Giving surgical patients peace of mind

Our goal at St. Charles Preoperative Medicine is to provide the highest quality, comprehensive care for surgical patients. Through preoperative examination, testing and assessment, we strive to ensure safe procedures by addressing any existing medical conditions or potential problems that may arise during surgery.

All patients who visit our clinic will be examined by our Preoperative Medicine provider team who will:

• Review patients' medical history and perform a detailed physical exam
• Provide instructions for perioperative medication management
• Initiate necessary preoperative testing
• Discuss possible perioperative risks and make further recommendations to minimize those risks
• Consult with subspecialists as necessary
• Recommend post-operative management of medical issues

There are many reasons to use a preoperative service. Through this process, patients will:

• Receive a timely, thorough preoperative evaluation and internal medicine consultation
• Benefit from the Preoperative Medicine team's coordination of preoperative care, lab follow-up and subspecialist consultation
• Encounter decreased intraoperative cardiac events and decreased pulmonary complications
• Experience decreased surgery cancellations and/or delays

Personalized PT treatment plans 

Have you ever experienced musculoskeletal or orthopedic conditions that lead to chronic or off-and-on pain that poses a significant challenge to your ability to effectively accomplish elementary activities of daily living? If so, perhaps it’s time to see if there is someone nearby who can help you address or manage such conditions and improve your quality of life.

At St. Charles Physical Therapy, our physical therapists know how important a mobile, pain-free life is to people we serve seeking hands-on treatment and care. Our experts in movement work with you to identify your individual goals before embarking in one-on-one care sessions in a variety of areas, including the following specialty and subspecialty areas.

Manual therapy

At St. Charles Physical Therapy, our certified orthopedic manual therapists use this clinical approach — which involves skilled and specific hands-on techniques — to diagnose and treat soft tissues and joint structures. The aims of manual therapy are to:

1. Decrease pain
2. Improve tissue extensibility and increase the joint’s range of motion
3. Mobilize or manipulate soft tissues and joints
4. Induce relaxation
5. Change muscle function
6. Modulate pain
7. Reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation or movement restriction

Dizziness/Vestibular disorders

Dizziness occurs due to many reasons, and greatly disrupts a person’s ability to move about safely and take part in normal daily activities. Our physical therapy team specializes in evaluating and treating causes of dizziness related to the inner ear (vestibular) balance system, using a differential diagnosis approach to provide guidance regarding dizziness that may be caused by non-vestibular factors. We work closely with your primary care provider and assist you with an individualized treatment plan to ensure your successful return to comfortable, safe mobility that is dizziness free.

Postural re-education

Good posture helps your body function at top speed. It promotes movement efficiency and endurance, and contributes to overall well-being. Good posture is also good prevention. Poor posture leads to bones that are not aligned properly; consequently, your muscles, joints and ligaments take more strain than nature intended. Faulty posture may cause fatigue, muscular strain and, in later stages, pain. Many individuals with chronic back pain can trace their problems to years of faulty postural habits.

Strong and flexible muscles also are essential to good posture. Weak or inflexible abdominal, hip and leg muscles cannot support your back’s natural curves. Hip, knee and ankle joints balance your back’s natural curves when you move, making it possible to maintain good posture in any position.

Our physical therapists focus on retraining your body to sit and stand with good posture so that your spine can heal and recover from injury, and prevent future injuries. 

Balance/Fall prevention

People with balance and dizziness problems can find it difficult to accomplish even the simplest of tasks. At least half of the United States population will experience balance problems sometime during their lives, especially as they age. Poor balance and fall-related injuries account for a large percentage of emergency room visits.

St. Charles physical therapists perform a thorough sensory and motor assessment to define what is causing balance problems. Results of the assessment guide us in designing a balance training program tailored to help prevent falls and improve mobility.

Myofascial pain syndrome

“Myo” refers to muscle, and “fascia” refers to the strong connective tissue that covers the muscles and connects to other structures as well. Pain can occur when there is an injury that disrupts healthy movement between these two structures. Sometimes that pain is in the form of a specific trigger point; other times it can be more widespread. Physical therapists at St. Charles offer help through hands-on myofascial release techniques, and also offer instruction on ways to stretch the area while creating new movement patterns to provide healing.

