National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2012 is “It’s Your Time.” National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages women to take the following steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases:

• Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings.
• Get active.
• Eat healthy.
• Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
• Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet.

In observation of National Women’s Health Week, the American Physical Therapy Association in combination with the Section on Women’s Health has created a wonderful resource: Women’s Health Across the Lifespan.  This eBook is intended to provide insight into some of the many conditions common to women and the many ways in which a Women’s Health Physical Therapist can help to treat them. There are some conditions that women may be hesitant to discuss with their healthcare providers. The good news is that conditions such as incontinence, pelvic pain, lymphedema, those that occur during pregnancy and following birth, and others, can all be treated by a physical therapist, often with solutions that do not involve surgery or long-term use of prescription medications.

Here at Legacy Physical Therapy, we hope that you take this call to action to heart and take charge of your health. If you are dealing with any of the conditions discussed in Women’s Health Across the Lifespan, we hope that you contact us at 636-225-3649 to set up your FREE screening to see how physical therapy can help.

HAPPY NATIONAL WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK!

IT’S YOUR TIME!

To break yourself of this habit, before you JIC trying asking yourself “Do I really have the urge to go to the bathroom now or am I going because it is convenient?” If the answer is the latter then do not go to the bathroom. Instead wait until you feel an urge to urinate.

Working with a pelvic physical therapist can be a great way to help you break this bad habit and retrain your bladder if you have already developed symptoms of urgency, frequency, or leakage. Check out Legacy Physical Therapy for information on how physical therapy can help and call us today for your FREE screening 636-225-3649.

Please consider the following important issues impacting private practice physical therapy clinics such as ours. After reading this I hope that you will take action and contact your state senator and representative on our behalf so that we can continue to provide you with the top-notch care you have come to expect from Legacy Physical Therapy

Health Insurance Companies set up financial contracts with all healthcare providers in order to establish operating and reimbursement standards. These contracts are solely based on the bargaining power of the healthcare provider and the needs of the insurance company. These contracts have no relation to the quality of service provided by the hospital or clinic.

Over the last 20 years, large hospital systems have been given more favorable contracts than private practice clinics, especially in the field of physical therapy. Based purely on the size of the organization, insurance companies would be more willing to listen to the needs of the healthcare provider. More often than not, the needs of large hospital systems were taken into consideration because of the number of providers and services the system provided.

Conversely, the needs of private practice clinics and their owners are rarely taken into consideration when contracting reimbursement rates and patient co-pays. Without the benefit of having hundreds of providers and a multitude of services, private practice clinic owners are unable to negotiate for the basic needs just to maintain operations. Requests for reviews and appeals to the insurance companies routinely fall on deaf ears. Health Insurance companies are impeding Fair Trade Competition by deliberately paying large hospital systems more than private practice clinics for the same services.

Thus, we are taking our fight to the state legislature.  We are fighting for fair pay and fair patient co pay amounts.  The insurance industry routinely discriminates against small businesses by paying hospitals as much as 100% more than they reimburse for the same services we provide.  I’m asking that you please contact your state senator and representative and respectfully request their support by co-sponsoring the bills that are at the bottom of this post.  If you do not know your state representative or senator you may look them up at www.house.mo.gov and www.senate.mo.gov in the “Legislature Look-up” but a 4 digit zip code extension is needed.  Your 4 digit zip code extension can be found at zip4.usps.com/zip4.  For quick reference for Kirkwood patients:

Rep Dwight Scharnhorst (district 093) represents the Kirkwood area – 573-751-4392
Senator Eric Schmitt (distircit 015) represents the Kirkwood area – (573) 751-2853

Thank you for your help!

Brooke Kalisiak and the staff of Legacy Physical Therapy

After finding out your specific State Senator and Representative, please email, send a letter in the mail, or call to ask for their support on the following bills that are active in the 2012 Missouri Legislative Session (January thru Mid May):

Senate Bills:

Senate Bill 644, Sponsored by Senator Kurt Schaefer: Requires health carriers to reimburse a physical therapist in the same amounts as paid to a licensed physical therapist for rendering the same services regardless of the setting or venue. (Equal Pay for Equal Services Bill)

Senate Bill 687, Sponsored by Senator Eric Schmitt: Limits the copayment, coinsurance, or deductible imposed by a health insurer for physical therapy services by a licensed physical therapist to that for services provided by a primary care physician or osteopath. (Fair Co Pay Bill)

House Bills:

House Bill 1355, Sponsored by Rep. Donna Lichtenegger: Requires health carriers to reimburse a physical therapist in the same amounts as paid to a licensed physical therapist for rendering the same services regardless of the setting or venue. (Equal Pay for Equal Services Bill)
House Bill 1134, Sponsored by Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst: Limits the copayment, coinsurance, or deductible imposed by a health insurer for physical therapy services by a licensed physical therapist to that for services provided by a primary care physician or osteopath. (Fair Co Pay Bill)

YES   NO   Are you using the bathroom so often it disrupts your day?

