As Physical Therapists, we frequently work with patients on restoring lost function from pain, injury, surgery, or disease. Our brains have evolved over time to find and focus on the areas of our life that are missing, often at the expense of what is present. For example, the painful back or swollen knee prevents us...
I can remember reading the exercise literature over 20 years ago and learning the impact of mental imagery on strength gains. Participants who solely thought about their strength training workouts over a study period demonstrated strength gains compared to a control group. In addition, these mental workouts could also limit the amount of atrophy observed...
Dementia is one of the most common mental health disorders affecting many older adults around the world. Authors estimate 50 million around the world suffer with this diagnosis at a staggering cost of 1 trillion dollars a year. Although the causes of dementia are multifactorial previous researchers have shown many modifiable risk factors, including smoking,...
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions affecting Americans. Multiple treatment interventions can be utilized in the treatment of this diagnosis including medications and counseling/talk therapy. Exercise remains an underutilized intervention despite significant research supporting its use as part of a multi modal treatment approach for depression. Previous researchers have shown benefits...
Depression is one of the most common causes of disability in the world. Authors estimate 1 in 5 individuals will experience a form of depression, varying in severity, in their lifetimes. Depression remains a serious condition and individuals affected with this condition are strongly encouraged to work with a mental health professional for evaluation and...
Our brains create a remarkable and close to non stop dialogue in our heads throughout the day. Often this inner voice can be heard remembering or replaying prior events, as well as, contemplating future events. This voice has remarkable abilities that help separate from the rest of the animal kingdom. Researchers call this inner voice,...
In Boulder, cycling up canyons is part of lifestyle for many in our community and Boulder Physical Therapy clinic. These rides can be challenging as cyclists look to adjust their gears and bodies to gain an advantage over the challenging terrain. We have long know about the brain’s ability to limit a participant’s workout by...
Exercise has been shown to have substantial benefits for many aspects of mental health. A study by Murawska-Cialowicz et al identified a potential mechanism by which CrossFit training in particular has potential to positively impact a wide variety conditions that are associated with nervous system function, including mental health. This study identified significant physiologic changes...
In 2020, all Americans have experienced challenges impacting their mental health manifested by feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. In particular, the CDC reports adult caregivers, young adults, and minorities report higher rates of mental and emotional health challenges due the current COVID pandemic. individuals experiencing these symptoms are strongly encouraged to follow up with...
Our understanding on the mental and emotional health benefits of exercise continues to grow each year. Research studies have shown not only an association between higher levels of mental health and physical fitness, but also an ability to improve mental health variables including depression, anxiety, cognition, and memory in affected individuals. Exercise has a positive...