News &
Updates
It’s Occupational Therapy Month!
When is occupational therapy month? OT Month is celebrated in April to recognize and honor the work of occupational therapists (OTs), occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), and students in the field. What is occupational therapy? OT practitioners work with...
Upper Extremity Care and Positioning Post Neurological Event
After experiencing a stroke or neurological event such as a TBI, many survivors are often left with residual deficits that affect their upper extremity. These deficits can vary from increased muscle tone, often called spasticity, or decreased muscle tone, often called...
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes: This type occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It’s...
Brain Injury Awareness Month – MARCH
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, a person in the U.S. will experience a brain injury every 13 seconds. With the high volume of brain injuries on a daily basis, it is only right that we would stay vigilant to what traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)...
Sleep hygiene
Sleep hygiene is crucial because it directly impacts the quality of sleep which in turn affects your overall health and well-being. Good sleep hygiene involves creating an environment and following habits that promote consistent, restful sleep. Here’s why it's...
Heart Health Month
While most people recognize February as the month of Valentine’s day, there is another part of February to shine light on. February is Heart Health Awareness month. Your heart is a vital organ that circulates oxygen throughout your body, pumps blood, maintains your...
Cognitive Impairment and Diabetes
Cognitive Impairment and Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide, and its prevalence in the United States has been steadily rising. While much attention is given to the physical complications of diabetes—such as heart...
Lifestyle Choices and a Healthy Brain
The brain controls thought, movement and emotion. Billions of nerve cells in your brain, called neurons, send information to the rest of the body. When these neurons are not working properly, there are symptoms that could appear. Symptoms can include slower thinking,...
Adaptive Equipment for Lower Body Dressing
Adaptive equipment can improve an individual’s safety, efficiency, and independence with daily activities. There are various types of adaptive equipment for all ADLs (bathing, personal hygiene/grooming, toileting, eating/feeding, dressing, and transferring). However,...
Rehabilitation & Parkinson’s
Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for people with PD. Allied health professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists, can help manage symptoms at every stage of the disease1....
Heat Safety in Louisiana: Protecting Yourself from Heat Stroke
Louisiana’s scorching temperatures and high humidity levels pose significant risks for heat-related incidents and illnesses. A heat stroke is a severe, life-threatening condition that can be especially dangerous for individuals who are already vulnerable due to...
Dysarthria Communication Strategies
Speaking is a complex motor task that requires many muscles including muscles for articulation, respiration, and phonation. The tongue and lips must move quickly and efficiently to produce the many different sounds we use to communicate. If there is damage, speech may...
2 Ways to Worry
Worry is a natural part of being human, but too little worry and we are apathetic while too much worry can be overwhelming. We worry about our children, our health, deadlines, traffic or how bills will get paid. How can you strike a balance to worry that promotes a...
Occupational Therapy for Neuropathy: Managing Sensory Impairments
By being aware and understanding the impact of neuropathy on sensory and motor functions, individuals can implement modifications to their daily activities and environments to promote safety, increased quality of life, and independence. What is Neuropathy? Neuropathy...
What is Caregiver Burden?
Caregiver burden can be defined as the strain or challenges felt by caregivers in respect to the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and even financial consequences that can be experienced by family members caring for individuals with dementia. It can also be...
Fall Prevention 101
Falls are experiences that happen frequently during childhood that occur in sports, at a playground, or a clumsy accident with children hopping back onto their feet to carry on their day for the most part. However, as we age, these falls can lead to more detrimental...
Exercise Tips for the New Year and a New You
With the start of the new year, now is the perfect time to kick start or revamp your exercise routine. Why not make it a resolution! According to Forbes Health, the average resolution lasts less than 4 months, and only 9% of people who make them follow through on them...
What is Post-Concussion Syndrome?
Concussions occur from an injury to the brain. Most concussion symptoms resolve within 2 weeks. However, every individual is unique, and the site and severity of the injury can play a role in the length of recovery. Post-Concussive Syndrome (PCS) occurs when symptoms...
Building Self-Esteem and Promoting Empowerment
Individuals who seek rehabilitation services normally strive to heal their physical bodies, but it is also very significant to one’s recovery to heal their mind as well. One’s self-esteem can have a major impact on how they view themselves, their treatment, and the...
Return to Driving After Stroke
The effects of a stroke can impact your function in all daily activities. As therapists, our focus is to assist in your recovery so that you can enjoy the tasks that are meaningful to you. These tasks can be as simple as holding onto a cup during a meal or as complex...
