Stories about Health, Science and Motion

Physical therapy is a dynamic profession, with physical therapists working in a wide variety of roles. Still, many individuals don’t realize all of the unique and specialized settings a physical therapist can work in. In this article, we explore multiple settings and roles of the physical therapist in an effort to spread more awareness of the value and services they bring to the healthcare ecosystem.

The Different Types of Physical Therapy

When it comes to addressing mobility, physical therapists are the experts. The entire month of October is dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness about how physical therapy professionals are helping people worldwide move better, lead more active lifestyles, and achieve their mobility goals so they can continue doing the things they love most. In this article, we follow the evolution of the physical therapy profession to what it is today and discuss how physical therapists can lean into the doctorate title and embrace innovation to continue advancing the future of physical therapy.

Physical Therapists: The Movement Experts

The digital health space is booming – and practices everywhere are incorporating digital solutions to keep up with the changing times. When beginning to implement virtual services, many practices struggle to find a solution that answers their exact needs. How can you be sure you’re choosing the right platform for your practice? Unfortunately, not all virtual solutions are created equal so providers must choose wisely. In this blog, we dive into the efficacy of digital physical therapy and the key components to look for when deciding on a digital solution.

How OneStep is Revolutionizing Digital Physical Therapy

What constitutes patient progress? What is the best way to accurately capture the impact of your physical therapy treatment? How has the patient's overall health also improved? These are three essential questions to keep in mind when selecting outcome measures to assess the impact of your physical therapy plan of care. In this article, we discuss various categories of outcome measures and how innovative technology like OneStep can make this data collection convenient and purposeful.

Best Practice For Measuring Patient Progress

According to the National Council on Aging, approximately 60-75% of all falls in the older adult population occur within or near the home. Implementing fall prevention strategies at home can be a simple way to reduce the risk for falls – for yourself or your loved ones. In this article, we offer physical therapist-approved tips to help prevent falls at home.

Patient Education

Fall Prevention: Safety at Home

When it comes to fall prevention, identifying trends in gait that have shown a correlation with increased risk of falls is a necessity. A complete fall risk assessment must incorporate precise and ongoing gait analysis to identify changes in gait parameters and functional mobility so that providers can assess more accurately and intervene proactively.

Can you assess fall risk without gait analysis?

Most everyone has experienced a fall at some point in their life, but some falls have devastating consequences. In this article, we equip you with the knowledge necessary to implement proactive fall prevention strategies in your own life or the lives of the ones you love.

Patient Education

Fall Prevention Awareness 101

Improve patient adherence, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes with the top 6 tips to boost patient engagement.

6 Tips to Boost Patient Engagement

Many people automatically assume that the older you get, the weaker you become. While it's true that muscle loss occurs differently after a certain age, physical therapy can help make sure that aging doesn't mean weakening.

Patient Education

Older Doesn’t Mean Weaker

You might be wondering if the OneStep app is compatible with diagnoses such as post-stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or parkinsons. The truth is, one on one physical therapy is very important when navigating neurological conditions.

Can OneStep Treat Patients With Neurological Conditions?

How well you perform in your daily life depends on how well you perform during a workout. Read more to learn about how various exercises relate to everyday activities.

Patient Education

Functional Exercises For Everyday Life

What are the most beneficial exercises you can safely do from a wheelchair? Check out what our doctor of physical therapy recommends.

Exercise Tips for Wheelchair Users

If you work in healthcare space, you may be familiar with the term remote therapeutic monitoring - but what does it mean? How do they work? And how can OneStep Digital Physical Therapy be a great solution - read more to find out.

A New Era of Physical Therapy: Monitoring Patients in Their Environment

Is the OneStep Digital Physical Therapy app just for people who are preparing for surgery? Definitely not! There are many reasons why someone might seek one on one physical therapy.

Is OneStep relevant if I don't plan to have surgery?

Did you know that the pelvic floor is a significant part of satisfying intimate relations? For men and women both, we rely on the pelvic floor muscles to operate in coordination for optimal sexual health. Learn more about how a physical therapy pelvic floor specialist can help you.

Patient Education

Sexual Wellness Tips From A Certified Women’s Health Specialist

There are thousands of apps out there, but they're only as useful as you're likely to use them. How does OneStep Digital Physical Therapy differ?

Feeling Overwhelmed About Physical Therapy? We Got You Covered.

Did you know that many pelvic floor conditions are treatable with physical therapy? Today we'll deep dive into the anatomy, functions and deeper understanding of the pelvic floor.

Pelvic Floor 101: How Can Physical Therapy Help?

