Month: January 2018

At Apex Physical Therapy, all of our four locations are proud contributing members within our national professional organization, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). We understand the cornerstone of movement is essential to a healthy life and well being staying injury free. We proudly treat people of all ages and abilities with every ailment and goal. We commonly get asked the question by patients and the community, ” What does physical therapy do?” We would like to dispel the myth that many Americans have when determining whether or not physical therapy is a good option for you.

Physical Therapy Can…

Maximize Your Movement
Every individual wants to live pain-free. Pain-free movement is crucial to your quality of life, your ability to earn a living, and your independence. Physical therapists are body mechanics and experts who can identify, diagnose, and treat all movement problems.

Participate In Your Recovery
Physical therapist are part of your healthcare team. We actively collaborate with your physicians and communicate any findings within our evaluation as well throughout your course of care. Physical therapists work collaboratively with their patients and clients. Treatment plans are customized for each person’s individual goals, challenges, and needs.

Avoid Opioids
We live in a time where public health officials have called the current opioid epidemic the worst drug crisis in American history. Overdose deaths were nearly equal to the number of deaths from car crashes in 2017. There are a lot of risks with the abuse of Opioids ,  risks include depression, overdose, and addiction, plus withdrawal symptoms when stopping use. In some situations, dosed appropriately, prescription opioids are an appropriate part of medical treatment. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging health care providers to reduce the use of opioids in favor of safe alternatives like physical therapy for most long-term pain.

Avoid Surgery
In many cases surgery is mandatory, but for some people you may not need to go under the knife. Before you undergo expensive or invasive surgery, try physical therapy. For some conditions, including meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disk disease, treatment by a physical therapist has been found to be as effective as surgery. We use our knowledge, expertise, experience and education to evaluate whether or not you would be a good candidate. An individual evaluation is necessary to determine whether or not you can avoid surgery.

Finding The Right Physical Therapist
Apex Physical Therapy has been serving the Spokane, West Plains, Cheney and Fairways areas for over twenty years. Our specialties vary yet we abide by the same core values within each location: putting the patient first. We treat our patients like family and are so thankful you have chosen us as part of your healthcare team. Get moving, stay active and always let us know if we can assist you in reaching your goals for recovery. We are passionate about our community and all of the people we serve.

It is often times difficult staying active during the winter months. We find ourselves staying indoors as the climate can be unpredictable. Despite the challenges we face to keep active, if you are an avid runner, getting back into running or looking to begin your first running program now is as good of time to start as any. As your physical therapy experts, we encourage all of our patients and non-patients to be mindful when getting beginning an exercise program and staying active. We recommend you take into consideration your body may take some time getting back into that ideal running shape. Please see the tips that will help you stay injury free this late winter season.

Proper Warm Up & Stretching
It is always good idea to get a proper warm up in before you head out into the cool air. This will get your muscles prepared for work. You should be stretching your legs, back, shoulders and neck. In addition your quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles are also extremely important to stretch out as you may need to get your muscles warm in preparation for your workout. It may be helpful for you to use a chair for balance if necessary to balance yourself.

Look For Even Firm Ground
Running on a flat surface is important when you are trying to recover or prevent injury. Uneven surfaces can cause your ankles and feet to over-pronate on one foot and supinate on the other. The sidewalks in our area can be unpredictable in terms of a clear pathway. Our weather is just as unpredictable. One day we have snow, the next sun. It is important to be aware of the surfaces you run on to best prevent falling or slipping. If you can’t make it out, don’t forget you always have a gym or treadmill option.

Stay Hydrated While Running: Even If You Do Not Feel Thirsty
It’s easy to drink less water in the winter because of the cooler temperatures. Hydration is important for injury prevention regardless of the season. Not to mention the increase of water consumption is good for digestion and your muscle repair. It is important to stay hydrated throughout the day pre and post workout.

Dress Accordingly
Be sure to keep your body covered, as well wearing a had and gloves in these colder temperatures, winter hats, socks and gloves may all be necessary even if you feel warm. You also may feel like you don’t need the extra layer, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. You will chill down very quickly upon completion of your run.

Winter running can be a lot of fun, but be sure to take the proper precautions in order to prevent injury while being active. Contact any one of our locations for any further tips in staying active and keeping injury free during these winter months. Knowledge. Passion. Results. We are here for you!