Assistive Technology for Cognition
Technology use for people with cognitive impairment is quickly becoming commonplace in neurological rehabilitation. Technology that is a part of our everyday lives can increase independent functioning for people having difficulty with memory or other cognitive...
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, occurs when brain cells are damaged from trauma to the head. This can result from a blow or jolt to the head or body, such as in a motor vehicle accident, fall, sports injury, or explosive blast. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury...
Surviving Grief
Written By: Mariano Hinojosa Almost all of us have experienced the death of a family member or a close friend. The resulting grief is often almost unbearable. The loss is unbelievable and the words offered to console, fail. I don't know anybody who is comfortable...
How to Manage Your Spasticity
Managing Your Spasticity After a brain injury occurs, you may experience many new symptoms. Significant muscle tightness, known as spasticity of hypertonicity, may be one of these symptoms. This muscle tightness can vary from mild stiffness to severe spasms, and it...
Reducing the Risk of a Stroke
What is a Stroke? Stroke is a disease that negatively affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when brain cannot get the oxygen and nutrients it needs from a clot forming or the vessel itself bursts. It is estimated that every 40 seconds...
10 Tips for Healthy Eating with Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic imbalance of blood glucose levels. Diabetes can be managed through diet, exercise, and medication. Choosing the right foods, eating regular meals, and limiting portions are ways that you can improve your diet to manage your diabetes. Here are...
Sage’s Parkinson’s Outreach and Wellness Program
Sage Rehabilitation Hospital and Outpatient Services proudly presents Sage’s Parkinson’s Outreach and Wellness Program supported by a community grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation. A FREE one-hour, bimonthly program consisting of high intensity exercise, education,...
Stroke Resources in Baton Rouge
There are a number of resources in the Baton Rouge area for those who have had a stroke. With this in mind, we've compiled a list of some of those available in our area in the hopes that they may be helpful to you or your loved ones. SAGE STROKE SUPPORT GROUP Sage...
Mindfulness Meditation Tips
By now, all of us have adjusted to the new reality of living in a pandemic. We wear our masks, wash our hands frequently, and practice social distancing. These are daily physical things that we do in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep our loved ones and...
What is FEES and why might I need it?
Sage Outpatient is now offering Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)! What is FEES? Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, or FEES, is a procedure that helps the speech language pathologist (SLP) assess your ability to swallow and see what...
Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease
Exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for everyone. Physical activity is even more critical for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Research has shown that consistent exercise can help to slow disease progression and minimize disability....
Do I Need a Home Safety Evaluation?
What Is A Home Safety Evaluation? Sage Outpatient's interdisciplinary therapy team consisting of physical, occupational, speech therapists, and a social worker routinely participate in home safety evaluations. Specifically, individuals who have sustained a fall, a...
Occupation and Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is defined as the brain’s ability to reorganize and regenerate neural connections. This means after a neurological event, such as a stroke or brain injury, the brain has the ability to recover. Research shows us that this neuroplasticity is strongest...
What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?
Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of therapy service to treat dizziness and imbalance caused by injury to structures in the inner ear and/or associated brain pathways. Individuals may feel like the room is spinning or a rocking sensation similar to being...
5 Tips To Stay Connected During Social Distancing
Never before has our society been in such an unprecedented position as with this COVID-19 pandemic. It is a trying time with the CDC requesting us to maintain a minimum of 6 feet social distancing and the “stay at home” order currently in affect in Louisiana. As a...
Telehealth Services During COVID-19
What is telehealth? Telehealth is the use of electronic communication to provide health care from a remote location. Until recently, it has been used mostly in rural areas where the patient and the health care provider are far apart. Over the last several months, many...
The Importance of Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy is important for individuals of all ages. April is occupational therapy month, so it is a great time to celebrate the value of occupational therapy! Occupational therapists use a holistic approach to help individuals complete activities, known as...
Sage Rehabilitation’s Response to Confront COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Sage Rehabilitation Hospital and Outpatient Services is a division of The Carpenter Health Network (TCHN). A press release was issued today to notify our patients, employees, and vendors of the networkwide response to confront the COVID-19 virus, also know as...
Monthly Stroke Support Group Launched at Sage Outpatient and Day Neuro
Sage Outpatient and Day Neuro Program is pleased to announce the launch of our Stroke Support Group! The inaugural monthly support group was held Tuesday, February 11, 2020. The goal of the new group is to build a community of stroke survivors and caregivers to learn...
