The second trimester of pregnancy (weeks 14 to 27) is an exciting time, but it also brings new changes and symptoms. As your body and pregnancy progress, it’s important to monitor factors like your blood pressure, as even a slight elevation can be an early sign of preeclampsia. You should also watch for signs […]

  Hamstring strains, or “pulled hamstrings,” are common injuries that can happen for a variety of reasons, such as when they get overstretched or overexerted during high-intensity movements like sprinting, jumping, or sudden stops. Poor flexibility, muscle imbalances, or inadequate warm-ups can also increase the risk of strain. While athletes are more likely to experience […]

  Pregnancy is an exciting time, but the first trimester can bring its own set of challenges. Many women experience extreme fatigue, changes in nutritional needs, and fluctuating emotions while adjusting to the reality of pregnancy. All these changes can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to listen to your body, prioritize both your physical and […]

  You might have heard the term TMJ tossed around when people talk about jaw pain, but you might not fully understand what is being referred to when someone says they have TMJ pain.    TMJ is an abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint, which is located on both sides of your jaw. These joints connect […]

  In our fast-paced, stress-laden lives, finding ways to unwind and rejuvenate isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. For many, massage therapy offers more than just relaxation. It’s a holistic approach to health and wellness that benefits the body, mind, and spirit. With that in mind, here are nine reasons why massage therapy deserves a […]

  Snowboarding is a popular winter sport, and there’s a reason why! There’s nothing like the feeling of gliding down a mountain, snow beneath your feet, and the rush of wind against your face. However, it’s important to remember that snowboarding is a high-intensity activity that demands strength, agility, and flexibility. And especially on a […]

  With remote work more common than ever, many of us spend hours working from home in less-than-ideal setups. Dining tables, couches, or beds have become makeshift workstations, often leading to postural strain, stiffness, and overall discomfort. An ergonomic work from home setup is key to preventing these issues. Here, we’ll explore the effects of […]

  As we step into the new year, it’s the perfect time to hit the refresh button and focus on what matters most: your health! While scheduling your annual check-up with your primary care physician (PCP) is probably already on your to-do list, there’s one more appointment you should consider adding: a health check (also […]

  We all know stretching is important, but let’s be honest—many of us push it aside. Yet, incorporating it into your routine can be a game-changer, especially if you’re pursuing a healthy, active lifestyle. Stretching offers a variety of benefits that can greatly contribute to overall well-being and improved physical function. Additionally, if you’re dealing […]

  As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking forward to a season full of fun, family, and festive activities! However, this time of year often brings extra stress from last-minute gift shopping, family gatherings, and busy travel schedules. All of the late nights, traveling, and fun festive treats can cause us to […]

  October is National Physical Therapy Month! This month aims to highlight the many benefits of physical therapy and raise awareness about its vital role in health and well-being. This year, we’re focusing on fall prevention, and how physical therapy and strength training are crucial in reducing fall risk and enhancing overall health.   Exercise, […]

  September is Balance Awareness Month! This month aims to highlight the importance of balance and raise awareness about common causes of balance issues, such as vertigo, dizziness, and other vestibular disorders. Good balance is crucial for performing everyday tasks safely and effectively, though it’s often taken for granted. Understanding what constitutes good balance and […]

  Running engages multiple muscle groups, but are there certain muscle groups runners should focus on strengthening more than others?   When you run, your bones, joints, and muscles absorb 3-8 times your body weight, so it’s crucial to keep them strong. Increasing your weekly mileage is one of the most effective ways to improve […]

  Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that commonly affects those who engage in repetitive wrist or arm movements. And it’s not just exclusive to tennis players—it can also affect computer workers, handymen, and artists. Physical therapy is often the best approach for treating tennis elbow. However, if you’re a tennis player, here […]

  It’s June, and you know what that means – Summer is finally here! With warmer weather and longer days ahead, it’s the perfect time to head outside and move your body. But don’t worry, this movement doesn’t need to be complicated! Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a […]

  Are you seeking effective strategies for managing and coping with pain? When it comes to navigating the challenges of pain management, it’s crucial to recognize that you are the owner of your pain and can empower yourself with knowledge for effective relief.   Here are some guidelines that can help you make more informed […]

  Have you ever wondered how long it takes for your body to heal after an injury?   Understanding the healing process is crucial for managing pain and optimizing recovery. It’s not just about treating the symptoms – it’s about effectively managing the tissues involved to not only help you cope with and treat your […]

  Pain is a normal human experience and is often a good guide to the best healing behaviors- sometimes rest is beneficial and sometimes movement is beneficial. Each part of your body has nerves in and around them. These nerves connect all body parts to the spinal cord so messages can be sent from your […]

