphedema is a bothersome reality. This is a symptom in which a body part or an extremity swells and can be mild or extreme. This can happen when the lymphatic system can’t maintain a proper balance of proteins and fluid in the affected area.

Early treatment is essential for cancer-related lymphedema because it can become a lifelong condition. Those who receive physical therapy tend to have fewer symptoms including infections, pain, and swelling. In fact, physical therapists can help reduce the risk of a patient developing lymphedema after lymph node removal or radiation through a unique approach.

First, physical therapists can help patients maintain a healthy body weight or achieve a healthy body mass index through an exercise program. This is important because a risk factor for lymphedema after cancer treatment is weight gain or an above-desirable body mass index.

Second, a physical therapist looks at how the patient can maintain normal joint range of motion, skin mobility, and flexibility. This is essential because the lymphatic system relies on movement and muscle contraction to transport fluids around the body. This means that using a physical therapist for manual therapy and scar mobilization can help keep the soft tissues in top shape after surgery or radiation. This is true even if these tissues have been shortened or thickened, or have developed fibrosis during cancer treatment.

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Jun 20

Sunshine and fun: travel therapy in Florida

For occupational and physical therapists interested in fun in the sun, Florida is hot, hot, hot. The Sunshine State is one of only nine U.S. states that doesn’t charge a state income tax, and it has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, about 1,350 miles of sandy beaches and sunshine. Sounds like paradise for your occupational therapy or physical therapy practice.

From the whooping crane to the West Indian manatee, Florida offers exciting wildlife, too. Florida is the fourth most populous and the eighth most densely populated of the 50 states. The state capital is Tallahassee, the largest city is Jacksonville and the Miami metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern U.S.

See all of this during a 13-week assignment in one of our in-demand areas. These include:

  • Fort Myers
  • Tampa Bay: including all of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties
  • Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice
  • Springhill/Brooksville
  • Central Florida: especially Winter Haven, Eustis and Titusville

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Jun 19

Physical therapy helps osteoporosis after a fall

Every year in the U.S., there are about 1.5 million osteoporosis-related fractures—many people may not even know they have the disease until a fracture occurs. It can be a difficult experience, both in terms of physical recovery and emotionally coping with the fear of future movement that could cause another fracture.

Physical therapists can help with both areas of recovery. Physical recovery measures depend on the kind of fracture, the severity of the fracture and whether surgery will be needed. Physical therapists have the tools to assist the patient in regaining movement and function to live life more fully.

To cope with the emotional aspect, physical therapists can help patients identify safe ways to move so that they don’t have to be in fear of day-to-day activities and can feel confident about their abilities.

The most common osteoporosis-related fractures happen to the wrist, spine and hipbones. Wrist or forearm fractures tend to happen more in people in their 50s and 60s. Spine fractures tend to happen in older patients. Hip fractures are the most complex because they often require the most care such as hospitalization, surgery and rehab. Many fractures necessitate a stay at a short-term care facility, like a Golden LivingCenter. Most fractures can be helped through physical therapy.

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