The new health care bill is extremely complex and many that are currently insured are unsure of how the bill will affect their insurance policy.

Check out this posting from the New York Times health blog about insurance and physical therapy.

Falls in the elderly are the leading cause of fatal as well as non fatal injuries. Thirty percent of people over the age of 65 will fall each year.

Sixty percent of elderly falls occur in the home. By safe proofing your or your loved ones house, you can help decrease this number. Learn a few easy tips to help "fall proof" a house.

Living Room:
Pick up any throw rugs…. Do not have them anywhere in the house
Have ample space to walk in between furniture
Keep all electrical cords out of the way

Stairs:
Keep all stairways free of clutter
Install hand rails on both sides of the steps

Bathroom:
Keep a night light on at all times
Install rails in the bathtub or shower
Place a non skid mat in the shower or bathtub

After speaking to a patient the other day, it was conveyed that she felt her therapy sessions had become too "hands off." After being taught an exercise this patient would perform it independently while the therapist treated another patient at the same time.

The desire to have a more individualized and one on one therapy session is something a lot of patients seem to prefer.

What are your thoughts? Take the poll below!

The straight leg raise is an excellent exercise to strengthen the muscles of the hip. It is one of the first exercises done after hip or knee replacement surgery.

The straight leg raise helps prevent weakness to the group of muscles that bend the hip joint. Easy and effective, the straight leg raise is easy to perform.

Review this exercise with your therapist today.