Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Physio Therapy isn't JUST for injuries anymore!
Modern cars are miracles of efficient engineering, integrating and balancing power, agility, and safety as they get us where we need to go. When they are running well, we take their functionality for granted - they are like extensions of ourselves, executing our desires about where to go and how fast. When they are not running well, we get unmistakable signals - the cloud of smoke out the tailpipe, that strange noise under the hood, loss of power. Ignoring the situation is going to lead to more trouble. Maybe the car just stops running altogether or perhaps we get rear-ended and the bumper is hanging off the back. The prudent thing to do at times like this is to take the car in to the mechanic and get it fixed.
 
Why else would you take your car to the mechanic? For routine, regular maintenance, of course, in order to minimize the risk of the more dramatic calamities mentioned above. Maybe a friendly warning light blinks on the dash, saying it's time to pay attention! Changing the oil, checking belts and tires, getting a wheel alignment, etc, all serve to keep the machine running smoothly. More efficiency equals less wear and tear, and more reliability down the road.
 
But maybe your taste in cars is more zoom-zoom than putt-putt. You have a performance machine, and you feel the need for speed. You are driven to get the most power, torque, or maneuverability that you can out of what you drive. Then you would want to consult a specialist for a racing tuneup, Whatever it takes to get to the finish line first, all in one piece... The bottom line is the most efficient machine wins, and survives to race again.
 
By this time, you've probably caught the metaphor. Our bodies are actually the miracle machines we drive around every day. And like a car, your body a) can break down, b) benefit from regular maintenance for optimal function and c) can be tuned up for enhanced performance. At Revolutions in Fitness, we can help in each situation.
 
REPAIR:
When we're injured, something is broken, and we know it. There is pain. Every movement, every gesture can remind you that something isn't right, it hurts. And you may know the fear that comes with it, the fear that you may not find a way back to being whole again. If you're lucky, you know a good mechanic! Physiotherapists at RIF routinely help injured people understand their own path to healing - coordinating appropriate exercise, manual treatment, and lifestyle modifications into a plan to stimulate the best repair possible. We help you plot a course back to whatever functional goals you believe are possible.
 
MAINTENANCE:
But perhaps you're feeling good-ish? No current injuries, but you have some concerns. Perhaps some friendly warning signs have lit up, something feels off - or you know you're body is stressed and you've noticed signs of being less resilient. This may be the time to check yourself in to RIF for some maintenance, call it an Efficiency Checkup. RIF PTs are experts in assessing the state of your system in several ways. We check for  mechanical integrity - how well do your joints and tissues move, glide, slide, and absorb shock? We also assess your neuromuscular control ability - can you recruit and use the appropriate muscles with good strength and endurance for function? And finally, we look at Motor Control, or your overall technique or strategy for movement. In each area of assessment, we can help you celebrate what you do well - yay! - and identify and treat areas that may be lacking, thereby improving your functional efficiency and heading off potential problems.
 
TUNEUPS:
And lastly, say you're feeling awesome, and you're taking on high-level athletic challenges. Using the same approach to functional movement described above, we can help you to tune up for maximum output, while minimizing risk of wear and tear, as you tear up the road (or the trail, or the course...).
 
We at Revolutions in Fitness believe that life is better when your body functions well. And proper functioning means moving efficiently. Whatever you are up to in life, whatever you use your body for, we can help you find a way to greater efficiency. Let us be your trusted neighborhood Body Mechanics!
Mark McMahon, DPT

Friday, March 25, 2016

Research Corner

The human body loves movement. We all have the innate capability to explore our bodies, strengthen, heal, and enjoy our livelihoods.
Dancing, as an adjunct to physical therapy, can help individuals with Parkinson’s improve in their gait, balance, and quality of life. In fact, Tango is shown to improve Parkinson’s motor signs, walking speed, and functional mobility. The "Dance for PD" program additionally improves sit-to-stand and endurance tests. “Differential Effects of Tango Versus Dance for PD in Parkinson Disease” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26733865.
Mood, cognition, and quality life is also improved in folks with Parkinson’s who participate in dancing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26318265
Jamie Wong, PT, DPT

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Research Corner - AB ALERT!!

So many people with back pain have been taught to artificially hold, grip, or tighten their abdominal muscles during exercise or daily movements, for the purpose of "stabilizing" the lumbar spine. New research shows why this approach not only doesn't work, but actually might reduce shock absorption, jeopardizing the spine and other joints like hips, knees and ankles:
Revolutions in Fitness physiotherapists, trained in the Functional Manual Therapy approach, train clients to achieve stability through appropriate movement strategies, not just by sheer strength. Core strength is important, but our approach to achieving a happy spine is to encourage an automatic, integrated, well-timed core response during functional movement patterns, so it becomes a way of life. Movement should be a joy, not a chore!

Mark McMahon, DPT, OMT, CFMT

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Running Injury Assessment

Every weekend, millions of Americans lace up their running shoes and hit the pavement. Running can be an excellent exercise. It has been shown to raise levels of good cholesterol, increase lung function, lower risk of stroke and fight depression, among many other health benefits. As with any physical activity, though, there is the chance for injury.

In this interactive guide, we explain the possible causes of 10 common running injuries and offer suggestions for how a physical therapist could treat them. Says Michael Conlon, PT, who specializes in working with athletes, "The treatment advice is generic in nature. For all of these injuries, athletes need at least thorough evaluation of hip and ankle joints and often extending up to the thoracic spine. The goal of PT evaluation is always to determine the root cause."

http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Web-Extras/Online-Extras/Common-Running-Injuries.aspx

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Research Corner - Neck Pain

Jeanette Krogstad, PT, OCS, CFMT
Neck pain has become almost as prevalent as back pain in our society.  New research has shown that those who receive manual therapy techniques specific to their unique cervical dysfunction combined with stabilization exercises have better outcomes than those who receive exercise instruction alone.  If your symptoms linger more than a few days despite your best efforts, you might consider giving your physical therapist a call for customized manual therapy and neuromuscular re-education of the neck stabilizers, as well as instruction in the correct stabilization exercise program to perform at home.


A Comparison of the Effects of Stabilization Exercises Plus Manual Therapy to Those of Stabilization Exercises Alone in Patients With Nonspecific Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Research Corner - Ankle stability


The ankle is the first point of contact when the foot connects with the ground (as when walking, running or jumping), the hip has immense effects on both the knee and ankle in that leg.  New evidence shows that  recurrent problems with ankle stability following a lateral ankle sprain might be attributed to impaired strength or motor control in the same side hip.  The physical therapists at RIF can perform a comprehensive assessment of the lower quadrant following an ankle sprain and identify and treat areas of dysfunction before they contribute to a chronic ankle instability problem.

For a more in-depth look, check out the research below:

Single-leg drop landing movement strategies in participants with chronic ankle instability compared with lateral ankle sprain 'copers'.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26572632

Jeanette Krogstad, PT, OCS, CFMT

Physical Therapist

Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedics

Certified Functional Manual Therapist