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.

WHAT IS THE PELVIC FLOOR, HOW IS IT ADDRESSED IN PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE?

Given what we now know of the role of the pelvic floor muscle network, it would make sense that dysfunction could vary widely in presentation and that the avenues for treatment equally as numerous. Direct dysfunction of these muscles can contribute to loss of bowel/bladder control, constipation, urinary and bowel urgency/frequency, pelvic pain, diminished sexual appreciation or pain with intercourse, pelvic organ prolapse, and lumbo-pelvic-hip control issues.

LET’S GET TECHNICAL: DRIVER TESTING, WHAT IS IT, AND HOW CAN IT HELP ME?

Habitual postures can also lead to muscle imbalances. A person may be sitting at their desk all day slouching forwards, which can lead to tight hip flexors and lengthened/weak glute muscles. Tight hip flexors can lead to a lack of hip extension range of motion, thus driving an issue at the back. Because the body likes to find ways around restrictions, this person might compensate with excessive mobility at the low back joints to make up for that lack of hip mobility. Over time, changes in these tissues structures can ultimately become a source of pain.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH: PHYSICAL THERAPY AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE

There are numerous Parkinson’s research groups that are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with PD. Regardless of which Parkinson’s research group that you follow, be it the LSVT BIG group, the POWER group, etc., much of the research on Parkinson’s Disease points to the same conclusion: a target-specific exercise program may be essential in delaying the progression and deterioration of function that may develop with PD. Early intervention is one of the key components to promoting a long and healthy lifestyle.

THE UNANTICIPATED BENEFIT OF VIRTUAL PT

In a broad sense, I have been amazed at the continued support that the Thrive staff has provided and received since our physical closure. I find myself in regular communication with my patients, and am bolstered each time I hear from them. They have emailed me: recipes, educational websites for children, mindfulness apps, yoga flows to calm you down, yoga flows to pump you up, books for when you’re sad, books for when you’re happy, books for when you’re too tired to read hard books, podcasts, TED Talks, and no less than 50 assorted Netflix suggestions.

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.

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 […]

CNN Staying Well: Thrive PT Segment on Manual Therapy

The CNN segment that we filmed at Thrive a few months back is now online. Have a watch as practice owner Tamar Amitay, PT, MS and physical therapist Amy McGorry, PT, DPT, MTC, talk about and demonstrate manual therapy techniques on a patient. Here at Thrive Integrated Physical Therapy, PC, our physical therapists identify the faulty mechanics and movement patterns that contribute to and drive one’s pain. We’ve found that manual therapy coupled with an appropriate therapeutic exercise program really makes a difference. At Thrive we look for the root cause as well as underlying movement dysfunctions to base our interventions. We are dedicated to getting our patients back quickly in the game of life!

POSTPARTUM SERVICES AT THRIVE

We at Thrive are ready to help meet the needs of pre and postpartum women and are launching a comprehensive rehabilitation and wellness program. We are looking forward to helping women stay strong and pain free during pregnancy, maintain safe exercise practices pre and post birth, and rehabilitate from injury. Our services will include a full musculoskeletal evaluation and examination for a wide variety of issues relevant to women.

Thrive! is Hosting and Participating in Threes Physiyoga Method for Physical Therapists

If you’ve been following along with our Instagram, you may have noticed that Thrive has had a few in-services with the amazingly smart and talented Giulia Pline. Giulia introduced our entire staff to the Threes Physioyoga Method, which merges physical therapy principles with yoga. What more could we ask for? We were so impressed that we wanted to know more, so we decided to host, and have our staff participate, in their Intro Course for Physical Therapists which will take place right here at Thrive on February 23rd and 24th. We can’t wait to bring all of this new knowledge to our patients! About Threes Physiyoga Method for Physical Therapists This introductory weekend consists of foundational knowledge regarding the teaching of yoga as a mind-body-spirit wellness modality and how this modality can be integrated into traditional physical therapy for the benefit of the patient and the clinician. Yoga is a multi-limbed practice that unites movement with breath. Having an understanding of the influence and benefits of this practice on the body is a powerful, efficient tool for physiotherapists. Physiotherapists will be introduced to the Threes Physiyoga Method of assessing suboptimal and dysfunctional movement. They will understand the mechanics of breath, […]