The Role of Dehydration in Sport Performance

Physical therapist becomes board certified

By Dr. Chad M. Pens

As the start of the fall sport season begins and athletes young and old are in the midst of their preseason training, I thought it pertinent to discuss the role of hydration in athletic performance. Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a condition whereby an individual’s body loses the ability to dissipate heat when exercising in extreme heat situations, and it is extremely dangerous. Keeping the body well hydrated can help prevent EHS from occurring, and can relatively enhance performance in one’s given sport.

Dr. Chad M. Pens Earns Board Certification as
an Orthopedic Specialist in Physical Therapy

By Dr. Chad M. Pens

Dr. Chad. M Pens, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC, CSCS of Cayuga Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, PC (COAST Physical Therapy) recently became board certified as a clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS). The ABPTS of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), awards certificates to physical therapists meeting approved requirements. To obtain board certification, candidates must submit evidence of required clinical practice in a specialty area, and successfully complete a rigorous written examination, which demonstrates specialized knowledge and advanced clinical proficiency in a specialty area of physical therapy practice. The APTA has awarded specialist certification to 828 physical therapists this year. Specifically, 542 physical therapists became board certified in orthopaedics nationally, 54 in New York State alone. To date 7,573 physical therapists have achieved board certification since 1985..

Play Ball: Avoiding Shoulder and Elbow Injuries

By Dr. Chad M. Pens

Now that spring is finally in the air, it is time to play baseball. When it comes to baseball and other overhead sports, health care professionals like myself typically think about shoulder and elbow injuries and their rehabilitation. With the start of baseball season, a large number of visits to the doctor are for injuries to the shoulder and elbow. Seeing as how the season is still young, the best sort of medicine is preventative medicine, or avoiding injury altogether.

Benefits Of Spinal Surgery Disappear After 6 Months

Physical Therapy offers same outcomes for patients with sciatica 6 months after surgery.

By Dr. Chad M. Pens

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal1 reports that spinal surgery for patients with sciatica offers a short-term benefit, but by 6 months that benefit disappears and no difference is seen between patients who had surgery and those receiving physical therapy. The study suggests that the benefits of surgery are only short-term and conservative treatments such as physical therapy may offer the same outcome.