Body Basics Physical Therapy

Healthy Relationships=Better Life

2012-02-06T13:46:00.000-08:00

What better month is there than February to take time and evaluate the relationships in your life? Healthy relationships bring happiness and health to our lives. Studies show that people with healthy relationships really do have more happiness and less stress. There are basic ways to make relationships healthy, even though each one is different…spouses, children, co-workers, aging parents, difficult family members. Here are Ten Tips for Healthy Relationships.

Keep expectations realistic. No one can be everything we might want him or her to be. Sometimes people disappoint us. It’s not all-or-nothing, though. Healthy relationships mean accepting people as they are and not trying to change them!
Talk with each other. It can’t be said enough: communication is essential in healthy relationships! It means— Take the time. Really be there. Genuinely listen. Don’t plan what to say next while you’re trying to listen. Don’t interrupt. Listen with your ears and your heart. Sometimes people have emotional messages to share and weave it into their words. Ask questions. Ask if you think you may have missed the point. Ask friendly (and appropriate!) questions. Ask for opinions. Show your interest. Open the communication door. Share information. Studies show that sharing information especially helps relationships begin. Be generous in sharing yourself, but don’t overwhelm others with too much too soon.
Be flexible. Most of us try to keep people and situations just the way we like them to be. It’s natural to feel apprehensive, even sad or angry, when people or things change and we’re not ready for it. Healthy relationships mean change and growth are allowed!
Take care of you. You probably hope those around you like you so you may try to please them. Don’t forget to please yourself. Healthy relationships are mutual!
Be dependable. If you make plans with someone, follow through. If you have an assignment deadline, meet it. If you take on a responsibility, complete it. Healthy relationships are trustworthy!
Fight fair. Most relationships have some conflict. It only means you disagree about something, it doesn’t have to mean you don’t like each other! When you have a problem:

Negotiate a time to talk about it. Don’t have difficult conversations when you are very angry or tired. Ask, "When is a good time to talk about something that is bothering me?" Healthy relationships are based on respect and have room for both.
Don’t criticize. Attack the problem, not the other person. Open sensitive conversations with "I" statements; talk about how you struggle with the problem. Don’t open with "you" statements; avoid blaming the other person for your thoughts and feelings. Healthy relationships don’t blame.
Don’t assign feelings or motives. Let others speak for themselves. Healthy relationships recognize each person’s right to explain themselves.
Stay with the topic. Don’t use a current concern as a reason to jump into everything that bothers you. Healthy relationships don’t use ammunition from the past to fuel the present. Say, "I’m sorry" when you’re wrong. It goes a long way in making things right again. Healthy relationships can admit mistakes.
Don’t assume things. When we feel close to someone it’s easy to think we know how he or she thinks and feels. We can be very wrong! Healthy relationships check things out.
Ask for help if you need it. Talk with someone who can help you find resolution—like a family therapist or ecclesiastical leader. Healthy relationships aren’t afraid to ask for help. There may not be a resolved ending. Be prepared to compromise or to disagree about some things. Healthy relationships don’t demand conformity or perfect agreement.
Don’t hold grudges. You don’t have to accept anything and everything, but don’t hold grudges—they just drain your energy. Studies show that the more we see the best in others, the better healthy relationships get. Healthy relationships don’t hold on to past hurts and misunderstandings.
The goal is for everyone to be a winner. Relationships with winners and losers don’t last. Healthy relationships are between winners who seek answers to problems together.
You can leave a relationship. You can choose to move out of a relationship. Studies tell us that loyalty is very important in good relationships, but healthy relationships are NOW, not some hoped-for future development.

Show your warmth. Studies tell us warmth is highly valued by most people in their relationships. Healthy relationships show emotional warmth!
Keep your life balanced. Other people help make our lives satisfying but they can’t create that satisfaction for us. Only you can fill your life. Don’t overload on activities, but do try new things—clubs, volunteering, new hobbies or activities, projects. You’ll have more opportunities to meet people and more to share with them. Healthy relationships aren’t dependent!
It’s a process. Sometimes it looks like everyone else is confident and connected. Actually, most people feel just like you feel, wondering how to fit in and have good relationships. It takes time to meet people and get to know them…so, make "small talk"…respond to others…smile…keep trying. Healthy relationships can be learned and practiced and keep getting better!
Be yourself! It’s much easier and much more fun to be you than to pretend to be something or someone else. Sooner or later, it catches up anyway. Healthy relationships are made of real people, not images!

New Year, Healthier, Happier You!

2012-01-24T10:44:00.000-08:00

This year instead of worrying about making a grand scale New Year's Resolution, think about making some small lifestyle changes that can greatly impact your health and happiness. Studies have shown that people who live in certain areas are healthier. Blue zones—areas in Italy, Japan, Greece, California, and Costa Rica where the people have traditionally stayed active to age 100 or older—are some of the healthiest in the world. In these areas people eat 20% less food then in other areas, but even if you don't live in these areas you can apply their habits to achieve a healthier you.

1. One trick for slashing portions: Instead of putting big platters of food at the center of the table, fill each plate at the counter.

2. Eat more plants. Not only are plant-based diets rich in antioxidants and other good-for-you nutrients, they’re also better for your waistline. A plate of food in Okinawa, Japan has one-fifth the calorie density of a typical American meal because they eat a diet high in vegetables.

3. Love the foods that love you back. A diet of berries and elk or tofu and sea vegetables might seem utterly foreign—but taste buds can be retrained. "Americans love fat, salt, and sugar because that’s what we’re used to," says David L. Katz, MD, founding director of the Yale Prevention Research Center. "But studies show that if you eat more wholesome foods, you can learn to prefer them."

An easy way to start: Search for stealth sugar, which Dr. Katz says is found in many packaged foods. "Once you get rid of that hidden sugar, you’ll start to prefer less-sweet foods," he notes.

4. Sit down—and slow down. Which today's high paced society it might be too much to cook every meal. But we can sit at a table to eat our takeout instead of scarfing it down in the car. Savor each bite as the French do; stretch your meals out for 20 whole minutes. You’ll end up eating less and enjoying more.

