Halloween Themed Exercises for Your Family

 The spookiest night of the year is just around the corner, which also kicks off the season of eating more and doing less. Don't worry though, there are ways you can enjoy all the extra candy in your house while also working it off and even making it into a fun activity for the family! Here are some fun Halloween exercises you and your kids can do before you go trick-or-treating this year:

SPIDER CRAWL

This creepy-crawly exercise works your entire body. Place your hands and feet on the ground, but keep your stomach pointed towards the ceiling before crawling for about thirty seconds. See who can last the longest, or turn it into a race across the living room for extra entertainment! Repeat this as much as you would like and prepare to have all of your muscles worked out.

FRANKENSTEIN SHUFFLE

Fewer walks are more iconic than that of Dr. Frankenstein's monster, but did you know that it can really work out your legs and abdomen? Stand up straight, put your arms straight out in front of you before keeping your legs straight while lifting them each one at a time towards your extended hands. This is another great exercise that can easily be turned into a race between your family.

PUMPKIN PASS

This exercise puts a fun twist on traditional medicine ball exercises. Take an uncarved pumpkin that everyone is able to easily lift and stand in a circle. Gently toss the pumpkin from one person to another for a great arm workout, but be sure to not pass the pumpkin too hard and choose a location that will be easy to clean in case of an accidental drop.

GHOST JACKS

Put a Halloween spin on jumping jacks by doing them in slow motion. Instead of keeping your arms and legs straight, wave them around like a ghost while bending your knees too. The extra motion creates a more ghostly appearance and is great fun for smaller children.

PLANK WALK

This exercise is also known as a wheelbarrow and requires two people per team, and can also be turned into a fun race between the family. One partner gets on their hands and knees while the other picks up their feet. The partner on the ground will walk using their hands. Be sure to take turns so everyone gets the full effect of this workout!

THE UNDERTAKER'S KIP-UP

Fans of the WWE will be fully aware of wrestler The Undertaker and his signature kip-up where he sits straight up after being knocked down, it's also similar to Frankenstein's Monster being brought to life. Practicing this move is a fantastic way to exercise your abdomen muscles and burn belly fat. Lie on your back with your arms extended over your head and your legs straight with your toes pointed toward your shins. Slowly lift your upper body off the ground and roll up into a seated position keeping your arms out straight. Reverse back slowly and repeat.

Most importantly do not forget to have fun! Exercising regularly increases your quality of life, mental health, and can help you manage pain while avoiding surgery. If you are looking to incorporate regular physical therapy into your life, Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy can help tailor a plan custom suited to your needs, goals, and abilities. Contact us at (972) 232-2310 or visit http://www.phoenixopt.com today! 

What are the Benefits of Physical Therapy?

 There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to your healthcare. The treatments you receive should be specific to your goals, your body, and your lifestyle. Physical Therapists are able to work directly with their clients to determine the best approach to help them maximize movement, manage pain, avoid drugs and surgeries, treat chronic conditions, and recover from injuries.

When it comes to your independence and the ability to live your life to the fullest, nothing is more important than the ability to move your body freely. Identifying joints and muscles that are causing you chronic pain is one way a Physical Therapist can help you maximize your ability to move, allowing you to engage in more activities, earn a living, and be free from the stresses of pain.

Regular physical activity helps more than your physical body. Studies demonstrate that routine activity provides boosts to your confidence, mental, and social health as well. Being able to exercise in some fashion can also help to prevent injuries, as well as chronic conditions such as obesity, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and even some cancers. A consultation with your Physical Therapist will help you identify ways to remove the barriers which are preventing you from routine exercise.

Many pain and movement problems can lead to surgery, but before you make the decision to alter your body you should see if Physical Therapy can help you treat these painful conditions. Research shows that physical therapy is as effective as surgery for many conditions such as osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disk disease. If surgery is not able to be avoided, physical therapy will help you to prepare and recover from it. 

Physical Therapy allows you to take an active role in your healthcare. Your therapists works with you to ensure you are comfortable, happy, and on the best plan for your individual needs and goals. Take control of your health by visiting Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy today. Contact us at (972) 232-2310 or visit http://www.phoenixopt.com today! 

October is National Physical Therapy Month

 October signals the beginning of fall and food-heavy holidays around the corner which make it tempting to be less physically active. This is why it is important to make a concentrated effort to focus on healthy habits and celebrate National Physical Therapy Month!

