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Testing, Testing 123: Phlebotomy Basics

When my mother underwent chemotherapy, we spent a lot of time visiting the phlebotomy lab for blood testing. I was always impressed by how easily the phlebotomist was able to find and puncture a vein to draw blood on the first try. I knew there had to be a method to it, and was astounded by how effortless and painless they made the process. It led me to research a lot about blood tests, from drawing to the actual screening. I've created this site to share what I've learned in the hopes of teaching others. The more you understand, the more control you can have over your own health care.

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Testing, Testing 123: Phlebotomy Basics

The Basics Of Orthopedic Rehab: How It Can Help YOU

by Francisco Arnold

Orthopedic rehabilitation is when an individual goes to therapy to help them regain use of their body. The term orthopedic refers to the musculoskeletal system of the body, which includes all of one's muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, and cartilage. Since most physical injuries involve at least one of these structures, many people can benefit from orthopedic rehab. 

There are many different reasons why someone could need orthopedic rehab, the most common being:

Post-Operative Rehab

When an individual comes out of surgery, such as knee surgery, they may be very stiff due to a replacement or reconstruction of bone. If patients are not careful, they may lose a lot of function in that limb, such as walking. For this reason, many physicians order orthopedic rehab for patients immediately following surgery. Depending on the severity of the surgery, certified orthopedic therapists and therapy assistants often try to get patients up and moving around as soon as 24 hours after surgery. This practice greatly helps individuals to limit the amount of movement loss they experience.

Broken Limbs

When someone breaks an arm or leg, the bones are often immobilized for an extended period of time to allow them to heal. This is a common practice which is necessary to give those bones a chance to stabilize without being injured from use. However, in response to having a broken limb, our body often overcompensates with other bones and muscles in order to continue functioning. This can make it so that individuals underuse or misuse their broken limbs once they are done healing. This may correct itself eventually, but sometimes people need help in order to regain full use of their once-broken limbs. Orthopedic rehab can help individuals to strengthen and regain full use of their limbs. 

Sports Injuries

Sports players are often injured due to overuse of muscles and ligaments, or trauma. This overuse can result in stress fractures, bursitis, and other things, while trauma can lead to sprains and strains of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Depending on the severity of these issues, all could potentially benefit from the therapy that orthopedic rehab can provide. Orthopedic therapists are often trained in specific motions, stretches, and exercises which can strengthen individuals for their sport. This therapy can help individuals to heal from past injuries while decreasing the odds of future injury.

Talk to your doctor to find out if orthopedic rehab is right for you.

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