FORT MORGAN, Colo. (July 24, 2013) – Aspen Rehab at Valley View Villa in Fort Morgan was recently named a Rehab Center of Excellence by parent company Life Care Centers of America for its myofascial release specialty program.
Each Life Care center undergoes an annual 111-point audit. Facilities that achieve high scores are eligible to develop a specialty program based on the community’s needs. Once that specialty has been evaluated and shown to be strong, the facility is designated a Rehab Center of Excellence.
Two of Aspen Rehab’s occupational therapists have advanced myofascial release training and certification and continually train the facility’s other therapists in the techniques.
Myofascial release helps patients with areas of pain. It involves gently stretching and releasing constricted fascia, connective tissues that run through the body in one uninterrupted piece. These tissues then become relaxed and flexible, moving as needed with the body.
“We often enable patients to get out of bed and do more because they feel better because of myofascial release,” said Angie Shaver, rehab services manager for Aspen Rehab. “Regular sessions of MFR improve mobility, tolerance and participation in all areas of physical, occupational and speech therapies.”
Myofascial release addresses more than the immediate area of pain. Connective tissues can become damaged, constricted or tense through traumas like falls, whiplash, surgery, inflammation or poor posture. The therapy includes working through those traumas with the therapist. Patients sometimes feel like they are reliving those events and letting go of them in a tangible way.
“We have seen nausea reduced and swallowing, posture, gait speed and balance, and functional use of arms and neck improve – all from myofascial release,” said Shaver.
Aspen Rehab at Valley View Villa is currently the only facility in northeast Colorado to offer myofascial release.
“This team takes a very hands-on approach to treatment,” said Mike Reams, Life Care Centers of America’s senior vice president of rehab services, “and it clearly has a huge impact on their ability to reduce pain, fatigue and malaise in their patients, and helps produce better patient outcomes.”
The facility is the third in the company to achieve the Rehab Center of Excellence distinction.
For more information about the myofascial rehab specialty program, please call Aspen Rehab at (970) 380-9101.
Valley View Villa, located at 815 Fremont Ave., is one of 22 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Colorado operated or managed by Life Care Centers of America.
Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tenn., Life Care operates or manages more than 220 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s facilities in 28 states. For more information about Life Care, visit lcca.com.
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