 Turkey Trots have become a popular way for family and friends to get together and participate in a healthy activity before one of the more caloric holidays on the calendar. These events usually raise money for worthy causes during a time noted for giving and being thankful for the things we have. You have no doubt seen these events advertised or have friends that make it part of their yearly rituals. Maybe you were even thinking about getting involved yourself. What better way to burn some calories before you sit down and enjoy all that food! Before you sign up for that race though, make sure you are ready to participate with these helpful hints. Know your limitations: Most Turkey Trots are 5Ks which is 3.1 miles, though some may be longer so know what you are signing up for and choose a distance that you think you can handle. If you don’t have time to train but want to participate, find a race that has a walking portion and save the 5K for next year when you are ready. Train/Prepare: If you have decided that you want to run, there are some ways to get yourself ready physically. There are apps available for your phone that will plot out a training program to get you running 5K distances starting from a relatively sedentary lifestyle. This is an excellent idea if you haven’t run the mile since high school! By starting training early and utilizing steady progression, you limit the risk of joint injury. Also, find a friend to run with you. These events are meant to be social so having a friend come along will keep it fun and make you more accountable. As with any program, it is a good idea to have your physician clear you for participation in a running program. Think about clothing: You definitely need a good pair of running shoes but you also need to be prepared for the weather. It could be mild or it could be wet and freezing. Make sure you dress in layers so that you can add and subtract clothing as your body temperature rises during the race and drops after you finish. Warm up and stretch before and after the race: Make sure to get that blood pumping about 15-20 minutes before the race by walking or light jogging and then participate in some dynamic stretches. Dynamic stretches are active movements that stretch the muscles to their full range of motion such as hip circles, high knees or squats. You can look up a program specific for 5K runners or check with your physical therapist for ideas. Have FUN!!! Remember why you are doing it and enjoy the company and the atmosphere. Good luck and happy running!  These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Racine Therapist, Ryan Schaul MPT, CIMT, CIDN.
Outside of work, Ryan enjoys hiking, travel, and SCUBA diving. Ryan is a certified PADI Divemaster and enjoys helping teach others to dive.
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Welcome to the November 2022 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy  What's New at PT Plus Closed for the Holidays We know how important it can be to plan out your care, so we wanted to share with you the Holiday closings we have through the year end.
 We're Hiring Our West Bend office is looking for a part-time medical receptionist. If you or someone you know may be interested, tell them to reach out to our HR Manager, Stephanie Park at spark@ptplus.com.  Curious About Dry Needling? Our therapists use a variety of treatment techniques to help you feel better and get back to doing the things you love. One technique you may have heard of is Dry Needling. Dry needling can release trigger points to relieve pain or improve range of motion. If you are curious to learn more about this treatment, talk to your therapist at your next appointment, or click here. Leave us a Review Support a locally owned small business by referring your family and friends. We care about all of our patients and rely on the word-of-mouth marketing that you provide. If you have a testimonial about PT Plus to share, we would love to hear from you! Leave a Google Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Leave a Yelp Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Featured Testimonial   Physical Therapy is For Everyone!
