Author name: Brent Cowles

10 Ways Physical Therapy Can Better Your Life

Physical therapy is a multidimensional branch of healthcare that focuses on restoring and improving physical function, mobility, and overall quality of life. It encompasses various techniques, exercises, and treatments that are tailored to individual needs. While physical therapy is often associated with injury rehabilitation, its benefits extend far beyond. In this blog post, we’ll explore ten different ways in which physical therapy can positively impact your life. 1. Injury Rehab and Pain Management Physical therapy (PT) plays a crucial role in recovering from injuries, whether they’re sports-related, work-related, or due to accidents. Through personalized treatment plans, PTs help patients reduce pain, improve their range of motion, and promote tissue healing. They work to employ techniques like therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and modalities such as heat, cold, or electrical stimulation to expedite recovery. 2. Improved Flexibility & Mobility Restricted mobility and flexibility can negatively affect daily activities and overall quality of life. PTs work to help this by employing stretching exercises, joint mobilization techniques, and targeted interventions to increase joint range of motion, improve flexibility, and enhance overall mobility for their patients. By addressing musculoskeletal limitations, PT enables individuals to perform tasks more efficiently and with less discomfort, thus overall positively impacting your life for the better! 3. Management of Chronic Conditions Physical therapy is important to those who are dealing with chronic conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or chronic back pain. Through a combination of exercises, pain management strategies, and lifestyle modifications, your PT will be able to help you reduce pain, improve function, and enhance their ability to engage in their favorite (and necessary) daily activities. Not only that, but they’ll educate you on self-management techniques to promote long-term well-being, so the same problem doesn’t continue to arise over and over again. 4. Injury Prevention When it comes to injury prevention, PTs are experts. By evaluating your body mechanics and identifying areas of weakness or imbalances, your PT is able to design customized treatment programs to prevent injuries. These programs focus on strengthening specific muscles, improving posture, and enhancing balance and coordination, while reducing the overall risk of future injuries. 5. Enhanced Sports Performance If you’re a high school, collegiate, or professional athlete — physical therapy can help enhance your overall performance! By designing tailored programs to the specific demands of the athlete and the sport, your PT is able to help enhance your overall ability so you can perform at your best. Not only that, but PTs also offer injury prevention strategies (like the ones mentioned above!) and techniques to optimize your athletic performance while minimizing the risk of setbacks. This means you’re able to be on top of your game and play with confidence! 6. Post-Surgical Rehab Following surgery, PT is a crucial step for optimal recovery and regaining functional abilities. Physical therapists work closely with surgeons to develop personalized rehabilitation plans including manual therapy, exercises, and other modalities. Through your gradual progression and guidance through therapy, your PT will help you regain strength, mobility, and independence—which not only leads to a successful post-operative outcome, but confidence in yourself, as well! 7. Balance & Fall Prevention For those who struggle with their balance and are worried about falling and injuring themselves, physical therapy is a great modality of treatment to reduce your worries and increase your overall confidence. Falls can be a significant concern, especially for older individuals. PTs will assess your balance and gait patterns and through that will develop targeted interventions to improve your overall stability. This will help reduce the risk of falls so you can continue to lead a healthy, worry-free, and independent life! 8. Respiratory Rehabilitation Physical therapy can also benefit those who are dealing with respiratory conditions such as asthma or post-COVID-19 recovery. PTs will help patients by using breathing exercises, chest physiotherapy techniques, and aerobic conditioning to improve your lung function, enhance your respiratory muscle strength, and optimize your overall respiratory health! 9. Posture Correction and Ergonomics Dealing with poor posture that leads to back pain? No worries! Physical therapists can help with poor posture and ergonomics. We know that poor posture can lead to musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and other discomforts. Your PT will work with you to correct your posture and educate you on proper body mechanics to prevent your condition from getting worse and from other problems developing in the future. 10. Health and Wellness PT isn’t only about treating injuries—it’s also about promoting overall health and wellness, which should be a priority for every single one of us. Physical therapists can provide guidance on exercise, nutrition, weight management, and lifestyle changes that help us lead and maintain healthier lifestyles. Doing so will allow us to stay fit and healthier for longer, allowing us to enjoy everything that life has to offer. As you can see, there are multiple benefits other than injury treatment that physical therapy can provide for you and your loved ones. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you, we’d love to talk to you about how we can improve your situation! To learn more, all you have to do is click the button below and contact us TODAY! 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Why PT Hasn’t Worked for You Yet