5. Get up The longest-living people don’t think of exercise as a chore. Instead, little bits of movement are a constant part of their everyday lives. Make like a French woman and take a short walk after dinner.

6.Get out. Every Blue Zone is known for its strong social and family bonds. Besides spending quality time at home with family, surround yourself with healthy-living friends—good health habits are contagious, research shows. Be sure to get involved in your community, too, whether it’s at church, a gardening group, or a volunteer organization. These connections can add years to your life.

7.Take it easy. Even the world’s healthiest people get stressed out sometimes. What they all have are daily strategies to shed stress. Meditate, go for a run, make a dinner date with your best friend.

It’s OK to enjoy the occasional cheeseburger. What matters is a cumulative lifestyle pattern of enjoying healthful food, staying connected to others, and keeping yourself moving.

Technology for your Health

2011-12-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wished you could ask your doctor a non-urgent medical question without waiting for a call back or check your lab results from your smartphone? . If your physician uses an electronic health record system that includes "patient portal" capability, these scenarios could already be at your fingertips. An electronic health record or EHR is a digital version of a patient's health history. This system provides benefits for doctors and patients. It may include test results, medications, illnesses, family health history, etc. Some of these systems allow patients to access their information electronically and schedule appointments or renew medication. The number of physicians who are using this type of system is increasing rapidly. Although this is fairly new technology it is expected to become common in most doctors offices in the near future. Taking an active roll in your healthcare can be a major advantage. Studies have shown that patients with diabetes and high blood pressure are better able to manage their conditions when they use this technology.

Time Out for your Health!

2011-11-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

Why Is Physical Activity and Taking Time for Yourself Important?

Regular exercise and physical activity are important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults. Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age. Regular physical activity over long periods of time can produce long-term health benefits. That’s why health experts say that older adults should be active every day to maintain their health.

In addition, regular exercise and physical activity can reduce the risk of developing some diseases and disabilities that develop as people grow older. In some cases, exercise is an effective treatment for many chronic conditions. For example, studies show that people with arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes benefit from regular exercise. Exercise also helps people with high blood pressure, balance problems, or difficulty walking.

One of the great things about physical activity is that there are so many ways to be active. For example, you can be active in short spurts throughout the day, or you can set aside specific times of the day on specific days of the week to exercise. Many physical activities — such as brisk walking, raking leaves, or taking the stairs whenever you can — are free or low cost and do not require special equipment. You could also check out an exercise video from the library or use the fitness center at a local senior center.

Talk to your therapist about the many types of exercise and physical activity. They can also give lots of tips to help you be active in ways that suit your lifestyle, interests, health, and budget, whether you’re just starting out, getting back to exercising after a break, or fit enough to run a 3-mile race or even a marathon! Exercise is for everyone* — people who are healthy and those who live with an ongoing health problem or disability.

*talk to your physical therapist and/or doctor before beginning any new strenuous exercise program.

Giving Thanks

2011-11-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

Have you been through something that's made you glad to be alive? Has someone made a difference in your life? We're all thankful for the usual: our health, our families, the fact that we've seen another year pass. But what are you especially thankful for this year? Taking time to reflect on the things that you are grateful for may be more important that you think.

The mental connection. Scientists are discovering a bigger connection between our mental and physical health every day. This is likely the biggest factor in preventing illness as well. It includes the messages we send ourselves, and the more negative thoughts we have, the greater chance for those thoughts turning into something that physically attacks the body. A good example of this is when people break out in hives or eczema when under emotional stress. Other connections may not be as obvious, but rest assured, chronic stress, difficult relationships and other challenging situations can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness.

You already know the importance of exercise and nutrition. But you may be missing an even more important factor in your health. Here are five ways to lessen your chance of illness during the flu season, and all year round.

Start your day out right. By starting your morning with a positive act, such as meditating on what you are thankful for, or by creating a grateful list, you'll be sending your body messages it will use to help you stay happy and healthy all day.

Music. On your way to work, or school, listen to music that makes you feel good. Whether it's soothing, or fun, as long as it makes you smile, you'll be much better prepared to start your busy day.

Breaks. Whether you spend your day working with the public, on the computer, or at home, remember to stop and take a break. Use that time for positive thinking to counteract any of the negative stress that you've experienced. Breathe, meditate, read a book, take a walk and get some fresh air, or just think about your favorite things in life.

Laughter. Laughter is really the best medicine. It actually reduces stress hormones and even benefits your immune system. Finding the humor in the most difficult of situations is one of the best kept secrets of a happy, and healthy, life.

A hot bath and a good night's sleep. Relaxing in a hot bath soothes sore muscles and joints, reducing stress and tension which helps you to get a good night's sleep. Getting enough sleep has a big impact on your immune function and disease resistance. This is the time your body uses to repair itself and your immune system, strive for 7-8 hours a night.

When Thanksgiving rolls around you will be ahead of the game, because you will be in the habit of being thankful everyday for the good things in your life.

Fall is a treat!

2011-10-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

Fall can be a treat for the senses: the crisp air, apple picking, pumpkin carving, a gorgeous canopy of fall foliage, and the crunch of leaves underfoot. These months are a great time to exercise outdoors and enjoy cooler temperatures. Walking, hiking and cycling are all awesome in the fall.

Seasonal constants include maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes sufficient amounts of water for hydration, sleep to rest and recuperate, physical exercise for strength and agility, and proper nutrition to stave off illness. Fall can be a great time to renew goals, change habits and try something new.

Summer dining generally equates to lighter food fare, like salads, seasonal fruits and vegetables, herbal iced teas, iced fruit infused waters, etc. These were ideal for summer, because they were less taxing on the digestive system, and also kept a person cool. The colder months of fall and winter call for heartier foods like hot cereals, stews, soups, casseroles and the like are ideal for those colder months. These foods are nutritious, but also warming. Try dried fruits and nuts and make your own granola. Consider frozen fruits and vegetables, which are quick frozen right after harvesting, preserving more of the nutrient value; they’re a nice reminder of the fresher seasonal produce during the warming months.

Continue using an SPF product to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Consider gathering up dried twigs, branches, leaves, etc. and creating an arrangement for a seasonal tablescape, or put them in a large basket and display by your entry.

