Summer is here and there is no better time to  take up swimming. Whether you use an indoor or outside pool, or you go to the bay, swimming is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise which many people don’t think to incorporate into their exercise routine. Here are some benefits of regular swimming:

• Varies your workout: Since swimming works different muscles than, for example running or walking, your body gets challenged in a new way. Since the upper body and lower body have to work together when you swim, it becomes a full body workout.
• Improves cardiovascular health​: Swimming laps is an aerobic exercise, meaning your heart rate and breathing rate increase, thus increasing blood flow and overall health. You can improve your endurance by being consistent with it and steadily increasing the time spent in the water.

Did you know smart diet and exercise will keep your mind sharp well into your "golden years"? It's true! The same strategies which help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer are also great brain boosters.

Do you ever wonder how you can help your children get the recommended 1+ hours of daily physical activity when you can't even make it to the gym? If so, you need to rethink your idea of exercise.

​by Dr. Carly Murray, DPT, ATC, MTC, CMTPT

“Physical therapy is a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function.” --APTA (American Physical Therapy Association)

The above is the definition of our profession and encompasses all areas of physical therapy from neurological to orthopedic rehabilitation services.  Looking at the outpatient orthopedic realm, you might find variations in the clinical setting as well as quality of care.  This can lead to an inconsistent notion of what physical therapy is and what to expect out of your visit.  Let’s break this down a bit and look at what you should expect from an outpatient orthopedic visit with your therapist:

In our first segment, we discussed using the correct body mechanics when gardening and weeding. Part II looks at how to keep you back healthy while mowing, blowing, and lifting a wheelbarrow.

Did you know the most common cause of shoulder pain is a condition called "Impingement Syndrome"? In this blog we will discuss the main cause of shoulder impingement and what you can do to help relieve the pain and stop future occurrences.

Main Cause:
​The shoulder is made up of multiple structures which must all work together to properly move the arm.  Many people experience shoulder impingement because of poor posture. When  you have poor posture, you are creating muscle imbalances of 

If pain is keeping you awake at night, you may just need to adjust your sleeping position.  Here are some things you can do to help make your night more comfortable and relaxing. The two recommended sleeping positions which are easiest on your back and neck are lying on your back or on your side.

Many people spend hours a day sitting at a desk or in front of a computer. While this is necessary for work, the way your chair, desk, and computer are positioned could be having a negative impact on your health. Here are some guidelines for positioning yourself appropriately in order to decrease pain which could be caused from prolonged poor posture.

• Make sure your chair is at the right height. You should be able to have your feet flat on the floor. If this isn't possible because of your desk height, you may need to put a block under your feet so they are able to stay flat.
• Your hips should be level with or, ideally, slightly higher than your knees. This allows the spine to stay neutral and aligned, while sitting up tall.
• Spinal alignment should be tall and neutral. You shouldn't be leaning forward or hunching over to look at your desk-work. Conversely, if you're slouching back, it will send your body into a “C-curve”, causing extra stress on your back and pelvis.

As the weather warms, it's time to get outside to weed, plant, and mow.  Gardening is a great workout and can be an enjoyable past time.  Good body mechanics  is critical when gardening to help prevent injury. Here are some guidelines to keep your back your healthy while performing common gardening activities.

Trigger points are commonly referred to as “knots” in a muscle. They are often an overlooked cause of pain even though they are very common in the musculoskeletal system. They are defined as “a hyperirritable spot in a taut band of a skeletal muscle that is painful on compression, stretch, overload or contraction of the tissue which usually responds with a referred pain that is perceived distant from the spot” (Simone et al 1999). Essentially, they are tender areas to touch, and often can be sending pain signals even when they are not touched. Although any muscle in the body can have trigger points, a muscle that is commonly involved is the piriformis. This is a deep hip rotator muscle that is shown in the picture above. Trigger points in this area can cause pain through the whole glut region, making it difficult to sit, walk, or pick up your leg, as in putting on a sock. Because they contribute to decreased muscle flexibility and strength it may be difficult to perform daily activities.