St. Charles Physical Therapy in Bend, Oregon offers inpatient and outpatient physical therapy for a variety of musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions.

Return to health after an orthopedic injury

Orthopedic injuries (musculoskeletal injuries) can be caused by all sorts of factors: traumatic injury, sports-related injury, or simple wear and tear on joints and muscles. St. Charles Physical Therapy provides you with outpatient orthopedic-specific and patient-centered injury rehabilitation. The most common orthopedic troubles may include sprains, strains, fracture, surgery, repetitive/overuse injuries and arthritis. Our physical therapists are trained to treat all of these painful diagnoses and get you back on your feet and feeling well again.

Recovering from traumatic orthopedic injury 

A traumatic injury to your body can be life changing, affecting even the most simple of tasks. When the body is injured, damage can be caused to ligaments, tendons, bone or muscles. As your body heals, compensations for your injuries may negatively impact the way your body moves. At St. Charles Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are here to provide you with early intervention in order to allow the body to heal correctly. This can be a process of retraining your body on proper movement, preventing further injury, and providing pain management strategies to decrease discomfort to return to pain-free activity.

Recovering from chronic muscle or skeletal injuries 

Dealing with muscle or skeletal injuries that have developed over time can be a very different process than injuries from a traumatic event. Our physical therapists understand that success in treating chronic conditions like overuse injuries or posture-related injuries means approaching rehabilitation from a more broad perspective with many treatment approaches. Exercise and movement is often the best method for improving health. We treat each and every patient’s condition as a unique situation and will help you on your journey to wellness.

Talk with your doctor about why you might need physical therapy

If you think that physical therapy will help your orthopedic needs, talk to your doctor sooner rather than later. The faster you get started, the faster St. Charles Physical Therapy can start you on the road to recovery. Want to learn more about St. Charles Physical Therapy in Bend? Give us a call at 541-706-5940.

Physical therapy can help with pain and get you back to the life you love in Bend, Oregon.

Why physical therapy?

The physical therapists at St. Charles Physical Therapy in Bend are experts in movement who examine patients and develop treatment plans that help them improve their ability to move while reducing pain, restoring function and preventing injury. This treatment may include manual therapy techniques, exercise strategies and patient education.

A physical therapist's training never truly ends. As part of their licensure and dedication to the profession, physical therapists are required to attend continuing education to learn the most current, evidence-based techniques related to your health.

Do I need a prescription for physical therapy?

Yes, a prescription is required for physical therapy. Some physical therapy locations (those that use "direct access") might not require a prescription, but St. Charles has found that most insurance companies require a prescription in order to establish that physical therapy services are medically necessary. If you need assistance in obtaining a prescription for physical therapy after a recent visit to your physician, we would be happy to help.

Do you take health insurance?

St. Charles accepts most major insurance plans and worker's compensation. Not sure if your plan is accepted? We can help you with any questions you might have. Call us at 541-706-5940 to learn more.

How much will treatment cost? What's my co-pay going to be?

It's important to contact your insurance provider in order to fully understand your therapy benefits or limitations. St. Charles Physical Therapy will contact your insurance company to determine benefits that your plan offers before your first treatment session with us. We will do our best to communicate any limitations we identify in your insurance benefit; our insurance verifier can explain information we receive from your insurance company.

What should I expect on my first visit?

During your first visit — also called an initial evaluation — your physical therapist will:

• Conduct a medical history that includes medications you are taking, and discuss your current problems/complaints
• Assess your pain intensity and ask you what aggravates or eases the problem
• Learn how your current problems limit your daily activities or function
• Listen to your goals for physical rehabilitation

Your physical therapist will also conduct a whole-body movement assessment that includes a general observation of your movement and may include:

• Palpation — touching around the area of the pain/problem that checks for the presence of tenderness, swelling, soft tissue integrity, tissue temperature, inflammation, etc.
• Range of motion — moving the joint(s) to check for the quality of movement and any restrictions.
• Muscle testing — checking for strength and the quality of the muscle contraction, noting any pain and weakness, and grading muscle strength. This is also part of the neurological screening.
• Neurological screening — checking to determine how nerves communicate with the muscles in sensing touch, pain, vibration or temperature. Your physical therapist may assess your reflexes as well.
• Special tests — testing to confirm or rule out the presence of additional problems.
• Posture assessment — assessing the position of joints relative to what's ideal.

