We Are Hiring!

About Our Facility:

Therapy Concepts has been a leader in rehabilitation care, education and community service to the Kansas City area for over 20 years. Our facility is a Medicare certified rehabilitation agency dedicated to the treatment of patients who experience chronic health challenges, acute disabling injuries or illness. See below for a list of our unique specialized rehab programs.

Located in Leawood, Therapy Concepts serves the rehabilitation needs of the Kansas City metro area as well as multiple surrounding counties. Our comprehensive team combines the skills of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, massage therapists, nutritional counselors, an art therapist and licensed professional counselors. We provide a unique resource unlike any other in the community. The extensive scope of services and programs have been developed to assist health care professionals and patients effectively resolve chronic health care challenges through our multi-disciplined approach. Since 1989, our exceptional therapeutic outcomes have increased options for physicians looking for resources for their patients. Come learn and grow with this growing team of specialists!

Our services have expanded to include specialized Clinical programs for:

Orthopedic/Functional Therapy

Cancer Recovery and Rehabilitation

Lymphedema/ Edema

Leg Vein Disorders

Spine and Extremity Therapy

Chronic Pain

Wound Care

Neuropathy

Autoimmune Disorders (fibromyalgia)

Parkinson's Rehabilitation

Therapeutic Exercise

Pre/Post Surgical Therapy

Senior Adult Rehabilitation and Wellness programs

Want to join and bring your area of expertise to our team? Contact us today for an interview at 913-438-8000.

Benefits:

To attract and retain the best professionals, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes medical, continuing education, and much more. Will train the right person/new graduates. Sign on bonus for the right person and paid certification after 6 months!

Salary and hours (FT/PT) is negotiable and commensurate with experience

An Equal Employment Opportunity

Therapy Concepts is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Call 913-438-8000 for an appointment or fax resume to 913-438-8008

Pain Management and Sciatica

Sciatica is a common type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve, a large nerve extending from the lower back down the back of each leg.

What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica?

Common symptoms of sciatica include:

• Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• A constant pain on one side of the rear
• A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up

Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Often, the pain extends from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.

For some people, the pain from sciatica can be severe and debilitating. For others, the pain from sciatica might be infrequent and irritating, but has the potential to get worse.

Seek immediate medical attention with any symptoms of progressive lower extremity weakness and/or loss of bladder or bowel control.

What Causes Sciatica?

Sciatica is caused by irritation of the root(s) of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine.

Additional common causes of sciatica include:

• Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back)
• Degenerative disc disease (breakdown of discs, which act as cushions between the vertebrae)
• Spondylolisthesis (a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over another one)
• Pregnancy

Other things that may make your back pain worse include being overweight, not exercising regularly, wearing high heels, or sleeping on a mattress that is too soft.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a traditional treatment methodology aimed at the treatment and curing of certain ailments, and preventing the chances of reoccurrence of the same at a later point of time. Its primary aim is to bring back the patients to his/her normal self, free of any pain or sufferings, so that he/she could then onwards lead a normal life by performing all the daily activities with minimal or no difficulty. Physical therapy deals with cardiopulmonary and neurological conditions as well. Physical therapy is generally required for those with permanent disabilities, those who have had a major injury or accident and is in a recuperating phase, or for those who are suffering from crippling diseases like arthritis, low back pain, or cerebral palsy. In certain cases, some diseases or medical conditions impair the patient so much that it becomes necessary to teach the patient to function optimally within the limitations of the condition, by building on the residual capabilities left in the patient. Physical therapy is effective in such circumstances as well, and with prolonged treatment under the supervision of an expert physiatrist, it is possible for the patient to regain a major share of the mobility of his/her joints, achieve flexibility, and acquire better balance and coordination as far as his/her overall self is concerned. Apart from this, physical therapy also helps in significantly improving the overall fitness and health of the patient. Physical therapy is also very effective in aiding children to cope with issues such as developmental delays or muscle and joint weaknesses that could happen in their early years. In such cases, a physiatrist usually depends on a variety of techniques such as strength training, balance and coordination exercises, stretching exercises, ultrasound therapies, and electrical stimulation of affected body parts alongside massage to help the child build strength to his/her physical weaknesses. But, the exact methods to be used are decided by the physiatrist after diagnosing the child. For physical therapy to be effective, it is important that the patient also responds positively to the treatment, and for that to happen he/she needs to be in a positive frame of mind and not in a saddened or dull mindset. Hence, these days, physical therapy also includes efforts to motivate the patient to make sure that he/she indeed remains in a positive mindset all through out the session. Finally, for receiving the full benefits of physical therapy, it is important that the patient follows the instructions of the physiatrist religiously. In many cases, people tend to think that they know the exercises well enough after some time and hence they could do the rehabilitation quite effectively without any external help. But, such acts generally cause more damage to the existing injury than providing any real benefits. Physical therapy needs time to cure and equally important is the fact that the patient has to undergo the treatment in the perfect way possible always. A physiatrist who monitors the progress could correct if there is any error in the posturing or practice, and he/she periodically redesigns the exercise programs accordingly as the patient gets better or improves in health and strength. None of this would be possible if the patient tries to manage the rehabilitation program himself. Remember, the final result or complete recovery through physical therapy is a combination of diligence, compliance, and dedication, and that requires continued interaction and coordination between the patient and the physiatrist. To sum it up, physical therapy is hugely effective in treating injured joints, bones, muscle weaknesses, and many neurological ailments. But, it must be done in the proper way, under the supervision of an able physiatrist. Else, it won’t produce the desired results nor would the patient ever recover early either.