OneStep provides a social community to allow you to recover optimally with physical therapy while being supported.

Is There a OneStep Community?

Looking for ways to increase your running speed? Check out these four exercises as prescribed by a doctor of physical therapy!

How to Step Up Your Running Speed

I Have Balance Issues, But No Pain. Is OneStep For Me?

Stretching can often be the most ignored part of warming up and cooling down before and after exercise - but do you know why it's so important?

Patient Education

Stretching 101

With three packages at varying prices points, what are the differences and what is included when if I want one on one physical therapy with OneStep?

What Are the Different Plans with OneStep?

You may not put much thought or effort into breathing - but understanding what makes us breathe, and how to maximize it can improve our physical performance and so much more!

Practicing Deep Breathing for Better Physical and Mental Health.

You've just finished your prescribed course of care with a physical therapist - and you're not exactly sure what do to next. Check out our top tips of what to do after your physical therapy ends, recommended by a physical therapist.

What Should You Do When Your Physical Therapy Ends?

When you get one on one physical therapy with OneStep, you don't have to worry about sticking to your program. Your OneStep PT checks in with you!

How To Build Healthy Habits for Exercise Adherence

Read through these physical therapist recommend tips to avoid straining or injuring yourself while exercising.

Tips for Exercise Safety

If you know you're going into surgery you may be wondering when exactly is the right time to begin physical therapy. Working with a PT one on one prior to your surgery can be a great option.

Is OneStep Relevant If I’m Pre-Surgery?

What does exercise have to do with physical therapy? In this article, we'll discuss how mucle is built and what you can do to optimize from a physical therapy perspective!

Strength Gains Explained by a PT

How Tech Savvy Do I Need To Be To Use The OneStep App?

Strokes, or CVA's impact so many people worldwide, every year. But what is a stroke? What's happening inside your body when a stroke occurs? How many different types of strokes are there? Can physical therapy help regain strength or function after a stroke? In this article...

What is a Stroke and How Can Physical Therapy Help?

You might not think much about how you sleep unless you're actively in pain. Read to learn more about the best practices for sleep positions, according to a healthcare professional.

Patient Education

Sleep Positions Approved by Physical Therapists

The mind-muscle connection may sound out there - but science and medicine have a lot to say about it. Learning how to identify different muscle groups...

Patient Education

Mindfulness Matters – Even During Exercise

We often hear the term 'core' thrown around, but what does it actually mean? The core refers to a specific group of muscles that function like a cylinder to stabilize your body.

Patient Education

Core 101

Strengthening your muscles and boosting your endurance are great, but you also have to make sure your body is getting enough rest so that you can grow stronger.

Patient Education

Rest and Recovery to Optimize Your Health Goals

Observational gait analysis is exactly what it sounds like: a clinician uses their training and skills to identify any deviations or abnormalities they observe and the overall quality of a patient's gait.

Gait Analysis: Why is it Important?

Parkinson's affects both the motor and sensory systems, affecting walking. An analysis of gait is particularly beneficial for Parkinson's patients since walking is often more difficult due to these changes. Physical therapists use gait analysis to identify areas where a person can improve their walking, preserve independence and reducing their risk of falling.

Patient Education

How Does Parkinson’s Disease Impact How You Walk?

As the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in adults, Parkinson's Disease is a serious issue. Approximately 60,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with PD yearly. Read more to learn about Parkinson's Disease and how physical therapy can help.

Patient Education

What is Parkinson's Disease and How Can Physical Therapy Help?

Reduce Foot Pain and Improve Your Arch Support with These Exercises!

Patient Education

Foot and Heel Pain

7 Beginner Exercises After a Total Hip Replacement

Exercises after you've recovered from your total hip replacement or partial hip replacement, as recommended by OneStep Physical Therapists...

5 Advanced Exercises After THR

A deep dive into everything you need to know about a total hip, partial hip, or hip joint replacement surgery.

Hip Replacement

Here’s What You Need to Know About Total Hip Replacements (THR)

Often misunderstood and confused, "sciatica" refers to a variety of back, buttocks, and leg pains...

The Truth Behind Sciatica

Looking for pain relief for sciatica and lower back pain? Try some of these exercises our OneStep physical therapist outlines...

5 Exercises for Low Back Pain and Sciatica

Do you need to purchase additional wearables to use OneStep or is the OneStep app compatible with what I already own?

Do I Need a Wearable To Use OneStep?

Because of Covid 19, people spend more time than ever on their computers. How can physical therapy protect you against work related injuries?

COVID-19 Made Us Even More Sedentary. Here's How We Can Get Moving Again.