Based on findings and keeping your goals in mind, your therapist will identify the source of your dysfunction or pain, then design an individualized plan of care for symptom relief and to address the origin of your concerns. While most of your initial evaluation is spent collecting information and assessing your current physical presentation, your therapist will provide information and one to two exercises to get you started on your path to wellness.

What should I bring to my initial evaluation?

• Ask your doctor's office to fax your physical therapy evaluation and treatment order to our location or bring your prescription with you.
• You can complete patient intake forms prior to your appointment (or come 15 minutes early to your appointment to fill them out).
• Insurance referral (if needed, in accordance with your insurance policy) — please call your primary care physician to have an insurance referral faxed to our facility.
• Photo ID, health insurance card and co-payment (if applicable).
• Comfortable clothes and athletic shoes (and any inserts, if applicable).

St. Charles Physical Therapy in Bend, Oregon offers inpatient and outpatient physical therapy for a variety of musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions.

Sports injuries

By their very definition, sports require their participants to perform physically at very high levels. Often, the result can be an injury.

Different sports each have their own common types of injuries, but according to the National Institutes of Health, the most common sports injuries overall include joint sprains, muscle strains and pulls, knee injuries, swollen muscles, shin splints, fractures and dislocations.

Sports injuries are not limited to those participating in competitive or contact sports. Injuries can also arise from inadequate conditioning and training, leading to overuse injuries such as tendinitis and bursitis.

Coping with and healing from a sports-related injury often requires physical rehabilitation. Physical therapy helps patients manage pain, rebuild strength and regain movement in order to safely return to their sport or activity.

Evaluating sports-related injuries is highly personalized because each athlete is different and must be assessed based on their personal needs and the demands of their specific sport or activity. Thorough examinations may include movement analysis, postural assessment, strength testing and distinguishing pain patterns to identify limitations or dysfunctions that could lead to injury. Our physical therapists use this individual assessment to establish a rehabilitation plan with patient-centered goals and work together to achieve these goals.

Our physical therapists use a collaboration of treatments such as manual therapy, strength training, postural awareness, functional mobility (walking and running form), stretching techniques, sport-specific movement, as well as many other techniques to aide in recovery. In addition to treating specific injuries, our physical therapists also work toward treating the whole patient to prevent future injuries from occurring.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact us at 541-706-5940 today.

For everyone from the casual jogger to the professional athlete, St. Charles Physical Therapy in Bend, Oregon offers a wide range of services to get you back in the game.

Treating and preventing work-related injuries

There are plenty of dangerous professions — according to the Bureau of Labor, nurses, policemen, firefighters, and home and furniture manufacturers are among the occupational groups most likely to be physically hurt while on the job. Even with workplace safety measures in effect, everyday accidents can occur that have serious health implications. St. Charles Physical Therapy is dedicated to both preventing and treating work-related injuries, from damage to nerves, muscles and joints due to repetitive stress; to accidental slips and falls; and back problems due to overexertion or lifting objects improperly.

Work-related accidents can result in a range of injuries, with the most common being:

• Repetitive motion injuries
• Machine entanglement
• Vehicle crashes
• Running into static objects
• Being hit by falling objects
• Slipping or tripping — which can cause both bodily trauma and reaction injuries
• Falling off a roof or ladder
• Injuries that result from overexertion: pulling, lifting, pushing, holding or carrying things beyond one's physical ability

St. Charles Physical Therapy will get you back to work after an injury

Your physical therapist will work closely with your doctor and your employer to help you get back on the job as quickly as possible. We regularly teach ergonomic-specific strategies and prevention exercises to restore posture, function, and mobility for work-related tasks. As you return to your job you may be assigned less strenuous duties at first, but as soon as you are able, you'll resume normal activities. Based on your workplace's specific demands, our physical therapists can offer suggestions on how to work more safely, with less chance of re-injury.

