Health blog
How to Make Smart Fitness Resolutions
By: Danielle Hoguet, DPT
Can you believe that in just a few weeks, 2016 will be in the past? It’s almost that time when gyms are packed, Facebook feeds are flooded with New Year’s Resolutions and goals, and the organic foods section is probably a little more picked over than normal. It’s almost 2017!
Along with celebrations to ring in the new year come resolutions and the chance to work towards a new and improved YOU.
Make Healthy Choices This Holiday Season without Counting Calories
Tis’ the season for good food, time with family, giving thanks, celebrations and traveling. I love this time between mid-November and the end of the year. However, with so much packed into a span of several weeks, it can be tough to keep your fitness goals on track, especially if you are spending hours in the car or on a plane traveling from one place to another.
A few years ago, when I lived in Florida, I spent a lot of time around the holidays at Southwest International Airport, either the Atlanta or Charlotte airports for a layover, and Reagan National Airport.
How to Manage Arthritis and Increase Your Activity Level
While the change in weather can bring some welcomed signs of fall, like leaves changing colors, it can also bring with it some less pleasant symptoms like joint stiffness, pain and inflammation. Arthritis symptoms can increase with changes in weather. But there are ways you can manage the pain and also increase your activity level.
You’ve probably heard the word ‘osteoarthritis’ but what exactly does it mean and what are the symptoms?
Osteoarthritis:
- Joint inflammation that causes pain and stiffness
- It is progressive
- There is no cure for arthritis.
What You “Knee’d” to Know About ACL Tears
“Pop!” That’s the dreaded sensation an athlete may feel in his/her knee while maneuvering around an opponent on the field. Following an awkward landing or a sudden change in direction, the popping sensation is often followed by severe pain with weight bearing, loss of range of motion and swelling of the knee. The injury may indicate an ACL tear, which can certainly sideline you from returning to your sport for months, sometimes even years. However, surgery is not always necessary depending on the severity of the injury you sustained.
Read full blogThe Pros and Cons of Playing Multiple Sports
By Cierra Washington,ATC
Many people, parents and coaches in particular, believe that the earlier a child specializes in one sport, the greater their chances are to reach the elite level. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), 480,000 out of 8 million (6%) of high school athletes move on to compete at the collegiate level, with roughly 3% being offered an athletic scholarship. Early specialization used to be believed as a key factor is succeeding at the elite level, but that opinion has been debunked.
Office Ergonomics: Is Your Desk in Ergo Shape?
Do you ever experience pain or discomfort while working at your desk? Do you experience headaches, eye strain, shoulder, neck or back pain while sitting at your workstation? If you answered yes, then your office may have some shaping up to do.
So what exactly is ergonomics? Ergonomics is defined as “an applied science concerned with designing and arranging items people use so that people and things interact most efficiently.” So, how do we apply ergonomics to our everyday workplace settings?
Read full blogGood Old Fashioned H2O or Sports Drinks?
By: Cierra Washington, ATC
It’s extremely hot outside, you’ve been exercising for an hour and a half, your muscles are weak, your shirt is drenched, you’ve recently noticed a minor headache and you’re beyond thirsty. Do you reach for your water bottle filled with water or do you grab a bottle of one of those flavorful sports drinks? The water versus sports drinks debate has been a topic of discussion for many years. There are a multitude of opinions because there are different circumstances in which one choice trumps the other.
How to Prevent Backpack Back Pain
By Kate Zanoni, Physical Therapist Assistant
Have you sipped your first pumpkin spice latte yet? It’s just one of the many unofficial signs that fall is here and school is back in session! While you are stuffing your backpack with your various notebooks, binders, ipads and other supplies, it’s important to remember not to overload it. This might not sound like a big deal, but proper back pack ergonomics, or correct posture and body mechanics, can help you prevent short or long term back pain.
How to Fall-Proof Your Home
By Devin Wurman, DPT
September is Balance Awareness Month! The goal of this month is to raise awareness about vestibular and balance disorders, reduce the time it takes to diagnose a vestibular disorder, and help people who suffer from vertigo, dizziness and imbalance.
Did you know that one-third of Americans ages 65 and older fall each year? In fact, falls are the leading cause of deadly injuries and are the most common cause of trauma-related hospitalizations. So what organ in your body is responsible for helping you keep your balance?
My Experience with BPPV – Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
As a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience I have pretty much seen or treated it all; but being the patient was a very different story.
Last March, I ended up with firsthand knowledge of what it feels like to suffer from vertigo; specifically BPPV. It was a Thursday in early March when I awoke with symptoms. When they say ‘benign’ they do mean benign because this came out of nowhere! I remember feeling “dizzy” or “off balance” in my sleep, though it didn’t fully wake me up.