Arthritis comes in many forms and is often misunderstood. Treatment options can be confusing and discouraging. Read more for the many different types of arthritis, common symptoms, treatments, and how physical therapy can help ease your pain and bring you peace of mind.

Arthritis 101

This International Women's Day, consider the role women historically took in advancing the field of physical therapy, and how you can support them.

Women in Physical Therapy

A knee replacement refers to a surgical procedure in which part or all of the knee is removed and replaced with a prosthetic knee joint. When referring to a knee replacement, there are two main types:

Here’s What You Need to Know About Total Knee Replacements

One of the most important goals after a total knee replacement (TKR) is to adequately strengthen the surrounding muscles to improve the joints stability, and to advance your exercises as your knee strength progresses. After your operation, you might feel less stable standing on the operated leg. There are three reasons for this feeling:

Advanced Exercises After a Total Knee Replacement

Knee Replacement

5 Exercises to Perform After A Knee Replacement

Who Benefits from Telehealth?

Studies indicate that as many as 20-60% of all office workers suffer from some sort of musculoskeletal disorder. The sedentary nature of these jobs increases the risk for repetitive strain and dysfunctional posture that leads to pain and injuries. In this article, we will cover what these injuries are and how to prevent them.

Does a Sedentary Job Put You At An Increased Risk of Injury?

We’ve put together our top list of terms that are used clinically for you to reference as needed. Also, if there is ever a word you don’t understand make sure to speak up and ask your PT - they’d be more than happy to explain!

Physical Therapy Key Terms

Stephanie Wakeman is a doctor of Physical Therapy with over 20 years of experience working in the field of rehabilitation, pediatrics, orthopedics, and telehealth. She has worked with many athletes from middle school to collegiate level and has experience working in dance medicine as a provider for the American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, NJ.

OneStep’s PT Spotlight: Getting To Know Stephanie Wakeman.

As we age, our nervous system slows down and doesn’t get messages to and from the brain as quickly as it used to. This slows our reflexes and responses to postural control. The inner ear functions also slow and sometimes goes awry causing dizziness and vertigo.

The Importance of Balance

Factors that Impact Pain

While sometimes opioids produce desirable effects, they may cause several unwanted side effects. It is important to understand why you are taking them and the implications for your own health. Physical activity and exercise have been shown time and time again to have a positive impact on pain management with lasting results because it addresses the root of the problem as opposed to simply removing pain temporarily.

Avoiding Opioids in Recovery

It can be hard to imagine how meeting a physical therapist with an app can be as effective as meeting a physical therapist in the clinic. Most people might imagine that it is harder to communicate over a video call or, even more importantly, the quality of care and effectiveness of the treatment may be reduced by not being in person.

Why Meeting a OneStep PT is as Good as Meeting an In-Person PT

In this article, you will find a list of green flags to guide your search so that you can feel confident your physical therapy experience, whether it be in-person or digital, is of the highest caliber.

Physical Therapy Green Flags

What is Telehealth? Telehealth is a system in which you can access a doctor, physical therapist, or even psychiatric health services. The best part is all you need is a reliable internet connection and a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Even though the services are remote, you still have a caring and reliable licensed healthcare professional on the other end of the line. That means you can receive quality care without needing to leave your home, sit in traffic, or wait for an appointment.

7 Top Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Telehealth Session

You've probably heard the term range of motion during your physical recovery journey and wondered what it was and why it is even part of your treatment. Discover what range of motion is, why it’s important, how it can be impacted, and what you can do in conjunction with physical therapy to address range of motion concerns.

The Importance of Range of Motion

What is digital PT? With all these buzzwords floating around like digital therapy and telehealth it can be very confusing to understand what each is referring to and how it relates to your personal needs. Telehealth is like a broad umbrella category that covers any type of healthcare provided from a distance through the use of technology.

6 Reasons Why Digital Physical Therapy is The Way To Go in 2022

Congratulations on recording your walk! You're probably wondering about your results and what the different parameters mean. Maybe some of your results are green, and others yellow. In this article, we'll explain each parameter, what the normal ranges are, and what they mean!

Understanding Your Walk Score

Though it is a modern science of physical recovery, physical therapy traces its roots back thousands of years. It gives people the tools and techniques to heal after surgeries and injuries, shortening the recovery process and making healing manageable. At the same time, for some, physical therapy seems to be a far cry from what it is made out to be. If you’ve ever gone through physical therapy and felt like it simply doesn’t “work” this blog post is for you. Here are three of the most common reasons physical therapy doesn't provide the desired results.