Physical therapists are highly trained health care professionals. They are experts in human movement who are trained to evaluate and treat all kinds of musculoskeletal issues with exercise and other techniques. Everyone moves and everyone can benefit from exercise, so physical therapists can help people through their entire lives! Physical Therapy for Children Physical therapists start treating some people very shortly after birth. Common reasons a baby might need PT include torticollis and cerebral palsy. Torticollis is a postural issue caused by a tight neck muscle. Babies with torticollis hold their heads tipped to one side. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that causes difficulty with movement and coordination. As children get older, some have trouble hitting their motor milestones - think of these as the "firsts" - sitting up, rolling over, crawling, standing, and walking. Physical therapists can help here too, using their expertise to help develop motor skills and coordination to get these children back on track. Physical Therapy for Adolescents In adolescents, sports injuries become more common. Whether it's an ankle sprain, or an ACL surgery, a PT can help. The rapid growth in adolescents can cause issues too. Things like growth plate fractures, growing pains, Osgood-Schlatter's disease, and Sever's disease are all common in adolescence and are related to the changes the body is going through. Physical Therapy for Adults As adults, a lot of us will have back pain - studies say up to 80% of us. Physical therapy is one of the first treatments recommended for back pain. Physical therapists also see adults for injuries - maybe from weekend warrior type sports injuries, overuse, or from an accident at work. Some adults also start to show symptoms of diseases like multiple sclerosis, or myositis which also benefit from physical therapy. Physical Therapy for Older Adults Later in life, people tend to have more health issues that impact their ability to move. Things like arthritis, joint replacements, strokes, and heart attacks are all things a PT can help with. Physical therapists also help people age better - keeping them moving with exercise programs that help reduce falls, or helping them make adaptations and modifications to keep them in their homes safely. Movement is a constant in life. As movement experts, PTs can help people of any age. Some specialize in treating pediatric patients, and some specialize in treating geriatric patients, but all PTs have the expertise to help people move better. References
 PRRT is a treatment that stands for Primal Reflex Release Technique. I know this is a cliché, but PRRT is the ultimate nervous system hack. We treat musculoskeletal problems by using the nervous system. So how does it work? I tell clients all the time that my treatment approach often sounds like a 3-year-old. I keep asking why. If a client comes in with low back pain, I want to know why. If a muscle is tight, I want to know why. The body does an amazing job of protecting itself. It doesn’t always do such a great job of letting go of those protections once they are no longer needed. One way the body can protect itself is by “splinting” or “guarding”. Essentially, the nervous system tells the muscle to “tighten up” to limit movement to try to prevent further injury. Assuming that is the case, how effective will stretching be to get that muscle to “loosen up”? This is where we use PRRT. There is a principle in neurology called reciprocal inhibition. Basically, if your brain (nervous system) tells a muscle to contract (for example the biceps), then there is a spinal cord reflex (doesn’t go to the brain) that tells its opposite muscle (in this example the triceps) to relax. So activating the biceps relaxes the triceps. We use light tapping on the tendon to activate the muscle. This is one of the foundations to PRRT. If I know what muscle is tight, all I have to do is figure out what is the opposite muscle (called the antagonist) and activate that muscle. Life is a contact sport. We are having to deal with problems (injuries) every day that may cause our bodies to protect. Over time, these cumulative protections can become the problem. We can use PRRT to essentially work backward in time and undo these protections that are no longer needed.  These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Owner and Elm Grove Therapist, Mark Snyder PT, DPT.
With a strong passion for education, Mark has been a professor for a physical therapy assistant program and has taught continuing education to health care professionals in the US and in Europe. In his spare time, Mark likes to work out and coaches many little league sports. Welcome to the October 2022 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy  What's New at PT Plus We're Hiring If you love PT Plus - you could love your employer! PT Plus is hiring for multiple positions and locations. Inquire today about becoming a member of our work family. If you aren't looking for work, but know someone else who could be a great fit, please pass our information along!  Halloween At The Y! Look for our therapist Jordan Anderson at the Feith Family Ozaukee YMCA Halloween at the Y family fun celebration! The event will take place Friday, October 21st at 5:30pm. Visit their Facebook Event Page for more fun details!  15th Annual Washington Co Wellness and Benefits Fair Join us for a fun, interactive and informative event for Washington County and City of West Bend employees. Thursday, October 27 from 9:00am - 2:00pm at the Washington County Government Center. We are accepting new patients We are hearing that other practices are not able to see new patients quickly as we approach year end. We understand schedules can get tight with many patients needing immediate care, and know the importance of early treatment. At PT Plus, we pride ourselves in providing exceptional patient care, and low wait times. If you or someone you know needs therapy, reach out to PT Plus today and we will make sure you get the care you need, sometimes even same day! Leave us a Review Support a locally owned small business by referring your family and friends. We care about all of our patients and rely on the word-of-mouth marketing that you provide. If you have a testimonial about PT Plus to share, we would love to hear from you! Leave a Google Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Leave a Yelp Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Featured Testimonial  Don't Keep Injury Secrets  Physical therapists are experts in dealing with injuries, but your PT can't help if they don't know about your injury!