What you need to know about Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast cancer begins in a cell, which divides and multiplies at an uncontrolled rate. A small clump of cancer cells are too tiny to be felt, so the earliest stages of breast cancer usually have no symptoms. A mammogram can detect cancer before you can feel a lump, which is why your annual screening mammogram is so important. Some benign breast conditions can seem like cancer, so it’s good to know the difference, and get a health professional to check out worrisome lumps.

Understanding Symptoms
The classic symptom for breast cancer is a lumpfound in the breast or armpit. An aggressive type of this disease, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), grows in sheets or nests of tumor cells that invade the skin and can resemble a rash. Doing your monthly breast self-exam (BSE) is a great way to be familiar with your breasts’ texture, cyclical changes, size, and skin condition. Early detection is the best way to protect your health and improve your odds of survival. Don’t hesitate to see your doctor or nurse for a clinical breast exam (CBE) if you have a question about a change in your breasts.

Symptoms You Can See or Feel:

• swelling or lump (mass) in the breast
• swelling in the armpit (lymph nodes)
• nipple discharge (clear or bloody)
• pain in the nipple
• inverted or retracted nipple
• scaly or pitted skin on nipple
• persistent tenderness of the breast
• unusual breast pain or discomfort

Symptoms Seen On Breast Imaging

• Microcalcifications in tight clusters
• Dense mass with spiky (spiculated) outline

Some Symptoms of Advanced (Metastatic) Breast Cancer
Stage 4, or metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of this disease. Metastatic breast cancer is defined as having spread beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes into other parts of the body.

• bone pain (bone metastases)
• shortness of breath (lung metastases)
• drop in appetite (liver metastases)
• unintentional weight loss (liver metastases)
• headaches, neurological pain or weakness (could be brain metastases)

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) – Aggressive and Unusual Symptoms
One type of breast cancer that does not appear in lumps is called inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). This aggressive cancer grows in sheets instead of lumps, and it invades nearby skin, resembling a rash. It will not respond to topical creams or antibiotics, and should be treated very promptly.

Symptoms:

• a sudden increase in mature breast size (as much as a cup size in a few days)
• itching in the skin of the breast that is continuous and not relieved by pills or creams
• a change in the breast skin color, resulting in pink, red, or dark-colored areas
• breast is excessively warm to the touch, or harder or firmer than usual
• unusual pain, which occurs out of the regular cycle
• sometimes a change in skin texture, similar to the skin of an orange
• breast skin ulcers (later stage IBC)

Symptoms of Breast Cancer Recurrence

Recurrence of breast cancer is classified as local, regional, and distant. A distant recurrence is the same as advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. A local recurrence is breast cancer that has returned after treatment, in or close to the original tumor location. It can often be effectively treated. Regional recurrence may be in the chest wall muscles, or in lymph nodes located beneath your sternum, just above your collarbones, and around your neck.