Prioritize Your Well-Being: The Importance of Annual Health Check and Musculoskeletal Screen with Your Physical Therapist   Maintaining good health involves more than just occasional doctor visits; it requires a proactive approach that includes regular check-ups for various aspects of your well-being. One often overlooked but crucial aspect is your musculoskeletal health. Integrating an annual […]

Ways to Stay Active This Holiday Season   The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and often indulgence. While rest and relaxation are often tempting, staying active is crucial for your overall well-being. Staying active and maintaining a semblance of an exercise routine may seem like an impossible task with a calendar full […]

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy   During the holiday season, we tend to have deficient sleep and high stress levels. This added stress can target the central nervous system and your body will go into “fight or flight” mode causing the pelvic floor muscles to tense up and become overactive. Pelvic floor tension can increase stress […]

Physical Therapy and Tennis   Physical Therapy is an effective treatment option, and helps to improve quality of life, manage pain and chronic disease, recover from injury and maximize movement.   Physical therapists are movement experts who treat people of all ages and abilities to improve their physical function and fitness. We work with you to develop […]

Exploring the Power of Balance   Balance is more than just a physical state; it’s a harmonious blend of physical, mental, and emotional elements. In the context of physical therapy, balance refers to the body’s ability to maintain stability while performing everyday activities. This includes tasks like walking, climbing stairs, and even standing on one […]

So, running… You might have decided to take it up over the past year. But did you know there’s a good way and a bad way to run?   The motion that your body moves through while running is called a “gait cycle”.   The complete gait cycle consists of two phases:   Stance phase, […]

Vertigo is a symptom rather than a condition itself. It is the sensation that you or the environment around you is moving or spinning. Attacks of vertigo can develop suddenly and last for a few seconds, or they may last much longer. Severe vertigo may be constant and last for several days, making normal life […]

People commonly mistake referring to conditions affecting the jaw as “TMJ”. TMJ actually refers to the jaw joint itself, or the temporomandibular joint. The correct reference to conditions limiting or affecting the natural function of the jaw is TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. TMD interferes with the normal movement of the jaw, limiting or restricting opening […]

A lot of patients mistakenly think physical therapy is just exercise programs and modality regimes for pain. Although both exercise and pain modalities are important pieces to a comprehensive physical therapy plan of care, manual therapy is proven to reduce recovery times, increase range of motion, and improve overall tissue mobility. Manual therapy is basically […]

Do you suffer with elbow pain? This is a common ailment caused by various reasons. Read on as we address two of the most common elbow conditions – Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow. Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis), is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse or repetitive wrist extension activities. Wrist extension activities […]

Falls are often overlooked as a harmless topic, but they’re anything but. “About 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year—resulting in more than 32,000 deaths. Each year, about 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall injury. One out of every five falls causes an injury, such as […]

“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” We all age a little bit every day. Getting older is just a fact of life, but the rate of decline in our physical and mental health depends on our daily choices. Are you active, or do you spend most of your […]

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that is defined as inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia connects the heel bone to the base of the toes. It supports the arch of the foot and absorbs shock when walking.  It is one of the […]

Diastasis Recti is the separation of the abdominal muscles. Diastasis Recti can present as a belly “bulge” or your stomach area tents upwards instead of flattening out when contracting or straining your abdominal muscles. These muscles are important because they support our organs and musculoskeletal structures. Some people with Diastasis Recti also report urinary incontinence, […]

Your head weighs 11 pounds or more – as much as a bowling ball – and keeping it in the right position is hard work. Fortunately, your neck is a collection of bones, joints, muscles, and nerves designed to be strong and stable. But small and large problems can lead to pain in the neck […]

Has your doctor ever said you have Sciatica? Sciatica, or Lumbar Radiculopathy, refers to pain that follows the sciatic nerve as the nerve roots leave your back/lumbar spine and enters your leg. This could include pain in your buttocks, back of leg, calf, or even symptoms into your feet. Most of the time, Sciatica will […]

Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) is a common health issue that most often affects pregnant and postpartum women but can also occur in males and nonpregnant females as well. By definition, DRA is a separation of the linea alba which is the fibrous fascial tissue that connects the right and left rectus abdominis.   DRA is […]

Cervical Spine Osteoarthritis Facts Cervical spine osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative process involving the first seven (C1-C7) vertebrae of our spine. It can have many causes and may involve multiple areas of our vertebrae including the intervertebral discs/ligaments, vertebral bodies, hyaline cartilage, joint capsule and facet joints. Causes Arthritis begins with the formation of osteophytes […]

