Category Archives: Pain Management
Physical Therapy and the Shoulder Joint Replacement: Returning to the highest level of function
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC Shoulder replacement surgeries have dramatically increased in number over the past few decades. There are nearly 53,000 shoulder replacement surgeries performed in the United States annually. Over the years there have been dramatic advances in this surgical procedure and rehabilitation allowing it to enjoy a success rate […]
Try Physical Therapy 1st: Pre-habilitation for Knee Joint Replacement Improves Outcomes and Saves Money
By John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has become the third most common inpatient surgery in the United States, with 750,000 yearly procedures projected to double in the next decade. (Sloan et al. 2018) There has been a marked increase in the utilization of TKA, estimated to be 600% by 2030. […]
Early Referral to Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain Reduces Cost, and Improves Outcomes
By John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC Low back pain (LBP) is a common and costly medical condition associated with significant physical pain, impaired function, and loss of productivity. LBP is the leading cause of disability in the US exceeding $100 billion per year in treatment, reduced productivity and lost wages. Approximately, 70 million adults […]
Try Physical Therapy FIRST – an Alternative to Opioids for Pain Relief
By John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC An estimated 100,000 Americans died of a drug overdose this year, a never-before-seen milestone according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021). Experts believe that the increase in deaths is due to the growing use of fentanyl, an opioid prescription drug that is typically used […]
Aquatic Therapy: An Alternative to Pain Medication
By John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC; Owner of Mishock Physical Therapy & Associates Aquatic therapy is well known for its amazing effects on decreasing pain, speeding recovery and improving function. Aquatic therapy, or pool therapy, consists of an exercise program that is performed in the water. The water provides buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure. The […]
Knee ACL and Lower Extremity Injuries: Can we prevent them in our young athletes? Part I
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC Lower extremity injuries make up 66% of all sports injuries, the knee being the most commonly injured joint. (Med Sci. Sports Exerc. 2002) The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments in the knee that holds the thigh and leg bones together. The ACL ligament […]
Try Physical Therapy First! – Direct Access Improves Outcomes and Saves Money
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC Studies show that seeing a physical therapist first through direct access can: improve musculoskeletal pain faster; reduce or remove the need for some types of musculoskeletal surgery; reduce opioid use; improve patient satisfaction; reduce expensive medical testing; and help patients get needed treatment faster. (Physical Therapy, 2017) […]
Physical Therapy: Exercise Therapy and Manual Therapy the Treatment of Choice for Osteoarthritis
By Dr. John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease of aging responsible for chronic disability among older adults with approximately 70 million (20% of the population) being affected currently in the United States alone. The prevalence of OA increases with age, especially in individuals over age 50 (40% having OA). […]
Lymphedema- You Don’t Have to Live with Chronic Swelling
By: Megan Repko, MPT & Melissa Bennett, MS, ATC; Mishock Physical Therapy & Associates One cause of chronic swelling could be lymphedema. This is a condition where swelling occurs in the extremities due to a compromised or damaged lymph system. Lymph is the fluid that bathes the cells […]