Local Recurrence Symptoms:

a small lump or rash in the excision scar, on or under the skin

Regional Recurrence Symptoms:

• swollen lymph node in the same armpit where cancer was previously removed
• swollen lymph nodes above collarbones or sides of neck

A New Tumor Is Not a Recurrence

If a new tumor appears and has a different pathology than the original breast cancer, it is not considered a recurrence. It is called a new primary, and can occur in a different area of the breast that was originally affected, or in the opposite breast. A new cancer is diagnosed and treated independently from the original tumor.

Yoga is a science that has been practiced for thousands of years, and substantial research has been conducted lately to evaluate the health benefits associated with yoga. A lot of classes offered focus on learning the actual physical poses; however there are also styles of yoga that enable you to increase your flexibility, strength and balance. So what are the specific health benefits you should expect from doing yoga regularly?

You will notice a difference in your flexibility and strength which in turn will reduce many types of pain. When stretched in new ways, your body becomes more flexible and you will have greater range of motion in your muscles and joints. Some exercises require you to transition slowly from pose to pose, which also increases strength. Since increased physical activity is great for relieving stress, yoga can be very therapeutic. It is also great for increased concentration due to the focus needed to maintain proper form.

If yoga seems like a healthy choice for you, come join yoga instructor Mayura Shah for a stress relieving yoga class! Mayura is a certified yoga teacher from the Lakulish Institute of Yoga, India. With over 15 years of experience, Mayura is a very caring, passionate, knowledgeable, and experienced teacher and her teaching approach helps her students develop flexibility, strength and endurance by honoring sound principles of proper alignment, breath awareness and relaxation. Mayura is also a volunteer for the Touched By Cancer Foundation, and she is offering classes for cancer survivors at our facility.

Classes begin again in Octobe, and will run every Saturday morning. Drop-in or single class rates are $10 a session. Please e-mail clewis@therapyconcepts.net for more information.

Class size is limited, so please call us at Therapy Concepts, 913-438-8000 to reserve your spot!

Separated Shoulder

A shoulder separation is an injury to the acromioclavicular joint on the top of the shoulder. The shoulder joint is formed at the junction of three bones: the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the arm bone (humerus). The scapula and clavicle form the socket of the joint, and the humerus has a round head that fits within this socket.

A shoulder separation occurs where the clavicle and the scapula come together. The end of the scapula is called the acromion, and the joint between this part of the scapula and clavicle is called the acromioclavicular joint. When this joint is disrupted, it is called a shoulder separation. Another name for this injury is an acromioclavicular joint separation, or AC separation.

Is a shoulder separation the same as a shoulder dislocation?
No! These two injuries are commonly confused, but they are very different conditions. As described above, the shoulder joint is located at the junction of three different bones: the clavicle, the scapula, and the humerus. In a shoulder separation, the junction of the clavicle and scapula is disrupted. In a shoulder dislocation, the humerus (arm bone) is displaced from the socket. Not only are the injuries different in anatomic terms, but the implications for treatment, recovery, and complications are also different.

How does a shoulder separation occur?
A shoulder separation is almost always the result of a sudden, traumatic event that can be attributed to a specific incident or action. The two most common descriptions of a shoulder separation are either a direct blow to the shoulder (often seen in football, rugby, or hockey), or a fall on to an outstretched hand (commonly seen after falling off a bicycle or horse).

What are the symptoms of a shoulder separation?
Pain is the most common symptom of a separated shoulder, and is usually severe at the time of injury. Evidence of traumatic injury to the shoulder, such as swelling and bruising, are also commonly found.

The diagnosis of shoulder separation is often quite apparent from hearing a story that is typical of this injury, and a simple physical examination. An x-ray should be performed to ensure there is no fracture of these bones. If the diagnosis is unclear, an x-ray while holding a weight in your hand may be helpful. When this type of x-ray is performed, the force of the weight will accentuate any shoulder joint instability and better show the effects of the separated shoulder.

Are all separated shoulders the same?
No. Separated shoulders are graded according to the severity of the injury and the position of the displaced bones. Shoulder separations are graded from type I to VI:

· Type I Shoulder Separation:
A type I shoulder separation is an injury to the capsule that surrounds the AC joint. The bones are not out of position and the primary symptom is pain.

