Westfield State Sports Medicine Blog

  Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mirror Therapy as an Occupational Therapy Intervention for Stroke Rehabilitation   "Every 40 seconds, someone has a stroke. For many, recovery feels slow, painful, and uncertain. But what if a $10 mirror could unlock part of the brain’s hidden healing potential?" Evidence-based points 1. Mirror therapy (MT) is a cost-effective and accessible rehabilitation technique that uses visual feedback from the unaffected limb to promote motor recovery after stroke. 2. Evidence from multiple randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews shows that MT: Significantly improves upper and lower limb motor function, balance, and activities of daily living compared to conventional therapy alone. Reduces spasticity and supports recovery even in patients with severe paralysis. Practical applications 1. Integration into Routine Rehabilitation: Mirror therapy (MT) can be easily incorporated into existing stroke rehabilitation programs. 2. Accessibility: Req...

   How Do Menstrual Cycles Effect Exercise Performance?       Menstrual Cycles are different for every individual but the typical cycle lasts between 24 to 38 days. Throughout these days there are four different cycles that occur, these include the follicular phase, ovulation phase, luteal phase and menstrual phase. During these phases hormone and energy level fluctuations occur which can have an effect on exercise performance. The goal is to discover what can be done about these fluctuations during different cycles.  Important Phases   Follicular phase which starts on the first day of menstruation and ends during the ovulation phase. It typically lasts around 16 days but can range from 11 to 27 days depending of individuals specific cycle.    Luteal phase is the ending of the cycle after ovulation and it lasts around 14 days. This phase is right before menstr uation where premenstrual syndrome takes place.  What Did Research F...

  Is Exercise Therapy an Effective Alternative  to Surgery for Meniscal Tears?   Did you know that physical therapy can often produce the same results as surgery for meniscus tears? For millions of people facing this injury, choosing the right treatment is a crucial decision that impacts their mobility and quality of life. What is the Meniscus? The meniscus is a crescent-shaped cartilage in the knee joint, sandwiched between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone). Each knee has two menisci—one on the inner side (medial) and one on the outer side (lateral). Their primary roles are to: Act as shock absorbers, distributing weight across the knee joint. Stabilize the knee by keeping it aligned during movement. Protect the cartilage from wear and tear. A damaged meniscus disrupts these functions, leading to pain, swelling, and difficulty in everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs. How Many People Are Affected by Meniscal Tears? Meniscal tears are one of the m...

Imagine a future where individuals battling with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can embrace a life of mobility and reduced pain through treatments tailored to their unique needs. For those who are suffering, therapeutic modalities like cryotherapy and aquatic therapy are typically painless forms of muscular and bone strengthening that can greatly increase the quality of life of distressed patients. We will dive into four different therapeutic modalities and the features that each can provide when searching for the most proactive strategies that empower patients to regain control of their health and well-being. Understanding Ankylosing Spondylitis Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints which leads to pain, stiffness, and eventual fusion of the spinal vertebrae in severe cases. As a debilitating and progressive form of spinal arthritis, this disease has no known cure. Among 3.4 million cases in the United States, thera...