Physical Therapists in Columbia, SC

This is not a comprehensive list of Physical Therapy clinics, but it may help you get started. If you need Physical Therapy, it is good to know a list of therapy offices and their locations, as well as their specialty areas. Your referring doctor can also provide you with a list of nearby PTs.

Columbia Rehab (NE Cola, downtown, West Columbia, Irmo): outpatient orthopedic rehab, dry needling, TMJ

Blythewood Physical Therapy: outpatient orthopedic rehab, pediatric rehab

Total Rehab Services (Two Notch Rd near Sesquicentennial Park in NE Cola): specializes in Aquatic Physical Therapy, Pediatric Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy

Carolina Therapy Solutions: NE Columbia: specializes in Spine Rehab

Lexington Physical Therapy (Lexington): outpatient orthopedic rehab

Drayer Physical Therapy (NE Columbia, downtown, Irmo): outpatient orthopedic rehab

Abundant Life Physical Therapy (Lake Carolina in NE Cola/Blythewood): Pediatric Physical Therapy

Carolina Physical Therapy/Sports Medicine: outpatient orthopedic rehab

Healthquest Physical Therapy (Lexington): Aquatic Physical Therapy, outpatient orthopedic rehab

Palmetto Health Richland Outpatient Pediatric Rehab (on Richland Campus, downtown): PT, OT, Speech for pediatrics

Palmetto Health Baptist Outpatient Adult Rehab (on Baptist Campus, downtown): outpatient orthopedic rehab

Sigurd Center (W. Cola): specializes in Neurological Rehab

HealthSouth Outpatient Rehab (near Palmetto Health Richland): specializes in Neurological Rehab, outpatient orthopedic rehab

Veterans Affairs Outpatient Rehab (Garner's Ferry Rd): outpatient Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy

Please make corrections in the comments section below for changes in names, locations or specialties.

Panera Bread: A Healthy Review

One of the restaurants we frequent at the Village at Sandhills is Panera Bread for a few reasons. The first thing that draws us is the kid-friendly environment/menu since we have two young children and a third one on the way! So what do I recommend there?

1. Broccoli cheddar soup. This may not be the healthiest soup on the menu, but it is the best-tasting. It is one of the best broccoli cheese soups I have tasted anywhere. And my husband (who does not eat broccoli) loves it! He never orders a different soup for his "You Pick 2" meal.  And every time I choose something different, I always end up admitting that his soup is better. Tonight I actually ordered the new Sonoma Chicken Stew (for a taste test), but it is not nearly as good as the broccoli cheddar. That being said, if you like chicken pot pie, you will enjoy the Sonoma stew.
2. Garden vegetable with pesto soup. It is vegetarian yet has protein (with white beans), and of course is full of a wide variety of vegetables in a tomato-based broth.
3. Black bean soup or creamy tomato soup. I have not actually tried these recently, but the descriptions look good, and they are vegetarian dishes. If you really want to be extra-healthy, order your bowl of soup with a side of an apple (choices are bread, chips or apple). But to be honest, I really recommend the bread there (French baguette) unless you are on a no-carb diet.
4. Salads. There are a ton of salad options, but I never actually order salads there because many years ago, when I also was pregnant, I found a dead fly at the bottom of my salad. Usually I do not get emotionally traumatized by food, but it has been 4 years and I still have not recovered. However, the salads always look good when I see other customers enjoying them, and they are pretty big.
5. A lean-meat sandwich on whole grain bread. The turkey they serve is thick-cut and tastes more like fresh-roasted turkey than lunch meat. There are a range of healthy breads to choose from, so select something like whole wheat or rye.

Is Your Bed Causing Your Back Pain?

You have seen the ads for sleep number beds, promising that you will sleep better. But how do you know when to replace your present mattress? There is actually not one right answer, but here are some guidelines that may help to determine if your bed is causing or aggravating your back pain.

1. What is the present age/condition of your mattress set? If it is over 10 years old, likely you may need to replace it soon. If it is 2-4 years old, it is probably still in good condition. Of course this depends on the quality of the mattress, how much it has been used, and if it has been rotated/flipped regularly. If you bought it firm, does it still feel firm? Does your medium or soft mattress feel too soft?

2. What position is your spine in when you lie down on your bed? How far do you sink into the mattress? Can you get your back into its straight alignment in your sleep position of choice or is bent/twisted in one direction? A bed that is too soft makes it more difficult to sleep with a neutral back posture because the middle of your body will sink down more than your upper body and legs (especially if you lie on your side or tummy).

3. Do you sleep better on the couch, the recliner, the floor or another bed? That is a sure sign that you should find a different mattress. Traditionally, individuals with back pain prefer a firm mattress and have increased pain if they sleep too long (>7-8 hours).

4. Do you have more back pain when you first wake up than the rest of the day? There may be an easy solution, such as modifying your sleep position, changing your mattress or using additional pillows (body pillow or adding a pillow between your legs for improved spine alignment). The best way to achieve proper sleeping posture is to lie on your side with a pillow between your knees and to keep your back in a straight position (not rounded up into fetal position). Lying flat on your back is also appropriate for most individuals, as the spine is kept in a straight position (you may also put a pillow under your knees for more comfort). Sleeping on your tummy is not usually recommended.

Your sleeping posture is more important than you may realize because it places your spine in a potentially bad position for so many hours every night. So the next time you are mattress shopping, I recommend spending some nights sleeping on various types of beds, whether at hotels or friends' guest rooms. That way you don't spend the money on a mattress that you end up hating for the next 10 years.

Finally, if you have increased back pain during the night that is not present during the day and worsens every night (wakes you up), please consult your physician immediately, as this can be a sign of a more serious problem.