Whether ’tis nobler to suffer the strains and pains of prolonged stretching, or to take arms through dynamic warm ups and replace them. This post will not end as a Shakespearean tragedy, for there is not a plague on either form (static or dynamic) of stretching. Recently, a group of therapists at our clinic got together to discuss evidence surrounding the topic of stretching.
Our meeting was inspired by questions from patients regarding our opinions on stretching regimens. Static stretching, holding a muscle in a lengthened position for at least 20 seconds for a low number of repetitions, has been widely touted in the past for improving flexibility and preventing injuries. Dynamic stretching, bringing muscles into lengthened positions without holding and performing several repetitions, which resembles more of a warm-up, has fallen into favor as the pre-sport regimen of choice to improve performance and prevent injuries. O Research, O Research, wherefore art thou Research? Read the rest of this entry »
Most of my patients come in to their first physical therapy appointment with their prescription- a scribbling of jargon they may or may not understand- and no idea what to expect. They may have known someone who has gone through physical therapy before, or perhaps heard about it as an option, but never really knew what it was all about. Experiences in physical therapy can vary based on the condition to be treated and each individual’s situation, though there are general similarities in the initial evaluation at the outpatient level of physical therapy, because physical therapists look at the “whole” person. For instance, I look at every person’s posture and gait, regardless of diagnosis. If it’s your first time seeing a 
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and happy new year! Your Geaux 2 PT was having a jolly good time in Great Britain and is refreshed and ready to write about some very important subjects. I’m starting 2010′s blog with a topic that is near and dear to me: preventing falls in the elderly. With winter now in full swing (8-10 inches of snow here yesterday) and icy, slick conditions around, it’s important now more than ever to talk about falling. Falls and resulting complications are serious health issues facing older adults. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths, the most common cause of non-fatal injuries, and the most common reason for hospital admission due to trauma in older adults. Read that sentence again. It’s staggering. Brain injuries and fractures incurred from a fall can be devastating and potentially life threatening. In 2001, I lost someone very close to me because he fell and broke his hip at the age of 76. He suffered a brain injury from the fall, causing trauma-induced dementia, to the point that he could not take care of himself (previously living in his own home independently). He never left the hospital and complications eventually caused his death.
