- Men's Health, Physical Therapy, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDry needling is a technique that has been around for decades, yet many people remain unfamiliar with it. Specially trained physical therapists use dry needling to relieve pain and improve range of motion for patients. Dry needling evolved from trigger point therapy. Muscles often form trigger points, or contracted knots, if they’re stressed or strained. “Dry” refers to the fact that no fluids, such as anesthetics or saline, are injected into the trigger point. What is occurring at the cellular level with dry needling is a complex process. However, a shortened version is the needle inserts into a trigger point in the muscle, which elicits a twitch response. This causes the body to activate an immune response to help healing and decrease pain. In addition, increased blood flow to the area occurs. The needles are single-use, thin filiform needles, similar to those used for acupuncture. The gauge and length of the needles may vary. Dry needling is not the same as acupuncture, even though similar needles are used. Acupuncture is based upon traditional Chinese medicine, while dry needling is based upon Western medicine. Traditional Chinese acupuncture uses needles to direct energy, while physical therapists use dry needling to release tight muscles. With acupuncture the needles go into meridian pathways, while with dry needling the needles go in to trigger points to reduce pressure and pain. Dry needling often evokes a localized twitch response that helps decrease muscle contraction, improve flexibility and decrease pain. Dry needling can help many chronic and acute conditions. This includes conditions where manual physical therapy techniques haven’t reduced pain sufficiently. Dry needling can help treat many diagnoses including, but not limited to, chronic neck and back pain, headaches, and overuse injuries. Overuse injuries include tendinitis of the rotator cuff, tennis elbow, runner’s knee, etc. Not everyone is an ideal candidate for dry needling. While dry needling can benefit many, there are some who are not good candidates. This includes those with needle phobia or who have a history of an abnormal reaction to an injection. Those with lymphedema or who are in their first trimester of pregnancy may not be ideal candidates either. Dry needling is not for those with unmanaged blood-clotting or immune-system disorders. Plus, the American Physical Therapy Association does not recommend dry needling for children younger than 12. Always check with your medical provider or physical therapist if you have concerns. Trigger points are often the result of lack of mobility of a joint, muscular weakness, repetitive stress and/or improper movement patterns. They are the “effect.” In order to restore normal function, we must treat the “cause.” Dry needling is just one tool a physical therapist may use in your treatment plan to achieve this goal. Authors Melissa Lambiasi, DPT, is a physical therapist certified to perform dry needling with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Physical Therapy. She works in AAMG Physical Therapy’s new Severna Park office and can be reached at 443-481-1140.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCoughing. Fever. Trouble breathing. These are some of the potential symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). If you or someone in your family exhibits these symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend you call your health care provider. Most people will have mild illness and will be asked to recover at home. If this applies to you, here are the steps you should take. Stay home Unless you are seeking medical care, please stay home. Self-isolate in a room away from other people in your home as much as you can. Use a different bathroom if you have one. Clean “high-touch” surfaces in those rooms, but let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas. Such surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Don’t share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels/wash cloths, bar soap or bedding with other people in your home. Wash these items thoroughly after using them. Wash your hands Hand washing is the single most important step in preventing infection from COVID-19. Use soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer to wash your hands, and have every member of your family do the same. Wash your hands after you touch surfaces, use the bathroom, cough, sneeze and before you eat or prepare meals. Monitor your symptoms If you are experiencing more serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or bluish lips, call 911 and say you may have COVID-19. This will allow health care providers to take steps to protect themselves and other patients. Wear a cloth covering, scarf or face mask if you have one. If you don’t, cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue. The CDC advises that you practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from others. When it’s okay to stop home isolation You can stop isolating when you’ve had no fever (without taking fever-reducing medications) for at least 72 hours, your other symptoms have improved and it has been a least seven days since your symptoms first appeared, the CDC says. After your fever has subsided, we recommend you follow these prevention steps for 10 days: Stay home except to get medical care. Don’t go to work or any public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride sharing or taxis. Ask a friend or family member who is healthy to help you with errands including buying groceries or picking up medications. Avoid people who are at high-risk of developing severe infections from COVID-19, including elderly people, people who are immunocompromised and people who have chronic health conditions such as chronic heart, lung or kidney problems. Author Jean Murray is Anne Arundel Medical Center’s director of Infection Control.0
- Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs women move beyond the child-bearing years, their responsibilities and sources of stress can shift and even increase. But the transition from mommy to midlife shouldn’t be a crisis. Women in their forties and fifties are often called the sandwich generation for a reason. We’re still parenting, yet may find ourselves caring for aging parents. In that squeeze women must remember to put their oxygen mask on first because women who take the time to care for their own physical and emotional well being are better equipped to handle everything else on their plate. Midlife is the time to tackle those issues our younger selves may have been too busy to address or too embarrassed to talk about. What are some of the top uncomfortable conversations to have with your doctor? Intimacy Issues A lot of intimacy issues I see with midlife women stem from loss of libido, or sexual desire. There’s no little blue pill to prescribe, but your doctor can help you can help you get to the heart of the problem, uncovering possible medical reasons for the issue. Bladder Control Problems Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is common for women as they age—whether it’s the strong sudden urge to go out of nowhere or the type that come on when you sneeze, laugh or cough. But it is not something you have to live with. There are exercises and diet changes that can help, as well as procedures that can be done. Perimenopause/Menopause As an OB-GYN I help many women manage the symptoms of menopause. Things that help include exercise, controlling your weight and, in some cases, hormone replacement therapy. New therapies have emerged, too. Healthy Habits Your doctor can help you make those necessary lifestyle changes you’ve been meaning to do, like quitting smoking, eating healthier, getting enough sleep, and exercising. In some cases, these changes may go hand in hand with helping a medical issue you’ve been having. Abuse Your conversations with your doctor are confidential, yet crucial if you don’t know what to do about your situation. Stress/Depression Talk to your doctor to better understand the chaos hormones may be inserting into your life, plus to help you navigate your stresses. Stress and/or depression could be tied to some of the other issues above, so taking care of one may help the other. Your doctor can help you navigate these midlife matters, allowing you to put down the supermom cape and realize you’re not alone on your health journey. Author By Karen Hardart, MD, an OB-GYN at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She can be reached at 410-573-9530. Originally published May 4, 2015. Last updated Aug. 6, 2018.0
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYour child’s sinuses are not fully developed until late in the teen years, but the child can still develop a sinus infection. Although small, the maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth. Childhood sinus problems may be difficult to diagnose, because symptoms may be caused by other problems, such as a viral illness or allergy. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, these symptoms may indicate a sinus infection: Cold-like symptoms lasting more than 14 days, sometimes with a low-grade fever. Thick nasal drainage, which may be yellow or green. Post-nasal drip, sometimes leading to a sore throat, cough, bad breath, nausea or upset stomach. Headache, usually in children 6 years or older. Irritability or exhaustion. Inflammation near the eyes. Which children are at risk for sinus infection? A sinus infection sometimes happens after an upper respiratory infection or common cold. The cold causes swelling that can block the opening of the sinuses. This can cause a sinus infection. Allergies can also lead to sinusitis because of swelling and increased mucus. Other possible conditions that can lead to sinusitis include: Abnormal shape of the nose. Infection from a tooth. Nose injury. Foreign object in the nose. Birth defect with abnormality of the roof of the mouth (cleft palate). Problem with stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD). What can I do to prevent sinusitis in my child? There are things that can help your child avoid sinusitis. They include: Have your child use saline sprays, washes, or both. Use these often to keep the nose as moist as possible. Use a humidifier in dry indoor environments. Keep your child away from cigarette and cigar smoke. Keep your child away from things that cause allergy symptoms. Don’t force water into the sinuses. For example, your child should not jump into water. Limit time in chlorinated pools. The chlorine can irritate the nose and sinuses. Practice good hand hygiene. Keep you and your child up to date with immunizations. Avoid close contact with people who have colds or others upper respiratory infections. Are you looking for a primary care doctor? Search our Find A Doc directory. Originally published Jan. 29, 2018. Last updated Nov. 14, 2019.0
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health has reached a major milestone. The health system has given more than 100,000 vaccines in our communities. Luminis Health can now provide more shots in arms, thanks to a $2.2 million state grant. The funding will be used to expand efforts to bring COVID-19 vaccinations to vulnerable residents in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. The Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) provided the funding to increase Maryland’s statewide vaccination rate. The new program awarded $12 million to hospital systems to expand and improve existing mobile and community-based vaccination programs. Luminis Health will use the funds to expand its mobile vaccination program. Since January, our Health & Wellness Team has administered shots at businesses, homeless shelters, senior centers, low-income housing communities, barber shops, churches, and community events. Through our mobile program, the health system will provide more than 41,000 additional vaccinations in 14 target zip codes across Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. “We need to meet people where they are,” said Christine Crabbs, director of Community Health at Luminis Health. “This additional funding will allow us to help our vulnerable residents who face challenges such as poverty and lack of access to health care, technology, and transportation. We will go door-to-door if necessary to get shots in arms.” Luminis Health will work with more than one hundred community partners on this project. “Consistent with our new 10-year strategic plan, Vision 2030, Living Healthier Together, we are focused on partnerships, public health, and care beyond the walls of the hospitals,” said Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “Since our mission is to enhance the health of the people we serve, it is our honor and duty to vaccinate as many as we can, to bring this pandemic to an end. Keitarree Smith of Annapolis received the 100,000 vaccine during a clinic at Mt. Olive AME Church. He was presented with a $100 Visa gift card and a special sign.0
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
View your Dashboard
Messages
Billing Summary
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Insurance Summary
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?