Contributions by Megan Otto As we begin a new year, emphasis is often placed on losing weight, eating better, working out and overall improving yourself. While so much pressure is placed on physical attributes, improving your mental health is sometimes overlooked. Fortunately, research has proven that physical activity can not only help one’s body, but…
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Exercise and Mental Health: Start and Stay Moving in the New Year
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3 Most Popular Physical Therapy Specialties
The 3 Most Popular Physical Therapy Specialties If you’ve been experiencing joint or muscle pain recently and think that there’s nothing you can do to solve it except popping Ibuprofen, think again. With all the many different kinds of physical therapy specialties available, you’re bound to find something that can help alleviate your pain. But…
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5 Holiday Giving Options Offering Healthful Returns
The Holiday Season is a time for giving, and that includes supporting causes and organizations that make our communities stronger. It’s in this spirit that we share some holiday giving suggestions that offer a more healthful return than simply writing a check. After all, as physical therapists, it’s our goal to improve lives and the…
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Can Exercise Ward Off Cold and Flu Symptoms?
As cold and flu season approaches, so does the season of illness prevention. From getting flu shots to adding a little extra Vitamin C to our diets, prevention often becomes a focus for those concerned with getting sick, missing work and/or school, and optimizing the joy of their upcoming Holiday Seasons. It’s based on this…
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I Stand Corrected! 5 Common Fitness Myths
When only one in three adults get the recommended amount of physical activity their bodies need each week (according to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition), it’s difficult for we as physical therapists to find fault when an individual is making an effort to exercise … even if the effort’s slightly misguided. But…
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6 Common Back Pain Myths, Debunked
Despite being one of the top causes of disability in the U.S., affecting around eight in 10 people in their lifetimes, back pain is an ailment often misunderstood by those affected. Such misconceptions can cause those suffering from back pain to seek solutions, potential treatment paths, and even lifestyle alterations that aren’t necessarily in their…
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Tips for Reducing, Managing Plantar Fasciitis Pain
Studies show about three-quarters of all Americans will experience foot pain at some point in their lives. Of them, more than 2 million people who seek treatment each year will learn they suffer from an overuse condition called plantar fasciitis. Fortunately, most cases of plantar fasciitis are both manageable and treatable. Plantar fasciitis will typically…
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Tips for Keeping the Weekend Warrior Healthy, Injury Free
A “weekend warrior” is someone who, due to the hectic nature of a typical workweek, opts to cram most of her or his exercise into weekend workouts, activities, games and/or competitions. And while most physical therapists would never fault anyone for getting exercise, most would also agree that weekend warriors should be particularly cautious as…
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Good Night’s Sleep Linked to Optimal Physical & Mental Health
At a time when studies indicate people are getting increasingly less sleep, one thing remains clear: we need to take sleep much more seriously as it is critical to both health and healing. Those who don’t get enough sleep are prone to lots of health-related issues that can interfere with quality of life and even…
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5 Exercise Myths for People 55 and Older
While it’s expected that most older people tend to slow down with age, the notion that seniors and soon-to-be seniors should trade in exercise and their active lifestyles for bingo and rocking chairs is definitely antiquated, say physical therapists. And yet, when it comes to exercise for the 55-and-older population, plenty of myths continue to…