As the Fall sports season is well underway, many school-aged children are returning to their busy sports schedules. At Girl Fit Physical Therapy we are passionate about injury prevention and overall athlete well-being, this includes providing education on Early Sports Specialization (ESS).  What is Early Sports Specialization (ESS)?  There are 3 criteria that would designate an athlete as specializing in sport early:  Being under the age of 12 and only playing organized sports, not having time for free play Choosing a single sport and/or quitting all other sports to focus on on ..read more

In France, all people who have given birth are prescribed pelvic floor physical therapy.  While seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist in the postpartum period is not yet standard practice in the United States, more and more providers are recommending their patients see a pelvic floor physical therapist for postpartum physical therapy.  Girl Fit Physical Therapy offers pelvic floor PT and has therapists who specialize in working with women during the postpartum period.  The following are just a few of the many reasons to check-in with a pelvic floor physical therapist postpart ..read more

Introduction   Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is a term used to describe a condition where a child walks on their toes without any known medical reason. While toe walking can be a normal developmental stage for some children, persistent toe walking may require professional intervention. In this blog post, we will explore what idiopathic toe walking is, why it’s essential to seek physical therapy, and the various treatment options available.   What is Idiopathic Toe Walking?   Idiopathic Toe Walking refers to a walking pattern where a child walks on the toes or ..read more

Thinking of Running Your First Marathon? It’s Boston Marathon season! As we watch all of the amazing athletes conquer Heartbreak Hill on April 17th, many of us end up with the running bug and may feel inspired to begin training for a marathon of our own. This can be equally exciting and daunting if you’ve never done it before, and it can be hard to know where to begin.  First Step: Where am I Starting From? An important first step of marathon training is understanding where you are starting from and what it will take to get you where you want to be (past the finish line of a 26.2 mile rac ..read more

Exciting news – Girl Fit is now offering running coaching! If the recent Boston Marathon has you excited and inspired to start running, read on!  What is running coaching?  Running coaching is a way for recreational (and professional!) runners to work one-on-one with a coach who will help them maximize their potential while minimizing the risk of injury and burnout. Coaches will create a training plan to help you reach your running goals, will track your progress, and will help keep you motivated and accountable during your training. Running coaches can also help to answer any questi ..read more

Skiing Injury Prevention and Form Tips The Winter Season is upon us and for many that means skiing vacations, long weekends skiing, and more time spent on the slopes. If you have sustained a skiing injury, are experiencing pain after skiing, or need help with some tips to improve your skiing form, Girl Fit Physical Therapy is here to help! Correct Skiing Form to Prevent Skiing Injury   Whether it be recreational skiing or ski racing, being out on the slopes places you at an increased risk for injury. There are some key steps to take in order to prevent injuries and enjoy your time on the ..read more

Happy March everyone! March is Women’s History month so we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate the vital role that women played in the development, growth, and evolution of physical therapy. Currently, nearly 70% of rehabilitation professionals are women, including 100% of our staff at Girl Fit! This post focuses on one of the most important Women in Physical Therapy, Mary McMillan.  Mary McMillan: Early Life  Mary McMillan is identified as the “mother of physical therapy” and she was born right here in Boston in 1880. After several family tragedies, Mary went to England to ..read more

Urinary Incontinence and Young Female Athletes   Urinary incontinence in female athletes is common.  A recent study found that compared to sedentary women, athletes had a 177% higher risk of urinary incontinence. What is urinary incontinence?   Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leaking of urine. There are different types of incontinence, but stress urinary incontinence in female athletes can occur during sports.  Stress urinary incontinence is the involuntary leaking of urine with activities (running, jumping, lifting, coughing, sneezing, etc.).     Wh ..read more

Hiking Injury Prevention and Tips Are you a hiker experiencing pain?  Are you interested in hiking more, but would like stay injury free?  If so, Girl Fit Physical Therapy can help!  Our physical therapists can help treat injuries sustained from hiking, as well as provide exercises to help reduce risk of injuries while hiking. We’d love to help you stay safe while on the trails this fall!      1. How to Prevent Hiking Injuries   There are many things that you can do before and after a hike to help reduce the risk of injuries.   Warm Up and Cool Down: It ..read more

Pelvic Health Physical Therapy — It’s Not Just Kegels! When many people hear “pelvic floor”, they often think of kegels.  While doing a Kegel (contracting the muscles in your pelvic floor) can be helpful in some instances, it is not necessarily the solution for everyone and in some situations it can actually make symptoms worse. What is the pelvic floor? The pelvic floor is made up of many different muscles that all work together.  They run from the pubic bone to the tailbone and act like a hammock to help provide support to our internal abdominal organs.  They are also respons ..read more