Reduce Pain and Discomfort While Increasing Mobility Wamego City Hospital Auxiliary Sponsors Free Community Health Education Seminar

The Wamego City Hospital Auxiliary's sponsored community health education segments will feature “Reducing Pain and Discomfort While Increasing Mobility.” This segment will be brought to the public free of charge, by the hospital’s Physical Therapy Department, on Wednesday, June 22 from noon – 1:00 p.m.

Showcasing physical therapy options available in Wamego at the hospital, Tonja Carey , physical therapist will discuss the comprehensive range of outpatient therapy services available to help people regain skills and abilities lost as a result of illness, injury or disability and to prevent recurrent injuries.

“One of the great parts about my job is helping individuals gain confidence and independence by guiding them through practical exercises which they are then able to do on their own,” states Tonja Carey , physical therapist. “When patients regain the ability to use muscles and joints with decreased or no pain that gives me great job satisfaction.”

By regaining optimal functional abilities patient quality of life is enhanced. For neck, back and joint pain suffers the regained ability to use painful muscles and joints means regained independence and productivity.

Services available through the Rehabilitation Department include:

§ Arm and hand rehabilitation services

§ Back injury prevention and treatment

§ Functional capacity evaluations

§ Employment screenings

§ Prevention and treatment for over-use injuries

§ Treatment for acute and chronic extremity pain and injuries

§ Employee in-service training

§ Custom arm and leg splints

§ Amputee training

§ Management of musculoskeletal problems (pain, mobility, strength)

§ Rehabilitation following brain injuries and stroke

§ Post-op rehab following total joint replacements

§ Post-op rehab following knee or shoulder surgeries

§ Rehabilitation following spinal cord injuries

§ Speech and language and voicetherapy

§ Swallowing dysfunction evaluations and treatments

§ Assessment and treatment for balance problems

§ Analysis of foot problems

Learn more about the patient role and staff interaction as well as how to obtain physician referral for therapists evaluations to initiate treatments to reduce the risk of injury, alleviate impairments, decrease pain, and increase mobility and function to enhance daily living. If you would like to reserve a meal for a nominal fee from the hospital cafeteria for the noon time health education segment please contact Kelly Ingalsbe , executive assistant at (785)458-7117 before 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22. You are welcome to bring a sack lunch to the presentation as well.

Immediately following the presentation will be a free Balance and Falls Screening. Physical therapists discuss the importance of balance in preventing falls. Falls are common and potentially serious problems for people over the age of 65. Contributing factors which may impair ones sense of balance include poor posture, disease and inadequate strength, flexibility, and endurance all of which physical therapy has the potential to reduce risk of falls.

For more information on physical therapy options visit with your primary care physician or contact Tonja Carey , physical therapist at (785) 458-7211 or visit www.wamegocityhospital.com.