If you’ve ever been to a physical therapy clinic, you may have encountered a student working alongside the physical therapist you came to see. What does this mean for your treatment and what is the role of the student PT? Depending on what stage of their Doctorate of Physical Therapy program they are in, this may be either the final step prior to graduation or a break in the coursework for them to apply the knowledge they’ve learned in the classroom. Most DPT programs have up to 3 or 4 clinical rotations, which serve as an opportunity for students to refine the skills that will be utilized th ..read more

5 quick ways to check in with your desk ergonomics! Do you pass the test? Proper ergonomics in the workplace can reduce the risk of pain and injury while often improving performance and productivity! The Proper Set Up: Arms at 90/90 Feet on the floor and hip/knees at 90/90  Sit one arm length away from the computer  Eyes in line with the top 1/3 of the screen Lumbar support in chair to improve posture Check out the photos below and let us know if you passed. 1 2 3 4 5 Setting up your workspace properly has shown improvements in workplace performance, and productivity with i ..read more

Unable to perform that TikTok or Instagram workout challenge because it is simply too hard? There are a lot of exercises floating around the internet and social media. Here are some tips and simple modifications you can use to make the exercises easier. Use less weight.  The easiest way to make an exercise easier is to lessen the resistance. Go down in weight for your dumbbells. Use the next band down. Remove a plate. Remember you can challenge yourself with more weight, but your muscles and your body do have limits to what they can work against!  Bring the weight closer to you ..read more

Most anything in life is better shared with a buddy. Running is no exception. Many of the added benefits of running with a buddy include: ACCOUNTABILITY: it’s easier to show up for your run when you’re accountable to meet up with someone else ENTERTAINMENT: your run can double as a hangout or catch-up session EFFORT: can lean into each other to keep pace MOTIVATION: a hard workout is always easier when someone else is in it with you SAFETY: being in a pair or group is always safer than a solo run exercise + gossip + motivation + safety + hang out with a buddy = a good running experienc ..read more

Learning how to squat properly is a fundamental movement necessary for the performance of your everyday activities. The squat movement is a huge part of your daily life: standing from a chair, getting something out of the bottom cabinet in your kitchen, or just playing with your kids. The perfect squat is a functional exercise that engages multiple muscle chains in one move. Basically, it’s your full-body “bread and butter.” Unlike other foundational exercises, the squat involves multiple muscle groups and joints working in various planes of motion. When an exercise calls for such a variety ..read more

Saying the word Vestibular is referring to the Vestibular system.   The vestibular system is located in your “inner ear”.  The Vestibular system’s role is to maintain clear vision with gazing, maintain stability to limbs during head movements, and maintain spatial orientation.  You can develop dysfunction in the vestibular system from a variety of causes: toxins, diseases, autoimmune diseases, infection, injury, and even just plain aging.  There are three diagnoses of peripheral vestibular disorders:  1. unilateral vestibular hypofunction 2. bilateral vestibul ..read more

There are three “basic” balance activities that we use not only to test balance, but to practice with too! Romberg Stance (feet together) Tandem Stance (one foot in front of the other) Single Leg Stance Progressions: Ways to continue challenging and improving your balance at home. Standing on uneven surface Eyes open vs. eyes closed Rotating upper trunk vs. head rotations The post 3 Exercises Used to Test and Strengthen Your Balance appeared first on React Physical Therapy ..read more

Have you ever made the slightest movement and suddenly tweaked your back? If this sounds familiar, you are definitely not alone. According to one study, 84% of people (that’s about 8 in 10) will have or have had some kind of back pain. This number may feel discouraging, but a majority of back pain is preventable. The source of your back pain is likely related to your posture and how you move through your daily activities. Making adjustments to the way you move can go a long way. Understanding the anatomy of the spine, muscles of the spine, and how the spine moves will help reduce your chance ..read more

When you really add it up, how much of your day do you spend sitting? Picture your day. If you commute to and from work by car you are most likely sitting. If you have an office job, you likely sit in front of a computer. If you are a student, you sit in the classroom. And it’s not just during the day. When you get home you probably sit to eat dinner and then head to your comfy couch to, once again, SIT and watch your favorite television show. Before you know it, it’s bedtime and this routine start all over again the next morning. This is a t ..read more

Common Running Injuries II: Achilles Tendonitis We continue our journey through common running injuries by exploring Achilles tendonitis. This particular injury is the second most common injury experienced by habitual runners. In this post, I will provide overview of Achilles tendonitis with the intent to increase awareness of signs and symptoms, provide simple home treatment techniques, and promote preventative habits to employ so that you can get the most out of your running. What is Achilles Tendonitis? Achilles tendonitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon as a result of repeated injur ..read more