When winter hits and the colder weather, and shorter days are giving you cabin fever, be sure to keep the spring and summer indoor with live plants and flowers. Don’t forget to open your windows every so often just to let some fresh air inside. Take walks to shake the “blues” away and enjoy the beautiful scenery around you, if necessary, bundle up with a jacket and scarf. Remember to enjoy each season and the change it offers.

Cold and flu season: Keep yourself healthy!

2011-10-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

When cold and flu season hit, we are bombarded with advice for getting well, but the best way to be well is to prevent yourself from getting sick. While there are no known cures for colds and flu, there are some proactive measures you can take to keep yourself healthy.

#1 Wash Your Hands
Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. Someone who has the flu sneezes onto their hand, and then touches the telephone, the keyboard, a doorknob. The germs can live for hours -- in some cases weeks -- only to be picked up by the next person who touches the same object. So wash your hands often. If no sink is available, rub your hands together very hard for a minute or so. That also helps break up most of the cold germs. Or rub an alcohol-based hand sanitizer onto your hands.

#2 Don't Cover Your Sneezes and Coughs With Your Hands
Germs and viruses cling to your bare hands, muffling coughs and sneezes with your hands results in passing along your germs to others. When you feel a sneeze or cough coming, use a tissue, then throw it away immediately. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.

#3 Don't Touch Your Face
Cold and flu viruses enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching their faces is the major way children catch colds, and a key way they pass colds on to their parents and teachers.

#4 Drink Plenty of Fluids
Water flushes your system, washing out the toxins as it rehydrates you. How can you tell if you're getting enough liquid? If the color of your urine runs close to clear, you're getting enough. If it's deep yellow, you need more fluids.

#5 Do Aerobic Exercise Regularly
Aerobic exercise speeds up the heart to pump larger quantities of blood; makes you breathe faster to help transfer oxygen from your lungs to your blood; and makes you sweat once your body heats up. These exercises help increase the body's natural virus-killing cells.

These are just a few tips to help you avoid catching a cold or the flu this season.

Physical Therapy and Fibromyalgia Syndrome

2011-09-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. It is an example of a diagnosis of exclusion. Fibromyalgia symptoms are not restricted to pain, leading to the use of the alternative term fibromyalgia syndrome for the condition. Other symptoms include debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. Some patients may also report difficulty with swallowing, bowel and bladder abnormalities, numbness and tingling, and cognitive dysfunction. When Fibromyalgia is present it is frequently in addition to psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety and stress-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Not all people with fibromyalgia experience all associated symptoms. Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2–4% of the population, with a female to male incidence ratio of approximately 9:1.

Physical therapists teach self-management skills to people with all types of conditions, including fibromyalgia. Physical therapists can show people with fibromyalgia how to relieve symptoms of pain and stiffness in everyday life. They can also help people with fibromyalgia learn how to make sensible decisions about daily activities that will prevent painful flare-ups.

How Can a Physical Therapist Help my Fibromyalgia?

A licensed physical therapist has a background in anatomy and kinesiology -- the study of movement. If you have fibromyalgia, this allows the therapist to develop specific stretching and strengthening programs to meet your individual needs.
Physical therapists work with all types of patients -- from infants to adults. They provide health services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. Working one-on-one with people, physical therapists help restore overall fitness and health.

How Can Physical Therapy Help Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain?

While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, physical therapy may help ease the symptoms of pain. It can also help reduce stiffness and fatigue. In addition to exercise, physical therapists use a wide range of resources -- from deep tissue massage to ice and heat packs for hydrotherapy. With these tools, physical therapists can help people with fibromyalgia use their muscles, stretch for flexibility, and move their joints through range-of-motion exercises.

The benefit of physical therapy is that it allows a person with fibromyalgia to work closely with a trained professional who can design a fibromyalgia-specific treatment program. The therapist documents your progress and gauges whether you're practicing good therapy habits, alignments, and movement patterns when doing "homework" or exercises at home.
The ultimate goal of physical therapy is for you to learn the specific exercises and then do them daily at home.

Clinical studies have shown that stretching and exercise such as tai chi can help relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia.

What Other Tools Does a Physical Therapist Use for Fibromyalgia?

The physical therapist may use different types of tools with fibromyalgia patients including:

deep tissue massage

low-impact aerobic conditioning (water aerobics)

pain relief exercise

stretching and strengthening exercises

TENS units (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

ultrasound

Tips To Avoid Knee Pain

2011-08-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

Nearly everyone has experienced knee pain. Whether it’s caused by arthritis, excessive foot pronation or overuse of the muscles that protect this vulnerable joint. Here is the GOOD NEWS: Most chronic knee pain is avoidable. New research published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that exercise and physical therapy are just as effective as surgery for relief from chronic knee pain related to arthritis. Learning to strengthen and stretch key muscles that support the knees, and other ways to protect and take care of our knees, can ultimately prolong the health of this vital body part.

1. Strengthen your "butt" muscle. When these muscles atrophy or become imbalanced because we tend to sit much of the day, the hamstrings and hip adductors (inner thigh muscles) also overwork — to compensate for the underdeveloped gluteus maximus — resulting in compressive force on the knee joint. By stretching out these support muscles, you decrease the chance that they’ll get tight and cause muscle imbalances. So remember the complementary two-fold process: As you strengthen naturally weak muscles like the glutes, also stretch supporting muscles like the inner thigh muscles.

2. Strengthen your core. Abdominal weakness will cause your pelvis to tilt forward, creating excessive low-back curvature and shifting the leg bones inward. You can experiment with this yourself: Over-arch your back and notice how your legs and knees want to roll in toward the midline of the body. Then flatten your back and notice how the opposite movement occurs at the legs.
Strengthening the core helps to keep your back in a neutral spine position and places the lower extremities — specifically the knees — in the best possible position for movement without joint compression.

There are many ways to strengthen your abdominal muscles besides doing crunches. Dance, yoga, kickboxing, ab routines using fitness balls, or a core workout with elements of Pilates. Pilates was created with a strong emphasis on improving core strength to improve the function of the entire body.

3. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight makes men five times more likely (and women four times more likely) to develop knee osteoarthritis. New research shows that a 10% decrease in weight will result in a 28% increase in knee function (in such activities as climbing stairs or walking). Another study found that for every 11 pounds a woman loses, there is a remarkable 50 percent decrease in the risk of knee arthritis.

Why? Fat decreases muscle strength, and excess body weight adds strain to knee joints. In fact, there’s an inverse relationship between body weight and quadriceps muscle strength: the higher your body weight, the weaker your knee muscles.

To start burning those extra calories required for weight loss without adding additional impact to the knees, try water aerobics, an elliptical trainer or cycling (making sure you have proper seat height).

4. Take care of your feet. Replace your workout sneakers frequently — every 300 miles, which could be three months or a year depending on your level of activity. This is a safe way to avoid wearing a shoe with poor cushioning support for your arches and joints.

You may look great in three-inch stilettos, but keep in mind that high-heeled shoes increase the compressive force on your knee joints by 23%. Wearing heels also encourages tight calf muscles, another common cause of knee pain. A tight calf can pull the foot inward to a position called pronation, which essentially collapses the arch of the foot and causes the lower leg to roll inward, placing stress on the ankle and knee. So embrace the flat shoe fashion trend and stretch out those calves.

Summer and Family Activity

2011-06-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

Summertime is a great time to get out with your family and increase your activity. Encourage every member of your family to increase daily physical activity and have fun at the same time. Be sure to think about what your family can be doing to build in more active time during your busy week. Discuss with your physical therapist which activities would be best for you and your lifestyle. Here are some suggestions to consider.
MAKE TIME
Identify available time slots. Monitor your daily activities for one week. Identify at least three 30-minute time slots you could use for physical activity. Then, identify two of them that work as family activity time.
Add physical activity to your daily routine. For example, walk or ride your bike to work or shopping, organize school activities around physical activity, walk the dog with your children, exercise while you watch TV, park farther away from your destination. Make time for physical activity. For example, walk, jog, or swim during your lunch hour, or take fitness breaks instead of coffee breaks. Try doing something active after dinner with your family, especially on weekends. Select activities requiring minimal time, such as walking, jogging, or stair climbing.

BRING OTHERS INTO IT
Invite friends and family to exercise with you. Plan social activities involving exercise. Plan a party with physically active games and activities for your family and your children's friends. Develop new friendships with physically active people. A current trend is exercise "boot camps" which offer various intensities and levels to get you moving. Another idea is to start an exercise or hiking club.

MOTIVATE YOURSELFSchedule physical activity for times in the day or week when you feel energetic.Convince yourself that if you give it a chance, physical activity will increase your energy level; then try it. Plan ahead. Make physical activity a regular part of your family's daily or weekly schedule and write it on a family activity calendar.

Join an exercise group or class. Enroll your children in community sports teams or lessons. Exercise with friends who are at the same skill level as you are. Create opportunities for your children to be active with friends. Develop a set of regular activities for you and your family that are always available regardless of weather, such as indoor cycling, aerobic dance, indoor swimming, stretching and strengthening movements, stair climbing, rope skipping, mall walking, dancing, and gymnasium games.

Look at outdoor activities that depend on weather conditions, such as cross-country skiing, outdoor swimming, and outdoor tennis as "bonuses"—extra activities possible when weather and circumstances permit.

*If you are unsure what activities are best for you, please discuss it with your physical therapist or doctor first, and come up with a plan together.

Grads, Dads and Family Vacation

2011-06-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

June is traditionally a busy month. High school and college graduations, school is out for the summer and family summer vacations are beginning. Spending time with your family is important and a fun way to spend the summer. Sometimes your health can get lost in the shuffle of overscheduling. Remember to take time to eat right and exercise, your body will thank you and your stress level will too!

Remember the man who taught you to ride a bike, throw a ball or sat up with you when you were sick? Father's Day is just around the corner and it's your chance to remember to thank your Father. Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June in many countries and on other days elsewhere. Don't forget to thank the men in your life on this special day.

Get Moving America: May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!

2011-05-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

Since 1983, May has been observed as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Individuals and organizations everywhere have joined in the fun to promote awareness of the value of physical activity in the pursuit of happier, healthier, more productive lives. To further this vital mission, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports reached out in 1994 to both public and private organizations to form the Presidential Fitness Partners in May. By working together in this partnership, our individual health and fitness messages will achieve increased public resonance.

What can you do? Look around your community for opportunities to participate:

Fitness/Health Fair – A special celebration with participating groups such as the local medical association, heart association, chamber of commerce, business and industry, educational institutions, or clubs. It may be conducted at local malls, in shopping centers, schools, or designated recreation centers.

Distance/Fun Runs/Fitness Walks – Many agencies and groups promote such events as part of their regular fitness programs, and these may be tied into Fitness Month. Assistance may be available from local running clubs or such groups as the National Road Runners of America. It is extremely important, however, that necessary precautions for emergency care be observed in planning and conducting distance runs. One such event is the 3rd Annual 5K Run/Walk, 5K Team Run & 1K Cub Fun Run on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos.

Other Suggestions – Take this opportunity to launch your community's Presidential Sports Award Program or assist your school and others who conduct the President's Challenge Youth Physical Fitness Awards Program (top achievers are eligible for the Presidential Physical Fitness Award). Aspects of the program may include a focus on youth fitness, employee fitness, fitness for special populations, and events of special emphasis such as 10K runs, volksmarches, walking tours, fitness assessment, and sporting events.

Walking for a Healthier You

2011-04-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

April is a great month to get outside and start moving. Walking is a gentle, low-impact exercise that can ease you into a higher level of fitness and health. Walking is a form of exercise accessible to just about everybody. It's safe, simple and doesn't require practice. And the health benefits are many. Here's more about why walking is good for you, and how to get started with a walking program.

