Working behind the scenes of Peter Pan: Written by Matthew Harwood, PT, DPT, OCS I recently provided behind the scenes physical therapy for the performance of Peter Pan, by Legacy Studios for the Performing Arts. Providing “show coverage” offers a unique professional opportunity which is different than when I am treating dancers in the… Continue Reading →
Schroth-based Scoliosis Rehabilitation Comes to Advance Physical Therapy
Wow! Susan and I just got back from 10 days of intensive training at Scoliosis Rehab, Inc in Stevens Point Wisconsin. We spent over 65 hours learning the Schroth-based Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School Method (BSPTS). This 40 year old clinic in Spain is directed by Dr. Manuel Rigo MD, PhD, a world renowned professor… Continue Reading →
Helping to answer the tough questions about athletic performance:
Why does an athlete have an injury? Why can’t an athlete move to the left as easy as they do to the right? Why can’t an athlete get low to a ball? This year’s PRI Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium provided answers for these questions and gave the clinicians at APT more insight into helping area athletes… Continue Reading →
Durham Bulls Could Be Better
No matter your sport, sports performance is an area that is continually challenging and exciting from a rehabilitation perspective. Last weekend 4 of our clinicians here at Advance Physical Therapy went to Lincoln Nebraska to attend a Sports Performance Enhancement seminar at the Postural Restoration Institute. When the core of the body is well positioned… Continue Reading →
Study Finds Physical Therapy Just as Effective as Surgery in Patients with a Torn Meniscus and Arthritis of the Knee
Alexandria, VA, March 21, 2013 — A New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) study showing that physical therapy is just as effective as surgery in patients with meniscal tears and arthritis of the knee should encourage many health care providers to reconsider their practices in the management of this common injury, according to the American… Continue Reading →
Vision as Related to Posture
We are so pleased to host this Postural Restoration Institute course on how our need to see, will affect how we hold our bodies. It will be at: Advance Physical Therapy on February 10 and 11, from 8am until 5 pm. More on the course below. Postural-Visual Integration Course Description: This course is designed to… Continue Reading →
Give your legs and feet some TLC this running season!
Training season has begun for me and many other area runners with spring races happening between March and June. The trick to training and running healthy is to not let these injuries linger. As a runner myself, I can attest to experiencing these issues. With the first 2 weeks of my pre-training season, (I started… Continue Reading →
Is sitting killing you?
I doubt anyone would have difficulty determining the cause of a complaint of neck or back pain sitting with terrible posture, however, sometimes problems with sitting are not so obvious. The average American sits for 9.3 hours per day – according to a random internet factoid. Whether or not this is accurate, we know modern… Continue Reading →
Dear Santa…..All I want for Christmas are happy feet
Well Virginia, you are in luck. The new Hruska Clinic Recommended Shoe List for 2013 has arrived! What kinds of shoes are there, and what is best for my foot type? Motion Control: good for flat feet Stability: good for medium/low arch feet (with PRI orthotics is some cases) Neutral: good for high arched feet… Continue Reading →
A Glimpse at Scoliosis
A patient recently came into Advance Physical Therapy with a “C” shaped, sideways curve of his spine (a common scoliosis curve). His main complaint was “leaning to the left during walking”. Because of his “C” shaped spinal curvature, his spine and pelvis had become twisted to the right. During our examination, we identified big… Continue Reading →
Balloons on Ice!!
Some days I’m amazed I actually get paid to have so much fun. It must be true: “Do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”. As quite a few of my patients happen to be accomplished ice skaters, I try to watch them in action whenever I get the chance. … Continue Reading →
A Breath of Fresh Air…….
Try this: Take a balloon or soda straw, sit down, lean over your knees, and try to blow into it for as long as you can. When you can’t possibly blow out any more, HOLD this position and ……….then……….wait ………..5…………. seconds before you attempt to breathe in again. This breathing OUT exercise should help you… Continue Reading →
Feeling Overextended?
