Brothers of Mercy Outpatient Therapy Clinic

08/27/2026

This afternoon, Clinic Director Lauren Grawe, PT, DPT provided education to members of the Sacred Heart Home team on safe techniques for assisting residents throughout their daily activities.

The training focused on bed mobility, transfers, ambulation, and bus safety to help residents move safely and confidently.

We love opportunities to collaborate across the Wellness Campus to promote safety, independence, and quality of life for our residents! ❤️

08/27/2026

★ Happy Therapy Thursday! ★

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐩: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐎’𝐬 & 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓𝐬 ❤️

When a loved one is struggling to stand, your first instinct may be to grab their hands and pull them up—but this can increase the risk of injury for 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

✅ 𝐃𝐎 encourage them to move slowly and use as much of their own strength as possible.

✅ 𝐃𝐎 make sure they have a stable surface and clear any obstacles around them.

✅ 𝐃𝐎 provide support for balance and stay close by if needed.

❌ 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 pull on their arms or hands. This can cause shoulder injuries and pull you both off balance.

❌ 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 try to lift their full body weight by yourself. If they cannot safely help with the movement, you may both be at risk for injury.

💡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 “𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐩,” 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.

If your loved one is regularly having difficulty standing, a Physical Therapist can help identify the cause and teach safe strategies for both the individual and caregiver!

08/20/2026

★ Happy Therapy Thursday! ★

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐔𝐩 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥?

Falls can happen to anyone—and knowing 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫 is an important skill that can help reduce injury and increase independence.

If you find yourself on the floor after a fall:

🛑 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭. Take a moment to check for pain, dizziness, or signs of serious injury. If you are injured or unable to get up safely, call for help rather than trying to force yourself up.

🔎 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. If you feel well enough to move, roll onto your side and slowly transition to your hands and knees.

🪑 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. Move toward a stable chair or piece of furniture—not a rolling chair, walker without brakes, or anything that could move unexpectedly.

🦵 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝. Place your stronger or more comfortable leg forward into a half-kneeling position.

⬆️ 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬. Use the sturdy surface for support and slowly rise to standing. Take a moment to make sure you feel steady before walking.

💡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬. A physical therapist can help you learn and practice a safe floor-to-stand technique, identify what might make getting up difficult, and recommend strategies or equipment to improve your safety.

𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬. 💙

08/13/2026

★ Happy Therapy Thursday! ★

🩸 𝐏𝐑𝐏 + 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲: 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫?

A recent question: 𝐈𝐬 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐑𝐏 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭?

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) uses a patient’s own blood to concentrate platelets and growth factors, which are injected into an injured or degenerative area to support the body’s healing response.

𝐏𝐑𝐏 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 “𝐧𝐨 𝐏𝐓.” In many cases, appropriately timed rehabilitation is an important part of recovery.

Early on, therapy may focus on 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, while following the treating provider’s restrictions. As healing progresses, PT can gradually introduce 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 to help the tissue safely regain capacity.

👐 Manual therapy may also have a role, particularly for addressing mobility restrictions or surrounding soft-tissue/joint impairments—but treatment should be appropriately dosed and coordinated with the PRP protocol.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

📌 𝐏𝐑𝐏 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞. 𝐏𝐓 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

08/06/2026

★ Happy Therapy Thursday! ★

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭. 👀

Most people think of the 𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 (𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭) 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 when they think about the shoulder. But there’s another key player: 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚 (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞).

Your shoulder blade acts as the foundation for every reach, lift, push, and pull. As your arm moves, your scapula should glide and rotate in a coordinated pattern called 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦.

When that movement is limited—or the muscles controlling the scapula aren’t doing their job—the shoulder often compensates. The result can be:
✅ Shoulder pain
✅ Rotator cuff irritation
✅ Impingement
✅ Neck tension
✅ Weakness or loss of motion

As therapists, we don’t just treat the shoulder joint. We also evaluate and strengthen the muscles that control the shoulder blade because restoring that foundation is often the key to reducing pain and improving function.

Have you ever noticed your shoulder blade “winging” or felt pain when reaching overhead? We’d love to help with that!