3 Reasons Why Your Physical Therapy Isn't Working

A special pill, the perfect massage, an herbal ointment to help us sleep better, lose weight, decrease pain, make us look and feel younger and give us energy. For thousands of years, people have been on a quest to find a remedy for what ails them. From the legendary Fountain of Youth to magic elixirs, explorers have traversed the world looking for answers to health and longevity when all along, the magic has been within us.

The Magic of Exercise

You may wonder if physical therapy will benefit you. Common orthopedic issues include (but are not limited to) lower back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, general knee pain, osteoporosis, scoliosis, and well, you get the idea. The unfortunate reality is that most people will suffer from any number of these at some point in their lives

I Don't Have An Orthopedic Issue. Is OneStep For Me?

Typically, chiropractors provide musculoskeletal care through manual therapy, manipulation, and adjustments. Chiropractors are considered alternative medicine and there is some dispute regarding the scientific foundation of the practice.

What’s The Difference Between a Physical Therapist and a Chiropractor?

The holidays are here and it’s time to ring in the good cheer and a happy (hopefully healthier) New Year! With all the celebrations and obligations, it's easy for routines to get disturbed. As we make our resolutions for the new year, maintaining our old ones can slip through the cracks. Whether you are trying to train for a run or recover from an injury, regular consistent exercise is key to meeting your goal. Prioritizing your health over other demands can be overwhelming and stressful, but it doesn’t need to be.

How To Make Time For Movement When Things Get Busy

The holidays are here and you may be making your list and checking it twice, trying to figure out what to get your loved ones. Buying the perfect gift can be difficult, especially for someone who is taking it easy or bed-bound. Check out these ideas below if you need to find a gift for someone who has just had surgery or is dealing with a chronic health condition:

10 Gift Ideas For Loved Ones After Surgery or Navigating Chronic Conditions

Over the course of just a few recorded walks I was able to learn about and improve my gait on my own. You’d think walking unhindered by disease or injury would be instinctive but the gait analysis information reported by OneStep enabled me to monitor and focus on certain aspects of my technique, which has improved markedly, becoming faster, smoother, more efficient and less tiring.

Patient Testimonial

In Their Own Words: Peter & OneStep

Pusher syndrome is a syndrome where a post-stroke individual pushes away from the non-weak side. Physical therapists can retrain the brain through visual feedback and motor control/motor learning techniques to correct their misperception of being upright when they are tilted to help the patient regain function.

What is Pusher Syndrome?

The quads are a group of four muscles located at the front part of your thigh. Their primary role is to extend (straighten) your knees and assist in flexing the hip. They are essential for a lot of functions such as:

Knee Replacement

Why Do Strong Quads Matter?

Recovering from total knee replacement surgery can take a bit of work. However, by focusing on improving range of motion and leg strength, you'll be on the path towards resuming your day-to-day activities in no time. Here are the three main muscle groups in the upper leg that will require your attention and rehabilitation to return to normal levels of strength:

Knee Replacement

Key Muscles in Knee Replacement Rehabilitation

Remember the old acronym RICE for first aid of minor injuries to joints, muscles, and tendons? It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation and is useful for self-management of minor injuries. However, as we’ve advanced our knowledge of tissue damage and repair, there has been a pivot toward a new acronym called POLICE. This stands for Protect, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

How to Care for Your Injured Joints

Halloween is just around the corner and you may be scurrying around to put the finishing touches on costumes for that spooky night. Whether you're attending a party or walking long distances to ‘trick or treat’ with kids, most likely, you will be standing and walking for longer periods of time than you're used to. Well, fear not! The evening may be frightful, but the aches and pains in your joints don’t have to be! Follow these tips to avoid sore legs and feet so you can focus on the fun!

Trick or Treat with Ease

We're delighted to share that we had the chance to sit down with CHE, the first-ever Healthcare Analytics News podcast, to discuss the challenges with traditional physical therapy. Tune in to hear how OneStep improves the proportion of patients who complete their therapy and future uses for the ground breaking technology utilized in the app - and how it can be used in the future.

Podcast: Moving Healthier with OneStep

Due to several years of severe back pain I had walked very little for about a year and a half before the surgeries. When I started PT after these surgeries I found that the geometry of my lower body had been changed but the operations and the muscles in my glutes, hips, legs and calves had atrophied. I was unable to walk any distance at all without a walker, was very shaky and unstable and my stride was jerky and uneven.

Patient Testimonial

In Their Own Words: Charles & OneStep

The road to full recovery from a total knee replacement is long and fraught with anxiety. “Will I ever walk normally?” is a lingering worry. Being able to see tangible progress was a tremendous boost to my mental health during this time. The 24/7 availability of a physical therapist was especially reassuring. For patients who can’t afford, find the time for, or arrange transportation to outpatient physical therapy, OneStep is a cost-effective way to obtain the Physical Therapy guidance that will help restore full functionality after surgery.

