Elevate Your Heart Rate With Physical Therapy Heart disease is a leading cause of death and disability. This shouldn’t be a surprise – it’s been at the top of the list for years. You know that taking care of your heart is important. That means doing things like eating right, avoiding smoking, and exercising regularly. While … Read more
You know that physical activity is good for you. The benefits are well researched, and the list is impressive. Here’s just a sampling: Recent studies even show that physical activity strengthens your immune system, with a protective effect against COVID, and that staying active through middle age protects your brain as you age. Physical activity is a … Read more
The weather is hot, the gym is closed, and you’ve been relaxing – enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer. Taking a day off here and there is no problem, but if you’ve been consistently missing your regular run, bike ride, or gym session and notice some aches and pains showing up, you might have … Read more
Warmer weather means lighter clothing all around, and footwear is no exception. But before you grab the flip-flops for summer outings and activities, physical therapists join other medical professionals in offering a word of caution: long-term flip-flop use can be bad for the feet, as well as other parts of your body. Why? Because not only do flip-flops offer little … Read more
Weight loss is one of the top New Year’s Resolutions made by Americans each year, according to multiple sources. Yet, studies conclude that only 8 percent of people actually achieve their annual goals, including those who seek to live healthier, more active lives. While some may point to their busy lives and the lack of personal willpower as the reasons behind this bleak statistic, sometimes functional limitations … Read more
Following a stroke, the rehabilitation process often focuses on improving the survivor’s ability to move and perform everyday tasks, with a lesser emphasis on general aerobic fitness. This is likely a mistake – at least when it comes to long-term endurance and quality of life. A recent study published in an August 2019 edition of the Journal of the American Heart Association shows … Read more
Many have grown up with the understanding that, whenever you’re about to work out, compete or otherwise push your body, it’s important to stretch immediately before the activity in order to prevent injury and perform your best. Yet, despite these long-held beliefs – and perhaps surprisingly – there’s little evidence to support this theory. Today’s evidence suggests that there’s no connection between injury prevention and stretching – static, or reach-and-hold-type stretching – before a workout. Performance-wise, there’s also no consistent connection, with … Read more
For many, summer is defined by a whirlwind of outdoor activity, a natural response to warmer, brighter and warmer days. But as we venture out into the sun for yard work, bike rides, morning jogs, long hikes and swimming at the beach, Sterling Heights physical therapist Ashesh Vyas warns people to avoid common summer exercise mistakes that can put them … Read more
Do you deal with chronic pain or inflammation in your daily life? It isn’t uncommon, but it is avoidable. While exercise is a crucial part of your physical therapy regimen, proper nutrition can also play an important role. The foods you eat work to fuel your body, and eating the right ones can help you recover much … Read more
As humans, we are on a never-ending hamster wheel that demands we are as productive as possible, but it’s time that we all become a little more realistic about what is and isn’t possible through sheer willpower. Try as you might, you can’t accomplish world peace (or even your to-do list) within a 24-hour period. Instead, you … Read more