If you have questions about our services or worker's compensation insurance, or would like to schedule an appointment, call us today at 541-706-5940.

Treatment for work-related injuries is just one area of specialization in the physical therapy program at St. Charles Physical Therapy in Bend, Oregon.

Living with back pain or neck pain

If you're suffering from back pain or neck pain, the key to getting effective - and lasting - relief is finding a partnership with clinicians who take the time to understand and treat the source of your pain.

When you visit St. Charles Physical Therapy in Bend, Oregon, our physical therapists will listen to your history: what makes your symptoms better, or worse and how the pain affects your daily activities. They will conduct a thorough evaluation of your spine, be it your neck or back. The examination may also include: checking reflexes, evaluating strength of arms and legs and determining if there are any sensation changes in your limbs. Using this information along with your medical history, our physical therapists will create a personalized treatment plan designed to relieve pain and meet your unique health goals.

Nonsurgical rehabilitation

Whenever possible, it is preferable to treat neck or back pain with methods other than surgery. These methods include:

• Safe Movement. Gone are the days of bed rest. Our physical therapists prefer teaching patients proper posture in order to decrease pressure and stress on discs and nerves as well as movement strategies to return to ordinary activities as soon as possible.
• Gradual Exercise. Our physical therapists assist in creating gentle movement and strengthening programs designed to minimize pain, improve mobility, increase strength and promote a healthy posture. As pain improves, the patient and physical therapist work together to progress toward more active exercises to build strength in abdominal, low back and neck muscles.
• Posture Education. In addition to strengthening, posture plays a large role in injury treatment and prevention. Our physical therapists will assist you in creating a posture-friendly environment at work, at home or during the activities you love (i.e. gardening, sports, crafts, etc.) in order to decrease stress on your injured spine and avoid further injury.

Rehabilitation after surgery

If surgery is necessary, our physical therapists will create a plan based on your post-surgical precautions and rehabilitation needs. During your recovery, you should follow your surgeon's instructions about wearing a back brace or support belt. In the first weeks, you should also be cautious about overdoing activities. If you've had a lumbar fusion, your surgeon may have you wait six weeks to three months before starting physical therapy.

Although recovery times vary, once you start physical therapy, you'll usually go for one to three months. Your treatment plan may include:

• Heat or ice therapy
• Gentle exercise
• Endurance / walking programs
• Modalities (i.e. electrical stimulation, TENS, ultrasound)
• Manual therapy
• Postural and ergonomic training
• Pain management

Your plan may also include manual therapy, a physical therapy subspecialty that uses skilled, specific hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat soft tissue and joint structures with benefits that include increasing your range of motion, reducing pain, decreasing swelling and relaxing muscles.

Our physical therapists at St. Charles Physical Therapy will help guide you through your back and neck rehabilitation every step of the way in order to progress you toward ongoing wellness.

Want to know more about physical therapy services? We encourage you to call us at 541-706-5940 to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist who can answer any of your questions.

St. Charles Physical Therapy has a team of physical therapists who have long been recognized as leaders in treating lower back pain and neck pain in Bend, Oregon.

Our Community Pharmacy

At St. Charles, our clinically trained team of pharmacists and technical staff fill your prescriptions accurately and provide clear explanations about all medications, including how they might interact with one another.

Remember to bring your insurance information along with prescription co-pays. The Community Pharmacy will bill most major third-party insurance carriers, including Medicare and the Oregon Health Plan.

Quality pharmacy services

Our pharmacists review all medication orders and monitor for:

• Age-specific issues
• Allergies
• Disease contraindications
• Drug interactions
• Duplicate therapies
• Proper dosing
• Therapeutic drug levels

You can help! Please bring a list of all medications, including over-the-counter vitamins and remedies you take without a prescription.

