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Rehab & Physical Therapy Blogs
March 26, 2024
Illustrating in Technicolor: Hide Terada's Post-Concussion Syndrome Story
Hide Terada has always been the life of the party. With his incredible sense of humor, genuine interests ...
March 25, 2024
I Just Had an Amputation. Now What?
Top 10 Things Your Therapist Recommends to Prepare You for a ProsthesisHaving an amputation is scary and ...
February 27, 2024
Seeing in Silhouettes: Pat Perry's Story of Regaining Memory and Function after Brain Injury
You've probably heard of sudden nocturnal death, or passing away in your sleep. When it happens to someon...
December 5, 2023
Service Dogs in Life and Care: Gyan Mehta’s Rehab Story
75-year-old Gyan Mehta resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife, Laurie, who is blind and is supported ...
October 28, 2023
How to Pick the Right Sneaker for Your Foot Contour Comfort Color Cost
Sneakers. What’s not to love? Generations of sneakerheads have cultivated an obsession as they collect, trade and share — coveting vast stores of knowledge about the brand histories and designs. Sneakers aren’t just for sneakerheads though. They are a wardrobe essential. The right sneakers not only feel great and provide necessary protection for your feet, […]
October 13, 2023
Spinal Cord Injury Awareness with Diane Gilewicz - Part 2
A spinal cord injury impacts the entire bodily system, but there is hope for a very bright future. In part one of this blog series, we learned about why rehabilitation following a spinal cord injury is critical. Take a moment to read what Diane Gilewicz, MSN, RN, CRRN, has to share about the types of […]
October 12, 2023
Living with Lymphedema
WakeMed Outpatient Rehabilitation therapists are certified and qualified to deliver complete decongestive therapy (CDT). They are trained in the Dr. Vodder method of manual lymphatic drainage — the gold standard for people living with lymphedema. The Lymphatic System Explained The lymphatic system is a complex network of lymph vessels and nodes throughout the body that […]
September 21, 2023
Spinal Cord Injury Awareness with Diane Gilewicz - Part 1
Spinal cord injury (SCI) can be devastating. It is important to understand the prevalence and how to prevent injury. At WakeMed, our Spinal Cord Injury Program can help. Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to educate the community, recognize those living with SCI and offer support to organizations that are striving to […]
September 7, 2023
Meet Diane Gilewicz, MSN, RN, CRRN
New York native, wife and mother of two, Diane Gilewicz has been a part of WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital for more than 30 years and serves currently as the Director of WakeMed’s Spinal Cord Injury Program. She began her career working on a medical surgical unit as a registered nurse before finding her passion for care and […]
August 1, 2023
Taking New Steps with Technology
At WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital, therapeutic technologies have become an integral part of patient treatment over the past decade. These specialized therapeutic interventions help patients navigate their own unique paths to healing. The treatment plan for each patient is far from one-size-fits-all. “As therapists, we want to optimize treatment time with our patients. Therapeutic technologies that […]
June 9, 2023
Resist the Comfort Zone with Strength Training
The legendary band, The Delta Rhythm Boys, had it right when they wrote the lyrics for “dem dry bones.” As adults age, minerals begin to leech out of the bones, leaving them brittle, fragile and prone to breaking. This condition, known as osteoporosis, may seem inevitable, but with a little work, adults can protect their […]
April 24, 2023
Amputation after a Cat Bite Tom Kecks Story
After retirement, Tom Keck became a hobby craftsman, making upgrades and repairs around his home. In 2017, while working on a home project, Tom fell off his ladder. Unfortunately, the fall was severe, resulting in several crushed ribs that impacted his spleen. He had to have his spleen removed. The years went by, and Tom […]
April 17, 2023
Waking Up to the Good Life After Coma — Nigeria McMichael's Story
Independence Day is a great time to get together with friends and family, cookout on the grill and watch celebratory fireworks. For Nigeria McMichael, the 2021 event was an especially wonderful time since her family had not been able to get together in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Loved ones came from […]
