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What Is Physical Therapy? How PT Helps You Move Better
If you’ve ever had physical therapy, you may have a pretty good idea of what happens during a session. Maybe you did exercises, practiced walking, worked on your balance, or had a therapist use hands-on techniques to help with pain or stiffness. But physical therapy is much more than exercise and massage. At its core,
Should You Go Outside? A Simple Guide to the AQI and Wildfire Smoke
You wake up, look outside, and notice a hazy sky. Maybe you smell smoke. You have a walk planned, a fitness class, or yard work to do. How do you know whether it’s safe to go outside? What Is the AQI and What Should I Do at Each Level? The Air Quality Index (AQI) is
Move More, Feel Better: 10 Easy Ways to Add Movement to Your Day
In a previous blog, (Small Changes Big Results – How to make healthy habits that last), we discussed how to make healthy habits stick through realistic goal setting. Today, let’s focus on one habit that has the power to improve nearly every aspect of your health: moving more throughout your day. The good news? You
How to Choose the Right Foam Roller: A Physical Therapist’s Guide
Understanding firmness, texture, diameter, and length to find the best roller for your mobility goals Walk into almost any sporting goods store or browse online, and you’ll find dozens of foam rollers in different colors, shapes, sizes, textures, and densities. Some are smooth, others are covered with ridges and bumps. Some are long enough to
What is Fascia: The Hidden Tissue That Keeps You Moving
Do your shoulders feel tight after a day at the computer, or your back seems stiff first thing in the morning. Most of us blame our muscles, but another tissue may also be playing a role: fascia. Until recently, fascia was largely overlooked by scientists and healthcare professionals. During anatomy dissections, it was often removed
Is There a Best Exercise for Parkinson’s Disease?
What the Research Reveals Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease: Why It Matters Exercise is now recognized as a cornerstone of Parkinson’s disease management. Research consistently shows that regular physical activity can improve mobility, balance, strength, endurance, mood, and quality of life. Scientists now believe that exercise does more than simply improve fitness. Emerging evidence suggests that
Exercise Snacks: Why Small Bursts of Movement Count
You Don’t Need an Hour The official exercise guidelines are important, but research increasingly shows that health benefits can occur with much smaller amounts of movement. Federal CDC guidelines recommend: Feeling overwhelmed? There is good news! For many people, those numbers feel overwhelming. But emerging research offers encouraging news: smaller amounts of movement may still
Knead to Know: Why Physical Therapy Massage Is More Than Just a Massage
Let’s clear up a common question: Do physical therapists actually perform massage? The short answer is yes. In physical therapy, we often refer to massage and other hands-on techniques as manual therapy. While physical therapists and massage therapists may use some similar techniques, the goals and approach are often different. Physical therapy massage is usually