Black Diamond Physical Therapy

Portland Boulder Rally 2!

Erik Meira — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 05:21:24 +0000

Just like last year, this past Saturday (October 6, 2012) Black Diamond PT provided the medical coverage for The Portland Boulder Rally 2 at The Circuit Bouldering Gym next door to our clinic. Also just like last year, the event was amazing and we were witness to some awesome displays of climbing skill.

I took a bunch a pictures during the finals from my “backstage” vantage point as I stood by in case my medical services were needed (they weren’t during the finals). Here are my top 10 pictures in no particular order. I did not get all of the climbers or all of the problems due to my limited view and the low lighting but I still feel there are a couple cool shots in the mix. Just click on the pictures to enlarge for better viewing.

The pictures are reduced in size to keep the page loading quickly but if you would like a full sized file just let me know. I can email it to you at no charge.

Now in-network for Cigna!

Erik Meira — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 22:00:39 +0000

As of August 2012, Black Diamond Physical Therapy is an in-network, preferred provider for Cigna. This has been something that we have been working hard to achieve for several years and are excited to be working more closely with Cigna.

As always, if you have any questions regarding your insurance coverage, contact us.

Disabled war veterans’ climb of Denali cut short by weather

Erik Meira — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:38:15 +0000

A group of five disabled war veterans failed in their attempt to climb Denali, the highest peak in North America. The climbers, four of which were amputees, only failed because of poor weather. After being stranded by weather for more than a week above 14,000 feet, they simply ran out of supplies and had to abort the climb.

A very noble effort and a great example of the great feats that can be accomplished through the use of prosthetics.

Caffeine Linked to Lower Skin Cancer Risk

Erik Meira — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:40:21 +0000

According to an article on ABC News, people who drink 3 cups of coffee a day have a lower risk of skin cancer. Another case of one study being performed and the media citing it as a new miracle breakthrough.

Keep in mind that spending all day in a coffee shop will really reduce your sun exposure…

Title IX turns 40 today!

Erik Meira — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 19:27:03 +0000

Title IX, the portion of the 1972 education amendment which essentially created women’s athletics as we know them today, turns 40 years old. ABC News has a great article on the historic legislation.

To quote Title IX:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Happy birthday, Title IX!

Olympic Diets

Erik Meira — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:13:39 +0000

Interesting post by a group of Turkish Olympic hopefuls. It shows their regimented diets as they prepare for London 2012 all in picture format (very little reading required). Notice the variety – carbs, fats, proteins – each diet with different sources. They all regulate calorie count and look for balance and athlete preference.

Remember, for a regular Joe who isn’t active – 2,000 total calories per day is a good estimate to maintain your current weight (varies based on size and activity level).

http://www.buzzfeed.com/h2/pulse/gavon/5-olympic-diets-that-look-healthy-and-delicious

“Bad Foods” That Aren’t Really Bad for You

Erik Meira — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:46:07 +0000

There is a great article in the Washington post today that lists 7 “bad foods” that aren’t really bad for you. The list includes gluten/wheat, eggs, potatoes, fruits, soy, alcohol, and yes…fried foods (what???).

That’s right! As I mentioned in a previous post, more than anything else, moderation is the key to a healthy diet…

Skechers agrees to $40 million settlement for claims about shoes’ benefits

Erik Meira — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:08:30 +0000

So apparently not everything an advertiser claims is accurate even when they cite “research”. The FTC has gone after Sketchers and Reebok for their “toning” shoes.

So why do late night commercials make outrageous claims when they are ultimately going to get shut down and fined? Often they make millions of dollars worth of profits with only thousands of dollars in fines. They also only run their business for a short period of time, shut down, then open as a new company. The folks at the FTC do the best that they can, but buyer still needs to beware…

Recovering from Orthopedic Surgery

Erik Meira — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:47:05 +0000

Here at the clinic we see a lot of people after orthopedic surgeries, from ACL reconstructions and hip arthroscopy to rotator cuff repairs and joint replacements. We get so many questions from people going into surgery that we started offering a free preoperative session (contact us to schedule one yourself). Although each and every surgery is unique and different, there are some basic concepts regarding the timelines for returning to your favorite activities.

The goal of the recovery after any orthopedic surgery if for the repaired or reconstructed structures to heal together. This is achieved by holding the structures together long enough for them to “take”. During surgery, the tissues are scuffed to get them to bleed and then stuck together with pins, anchors, and sutures. As long as the tissue doesn’t shift (becomes “displaced”), the healing will occur. Achieving this while getting increased range of motion and strength is the ultimate outcome. So how long do you need to protect it?

Bone to bone healing

Bone to bone healing usually refers to fractures but may refer to certain types of grafts as well (such as the patellar tendon graft sometimes used in ACL reconstructions). Bone will heal to bone generally in about 6-8 weeks. This can be verified by taking an inexpensive x-ray. Once healed, the newly formed callous will actually be stronger than the original bone. This does not mean that the injured body part will be back to normal in 8 weeks, it just means that the bone will be healed.

Soft tissue healing

Just about everything else falls under soft tissue healing. This includes ligaments, tendons, and cartilaginous structures like labrums and menisci. Healing of soft tissue occurs generally in 8-12 weeks. Since there is no way to verify that healing has occurred, we usually just play it safe by waiting 12 weeks and then go by symptoms.

Once enough time passes for tissue healing, then what?

Well, this is where the grey area comes into play. During the initial protective healing phase, activities are performed in rehab to maximize strength and mobility while allowing the tissue to heal. If all of the goals are met by the end of that phase (8 weeks for bone and 12 weeks for soft tissue), overall conditioning activities may begin. If everything goes well, it may only take only another 4 weeks to get back to game condition. If the body is having a difficult time adapting to the newly healed tissue, it could take several months longer. This varies from person to person, injury to injury.

The Portland Adventure Hour!

Erik Meira — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:44:35 +0000

The Portland Adventure Hour launched today! Check it out the first episode…