Community Education

Research shows that there is a benefit to both targeted exercises and massage to address sources of pain.  However, with restrictions with insurance coverage and limited time, physical therapists are unable to spend the time needed performing massage and are unable to keep patients for maintenance and preventative services. Their primary goal is to assess, diagnose, educate, and give patients necessary tools to address their problem.  

Most of my patients are referred to massage therapists so we can work together to achieve the best results over a longer period.  

Traditional healthcare in the United States is based on the biomedical model where diagnosis and treatment of disease considers only the physiological factors as it contributes to health.  The biopsychosocial model considers the person as a whole and looks at the effects of the mind, body, lifestyle, community, and environment on someone’s health.  INTEGRATIVE CARE uses both models to approach health and healing with evidence-based practices based on science, as well as whole person care considering the mind-body-environment factors.  

Integrated Therapeutic Healing was established out of a need for more whole-person services in this area to manage musculoskeletal problems and chronic pain.  This is accomplished by finding the root cause of the problem through comprehensive, head to toe assessments, and customized treatments based on clinical findings.  To take it another step further, collaboration with all health and wellness providers occurs to provide a team approach to care.  When rehabilitation therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physicians, nurse practitioners, dieticians, personal trainers, mental health providers and yoga instructors all work together, better outcomes and better health is achieved.  

Care that is focused on the patient. Care that is focused on compete well-being.  Care that is focused on prevention and education.  Care that empowers each patient to take control over their own health. Care that considers the complexity of disease beyond the physiological factors.  This is INTEGRATIVE CARE, and it is helping transition to a system of health versus a system of just managing disease. 

A pillow that keeps your neck in a neutral position, meaning the same position as when you are standing and sitting.  A pillow that is too thick will push your head too far forward if you are on your back or tilt it upward when on your side, putting abnormal pressure on your cervical spine structures.  A pillow that is too thin will not provide enough support.  I do not recommend any particular brand because what works for one person, may not work for another.  It is about what position it keeps your head in throughout the night.  

Yoga is often perceived as a form of exercise only for those that can stretch their bodies into extreme positions.  This perception is partly due to the plethora of postings on social media of yogis posting themselves in incredibly challenging poses. These challenging poses are achieved by not only flexibility of muscles but also strength.  It also requires joint mobility, as well as stability. 

The point of yoga is not to look like the picture, the instructor, or even your neighbor on the next mat.  It is a personal practice that is meant to help you to achieve balance of your mind, body, and soul through breathing, poses and movement.  Every BODY is different and has its own history of medical problems, injuries, pain, and trauma. The goal is for YOUR body to become more adaptable to help you to prevent injuries, alleviate pain, increase mobility, increase strength, decrease stress, increase mindfulness, and many more benefits. 

Therefore, the answer to the question is NO!  There are many forms of yoga that can be done safely for those that are not “flexible.”  I am not the most flexible person and I cannot do a lot of those challenging poses you see other yogis doing.  I choose not to perform or teach many poses due to the risk of potential injuries if not done properly.  I use yoga for myself, my patients, and students to help them feel and move better wherever they are at with their flexibility.  

Wearing a brace may help to provide your body feedback of a position of improved posture. However, long term use can lead to increase in muscle weakness and dependency on the brace to correct your posture.  Everyone’s postural deficits can be due to many different factors.  Being accurately assessed by a professional to learn why your posture is not ideal and what to do to improve it is going to be more beneficial to you for years to come.  If given appropriate advice, your muscles will be retrained and strengthened to support your spine in a better position.  

Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is not right.  A physical therapist can help you figure out why you have the pain and what to do to minimize it SAFELY.  We are trained to guide you to modify exercise programs and daily living activities for YOUR body to help you move better with less or no pain.

If you are experiencing the same pain during your exercises that brought you to seek help in the first place, then it probably is not a “good” pain.  There is a difference between muscle soreness/stretching versus pain.  Do not assume that “NO PAIN, NO GAIN” applies to all musculoskeletal conditions.  

When driving take more frequent stops every 45 minutes to 1 hour if possible.  When flying, avoid sitting until absolutely necessary.  For instance, stand or walk around while waiting to board the plane, and stand up when the fasten seat belt light comes off. Use lumbar support when sitting to support the curvature in your low back and sit more upright instead of slumped with a rounded spine.  When you are able, perform gentle back bending to counteract the flexed position from prolonged sitting.