Physical Therapy is not just focused on injury recovery, it can also help injury and illness prevention. Many studies and institutions recommend physical therapy to treat mental and emotional disorders as well. 

Here are some helpful tips to help you celebrate Physical Therapy Month:

Try Something New

Find new ways to practice your self-care. Whether you've been putting off taking yoga classes or felt intimidated by certain machines at the gym, October is the time to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. 

Become Self-Aware 

Place extra focus on your physical habits. Track your movements throughout the day, the more attention you put on your habits, the more likely it is you can identify problems such as posture which are leading to chronic pain, and work to correct them. 

Understand the Impact of Physical Therapy

Reach out to your local Physical Therapist and find out how they can help you. Physical Therapy can make it possible to recover quicker and more completely from any surgeries, injuries, or chronic pains while reducing the need for medication. The additional effects of being more relaxed and pain-free will also improve your emotional state as well. 

Focus on Self-Care

Even if you haven't had a recent surgery or injury you can benefit this month by taking care of yourself. "Me time" is good for your mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy is available to help you celebrate Physical Therapy Month. Contact us at (972) 232-2310 or visit www.phoenixopt.com today! 

How Physical Therapy Can Help You

Is Pain Keeping You from the Things You Enjoy?

Virtually all sources state that the necessities to live a long and healthy life includes a balanced combination of diet, exercise, rest, motivation, and social support. Unfortunately, pain can get in the way of all of these. So, it is important to evaluate the role physical therapy can play in ensuring you are living life to the fullest.

Pain is Painful

You know what your pain is, even if you can’t describe exactly what is bothering you, you just know you are suffering from the effects of it. Often, people become so accustomed to their individual aches and pains that they don’t notice the pain itself, but it can still affect your ability to rest properly, exercise, and enjoy your daily routines. Physical Therapists are expertly skilled in evaluating the root cause of your pain and identifying the path you need to take to return to whatever activity you wish to perform.

Pain Medications Only Provide Temporary Relief

Medications can be extremely effective in providing temporary relief, but often than simply prolong true recovery. Medications also bring many other side effects which can also prevent you from performing to your full potential. A Physical Therapist can help you rely less on medication.

Bring Movement Back to Your Life

Physical Therapy patients will often remark about how amazing they feel to be able to move specific body parts again. Your nervous system plays tug-of-war with pain anytime you engage in activities that require motion. With guided therapy, you can ensure that pain loses this tug-of-war, and you can enjoy using all your joints and muscles again.

Surgery Is Not Always the Best Option

Repairing injuries with surgery can provide relief, but it is best to not alter your original joints and muscles unless it is absolutely necessary. Within the proper environment your body is able to heal itself from many injuries and setbacks. A Physical Therapist can help you recover and return to activity quickly, whereas recovering from surgeries can take several months.

Learn how Physical Therapy can enrich your life today. Contact Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy at 972.232.2310 or visit www.phoenixopt.com today!

 

3 Key Questions for Physical Therapy

 Are you suffering from a sports injury? Knee problems? Spinal pain? Physical Therapy can help treat a wide range of issues. However, before you begin exercises to decrease your pain and restore your function, be prepared to answer some key questions.

What are your limitations?

How does your pain limit your ability to carry out daily routines? It is important to determine exactly how your pain is affecting your daily lifestyle. Do you care more about being able to lift your grandchildren or do you need full range of motion to perform manual labor? Knowing your goals helps your therapist determine the best course for you.

What are your goals?

Speaking of goals; your goals play an important role in your physical therapy. Setting milestone goals help you get the most out of therapy while feeling rewarded. If a knee injury is preventing you from playing tennis, your ultimate goal should be to get back on the court. Knowing your goals allows your therapist to focus on improving areas specific to the activities you wish to perform.

Are you committed to this plan?

Your success will depend on your willingness to stick to the program over the course of weeks or months. If you only do the work when you are in the clinic, you probably will not experience lasting success. Making lifestyle changes will help you prevent your pain from recurring. If you don’t feel committed to the plan let your therapist know up front and together you can determine a course of action that you will be committed to.

For more information to find out if Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy is right for you visit our website at https://www.phoenixopt.com/ or call (972) 232-2310. Your body will thank you for it!