Are you dealing with pain and haven’t been able to solve it yet? Have you tried everything from massage all the way through to injections and pain killers? What about physical therapy? Have you been to a clinic only to find that it didn’t help and that you really didn’t improve as much as you would have liked? Well, the thing is – you’re not alone. Some people spend months, if not years, looking for a way to solve their pain, and many of them have actually been to see a physical therapist only to be disappointed. As the title above suggests, we’re diving into why your previous physical therapy may not have worked. Before I get to the nitty gritty of this post, though, I’m going to ask you a few questions: When you have a toothache, do you stop going to the dentist if the first time didn’t work? If you eat a bad slice of cake, do you give up eating cake altogether? If your car breaks down and the mechanic couldn’t fix it immediately, do you accept that you’ll have to travel by horse for the rest of your life? I bet you don’t, no. Life isn’t without its ups and downs, and no form of treatment is a silver bullet, certainly not the first time around. It takes a unique combination of willpower, commitment, expertise, and after care to really rid you of your pain for good. If you haven’t got the perfect ratio, then it may not work out precisely how you would have liked. That aside, you definitely don’t give up. Why? Because you deserve a better life, one that is pain free and full of vitality, mobility, and independence. And the truth remains: physical therapy is simply your best, safest bet. Now, let’s take a closer look at why your previous physical therapy treatment may not have worked so that you have the knowledge to rethink your decisions. No Clear Diagnosis was Come By and No Root Cause was Found I say this every day, and I will gladly say it again right now, finding the root cause to the problem is the single most effective way – if not the only way – of getting rid of the pain. If your previous physical therapist failed to find, diagnose, and treat the root cause of your problem, then the likelihood of you being pain free is very slim indeed. He/she may not have been as skilled as a different physical therapist, or he/she may have gotten it wrong – it happens, people are simply trying their best. I wouldn’t let this stop me from trying again, though – physical therapy can help you and, I promise, it’s the most effective way of finding and treating your root cause for a jump-start to a permanently pain-free life. There was Simply no Plan If you were planning a trip to Europe, you would consult a few guide books, check out a few different websites, and maybe ask around for tips and advice about the best hotels and beaches, right? I think so. Travelling – successful travelling – takes some plan, some idea of what you’re doing, where you’re staying, and of course, how to get back home! So, why would you look at your pain differently? It’s essential that any treatment has a plan. Perhaps your previous physical therapist didn’t outline a plan, wasn’t communicative about what you personally need, and didn’t give you the information you needed to help you succeed on your own. Any successful physical therapy treatment will always have a plan tailored to you, will execute it for the time needed, and will always be relatable and clear. Your Physical Therapist Didn’t Listen to You It may be that your previous physical therapist didn’t listen to you or your story. Physical therapy is about looking at the person as a whole – previous injuries, surrounding muscles, tissues and joints, gait, movements, etc. Not taking everything into account could lead to a misdiagnosis and the root cause being evaded. It’s extremely important that you find a physical therapist who listens to what your problem is, examines you as a whole, and makes sure to give you enough time to understand and treat the root cause accordingly. Less is More: Too Much Too Soon Physical therapists always give their patients the tools to execute proper exercises at home so that the patients can keep the progress going outside of the clinic – well, the good ones do. If your previous physical therapist did do this, it may be that the program was too intensive, too quickly. Doing too much, too soon, especially during the treatment can end up exerting muscles before they’re strong enough to take the pressure, thereby causing a recurrence of pain. Always make sure that you’re able to handle the exercises and that your physical therapist keeps a close eye on your progress, adjusts your goals accordingly, and listens to your comments throughout the course of treatment. You see, physical therapy offers you the best of both worlds: a pain free life and a safe, effective form of treatment to achieve it. If you’ve been given treatment but haven’t experienced the relief you hoped, then it may be due to the above reasons. Physical therapy isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ treatment: each person is unique and should, therefore, be treated as such. It is essential that you find a physical therapist who is professional, hands-on, and dedicated in order to ensure that your journey to a pain free life is one that is permanent and enjoyable. For this reason, we invite you contact us for a totally complimentary, risk free “Discovery Visit”. During this visit we will assess your situation, find the root cause of your pain, talk you through your personal treatment plan, and immediately start easing your discomfort. There is no obligation and you have nothing to lose – call us today to book your