Pickleball is on the rise and has become increasingly popular over the past year. Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. Playing Pickleball allows you to work on your balance, agility, hand-eye coordination, and reflexes without having to put excess strain on your body. It is not only […]

Core strength is more than rock-hard abs or the ability to hold a minute-long plank. It’s actually the cornerstone to living a healthy lifestyle. A strong core can benefit the body in more ways than one. Here are just a few of its greatest benefits. It Supports Better Posture It Improves Balance It Supports Good […]

January 1st is a chance to start anew, and after a year like 2021, boy do we need it! If you’re anything like us, your New Year’s resolution list requires a few scrolls, but we have one more to add to the list. It can be easy to stick to your routines and forget about […]

Since most people have switched to permanent working from home, there is often not as much space and time to move around and stretch within the busy workday. Because of this, people have decided to run and cycle as a way to exercise as well as get out of the house. Activities like sitting for […]

We more commonly think of our neck and lower back when we think of our spine, but our thoracic spine, or mid-back region, is important as well. Having adequate mobility in the mid-back is important to our daily function, from turning around to back out of the driveway to reaching overhead into cabinets. Lacking thoracic […]

The importance of balance for your physical health cannot be stressed enough. September marks Balance Awareness Month, so what better time to focus on your balance and some simple changes you can make to improve your overall health? If you’re not sure why balance is key to fitness, read this article where we covered all […]

The foot is the base of our body and our direct connection to the world. But many people find themselves having foot problems or just simply don’t know how to care for and control their feet. Well if you have feet, you need to learn how your hips directly affect your feet. The musculature around […]

Sitting on a plane, train, or automobile shouldn’t hurt. Hip pain can have causes including trauma, lying on a side for a prolonged period, overuse, muscle stiffness, sitting in an awkward position, sprains, or strains. Watch as Dr. Maya Bizik shows some brief hip stretches you can do to ease your pain and prevent it […]

Have you scheduled any upcoming travel plans? Here are some things to consider when traveling. One of the issues that we hear most people talk about during travel is low back pain and hip tightness from the increased amount of sitting in the airport, on the plane, or in the car. There are so many […]

Did you know that swimming is a low-impact exercise that manages to work every muscle in the body?! That’s part of why we love it so much, but that doesn’t mean it’s 100% safe. Strength training to the rotator cuff, scapular stabilizers, and core muscles will enable a more powerful and safe stroke, and TRX […]

Swimming is a low-impact exercise that works all the muscles in the body. Even though swimming is the preferred type of exercise to maintain fitness and rehabilitate certain injuries, there is still a risk of swimming injuries, commonly shoulder injuries, if you are not using the proper swim stroke technique. Here are some key components […]

Does your knee move inward while climbing stairs? Do you become knock-kneed while squatting? This inward collapse at the knees is called dynamic knee valgus. This position of the knee can contribute to knee pain and injury, including MCL strains, patellofemoral pain syndrome, ACL injuries, and more. Dynamic knee valgus is characterized by hip adduction […]

What is Eccentric Exercise? Repetitive motions consist of a concentric and eccentric portion of the exercise. The concentric portion refers to muscle activation while the active muscles are shortening—an example is the portion of the curl when the elbow is bending (the bicep is active and shortening). The eccentric portion of an exercise refers to […]

Anterior knee pain is the result of the knee not moving properly, with it rubbing against the lower thigh bone. This pain can be caused by the kneecap sitting in an abnormal position or weakness in the muscles. This pain can be debilitating but can be alleviated with certain exercises. Watch these 6 exercises to […]

Since gyms have been closed, more individuals have been choosing running as a safe and effective form of exercise. Recently, we have been treating more patients with anterior knee pain due to this change in their exercise routine. Many factors contribute to this issue. Patients that are experiencing this discomfort and pain in the front […]

“Activate your core!” “Squeeze your core!”  “Tighten up your core!”  If you have been to physical therapy or seen a personal trainer, you’ve likely heard the term “activate your core”. But do you know what this really means? Do you know what your core is, actually? Well hopefully this post clarifies what the core is, […]

January 1st is a chance to start anew, and after a year like 2020, boy do we need it! If you’re anything like us, your New Year’s resolution list requires a few scrolls, but we have one more to add to the list.  It can be easy to stick to your routines and forget about […]

Fatigued? Unmotivated? Decline in performance? These are some symptoms of overtraining syndrome. Overtraining syndrome is when an individual’s workload exceeds the body’s ability to recover, which in turn is detrimental. The main causes of overtraining are increasing the load, frequency, intensity, or duration of an exercise routine. At first, the body feels pumped and strong, […]

