FMS identifies seven fundamental movement patterns BEFORE the onset of pain or injury. Excel Therapy physical therapists are FMS certified and able to identify areas of weakness, imbalances, decreased flexibility and motor control deficits for your individual areas of need. Now, you can develop a greater sense of awareness of the way your body moves, make a conscious effort to correct your imbalances and improve benefits from your training. Should you become injured, FMS is a great tool for assessing readiness to return to a sport or activity. You have nothing to lose, yet everything to gain. Call now to schedule your Functional Movement Screening!

— Matthew Hathaway, MPT

It’s a start of a new year and school is back in session! This means the kids are all stuck in a warm classrooms, locker rooms, and on the court. Unfortunately, while sharing ideas and activities, they are also sharing the germs they have collected from all of the holiday gatherings and travel. As an Athletic Trainer working with high school students I get asked all the time, “should my son/daughter go to school”? Symptom by symptom, here are some guidelines to help you decide whether your child should stay home from school:

Fever: If your child’s temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, keep them at home. While at home, encourage your child to drink plenty of liquids. Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours (without medicine) before returning to school.

Mild Cough/Runny Nose: If there’s no fever, and the child feels fairly good, school is fine.

Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms: Children with bad coughs need to stay home, and possibly see a doctor. It could be a severe cold or possibly bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. But when the cough improves, and the child is feeling better, then it’s back to school. Don’t wait for the cough to disappear entirely — that could take a week or longer!

Diarrhea Or Vomiting: Keep your child home until the illness is over, and for 24 hours after the last episode (without medicine). Hydration is key to recovery!

Sore Throat: A minor sore throat is usually not a problem, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset. Keep your child home from school, and contact a doctor. Your child needs a special test to determine if it is strep throat. He or she can return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.

Earache: The child needs to see a doctor.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Keep the child home until a doctor has given the OK to return to school. Pink eye is highly contagious and most cases are caused by a virus, which will not respond to an antibiotic. Bacterial conjunctivitis will require an antibiotic; your doctor will be able to determine if this is the case.

Rash: Children with a skin rash should see a doctor, as this could be one of several infectious diseases. One possibility is impetigo, a bacterial skin infection that is very contagious and requires antibiotic treatment. Also, fifth disease is a contagious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes; it’s no longer contagious by the time rash appears.

But when in doubt, you should always call your physician for advice

— Dennis Thompson, ATC, Founding partner of Excel Therapy Ardmore

How many of us experience little aches and pains from time to time and seek treatment for them right away? More often than not, we don’t. We make excuses, or chalk it up to having had a few too many birthdays, elevated levels of stress, or a lack of physical fitness. Sound familiar?

What many fail to realize is just how effective physical therapy can be for alleviating discomfort associated with common aches and pains. Sometimes a simple stretching or strengthening regimen that can be done out of the comfort of your own home can make a world of difference!

DON’T WAIT until your minor aches and pains—like headaches, backaches, and knee pain—turn into debilitating problems. Your body is trying to tell you something! By ignoring your symptoms and hoping they resolve on their own, you may very likely end up at your physicians office with a prescription in hand for pain medication.

Physical therapists have a wide range of treatment options to help relieve your pain WITHOUT medication. Techniques such as ASTYM therapy, trigger point release, soft tissue mobilization, dry needling, muscle energy, as well as the ultrasound (US) & E-stim combination have proven to be highly effective in restoring muscle and joint function, which means patients are able to return to the activities they enjoy much more quickly.

No matter your age or fitness level, please consider physical therapy for your common aches and pains. You won’t be disappointed!

— Christy Willman, PT, Excel Therapy Durant, OK