6 Tips for Working from Home

If your desk area consists of a sofa cushion, and low coffee table, then we’re taking a stab in the dark and guessing you’ve converted your living room into an office. And while that’s all fun and games, working from home can actually be quite stressful on your muscles and joints – despite the extended periods sitting down! In this post, we discuss the ways in which you can stay healthy and active while working from home. So, let’s adjust the couch seat, make a fresh brew, and get stuck in! It’s been a few weeks and you’re still getting around to sorting your desk space. The kids have taken over the living room and your partner has decided the spare room is now an ‘activity’ space. Your laptop has had more coffee spilled on it than the kitchen counter, and you’ve not changed your jeans for days. How in the world can you work from home while maintaining your health and sanity in those conditions? Well, we’re here to help. Take a look at our top tips for working from home: Make Your Desk Your Own Let’s be honest… the couch just isn’t cutting it anymore. Sharing it with the kids, the spouse, and the dog Charlie, makes for a less than optimum working environment. It’s time to move. Claim the dining room table and make it your own. The key to accomplishing quality work from home is to have a space designated entirely to completing your tasks. You may lose a dining room table, but dinner can still be shared out on the patio or in the kitchen. Small changes like this can actually have a large effect on the quality of the work you produce and… yes, you guessed it, your physical health, too. Desk Ergonomics Which brings us to the next point: how comfortable and physically supportive your desk space is. After having set up your dining room desk, it’s time to take a good look at your seat and table. First of all, ask yourself whether your seat is supportive enough for your spine. If not, invest in a good cushion or desk chair. After that, check the height of the table. Ideally, the height of the table should allow for your computer screen to reach eye-level, consequently ensuring that you have no need to stare down constantly – doing so would cause neck pain. It may help to use a bigger screen in order to achieve optimum height. Once finished, you should be able to sit comfortably. Ideally, you’ll be able to see the screen without straining, thus avoiding negatively affecting your posture. But hey… don’t get too comfortable, though, it’s time to move! Move, Move, Move Now, we know you’ve just made your desk chair perfectly comfortable – plush leather, flashing lights, and a built-in sound system – but the truth is, you can’t stay sitting in it for hours at a time! Getting up regularly to drink water, stretch, and have a little stroll around the house is actually very beneficial for muscle and bone health. Why not set a reminder on your phone to get up every 20 minutes or so – that way, you are maintaining mobility and staving off any stiffness or pain down the line. Don’t allow your body to get used to a sedentary pose – activate the muscles in order to remain spritely, energetic, and most importantly of all: pain free. Snacking Time to get to what you really want to talk about… snacks. No, we don’t mean Hershey’s and MnM’s. While having a chocolate bar every now and again isn’t a problem, having too many of them during the day will actually cause you to doze off at your desk! Avoid the sugar highs (and lows) and reach for some fruits or nuts instead. Regular, healthy snacking will mean your body stays fueled and you stay out of the fridge! Yoga Namaste! Sometimes it’s just great to get stretching. Incorporating yoga into your daily routine is a wonderful way of getting your muscles moving and flexing, thereby ensuring that you stay mobile and active during the day. Yoga is also fantastic at energizing the mind and body and, if done regularly, will go a long way to staving off injury as you get older. I’m sure you’ve heard that the first step to becoming truly flexible is just getting on that mat… so, what are you waiting for? Home Workouts If you love the gym, but just can’t make it out there while working from home, why not try some home workouts? There are some great live sessions on YouTube and you can even join local groups if that’s what you prefer. Being active and mobile really is the best way of staying at the top of your health and fitness game, and, if you’re not willing to compromise on your exercise regime, doing some cardio via a home workout is a great option. All of the above are fantastic ways of keeping both healthy and sane while you’re working from home. Some days are easier than others, though, and not knowing all of the answers is normal. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t know what your correct desk-posture ought to be, or just feel unable to get into the swing of things while working from home, we invite you to contact one of our dedicated physical therapists today. Physical therapy will help you become active and mobile while you work from home, thereby ensuring that you’re able to keep up with your active lifestyle and pain free life. In addition, if you feel the time on the sofa has left you feeling achy, give us a call – we’ll help you get back to health in no time. So, there you have it. Six great tips for working from home. Don’t let home-based work leave you feeling like you’ve just returned from a Saturday at Walmart – let us help you

Are You Being Heard, or Are You Just Part of the Herd? Big Box vs. Personalized Care and Its Value

If you’re seeking physical therapy, you’re usually motivated by a desire to get rid of aches, pains or getting back to living your life and doing the things you love. . Maybe you’re even looking for an alternate route than surgery. Your problem could be due to an accident, illness, injury, or recovery from surgery. Regardless of the cause, your number one goal is to get back to “normal.” You want to feel like you did “before.” But what happens if your experience at a physical therapy clinic doesn’t meet your expectations? As you probably guessed, it can adversely affect your healing process. This situation often happens in a “big box” practice where physical therapy involves offering patients a one-size-fits-all treatment plan instead of individual and personal care. In this article, we’ll outline what’s common in the industry and why seeking out personalized physical therapy is a better option for your recovery. Understanding personalized PT and its value in five key areas can help you make the best choices for your health.   Difference 1: The Amount of Time Spent with Patients   It seems like health care providers across the board are looking to cut costs, starting with the amount of time spent with a patient.Personalized physical therapy can’t be done if you only interact with the physical therapist for 10 minutes. In order to truly discover what problem you have, why it’s going on in the first place, and create a plan to keep it from coming back, you’re going to need more time with your physical therapy provider.   Difference 2: The Appointment Agenda   A physical therapist who lacks skills or is being pressured to boost the bottom line of a practice may give you the same set of exercises week in and week out, leaving you alone to do them while they assist other clients. In the personalized physical therapy space, this is a no-no. It is not helpful for you to sit by yourself in a room and do exercises that could be done at home. Rather, a professional physical therapist will ensure that your appointment is focused on your treatments. Your physical therapy appointment could include a combination of the following: –   A discussion of your health history and goals –   Demonstrations of how to do specific movements –   Advice on lifestyle accommodations and strategies to prevent injuries –   Hands-on assistance –   Situation-specific exercises   Difference 3: The Focus of the Appointment   A rushed physical therapy provider in a big box setting may be singularly focused on addressing your pain symptoms only. The problem with this approach is that it lacks a holistic strategy to improve your overall life. Are you trying to strengthen a muscle group for a specific reason? Is there an event coming up that you’d like to attend, but you’re currently unable? In addition to shifting the focus of the appointment to you, the patient, the best clinicians realize the importance of treating you like a person with real goals and desires, not just a person in pain.   Difference 4: The Ability to Change Course   A big box clinic usually has specific treatment plans in mind, and those plans tend to be unwavering. With personalized physical therapy, the patient experience is the top priority. Instead of digging right into what’s on the agenda, a therapist might ask you questions like: – “How are you feeling today?” (And they’ll genuinely mean it!) – “Has anything changed since your last appointment?” – “Is there anything you feel that we could be doing better?” – “Do you feel like you’re making adequate progress and your goals are being met?” Though having a detailed plan is a must, it’s also important to be able to recognize when things need to shift to give patients the best possible chance of a full recovery.   Difference 5: The Commitment to Educational Excellence   Physical therapists are all required to engage in continuing education to maintain the licenses of their profession. However, those who are passionate about their calling take CE hours because they want to, not because they have to. Staying up to date on the development of new treatment and therapy options is the goal of continuing education, but physical therapists can also dedicate time to learning about the latest health care research. They may choose to gain further knowledge and training about patient communication and innovative approaches to dealing with pain.   Choosing the Right Physical Therapist   Now that you know the signs to look out for, you’ll be better equipped to choose a physical therapist who is best suited to address your injury. And, if you’re already a physical therapy patient, you’ll understand what red flags might prompt you to find a new clinic. To get in touch with a specialized physical therapist that puts your needs first, contact Optimize Mobile PT at (714) 747-4725 to schedule an appointment. Ask About Availability & Pricing