April 10, 2023
Virtual Reality in Rehab Therapy
History of Virtual Reality in Health Care Dating back to 2011, researchers noted that virtual reality (VR) was proven an effective methodology for rehabilitative treatment. “In clinical settings and experimental studies, participants immersed in VR experienced reduced levels of pain, less general distress/unpleasantness and report[ed] a desire to use VR again during painful medical procedures.” […]
February 19, 2023
Connecting Hearts with Volunteer John Boggess
In 1979 at the age of 37, John Boggess experienced excruciating chest pain while watching a Sunday football game. Alarmed, he went to the emergency department in his local area. As the care team was connecting the electrocardiogram electrodes to his chest, John had a heart attack on the table and fell unconscious. Waking Up […]
February 14, 2023
Ray Champ - from WakeMed President and CEO to WakeMed Patient
Ray Champ was the President and CEO of WakeMed from 1983 to 2003. Known as a humble, servant leader who’d pick up trash as he walked the campus, Mr. Champ had a heart for both the people and the mission of WakeMed. Mr. Champ says of his years as the top leader, “I enjoyed relating […]
November 10, 2022
A Walk to Remember Steven and Laurens Story
How They Met Steven and Lauren met as kids in elementary school. Steven was a year younger and a grade level behind Lauren, so they knew each other in passing in the school hallways. Years later, as adults, they crossed paths again, and this time, they were inseparable. Shared Passions Happier together, it didn’t hurt […]
October 4, 2022
Deputized as an Honorary Officer Kaydens Story
Ten-year-old Kayden Sykes loves a thrill, and one of his greatest is riding his four-wheeler. On August 13, 2022, Kayden was doing a little joy riding when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle entering his neighborhood. Kayden’s left leg was crushed by the car and his all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Almost immediately, he began to […]
September 29, 2022
Reverend Dr Rob Evans Regains His Confidence in Cardiac Rehab
Reverend Dr. Rob Evans is a lifelong North Carolina resident. He spent his formative years in Raleigh, graduated from Broughton High School and attended North Carolina State University (NCSU) on a football scholarship where he majored in mathematics and played all four years. Dr. Evans says, ” I thought I wanted to be a coach. […]
August 5, 2022
Mistaken for an Ear Infection — Danielle's Stroke Story
After more than a decade of serving as an EMT for the United States Air Force as well as at a school for at-risk youth, Danielle Lance decided it was time to take her career to the next level. She completed paramedic training in 2020, transitioned into a mentorship and achieved full paramedic status in […]
June 13, 2022
Getting Back Up After Falling Off of a Ladder Peter Flynns Story
Peter Flynn is a Catholic ministries community volunteer and an incredibly talented hobby craftsman with skills that’d make any honey-do list a cinch. “I’ve done a lot of home improvement projects for my wife and daughters over the years. Just a few outdoor projects include installing a lawn watering system, landscaping a garden and replacing […]
May 27, 2022
Know the Signs Bailey Hurts Story
North Raleigh resident, Bailey Hurt has enjoyed a colorful life as an artist. He first came to North Carolina as an East Carolina University pirate, majoring in art. Thereafter, he relocated to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York where he earned a graduate degree. Nostalgic for the beauty and wonder of North Carolina, he returned […]
May 13, 2022
A Healing Journey at WakeMed Childrens
Twice a week, Jack Montgomery drives himself to WakeMed for outpatient therapy. He’s pretty proud of that because not that long ago, there was a lot of uncertainty about his future mobility and independence after a frightening car accident in June 2021 left him with a spinal cord injury, concussion and broken clavicle. It was […]
April 18, 2022
I Like Your Robot Leg - James Browns StepForward Story
Fuquay Varina resident, James Brown, chuckles when he thinks of his newly-minted celebrity status…among kids. “Wherever I go, I find kids staring at my prosthetic leg. One day, I was walking through my neighborhood, and a little boy stopped on his tricycle to say, “I like your robot leg.” Despite the hardships that James has […]
WakeMed Fast 5
Tech Neck with Jay Goodman, PT