Benefits of walking

Walking, like other exercise, can help you achieve a number of important health benefits. Walking can help you:

Lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol)
Raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol)
Lower your blood pressure
Reduce your risk of or manage type 2 diabetes
Manage your weight
Improve your mood
Stay strong and fit

All it takes to reap these benefits is a routine of brisk walking. It doesn't get much simpler than that. And you can forget the "no pain, no gain" talk. Research shows that regular, brisk walking can reduce the risk of heart attack by the same amount as more vigorous exercise, such as jogging.

Preparation helps avoid injury

Walking isn't as likely to lead to injuries as other types of exercise. Still, take time to prepare yourself to prevent injuries, such as blisters or muscle pain.
Get the right gear: Be sure to wear comfortable footwear. Choose shoes with proper arch support, a firm heel and thick flexible soles to cushion your feet and absorb shock. Before you buy a new pair, be sure to walk in them in the store.
Also dress in loosefitting, comfortable clothing and in layers if you need to adjust to changing temperature. If you walk outside, choose clothes appropriate for the weather. Avoid rubberized materials, as they don't allow perspiration to evaporate. Wear bright colors or reflective tape after dark so that motorists can see you.
Use proper technique: Walking is a great exercise because it's so simple to do. But using the correct posture and movements is essential.
Warm up: Spend about five minutes walking slowly to warm up your muscles. You can walk in place if you want. Increase your pace until you feel warm.
Stretch: After warming up, stretch your muscles before walking. Include the calf stretch, quadriceps stretch, hamstring stretch and side (iliotibial) stretch.
Cool down after each walking session: To reduce stress on your heart and muscles, end each walking session by walking slowly for about five minutes. Then, repeat your stretches.
Start slow and easy: If you're a seasoned walker, keep doing what you're doing. If you've been inactive and tire easily, it's best to start slow and easy. At first, walk only as far or as fast as you find comfortable. If you can walk for only a few minutes, let that be your starting point. For example, you might try short daily sessions of five to 10 minutes and slowly build up to 15 minutes twice a week. Then, over several weeks' time, you can gradually work your way up to 30 to 60 minutes of walking most days each week. The sun is shining, the weather is turning warmer, what are you you waiting for? Get out there and start walking today!

Gardening and Your Back

2011-02-28T10:55:00.000-08:00

Gardening is a favorite pastime of many Americans. It is an opportunity to breathe fresh air, beautify your home and exercise your muscles. Back pain, however, can take the joy out of gardening. But a bad back does not always signal the end of your gardening hobby. Oftentimes it is merely your body’s way of telling you to correct your posture and be more careful. So, if you want to deal with your back pain and continue gardening in a healthy way, read on to learn a few tips for safe gardening techniques with a bad back.

1. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

2. Stretch before you start gardening: Take 5 to 10 minutes to loosen up your muscles and get your blood flowing.

3. Use proper posture: This is perhaps the simplest and most important tip for people gardening with bad backs – you must lift and bend correctly while working! If you have good posture when gardening, you are going to have less pain. So, instead of using your back muscles to lift, you should take advantage of the stronger muscles in your thighs and buttocks. You can utilize these muscles by bending your knees, leaning over from the hips and keeping your back straight from the base of your neck all the way down to the end of your spine. If you find this difficult to do on your own, you might want to consider wearing a back brace for extra help maintaining proper positioning when bending and lifting.

4. Use a wheelbarrow and kneeling stool: If you are going to spend a lot of time working close to the ground, use a lightweight portable garden stool to protect your knees and joints while kneeling. Make sure you don’t strain your back when moving from place to place in your garden by lifting heavy things on your own. If you don’t have a wheelbarrow, it’s a good investment for your health to buy one. Ask for help from family or neighbors to load heavy items into or out of your wheelbarrow or divide up a large load into several more manageable smaller loads.

5. Keep flowerbeds narrow and weed-free:You will save yourself from straining your back if you don’t have to lean over lots of plants in a wide bed. Instead, design your garden so that you can easily maneuver around plants without having to reach too far. Also, make sure not to leave bare patches of soil where weeds will want to grow. Mulch the surface of your garden beds and use ground cover plants to maintain moisture and suppress weeds. This will minimize the need for bending over and straining your back to remove unwanted plants

6. Use appropriate tools:If you use gardening tools with handles that are too short or too heavy to allow you to easily reach the areas you need, you will increase the likelihood of straining your back. Instead, try using lightweight tools with long handles or extensions

If you feel pain while you’re gardening, that’s your body telling you to stop. However, don't stop all movement entirely. Don’t sit down, go for a little walk, even if it’s just down to the end of the block and back. The main thing to remember when gardening with a bad back is to break up the work into manageable increments and to continue stretching your muscles throughout the process and to enjoy your beautiful garden.

Valentine's Day and Dark Chocolate: A great Combination

2011-02-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

Chocolate lovers take heart! Recent findings reveal that dark chocolate is packed with high-quality polyphenol antioxidants that may promote overall cardiovascular health. Cocoa beans also contain flavonoids (like those found in tea and red wine), which promote healthy cholesterol levels and act as antioxidants. Great news!

Chocolate is also full of phenylethylamine, a naturally occurring substance in the body believed to help ward off the blues, as well as stearic acid, a unique saturated fat thought to help lower cholesterol. How’s that for proof positive that eating chocolate may make you happy and healthy?

A sweet side note: As if that wasn’t enough to convince you to dig in, chocolate also provides a slew of daily nutrients. A 1.4-ounce milk chocolate bar contains about 3 grams of protein, 7% of the adult daily value (DV) of riboflavin, 8% of the DV for calcium and 5% of the DV for iron.

So don't feel guilty for eating a square of dark chocolate and be sure you buy some for your Valentine too!

BodyBasics Corona

2011-01-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to announce that BodyBasics Physical Therapy has opened up a new location in Corona! It is a beautiful facility located in South Corona. The address is:

2275 S. Main Street, Suite 102
Corona, CA 92882
Phone: (951) 273-7742

Our phone number has remained the same.

For directions to our new location: http://bodybasicspt.com/library_directions_1534

We continue to serve you at our Norco location as well.

It’s 2011, and for many of you better physical fitness is one of your New Year’s resolutions. We want this year to be your best year ever. So, in this video, we offer a few tips to help you achieve your goals.

Click here to watch the video!