How To Fit a Healthy Lifestyle into a Busy Schedule

We all know that living a healthy lifestyle is essential for our overall well being, but it can be hard to fit it into your already busy lifestyle. With work, family, and other commitments taking up so much of our time, it can be difficult to find the time and energy to focus on our health. However, there are some simple steps you can take to make sure you’re still taking care of yourself even when life gets hectic. Prioritize Your Health The first step in fitting a healthy lifestyle into your day is to prioritize your health. This means making time for exercise, eating nutritious meals, and getting enough sleep (7-9 hours a night). It’s important to remember that these activities should be seen as just as important as any other task on your list. If you don’t make time for them, you won’t be able to stay healthy and productive in the long run. Plan Ahead One way to fit a healthy lifestyle into your busy schedule is by making it convenient for you. To do this, plan ahead your day the night before so you already know what to expect. You can prioritize your time as needed while making sure you’re staying healthy as you do so. Take some time each week or month to plan out what meals you’ll eat and when you’ll exercise. This will help ensure that you have the time and energy for these activities without having to sacrifice anything else on your schedule. You can also use this planning period to set aside specific times for relaxation and self-care activities (which is just as important when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle) like reading or taking a bath. Make Small Changes When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, small changes can make all the difference over time. Instead of trying to overhaul your entire routine overnight (which could result in stressing you out), start with small changes that are easy to implement and maintain over the long term. For example, if you don’t have time for an hour-long workout every day, try doing shorter workouts throughout the week or adding more movement into your daily routine (like taking the stairs instead of the elevator.) Take Time for Yourself Finally, don’t forget to take some time for yourself each day! Even if it’s just 10 minutes before bed or during lunch break at work, carve out some “me-time” where you can relax and recharge without feeling guilty about it. Ways to spend time on yourself is reading a book, taking a walk, listening to your favorite podcast, or however you like to spend your time! Doing so will help ensure that you have enough energy left over at the end of the day for all of your other commitments and responsibilities. Living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be an impossible task even when life gets busy! With some careful planning, prioritizing, and small changes here and there, you can easily fit healthy habits into your daily routine without sacrificing anything else on your schedule. It may take some time to really nail down the perfect routine best fit for you, which is perfectly fine! So don’t any longer – start prioritizing your health today and see how your life changes for the better! Ask About Availability & Pricing  

