JACKSON, Miss.—When Michael Savage’s 3-year-old grandson Jordan Reece heard that Papaw was getting a “new leg” his eyes got big and he said: “From Wal-Mart?”
Savage had to laugh. His Otto Bock C-Leg is hardly something you could find at the local discount store.
JACKSON, Miss.—As a part of Think First, Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s statewide injury prevention program, physicians and staff at the Jackson hospital are reminding parents and caregivers to think first about driving safety.
Lauren Fairburn, coordinator for Think First, says to make sure children ride in an age-appropriate child safety seat and to have it checked by a certified car seat technician.
“Studies show that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 2 to 14,” says Fairburn.
JACKSON, Miss.—Researchers say it is no mystery why one third of children in the United States are obese and some 60 percent of overweight children between 5 and 10 years of age have at least one risk factor for heart disease.
Cathy Henderson, a physical therapist at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson, says that eating fast food and sugar-filled snacks, along with an increase in sedentary activities, is putting children at risk of heart disease, diabetes and the propensity to become overweight adults.
JACKSON, Miss.—Imagine being in so much pain that you can’t even tolerate the weight of a blanket on your toes.
That’s the plight of some who suffer from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), one of many chronic pain conditions to be discussed at the sixth annual meeting of the Mississippi Pain Society.
JACKSON, Miss.—Gerard Bowles lost both his legs four years ago after a car accident. Two years ago he found his heart.
That was when he began volunteering at Methodist Rehabilitation Center. Monday he will be recognized for his efforts by the national Points of Light Foundation. He will be featured on the foundation’s website, www.pointsoflight.org, as the recipient of the Daily Points of Light Award.
JACKSON, Miss.—As many Mississippians vow to slim down, eat right and exercise more this year, Methodist Rehabilitation Center urges parents and caregivers to re-examine their children’s health and nutrition habits.
“One-third of children in Mississippi are overweight or obese,” said Linda Peddicord, a licensed and registered dietician at Methodist Rehab. “While many factors contribute to this nationwide epidemic, children who drink too much juice are at greater risk for weight gain, tooth decay and poor nutrition.”
JACKSON, Miss.—As thousands of Mississippians take precautions against the flu bug, Patricia Wilkes continues her fight against a very different kind of bug.
It was a mosquito carrying West Nile virus that first put Wilkes of Picayune in the hospital in November and robbed her of her ability to walk.
“It came on pretty sudden,” she said. “I woke up one morning and everything seemed fine. I didn’t feel great, but I didn’t notice anything wrong.”
JACKSON, Miss.—If your New Year’s resolution was to “just do it,” make sure you don’t overdo it, cautions Jodie Howell, a physical therapist for Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s east campus in Flowood.
“A lot of people try get-fit-quick schemes and wind up getting hurt,” says Howell. “Doing too much too soon invites overuse injuries such as tendinitis, stress fractures and plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the connective tissues under the foot.”
To avoid such pitfalls, try these recommendations:
JACKSON, Miss.—Celebrating the New Year should be fun and exciting, but Methodist Rehabilitation Center urges revelers to remember that incorrectly used fireworks can turn a joyful celebration into a dangerous event.
Dr. David Collipp, medical director of the rehab surgery program at Methodist Rehab, encourages children and adults to use extreme caution when handling fireworks. Children are most likely to be involved in firework-related injuries.
JACKSON, Miss.—It’s supposed to be a Christmas party.
But this Friday’s gathering at Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s Quest program could just as easily be considered Independence Day festivities.
Most of the guests will be brain injury survivors who are celebrating their return to self-sufficiency, said Joyce Leverenz, admissions coordinator for Quest, an outpatient community reintegration program for people with brain injuries.