By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS In the world of fitness and health, one often-overlooked measure of vitality is grip strength. While it might not seem like the most glamorous indicator, research shows that grip strength is a powerful predictor of overall health, particularly cardiovascular health and frailty. This is especially significant for women, including...
As we age many factors limit our ability to move as quickly as we used to including disease processes, medications, neurological changes, balance impairments, and importantly weakness. Age related weakness is a major contributor to falls, less independent living, and lower quality of life in older adults. Age related muscle loss begins for most adults...
Our brains can be our best or worst training partner. In our previous blogs we have written about how our brains stop our workouts or sets short to conserve energy. As part of our nervous system, our brains are actively involved in building strength with exercise. In fact, in the first 6 weeks of training...
Studies have found that training at higher intensities can be more beneficial for bone health and gaining strength than working at lower intensities (Watson et al. 2017; Refalo et al. 2021). But what about the difference between being supervised by a trained professional, like a physical therapist, and unsupervised with self-selected intensities? A study by...
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports, especially among recreational athletes. While it’s a great way to stay active, the quick movements and changes in direction can lead to injuries, particularly if certain muscle groups aren’t strong enough to handle the physical demands. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we often...
Strength training is an essential component of any skier’s fitness regimen and one of our key interventions we prescribe in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics. Skiing demands high levels of muscular strength, endurance, and balance, particularly in the lower body. Strengthening the core and leg muscles helps skiers maintain proper form,...
One of the top reasons participants start an exercise program is weight loss. This goal is achievable with exercise but is much harder to accomplish compared to improved mobility, strength, or balance. The difficulty of losing weight with exercise is also one of the leading reasons people quit their exercise programs after an initial 4-6...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we utilize the latest research findings to help patients achieve their goals. Over the last few years we have successfully utilized the findings on utilization of weight training to improve bone density among at risk groups such as patients diagnosed with osteopenia, osteoporosis, as well...
Low back pain is one of the most common conditions we see in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics. Our experts utilize manual therapy including spinal manipulation, dry needling, and high level exercise to help patients return to 100%. Tests are performed to see which specific muscles in the core are strong...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy Clinics we are focused on identifying both the pain generator and the reasons why it is symptomatic. These may or may not occur in the same joint or structure. In many cases, the underlying reason we have pain may be driven from an adjacent body structure...