6 Reasons Why Your Previous Physical Therapy Didn’t Work

Do you ever feel as though nothing will ever help you get rid of your pain? Have you suffered for so long that you’ve just started to accept your pain as a burden you’re destined to carry? Many people feel the way you do, and these feelings are often compounded by the fact that everything you’ve tried has failed. Painkillers just cover up the issue, massages don’t work, hot packs only bring relief for a few precious minutes, and that brace… well… you’d rather get rid of it. But perhaps the worst thing of all is the fact that physical therapy has also not worked for you – you thought it would help you out of your pain, but it just left you feeling desperate. This can be really, really tough. And, honestly, giving up on your healing journey may seem as though it’s the right thing to do. Here’s the thing, though, there is hope; there is a way to get rid of your pain – you just haven’t found it yet. What is it, you ask? Well, it’s physical therapy! Now, now, you just said it didn’t work, right? Alright… but what if you only watched “You’ve Got Mail” and wrote off Tom Hanks before ever seeing “Sleepless in Seattle” or “Forest Gump”? What if you read “Twilight” and vowed never to read another book about vampires again? Would you miss out on “Dracula” because of it? What about coffee? Is one bad chicory brew going to turn you off of cappuccinos forever? Of course not! So, why give up on physical therapy without ever broadening your horizons? You just haven’t had the right treatment yet! We’re not asking you to believe us straight off of the bat, though – we have proof! Take a look at the following 6 facts that may explain why your previous physical therapy session/sessions didn’t work: The Root Cause was Never Found A good physical therapist will always chat to you about the root cause of your problem. What is that, you may ask? Well, one of the reasons physical therapy is so effective is because it finds and treats the root cause of the problem, that is, the reason/beginning of your pain. If the root cause isn’t found and isn’t treated in the right way, you will never be rid of your pain and will never hope to regain mobility, strength, and independence in any meaningful way. Not having found or treated the root cause of your issue may indeed be why your previous physical therapy didn’t work. There was No Clear Plan for Recovery Imagine buying a car, but you don’t know how to drive or even where you’re going! Well, physical therapy without a clear course of action or recovery plan is a bit like dressing up for the ball, but sitting on the sofa instead. It’s very important that your physical therapist has a clear plan, that he/she sticks to it, and that you have regular check-in’s in order to note your progress. Our clinic wouldn’t have the reputation for quality treatment without this system, and you should never settle for anything less. Exercising in Vain It may be that one of the first things you were told at your previous physical therapy session/sessions is that you need to do more exercises, right? And that’s all good and well, but did they tell you what to do or how to do it? And even if they did, did they make sure you were comfortable and clearly understood the moves and postures involved? If not, chances are you were doing the exercises in vain. You see, physical therapy training plans involve targeting those areas specifically giving you problems – generic plans just don’t cut it. Make sure you know what to do, how to do it, and when to stop – this is critical when it comes to a successful physical therapy treatment. A Little Less Conversation, a Little more Action, Please Let’s be honest: physical therapy isn’t about the therapist… it’s about you! Any physical therapist pushing his/her own agenda on your injury will never be able to treat you. And, not only that, he/she could actually end up making things a lot worse! If there is a lot of prodding, poking, and general pressing in the area of pain, he/she could aggravate the issue further, thereby causing you unnecessary pain. Forget the hidden agendas and engrained formula – you need physical therapy for YOU. Stretching only Brought you Temporary Relief Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know? Cliché’s aside, aside from knowing which stretches to do, as well as how to do them correctly, a good physical therapist will always tell you that true healing takes time – there MUST be a long term plan in place for you when it comes to stretching. Honesty is the best policy, and being truly pain free means understanding that you need to be in this for the long run… it will come and it will last. We promise. You didn’t Choose the Right Physical Therapist Choosing a physical therapist is critical when it comes to your healing process. Choosing Mister “A” because he’s quick and efficient isn’t always the best idea. Similarly, going for Miss “B” because she says nice things and gets through the session quickly is also a mistake. It’s important to remember that physical therapy needs time. Initially, the physical therapist needs time to find the root cause of the problem, but thereafter he/she needs time to treat it properly. So, just because you’re promised pain relief in 15 minutes, doesn’t mean the former is true… only the latter is. Give yourself and your physical therapist enough time to make the difference you dream of. So, there you have 6 reasons why your previous attempt at physical therapy failed. It’s not always easy to know how to choose a qualified, professional, hands on physical therapist – we understand that. But, at the end of

