Tips for Healthy Cycling From Physical Therapists
Cycling is a sport that almost anyone can participate in. From cruising the great outdoors to a spin class, this low-impact, physical activity provides an aerobic workout for your heart and lungs that benefits your overall health. But as with any repetitive activity, you may develop discomfort or pain. If you have pain related to cycling, you might have a bike fit problem. Because each person’s body is unique and bikes have different sizes and positioning, a personalized bike fit assessment is valuable. In the meantime, here are a few basic tips for a comfortable ride and preventing injury....
Read MoreFive Ways To Improve Physical Activity During National Minority Health Month
Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are committed to reducing health disparities. They encourage everyone to be physically active. Regular physical activity is one of the best things that you can do for your health. Unfortunately, inactivity levels are high in some racial and ethnic minority groups. Hispanic and Black adults, who are at greater risk for many chronic conditions, self-report being much less active than white adults. CDC data shows that nearly one in three (30% to 32%) Hispanic and Black adults are physically inactive. Two in 10 (23%) non-Hispanic...
Read MoreFemale Athlete Triad: What You Should Know
Female athlete triad is a condition that involves an imbalance among three factors: Energy available for physical activity. Quality and strength of bones. Menstrual cycle (periods). The risk of developing the triad has increased with the high demand that athletics place on the female body. In addition, societal pressures for performance and image can contribute. For example, a runner may feel that restricting calories will help her run faster and earn her greater success. The triad has negative effects on multiple body systems in the early stages. It also can lead to long-term effects...
Read More30-Minute Home Strengthening Program
Maintaining your body’s muscle strength is important for your overall health and well-being. Strengthening exercises should be part of an overall plan that includes regular physical activity (such as walking, swimming, yoga, sports, or other activities), and regular stretching for flexibility. You can easily exercise your muscles regularly using your own body weight, resistance, or light weights. This strengthening program, provided by physical therapists, offers three different levels, depending on your fitness, age, and desired challenge. Physical therapists are...
Read MoreFour Things to Know About Adult Bowel Health
Bowel health can be uncomfortable to discuss, but it provides a good indication of your overall health. Developing and maintaining healthy and regular bowel health routines are imperative for staying healthy. For some, improper bathroom habits, such as ignoring the urge to defecate, hovering over the toilet, or not allowing enough time to empty the colon, can develop in childhood and follow us into adulthood. Others develop bowel issues as adults through sickness, sensitivities, microbiomechanges, pain, or various diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and...
Read MorePhysical Therapy vs Opioids: When to Choose Physical Therapy for Pain Management
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sales of prescription opioids have quadrupled in the United States, even though “there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report.”In response to a growing opioid epidemic, the CDC released opioid prescription guidelines in March 2016. The guidelines recognize that prescription opioids are appropriate in certain cases, including cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care, and also in certain acute care situations, if properly dosed.But for other pain management, the CDC...
Read More10 Exercises To Do In the Pool
Pool Exercises Pool (aquatic) exercise provides many benefits, including an ideal environment to exercise throughout the year. The buoyancy of the water supports a portion of your body weight making it easier to move in the water and improve your flexibility. The water also provides resistance to movements, which helps to strengthen muscles. Pool exercises can also improve agility, balance, and cardiovascular fitness. Many types of conditions greatly benefit from pool exercise, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, joint replacements, neurological, and balance conditions. The pool...
Read MorePhysical Therapy Guide to Balance
Balance problems make it hard for people to maintain stable posture and stay upright when standing, walking, and even sitting. Balance problems are more common in older adults and are the most common reason they seek help from a doctor. If balance problems go untreated, they can lead to falls. Physical therapists can help people of all ages improve their balance. They perform balance testing and develop treatment plans that include physical activity to help improve the strength, stability, and movement of people with balance problems. Physical therapists are movement experts. They improve...
Read MoreThree Steps For Returning To Physical Activity After COVID-19
The following tips are designed to help people return to fitness after a typical case of COVID-19. Around 10% of people infected with COVID-19 will have problems that linger for months after the infection is gone. These individuals are called long-haulers, and the condition is known as “long COVID” or PASC, which stands for Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. If you have symptoms of long COVID, contact your primary care doctor before starting an exercise program. Long COVID may include other health complications that require labs, tests, or imaging, before being referred...
Read More