You might be wondering who would keep an injury secret. The answer is - lots of people! The first thing that comes to your mind might be an athlete, like a football player, or maybe a baseball pitcher. But athletes aren't the only ones that keep injury secrets. Performers like dancers keep injury secrets, and so do workers in all types of jobs. Why would anyone want to keep their injury secret instead of getting it treated and letting it heal? Read on… StigmaAlthough there have been big improvements in the culture around sports, performing arts, and worker's comp, some people still have the old "no pain, no gain" attitude. To some people, reporting an injury is an act of weakness, or a way of letting the team down. There can also be external pressure from coaches, parents, teammates, supervisors, or fans to keep playing or working. Fear of LossWith the focus on head injuries in recent years, athletes that get hit in the head know if they report concussion symptoms, they're coming out of the game. Workers who get hurt on the job fear loss of pay, or loss of their job. Performers who get hurt might fear that their replacement will outshine them on the stage and take their place. Competitive AdvantageWhile the first two reasons can apply to athletes, performers, workers and most any other group that might be hiding an injury, this one is limited to athletes. If an opposing team knows a player is injured, and what the injury is, they might be able to take advantage of it. For example, if a football team has a running quarterback that has an ankle injury, it will change how the opposing defense plays. These reasons all make some sense, but they're also all shortsighted. Finishing a game, dancing tomorrow night, or working one more shift are never worth your long term health. Hiding a minor injury can turn it into a major one. It's never weak to report an injury and you're not letting your teammates, or coworkers down. If you're not up to your best, you owe it to the people counting on you to let them know. Letting a healthy player, performer, or worker take your place is the right thing to do. If you're injured, don't hide it! Let the right people know, then go to the right person for help - your physical therapist! Welcome to the September 2022 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy  What's New at PT Plus Join us for an Open House! Wednesday, September 21st at our Thiensville Clinic, PT Plus will be hosting an Open House. Stop by for some refreshments, to meet our PT Plus team members, and a chance to win this Health & Wellness giveaway.  Help Us Give Back! PT Plus is hosting a Food Drive that will run 8/25 - 9/7. PT Plus has partnered with The Falls Area Food Pantry. Stop in to any of your local PT Plus clinics to drop your items in one of our donation boxes. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated! We Love Your Feedback! We ask patients after each visit how they enjoyed the care that they received at PT Plus. Did you know that 94% of our patients would refer their friends and family to PT Plus. Who do you know that isn't living their best life? Leave us a Review Support a locally owned small business by referring your family and friends. We care about all of our patients and rely on the word-of-mouth marketing that you provide. If you have a testimonial about PT Plus to share, we would love to hear from you! Leave a Google Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Leave a Yelp Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Featured Testimonial   PT For Your Pelvis?
Nobody is going to be surprised to hear that Physical Therapists work with muscles. But we bet a lot of people would be surprised to learn that the muscles inside your pelvis are included. While the pelvic muscles don't get as much attention as the biceps or hamstrings, they can still cause problems that need treatment. Here are a few examples: Urinary IncontinenceUrinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. More than 13 million people in the United States have this issue. There are different types of incontinence, but the most common are stress and urge incontinence.
What's the Cause?Most incontinence is caused by issues with the pelvic muscles - either weakness or tightness. There can be other contributing factors like spasms that cause bladder contractions, or conditions like anxiety may increase the urge to empty the bladder. Pelvic pain is also usually attributed to either tightness or weakness of the muscles of the pelvic floor. The pelvis is made up of three bones, forming three joints where they meet. These joints need to be stabilized by an outside force. The job of the muscles and ligaments in and around the pelvis is to provide that stabilizing force. If the muscles are too tight, the joints will have an excessive amount of compression on them. Too loose, and the joints of the pelvis can experience shear forces. Both conditions result in pelvic pain. What can PT do?Because incontinence and pelvic pain are usually musculoskeletal conditions, physical therapy can offer a lot of effective treatments. Some examples include: Exercise - strengthening or stretching of the pelvic muscles or the core can help correct imbalances, improve pelvic stability and reduce pain. Biofeedback - This involves using sensors placed on the body while doing exercise to