Am I Injured? The Confusing Truth About Pain

Most of us like to think we know ourselves fairly well – we know we’re happy when the sun is shining, when we drink a good cup of coffee, or when we spend time with our loved ones. On the other hand, we also know when we’re sad: we may have lost our favorite sneakers, hit a pothole, or experienced emotional trauma. All of that seems, in many ways, quite clear to us. But when it comes to physical injuries things can get a bit confusing. How do we know of we have neck pain, shoulder, or back pain? How do we know if our knees, hips, or lower backs are giving us problems? How can we differentiate between different types of pain? It often seems as if it’s harder to self-diagnose physical pain than it is to pinpoint heartache or joy. And yet, knowing why you’re in pain is actually the most invaluable knowledge there is for treating the root cause of the problem and, therefore, eradicating the pain itself. In this post, then, we’re talking about how injuries can be confusing, how we can tell if we’re really injured – and where we’re injured – and how we can clear it all up once and for all! Let’s jump straight in. As we said, getting to the bottom of your pain is key in relieving it – treating your elbow, for example, may do no good if it is actually your wrist giving you the trouble. And just to make things even more confusing, your pain might not even point to an injury in the first place! That’s right! Oftentimes, we may experience pain that is fleeting and that disappears on its own. Therefore, understanding the difference between a once-off pain and a chronic, debilitating type of pain is absolutely crucial. Why? Well, if you don’t attention to the pain and it actually points to an injury, then you might end up exacerbating the pain, and damage, even more. Ultimately, we need to find out if the reason for pain is a fleeting injury or not. After this, it’s time to treat it appropriately. Let’s start with the first point: knowing the difference between injury and temporary pain. When it comes to pain, listening to your body is the first port of call. Your body is a sophisticated organism – its ability to signal injury in the form or discomfort and pain cannot be underestimated. Sensation is like your body’s language, and pain, therefore, is like a warning which signals a problem. If we listen carefully enough, our bodies will inform us of our ailments. So, when it comes to knowing if we’re injured or not, we have to listen. Look out for any signs of injury: swelling, discoloration, temperature spikes – trouble walking, placing pressure on the area, or sensitivity to touch are all indicators that something is wrong. A tip for you: if you suspect that you’ve been injured, apply heat/ice immediately. More often than not, inflammation accompanies pain – heat and ice are able to alleviate the discomfort and swelling. Be sure to be smart, though: if you feel pain for long durations of time, something is definitely wrong. Don’t make the mistake of believing your pain will disappear on its own; listen to your body and make a decision to get the right kind of help. Once you’ve listened to your body and have understood that you’re injured, it’s time to figure out exactly what type of injury you’ve sustained. Establishing if you’ve pulled, strained, or torn a muscle can, at times, be as difficult as solving a Rubix cube… it can be incredibly challenging. One way to get to the bottom of it all is to analyze the types of activities you’ve done – Crossfit can give rise to different injuries than Yoga may, for example. This is, however, an inexact science, as injuries vary wildly at times. It is one way of trying to pin-point your injury, though. At the end of the day, however, it’s always best to see a professional physical therapist in order to establish the exact cause and forthcoming treatment needed. Visiting a professional, hands-on physical therapist is by far the safest, fastest, and most effective way of both diagnosing and treating the root cause of your pain. Not only will a physical therapist relieve the discomfort, but will give you the tools to maintain a pain-free life. Tailor-made exercises will accompany treatment that will hone in on your specific injury – all this means that the confusion you’ve experienced is eliminated and that you’re able to get back to the activities you love. At the end of the day, understanding injuries and pain can be tricky. It may seem impossible to identify either the cause of the pain or its location, but one thing is certain: it cannot be ignored. Listen to your body and make a decision to get the help you need. Take action. Analyze your activities, stop doing those that you think may be detrimental, and get professional help. If you’re unsure of why you’re in pain, where you’re in pain, or if even if you’ve injured yourself during an activity you love, then we invite you to contact us today. We’re here to help you, and one of our dedicated, professional physical therapists are here to answer any and all questions you might have. Don’t live with the uncertainty of confusing pain any longer – get the answers you need and let us help you get back to the life you deserve: one that is pain-free and mobile. We look forward to chatting and helping you on your path back to health and mobility. Ask About Availability & Pricing

How to Fit a Workout Into Your Busy Schedule

By now I’m sure you’re well aware of the benefits related to daily cardio, stretching, and resistance activities. Not only does your heart get a massive health-boost, but your entire body feels more supple and strong; your immune system is strengthened and you generally feel better. So, if you know all this, and have most likely experienced the positive effects of a daily workout routine yourself, why is it so hard to stick to a healthy pattern? Why is a daily exercise regime so difficult to maintain? The truth is, the reason we don’t stick to our guns is usually because of a busy work schedule; alternately, it could be because we can’t fit time into a hectic – and often delicate – work/family balance. We understand this predicament, and that’s why we’re offering you some useful tips on how to fit that much-needed exercise into your life, no matter the time constraints or pressures you face. Take a look! As with most things in life, when it comes to implementing a regular, consistent daily exercise routine, perseverance is key. We know it can become difficult, that it can be tedious at times, and that you may feel like throwing in the towel, but making a commitment and sticking to it is absolutely vital. Just as you may be having a hard day at work, yet persevere because you know you need to, so too do you need to approach your workouts. Remove thoughts that tell you they’re not a priority… they are. And that’s really important to understand: your health is a priority, so treat it as such. Now, we’re not suggesting this is by any means an easy thing to do. Sometimes these types of mind-shifts are difficult to make, but we know you can do it. Think of your workouts as a way to push your daily boundaries, to expand your skills, and as opportunities to better yourself both mentally and physically. Yes, you may be tired, you may be feeling groggy, and you may think you lack the energy to drive yourself on, but we promise that, once you start, your workout will be exceptionally rewarding both in the short term and long run. Keep at it! Here’s how: 6 Ways to Fit a Workout into Your Daily Schedule: 1. It’s competition time! Whether at home or in the office, igniting your competitive spirit goes a long way in pushing you to do some exercise. Why not set up little goals to achieve? You can even challenge friends or family members to see if you can beat their times. If you really want to get creative, give yourself prizes when you finish within time or beat an opponent. It becomes a whole lot more fun to do workouts if you know that there is some sort of competitive spirit about them. 2. Consistency is key! There’s a reason for the hype around habit-creation. When you are consistent in your activities, they become much easier to do and, eventually, they become part-and-parcel of your daily routine. It is no different when it comes to working out. Make a point of picking a specific time either in the morning or in the evening to do your daily exercise. Also, make sure you hold yourself accountable – stick to the chosen time and make it a constant, daily element of your day. Soon you’ll find that it has become a lot more engrained and natural; you’ll actually start missing it if you skip a day! 3. Personal Trainers Work If you’re the type of person who needs a little extra motivation in order to stay on the right path, it might be worth your while to consider hiring a personal trainer. Doing so will ensure that someone other than yourself keeps an eye on your progress. If you’re not keen on a one-on-one situation, your local fitness center most likely offers community classes which will also incentivize you to exercise. 4. Plan Ahead Plan your workout ahead of time. Make sure you have a detailed description of the activities you’ll be doing that week. In addition, include the foods you will be eating. It would be a mistake to assume that a workout alone will benefit you: diet plays a very important role in your health. Make sure to include more vegetables, healthy oils, fruits, and nuts into your everyday cuisine. 5. Workout Charts Remember when you were at school and you were over the moon when you received gold stars? This is the same concept. Keep track of your progress, activities, workouts, and weight goals by using a chart. Achieving milestones will keep you motivated, determined, and focused. 6. Choose Something over Nothing At the end of the day, choosing even small changes for a healthier body is a win-win. You really can’t lose by choosing a healthier snack, foregoing the taxi for a cycle, or walking instead of using the subway. In fact, making these small changes will boost your confidence and commitment. You’ll get rid of that feeling of guilt and regret, and you’ll start making even bigger changes down the line. And there you have it… 6 amazing tips! Even so, though, it can be difficult to get going. Knowing which exercises to do, how to do them, how much to push yourself, or even where to start, can be a tricky and frustrating place to be in. That’s why visiting a qualified, professional, hands-on physical therapist is the best decision to make. A physical therapist will not only give you invaluable advice, help you with designing a workout schedule, and show you proper techniques, but he/she will also give you tailor-made exercises and stretches designed to support you throughout your workouts. You’ll get the answers you need in order to get going on the right foot. Contact us today for more information. Make your health a priority and start developing a consistent, fun, daily workout routine – the above 6 tips give you

