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< back to resultsNew Millcreek clinic treats concussions
August 27, 2014, 4:00am
Zaihe Regus closed his eyes and stood still on a nearly 2-inch-thick piece of foam.
The Mercyhurst University freshman's feet swayed slightly on the cushion, which is part of the Biodex Balance System. It measured how well Regus, 18, kept his body in balance.
"It's like I'm standing on Jell-O," Regus said.
Regus underwent the test Friday at the Concussion Clinic at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Fitness & Wellness Center, 5401 Peach St.
Physicians have been treating Regus and others with concussions at the clinic since it opened in July. It is in LECOM's Office of Sports Medicine and Integrated Care.
"This clinic formalizes what we have been doing informally for concussed patients for the past four or five years," said Patrick Leary, D.O., who oversees the clinic as LECOM's director of sports medicine.
Patients who visit Millcreek Community Hospital's emergency department and are diagnosed with a concussion are now referred to the clinic. Athletes from Mercyhurst University, the Erie Otters, Erie BayHawks and Erie Explosion are also treated for concussions at the clinic, which is also open to the public.
Regus got his concussion Tuesday during a Mercyhurst football practice when he hit a teammate during a drill.
"At first I had headaches, and I couldn't keep anything down," Regus said.
Regus went to the clinic Wednesday and returned on Friday. Mercyhurst athletes with concussions visit the clinic every other day until they are allowed to resume their sport, Leary said. Leary and his staff gave Regus several tests to determine the severity of his concussion.
"A CT scan doesn't tell you if there is a concussion," Leary said. "We have them fill out an evaluation form that goes through all the possible symptoms. We give them exams and test their responses."
Time is the best treatment for most concussions, which tend to heal within a week. More serious ones require therapy and, sometimes, medication.
Leary and his staff evaluate patients during each office visit. In addition to testing their balance on the Biodex machine, they also assess their memory, spatial thinking, vision and reaction time.
"When they no longer show any symptoms, we take them down to the fitness center and have them run 50-yard dashes, do pushups and situps, and perform some one-legged jumps," Leary said. "We want to see if physical exertion aggravates their symptoms before we allow them back to practice."
Regus was feeling much better Friday afternoon, but he wasn't quite ready to participate in football practice, Leary said.
"It's only been three days, and he's feeling better," Leary said. "He's improving."
DAVID BRUCE can be reached at 870-1736 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNbruce.
Falls and fall-related injuries seriously affect older adults’ quality of life. Falls cause painful debilitating injuries for older adults. With the Biodex Balance System SD, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation therapists can identify and modify the factors that lead to falls among older adults. Certain people are at high risk for accidental falls and should be regularly screened to help reduce the high number of fall-related injuries and deaths in the United States, according to a guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology. The guideline takes into account all available scientific studies and concluded that people with stroke, dementia and walking and balance disorders have the greatest risk of falling. Having fallen in the past year strongly predicts that a person will suffer another fall, and people with Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, weakness in the legs or feet and substantial vision loss are also at increased risk for falls. “Each year in the United States, accidental falls result in 1.8 million emergency room visits and more than 16,000 deaths,” says Scott McDermott, Occupational Therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital and manager of Rehab Center. “At St. Luke’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center we want to identify and help you modify the factors that lead to falls using our Biodex Balance System.” “A fear of falling is forefront in many older adults’ minds,” says McDermott. “By utilizing the Biodex Balance System, we can concentrate on rehabilitation and remove that fear. Building confidence and strength only improves results.” The Biodex Balance System enables the rehabilitation team at St. Luke’s Hospital to perform balance testing and identify fall risk candidates, determine ankle and knee status and determine limits of stability. This system also provides balance training including stabilization exercise, range of motion exercise and weight shift exercise. “People need to know that falls are preventable, and there are simple tests to determine if you’re at risk of falling,” McDermott said. “It’s important to discuss falls, since some people can face serious life consequences after falling. Issues such as disability and loss of independence may be averted only through fall prevention.” St. Luke’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center is hosting a free, fall-risk screening and conditioning program Wednesday, July 23, from 8 a.m. until noon. Appointments are necessary so call 894-8419 to schedule your free, fall-risk screening today. – article submitted - See more at: http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2014/07/15/st-lukes-rehabilitation-center-to-host-free-fall-risk-screening/#sthash.WS4wUx5H.dpuf