help the patient identify which muscle groups are working and bring awareness to areas of tightness or weakness. Education - For incontinence, learning how the bladder normally functions can help you to understand changes that can be made to improve symptoms. Learning about posture and how to improve alignment of the pelvis and the trunk can help to reduce pain and improve tolerance for positions like sitting and standing. Manual Therapy - joint mobilizations, trigger point release, soft tissue massage, myofascial release, and other techniques can help improve mobility of the pelvic joints, decrease tone in spastic muscles, and reduce pain. If you’re experiencing pelvic problems, a specially trained physical therapist can complete a comprehensive evaluation, help determine the cause, and design a customized treatment plan to help. References:
“You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.” - Steve Prefontaine I get asked frequently by clients to recommend the best shoe in order to avoid injury and promote efficient running. The following information is designed to help you make an informed decision based on research and foot biomechanics and is not intended to address specific orthopedic issues. Each foot contains 2,000 nerve endings, 34 muscles, 26 bones, 33 joints and 19 ligaments. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we limited this biomechanical marvel? Therefore, here are the options to consider when hunting for that comfortable shoe. Cushioning Cushion choice is primarily a personal preference. However, because of the current trend by manufacturers to return to chunky shoes we should be aware of the down side to excess padding and how it affects running efficiency. Studies show that an overly cushioned shoe can lead to increased impact forces. Type of Shoe Manufacturers offer many different types of shoes including stability or motion control shoes. These shoes try to limit movement in your feet which should immediately raise a flag. An arch is considered the strongest engineering structural shape. If you support an arch at its peak you weaken it. Your foot has three arches that carry your body weight plus gravity, absorb shock and assist forward propulsion through elastic recoil of the muscles that help create them. Studies show that the highest complaints of pain when running come from motion control and stability shoes and the greatest % of injuries are related to motion control shoes regardless of foot type. Arch height is not a good predictor of shoe type selection as High-arch and Low-arch runners do not differ in biomechanical response in motion control shoes. My recommendation is to stay away from shoes that claim to “do something” which leaves us with neutral shoes. Heel Lift Most manufacturers put the heel to toe differential under the technical specifications. Heel lift in shoes range from 0 to 22mm rise. A 22 mm rise is equal to a 15% incline from heel to foot. A 12 mm rise is equal to a 8% gradient. Ever cycle up a 8% gradient hill? It’s steep! Any rise over 7 mm changes the angle in our pelvis. Therefore, I recommend shoes with a 7 mm or less rise. Fit Our shoes should be light in weight to reduce waisted effort carrying our heavy feet. We need space for our feet to spread length wise during pronation or when our foot absorbs impact that is 1/2” beyond the longest toe. Our feet also get wider during pronation and so the shoe should allow this movement (those long foot bones have muscles between them that want to be used). In other words, your foot should not hang over the edges of the insole. Lastly, the heel should have a snug-fit. Orthotics Some of us benefit from orthotics when recovering from an injury or to help foot dysfunction. If we our using orthotics to recover from an injury they should be temporary with a goal of improving foot mobility and strength so that we no longer need them. Lacing When I see runners restrict foot movement by over tightening their shoe laces I cringe. Stop pulling those laces tight, a “snug fit” defeats the purpose or our 33-jointed appendage. Maybe if we just get out of the way our feet they can become the marvels that they are designed to be. Transition Transitioning from footwear that allows more foot function can take a while if your feet are not strong enough or used to the increased mobility. A good site for transition information in order to avoid over stress to your feet is correcttoes.com or contact us at ptplus.com References Butler RJ, Davis IS, Hamill J. Interaction of arch type and footwear on running mechanics. Am J Sport Med. 2006;34:1998-2005 Miller AF et al. Mechanical measures, shoes, taping orthotics. Am J Sports Med 2011 Energetics and optimization of human walking and running: The 2000 Raymond Pearl memorial lecture McNeill & Alexander. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 14:641–648, 2002. Ryan MB, Valiant GA, McDonald K, Traunton JE. The effects of three different levels of footwear stability on pain outcomes in women runners: a randomized control trial. Br J Sports Med. 2010 Jun 27 Willy, R. W., & Paquette, M. R. (2019). The physiology and biomechanics of the master runner. Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSA.0000000000000212  These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Brookfield/Third Ward Therapist, Ed Shuster OT, MS.