YES   NO   Do you find yourself making a mental note of where all the bathrooms are when you enter a building?

YES   NO   Do you find it hard to make it to the bathroom, maybe even having accidents sometimes?

YES   NO   Are you using pads or other forms of protection to absorb bladder leakage?

YES   NO   Are you worried that you will leak with sneezing, coughing, lifting heavy objects, laughing, exercising?

YES   NO   Have tampons become too uncomfortable to use or do they fall out?

YES   NO   Are you experiencing pressure or bulging in your vagina, especially after you stand for long periods of time?

YES   NO   Has your urine stream become weak or turned into spray?

If you answered YES to one or more of these questions, consider talking to your physician about your symptoms and available treatment options. To learn more about physical therapy as a treatment option for bladder control issues visit the Legacy Physical Therapy website or call us at 636-225-3649 to set up your free screening appointment.

It is not too late to sign up for either sessions. Interested participants who did not sign up ahead of time can pay $12/session. We ask that you call ahead of time at 636-225-3649 to speak to Brooke as space is limited and available on a first come first serve basis.

Urine leakage when you laugh is a type of stress incontinence, which typically is a result of weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. An individualized program to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles may be all you need to be leakage free. Pelvic floor physical therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for stress incontinence.

If you leak when you laugh and are sick of being told “it is normal, just live with it,” then give Legacy Physical Therapy a call to set up your first appointment today. 636-225-3649.

Legacy Physical Therapy is excited to help Circle of Concern share the spirit of Thanksgiving with struggling local families. We hope that you can help by donating canned goods and other non-perishable food items to help fill Thanksgiving baskets for local families in need.Items are welcome any time up until November 17th at Legacy Physical Therapy.

Each month Circle feeds over 1,800 individuals and provides financial assistance to families on a case-by-case basis. Families come to Circle Of Concern once a month and receive a 7-10 day supply of fresh food. A food order consists of fresh produce, milk, eggs, frozen meats, canned goods and personal care items. The food Circle Of Concern shares is food collected for them or bought with the money donated to Circle Of Concern. Their goal is that each food order helps the family save money at the grocery store so they can put their income toward their utilities and housing.

To entice you to donate even more, Everyone who brings in a non-perishable food item to Legacy Physical Therapy before November 17th will be entered to win a FREE 60 minute massage with Life in Balance Massage here at Legacy Physical Therapy. Donated food will be picked up on Thursday, November 17th and the Thanksgiving Baskets will be given to families on Saturday November 19th.

Especially needed items:

Canned Meat          Canned Pasta             Canned Pumpkin
Canned Tuna          Canned Fruit              Gravy & Broth
Stuffing Mix            Tomato Products       Breakfast Cereals

I DID IT!!!!

On Sunday October 23, 2011, I completed my first half marathon. I did not end up running it like I originally planned, but instead I walked the whole thing with my mom! We finished in just over 3 hours.

From Left to Right: Brooke Kalisiak, Laura Lockwood, Roger Kalisiak, Matt Kalisiak, Omayra Marrero

In the process of training for the race, my husband, Matt, and I successfully convinced his father, Roger, my mother, Laura, and my best friend, Omayra to come into town and run/walk the half as well. It was fun to have a group there, even though we all finished at different times.I am definitely feeling the effects of the race on my legs and probably still will for the next few days, but for the most part I am doing well post-race.

I would try a half marathon again, but I still have no desire to do a full. Who knows, maybe next year I will try to do the half in a sub – 3 hour time! That might require me doing some running though! In the meantime, I will keep up with my walking and maybe sign up for some shorter distance races!! The main idea is to STAY ACTIVE!!!

Do you know who your physical therapist is? When asked, people can usually name their doctor, dentist, podiatrist, or OBGYN, but they may be hard-pressed to name their physical therapist. We want to take this opportunity to educate you on how physical therapy can be an important part of your healthcare team and why you should get to know your physical therapist!

