Articles
Pain After Breast Cancer: Costochondritis
Pain after Breast Cancer: Costochondritis Is pain after breast cancer normal? The answer to this question is often vague. For many women, pain is a normal part of recovery after breast cancer treatment. But for some women, persistent pain after breast…
Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: Regaining Independence
A spinal cord injury (SCI) can change almost every part of daily life. Walking, using your hands, getting dressed, transferring from a bed to a wheelchair, managing your bladder and bowel, returning to work, driving, and participating in the activities…
Neuro Rehab Technology: Rewiring the Brain, Restoring Function & Hope
Technology has transformed rehabilitation and the way people with disabilities live, work, communicate, and participate in their communities. From a simple adaptive utensil to an advanced robotic exoskeleton, technology can help people overcome challenges…
Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies Having multiple sclerosis can be a daunting challenge. But participating in multiple sclerosis research studies is one action that can have a number of positive benefits. Arming yourself with information and building…
Wheelchair Fit for Function and Support
Whether you use a manual wheelchair or a power wheelchair, proper wheelchair fit is about much more than comfort—it is essential for your health, independence, and quality of life. A wheelchair that doesn't fit correctly can make everyday activities more…
Assistive Technology for People with Disability
Assistive technology isn’t just for people with disabilities—it can make everyday life easier for everyone. From smartphone apps that help us stay organized to tools that improve communication, make home access easier, and enhance transportation and mobility,…
Adaptive Driving Equipment: Regain Your Freedom Behind the Wheel
Disability can take away many things — strength, memory, vision — making once-simple daily tasks challenging. Activities that used to be easy may now require effort or assistance. One of the greatest obstacles for people with disabilities is transportation. The…
Rehabilitation after Amputation
Rehabilitation After Amputation Losing a limb is a life-altering experience that can affect nearly every aspect of daily life—from mobility and self-care to work, independence, and emotional well-being. Sometimes an amputation happens unexpectedly; other…
Top 5 Ways to Relieve Arthritis Pain
Arthriris is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the U.S.—and it can cause significant pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. In more severe cases, it can impact your ability to work, care for yourself, or enjoy daily life. The good…
Lipedema: Finding Answers, Treatment and Hope
Lipedema is a chronic, progressive disorder of adipose (fat) tissue that affects millions of women worldwide, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed conditions. Until recently, treatment options were limited, leaving many people…
Water Exercise for Lipedema and Lymphedema
Water exercise is one of the best exercises for people with lipedema and lymphedema. And if you're not already doing water exercise, summer is a great time to try it! Benefits of Water Exercise for Lipedema and Lymphedema Gravity Elimination…
Spasticity, Tremors, and Ataxia: How Therapy Helps Abnormal Movements
Our bodies rely on the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles working together to create smooth, coordinated movement. When there is damage or dysfunction anywhere in this system—such as from a stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple…
Healing Beyond Cancer: Rehabilitation and Survivorship
Cancer is one of the most common health conditions in the United States, with nearly 1 in 10 adults reporting a lifetime history of a cancer diagnosis. The four most commonly diagnosed cancers are: Prostate cancer Breast cancer Lung and bronchus…
How To Help Wound Healing
Therapy Achievements provides help with wound healing for patients with lymphedema, burns, radiation/chemotherapy and more. Wounds come in all shapes and sizes. Some are due to burns or injury while others may be due to pressure or venous insufficiency.…
Aphasia: Speech Therapy Helps Life Without Words
Communication is not only how we interact with the world, it is how the world interacts with us. Imagine you suddenly lost your ability to understand speech, to talk, to read, and to write but you had NOT lost your intelligence. Imagine how everyday…
Rehabilitation Therapy After Stroke
Stroke strikes suddenly—and it can change life in an instant. It is one of the leading causes of long-term disability in adults in the United States. According to The Global Stroke Statistics, approximately 1 in 32 Americans has experienced a stroke,…
Rehab for Dysphagia: The Difficult Swallowing Dilemma
