Mary Lou Corcoran Physical Therapy offers a falls and balance program. This special program is designed to identify people who have a history or risk of falls.

A physical therapist will administer a standardized test (Berg Balance Test) to determine the risk of falls. The therapist will also do a complete physical therapy examination to assess for any other contributing factors. If appropriate, Anodyne Therapy is utilized in conjunction with balance training. Following the evaluation, a comprehensive training program with therapeutic exercise, balance and neuromuscular retraining is designed by the Physical Therapist. A physician's referral is required.

 

BALANCE SELF-TEST
1. Have you fallen more than once in the past year?
2. Do you take medicine for two or more of the following diseases: heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, anxiety, depression?
3. Do you need to climb a flight or more of steps each day?
4. Do you have dizziness or balance problems frequently?
5. Do you experience blackouts or seizures?
6. Do you take unnecessary risks sometimes?
7. Have you experienced a stroke or other neurologic problem that has affected your balance?
8. Do you have numbness or loss of sensation in your legs and/or feet?
9. Do you use a walker or wheelchair, or need assistance to get around?
10. Do you participate in a regular exercise program such as walking, 20 minutes a day, and at least 3 times per week?
11. Do you feel unsteady when you are walking?

If you answered "yes" to one or more of the above questions, you may have a balance problem.

Cutting Edge Treatment For Diabetic Neuropathy
Anodyne treatment is used to increase circulation and reduce pain in the area it is applied. This is especially effective for patients with diabetic neuropathy and other vascular disorders. Anodyne helps to re-gain sensation in the feet, reduce pain, and therefore increase safe and functional mobility. One treatment plan usually involves 10 to 24 therapy sessions.

Anodyne is a therapeutic device that delivers monochromatic near infrared photo energy through contact with the skin. The light is emitted by an array of 60 superluminous diodes located on flexible pads. Monochromatic means that the light emitted is within one specific wavelength, namely 890 nanometers. 890 nm was chosen because of the depth of penetration and high absorption because photo energy must be absorbed by the target tissue to be effective. Monochromatic infrared is approved by the FDA and is patented by the Anodyne company.

Vasodilation in Diabetic Feet
Laser Doppler Scan Images
(Brighter areas indicate more circulation)


Before Treatment

 

Left foot had Anodyne Therapy (showing 400% Increase in circulation)

After Treatment

 

Right foot had only warmth applied (showing 40% Increase in circulation)