Blog

Why Strength Training for Women is Non-Negotiable After 40 (And How to Start)

By: Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS The Truth About Midlife Strength: It’s About Health, Not Vanity As we enter our 40s and 50s, our bodies begin to change — sometimes dramatically. Muscle mass decreases, metabolism slows, bone density decreases, and aches and pains become more noticeable. Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause only accelerate these...

Should I Lift Weights To Failure?

Strength training is an essential part of any exercise program.  In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we commonly utilize strength training to rehabilitate injured tissues and restore lost function due to injury.  Intensity, measured by weight lifted, is one of the most important parameters to dial in on a strength training prescription. ...

New Evidence Supports Heavy Weightlifting During Pregnancy

By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS For years, the absence of robust research led to a cautious approach toward heavy resistance training during pregnancy. As more research is being done on the pregnant population the evidence is becoming clear that activity, including heavy weight lifting, does not increase risk to mom or baby, but rather...

Using Strength Training To Improve Flexibility

Flexibility or mobility work can be a large part of any injured patient’s recovery at our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics.  In contrast, in a healthy population flexibility training should be one of the last things you spend time on each week because of its’ limited impact on injury prevention, health, or...

Reducing Pain Through Exercise

Exercise provides numerous positive effects to the participant.  The majority of the mental, physical, and emotional benefits are provided to the consistent participant who meets national exercise guidelines each week.  In addition, there are many short term benefits that are provided to even single bouts of exercise.  For example, the mental health benefits of taking...