Getting Ready for Your Best Golfing Season Yet!

The sun is out, the grass is green, the birds are chirping, and you’re busy carefully packing your golf bag. That’s right – the time has come to get back out on the green and get teeing, putting, and swinging. Golf season is always an exciting time – it means you’re back outside, getting some fresh air, and playing a sport you genuinely love. In addition, 2020 was a tough year… it’s time to let off some steam. Before you get carried away, though, I want to run through some stretches and tips you can implement to make this golfing season one of your best, if not the best. As with every sport, there are ways to get into the swing of things, so to speak, and when it comes to golf things are no different. Ready to hear it all? Great. If you’re a sprinter you’d never consider running without a warm up. Right? If you’re a swimmer, you’d never go for gold without breezing through a breadth or two, surely? So, because you’re a golfer, you’d never consider an 18-hole day without properly warming up, would you? I didn’t think so. Just to jog your memory, though, here are a few exercise you can do prior to – and after – teeing off that may just improve your game! Pre-Game Stretches Stretch down to your toes – make sure you feel the stretch at the back of your legs and into your back. Keep your back straight. Arm stretches – keep your arms straight and stretch them across your chest so as to feel the stretch running down the arm. Stretch your arm across the opposite shoulder so as to feel the stretch in the shoulder. Make sure you bend your hips to the side and back and forth so as to lubricate the muscles in that area. Bend down and stretch both arms toward a single leg in order to stretch the hip muscles. Wrist stretch – make sure to rotate your wrists and stretch them out prior to your golf game. Post-Game Stretches Repeat the stretches above, but add the following: Butterfly stretch – sitting down, place the heels of your feet together, thereby bending at your knees and forming a diamond shape. Slowly lean forward while keeping your back straight. Child’s pose – to stretch your back, kneel on your knees and sit down on the balls of your feet, thereby tucking in your legs under your thigh muscles. Keep your back straight, stretch your arms outright, and place your forehead on the floor. Feel the stretch in your back. Strength Training Though you don’t pick up weights out on the course, adding strength training to your daily routine will greatly boost your golfing performance. Stronger muscles mean more control and less chance of injury! Why not add a few body weight exercises to your morning routine – lunges, pushups, etc. Try Pilates and yoga for some core strength, and add some cycling into your life for an extra lower body strength boost! Alright, warm up and warm down done, but now what? As you may or may not know, golf can take its toll on your back, hips, and shoulders. Unfortunately, pain strikes just before you get your hole-in-one… or so I’ve heard. So, how can you avoid that irritating distraction? Well, how about trying the following: Watch your swing. I know you’re a great golfer, but even the best can still improve, right? Make sure your arms, back, hips, and shoulders are placed in an appropriate position, that is, so that your posture is such that you have a powerful swing with minimal to no negative impact on your body. If you’re unsure of what this looks like, why not visit a physical therapist for advice and techniques to improve your form? I guarantee this will not only alleviate existing pain, but will give you the tools to avoid pain the future as well as improve your game! Stay hydrated – if anything, not drinking enough water will only slow you down out there. Make sure you stay hydrated on the course – quite apart from the heat, physical activity depletes the fluid stores in your body, thereby opening the door for achy muscles and potential injury. Staying hydrated fuels your muscles and joints and allows for smooth, pain free, and hopefully great swings and puts! Watch how you carry your bag. Listen, we were all 20 once… but, carrying your golf bag the way the Hulk does just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Make sure you watch where you place the weight of your bag – distribute it evenly, or better yet, get some wheels and pull it. If you have grandchildren… well, a day out with grandad/grandma could be fun! Take it slow… the holes aren’t going anywhere. I’m sure you know that taking your time before a swing is important. What’s just as important is taking your time to set up for the next one. There is no need to rush – be deliberate in the way you walk, set up, bend down, and swing. Make sure your movements are calculated and that you practice proper form at all times. Again, if you’re unsure about what this looks like, I urge you contact a physical therapist for more information and help. At the end of the day, golf is a game of grace and composure – so, every more you make ought to imitate that sentiment. Injuries in golf are just as common as injuries found in jogging or cycling: they happen more often than you think and can debilitate you for longer than you’d imagine. The great thing about golf, though, is that an improvement in form can both prevent injury AND boost your game. In lieu of this, I encourage you to reach out to a physical therapist this season: for tips, help, pain relief, form and posture correction, and tools you can apply both at

