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Weekend Doctor: Concussion

By Amanda Schroeder, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist, Julie A. Cole Rehab and Sports Medicine Clinic

"When can I play again?" This is a common question first asked by athletes after sustaining a head injury. Removal from the game and rest is recommended as the first line of defense, but how long do they actually need to rest? Recent research suggests that after an initial period of rest lasting 24 to 48 hours, progressive re-engagement in activity (instead of strict rest) can improve an athlete’s recovery. This minimizes the deconditioning that an athlete can experience while recovering and helps get them back in the game quicker. Not only does this concept apply to our sports athletes, but also our “everyday athletes” in the work field, classroom, etc.

Treating a concussion takes a team approach. It can involve a physician, physical therapist (PT), occupational therapist (OT) and speech language pathologist (SLP), as well as other healthcare professionals. Under PT, OT and SLP, a comprehensive examination is performed to determine prescription-based daily and sport activity in response to the level of irritability of one’s symptoms. 

Every Season: COVID-19, Flu, RSV

By Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 1959, Pete Seeger wrote the lyrics to Turn! Turn! Turn! referred to as To Everything There is a Season. The song is based on the first eight verses of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. The song was first released by the Limeliters, but became a hit when the Byrds released it. The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 4, 1965. 

Don Henley inducted the Byrds into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. The band performed another one of their hits, Mr. Tambourine Man for the ceremony. One of the more famous original members was David Crosby who played guitar and provided vocals. He later was a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash. The music world lost this icon in January, 2023.  

Speaking of seasons and turning–we are heading into flu and RSV season. COVID-19 does not seem to have a distinct season especially with the recent uptick in hospitalized cases. It is difficult to get accurate numbers since routine testing and reporting is not being recorded for cases, so hospital visits are our best indicator of COVID-19 spread. 

Weekend Doctor: Coping with symptomatic arthritis

By Matthew Nienberg, PA-C
Physician Assistant, Blanchard Valley Pain Management

Do you have achy hips, a stiff neck, back pain or swollen knees? If any of these things sound familiar to you, you could be one of the millions of people in the U.S. who have symptomatic arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 58.5 million people have been diagnosed by a healthcare provider with some form of arthritis.  

In 2016, 25.7 million people, or about 44% of people with diagnosed arthritis, reported activity limitations due to the arthritis. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of work-related disability.

Creativity: Impact on health

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Maya Angelou was an American poet, writer, and civil rights activist. She is famous for over 50 publications including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She was part of the inauguration of President Bill Clinton on January 20, 1983 when she recited her poem On the Pulse of the Morning. 

Weekend Doctor: Exercise after breast cancer treatments

By Emilee Shoemaker, MOT, OTR/L, CLT-LANA 
Occupational Therapist, Julie A. Cole Rehab and Sports Medicine Clinic

After a patient has been through the rigorous diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, sometimes they are looking forward to returning to their typical physical activity or workout routine. Their medical support team has usually educated them on the signs and symptoms of lymphedema, but the patients are still not sure how to return to their daily activities and workout routine safely. 

It is important for individuals recovering from breast cancer, with or without lymphedema, to return to their physical fitness level, as well as return to their desired quality of life. The National Lymphedema Network (NLN) has guidelines to follow when starting and maintaining an exercise regimen. 

General guidelines to follow include increasing your workouts gradually, progressing them slowly, and monitoring the size of your “at risk” limb during and following your exercises. If you have been diagnosed with lymphedema and have been prescribed a compression garment for the affected limb, please wear it while you are exercising. Stay well hydrated and avoid becoming overheated. 

Take My Breath Away: An RSV vaccine update

By Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Take My Breath Away was the love ballad written for the 1986 movie Top Gun.  The song was performed by the Berlin.  The song won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for the best original song.  

Some Top Gun fans wondered why the song did not make the soundtrack for the 2022 Top Gun: Maverick release.  The music producer gave a logical explanation as to why it was not repeated.  In the movie, Maverick has a new love interest so the song would not fit.  

RSV or respiratory syncytial virus can take your breath away.  

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