💡 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: A healthy shoulder starts with a healthy scapula. 💪

07/30/2026

★ Happy Therapy Thursday! ★

🪑 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫? 𝐓𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫!

Standing up from a chair may seem simple, but changes in strength, balance, or joint pain can make it challenging. Try these therapist-approved tips:

✅ 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫
Move your hips forward until your feet are directly underneath your knees.

✅ 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭
Keep both feet flat on the floor with your toes slightly behind your knees for better leverage.

✅ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐞𝐬
Lean your upper body forward before you try to stand. This shifts your center of gravity over your feet.

✅ 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬—𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐫
If your chair has armrests, use them to push yourself up. Avoid pulling on a walker or other unstable object, as it can tip toward you.

✅ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐮𝐩 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞
Once you’re balanced, then place your hands on your walking aid.

💙 If standing from a chair has become difficult or you’re relying more on your arms than your legs, it may be a sign that your strength or balance needs attention. Physical and occupational therapy can help improve both, making everyday activities safer and easier.

📞 Contact our outpatient therapy team to learn how we can help you or your loved one stay strong, independent, and confident.

07/23/2026

★ Happy Therapy Thursday! ★

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬: 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐟𝐮𝐥? 🤔

As physical therapists, one of the most common questions we get is, “𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆?”

The answer is: 𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬.

✅ 𝐀 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧:
• You’ve recently had surgery (if recommended by your surgeon)
• You have an acute injury or muscle strain
• You’re lifting something unusually heavy for a short period
• Your healthcare provider has prescribed one for a specific condition

🚫 𝐀 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐟:
• You wear it all day, every day
• You rely on it instead of strengthening your core and back muscles
• You use it to “fix” chronic back pain without addressing the underlying cause

Think of a back brace like a cast for your muscles. Short-term support can be beneficial, but wearing it too often may allow your stabilizing muscles to become weaker because they’re no longer doing their job.

💡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞.
Improving core strength, posture, flexibility, and body mechanics provides lasting support that no brace can replace.

If you’re reaching for a back brace every day, it may be time to ask why your back needs that support in the first place.

Have questions about back pain or wondering if a brace is right for you? We can help determine the cause of your pain and create a plan that gets you moving with confidence!

07/16/2026

There’s still time to make a difference! 💙 Give 716 donations are open until 11:59 p.m. tonight. Your gift helps The Brothers of Mercy provide compassionate care, meaningful connections and purposeful living for older adults in our community. ❤️💛💙

To make a gift: https://give716.org/give/give716/give716/2026-give-716/charities/brothers-of-mercy-facilities-foundation

07/16/2026

★ Happy Therapy Thursday! ★

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧? 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞!

Did you know that everyday activities can either help or aggravate back pain? A few simple adjustments to your body mechanics can reduce strain on your spine and help you move with less discomfort.

Here are a few easy tips:

✔️ 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐝: Roll onto your side first, then use your arms to push yourself up while swinging your legs over the edge of the bed. Avoid sitting straight up.

✔️ 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Bend at your hips and knees—not your waist. Keep the object close to your body and avoid twisting while carrying it.

✔️ 𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡: Place one foot on a small step stool or open cabinet ledge and switch sides every few minutes to reduce stress on your lower back.

✔️ 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Keep both feet flat on the floor, maintain good posture, and stand up to stretch every 30–60 minutes.

✔️ 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Instead of bending from your back, kneel on one knee or squat whenever possible.

✔️ 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: Divide the weight evenly between both hands or make an extra trip instead of carrying everything at once.

✔️ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝: Use a sturdy step stool rather than overextending your back.

Remember, pain isn’t always caused by one big event—it often develops from repeated stress over time. Improving your body mechanics during everyday tasks can go a long way in preventing pain and protecting your spine.

If back pain is interfering with your daily life, a physical therapist can identify movement patterns that may be contributing to your symptoms and teach strategies to help you move more comfortably.

07/15/2026

Give 716 begins at 7:16PM tonight!

Please consider donating to The Brothers of Mercy Wellness Campus by using the link below! ❤️💙💛

Join me in making a difference in WNY by donating to Give 716 today!