The Benefits of Cash Based Physical Therapy

Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy provides cash-based benefits to your healthcare. In a cash-based treatment model, the Physical Therapist works closely with the patient to provide physical therapy services that both parties have determined will help them reach treatment goals most efficiently. This model allows the therapist to focus attention on providing the best possible service while keeping administrative costs low thus elevating the stress of future medical bills. There are multiple ways to allow the patient to pay for services by using your HSA account, actual cash, check, or a credit or debit card. This process allows Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy to spend more time with patients and allows patients to control their healthcare choices with transparent pricing.

Cash-based billing eliminates this confusion and allows for clarity in decision-making on the part of the patient and their physical therapist. Documentation for evaluations, treatment visits, and progress notes are performed just like any physical therapy practice and comply with all legal requirements. Compared to insurance-based circumstances, medical coding for physical therapy services provided is determined using a complex matrix of "timed codes" and "untimed codes". This often results in confusing patient bills, as the amount billed to insurance will vary from visit to visit based on the exact services provided that day.

In addition, cash-based programs are actually much more cost-effective. Physical Therapists have extensive education and training to be neuromuscular primary care experts. For the majority of patients with movement or pain problems, Physical Therapists are often the provider of choice. It makes financial sense for people with high deductibles to pay a Physical Therapist directly for a comprehensive evaluation and treatment. In many cases, the out-of-pocket expenses for a course of physical therapy will actually be less for services that are provided. This is due to the ability to charge less per visit. These charges are greatly below the national average charged to insurance companies; the reality is that a cash-based program puts the patient first.

Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy can charge less because the simplified cash-based fee structure streamlines billing and does not require hiring billing personnel or paying fees to a third-party billing service. This allows us to focus all energy on patient care and allows patients to make informed decisions regarding the costs of their health care choices. Additionally, with a growing trend towards companies providing high deductible insurance along with an HSA option, a cash-based Physical Therapist may be your best option as you can your HSA to pay for your visits.

Another benefit is the accessibility and shorter wait times that come with a cash-based model. The quicker you can see a therapist the faster you will get back to doing what you love to do. It’s about living the best life for you and Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy understands this. Coupled with transparent pricing, cash-based pricing eliminates the administrative cost and hidden fees so the patient understands exactly what is coming out of their pocket.

It is all about the patients. Eliminating the insurance middlemen out of the equation allows the therapist to spend more time directly with the patient and a faster recovery time. For more information to find out if Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy is right for you visit our website at https://www.phoenixopt.com/ or call (972) 232-2310. Your body will thank you for it!

Make 2021 Your Healthiest Year

 We are at the point in the year that New Year Resolutions have gone the way of yesterday's newspapers. Maybe you started out strong, but recently your drive to achieve your goals has wavered. You're not alone. Studies indicate that less than 25% of people remain committed to resolutions after only 30 days, and a dismal 8% actually see their goals through the year.

Now, don't let the poor stats discourage you from setting goals. Not setting goals is worse than not seeing them through, as it leads to discouragement and a lack of confidence in yourself. Setting goals is to carry an optimism in your day-to-day life which will have many benefits in unforeseen ways.

So for those of you who have already given up on your resolutions or didn't set goals to begin with, now is the ultimate time to start, and here are some tips to be more successful.

1. Break Up Your Year - A year is too long to wait to celebrate achievements. Long-term vision is good, but for the sake of your motivation you should divide the year up into meaningful milestones. Focus on the short-term as well as the long-term and set a goal for each month, and reward yourself as these milestones will help you see your long-term vision at the end of the year.
2. Set Specific Goals - Don't focus too much on the outcome, but rather how you will achieve an outcome. If your goal is to lose 20 pounds, you should set your goal instead to take actions that will result in it. You need to create a process to follow, write down your ideas for new habits that will help you achieve your long-term goal. Setting short-term goals to exercise for 30 minutes or not eat after a certain time act as an action plan that you can easily follow through with.
3. Set Minimum, Target, and Inspired Short-Term Goals - Life interferes with the best laid plans. If you set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes each day, there are going to be days you simply can't achieve this goal. So having a minimum goal for each day of 10 minutes and an inspired goal of 45 minutes can help you avoid losing your motivation if you're not able to hit your target one day.
4. Take New Approaches - No matter what your goals are, using these new approaches can help you succeed. You will be surprised at how much you accomplish this year!

Phoenix Osteopractic Physical Therapy has locations in Rockwall, and a DFW Mobile Concierge. Visit https://www.phoenixopt.com/ for more information about Osteopractic Therapy and how we can help you with chronic pain and rehabilitation.