What is value-based care?  The healthcare system in the US has been changing for several years under healthcare reform. While the expansion of insurance coverage for Americans is the most obvious change under Obamacare, there are many other changes that all serve what is referred to as the “triple aim” of healthcare reform. These three components are: Improving the patient experience Improving health outcomes Controlling healthcare costs  It is quite well kno...

What happens after the joint replacement?  More and more people are undergoing joint replacement surgery in order to reduce joint pain and improve function. The most common joint replacement procedures are for hip and knee osteoarthritis. So it was interesting to read the results of a recent study that investigated how hip or knee replacement impacts physical activity levels. This study was a systematic reviewArnold JB, Walters JL, Ferrar KE. Does physical activity increase after hip or k...

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)  Femoroacetabular impingement is a condition that involves the hip joint. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint that is comprised of the round-shaped head of the femur (thigh bone) and the cup shaped acetabulum of the pelvis. Normally, the head of the femur glides smoothly within the socket during hip movements. Sometimes, the shape of the femur or acetabulum is irregular, which causes abnormal contact or impingement of these structures during hip move...

Benefits of Cold Therapy  It is the time of year when people tend to me more physically active – which is a very good thing of course. This increased activity level, however, also can lead to a greater susceptibility to injury. And one of the most common treatments for acute injury is cold therapy, or cryotherapy. So how does cold therapy work? The application of a cold pack or ice to injuries such as ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendonitis, or bruises creates local physiologic...

Physical Therapy Underused in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis  It has been recently reported that physical therapy is underused in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the military. This report was based upon military data on 130,000 men and women. Instead, people in the military who were diagnosed with knee OA were much more likely to receive an injection rather than being referred to a physical therapist. This is just one of many examples of health care that is out of step...