The Pulse

Patient Information: Female, Age 86

Diagnosis: Right Shoulder Fracture / Shoulder Pain

History: This woman fell at her home in an assisted living facility, resulting in a fracture of her
right shoulder. She was evaluated and treated in the emergency room and returned home with an immobilizer to limit the movement of her shoulder. After six weeks of right shoulder immobilization, she was referred to outpatient therapy. Prior to her fall she lived in an assisted living facility and was independent with dressing, eating, and bathing.

Gersten’s 1955 article on the effect of ultrasound on tendon extensibility began six decades of continuous published research, which has demonstrated the tried and true benefits of ultrasound. ¹ These benefits include pain reduction, a high degree of patient comfort and acceptability, increased cellular microcirculation, relaxation of trigger points and improved collagen extensibility. All of these physiological benefits are dependent on proper dosage and application technique. Ultrasound can provide both mechanical and thermal effects. An effective, skilled ultrasound treatment requires the use of high-quality ultrasound equipment, evidence-based patient-specific parameters, the appropriate treatment area, proper transducer movement speed, and optimal incorporation of the treatment with other therapy procedures.

Patient Information: Male, Age 72

Diagnosis: Spinal Stenosis / Muscle Weakness / Low Back Pain

History: This gentleman went to the emergency room (ER) due to increased pain from spinal stenosis. He received pain medication and was sent home. He fell and returned to the ER and was referred to a skilled nursing facility due to his inability to bear weight on his right leg, walk, or return home. Previously he lived independently in a single story home with three steps at the entry.

Shoulder range of motion, strength, and function are vital to self-care and everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, lifting and carrying items, and putting away groceries. With advanced age individuals may experience a variety of shoulder impairments including arthritis, rotator cuff tears, impingement, and fractures. These issues can result in pain, decreased motion, impaired strength, and reduced function.

IFC has been shown to be effective for treating multiple types of pain in locations throughout the body.^1,2 Both traditional IFC and PREMOD IFC can be done at sensory and motor levels. Sensory settings provide segmental pain relief that is fast-acting and lasts for several hours. Motor stimulation tends to be slower-acting, but may relieve pain for up to 8 hours via segmental and systemic pain modulation. Available options in the OmniStim^® Pro and OmniVersa^® electrical stimulation devices include:

Patient Information: Female, Age 82

Diagnosis: Right Hip Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) / Right Hip Pain / Falls

History: This woman was referred to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services after hospitalization due to a fall which resulted in a hip fracture requiring surgery. Prior to her fall she lived independently at home.

Acupuncture has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Over the past few decades, the practice of acupuncture has been accepted in the United States for the treatment of various conditions, including pain management. Traditional acupuncture treatment involves inserting needles at various well-defined points known as “acupoints”. In contrast to needles, research demonstrates that the stimulation of acupoints with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and therapeutic ultrasound also reduces pain^{1, 2}.  

Patient Information: Female, Age 85

Diagnosis: Falls / Back Pain

History: This woman, a long-term skilled nursing facility resident, was referred to therapy by the
nursing staff due to a recent fall in her room, decreased safety awareness, unsafe transfers,
and increased pain in her back and legs. Prior to the fall this woman required supervision to safely get in and out of bed and maximal assistance to walk.

Patient Information: Female, Age 92

Diagnosis: Osteoarthritis / Dementia / Anxiety

History: This woman, a long-term skilled nursing facility resident, was referred to therapy for right hip pain due to osteoarthritis which resulted in a functional decline with transfers in and out of bed and her ability to walk. Previously, this woman required minimal (<25%) assistance with bed mobility and transfers and she walked throughout the facility using a rolling walker and guiding contact of a caregiver for steadying assistance.