Our Services:

Orthopedic Rehab

Fitness Programs
Women's Health
Sports Rehab
Strength Training
Pelvic Pain Rehab
Hand Therapy
Sports Screening
Foot Orthotics

We look forward to serving you at either location and hope you have a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays

2010-12-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

The holidays are here and we want you to enjoy them! View our video newletter for ways to relieve your holiday stress. To view our video newsletter, click on the link below.

http://www.bodybasicspt.com/library_nl_1083

Your First Visit

2010-11-09T15:47:00.000-08:00

We want your experience at Bodybasics Physical Therapy to be a pleasant one. These are a few tips to help your initial appointment run smoothly.

First, Avoid the Waiting Room:

Click Here To Download Your Paperwork

Print the paperwork, fill it out at home, and bring it in for your scheduled appointment. By doing so, we should be able to get started with you much sooner.

If you can't view the paperwork, get the free Adobe Acrobat Reader

For your first visit, please remember:

1. Insurance Card

2. Prescription for therapy that you received from your doctor

3. Wear comfortable clothes so we can assess your condition

For Worker's Compensation Cases:

Case Number - Only Worker's Compensation Patients
Phone number of your case manager - Only Worker's Compensation Patients

Location information:
We have two locations to serve you in Corona and Norco.

Bodybasics Physical Therapy
3179 Hamner, Suite 7
Norco, CA 92860
(951) 736-5646

Inland Empire Physical Therapy
1303 W. Sixth St., Suite 104
Corona, CA 92882
(951) 273-7742

Click here to View the map and address

October is National Physical Therapy Month

2010-10-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Are you aware that October is National Physical Therapy month? In recognition of this, we would like to present to you some informative facts.

Good news for seniors: Part of the prescription for a healthier, better retirement is exercise. That simple? Yes, it is!
Physical exercise has been proven to discourage declines in health and fitness. Join the growing number of seniors who are actively demonstrating that exercise helps keep a body strong and on the go.
The best retirement is a healthy one
Did you know that moderate physical activity can help you live longer? That it can actually reduce health hazards? It's true.
So is the fact that regular exercise helps control blood pressure, body weight and cholesterol levels, and reduces the risks of hardening of the arteries, heart attack and stroke.
A well-balanced fitness program holds other benefits for you, too. It conditions muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones to help fight osteoporosis, keep your body more limber and stabilize your joints, lowering the risk of everyday injury. Regular physical activity can even help you maintain your independence.
Physical exercise is probably the best all-natural laxative you'll find. It not only improves digestion, but exercise is also good for managing lower back pain, arthritis and diabetes. And recently, there's been more indication that an active lifestyle helps lower the risk for certain types of cancer.
But maybe the best reason for incorporating regular exercise into your life is that you'll feel better and enjoy life more. Exercise helps you sleep better, manage stress better, and gives you more endurance to enjoy work and play.

If you are unsure how to get started consult your physical therapist for an exercise program and fitness plan. Physical Therapy can help prevent falls! According to the National Aging Council, about one in three seniors above the age of 65 and nearly one in two above the age of 80 will fall once this year. We are there to help you improve on your balance skills and therefore prevent those falls.

Physical Therapy helped 92% of patients with low back pain. Along with our hands on care, we will help direct you on an appropriate exercise program to manage your back. (Spine July 2008)

Physical Therapy developed exercise programs can reduce athletes risk of injury by 41%, With proper conditioning and stretches, we can instruct you properly so these risks can be reduced. (American Journal of Sports Medicine Aug. 2008)

We are here for you to improve your quality of life. By working together, we can formulate an exercise program and help you reduce the risk of falls, manage your low back pain, and reduce the risk of injury while enjoying an active lifestyle.

Back to School with a Healthy Start

2010-09-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

Now that the children are returning to school, it’s time to make their lunches once again. Instead of their typical PB&Jelly sandwiches, chips and soda; how about switching it up a little and giving them something a little more nutritious? You can send them on with a yogurt, cream cheese celery sticks, slices of apples that have soaked in pineapple juice (so they don’t discolor), pretzels, and of course a bottle of water. By giving them something healthy, they can think more clearly during their day. Thankfully, creating a healthy midday meal doesn't have to be time-consuming. The key is creativity, a trove of healthy recipes that can be quickly prepared. A lot of kids get bored with sandwiches, but take the same ingredients and package them in a different way, and it becomes a lunch your child gets excited to eat. Your kid might stick her tongue out at a ham and cheese sandwich, in other words, but gobble up ham and cheese shish kebabs—chunks of skewered whole-grain bread, ham, cheddar cheese, and a few cherry tomatoes.

Another way to improve the odds that your brown bag lunch will actually be eaten—not trashed or traded—is by getting your child involved. So get your kids involved and start them off with a healthy new school year!

Women's Health

2010-06-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Did you know that BodyBasics Physical Therapy offers female therapists that specialize in women's issues such as pregnancy problems, pelvic pain, and incontinence? Special treatment is available for women who have these problems. We offer discreet, professional help in a comfortable secure setting. Many that suffer from incontinence do so needlessly. A physical therapist may be able to help. If you are interested in more information about any Women's Health issues, contact our office. We would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Physical Therapy Careers

2010-05-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Physical Therapy Careers
Maybe you’ve had a good experience with a physical therapist in the past, or you’re looking for a hands-on health care field with a great future. The role of physical therapy is expanding within our health care system as a means of promoting health, preventing disease, improving function, easing pain and limiting disabilities from injury or disease. Demand is also expected to grow with the increasing elderly population.

What do Physical Therapists do?
Administering physical therapy is only part of the job. A physical therapist must also be skilled in examining, evaluating and planning courses of treatment. Many supervise other health care workers. Some treat a wide range of ailments, while others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology and cardiopulmonary physical therapy. PT’s may also teach, provide consultation or perform clinical research.

Where do Physical Therapists work?
Hospitals
Rehabilitation centers and institutions
Private practice
Sports medicine centers
Schools and colleges
Nursing homes
Patients’ homes

What will I like (or dislike) about this work?
Satisfaction from helping others
Opportunity for problem-solving
Working with other professionals

How is the job outlook?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-2011): “Employment of physical therapists is expected to increase 27 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities will be good, especially in acute hospital, rehabilitation and orthopedic settings.”

