Physical Therapy for the Pelvis

The No Surprises Act aims to protect consumers from surprise medical bills. But how exactly does it go about doing that, and what’s the current status of its implementation? Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share progress and challenges associated with the No Surprises Act is Ms. Emily Carroll, a senior legislative attorney for the American Medical Association's Advocacy Resource Center.

With less and less primary care physicians partnering with physical therapists, it’s time we ask: are we doing ourselves—and our patients—a disservice by not taking advantage of this option? To find out, Dr. Jennifer Caudle sits down with physical therapist Catherine Apicella to discuss the often-overlooked benefits of physical therapy and how primary care physicians and physical therapists can work together to benefit their patients.

Frustrating multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms like urinary frequency and incontinence can be detrimental to a patient’s quality of life, but there are resources available to help. To explore the benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy for MS, Dr. Jennifer Caudle sits down with two special guests: physical therapist Catherine Apicella from CORE 3 Physical Therapy and her patient—and ReachMD’s very own employee—Crystal Gouldey.

Spinal deformity places strain on the vertebrae and supporting muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissues supporting the spinal column. The treatment and management of this condition becomes centrally important to maintain patient quality of life through functional mobility and activity levels.

Host, Dr. Barry Mennen and Dr. Comron Saifi discuss the leading assessment and treatment options for spinal deformity. Dr. Saifi is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery in the Division of Spine Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Out of the approximately 340,000 hip fractures that occur in the US each year, 9 out of 10 of them happen to people older than 65. Hip fractures in an older population can result in significant complications including pneumonia and blood clots, among others.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Dr. Derek Donegan, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery in the Division of Orthopedic Trauma at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to talk about some of the challenges physicians face when treating hip fractures in elderly patients.

Back and neck pain is extremely common, with 80-90% of people experiencing some pain within their lifetime. About 90% of cases resolve within six weeks, but for those patients whose pain persists, questions arise as to who should be referred next for further consultation. While patients often see a spine specialist at first, the care journey sometimes leads to a neurosurgeon or orthopaedic spine surgeon. Can this pathway from primary care to neurosurgery or orthopaedic surgery ever be expedited?

Dr. Patrick Connolly, neurosurgeon at Penn Medicine joins host Dr. Matt Birnholz to discuss when primary care physicians should consider referring patients to neurosurgeons for neck and back pain. Dr. Connolly will also discuss the different types of surgical options for patients seeking prolonged back and neck pain relief.

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Among a group of patients with severe obesity who underwent bariatric surgery, a large percentage experienced improvement in pain, physical function, and walking capacity over 3 years, according to a new study.

Severe obesity can be associated with joint pain and impaired physical function, like the ability to bend, lift, carry, and walk.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh studied more than 2,200 patients from 10 U.S. hospitals. Patients filled out questionnaires about their pain and physical function before surgery and each year, for 3 years after surgery. Patients also participated in a 400 meter walking test.

The results found that 50 to 70 percent of patients experienced significant improvements in body pain and physical function and in the walking test. In addition, they found three-fourths of participants with severe knee and hip pain experienced improvements in arthritis symptoms.

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Why is it important to understand what our body looks like when we are completing tasks, otherwise known as the study of ergonomics? How do we best counsel our patients, as well as clinicians, to notice changes in posture when sedentary? And how can achieve the more optimal "neutral posture" even when inactive? In this episode, host Dr. Jennifer Caudle welcomes Dr. Rubina Tahir, chiropractor, author, and host of The Rx on My New Philly. Dr. Tahir will discuss the importance of posture given the challenges of technology and other factors driving sedentary lifestyles.

Osteosarcoma is a relatively rare but feared disease. What exactly is an osteosarcoma and how should it be worked up and treated? Host Dr. Lee Freedman discusses this diagnosis with Dr. Kristy Weber, Abramson Family Professor in Sarcoma Care Excellence and Professor, Vice-Chair of Faculty Affairs, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; Director of the Sarcoma Program, Abramson Cancer Center; Chief, Orthopaedic Oncology.

Dr. Prathima Setty welcomes Dr. Ethel Siris, the Madeline C. Stabile Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, and the Director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center of the Columbia University Medical Center. Their discussion focuses on updated indications and assessments for confirming diagnoses of osteoporosis and recommended approaches to treatment in mild to severe cases.

About NAMS

The interview was conducted live at The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) meeting. Founded in 1989, NAMS is North America's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of all women during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging. Its multidisciplinary membership of 2,000 leaders in the field-including clinical and basic science experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education-makes NAMS uniquely qualified to serve as the definitive resource for health professionals and the public for accurate, unbiased information about menopause and healthy aging To learn more about NAMS, visit www.menopause.org.