Eating and drinking are activities most of us take for granted—until swallowing becomes difficult. When swallowing problems develop, they can affect much more than mealtime enjoyment. Dysphagia, the medical term for difficulty swallowing, can impact nutrition,…
Speech Therapy after Laryngectomy: Vocal and Swallow Rehabilitation
Cancer of the larynx doesn’t always begin with dramatic symptoms. In fact, early warning signs are often subtle and easy to dismiss as allergies, reflux, or a lingering cold. Because symptoms can look so different from person to person, diagnosis is sometimes…
Resources for People with Brain Injury in Alabama
Have you experienced a concussion or brain injury? If so, you know firsthand how significantly it can affect daily life. From managing everyday tasks to maintaining long-term independence, a brain injury can create challenges that impact nearly every…
Hope After Brain Injury: Rehab and Recovery
An acquired brain injury can affect the way a person moves, thinks, communicates, and feels. It is often called an “invisible disability” because many survivors have no obvious outward signs of impairment, even though they may face significant physical,…
5 Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Lymphedema Therapist
Finding a Lymphedema Therapist Finding a qualified lymphedema therapist can be challenging! Lymphedema is often underrecognized and misunderstood, even within the healthcare community. And there are relatively few therapists with specialized training…
Top Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Multiple Sclerosis symptoms are variable and unpredictable. No two people have exactly the same symptoms, and each person's symptoms can change or fluctuate over time. One person might experience only one or two of the possible symptoms while another…
Getting Walk Ready: Tips to Prepare for MS Walk
Participating in Walk MS is an excellent way to stay active and support a great cause. For individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), proper preparation is key to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. Here are some research-backed tips to help you…
Shoe Recommendations for Patients with Lymphedema
Finding shoes that fit properly can be especially challenging for individuals living with lymphedema or swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet. The right footwear can help improve comfort, support mobility, and accommodate fluctuations in swelling throughout…
Top 5 Ways to Reduce Burn Scars
Most people are familiar with first-, second-, and third-degree burns, but burns can occur in many forms, including thermal, chemical, electrical, radiation, and sun-related injuries. Any of these can lead to long-term scarring if not properly managed. The…
Low Vision Doesn’t Mean No Vision: How Low Vision Rehabilitation Helps
Losing vision can be frightening and frustrating, especially when glasses, contacts, or surgery can’t fully fix the problem. But low vision does not mean the end of reading, cooking, working, or enjoying the activities you love. Low vision rehabilitation…
New Year, New You: How Therapy Helps You Reach Your Goals
The New Year is a time to reflect on the past and set plans for the future. For many people, the New Year symbolizes a fresh start—a chance to let go of what’s behind them and make plans for what’s ahead. Each January, roughly one in three Americans resolves…
Find Your Steady: Rehabilitation Therapy Helps Calm Essential Tremor
Essential tremor is a neurological condition that causes uncontrollable rhythmic shaking, especially during everyday tasks like drinking from a glass or tying your shoes. This can be incredibly frustrating and may affect your ability to live independently.…
When Weakness Takes Over: Overcoming Debility
What Is Debility? Debility refers to physical weakness that develops as a result of illness, injury, or underlying health conditions. It can result from medical conditions, lifestyle factors, and underlying health issues that lead to weakness and loss…
Holiday Driving Safety
The holidays are one of the busiest travel times of the year. While people look forward to the fun and excitement of the season and all the events it brings, driving safety is especially important during the holidays. Increased traffic, more nighttime…
Walking with Foot Drop: New Options for Better Mobility
Foot drop makes it difficult—or sometimes impossible—to lift the front part of your foot due to weakness or paralysis in the muscles responsible for dorsiflexion (lifting the toes). This movement is essential for normal walking and balance. When the…
Home for the Holidays: Making Visits Easier with Limited Mobility
Home for the Holidays: Making Visits Easier with Limited Mobility Spending time with family and sharing special meals is a cherished holiday tradition. Many of us look forward to gathering with loved ones to watch football, play games, and enjoy delicious…
