What’s up with SUP?

Guest Blogger: Danielle Clark, DPT

It’s hard to argue that SUP- stand up paddle boarding is the hottest new water sport out there. Having just returned from the great state of Hawaii, I can testify that everyone from Grandpa to grandson was out there enjoying the water and getting a great total body workout. So what exactly are the benefits and where can you go around the Boston area to try it out?

Good Questions About Common Injuries

Guest Blogger: Danielle Clark, DPT

Every time a patient comes to the clinic for an evaluation I make sure they have a good understanding of what their injury is and how it occurred, so I thought this make for a good topic to put out into cyberspace, What is going on and how did it happen?

The Truth about Myofascial Release

Guest Blogger: Danielle Clark, DPT

Myofascial release (MFR) has begun to gain some popularity in the manual therapy world, prompting many clinics and therapists to advertise these skills to potential patients.  But how do you make sure you, as a patient, are receiving these skills by someone who really knows what they are doing?

What does it take to be a Physical Therapist today?

 Guest Blogger: Rebecca Lingerfelt, DPT

The required training and education to become a PT has undergone some great improvements in the past few years, making our field a more capable profession. The result is a higher level of responsibility as part of your medical team.

Evidence Based Medicine

I was listening to the news on the radio in the car on the way to work this week.  They were reporting on a newly published study that concluded that 25% of all implanted defibrillators were not supported by evidence based medicine.  The spin given by the radio reporter was that these procedures were done unnecessarily with the implication that there was a financial motive.  You will hear much more about evidence based medicine in the coming years.

Preparation for the Winter Sports Season!

Guest Blogger: Stacy Choquette, PTA

Now that our days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder, many of us are breaking out our equipment for a good tune up before hitting the slopes.  New Englanders of all ages take part in some sort of winter activity whether it be skating, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or sledding.  While these activities keep us active and can be very challenging, they become even more demanding as we age. 

Report from a Sports Medicine Conference

Guest Blogger:  David Merson, DPT, ATC

I recently attended a local sports medicine symposium and would like to share some information that will bring you, as a patient, client, and consumer of sports medicine services up to date on important topics. 

What is the Real Buzz behind Hot Yoga and Bikram Yoga?

Guest Blogger: Danielle Clark, DPT

Being quite a bit of a yoga aficionado I finally decided to do a little background and clinical research into these latest yoga trends. In retrospect, I may have chosen the best topic to blog about, since I didn’t know that hot yoga and Bikram yoga are two very different practices!

Reebok EasyTones and Skechers Shape-Ups

Guest Blogger: Rebecca Lingerfelt, DPT

The latest shoe technology has introduced unstable shoes like Reebok EasyTones and Skechers Shape-Ups. The theory of the unstable shoe is that walking on uneven surfaces improves posture and muscle strength by requiring muscles to be active more frequently. It is important to note that the majority of these shoes are designed for walking; however, newer models have appeared for running.

Water, Exercise, and Pregnancy

One of the most common ailments that come with pregnancy is back pain.  In fact, according to the North American Spine Society, half of all pregnant women will experience back pain.  The cause is simply due to weight gain.  In any other circumstance, back pain can be very effectively managed with diet and exercise.  Unfortunately, weight gain is not reversible for the nine months of pregnancy.  So, what is a woman to do?  Exercise? 

Aquatic Physical Therapy

Aquatic therapy is one of the oldest forms of treatment, dating back to Roman times.  Bathing in hot mineral springs was used in classical medicine as an effective means to treat disease and injury, since the time of Hypocrites.  Today, physical therapists continue to use and develop aquatic therapy principles and techniques for the benefit of a wide range of injuries and conditions.