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CTS WELCOMES MILAN PATEL, DPT
Specializing in Orthopedics and Male Pelvic Health
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Milan received his Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature from UCLA and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from San Diego State University. Before becoming a PT, Milan spent several years managing clinical trials for pulmonary conditions, specifically emphysema. It was during this time he began to see how beneficial movement can be for the human body, which led him down the path to physical therapy. At SDSU, Milan completed clinical rotations in the areas of pediatrics, neurology and orthopedics, and was elected president of his class. Milan was also part of the Women's Health research group looking at the effects of exercise and taping on abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti), a study that will be published in the Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy in 2018.
After receiving his Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Milan has furthered his education by taking courses in bowel and GI health, pelvic pain, Men's Pelvic Health, vestibular dysfunction, McKenzie Method for spinal pain, and Kinesiotaping. He specializes in orthopedics as well as Male Pelvic Health including post-prostatectomy, pelvic pain, incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Milan loves empowering his patients and getting them moving using a combination of traditional physical therapy, Applied Functional Science, and Pilates based exercises. He also uses a variety of manual techniques including joint mobilizations, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and soft tissue mobilizations.
In his free time, Milan loves spending time with his family, trying new kettlebell exercises, playing hacky sack, hiking, reading, and tinkering with computers.
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In keeping with our commitment to providing the best physical therapy care possible, CTS now offers real-time ultrasound (RTUS) to assist your healing journey.
This amazing technology enables us to see your muscles, tendons, bones, and tissue "live" on a viewing screen.
Ultrasound has been used for many years in monitoring pregnancy. It doesn't use harmful (x-ray) radiation, and images are immediate. Using ultrasound, we can watch your muscles and joints on the screen in motion.
RTUS is conducted using a lightweight system similar to a laptop computer with a connected hand-held probe (also called a transducer). The probe is placed against your skin to view (scan) the area. We use a special liquid gel between the transducer and your skin to improve the ultrasound signal. High-frequency sound waves are pulsed through the spot and, when they hit various anatomical objects or boundaries, they bounce back to the transducer and are relayed to the ultrasound system. The advanced technology and sophisticated software then turn those signals into two-dimensional images viewable on the screen.
Physical therapists do not use RTUS to diagnose injury, but we do use it for assessment of muscle function. This is especially helpful for deeper muscles, such as the transverse abdominals, the pelvic floor muscles, and the deepest back muscles (the multifidi). For pelvic physical therapy, we can also use RTUS to assess the motion of organs. For example, in patients with stress urinary incontinence, we can actually see the movement of the bladder during a cough or sneeze. We can also use RTUS to make certain measurements, such as the distance between the right and left sides of the rectus abdominis muscle (in the case of diastasis recti, which is an abnormal separation of these muscles).
RTUS is also used as a tool for neuromuscular re-education. The images on the ultrasound screen are a form of visual biofeedback, giving you information in real time about what is happening inside your body. For many patients, this visual feedback helps them tune in and feel the movements of their body better. It helps patients relax muscles correctly during rest, and contract them with optimal timing and strength during exercises and functional activities.
The addition of real-time ultrasound to CTS offers exciting new learning experiences and the potential of an enhanced rehab experience. Ask your PT if RTUS is a good addition to your individualized physical therapy plan of care.
