Avoid the ER, Be Seen Today OrthoAccessAvoid the ER, Be Seen Today 
OrthoAccess Immediate Care
/Blog/

What are Direct Access and Manual Therapy?

Direct Access allows for patients to see a physical therapist without a referral. So, if you wake up one morning with a stiff neck or lower back pain from lifting heavy objects the day before, you can go right to seeing a physical therapist at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI). Physical therapists can evaluate your pain, provide non-pharmacological treatment to decrease your pain, and improve your functional mobility. If the assessment reveals a problem that needs to be seen by a physician, we can help facilitate a referral to one of IBJI’s orthopedic or pain management physicians for further assessment. Manual therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy, delivered with the hands, as opposed to a device [...]

2019-05-15T11:15:29-05:00May 15th, 2019|Blog, Physical & Occupational Therapy|
Read More

Benefits of Dry Needling for Pain Relief

Trigger point dry needling is a technique that patients can use to try and relieve their pain. It is used in conjunction with manual therapy and therapeutic exercises, to retrain tissue and improve overall flexibility and function. Pain or dysfunction that has not improved with standard treatment–which also prevents a patient from returning to their previous activity level or sport without restrictions–may benefit from trigger point dry needling. Muscle stiffness can occur after surgery, due to pain and post-operative restrictions. Muscles in this state will not develop the appropriate force required for normal function. With the decrease in pain and restoration of normal tone from trigger point dry needling, the patient’s range of motion limitations, faulty movement patterns, and [...]

2019-05-07T15:48:59-05:00May 7th, 2019|Blog, Pain Management|
Read More

Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Joint Replacement Surgery

Joint replacement surgery can be a step toward a more active lifestyle. The process of planning a surgery with your doctor may cause stress and anxiety. Bringing a list of questions to your appointment before surgery can help to bring peace of mind. Asking questions and learning more about the surgery and recovery process can also help to reduce stress and provide more clarity. With the help of Jill Branson, BSN, RN, ACM, OrthoSync® Nurse Case Manager at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI), we have created a list of questions to ask your physician before going into surgery. Branson suggests to ask the following questions: What improvements in my pain and function can I expect after surgery? What [...]

2019-04-30T12:04:18-05:00April 29th, 2019|Blog|
Read More

Four Tips to Prevent Trampoline Injuries and Stay Safe

The weightless feeling from a trampoline can be a thrilling experience. Children enjoy jumping on a trampoline and love to see how much height they can get with every jump. Although jumping on a trampoline is fun, it can be dangerous and cause injury. Jumping on a trampoline poses a high risk of injury for children. Injuries that can result include sprains, fractures, and head and neck injuries. Andrea Kramer, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in pediatric orthopedics at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, sees a lot of trampoline injuries during the summer months. She says, “At least 10 a week and then in the winter all of these new indoor trampoline parks keep me busy. I see a [...]

2019-04-18T10:11:06-05:00April 17th, 2019|Blog|
Read More

Illinois Bone & Joint Institute Announces Opening of Downtown Palatine Physical Therapy Clinic

Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI), one of the largest independent, physician-owned orthopedic practices in the United States, announced today the opening of the Palatine Physical Therapy Clinic. The clinic is located at 25 W. Wilson Street, Palatine, IL 60067. Services offered at this location include: Complimentary Injury Screening Manual Therapy OrthoHealth Post-Surgical Care Sports Medicine Worker's Compensation and Work Conditioning With integrated care and a convenient location in downtown Palatine, this clinic is an extension of the IBJI brand that you know and love. As with our other IBJI locations, Palatine can help patients address any orthopedic issues that they may have. Whether it’s your knee, back or shoulder, Sports [...]

2019-04-09T09:09:38-05:00April 8th, 2019|Blog, IBJI News Room, Press Releases|
Read More

Pilates Can Improve Your Strength, Movement and Flexibility this Season

BY YVONNE TAYLOR, MS, NASM, STOTT Pilates Instructor | Illinois Bone & Joint Institute It’s that time again... the weather is getting warmer, jackets are getting lighter and the clubs, racquets and bats are getting dusted off for use! Athletes, weekend warriors and layman participants from all walks are gearing up for their spring and summer activity seasons. With any season, minor and major injuries can occur, but what if you could decrease your chances of getting injured? Believe it or not, there is a fitness method that can help you do just that…it’s called pilates. Pilates is a great way to improve sport performance and general function. One of the best kept secrets at Illinois Bone & Joint [...]

2019-04-02T09:33:31-05:00April 1st, 2019|Blog|
Read More

Are You Wearing the Correct Footwear?

Properly fitted shoes can help reduce the risk of foot and ankle injuries and deformities. Steven Jasonowicz, DPM, and Cathy Irwin, PT, OCS, MHS, of Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, give advice on how your shoes should fit and the deformities that could arise from wearing improper fitted shoes. The fit of the shoe should be “snug without pinching,” says Irwin. You should not force your foot into a shoe that does not have a similar natural shape. Irwin says that, “a straight foot, needs a straight shoe and a curved foot, needs a curved shoe.” Irwin recommends checking the following when buying shoes: Stiffness of the sole. Shoe should not be able to bend in half or be twisted in the [...]

2019-03-26T11:00:32-05:00March 26th, 2019|Blog|
Read More

Know Your Running Technique and How to Improve It

Not feeling quite right after your run? Your running technique may be the cause of added foot or ankle pain after exercise. You can adjust your running form and learn how to decrease the risk of injury to improve your run. John Linden, PT, DPT, physical therapist at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, helps educate us on running form, decreasing the risk of injury, and the advantages of attending a running clinic. Is there one running form that is more effective than others? “There are a variety of ways in which people run effectively. Runners typically develop a running form that is most efficient for them from a metabolic perspective. This is great, unless they are placing undue stress [...]

2019-03-18T10:27:48-05:00March 18th, 2019|Blog|
Read More

Benefits of Outpatient Joint Replacement

Joint replacement surgery has traditionally been performed in a hospital setting, requiring a hospital stay and lengthy rehabilitation. As a regional leader in outpatient joint replacement surgery, Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI) offers an outpatient surgical approach that allows you to get back to your every-day life sooner. Outpatient joint replacement allows you to leave the facility within a few hours after surgery and recover from the comfort of your own home. Alexander Gordon, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in outpatient hip and knee replacement at IBJI, provides great insight on outpatient joint replacement. “The evolution of joint replacement surgery has included the adoption of less invasive surgical techniques, as well as significant improvement in anesthesia and pain [...]

2019-03-13T12:50:06-05:00March 12th, 2019|Blog|
Read More

Four Benefits of Working Out with a Personal Trainer

People of all ages and experience levels can achieve great results and live a healthier lifestyle with a personal trainer. Personal trainers will help create a unique work-out plan that focuses on achieving your goals. They can also accommodate an injury or other obstacles that may prevent you from working out. Instead of trying fad diets and extreme exercises, a personal trainer will help put you on track and find out what works best for you and your body. No more asking yourself, “Am I doing this right?” Cory Leman, MS, CSCS, general manager of Illinois Bone & Joint Institute’s Health Performance Institute (HPI), lists the following as benefits in choosing to work with a personal trainer: 1. Individualization. Personal [...]

2019-03-06T13:10:09-05:00March 6th, 2019|Blog|
Read More