What to Look for When Choosing a Language Therapy Program
Finding a language therapy program to help patients who have difficulty communicating due to a stroke or due to complications from Parkinson’s disease is important. By working with a program or a speech-language pathologist, the goal is to reach the highest level of...
Living a Happy and Healthy 2019
Now that the new year has begun, many people decide that it is a good time to change their health and wellness habits. New Year's resolutions are in full effect and the gyms are packed with new business. Many new year’s resolutions only last 1 month with fewer lasting...
Dry Needling in Physical Therapy Practice
Dry needling can be successfully utilized to treat impairments at the site of soft tissue pain and related regions as necessary. Dry needling therapy can improve joint range of motion, pain-free joint mobility, functional extremity strengthening and retraining, as...
Adaptive Equipment Considerations for Stroke Survivors
Stroke is the leading causes of long disability in the United States. Stroke reduces mobility in over half of survivors ages 65 and older. Stroke survivors may experience physical or cognitive deficits that impact their independence with mobility, self-care, home...
What is Lymphedema?
Lymphedema is swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the body. Lymphedema is caused by damage to the lymphatic tissues. The leading causes of lymphedema are cancer treatments and venous insufficiency. Lymphedema affects women and men of...
Sage Neuro 10th Anniversary!
On October 19, 2018, Sage Outpatient/Day Neuro Program celebrated its 10th anniversary of providing services to individuals in the Greater Baton Rouge Area. Originally located in a 6,000 square foot building on Dijon Drive, treating 10-20 patients a week, the program...
Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke
A stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), can be life-threatening if not medically treated in a quick timeline. Knowing the warning signs can save not only your life but the life of your loved ones. Below you will find some of the signs and symptoms of...
Holistic Approach to Healing
It’s no secret that our mind and body are connected but often treated separately in healthcare. Finding practitioners who can link both aspects of your mental and physical health are vital to a successful comprehensive treatment plan. Gaps in Mental and Physical...
Rehabilitation After Brain Injury
Sage Outpatient’s Day Neuro Program has the ability to provide extensive treatment to the traumatic brain injury (TBI) population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day 153 people in the United States die from injuries that include...
Stroke Rehab: 10 Things You Need To Know
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and...
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects many aspects of a person’s life. The disease process degenerates individual’s ability to walk, speak, write, and dress secondary to a decreased amplitude of movement. Slowness of movement,...
What Is LSVT LOUD®?
Has your wife been having trouble hearing you lately? Do your friends keep asking you to repeat what you have just said on the phone? Are your kids constantly saying, “Huh?” and “What?” and is it driving you crazy!?! Individuals with Parkinson’s disease often...
Driving in Older Adults
Driving is a way of keeping individuals mobile and independent. The ability to drive to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, or to eat out with friends brings great joy to many lives. According to the Federal Highway Administration, in 2015, there were more than...
Why Might I Need a Custom Manual or Power Wheelchair?
People may initially view wheelchairs as a sign of disability; however, many do not know that appropriately prescribed custom wheelchairs and seating systems can give people back their ABILITY and independence with activities that may have been previously impossible....
Free LSVT Wellness Event
Join our LSVT BIG® and LSVT LOUD® physical, occupational, and speech therapists and check out our evidenced-based exercises for treatment of Parkinson’s disease and our focus on improving function within your home and community environments. Join us for FREE LSVT...
What Is LSVT BIG® and LOUD®?
Individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions often present with smaller, slower movements and lower volume of speech. The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, also known as LSVT, is an evidence-based treatment protocol designed to target...
How Can a Day Neuro Program Help Stroke Patients?
Sage Rehabilitation offers a Day Neuro program providing a comprehensive treatment experience to individuals who are recovering from a neurologic condition such as a stroke. The Day Neuro program is designed to provide high-quality interdisciplinary rehabilitation...
Importance of Exercise for Parkinson’s
Exercise is an important part of any healthy lifestyle! For individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, physical activity is essential for optimal balance, mobility, and independence. The following tips will help you kickstart a workout routine and improve your...
Speech and Voice Changes After Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease can result in weakened or severely impaired control over your speech, but don’t lose hope – there are methods of treatment and therapy that can help you regain your voice. Know the verbal effects of Parkinson’s Disease, find personal practices that...
SAGE Announces Groundbreaking On Outpatient Facility
BATON ROUGE – Sage Rehabilitation Hospital and Outpatient Services announced their recent groundbreaking on a new state-of-the-art outpatient facility. The new 10,000-square-foot clinic will allow Sage space to treat more patients in the Baton Rouge community and...