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Katherine Dahl, PT, MPT, CD(DONA)
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March is National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month. Autoimmune diseases are estimated to affect 25-50 million Americans, becoming the 10th leading cause of death amongst children and women over 64 (with the discrepancy being how agencies like NIH categorize autoimmune diseases). Having joined this statistic myself, I have had to navigate the varying pieces of information from medications, diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations to regain control over my symptoms and life. I have learned that there are times where some information and suggestions are more applicable than others, but the following have been consistent habits that help keep my symptoms at bay, and I become vigilant with them when in a flare:
Sleep: We recognize how important sleep is with our children, but somewhere in the transition to adulthood sleep no longer becomes an important habit to maintain. We tell ourselves we need down time at night, we can make it up on the weekend, we have too much to do, etc. The truth is poor sleep routines have been linked to cardiovascular disease, depression, weight gain, diabetes, dementia, autoimmune diseases, etc. Sleep hygiene is not often innate and requires trusting that if you improve your sleep, you will feel better, be more productive and inevitably have more time to accomplish what you need to do. The ideal sleep hours are 10pm-6am, this means by 9pm you are already transitioning oneself. Lower the lights, close down computers, make sure the room is dark, complete your hygiene (we all know we have fallen asleep, gotten up to wash the face and/or brush the teeth and next thing we know we are WIDE AWAKE) and avoid entertainment that can "rev" you up like thriller shows and the news.
Hydration/Diet: Dehydration has been linked to brain fog, poor memory, decreased balance and strength... symptoms we can sometimes misconstrue as autoimmune disease symptoms. Hydration does not mean you have to consume a gallon a day, but do your best to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. Carbonated beverages and caffeine can not only irritate your gut (gut health connection is another blog all together) but also keep you up. As for diets, well there exists many because we are all different. I have explored many diets from Ayurvedic to paleo to intermittent fasting. Is there one that I stick to? Nope, because depending on where I am at in my life, dietary needs will change. I will say, eating as natural as possible is a constant principle I abide by, and I incorporate other dietary recommendations as needed.
Thoughts: Your body believes what you say. Studies have shown that positive mantras can help improve cellular health and immune function. It is not always easy to be positive and gracious when you are feeling pain, myalgia, brain fog and irritable. Amy Cuddy talks in her book
Presence that even changing your body position into a power pose like superman or wonder woman has been shown to shift your biochemistry and mindset to a more optimistic one. So even on the days where swearing and frustration are easier to go to, at least stand like a superman or wonder woman for two minutes.
Movement: Lastly, keep moving. Pain can have us catatonic. We fear movement will result in pain, yet we also know no movement will result in pain. Start to establish a resource of movements and exercises that can help you become stronger, as well as, a set of exercises to help restore and relax the body. This is where your PT can be instrumental in helping you navigate this world because there are so many options. Options mean lots of potential for success, as well as opportunities for some challenges.
Know that you are not alone on your journey. I am blessed to work with colleagues who have their own journeys with wellness and continue to share their knowledge and encouragement with myself and their clients. Remember that change takes time, and when you slip, it is only a chance for you to learn.
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OIL SPOTLIGHT - Wild Orange
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Cold pressed from the peel, Wild Orange is one of dÅTERRA's top selling essential oils due to its energizing aroma and multiple health benefits. High in monoterpenes, Wild Orange possesses stimulating and purifying qualities, making it ideal to support healthy immune system function. It can be taken daily to cleanse the body or used on surfaces as a natural cleaner. Diffusing Wild Orange will energize and uplift the mind and body while purifying the air. Wild Orange enhances any essential oil blend with a fresh, sweet, refreshing aroma.
Plant Part: Orange rinds (peel)
Extraction Method: Cold pressed/expressed
Aromatic Description: Sweet, fresh, citrus
Main Chemical Components: Limonene
PRIMARY BENEFITS
- Powerful cleanser and purifying agent
- Supports healthy immune function
- Uplifting to the mind and body
USES
- Use in an all-purpose spray to cleanse and purify surfaces.
- Add a drop to your water every day for a burst of flavor and to promote overall health.
- Diffuse to uplift mood and energy levels and to freshen the air.
- For an energizing boost, dispense one to two drops in the palm of your hand along with equal parts Peppermint and Frankincense. Rub palms together and inhale deeply from palms, then rub on the back of neck.
Interested in oils, but don't know where to start? Schedule a FREE 20 minute appointment to discuss your specific issues and how this natural solution can help. Email Kristin at
kristin@comprehensivetherapy.com to schedule your free appointment today!
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