· Type II Shoulder Separation:
A type II shoulder separation involves an injury to the AC joint capsule as well as one of the important ligaments that stabilizes the clavicle. This ligament, the coracoclavicular ligament, is partially torn. Patients with a type II separated shoulder may have a small bump over the injury.

· Type III Shoulder Separation:
A type III shoulder separation involves the same type of injury as a type II separated shoulder, but the injury is more significant. These patients usually have a large bump over the injured AC joint.

· Type IV Shoulder Separation:
A type IV shoulder separation is an unusual injury where the clavicle is pushed behind the AC joint.

· Type V Shoulder Separation:
A type V shoulder separation is an exaggerated type III injury. In this type of separated shoulder, the muscle above the AC joint is punctured by the end of the clavicle causing a significant bump over the injury.

· Type VI Shoulder Separation:
A type VI shoulder separation is also exceedingly rare. In this type of injury the clavicle is pushed downwards, and becomes lodged below the corocoid (part of the scapula)

The (In) Flexible Shoulder

The shoulder is one of the most flexible joints in the human body. We can move our shoulders in directions like no other joint. Owing to it's flexibility, we can do things like paoint a ceiling or pitch a baseball.

This flexiibility comes at the price of stability. Since the shulder is held together by ligamnets and muschles, and has a lot of mobility, it is on the th most unstable joints in the body.

What's your risk?

If you have a job or play a sport that requires a lof shoulder mobility and flexibility, you may be at rick for shoulder injuries.

The following individuals, for example, are highly susceptible:

• Overhead athlets, like tennis players, swimmers, basebal pitchers


• Painters


• Construction workers


• Movers
  

Commom Injuries Of The Shoulder

Common symptoms include:

• Pain when raising the arm


• Pain that persists beyond a few days


• Swelling or bruising around the arm


• Pain when leaning on, or sleeping on the afected shoulder


• Weakness in the arm that stops you from lifting a grocery bay, reaching up, or pushing opena heavy door


• Having difficulty or being unable to carry your child


• Inability to use the arm

1. 
   Overuse and trauma are the most common reson the shoulder is prone to injury. The muscles that support the shoulder - the rotator cuff muscles - can suffer from wear and tear trauma. In some cases, where there is no known cause for shoulder pain. Years of poor posture or improper movement patterns can play a role.
   
   Repetitive activities lead to repetitive stress injuries. Also, too much wear and tear of the shoulder muscles and the joint capsue, or even UNDERUSE of the arm itself, can lead to frozen shoulder.
   
   If you suffer from any ofht he symptoms mentioned above, call our office today. Relief is just a phone call away!
   
   Your Physical Therapist - A Shoulder To Lean On
   
   Stress on your shoulder is one of the most common causes of shoulder injury, but one of themost overlooked reasons for shoulder injury is inactivity. When you don't use the muscles regularly, theny become weaker. The phrase "If you don't use it, you lose it" is applicable to muscles.
   
   If you don't exercise the full range of your shoulder throught moderate-intesisity esericws, the risk of hurting your shoulder increases. Legaments tighten, muscles weaken, and blood flow becomes inhibited. Over time, this can accelerate joint degeneratuon and trigger shoulder pain.
   
   We have the solution.
   
   Regular exercise (power walking with good arm movement, swimming, golf, tennis) may minimize the onset of severety of shoulder pain.
2. Proper body mecnaniscs- this can be counter-intuitive. Ask your therapist if your body mechanics need to be corrected.
3. 
   Strength and Flexibility - balanced muscles of the shoulder, chest, upper back, and abdominals help keep your shoulder joints well-aligned and pain free.
   

Remember, common sense is the best line of defense against hurting your shoulder. It is important to not push yourself too much, especially if there is discomfort. Don't do too much activity too soon. If you expereince ANY pain in your shoulder with any activity, stop! If it is MILD call your doctor of physical therapist. Don't ignore the pain.

The quicker the problems is addressed, the sooner your can begin healing and returning to your favorite activities.

We are here to serve you and help you achieve a speedy recovery as quickly as possible. We'll give yor a shoulder to lean on, so you have a healthy, pain free shoulder.