What are the Educational Requirements?
Master’s degree
Doctoral degree (DPT) from an accredited program (The American Physical Therapy Association’s Vision 2020 states that by 2020, all physical therapists should be trained at the DPT level.)
Licensing through national exam

Eastvale Health Fair and Functional Orthopedics

2009-10-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

BodyBasics and Inland Empire Physical Therapy have been busy hosting courses and supporting our community.

On October 17th, BodyBasics joined the crowd at the Eastvale 5k and Health Fair held at Roosevelt High School in Eastvale. We were on hand to answer questions about common injuries and fitness. What a great opportunity to interact with the community and have some fun!

BodyBasics Physical Therapy (Norco office) also sponsored a course by the Institute of Physical Art called “Functional Orthopedics” from 10/15-10/18. Physical therapists came from different parts of California to improve their skills in postural education, soft tissue mobilization and exercise.

We are happy to announce a new addition to our staff! Patrick Medeiros-Bagan has joined the staff at the Corona office. He recently graduated with a doctorate degree in physical therapy from Chapman University and is excited to work with patients at the Corona location!

Physical Therapy VS Chiropractic Care

2009-08-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

Many people wonder which type of care is best suited for them as an individual. Studies have shown that both types of practioners help patients to get better and return to normal activities. The most important thing is to ask around, do your homework and find the best practitioner to suit your needs.

Getting the best of both worlds – a summary
*Like any profession, the practitioner is only as good as he/she’s dedication to continuing education and mastery of their profession and dedication to helping patients.

*Choose or refer practitioners that strive to stay on the cutting edge of science and those that exercise themselves and have a deep understanding of movement.

*Look for a PT that is certified in manipulative therapy and that is “hands on” vs. modality-based. Find one with specializations related to the dysfunction or condition that you are your referral is struggling with.

*Steer clear of PT’s who treat only based on algorithms and formulas and who relies too much on modalities and cookie-cutter exercises.

*Choose a DC that is evidence-based and one with an interest in having patients “leave the nest” rather than create a dependence.

*Steer clear of “subluxationist” chiropractor

The most important thing is to ask around, do your homework and find the best practitioner to suit your needs.

Protecting Yourself During Fall Sports

2009-08-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

Playing physical sports can be a lot of fun. It’s an activity you can do with your friends or family members. It’s important to take care of yourself to avoid injury while playing sports. You can’t completely avoid getting hurt, but you can do everything you can to prevent injury. There are a few easy steps you can take to get the most out of your sports.
1. Equipment
Equipment is important when it comes to working out with sports. Make sure you have the proper sporting equipment that goes with the event you’re participating in. Avoid wearing worn-out shoes and wear a helmet or shoulder pads whenever necessary.
2. Eye and Mouth Protection
Eyewear is important for protection during sports. Goggles are often times worn for soccer, basketball, racquetball, snowboarding, street hockey, baseball and softball. Mouth guards protect your teeth, mouth and tongue. They should always be worn in contact sports, such as wrestling, boxing, martial arts, volleyball, hockey, football and basketball. It’s important to have a dentist fit the mouth guard to your mouth specifically. Never wear your retainer during exercise, practice or play.
3. Wrist, Knee and Elbow Guards
These types of guards are appropriate for inline skating, skateboarding or scooter riding and other similar sports.

Warming Up is Important
Warming up and before a game is an important part of the workout. You should always do this in order to protect your muscles and your joints from injury. You should also stretch afterwards when your muscles are warm to prevent future injury.

Benefits of Sports
Research proves that participating in regular physical activity is a type of preventative medicine. Leading this type of active lifestyle can help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Participating in regular physical activity can help you to maintain a healthy body weight while minimizing the adverse affects of stress. Most experts agree that healthy adults should be getting approximately 30 minutes of physical activity on all or most days. Younger people should aim for between 30 minutes and 60 minutes a day. Moderate intensities, such as taking a brisk walk, cycling or swimming laps can be done in a single session.

Avoid overdoing it. Play sports in moderation and make sure you are practicing sporting activities appropriately. Physical activity can reduce the risk of certain illness, such as colon cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

Stress Relief
Working on regularly by getting regularly physical activity or participating in sporting events, you’ll reap the benefits of reducing your stress levels. If you participate in sporting activities on a regular basis, you will likely lose weight or maintain a healthy body weight, which can reduce stress too!

Sports and Physical Therapy

2009-07-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

An athlete who is suffering from a sports injury can be effectively treated using physical therapy, one of the most effective methods to facilitate a speedy recovery and help athletes to quickly return to sports. Physical therapy treatment for sport injuries includes a variety of modalities such as hot packs, cold packs, electrical stimulation,ultrasound and soft tissue mobilization to heal the injured tissue. Sports injuries affect a number of athletes, both men and women alike. Activities like golf, football, baseball, tennis, swimming, volleyball and tennis may cause injuries. With physical therapy, various sports injuries including rotator cuff tendonitis, shoulder injuries, back injuries, elbow and hand injuries, running injuries, fractures, head injuries, neck injuries and tennis injuries can be treated. Physical therapy is a hands-on treatment procedure used for treating musculoskeletal dysfunction. This effective treatment plan works well to maintain and enhance fitness, health and quality of life. The physical therapy treatment program makes the body strong and increases the blood flow to the affected areas. This is ideal to promote your healing process. The physical therapy treatment administered for sports injuries helps to:
1. Decrease pain
2. Increase function by restoring your physical abilities
3. Prevent further injuries
Depending on the severity of the injury, the physical therapy treatment program varies. Physical therapy treatment for sports injuries is the best option for athletes who wish to return to their normal sports activities soon. Physical therapists can also give tips on preventing further injuries.

CPR Certification

2009-06-17T07:25:00.001-07:00

Saturday, June 13th, 2009, BodyBasics/Inland Empire Physical Therapy hosted a CPR course at their Corona facility. The therapists and PTAs are required to renew their CPR certification every two years to stay current on life-saving techniques. The class was taught by Pat Walsh.