Caring for Individuals with Memory Loss: A Guide for Caregivers
Memory loss is a common health condition that can severely impact a person’s quality of life. And caring for individuals with memory loss can be challenging. As people age, changes in physical function can lead to mental decline, making it harder to…
Finding Your Balance Again: Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular symptoms can be frightening, frustrating, and disruptive to everyday life—but you don’t have to simply live with vestibular dysfunction. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is an evidence-based form of therapy designed to reduce symptoms…
Low Vision Therapy for Optic Neuritis
Sudden loss of vision with accompanying eye pain is not only frightening but also instantly debilitating. And people who have experienced optic neuritis know this first hand. But is there anything you can do to improve optic neuritis? The good news is…
Rehabilitation Therapy Helps Regain Function
An injury or illness can change your ability to function—and a serious one can alter your life in an instant. It may lead to weakness, pain, or cognitive changes. Activities that once felt easy can suddenly become difficult, and recovery may take time.…
Pain and Swelling After Injury – Could it be a Morel-Lavallée Lesion?
When pain and swelling linger long after an injury, it’s easy to assume the tissues just need more time to heal. But sometimes, persistent swelling signals a deeper problem. One lesser-known cause is the Morel-Lavallée lesion (MLL) — a post-traumatic…
Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Julie Robert's Story
Julie Roberts: Singing Through the Storms of MS and Celiac Disease Country music star Julie Roberts is no stranger to life’s challenges. In the midst of a rising music career, she received a life-changing diagnosis: multiple sclerosis (MS). For any performer,…
How Physical Therapy Helps Neuropathy
If you've been experiencing numbness, tingling, burning pain, or weakness in your hands or feet, your doctor may have diagnosed you with neuropathy and referred you to physical therapy as part of your treatment plan. While there is no single cure for…
Seated Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis
Yoga is a gentle, accessible form of exercise that offers significant benefits for people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In fact, research shows that yoga can reduce fatigue—one of the most common and challenging MS symptoms. Beyond that, it can…
Vision Rehabilitation After Stroke: How to Improve Eye Function
After a stroke, it's common to experience changes in your vision. These may include: Blurry or double vision Loss of visual field Uncontrolled eye movements (nystagmus) Dizziness Difficulty understanding what you see These changes can significantly…
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy: Helping the Brain Recover and Adapt
Cognitive rehabilitation therapy is a specialized program designed to help individuals with impaired thinking and memory skills regain their ability to function in daily life. Whether the result of a brain injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or another…
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Living with Parkinson's Disease: The Davis Phinney Story
A Childhood Spark: Discovering a Dream Sometimes one moment can change the entire course of your life. That’s exactly what happened to Davis Phinney. Growing up in Boulder, Colorado, Davis always loved the outdoors, but everything shifted the day…
Parkinson's Disease Treatment with Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease: What You Need to Know Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) that has been used for over a decade to help manage motor symptoms such as tremor, stiffness, and…
Be Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Ready
Are You Relapse-Ready? Planning for the Unexpected with MS Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) means navigating uncertainty. MS relapses—or flare-ups—can happen without warning, disrupting your plans, your routine, and your sense of stability. No matter…
Lymphatic Flow: Keeping Things Moving to Reduce Swelling
I have been a physical therapist since 1989. As a Certified Lymphedema Therapist with a background in orthopedics and sports medicine, I am always searching for innovative therapeutic exercises and natural approaches that help improve lymphatic flow and…
Physical Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: Move Better, Feel Stronger
Physical therapy can help ease many of the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and support you in staying as active and independent as possible. Working with a physical therapist can make a meaningful difference if you’re dealing with: Balance problems Clumsiness…
