Category: Fitness

STAY IN THE GAME: ADDRESSING HIP PAIN WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY

Even with ligamentous and muscular support in place, the hip is a common area that is susceptible to pain and irritation. While there is no singular explanation for hip pain aside from direct trauma, we can point to a myriad of different causes associated with pain, such as faulty movement patterns, imbalances within the body due to underlying muscle weaknesses, or abnormal joint motion within the hip or neighboring areas of the body, such as the low back.

IN CONVERSATION: BREATH & THE MIND BODY CONNECTION

We at Thrive are so fortune to collaborate with many types of rehabilitation, exercise, and movement specialists in the New York City area.  Pilates has long been one of our staff’s preferred exercise tools, and we dearly love and appreciate the expertise of the staff at Mongoose Bodyworks, a Pilates studio that is neighbor to our clinic here in Soho. Over the years we have found our mutual clients achieve more success in movement, return to activity, and engagement in life when we collaborate, and the conversation below is an edited version of a dialogue between Mongoose Bodyworks owner Halle Clarke and Thrive PT staffer Elizabeth D’Annunzio Shah.   Halle: Hi!  When we decided to have a conversation, we talked about many areas of professional overlap.  There’s lots of crossover between what you and I do! Elizabeth: That’s right.  Ultimately, both PTs and Pilates instructors spend a fair amount of time doing movement analysis.  We’re both trying to enable multi-dimensional, pain free movement. Halle: In the spirit of that crossover, I have some questions for you that I thought might relate to both of our client populations.   Specifically, let’s talk about breathing.  How do you think about breathing as it […]

Pilates And Physical Therapy: A Two-Part Approach

When practiced together, Pilates and physical therapy can truly be the cornerstone of an overall recovery and health plan. With a shared focus on eliminating pain and restoring function through personal attention, the two modalities are not just complimentary but collaborative. When both practitioners are working in collaboration they can more effectively re-educate patients away from movement compensations that may cause a return of pain and dysfunction. We have found at Thrive PT and Mongoose Bodyworks Pilates that an open dialogue between PT and Pilates instructor has guaranteed the success of our patients and clients.

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month: Fit Tip #3

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, so for the rest of the month we will be bringing you simple fitness tips to keep you moving free from injury. A photo posted by Thrive Integrated PT (@thriveptnyc) on May 26, 2016 at 7:53am PDT Tip #3 STICK TO A SCHEDULE Set aside a time which suits you and stick to it! Try writing it into your calendar and don’t move it. After a few short weeks of sticking to the plan it will become an easy part of your daily routine.

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month: Fit Tip #2

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, so for the rest of the month we will be bringing you simple fitness tips to keep you moving free from injury.   A photo posted by Thrive Integrated PT (@thriveptnyc) on May 23, 2016 at 4:45am PDT   Tip #2 START OUT SLOWLY Although your ego may want you to push yourself further experts say to listen to your body. They recommend starting with light weights and gradually building up. The same goes with running and walking. Start with short distances then gradually build up the distance as your muscles get used to the activity.

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month: Fit Tip #1

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, so for the rest of the month we will be bringing you simple fitness tips to keep you moving and free from injury.   A photo posted by Thrive Integrated PT (@thriveptnyc) on May 17, 2016 at 8:20am PDT   TIP #1 FORM: It’s important to use proper form during an exercise to ensure the right muscles are being worked during the exercise and to avoid injury. Try scheduling a session with a physical therapist or a trainer to learn how to do certain exercises properly and how to use machines correctly.

Stability vs. Mobility

Have you ever taken an apple from the produce section at the grocery store and caused an apple avalanche to tumble all over the floor? Or loosened your belt to the point where your pants fell down? All moving things, our joints included, require a certain amount of tension and stability, if they are too loose they can cause a ripple effect of problems. In the case of our joints, bones and muscles, this ripple effect isn’t as incidental as an embarrassing grocery store incident or sagging jeans. The results can be severe, long lasting, and far reaching to other parts of the body. After all, our body is an intricate system of hinges and pulleys – all sensitive to each others tensions. Stretch and massage feels wonderful! It can also create some beneficial space in our joints so we can regain movement. However, stretch and massage alone is NOT the answer to the rehabilitation of a body part. Sometimes a muscle has tightened up to offer stability, doing release work without stabilization and re-education can create instability. Physical therapy and true physical fitness involves the mobilization and stabilization of joints, and re-education of the muscles and central nervous system […]

Ready, Set, Spin!

Taking a new class can be a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. If you have never taken a spin class before, arrive early and find the instructor, they’ll be happy to help get you set up properly. A spin bike allows you to adjust for seat height, position and handlebar height, to create the perfect fit, ensure a great ride experience, and minimize the risk of injury. Here are a few how-to tips for setting up your spin bike like a pro. Seat Height: With proper bike set up you minimize the risk of injury. When clipped in, or if you place your feet in the toe cage rotate the pedals so that at the bottom of the pedal stroke your leg should have a 25 to 35 degree bend at the knee. Fore-Aft Seat Position: The seat will adjust forwards and backwards to ensure that your knees are properly aligned relative to your feet. Sit on your bike with your hands on the handlebars and ball of your feet over the center of the pedals. Then position your pedals so that they are level with each other and parallel to the floor. Using the forward leg to check alignment, the seat is in the right position when your knee cap is directly in […]