Ergonomic Spring Cleaning

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As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, we feel energized and motivated to engage in spring cleaning, a ritual that has been taking place for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Spring cleaning gives us an opportunity to breathe new life into our homes after the winter season.

Deep cleaning your home can be a daunting task, especially for those with chronic pain or limited mobility. The following tips for ergonomic cleaning can help you avoid pain and strain while getting the job done.

  1. Use Proper Tools: Invest in ergonomic cleaning tools that reduce the need for bending and stretching. Lightweight vacuum cleaners with adjustable handles and mops with long handles are great tools for reducing back strain. Consider using a scrub brush with long handles for cleaning your bathtubs and showers. You can even get a powered version which rotates on its own which helps you avoid having to tightly grip and exert pressure onto the cleaning tool to scrub away messes.
  2. Maintain Good Posture: Stand up straight while cleaning and avoid bending over excessively. Try to look ahead rather than looking down. Looking ahead can help in maintaining good posture and avoiding strain on the neck. Utilize a step stool by sitting on it when cleaning low areas rather than bending down to clean.
  3. Take Breaks and Stay Hydrated: Cleaning can be physically demanding, so take regular breaks to rest your muscles and prevent fatigue. Drink plenty of water while cleaning to stay hydrated and maintain energy levels.
  4. Alternate Tasks: Avoid doing repetitive motions for an extended period. Alternate between tasks to give different muscle groups a break.
  5. Use Proper Lifting Techniques: When lifting heavy objects like buckets or furniture, bend your knees and use your legs to lift, rather than your back. Keep the object close to your body and avoid twisting while lifting.
  6. Use Padding: Place padding under your knees or use knee pads when kneeling to clean low surfaces to reduce strain on your joints.
  7. Use Two Hands: When using cleaning tools like mops or brooms, use both hands to distribute the workload evenly and reduce strain on one side of your body. When dusting or wiping down surfaces, alternate between hands.
  8. Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to any discomfort or pain while cleaning. If something doesn’t feel right, stop and take a break or adjust your technique.

Workplace Wellness – What Is It and Why It Should Matter

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There are many factors that come into play when searching for a new career opportunity; location, pay rate, and benefits are always the topics of conversation during the interview process. How much of the company culture and the other important factors come into the conversation?  At Tx:Team, we are proud of our culture and the essential elements that define us.

Indeed, one of the top platforms for job searching, has compiled information based on reviews and determined a Workplace Wellness score for each company. This score serves as a report card reflecting employees’ sentiments about their workplace. Indeed collects information to help job seekers find better work and to encourage companies to create positive work environments where employees can thrive. This information is helpful for people who are looking for jobs because it can show them which companies are the best fit for them.

Guided by insights from the largest study of work well-being and in collaboration with industry experts, the Work Wellbeing Score evaluates the key aspects of happiness, stress, satisfaction, and purpose.

The Work Wellbeing Score brings together the following four survey statements:

  • Happiness: I feel happy at work most of the time.
  • Purpose: My work has a clear sense of purpose.
  • Satisfaction: Overall, I am completely satisfied with my job.
  • Stress-free: I feel stressed at work most of the time.

 

 

 

 

 

What is your company’s Workplace Wellness Score?

Tx:Team has a Workplace Wellness score of 82 = High. This is a direct reflection on how associates have responded to the survey statements.

The wellbeing survey statements are:

  • Achievement: I am achieving most of my goals at work.
  • Appreciation: There are people at work who appreciate me as a person.
  • Belonging: I feel a sense of belonging in my company.
  • Compensation: I am paid fairly for my work.
  • Energy: In most of my work tasks, I feel energized.
  • Flexibility: My work has the time and location flexibility I need.
  • Inclusion: My work environment feels inclusive and respectful of all people.
  • Learning: I often learn something at work.
  • Management: My manager helps me succeed.
  • Support: There are people at work who give me support and encouragement.
  • Trust: I can trust people in my company.