Falls and fall-related injuries seriously affect older adults’ quality of life. Falls cause painful debilitating injuries for older adults. With the Biodex Balance System SD, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation therapists can identify and modify the factors that lead to falls among older adults. Certain people are at high risk for accidental falls and should be regularly screened to help reduce the high number of fall-related injuries and deaths in the United States, according to a guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology. The guideline takes into account all available scientific studies and concluded that people with stroke, dementia and walking and balance disorders have the greatest risk of falling. Having fallen in the past year strongly predicts that a person will suffer another fall, and people with Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, weakness in the legs or feet and substantial vision loss are also at increased risk for falls. “Each year in the United States, accidental falls result in 1.8 million emergency room visits and more than 16,000 deaths,” says Scott McDermott, Occupational Therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital and manager of Rehab Center. “At St. Luke’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center we want to identify and help you modify the factors that lead to falls using our Biodex Balance System.” “A fear of falling is forefront in many older adults’ minds,” says McDermott. “By utilizing the Biodex Balance System, we can concentrate on rehabilitation and remove that fear. Building confidence and strength only improves results.” The Biodex Balance System enables the rehabilitation team at St. Luke’s Hospital to perform balance testing and identify fall risk candidates, determine ankle and knee status and determine limits of stability. This system also provides balance training including stabilization exercise, range of motion exercise and weight shift exercise. “People need to know that falls are preventable, and there are simple tests to determine if you’re at risk of falling,” McDermott said. “It’s important to discuss falls, since some people can face serious life consequences after falling. Issues such as disability and loss of independence may be averted only through fall prevention.” St. Luke’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center is hosting a free, fall-risk screening and conditioning program Wednesday, July 23, from 8 a.m. until noon. Appointments are necessary so call 894-8419 to schedule your free, fall-risk screening today. – article submitted - See more at: http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2014/07/15/st-lukes-rehabilitation-center-to-host-free-fall-risk-screening/#sthash.WS4wUx5H.dpuf
Falls and fall-related injuries seriously affect older adults’ quality of life. Falls cause painful debilitating injuries for older adults. With the Biodex Balance System SD, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation therapists can identify and modify the factors that lead to falls among older adults. Certain people are at high risk for accidental falls and should be regularly screened to help reduce the high number of fall-related injuries and deaths in the United States, according to a guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology. The guideline takes into account all available scientific studies and concluded that people with stroke, dementia and walking and balance disorders have the greatest risk of falling. Having fallen in the past year strongly predicts that a person will suffer another fall, and people with Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, weakness in the legs or feet and substantial vision loss are also at increased risk for falls. “Each year in the United States, accidental falls result in 1.8 million emergency room visits and more than 16,000 deaths,” says Scott McDermott, Occupational Therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital and manager of Rehab Center. “At St. Luke’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center we want to identify and help you modify the factors that lead to falls using our Biodex Balance System.” “A fear of falling is forefront in many older adults’ minds,” says McDermott. “By utilizing the Biodex Balance System, we can concentrate on rehabilitation and remove that fear. Building confidence and strength only improves results.” The Biodex Balance System enables the rehabilitation team at St. Luke’s Hospital to perform balance testing and identify fall risk candidates, determine ankle and knee status and determine limits of stability. This system also provides balance training including stabilization exercise, range of motion exercise and weight shift exercise. “People need to know that falls are preventable, and there are simple tests to determine if you’re at risk of falling,” McDermott said. “It’s important to discuss falls, since some people can face serious life consequences after falling. Issues such as disability and loss of independence may be averted only through fall prevention.” St. Luke’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center is hosting a free, fall-risk screening and conditioning program Wednesday, July 23, from 8 a.m. until noon. Appointments are necessary so call 894-8419 to schedule your free, fall-risk screening today. – article submitted.
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