Happy Thanksgiving!
“Give Thanks To The Lord, For He Is Good!” Psalms 107
The Votes Are In 2014
Did you vote? “We the people have the power. Vote today.”, was the message we ran on our sign all day Tuesday. The process requires the public to exercise their Power. Time for a break from the process for a little while, but please be ready to Vote in 2016. It is not what the majority of Americans want that matters come election day. It is the majority of those that Vote that choose the direction for us all. VOTE!
12 Years and Still Going!!
It has now been 12 years since First Choice Physical Therapy opened it’s doors. Dr. Wade Rinehart started his own clinic because of his personal drive and high standards. Over the years the company has grown. We have two clinics in Bay County and have added more therapists and office staff to help us continue the mission. Our motto is, “Excellence Drives Us-Compassion Guides Us.” You can count on us to do our best for you. Your well being and health are first in our minds as we use the skills we have learned while earning our degrees and most importantly while treating of thousands of patients.Thank you for making First Choice Physical Therapy your first choice for your physical therapy needs.
To Your Health.
October is National Physical Therapy Month
Benefits of Physical Therapy
Doctors of Physical Therapy are experts in improving mobility and motion, and pain-free movement is crucial to your quality of daily life, your ability to earn a living, your ability to pursue your favorite leisure activities, and so much more.
Improve Mobility & Motion
Movement can help you prevent obesity, which may be responsible for at least 18% of US adult deaths. Meanwhile, recent studies suggest that prolonged sitting can be unhealthy, and that walking just a little bit more each day can help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Consistent movement is also vital to maintaining a healthy balance system, and that’s important because falls often lead to significant, costly injuries.
Doctors of Physical Therapy work with their patients and clients of all ages and abilities to expand, restore, and maintain motion.
Avoid Surgery and Prescription Drugs
Many people are referred to a Doctor of Physical Therapy in order to rehabilitate from a major medical trauma or surgery, but increasing research suggests that treatment by a physical therapist is often an equally effective – and cheaper – alternative to surgery and prescription drugs for numerous conditions ranging from back pain and degenerative disk disease to meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis.
Although direct access laws vary by state and insurance plans differ, anyone in the United States can arrange a screening by a physical therapist without a physician’s referral. Florida is a direct access state which means you can walk right into a Physical Therapist office to get the treatment you deserve fast. Through individualized treatment plans designed by physical therapists, patients can sometimes achieve the same results without the expense and side effects of surgery and prescription medication.
Participate In Your Recovery
Doctors of Physical Therapy routinely work collaboratively with their patients. Treatment plans can be designed for the patient’s individual goals, challenges, and needs. Receiving treatment by a physical therapist is rarely a passive activity, and participating in your own recovery can be empowering. In many cases, patients develop an ongoing relationship with their physical therapist to maintain optimum health and movement abilities across the lifespan.
(The Above Excerpt Was Modified and Taken From Move Forward by APAT http://www.moveforwardpt.com/Benefits)
To your Health,Dr. Wade Rinehart, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
First Choice Physical Therapy
Backpack Safety
School is back in session and backpacks are full. Kids are scrambling to get to class and parents are scrambling to make sure that they have all the right tools for a successful school year. Here are a few tips taken from the American Physical Therapy Associations website to help your student have less backpack induced back pain.
Wear both straps
Use of one strap causes one side of the body to bear the weight of the backpack. By wearing two shoulder straps, the weight of the backpack is better distributed.
Wear the backpack over the strongest mid-back muscles
Pay close attention to the way the backpack is positioned on the back. It should rest evenly in the middle of the back. Shoulder straps should be adjusted to allow the child to put on and take off the backpack without difficulty and allow free movement of the arms. Straps should not be too loose, and the backpack should not extend below the low back.
Lighten the load
Keep the load at 10-15% or less of the child’s bodyweight. Carry only those items that are required for the day. Organize the contents of the backpack by placing the heaviest items closest to the back. Some students have two sets of books so as not to have to carry the heavy books to and from school.