When searching for a new career opportunity, location, pay rate, and benefits are understandably at the top of the list of considerations. However, as a job seeker, it’s crucial not to overlook asking about the company’s workplace wellness initiatives as they can provide valuable insights into whether the company’s culture aligns with your preferences and values. Take the opportunity to ask whether employees feel energized, supported, and encouraged in their roles. Ask them what their Workplace Wellness is—it’s a topic we’re passionate about discussing here at Tx:Team!

Ask an Expert: Where Can I Find a Good Pair of Supportive Shoes That Still Look Good?

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Question: Where can I find a good pair of supportive shoes that still look good?

Answer: We recommend searching within your community for a local shoe store that specializes in footwear. Shoes are categorized by features that address different foot mechanics and diagnoses. Shoes are classified by three types such as neutral, stability, and motion control.

Shoe stores often cater to walkers and runners, but others have the resources to meet the needs of a more complex population with uncommon foot pathologies. These stores offer an abundant selection of footwear spanning from running shoes to sandals to dress shoes.

Conditions such as over pronation, posterior tibial tendonitis, heel spurs, bunions, and a host of other health conditions may be relieved with appropriate footwear made of quality materials. In more severe instances, custom orthotics are also an option.

We find that if shoes do not look good our patients will not wear them. With enough research and effort our patients can often find a shoe that offers a compromise between support, quality, and fashion.

Chris Barrett, PTA

World Lymphedema Day

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What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is the accumulation of excess lymph fluid in tissues, leading to swelling. It occurs when the lymphatic system, responsible for draining fluid from tissues, is compromised. Causes include infection, cancer, scar tissue from radiation therapy, or surgical removal of lymph nodes. This swelling can affect various body parts like arms, legs, shoulders, hands, fingers, chest, or neck, making the skin feel tighter or thicker. Symptoms may include aching, tingling, weakness, and joint pain, limiting mobility. Those affected are also prone to recurrent infections in affected limbs.

How Can Physical Therapy Help?

Physical and occupational therapists can craft a tailored treatment regimen to manage swelling and aid in your return to normal activities. A common treatment plan for lymphedema is complete decongestive therapy or CDT. CDT includes manual lymphatic drainage, personalized exercise programming, compression bandaging, and education on skin and nail hygiene to reduce the risk of infection. Physical and occupational therapists will carefully monitor your progress throughout your treatment sessions and once swelling has decreased to the desired measurements, they will help you to take over your own care.

While all physical and occupational therapists are prepared by their education and experience to treat lymphedema, you may want to consider treatment by a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT). A physical therapist with a CLT certification has received intensive training on the management and treatment of lymphedema. The Find a PT tool built by the American Physical Therapy Association can help you find a CLT in your area.

Source: American Physical Therapy Association

The Important Role of Feet and Ankles

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The foot and ankle form a complex system of 28 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 ligaments, tendons, and muscles that serve as the foundational support for our entire body structure. They are essential for supporting body weight and maintaining balance, stability, and propulsion as we navigate different terrains.

Any discomfort, injury, or misalignment in the feet or ankles can significantly impact our mobility and posture, leading to potential pain or issues in the knees, hips, or lower back. Given the integral role of the feet in overall body function, addressing any related injuries or dysfunctions is crucial for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

Common issues associated with the feet and ankles include hyper- or hypo-mobility, arthritis, overuse injuries like shin splints and tendonitis, ankle sprains, instability, and post-fracture complications.

Physical therapy offers effective solutions to alleviate these problems. Physical therapists specialize in assessing, treating, and enhancing the function of the foot and ankle through a combination of techniques such as manual therapy, targeted exercises for strengthening, balance enhancement, and posture correction. PTs personalize treatment plans to address specific goals and diagnoses, aiming to alleviate pain, enhance strength, restore motion, improve stability, and reduce chance of future injury. PTs can conduct thorough gait analyses to identify and rectify any biomechanical abnormalities, thereby reducing strain and dysfunction throughout the body. Thanks to physical therapy, you can return to an active, pain-free lifestyle by minimizing limitations and optimizing overall foot and ankle function.