5 Exercises to Improve Shoulder Health
Shoulders are the most mobile joint in the human body, offering a wide range of potential movements and positions they can get into during our daily life. The shoulder’s mobility relies on muscles, ligaments, and tendons as a source of stability rather than bone like the hip joint. Due to their nature, the shoulder is also commonly injured, with 18-26% of the population having some shoulder issues at any given moment. To combat this phenomenon, I will provide exercises aimed at improving overall shoulder health and longevity, with some nice side effects of improved posture and increased muscle tone. A good routine to follow with the following exercises is to perform 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions to supplement your current training routine.
What Does Preventative Physical Therapy Look Like?
Most of us had our first experience with physical therapy after we sustained an injury or underwent surgery. It should be no surprise that we often think of physical therapy as something we do after an injury or post-surgery. But did you know that physical therapy is often used as a preventative tool? Preventative physical therapy may be more valuable than we realize, as the old adage tells us, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Let’s dissect what preventative physical therapy looks like.
Can PT Help Prevent Heart Disease?
The short answer is YES! Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. With a widespread problem, we should consider all of our options for prevention.
Physical Therapy After a Heart Attack
An unexpected cardiac event, like a heart attack or an open-heart surgery, is an extremely scary experience. I’ve witnessed this first-hand as I was beside my father when he suffered a heart attack in October 2021. Thankfully, he survived the heart attack, but my father underwent an open-heart surgery quickly after that. His ongoing recovery process has been life-altering for our family, but his commitment to cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) has been critical in returning to a healthy life. For those of you that are going through this yourself or have loved ones that have experienced a cardiac event, here are some things to consider related to physical therapy after a heart attack:
Tips from a PT: Maintaining Endurance During the Winter
Winter is when many of us hibernate inside to watch Netflix and make sweet treats in the kitchen. But if you are someone looking to build your endurance for later in the year – such as for a race or general fitness – you do not want to take these winter months off before resuming activity in the spring. If you are usually active in the other three seasons of the year, it would greatly behoove you to maintain regular activity in the winter months. Winter is the perfect time for endurance athletes to take it a little easier and focus on building and maintaining their base for a more efficient aerobic system. Here are some tips to consider during the cold months:
Can PT Solve My Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic low back pain is extremely prevalent and the leading cause of disability in industrialized countries. Chronic low back pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months. 10-20% of those who experience low back pain develop chronic low back pain, and there are numerous reasons for this. Many commonly prescribed treatments such as supportive back braces, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, injections, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications only provide short-term relief. They have no evidence to support their use for long-term management.
4 Exercises to Strengthen the Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a hot topic when it comes to shoulder injuries. A rotator cuff is an important group of four muscles that help move the shoulder to perform activities of daily living. Damage to one or more of the rotator cuff muscles can become a source of pain, reduced range of motion, reduced strength, or overall function. It is important to keep this muscle group strong to minimize injury and recover from a shoulder injury. Let’s look at some exercises that you can do at home to strengthen the rotator cuff.
Team USA Olympians to Watch in Beijing Winter Olympics
It’s Olympics time again! Due to COVID, the Summer 2020 Olympics were postponed to 2021, and it is already time for the winter 2022 Olympic Games held in Beijing. Olympic athletes train year-round for their chance to compete on this world stage. Due to this intense training schedule, injuries do occur. Let’s look at some Team USA athletes to keep an eye on when you watch the winter games this year!
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