How Can our Doctors at First Choice Physical Therapy Help
A physical therapist can help you choose a proper backpack and fit it specifically to your child. Children come in all shapes and sizes, and some have physical limitations that require special adaptations.
Our Doctors of Physical Therapy can help improve posture problems, correct muscle imbalances, and treat pain that can result from improper backpack use. We can also design individualized fitness programs to help children get strong and stay strong—and carry their own loads!
For any injuries call 850-248-1600. Our Doctors of Physical Therapy can get you backpacking pain free.
Proverbs 22:6
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go,And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Gabby and her dad (Scott) spent some time helping out at the PC Rescue Missions Klothes for Kids last Saturday. Around 1000 kids from this county received 2 school uniforms, 2 play outfits and a pair of shoes.
Haiti Update
Emily Schmitt and I just returned from Haiti with encouraging news from the clinic and orphanage. The children that were rescued from a bad situation in February look healthy and happy. The facilities at the All My Heart Haiti orphanage are better than I imagined and the staff has done a wonderful job of providing structure and a loving environment for the children. We will continue to support this work and give these children every opportunity possible to succeed physically, spiritually and academically.
The clinic in Jacmel is thriving and the staff continues to grow in confidence and effectiveness. Many patients have been affected by the Chikungunya virus which presents with flu like symptoms with the addition of significant joint pain that moves around from joint to joint. We are also in the process of setting up infrastructure to develop tele-therapy in the Jacmel clinic. This would give us the opportunity to continue teaching and instructing clinicians in an interactive environment as well as being available for clinical advise/opinions.Thanks to all of our patients who have donated items for the orphanage and offered financial support!
Scott Champagne
Pain – No Pain. You choose.
Why do we have pain? A blonde goes into the doctor’s office and says, “Doctor I am in pain and need your help! “ The doctor responds and says, ”Show me where you hurt.” She commences to put her right finger on her left knee, her right hip and her head. The doctor replies, “I know what’s wrong with you…your finger is broken!”Although pain can be very unpleasant it serves a very valuable purpose to signal us when something is wrong. It forces us into taking care of our bodies as we go about our day. Think of pain as a check engine light on your car. It is telling you that you had better stop the vehicle and take an assessment of what is wrong. If you can’t really tell what is causing the problem then what do you do? You take your vehicle into the mechanic.
Doctors of Physical Therapy are like mechanics for the body. We have the awesome privilege to be able to work on the most advanced technology ever created by God…the human body. When you are in pain and can’t quite put your finger on it ? , then you need to call First Choice Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment. Our highly skilled, knowledgeable and caring Doctors of Physical Therapy will give you an honest opinion as to what the problem might be. Our specialties include Physical Therapy spinal manipulation, headaches, TMJ, all sports injuries, auto injuries and all orthopedic surgical rehabilitation to include total joint replacements for the ankles, knees, hips and shoulders.
C.S. Lewis stated it best when he said “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
To Your Health,
Wade M Rinehart PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Feeling Awesome!
We received another Thank You note the other day. It is just a few words on a sticky note. We appreciate the first sentence, but it is the second one that really makes our day. If you have a pain that you can’t shake, please call us!
Thank you for all ya’ll did!
Austin is feeling Awesome!!!
First Choice goes Germany
Over the past months the world’s most televised (yes more than the Olympics) sporting event, the FIFA Soccer World Cup has been watched by many Americans. Here at First Choice your Team of Physical Therapists and staff have followed the event closely, mainly because of one crazy German. In honor of the German national team winning the World Cup, we turned our Hawaiian shirt Friday into German soccer jersey Friday for this week!
We had a great time following the event but most of all we enjoyed how you, our patients got into it and had lots of fun with us. Only at First Choice can you experience first class therapy with lots of fun and laughter at the same time. Come join us next week for your therapy needs and make sure you’re ready for our weekly Hawaiian shirt Friday!!
Simon Haussmann, PTA
One Crazy German