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.

Is the pool water clean?

Do you ever wonder if the pool is clean as you dip your toe in to test the temperature?  I think that is a common concern for swimmers who use public pools.  In a properly maintained pool, several variables are managed to ensure that the water is safe for you. The one we always think of is chlorine, but without also managing filtration, pH, and total alkalinity levels, you probably don't want to go into the water.

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.