Speech Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: More Than Just Words
Speech Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: More Than Just Words Many people associate multiple sclerosis (MS) with weakness, fatigue, or mobility issues. However, MS can also impact the muscles involved in speech and swallowing. Just as physical therapy…
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Occupational Therapy For Multiple Sclerosis: Skills for Everyday Life
Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) can make everyday tasks more challenging—but you don’t have to face those challenges alone. Occupational therapy (OT) empowers people with MS to perform daily activities with greater ease, independence, and satisfaction.…
Prospective Surveillance: Preventing Lymphedema Before It Starts
Prospective surveillance is a protocol that is used to detect and prevent lymphedema. Patients are referred to a lymphedema clinic prior to a surgical procedure so the therapist can take circumferential measurements of the patient's arms or legs to determine…
Goal Setting for Patients with Chronic Pain
Why Is Goal Setting Important for Patients with Chronic Pain? Whether your pain stems from injury, surgery,fibromyalgia, arthritis, or lipedema — pain is pain. It disrupts your routines, saps your energy, and can make something as simple as setting a…
Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Helps: 5 Common Side Effects
Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a pivotal moment for many. It triggers a flood of emotions and a series of events that can include blood tests, biopsies, consultations, and decisions about what type of treatment to pursue. Some of these events…
Straighten Up! 5 Tips to Better Posture
“Shoulders back—straighten up!” That timeless advice is something most of us have heard at one point or another. And it’s worth paying attention to. Good posture isn’t just about looking confident—it plays a crucial role in balance, joint alignment,…
Balance and Fall Prevention: Strategies for Intervention
Balance and fall prevention strategies are important not only for older adults, but for everyone. According to the Center for Disease Control the number of fall deaths in people younger than 65 has increased 20%. And for people 65 and older, the numbers…
Parkinson's Disease Research Studies
Parkinson's Disease Research Studies Having Parkinson’s Disease can be a daunting challenge. But participating in Parkinson’s Disease research studies is one action that can have a number of positive benefits. Arming yourself with information about…
How Speech Therapy Helps with Chemo Brain
How Speech Therapy Helps with Chemo Brain If you’ve undergone chemotherapy, you may be familiar with a frustrating side effect often called “chemo brain.” This term describes the cognitive difficulties that can arise during and after cancer treatment,…
Speech Therapy Helps Long COVID
In the spring of 2020, Covid-19 rocked our world as suddenly patients overwhelmed clinics and hospitals in every city. Since that time, patients have relied on providers to support their healing and return to daily function. Outpatient clinics like Therapy…
Occupational Therapy Helps People with Pseudobulbar Affect
Pseudobulbar Affect: Laughing When Crying People with neurological condition such as Brain Injury, Stroke, ALS, Parkinson’s, and MS sometimes have a condition called Pseudobulbar Affect. It is a frustrating and embarrassing condition because pseudobulbar…
Living with MS: The Julie Roberts Story
Singing Through the Storms Country music star Julie Roberts is no stranger to life’s challenges. In the midst of a rising music career, she received a life-changing diagnosis: multiple sclerosis (MS). For any performer, especially one in the spotlight,…
Synchrony Dysphagia Treatment Changes Lives
Have you or someone you know experienced issues when eating or swallowing? Issues such as pain, being unable to swallow normally, coughing, gagging or feeling like there is food stuck in the throat? Do you have to avoid certain foods altogether because…
April is Occupational Therapy Month
April is Occupational Therapy Month in Huntsville, AL April is Occupational Therapy Month and Therapy Achievements wants to celebrate! With over 100 years of combined experience, the occupational therapists at Therapy Achievements are able to provide…
LSVT Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
LSVT Treatment for Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's Disease is a progressive disorder that affects approximately one million Americans. And because it gets worse over time, being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease is a somber event. But the good news…
Managing Lymphedema with Nutrition