Patient Testimonial

In Their Own Words: Joanne & OneStep

Top 10 Pieces of Advice to Give Your Family When You've Had a Stroke

Enim facere quasi et

Patient Testimonial

In Their Own Words: Philip & OneStep

Gait is the word healthcare professionals use to describe your walk pattern. It may not be something most people think about, but if you're pre-op, post-op, or recovering from an injury, you'll know how important it is. Get your free gait analysis today at https://join.onestep.co/

What Is Gait Analysis & Why Does It Matter?

Sleep is critical for healing after surgery and trauma, but it is almost impossible to attain quality sleep when in pain. There are specific regions of the brain that control pain and sleep, so when you feel pain, you don't get good quality sleep, and when you don't get quality sleep, you feel more pain

Sleeping After Surgery

Osteoporosis is considered a ‘silent' disease. That means there are no obvious signs or symptoms. However, as the disease advances, you may notice the following changes:

Osteoporosis 101

At OneStep, we've developed an innovative, state-of-the-art feature that analyzes several variables ultimately guiding you through your THR recovery process. First, it measures the patient's movement over the first 100 days post-operation. We then convert that data into a gait analysis that is instantly shared with the patient. With an up-to-date, lab-quality gait analysis in your pocket, we can monitor a patient's current physical state, the course of their physical therapy journey with us, and the total sum of their progress and improvement.

THR Recovery in Parameters

Total knee replacement surgery can improve function, range of motion and decrease pain. Most people are up on their feet within the first few hours after surgery. You will most likely resume normal daily activities within six weeks with some modifications. However, it can take 4-6 months or up to an entire year to fully recover and gain the total benefits of your surgery.

Knee Replacement

Four Common Questions After TKR Surgery

After having a Total Hip Replacement, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain movements for the first 6-10 weeks of recovery. These restrictions are given as precautions in order to prevent dislocation of the new joint. Examples of movements or exercises to avoid are...

Hip Replacement

Restrictions after a Total Hip Replacement & the Logic Behind Them

After a total knee replacement (TKR), one of the most important goals is to achieve a functional range of motion at the knee joint. Functional range of motion simply means that you are able to move your knee enough to perform your day to day activities with comfort and ease. Regaining range of motion after surgery is a common struggle amongst many patients, but there are ways to set yourself up for success. In this blog post we will cover what functional ROM is, some common TKR goals and questions, and what you can do to maximize your ROM after surgery. For a more in depth look at ROM, see our post titled “The Importance of Range of Motion.”

Knee Replacement

Range of Motion After Knee Replacement Surgery

Preparing yourself for surgery is an important step that can be fraught with anxiety and uncertainties. As soon as you decide on elective surgery, such as a total joint replacement, it would be best to start preparing for the big day to ensure a successful rehabilitation.

Pre-Surgical Prep: Home & Body

After a total knee replacement surgery, it’s important to take the proper steps to regain the function required to return to your regular physical activities. With continued movement, you’ll be able to improve your endurance and make continued progress in the recovery journey.

Knee Replacement

Returning to Physical Activity After A Total Knee Replacement

Sex is an important topic, one that impacts everyone.‍ Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked by practitioners and patients alike who are either preoccupied with the other pressing concerns of surgery or a bit too shy to engage in a sensitive and potentially embarrassing topic.

Hip Replacement

Sex After Hip Replacement Surgery

Coming home after a total hip replacement (THR) can be really intimidating. So here are a few quick tips from our expert physical therapy team to help make the transition to home smoother.

Hip Replacement

5 Tips for Preparing Your Home for Hip Surgery

Total hip replacement surgery is one of the 5 most common orthopedic surgeries. There are several types of surgical approaches to replace the hip and it’s important to ask your surgeon which approach they will use as this will determine the type of physical and postural restrictions you will have after surgery and how long they will last.

Hip Replacement

7 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon After Hip Replacement Surgery

You’ve finally scheduled your joint replacement surgery which will hopefully mark the end of a period of disability or pain. Maybe you’re eager to undergo surgery, or you might be anxious or fearful about it. Either way, it’s a good idea to get ready for hospitalization – a phase that can last up to a few weeks post-surgery.‍

Joint Replacement Surgery: 7 Tips To Prepare Yourself for Hospitalization

After waiting to get a joint replacement, you’ve got your ice packs and walking aids, and instructions for follow-up appointments. But what about your network of support?

Support After A Joint Replacement Surgery