How Staying Active and Mobile Can Prevent Injuries Down the Line

The last few months have really been life changing: from increased time with close family, to frequent frozen pizzas and Netflix binges. We’ve all witnessed the world around us changing at an alarming pace and, if we’re brutally honest, most of us have been doing so from the comfort of our sofas. No blame, just fact. As the world has seen unprecedented changes, we’ve also seen changes to our bodies. Yeah, you guessed it – all that sitting has led to some pretty stiff muscles and achingly sparse fitness routines. So, I think you’ve probably guessed by now that this post is all about how staying active and healthy can not only help you achieve optimum health, right now, but can also prevent injuries down the line. Think of our upcoming advice as a friendly reminder to turn that TV off, get those trainers on, and to go outside and smell the daisies! So, let’s start with the very real consequences of leading a largely sedentary life. First off, extended periods of immobility cause muscles to start deteriorating. Yikes. And in many ways this is as bad as it sounds. Deteriorated muscles not only fail to bolster metabolism, thereby causing unwanted and unexpected weight gain, they also invite injuries your way in the future. Why? Well, weak muscles are incapable of offering real, meaningful support, thereby leaving your body exposed to injury in a very real way. And no – lifting that pizza box and can of cola doesn’t really support muscle growth – give quarantine a make-over. Let’s chat about how you can get out of the quarantine induced funk and back into a healthy, mobile lifestyle. Eventually, the extended periods of staying at home will catch up with you, so it’s important to tackle sedentary behaviors head on before it’s too late. I know you’re thinking you may have to do a 60-minute fat burner workout in day one, but the truth is, you just may not be ready! In fact, you may have been Dwayne Johnson before lockdown, but that doesn’t mean you’re now able to do the same activities as before. Long periods of being sedentary would have affected your body in such a way so as to weaken muscles and throw your strength off. It is, therefore, very important to start at a point where you feel comfortable. Don’t push yourself beyond your current limits – don’t think you’re able to jump straight back in where you left off before lockdown – because the truth is, you could seriously injure yourself. Take it easy, give yourself a break, and get back on the horse using the stirrups. Why are we continuously telling you do be active, though? Isn’t walking the dog and making a few trips up the stairs enough? Well – no. It may be alright for a weekend, but long-term it can wreak absolute havoc on your body. Fitness and mobility should never be underestimated, as you are only as young as you keep your body. Stretching, exercising, and eating the proper nutrition is absolutely essential when it comes to dodging injuries and illness. The longer you remain sedentary, the more likely you are to experience injury and potential chronic, debilitating pain. Keeping your body mobile, limber, and active, means you have a much better chance of reaching an older age without physical problems. Why not start small – take a walk, do a 15 minute home workout session, try Pilates or yoga, or how about going for a swim? Make small changes to ensure big rewards. You can push yourself harder as you progress, but make sure to train your muscles from the beginning in order to prevent injury. Granted, it’s not always easy to know how where start, though. It may be that your inactivity has caused you to be more immobile than you imagined, thereby ruling out exercises you may previously have done. It may even be that quarantine has given you the time to think about your life and you now want to jumpstart your health by getting into a fitness routine, yet you have no idea where to start. Alternately, you may even have been injured during this time and you just long to be able to move without pain as you once could – you just don’t know where to begin. All of these motivations are valid, and the trepidation you may be feeling is normal. Knowing where to start can be incredibly daunting, but luckily that’s where we come in! Now, I know what you’re thinking: how can physical therapy possibly help me become active? Well, that’s a good question… and the answer may surprise you. Physical therapy is about a lot more than the eradication of pain. In fact, physical therapy aims to increase mobility and physical health via the specialized treatment of pain and the administering of tailor made exercises and stretches. You see, whether you are in pain now or not, if you aren’t moving, then it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll experience pain later in your life. We’re here to show you how to move, and not only that, but how to do it correctly in order to safeguard your body from injury. Whether you’re looking to ditch bad quarantine habits, or whether you’re just ready for a change, we’re here to help. And, if you’re in pain and are looking for a way out of your situation, we can give you the answers and treatment you need. Don’t let the pain get you down, and don’t let extended periods of lockdown in your home prevent you from moving your body in a healthy, safe way. It’s time to make a change. We want to help you, right now, and that’s why we invite you to contact one of our friendly, supportive, professional, hands-on physical therapists, today. Get the answers, advice, and treatment you need, and let’s get moving together! Ask About Availability & Pricing

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