Friday, March 19, 2010
2010 SECAC Resource Fair
The Frederick County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) is hosting its annual Resource Fair on March 20, 2010 at Rock Creek School from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The school is located at 191 Waverley Drive in Frederick, MD. SECAC’s main purpose is to advise the Board of Education and the Director of Special Education and Psychological Services on issues relevant to special education in Frederick County Public Schools. In addition, it hosts an annual Resource Fair that provides information and opportunities for parents and community members to attend workshops relative to services available to families of children with special needs. The Parents’ Place of Maryland will present two workshops: “Making Your Health Plan Work for You” and “Managing the Maze: Record Keeping,” while The Arc of Frederick will be presenting “Educational Advocacy, Information, and Referral.” Dr. Scott Winget is also presenting a workshop on “Understanding Temperament Differences,” in which he explains ways to match strategies to an individual’s behavioral style. In addition, vendors will be present and available to answer questions and provide additional information on services available to these families, including, but not limited to, camps, equipment and therapeutic services.
The ARC of Frederick County will provide a sibshop for brothers and sisters of children with special needs to celebrate the many contributions made by siblings. Siblings ages 6 – 11 may participate in this program from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. during the Resource Fair. In addition, the YMCA of Frederick County will provide an Activity Center at the fair for children in attendance to participate in arts and crafts activities.
Walkersville High School Band Boosters will be selling food at the fair and the Rock Creek Graduation Committee will be hosting a bake sale.
For more information or to register for a workshop, contact Susan Donoghue-Rick at 240-236-8744 or email susan.donoghue-rick@fcps.org.
Information from Frederick County Public Schools at http://bhs.sites.fcps.org/node/306
Friday, March 5, 2010
Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Jennilee will be able to develop customized therapeutic plans for children whether their needs range from minimal to maximal support. Jennilee specializes in sensory integration, fine motor coordination, self care difficulties, and visual/ perceptual skills. She has experience in sensory processing disorder, hand writing, ADHD or ADD, stroke, and rehabilitation after a traumatic event. Jennilee is excited to be working with area children and helping them reach and surpass their goals.
To schedule an appointment with Jennilee or if you have any questions please contact the pediatric therapy department at 301-694-8311 ext 145.
Jennilee will also be at the Parent Support Group meeting which is Monday March 8th from 6pm-7pm at 184 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 104!!
Take Care and have an injury free weekend :)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Upcoming Events- MMI's Pediatric Neurologic and Orthopaedic Support Group
When: Monday March 8th from 6pm-7pm
Where: Suite 184 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 104
Topic: What Is On Your Mind??
Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute has created a Pediatric Neurological and Orthopaedic Support Group. The Pediatric Team at MMI has developed the support group to provide information, educate, and offer a forum for local families of children with congenital or developmental orthopaedic or neurological problems. Monica Johnson, DPT, MMI’s pediatric physical therapist, and Jennilee Ambush, MS, OTR/L, MMI’s pediatric occupational therapist, will be integral parts of the support group. Dr. Johnson explains, “we hope this program will allow families from the Frederick area to meet other families that have similar concerns, as well as be a source of education and support.”
The support group will meet once a month, on the second Monday of the month at MMI’s Pediatric Physical & Occupational Therapy office located at 184 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 104.; The meetings will grow and develop based on the group’s interests. The meetings will include guest speakers, facilitated discussions, and question and answer periods. Recognizing that some parents may need to bring their children, crafts and activities will be provided to entertain the children who may attend.
When asked about why MMI decided to start this new initiative Dr. Johnson explained that the idea came from interacting with many of her patient’s family members. “Many parents would see other families coming in and out of the building and they would ask questions and want to know where the other parents were getting the equipment for their children. I also had families giving me information about local resources and we began to develop the idea of bringing these groups of people together.” Dr. Johnson explained the group is open to families who have both orthopaedic and neurological concerns. “These concerns can include anything from intoeing and outtoeing, sports and overuse injuries, abnormalities of legs and feet, to developmental delay, Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, etc”... she explained. MMI hopes that the group will help bring local parents and families together in a supportive and educational environment. “We hope that this new program will be a valuable asset to families, give them a renewed energy, and really allow them to build friendships and relationships that will assist them in caring for their children.”