Did you know that physical therapists can help with:

• Recovery from a sports injury
• Balance problems
• Osteoporosis
• Pregnancy- related pains
• Common aches and pains of muscles and joints
• Urinary/fecal incontinence
• Constipation
• Spine problems
• Recovery from a stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury
• Pediatric developmental issues
• Running and overuse injuries
• Cardiopulmonary problems
• Work related injuries/ Work station ergonomics
• Post surgical recovery
• Pre & Post Mastectomy Issues
• Lymphedema

You are the most important member of your own health care team, and you are entitled to choose the most appropriate health care professional to meet your goals. The role of a physical therapists is to improve and restore motion to your life. As you make the important decisions about health care for you or your family, it is important to remember that physical therapists:

• Significantly improve mobility to perform daily activities;
• Provide an alternative to painful and expensive surgery, in many cases;
• Manage or eliminate pain without medication and its side effects, in many cases.

When it comes to health care, one size does not fit all. A physical therapist’s extensive education, clinical expertise, and “hands on” approach brings you a unique, individualized approach. When you are in the hands of a physical therapist, you have a plan of care that is safe and appropriate and addresses your individual needs and pre-existing conditions.

Freedom of Choice
You have the freedom to choose your own physical therapist. Most states allow you to go directly to a physical therapist without getting a physician’s referral first. In Missouri a physical therapist can evaluate you without a physician referral, but a referral is necessary for treatment. Keep in mind that your insurance policy may require a visit to the primary care physician first or may limit your access to preferred providers only so it is best to check with your insurance plan ahead of time.

You physician may make recommendations of where to go for physical therapy, but you as the consumer HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU GO. You are not obligated to receive physical therapy in any specific facility and you want to find one that best fits your needs.

How to Choose a Physical Therapist
Make sure that you receive physical therapy from a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapists are professional health care providers who are licensed by the state in which they practice. When choosing a physical therapist you want to ask if the clinicians  specialize in working with your specific condition. Not all physical therapists work with all types of conditions For example, if you were seeking treatment for your urinary incontinence it would be important to ask if the facility had therapists that specialize in pelvic rehabilitation or bladder problems.

Ask the physical therapist’s clinic if it participates with your insurance company. Receiving care from a participating physical therapist should minimize your financial responsibility. There may be good reasons, however, to see a physical therapist who does not participate with your insurance plan. If you need a physical therapist who has special skills related to your particular condition-or if the location or other aspects of the care or the facility meet your needs-this may be a good choice for you.

Ask whether the physical therapist’s clinic will submit claims on your behalf to your insurance company. Some policies require copayments for services, and the amount of the copayment will depend on whether the physical therapist is part of the insurer’s provider network. You also will have to meet your deductible. Your physical therapist’s clinic should be able to help you calculate an estimate of your financial responsibilities.

Your Appointment
Your first visit should include an evaluation by the physical therapist. Your physical therapist will perform an examination to identify current and potential problems. Based on the results of the examination, and considering your specific goals, your physical therapist will design a plan of care to include specific interventions and will propose a timetable to achieve these goals and optimize your movement and function. Your physical therapist will likely provide you with instructions to perform exercises at home to facilitate your recovery.

You should feel comfortable asking your physical therapist any questions regarding your course of care, including specifics regarding interventions and expectations. You physical therapist should be a partner in your healthcare goals!

We at Legacy Physical Therapy look forward to a chance to partner with you in your healthcare. Call us any time to schedule your FREE screening/consultation to see if physical therapy is right for you! 636-225-3649

These past 5 weeks I have been trying to keep up with a training schedule for a 5K race, so that when it comes time to start the training for the half marathon at the beginning of August, I am in decent enough shape to do so. In this training program I am supposed to be running at least 3 days a week. I have to say that I am not succeeding at this too well. I am lucky if I get in 2 times per week.

It took me until now to make the connection, but now it is pretty obvious to me that my poor running and update frequency are linked! From now on I am going to use this link to help hold me accountable. Starting today, I will post weekly what I did in my training program, as well as give updates on how the running and attempt at weight loss are going. What better way to be held accountable than to openly post about your progress and get your friends and supporters involved. SO HERE GOES…

WEEK 5 Training
2 2.5 mile runs completed, both on the treadmill, which is not my favorite at all. I still have to do a run/walk combination, but that is getting better.

WEEK 5 Body Stats
Weight: 230 lbs    Height 6’2″
Biceps 15″     Bust 44″     Waist 41″     Hip 48″     Thigh 29″

I am not going to post body stats every week, but I wanted to get these measurements down and out there so that I knew there was no turning back.

I hope you will join me in your own personal fitness challenge and we can motivate each other together!!