Lymphedema is a condition in which protein rich fluid accumulates in the tissues. It affects approximately 1 in 1000 Americans. And although there is currently no cure, managing lymphedema with nutrition is an importance piece of your lymphedema management…
Getting In and Out of a Car: Top Car Transfer Aids
Getting in and out of a car is an everyday thing that most people don't even think about. But if you have mobility problems, everyday little things like car transfers can turn into a sticking point. And if you run into a sticking point every time you…
Lighthouse Lymphedema Conference
The Lighthouse Lymphedema Conference is hosted each year by the Lighthouse Lymphedema Network. Lymphedema is a condition in which lymph fluid builds up in the tissues and can be the result of cardiac or renal issues, problems with vein function, side…
Breast Cancer Ribbon Run
The Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Ribbon Run raises funds for the top-priority needs of Huntsville Hospital's Breast Cancer programs. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the US, second only to skin cancer. If you or a loved one is…
AMBUCS Adaptive Bikes
AMBUCS Adaptive Bikes for People with Limited Mobility AMBUCS adaptive bikes are customized bicycles that give people with limited mobility the ability to safely ride a bike. Exercise and being mobile are key to good health. And exercising is often very…
Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Don McNeal's Story
Living with Multiple Sclerosis "I have Multiple Sclerosis, but Multiple Sclerosis doesn't have me." That quote comes from Don McNeal, a two time National College Football Champion (1978, 1979) who played for Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. …
Parkinson's Disease Symptoms
Parkinson's Disease Symptoms: Parkinson's Disease symptoms, like the disease itself, can be subtle or obvious. Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called…
You Could Be at Risk for a Blood Clot If ...
Blood Clots: What Causes Them and How to Prevent Them What Is a Blood Clot? A blood clot is a bunch of blood cells that congeal together. Clotting is necessary to keep you from bleeding to death from a paper cut. Too many blood cells bonding together…
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy? Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious eye condition that affects people with every type of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes (commonly known as juvenile diabetes), type 2 (diabetes mellitus), and gestational diabetes (diabetes…
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition worldwide among adults between 30 and 60. The pain, tingling, swelling, and weakness it causes can be severe and disrupt daily life. Let's look at what causes carpal tunnel syndrome and the various treatment…
Breast Cancer Prevention: 5 Steps to Stay Healthy
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the US, second only to skin cancer. Over 250,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Given these startling statistics, it's more important than ever to learn about breast cancer…
5 Simple Methods for Fall Prevention
As people age or develop certain medical conditions, they may become weak. This weakness increases the chances of falls. Fall prevention is a critical component of a treatment plan. Falls can be a sensitive subject for a patient to bring up at their doctor…
CDC-Recommended Therapies for Long COVID
Physical Therapists (PTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) play a key role in the pandemic. They can help in the recovery process for patients suffering from lasting symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2, also known…
Supporting a Loved One with Parkinson's Disease
April is Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month. Have one of your loved ones recently been diagnosed? If so, there are ways you can show your support and help them manage their Parkinson's disease symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about Parkinson's…
Measuring Limb Volume for Lymphedema
Methods for Measuring Limb Volume for Lymphedema How can you tell if you have lymphedema? Often times, the first sign is a change in the way your arm or leg feels – a feeling tightness, fullness or heaviness. Other signs include visible changes in the…
Treatment of Lymphedema: The Swollen Limb
Lymphedema and Edema Treatment of lymphedema can be challenging! Approximately 60% of our body mass is composed of fluid. Normally this fluid moves in and out of the tissues - the space between the skin and the muscle. If the fluid becomes stagnant…
Living with Brain Injury: Jennifer Turbeville's Story
My Story I'm Jennifer Beard Turbeville and I had a Transpetrosal Craniotomy. My Epidermoid Brain tumor formed when I was an embryo. This type of tumor is noncancerous and slow growing. I had chronic headaches as an adult, but didn't know it as a tumor…