Author: Jari Haile

HEALTHY WORK FROM HOME HABITS

With COVID-19 drastically changing the lives of millions, Americans everywhere had to make a quick transition to the “work from home” lifestyle. Many New Yorkers were not given much notice for this change, leading to apartments all over the city being converted to Work From Home (WFH) spaces. There are both positives and negatives in regards to WFH, when it comes to our health. And since it’s seems like the transition to a home office environment is here to stay for a while, we thought it would be a good idea to share a little practical advice.POSITIVESBeing able to take breaks to stretch No longer being in the office allows for people to more readily insert stretching breaks throughout their days (without feeling judged from co-workers). Patients often tell PTs that they only feel comfortable stretching when heading to the bathroom or behind closed doors in an office setting. Being in the privacy of your own home, allows you to stretch whenever and wherever you’d like!Changing to different areas Another benefit of working from home is being able to alter your workstation as often as you like. This is in contrast to being in one chair and desk all day […]

QUARANTINE READS

Many of us find ourselves at home in efforts to flatten the curve and save lives. Instead of diving head first into the next binge-worthy streaming show, there are tons of amazing books waiting to be discovered. Here are a few of our favorite reads that you may find enjoyable as you stay at home.

MYOFASCIAL DECOMPRESSION: CUP THERAPY BY A PHYSICAL THERAPIST

You may have never heard of Myofascial Decompression (MFD), but you have probably seen it. You might recall seeing Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps with bruises in perfect circles around his back and shoulders during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. Even though the art of cupping has been traced as far back as ancient Egypt, it was popularized in athletics after Michael Phelps displayed it on the world’s stage (similar to Olympic Gold medalist in Volleyball, Kerry Walsh and Kinesiotape). Oftentimes, people do not understand the difference between “Cupping” and “Myofascial Decompression” so let’s dive deeper.   Cupping Myofascial Decompression  Who does it? Traditionally performed by acupuncturists Traditionally performed by physical therapists and other rehab professionals Goal of Treatment Targets stagnation of blood and Qi Targets connective tissue, trigger points, fascial adhesions, mechanoreceptors, and tight muscles Background Traditional Chinese Medicine : meridians, balance between Yin and Yang, Flow of Energy (Qi) Anatomy, Physiology, Biokinesiology Tools Used Small glass cups with a flame Small plastic cups with a suction pump Treatment Usually passive in nature: patient lays on the table for a period of time with the cups on Active treatment: the patient is performing neuromuscular reeducation exercises, […]