Physical Therapy and your Health
Health is a relative term that is different for everyone. It means that your body is operating at an efficient range within all of its major systems from circulation to breathing to digestion to properly regulated blood sugar to having a good mental state, and more. Being healthy isn’t about looking like a supermodel; it’s about maintaining the well-being of your body as a whole. Anything you can do to help your body achieve more of an ideal state is a step towards a healthier you.
As Physical Therapists, we are experts at helping you achieve an overall level or well-being throughout your body. Whether we are helping to relive your pain or assisting you in developing a personalized wellness program, we are here to help you achieve an ideal level of health and wellness.
Strength and flexibility and how Physical Therapy can help you
There are approximately 642 skeletal muscles in the body. This means that your strength and flexibility play an important role in your health and well-being. Your muscles not only help you move, they also support your circulatory and breathing systems. A stronger and more flexible you, means a healthier you. Relieving joint or muscle pain and guiding you on proper exercise is part of our specialized physical therapy treatments. Call Loudoun Sports Therapy Center today to learn more about how we can help you get and stay healthy.
Aches, pains and injuries
All of these contribute to an unhealthier you. Pain increases bad chemicals in the body and increases stress levels. This affects your endocrine system, which regulates the hormones in your body and controls almost everything. Most muscle and joint pains can easily be treated by our specialized physical therapists through a personalized stretching and strengthening program that we will design specifically for you. Our physical therapy experts have the right knowledge and the time to listen, evaluate and guide you towards a pain-free, healthier lifestyle.
Get healthier by following these 7 steps:
1. TAKE CARE OF ACHES AND PAINS
Don’t let long-term aches and pains linger. Seek out professional physical therapy help to avoid turning a small problem into a major one that continues for a long period of time.
2. LIMIT YOUR SITTING
Get up every 30 minutes and walk around at work and home. This reduces the pressure on your spine, increases blood and lymphatic fluid flow around the body, helping you feel more energized throughout the day.
3. GET OUT AND MOVE
Exercise regularly. If you have difficulty getting around or have limited amounts of time, take the time to walk every day. Many studies show the benefits of walking. Risks for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes can be greatly reduced by walking daily.
Did you know that with our specialized physical therapy training we can help you develop a personalized program to assist in increasing your activity level? As physical therapists, we utilize our training daily to help our patients with weight loss, development of a whole-body strengthening program, endurance techniques, balance programs to assist in the prevention of falls, and the set-up and continued progression of an overall exercise program.
4. NUTRITION AND PORTION CONTROL
Keep your intake of food nutritious and at a comfortable level. Eat a well balanced diet that includes fruit and vegetables. Chew your food more slowly and you won’t feel like you have to eat so much.
5. DRINK MORE WATER
Water keeps your body systems functioning at an optimum level. It also helps you feel less hungry throughout the day. One suggestion would be to keep a glass or drink container at your desk or counter where you frequent throughout the day and keep filling it up.
6. BREATHE!
Work on your breathing to increase oxygen intake and get your lymphatic system moving. Chronic stress (stress over a long period of time) can result in many breathing difficulties. To work on your breathing: lie on your bed or the floor with your hand on your upper abdomen, breathe deep, working on gently rising your abdomen towards the ceiling. This works your diaphragm muscle, which is the major muscle in breathing. This exercise will help your diaphragm muscle to get stronger which in turn will better assist you in breathing. If you are uncertain of how to begin a breathing program or need assistance with a program to help you through some breathing difficulties, physical therapy can help! Contact us today and one of our physical therapists can help you with a breathing program.
7. GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Specialists suggest that you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Sleep has many healing benefits including: helping your body regulate blood sugar, prevention of cold and flu as well as heart disease, maintenance of mental health and good brain function, and aiding in maintaining a healthier weight. A regular sleep cycle is of added benefit . This will allow for consistent REM cycles throughout the week, and will make it easier to wake up in the morning, go to bed at night and feel refreshed and energized throughout the day.This also helps your endocrine system, which controls hormones.
There is a lot that you can do to feel healthier. Start with the simple suggestions above and make it easy for yourself to accomplish them. If you have aches and pains or just want to feel healthier, give us a call today at 703-450-4300 and learn more about how the therapists and trainers at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center can help you live a pain free, healthy life! Or go directly to our website and learn more about the staff at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center – www.loudounsportstherapy.com
“Don’t let pain limit you. We Care. We Listen. We Get RESULTS!”