In addition to treating musculoskeletal and chronic pain issues he also offers the following specialty services:
Welcome to the August 2022 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy  What's New at PT Plus Welcome Brianne! Welcome Brianne Jeras to the PT Plus clinical team! Brianne comes to PT Plus with 17 years of experience and is excited to begin practicing in our Greenfield clinic. Some fun facts about Brianne:
PT Plus Company Picnic This Friday, August 12th, the PT Plus Team will be getting together for a company picnic, so all clinics will be closed by 3:00pm. Our central phones will be turned off for the weekend by 3:00pm as well. If you need to reach us, please leave a message and we will return your call on Monday, or you can email us directly at connect@ptplus.com.  August Giveaways Stop in any of our PT Plus clinics to get your Green Bay Packers schedule magnet (while supplies last)! Shop the PT Plus Store The PT Plus Fall 2022 store is now open! Get some swag to match your favorite PT Plus staff. Store closes Friday, Augusts 12th so shop now to get your gear! bit.ly/PTplusStore2022  Mark Your Calendars PT Plus is hosting an open house on Wednesday, September 21st at our Thiensville Clinic. Stay tuned for more details to be released! Leave us a Review Support a locally owned small business by referring your family and friends. We care about all of our patients and rely on the word-of-mouth marketing that you provide. If you have a testimonial about PT Plus to share, we would love to hear from you! Leave a Google Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Leave a Yelp Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Featured Testimonial   What Physical Therapy Can Do For Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. The hips, knees, hands, and spine are the most commonly affected joints. Arthritis is not a single disease but an umbrella term that includes a variety of different types. Some of the more common examples are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. While physical therapy might not be the first treatment you think of for arthritis, it probably should be. A lot of people with arthritis choose to use medication to manage their pain, stop activities that hurt, and wait for things to get bad enough to have a joint replacement. But this isn't a great plan - all medications have side effects, even over the counter ones. Reducing activity leads to muscle atrophy and even stiffer joints. Even though joint replacement surgery usually has good outcomes, it does come with its own set of risks and a painful recovery. Physical therapy has been extensively researched as a treatment for arthritis, and demonstrates good outcomes. Physical therapists typically start with exercise as the base for arthritis treatment. Exercise helps to regain lost joint motion, decrease feelings of stiffness, and strengthen muscles surrounding the affected joint. These benefits are all somewhat obvious. What surprises many people is that exercise has been shown to be as effective as medication for pain relief in many types of arthritis, without the side effects. Physical therapy has more to offer people with arthritis than just exercise though. Education helps people understand their condition, what to expect, and how to manage it. As experts in human movement, physical therapists are especially good at helping people modify the way they perform certain tasks or activities to reduce strain on joints affected by arthritis. They can also suggest ways to modify the environment at work or home to reduce pain and improve function. They may also suggest things like braces, orthotics, or other devices that can help maintain mobility and reduce pain. On top of all of that, PT has been proven to be a cost effective treatment, too. With so many techniques that are proven effective in helping people with arthritis, physical therapy is a recommended first line treatment for many types of arthritis. Now that you have a better understanding of what PT can do, hopefully you'll think of PT first when you think of arthritis too. References:
Range of Motion and joint mobility are often overlooked when doing summer activities. Although people might not be having pain or difficulty doing their preferred activities and hobbies, the potential for injury increases when reduced range and tightness exist. That said, it is beneficial to incorporate some stretches into your post activity routine when the muscles are warm from activity. Here are a couple of stretches that can be done post running, walking, biking, and hiking: Standing Hamstring Stretch with Step  Setup:
Gastroc Stretch on Wall  Setup:
If you do or are having pain or difficulty doing your favorite summer activities, please don't hesitate to see your PT Plus physical therapist, as we can offer solutions to getting you back to living the life you want to live doing the activities you enjoy most.  These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Slinger Therapist, Dave Conway PT, DPT.