Cardiopulmonary resusitation (CPR) is a procedure used when a patient's heart stops beating and breathing stops. It can involve compressions of the chest or electrical shocks along with rescue breathing.

Seminar in Palm Springs

2009-06-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

The Bodybasics Team including Scott, Jaime, Rikki and Mandi attended the Annual course "Practical Applications in Sports Medicine" held at the Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs. The course was held Friday May 29-Sunday the 31st. The course has been an annual event for 19 years and some of this year's topics discussed were ACL reconstruction, Kinesio Taping, and Throwing shoulder injuries(in relation to sports). The course was a great opportunity to practice and learn new skills. The nice pool and great weather was fun too!

Scott and Rikki practicing their skill at taping

Scott and Rikki at the “Kinesio Taping” seminar

For more information about this seminar visit: http://sportfoundation.org/pa/paschedb.html

BodyBasics News

2009-05-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

In April, some of the BodyBasics Physical Therapists including Scott, Jaime, and Sara, participated on the medical team in the 2009 AVP(association of volleyball professionals) Crocs tour held in Riverside. This weekend marked the first time the AVP has ever visited Riverside. The therapists enjoyed working with the players and treating any injuries that occured.

Scott and some of the other therapists also participated on the medical team for the World Figure Skating Championships held at the Staples Center in March. It was a great opportunity to check out the skaters who will compete in the next Olympics.

Children and Teens with Sports Injuries

2009-01-12T21:11:00.000-08:00

It is estimated that 30 million children in the US participate in organized sports programs. As more and more children participate in sports and recreational activities, there has been an increase in acute and overuse injuries. Emergency department visits are highest among the school-age to young adult population. Over one-third of school-age children will sustain an injury severe enough to be treated by a doctor or nurse. There are physical and physiological differences between children and adults that may cause children to be more vulnerable to injury. Factors that contribute to this difference in vulnerability include: children have a larger surface area to mass ratio, children have larger heads proportionately, children may be too small for protective equipment, growing cartilage may be more vulnerable to stresses and children may not have the complex motor skills needed for certain sports until after puberty.
The most commonly injured areas of the body include the ankle and knee followed by the hand, wrist, elbow, shin and calf, head, neck and clavicle. Contusions and strains are the most common injuries sustained by young athletes. In early adolescence, apophysitis or strains at the apophyses are common. The most common sites are at the knee (Osgood-Schlatter disease), at the heel (Sever's disease) and at the elbow (Little League Elbow). Non-traumatic knee pain is one of the most common complaints in the young athlete. Patellar Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) has a constellation of causes that include overuse, poor tracking of the patellar, malalignment problems of the legs and foot problems, such as pes planus. In the child, hip pathology can present as knee pain so a careful hip exam is important in the child presenting with an insidious onset of knee pain. Other common injuries in young athletes discussed include anterior cruciate ligament injuries, ankle sprains and ankle fractures.
Prevention of sports and recreation-related injuries is the ideal. There are six potential ways to prevent injuries in general:
I. the pre-season physical examination;
II. medical coverage at sporting events;
III. proper coaching;
IV. adequate hydration;
V. proper officiating; and
VI. proper equipment and field/surface playing conditions.

Physical Therapy and it's benefits

2009-01-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

Physical therapists evaluate and treat people with health problems resulting from injury or disease. They assess joint motion, muscle strength and endurance, function of heart and lungs, and performance of activities required in daily living. Physical therapists employ a wide range of therapeutic exercise techniques, cardiovascular endurance training, and training in activities of daily living. Typical examples of persons who might benefit from physical therapy include an automobile mechanic with an injured back, an elderly person with arthritis; a newborn baby with a birth defect; a professional athlete in training; a stroke victim; a crippled child; a pregnant woman; and an overstressed business executive.
Physical therapy aids people who are recovering from injury or a disease by making them stronger, relieving their pain, and helping them to regain use of an affected limb or to relearn such daily activities as walking, dressing, and bathing. Some patients recovering from surgery require physical therapy as part of their recovery process. In these cases, the physical therapist attempts to achieve normal mobility through the relief of pain and the rehabilitation of impaired muscle function. The therapist may employ active or passive exercises designed to strengthen specific muscles or to coordinate muscle movement. In passive exercises, the therapist manipulates the affected parts until the patient is able to do so alone. In hydrotherapy, the patient exercises in water, which requires a smaller expenditure of energy than exercises out ofwater. Patients who are entirely immobilized may begin physical therapy in bed with massage and the application of heat.
Physical therapists also assist people in remaining well and safe from injury. Physical therapists teach people the importance of physical fitness and show them how to avoid injuries at work or play. They also design and supervise personalized exercise programs geared at helping people increase their overall fitness and muscular strength and endurance.
Physical therapy techniques may include therapeutic exercise, joint mobilization and range-of-motion exercises, cardiovascular endurance training, relaxation exercises, therapeutic massage, biofeedback, training in various activities of daily living, wound care, pulmonary physical therapy, and training in moving about. Specific therapies including traction, ultrasound, diathermy, electrotherapy, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, and laser therapy may also be applied during treatment.

With Americans becoming more health- and exercise-conscious, participating in sports and fitness activities, more physical therapists will be needed to treat and help prevent knee, leg, back, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal injuries. The post War World II baby boom generation is now aging and beginning to experience conditions common to older people such as arthritis, stroke, heart disease, and other prolonged-care conditions. Physical therapists will be called on to care for them.

Physical Therapy

2008-12-16T21:44:00.000-08:00

Chances are, you have already heard of physical therapy. You might have heard from a friend how physical therapy helped get rid of his or her back pain, or you might know someone who needed physical therapy after an injury.
"Physical Therapy" is the care and services provided by or under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist to alleviate pain and restore, maintain and promote optimal physical function, fitness, health and wellness.

Physical therapists are good people to know. They’re educated in understanding the interaction of all your body parts. Their hands-on approach begins with examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the immediate problem.

Visit us at www.bodybasicspt.com or stop in for a visit to see what we're all about. Let us meet your physical therapy needs today.