The Benefits of Physical Therapy After A Stroke By the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)'s definition, a stroke occurs when blood supply is blocked from the brain by an obstruction or by a ruptured vessel. A piece of the brain is damaged, causing long-lasting, and sometimes permanent, damage. It is a very serious condition, and can be very scary. Following a stroke, one can feel like all hope is lost and that he/she will never be able to...
Even COVID-19 hasn't knocked heart disease off the top of the list as the leading cause of death and disability. Taking care of your heart is important. When it comes to heart health, most people think about things like eating right, avoiding smoking, and exercising regularly. What most people don't think about is calling their physical therapist (PT). If you're regularly keeping active, like going for a run or swimming laps, you may not need help from your PT, but...
Research has shown that positive expectations increase the chances of a good outcome. It's the old self fulfilling prophecy; your attitude determines your approach to situations. If you believe you'll be successful, you'll likely put in more effort. You'll be more willing to try new things, take some risks and keep trying after failures or setbacks. A negative attitude will likely mean that you'll take your first failure or setback as confirmation that what you're trying won't work or isn't...
This year's NPTM focus is on the importance of physical activity and the role of PTs and PTAs in helping people get moving. Inadequate physical activity results in an added $117 billion in health care costs in the U.S. and leads to reduced quality of life for millions of Americans. As we struggle to address a global pandemic, it’s more important than ever to encourage movement to help people manage pain and other chronic conditions, recover from injuries, and reduce...
Curtesy of the American Physical Therapy Assoc. (APTA). COVID has certainly made the importance of health very clear and we have all seen how quickly things can change with an illness. While COVID is currently front and center in most people's thoughts, it isn't the only thing out there that can change your life. Heart disease, diabetes, strokes and cancer can all be devastating too. Movement offers a defense If you're looking to be more resilient and defend against these...
The content of this blog post curtesy of Private Practice Section, APTA Because of the closures of physician's offices, stoppages of elective surgeries, and social distancing guidelines resulting from COVID-19, many people with pain or joint issues have had appointments or surgeries delayed. If you're one of them and you haven't seen your Physical Therapist (PT) yet, you should. Here are some reasons why: Early PT leads to better outcomes Studies have shown that people who receive PT sooner have...
When one thinks about staying or becoming more healthy, typically what comes to mind is, "I need to eat better and make sure I get my exercise in." What about those with an injury or sickness? "I need to listen to my doctor and/or physical therapist and be careful not to re-injure myself." Diet and exercise are all well and good, but there is another side to our health triangle that is very commonly overlooked when it comes to everyday...
Let's face it... sometimes the motivation to get up and drive to the local gym to get in our workout is just lacking. Sometimes we just don't have time in our hectic schedule to fit it in. Maybe, as recent times have been, we are discouraged from being out in public. Whatever your reason (or excuse) is for not getting to the gym, don't let it discourage you from keeping your body and mind happy and healthy. Let's see if...
How much thought have you put into the exercises you're going to use for your next workout? Did you choose them yourself, or did you find them on the internet or in a magazine? What's your workout designed for? Do those goals match yours? Are the exercises even safe for you? Using the wrong program can lead to wasting time in the gym, frustration, plateaus in progress and injury. Let's take a closer look at what goes into program design...
Approximately 31 million Americans suffer from chronic lower back pain. This pain can often be so severe, it's difficult to perform even the most simplistic daily tasks. It's time to take back your life and start fighting back against back pain. Here are some excellent tips for combating severe back pain: Focus on deep breathing -- Deep breathing and meditation can help you relax, which will lead to pain relief. Try finding a quiet and peaceful location, sit in a...
