Clinton Physical Therapy Center

Hot or Cold? How to Decide.

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:22:54 +0000

We have all had that sinking feeling after hearing a pop in a joint or feeling a wrench in our back. The pain begins, and immediately the gears start turning in our head: What’s better for this type of injury? Should I use a heating pad? An ice pack? Can I treat this at home or do I need to consult with a specialist, like a physical therapist? Here are some guidelines to remember as you recover. Read More

Playing Golf Safely

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:46:22 +0000

Spring is in the air, and people are making their way back to the driving range and golf course after a long winter break. Time away from any sport can lead to injury as a result of bad form and weakened muscles; here are some things to keep in mind before you lace on your cleats.

Daniel Butler, a personal trainer at the Take Charge Fitness Program, a wellness facility run by Clinton Physical Therapy Center, (a Physiquality network member in Clinton, Tennessee), says, “Everyone’s golf swing is different in various ways, but the one thing they all have in common is… Read More

Proper running techniques

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:43:58 +0000

Now that temps are warming up and more people are lacing up, it’s time to pay attention to how you run. Here are a few things to look at:

Your Form

“Poor posture while running can affect running efficiency, as well as breathing efficiency. Stand up tall with a big chest and your shoulders back,” says Jeff Rothstein, an exercise physiologist and Director of Sports Enhancement at the PT Center for Sports Medicine, a Physiquality network clinic in Akron, Ohio. Poor posture may also be a cause of side stitches, cramp-like spasms that will bring your run to a close quickly.

How good is your form at the gym?

admin — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:35:25 +0000

As many of us are increasing our workouts to get in shape for spring break and impending summer (and skimpier clothes), you might be thinking about upping your weight as well as your reps. Be careful, though — a recent study showed that more people have been coming home from weight training with injuries instead of bigger muscles. Our experts list some common mistakes made in the weight room, as well as ways to correct them and reduce your chance of injury. Read more.

Be Wise About Your Heart Health

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:51:53 +0000

In Hard Times, Charles Dickens wrote, “There is a wisdom of the Head, and there is a wisdom of the Heart.” While many of us may know what needs to be done to live a healthy life, we don’t always follow such wisdom. In honor of Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month, here are some reminders from some Physiquality experts and the American Heart Association (a.k.a. the AHA) on how to care for your heart wisely (in the physiological sense, at least). Read More

Shaping Up for the Slopes

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:03:29 +0000

February is prime skiing and snowboarding season. The holidays are behind us and, according to Punxsutawney Phil, we have six more weeks of winter and snow. But before you head to the mountains, you might want to do some conditioning to prepare those muscles for the work ahead. Read More

Stand Up Straight!

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:51:50 +0000

It’s easy to recognize when someone is standing or sitting with good posture versus bad. So why are we so resistant to suggestions to improve our poor posture? Because there is a formidable foe to good posture — gravity. Read More

Eating Healthy Over the Holidays

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:06:00 +0000

With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving approaching next week, the eating season has begun. While people often approach holidays like Thanksgiving with the attitude that it’s only one day of splurging, it can have long-term effects. A study by the National Institute of Health showed that despite only gaining 1-2 pounds a year over the holidays, people held on to the weight, leading to health problems later on.

When deciding what to serve or eat, there are a few things you should think about leaving out. Alyssa Cellini, a nutritionist with ProCare Physical Therapy (a Physiquality network physical therapy clinic in New Jersey), suggests replacing the following holiday menu items with healthier fare:

* Eggnog. One cup of eggnog contains 60 grams of sugar — the same as eating two glazed donuts. It also contains 20 grams of fat, half of most people’s daily allowance. Think about replacing it with a glass of wine.

Benefits of Gardening

admin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:38:58 +0000

Fresh veggies or a manicured lawn aren’t the only benefits of gardening. Find out about the health benefits of putting your green thumb to work in our latest pqBlog entry at www.physiquality.com. This post features advice from Physiquality network members Joyce Klee PT of Clinton Physical Therapy Center in TN and Desirea Caucci PT DPT of Conshohocken Physical Therapy in PA.

Preventing ACL Injuries

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:17:06 +0000

As teens return to high school and start practicing varsity sports, parents sit on the sidelines and hope it’s not their child that has a serious injury like an ACL tear. Which types of athletes are at a higher risk for ACL injuries? What can athletes do to prevent them?

A brief aside: This post focuses on how to prevent non-contact ACL injuries, defined by Lee Couret, a Physiquality network physical therapist and owner of Southshore Physical Therapy in Louisiana, as an injury without any external force applied to the limb or joint.

All of our experts agreed that female athletes were at a much higher risk for non-contact ACL injuries. Robyn Smith, a physical therapist at The Center for Physical Rehabilitation (a Physiquality network physical therapy clinic) and lecturer on ACL injuries in female athletes, says that female athletes sustain ACL injuries “anywhere from 1.5 to 4.6 times more often than males in the same sport.” A variety of intrinsic factors cause these higher rates of injury, including alignment, anatomical differences, a smaller and thinner ACL, and coordination.