The meetings are open to families of MMI patients and community members who may have an interest in the neurological and orthpaedic care of their children. Interested individuals can register by email or telephone. Please contact MMI at 301-694-8311 ext 178 or email at mmipediatricsupportgroup@gmail.com.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Just in time for the Snow!!
The good news is that fifteen minutes of snow shoveling counts as moderate physical activity. The bad news is that researchers have reported an increase in the number of fatal heart attacks among snow shovelers after heavy snowfalls. This rise may be due to the sudden demand that shoveling places on one's heart. One study determined that after only two minutes of shoveling, a sedentary man's heart rates rose to levels higher than those normally recommended during aerobic exercise. Shoveling can be made more difficult by the weather; Cold air makes it harder to work and breathe, which adds some extra strain on the body.
With the most recent snow, and now upcoming snow, we thought you might find these tips helpful. To get a good handle on snow shoveling follow the safety tips below!!
1. Individuals over the age of 40 or those who are relatively inactive should be especially careful
2. If you have a history of heart trouble, do not shovel without a doctor's permission.
3. Do not shovel after eating or while smoking
4. Take it SLOW!! Shoveling (like lifting weights) can raise your heart rate and blood pressure dramatically; so pace yourself. Be sure to stretch out and warm up before taking on the task.
5. Shovel fresh snow! Freshly fallen, powdery snow is easier to shovel than the wet, packed-down variety.
6. Push the snow as you shovel. It's easier on your back than lifting the snow out of the way.
7. Don't pick up too much at once. Use a small shovel or fill only one-forth or one-half of a large one.
8. Lift with your legs bent, not your back. Keep your back straight. By bending and sitting into the movement you'll keep your spine upright and less stressed. Your shoulders, torso, and thighs can do the work for you.
9. Do not work to the point of exhaustion. If you run out of breath take a break. If you feel tightness in your chest, stop immediately.
10. Dress warmly. Remember that extremities such as the nose, ears, hands, and feet need extra attention during winter's cold. Wear a turtleneck sweater, cap, scarf, face protection, mittens, warm socks, and waterproof boots.
12. If one needs to pick up the snow rather then push it then breathe out as you are picking it up. This puts a whole lot less stress on the heart.
We hope this makes your snow shoveling a little easier.
Enjoy the Snow :)
Take Care,
Michelle
**Disclaimer- The above information is not a substitute for medical advice or an evaluation. If you have an injury, chronic ache, question, etc please contact your doctor.**
***Information provided by Beverly Kornides, PT, and MMI's Director of Rehab
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Beginning!
Welcome to the NEW Mid Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute Blog. We are very excited to be starting this blog and hope you will find it informative. We hope to be able to give you inside information on various orthopedic topics as well as give you an inside peek into the MMI perspective. Here is some background information about the Mid Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute (MMI).
MMI is your single source for musculoskeletal care located at 86 Thomas Johnson Court, Frederick, MD. If you are from Frederick, you are probably familiar with Thomas Johnson Drive since there are many medical practices located on the street. MMI has 11 doctors and many rehabilitation specialists that are able to offer patients specialized treatment for a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Our providers specialize in the following areas:
- Spine Care
- Sports Medicine
- Hand Surgery
- Foot and Ankle Care
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Rheumatology
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Total Joint Replacements
- General Orthopedics
- Occupational Medicine
- Physical Therapy
- Pediatric Physical and Occupational Therapy
- The Therasuit: Intensive Physical Therapy for Children
- Infusion Treatment and more
We are just beginning our venture into blogs, twitter, and facebook but we hope to reach out to the Frederick community and surrounding areas.
For more information about MMI check out our website at www.mmidocs.com
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MMIDOCS
or call us at 301-694-8311 or toll free 1-800-349-9386
Wishing you the best,
Michelle