The health benefits of strength training are numerous: strength training can reduce the risk of many conditions (i.e. cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression), promote fat loss, and, of course, improve strength and fitness levels. While there are clear benefits to beginning a strength training program, getting started can be a daunting task.  To build strength, […]

“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” We all age a little bit every day. Getting older is just a fact of life, but the rate of decline in our physical and mental health depends on our daily choices. Are you active, or do you spend most of your […]

Why does form matter? Proper form helps you work out more efficiently so you can use your energy for the extra push rather than wasted movements. Improper form may mean you are targeting unintended muscles or muscle groups. The better your form the better your results – run faster, lift more, and jump higher when you do it right. More importantly, when you […]

These are common questions we tend to ask ourselves when we experience pain. These are also questions we tend to get in our clinic when treating patients. But there is something more we should be asking about pain. What is it? What does it mean? What is my body and brain telling me? The answer […]

National Physical Therapy month is celebrated in October to recognize the impact physical therapy has had on the medical profession and to encourage community awareness on the benefits that physical therapy has on treating chronic or acute pain.   So how did the profession of physical therapy get started?   Little known is how far back in […]

Falls are often overlooked as a harmless topic. Falls cause more than 95% of all hip fractures, the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries, and number one cause of harm and resulting death in elderly Americans.  While falls are common, they are preventable. These are some signs that you may need to work on […]

BALANCE AWARENESS MONTH September is Balance Awareness Month! Balance is one of the most important aspects of life that most of us take for granted until we begin to lose it. Take a few moments this month to get familiar with balance! Remember when you were a youngster and fell all the time, and bounced […]

Stretching is an essential part of any exercise regimen, it will not only improve your endurance and balance, but will also decrease the risk for injury. If you are participating in any sporting event or physical activity, time should also be set aside for stretching. Two types of stretches are typically conducted: static stretching (stationary) […]

Are you experiencing “IT band” pain? What is the cause? The Iliotibial band (ITB) is a broad band of connective tissue that runs along the outside of the thigh, it extends from our lateral hip down to the outside of your knee.  It is a passive stabilizer of the hip and lateral stabilizer for our […]

Craniofacial pain refers to any persistent discomfort in the face, neck, or head. The most common forms of craniofacial pain include temporomandibular joint discomfort (TMJ), trigeminal neuralgia, and chronic headaches.     Temporomandibular Joint Pain (TMJ)   TMJ refers to discomfort or malfunctions in the jaw joint, also known as the temporomandibular joint. This condition […]

Dr. Lindy First, DPT takes us through three different exercises that directly affect your neck area from migraine and headache pain.

Innovative Physical Therapy is excited to announce that we are now have cupping therapy within our massage and wellness offerings. Take a look at the video below of our Massage Therapist and Cupping specialist Kristi explain what cupping is, its benefits and how it works! To book your cupping session today or to speak to […]

While everyone needs a different course of treatment based on their condition and findings, there are several things we can all do to reduce the prevalence and severity of headaches Massage.  We all seem to know that massaging our temples when we have a headache gives us temporary relief. Keep it up. Don’t forget about […]

Having arthritis problems and don’t know what to do? Follow along as IPT’s Dr. Rodney Alford, DPT shows us some easy exercises to try.  

For some, being physically active can be a daunting, scary idea. However physical activity doesn’t have to mean running stairs or grunting at the gym at the squat rack. Starting a simple walking program can be a great way to start getting active. What are the health benefits of walking programs: Walking is a weight […]

To better understand the importance of core strength, it is important to understand what the core is and how it functions. The “core” as it is commonly called, consists of a group of both superficial and deep muscles that surround and stabilize the lumbopelvic-hip complex. The deep muscles include the internal oblique, transversus abdominis, diaphragm, […]

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common ligament injuries in sports. More than 3% of athletes in a 4-year period of sporting activity sustain a rupture of the ACL and the risk is higher in female population. The incident rate is 200,000 cases/year in the USA. About half of all ACL […]

  Team IPT’s Dr. Jared Brown, DPT is going to share some stretches and exercises for your tennis and golfer’s elbow!