The Community Pharmacy
2500 NE Neff Rd.
Bend, OR 97701
Phone: 541-706-7731

From Neff Road, use the main entrance (traffic light at Medical Center Drive) and follow signs to patient and visitor parking. Enter through the hospital's front entrance. Turn left as you enter the lobby and turn right just after the Corner Deli. The Community Pharmacy is straight ahead on your right.

A healthy diet for lifelong weight management

We all know that maintaining a healthy weight is part of a healthy lifestyle. It can help you with heart disease prevention, diabetes prevention and other health benefits — not to mention feeling comfortable in your own body and enjoying fewer physical limitations.

But there’s more to being healthy than just being thin. Crash diets and fad diets often don’t work in the long run, and can even worsen your health due to nutritional deficiencies and severe spikes and drops in blood glucose. Many trendy diets are designed around inaccurate information, or are designed for people whose bodies process foods in a certain way — which may not be the same way that your body works. It’s important to make sure that you’re getting accurate medical guidance, and that your nutrition plan can be adjusted for your needs.

Most of all, it’s important to have compassionate support from experts who understand the realities of weight management.

Nutrition counseling

There are countless reasons why a person may struggle with their weight. Perhaps you’ve been through a hormonal change. Perhaps you have another medical condition that makes weight management difficult. Maybe there are emotional, psychological or even cultural issues at play. You may even be struggling with several different factors at the same time.

The registered dietitian nutritionists at St. Charles Health System have a thorough understanding of these things. We know that weight issues do not start overnight, and are not solved overnight either. We’re ready to work with you to overcome the obstacles keeping you from your healthy weight goal. This may include counseling, assistance with menu planning, identifying health patterns and other services as needed.

If you have questions about nutrition counseling at St. Charles Health System, contact us today at 541-706-6348. We’re ready to help you get your life on track.

St. Charles Health System provides nutrition counseling for lifelong weight management in Central Oregon.

Learn what to eat during pregnancy

The nine months of pregnancy are a wondrous time in a woman’s life. As the baby grows and delivery day approaches, her body undergoes an amazing transformation. The decisions she makes in regard to her diet influence the health of her baby. Knowing how to eat during pregnancy and beyond helps ensure the best beginning possible for her baby. If you’re unsure which foods to eat and which ones to avoid, a registered dietitian nutritionist at St. Charles Health System in Central Oregon can help.

Ensure a healthy pregnancy

A balanced diet provides vital nutrients for the growing fetus. Moms-to-be should keep the following foods in mind when eating or preparing their meals each day:

1. Vegetables: Colorful vegetables that are fresh, canned or frozen.
2. Fruits: All fresh, canned or frozen fruits.
3. Healthy fats: Seeds, nuts and avocados.
4. Lean proteins: Beans, fish, eggs and meats (turkey, chicken and some beef). Deli meats and hot dogs should be heated to kill possible bacteria that might harm your baby. Certain fish that are known to be high in mercury such as swordfish, tilefish and white tuna should be eaten sparingly.
5. Fat-free or low-fat dairy: Yogurt, cheese and milk. Unpasteurized dairy should be avoided.

Empty calories from foods high in sugar such as soda, cakes and cookies should be avoided, as well as solid fats and fried foods.

What about a breastfeeding diet?

When it comes to eating during breastfeeding, many of the same food choices apply that are recommended during pregnancy. Lean meats, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats are crucial to your baby’s development. Drinking plenty of water is important, too. The foods to avoid also remain the same, such as sugary drinks, alcohol, certain types of fish and caffeinated beverages.

If you’re still unsure, nutrition counseling at St. Charles can help

Overall, there’s no need to go on a special diet during your pregnancy or when breastfeeding. Making healthy food choices and reducing or avoiding unhealthy foods are what matter to your baby’s growth and development. If you have questions or concerns about what foods to eat, we encourage you to call us today at 541-706-6348.

The registered dietitian nutritionists at St. Charles Health System can help ensure your baby’s healthy development during pregnancy, breastfeeding and beyond.