During the warmer months of the year, Dave enjoys paddle boarding, hiking, camping, swimming, and a desire for most anything new and adventurous, such as attending a week-long survival skills course in southern Missouri. Welcome to the June 2022 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy  What's New at PT Plus West Bend Farmers Market PT Plus is excited to see you this Saturday, July 9th at the West Bend Farmers Market! For more information on the West Bend Farmers Market, view their website. Stop by and say hello to our West Bend therapists Jordan and Peter!  Community Based Care Have you heard that PT Plus is providing onsite services at Helwig Carbon Products Inc. and Case New Holland Industrial Inc.? We offer these services to deliver community based care and take care of the local people. It provides employees with early intervention to avoid injuries, and helps injured employees get back on their feet and return to work sooner. Do you think your workplace would benefit from a physical therapist who was available to educate and prevent injuries? What if you could have your therapy at work? Want to learn more? Help us to help our community, connect with us at connect@ptplus.com.  July Giveaways This month, PT Plus is giving away Koozies to all of our patients (while supplies last). And what goes with Koozies? A cold beverage of course! For the month of July, leave a PT Plus Review (Facebook, Google, or Yelp) and automatically be entered to win a $100 Goodcity Brewing Co gift card to use at their local restaurants or breweries! Winner will be drawn August 1st. Leave us a Review Support a locally owned small business by referring your family and friends. We care about all of our patients and rely on the word-of-mouth marketing that you provide. If you have a testimonial about PT Plus to share, we would love to hear from you! Leave a Google Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Leave a Yelp Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Featured Testimonial   Fibromyalgia - What to Do When the Fibro Ignites
As we head into the dog days of summer, the weather is heating up. For the nearly 5 million people in the United States with Fibromyalgia, they might experience a different kind of heat - the burning pain that typically comes along with this diagnosis. What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that can cause a wide range of symptoms throughout the body. It's usually diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50, and 80% to 90% of the people affected are women. The most common symptoms are:
How Does Physical Therapy Help? Because of the wide range of symptoms, fibromyalgia can be a debilitating condition. It is not uncommon for people to begin avoiding activities altogether because of pain and fatigue. This begins a cycle of deconditioning that not only impacts the person's overall health, but also makes the symptoms of fibromyalgia worse. The cause of fibromyalgia is currently unknown and there is no cure, so physical therapy treatments are designed to reduce and manage the symptoms. This requires a multi-pronged approach. Common treatments include: Education The first step in treating fibromyalgia is often helping people understand what's going on, and what they can do about it. Research has shown that people who are knowledgeable about their condition have better outcomes, more confidence, and cope better. Decrease Pain and Improve Range of Motion Physical therapists are movement experts with a lot of tools and techniques to help with the pain and stiffness caused by fibromyalgia. A PT might use gentle manual therapy or massage, prescribe specific stretches, or a simple yoga routine. They might also use modalities like electrical stimulation, biofeedback or in states where it is allowed, dry needling. Exercise Once patients understand the condition and are able to move a little better with less pain, exercise often enters the treatment picture. Research has shown that low to moderate intensity aerobic exercise like walking, biking, or swimming is important in managing fibromyalgia symptoms. It can help with pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and more. Physical therapists and patients work together to find the right type of exercise and the right intensity to best manage fibromyalgia. They often have to start slow, and make adjustments along the way. Each physical therapy session is tailored to the needs of the patient and will vary depending on the severity of their symptoms. Despite there still being no cure for fibromyalgia, physical therapists can help with pain management, strength, mobility, fatigue and function to help patients find relief from their symptoms. References:
ATTENTION NEW PARENTS: As a new parent you don’t have time for aches and pains. You need to keep your body healthy to take care of your little one(s). It can be challenging to build in time for your own workout to keep your body healthy. But you CAN optimize the way you are CURRENTLY doing things to make your body feel better and avoid injury.  What is a “hip pop”? Check out the picture to the left to see an example of a Left Hip Pop! Notice in the picture how I created a “shelf” with my hip in order to carry my son. This is an example of a posture you want to avoid. This position overtime will create excessive loading to the spine and likely lead to pain and injury. Reasons to avoid the “hip pop”: 1.) It doesn’t allow your body to properly use your core muscles to hold your kiddo 2.) It will put increased pressure down on your pelvic floor SOLUTION! Stack your posture: keep ribs, chest and hips stacked in a line on top of each BONUS Switch sides you hold your baby on. This will help with your baby’s head and core strength develop more equally. If you had a day you carried too much on one side, perform a few sideplanks before going to bed. Target the side you pop your hip out toward. Ex: If your hip pops out to the right, perform a sideplank with your right hip toward the ground.  These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Brookfield/Elm Grove Therapist, Lindsey Mills PT, DPT.
Lindsey has completed all coursework to become Certified in Obstetric Physical Therapy by the Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association and is a proud momma to her son, Camden featured above in this blog post. |
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