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis), is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse or repetitive wrist extension activities. Wrist extension activities include: excessive typing, performing tennis backhand motion, and performing household chores such as dusting or window washing.  True tennis elbow is acute inflammation of the wrist extensor muscle tendon junction as it attaches […]

Osteoporosis literally means “porous bone.” Bones that were once strong become weak, brittle and susceptible to fractures.  It is a silent disease because there are no symptoms. Breaking a bone is often the first indication of osteoporosis. An estimated 54 million people suffer from low bone mineral density or osteoporosis. Our bones are a living […]

Dr. Brandon Brym, DPT takes us through some dynamic balance exercises. Dynamic balance is defined as the ability to move the body outside of its base of support or the act of maintaining postural control while moving. This should be a consistent part of your exercise routine.

If you’ve ever experienced radiating pain down the back of your leg you’ve probably been told you have “Sciatica”. Sciatica is a gross term referring to irritation along the sciatic nerve typically felt in the buttock, down the back of the leg, and possibly the foot. Radiating pain down the back of the leg can […]

We use our thumbs for almost all daily activities, including gripping, grasping, pulling, and pushing.  It is no wonder why there are so many people that suffer from pain in their thumb(s).  The thumb joint is one of the most mobile joints in our body.  Because of this mobility there is potentially an increase in […]

How Long Will it Take My Injury to Heal? One of the first things most people think about after an injury or surgery is, how long will the recovery time be? While sometimes recovery can only take a couple days or weeks, more intrusive injuries can take months or even a couple years to fully […]

Best Sleeping Positions For Low Back Pain Sufferers Sleeping position and sleeping posture are very important for all of us to be aware of. A poor sleeping position can worsen and even be the underlying cause of neck and low back pain. Certain positions can place unnecessary pressure on our necks, hips, and low back. […]

Osteoporosis literally means porous bone.  It is characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural disruption, and increased skeletal fragility. It often leads to fractures of the wrists, hip, and spine. The first step in the prevention of osteoporosis is ensuring adequate nutrition, particularly maintaining an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D. Calcium and vitamin D […]

Did you know it is estimated that by the age of 70 the average person has walked approximately 26,000 miles?! Our feet take quite a beating which causes many changes in our foot structure and gait over time. With April being Foot Health Awareness Month, we want to talk about the most common foot and […]

February is National Heart Health Month. In this month’s newsletter we are going to share some stats on heart health, how to monitor your own heart rate, and explain how you and your Physical Therapist can improve your heart health. Heart Health Stats– courtesy of The Heart Foundation (www.theheartfoundation.org) Heart disease (which includes Heart Disease, […]

This is a special posting for December. With the holidays quickly approaching we wanted to share two of our favorite holiday recipes with you to get you in the spirit! Holiday butter ball cookies and holiday latkes! Holiday Butter Ball Cookies Ingredients: 1 cup butter 4 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla 2  1/4 cups […]

Lower. Back. Pain. We all know it, we’ve all experienced it and we all want it to go away. At any given time 25% of people living in the United States have lower back pain (LBP). That is a quarter of the country, A QUARTER! While most pain subsides and goes away within days, some […]

What do five people ages 80, 86, 92, 93, and 94 all have in common? Read on to find out. Successful aging refers to the physical, mental, and social-well being in older age.  It can also be defined as absence of chronic disease and risk factors for disease, good health, and high levels of independent […]

Movement. The key to growing, an every day occurrence in any human’s life since birth. A baby kicks and squirms, a toddler crawls before walking, a kid learning to ride a bike. All movements that lead to balance strength. But with keeping that balance there can come falls. While a baby, child or young adult […]

A lot of patients mistakenly think physical therapy is just exercise programs and modality regimes for pain. Although both exercise and pain modalities are important pieces to a comprehensive physical therapy plan of care, manual therapy is proven to reduce recovery times, increase range of motion, and improve overall tissue mobility. Manual therapy is basically […]

    You’ve probably heard of ergonomics – the study of efficiency and comfort in the workplace – but are you taking the right actions to make your workstation or home office as easy on your body as possible? If you work in an office environment, you can prevent pain and injury and work more […]

Your head weighs 11 pounds or more – as much as a bowling ball! – and keeping it in the right position is hard work. Fortunately, your neck is a collection of bones, joints, muscles and nerves designed to be strong and stable. But small and large problems can lead to pain in the neck […]

Do you have discomfort in your hip that limits your ability to walk, put on your shoes and socks, work, or enjoy your life? Do you have sharp, shooting, or a dull achy pain in your hip, groin, thigh, knee or buttocks? Do you have stiffness in your hip joint which is worse after sleeping […]

People commonly mistake referring to conditions affecting the jaw as “TMJ”. TMJ actually refers to the jaw joint itself, or the temporomandibular joint. The correct reference to conditions limiting or affecting the natural function of the jaw is TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. TMD interferes with the normal movement of the jaw, limiting or restricting opening […]