I’m constantly reminded of this term “overextended” as I see its effects on my patients, as well as myself. A little background. Early humans had a pretty functional system for staying alive, see tiger = fire sympathetic nervous system = run away fast. In this modern era, our saber toothed tigers, have been transformed to… Continue Reading →
Physical Therapy after Knee Surgery
The physical therapy providers at Advance Physical Therapy can help you after your orthopaedic knee surgery. We will communicate directly with your surgeon to understand the type of surgical procedure performed and obtain guidelines and post-surgical protocols for your rehabilitation progression. Our providers follow the most current concepts in orthopaedic surgical knee rehabilitation. After knee… Continue Reading →
Physical therapy after a knee joint replacement surgery.
Physical therapy after a knee joint replacement is important to ensure full functional recovery for the patient. Rehabilitation programs guided by a knowledgeable physical therapist help ensure that specific milestones are reached after surgery. These milestones include achieving full knee range of motion, restoring and improving muscle strength on both sides of the body, restoring… Continue Reading →
Direct Access to physical therapy is cost effective!
A recent study published in the journal of Health Services Research found that patients, who visited a physical therapist directly, without first seeing a physician, had fewer visits and lower overall costs than those referred by a physician for physical therapy. These costs were to the global health care system. Also, after 60 days, there… Continue Reading →
Chapel Hill students exploring Physical Therapy career
Throughout the years, APT has taken pre-physical therapy major college students from UNC. During their affiliation we try to create an experience that fosters critical thinking, direct patient interaction and self reflection. One of our interns has written about her experiences at APT, she started volunteering with us in September of 2011 and will be… Continue Reading →
Direct Access allows easy access to healthcare!
Most persons wanting to access physical therapy services can do so without a physician’s referral. North Carolinalaw allows for “Direct Access” to physical therapy services; North Carolinahas had this law since 1985. This can save you time and money, by accessing the healthcare services that will help you feel better, sooner. Person’s coming to physical… Continue Reading →
Physical Therapy after Tarsal Tunnel Decompression foot surgery
“The purpose of this blog is to show that physical therapy initiated after a surgery is focused on caring for the client’s concerns about walking, restoring movement and foot usage and managing the healing process. In the example below, this client had experienced many years of recurring pain before having surgery. The information in… Continue Reading →
Pelvic Floor Restoration
This coming weekend we are going to host the Pelvic Floor Restoration course for the Postural Restoration Institute. 38 Physical Therapists are attending, mostly local and from surrounding states.
What to expect during your ACL rehabilitation
The physical therapists at Advance Physical Therapy have experience helping people achieve the most after their ACL surgery. We follow the basic principle that our body knows how to heal itself if it is allowed to. Through monitoring the stages of healing and knowing when to make appropriate exercise progressions clients can return to their prior… Continue Reading →
Running Injuries: Injury Prevention Check-List
Running Injuries: Injury Prevention Check-List Before an airplane leaves the airport for its next destination, the pilot, ground crew and mechanics run through a check-list to identify how the plane is functioning and if there is any reason the plane should not take off. Running, whether for training for a goal race or as a… Continue Reading →
Running injuries: Types, Causes and Prevention!
Common Overuse Injuries in Running Patellofemoral pain syndrome Stress fractures Shin splints/Tibial stress syndrome Iliotibial band syndrome Adductor strains Hamstring strains Ankle sprain Plantar fasciitis Achiles tendon syndrome Patellar tendonitis Causes of Overuse Injuries Limited flexibility and range of motion Muscle strength imbalances Postural asymmetries Abnormal running biomechanics Training errors Old running shoes Irregular… Continue Reading →
Knee Pain
How do we approach knee pain, based on a Postural Restoration understanding of the knee? We are talking here about a gradual development of knee pain that now demands your attention, not an identifiable sport injury or accident. Your knee hurts when you walk, squat, climb stairs, run, whatever. In addition to examining the knee… Continue Reading →
