Let’s face it: the winter time can be a difficult period for many people when it comes to their overall level of fitness and physical health. Cold weather can spell an immobile fate for many people who allow the cold to prevent them from continuing to workout regularly. Unfortunately, winter months can often be a period of time where people begin to put on excess pounds and become out of shape, as the winter can restrict outdoor activities and physical activity in general. If you’re someone who wants to remain physically fit during this period of time, here are a few helpful hints to consider from your Denver physical therapist.

Get a Gym Membership

If the cold weather has you down and prevents you from working out as much as you would like to, you may want to seriously consider finding a gym to join. Having a gym is not necessarily a recipe for remaining in physical health, as you will actually need to attend the gym regularly in order to receive the plethora of benefits offered by this service. However, a gym is especially useful during the winter months, when running or playing a specific sport becomes less accessible for most people.

Enrolling in a gym membership can also provide an added layer of accountability for people looking to get back into peak physical health, as having to pay a monthly fee can help boost a person to leave their home and head to the gym. Gym’s tend to offer many options for people that can make the prospect of working out a much more realistic and enjoyable option. If your gym has a sauna or hot tub, it can also become a big motivating factor to get you to exert your body physically.

One major thing to keep is mind is to join a gym that you will actually end up going to. You don’t want enroll in a gym that doesn’t have any facilities nearby your house of place of work, as it will make it extremely unlikely that you will actually end up going to it. Select a gym that is convenient and will make it probably that you’ll get off your butt and get moving. Even if the gym costs a little more per month, the savings on time and hassle getting to the facility will likely be worth the extra money spent.

Get an Accountability Buddy

Many people struggle with staying consistent with their workout and dieting plans, and it can be especially easy to give in to temptation when attempting to make a change on your own. Humans are creatures of habit and can fall back into old patterns fairly easily. We may have the best intentions to change ourselves for the better, but ingrained habits often are the hardest to end up kicking.

One beneficial strategy to consider implementing is to seek out an accountability buddy. This is a person who can help to motivate you to stick with whatever your particular health goals may be. If you are trying to workout more during the winter months, having someone else to go to the gym with can be a major boost to your willpower. If you make plans to do something with someone, chances are you are more likely to follow through than if you are going it alone. The same is true of dieting, as temptation can rear its ugly head and derail your plans faster than you can finish that slice of pizza. Having a friend keep you accountable can be the needed detail you require to stick with your plan of action.

Consider Taking a Month Off of Drinking

January is often the best month for individuals seeking to take a break from drinking, as it follows the holidays and is a great way to start the new year off right. But even if you didn’t make the decision to abstain from alcohol during the first month of the year, selecting February or March for your month free from drinking can still be a great option to consider. Drinking alcohol can lead to feelings of depression, which may be exacerbated during the winter months due to the weather and lack of sunlight.

Even if you don’t have a serious problem with drinking and consider yourself to be a casual drinker, taking a month off of alcohol can provide untold amounts of health benefits and make you feel better both physically and mentally. This time can be a great opportunity to consider going on a whole food diet, as you will not be consuming any time of processed alcohol during this period. The Whole 30 diet has risen in popularity, as people are realizing the benefits of eating a clean diet made up of whole, unprocessed foods.

Taking a break from the booze can provide additional benefits outside of the immediate ones a person will experience as a result of not drinking for the month. Abstaining from alcohol will provide a person with more energy, as they will not have to worry about waking up with a hangover or feeling drained. It can also allow a person to get creative with their social life, as going out for drinks will no longer be a fallback option.

If you are looking to improve your physical health situation and are in need of physical therapy due to an accident or other physical ailments, contact Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness today and we will be happy to assist you with your first steps towards recovery. We have an extensive team of qualified physical therapists and specialists who care deeply about their clients and go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the highest quality treatment in the industry. If you are looking for a therapist who will carefully assess your individual needs and formulate a treatment plan that is specifically tailored to your needs, Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness is your preferred choice for the physical recovery process.
 

At Peak Physical Therapy & Wellness, we’re no strangers to the numerous physical pains that we all encounter in our everyday lives. Our team of certified physical therapists, chiropractors, and athletic trains aid patients from across the Denver area with an entire gamut of physical ailments —achy knees from Littleton, tingly shoulders from Douglas, and even stinging backs from Adams. Our diverse team of specialists know exactly how to treat your injury, and can even offer you methods on how to avoid pain in the future. That’s why professional athletes, amatuer athletes, weekend warriors and competitive hobbyists have relied on our care for decades to keep them in peak performance.

One area of we treatment we offer is something you might not think of, but the part of your body that you probably use most everyday. That is: hand therapy treatment. You don’t have to be a violinist from Arvada, a carpenter from Thornton or a painter from Bennett to suffer from hand pain. 

In this era of rampant portable electronics, typing, and touchscreens, our hands are enduring a brunt of activity that other generations would have deemed unimaginable. If you use your hands for repetitive tasks, such as typing, and you regularly experience pain or cramping, consider visiting a massage therapist here at Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness for a hand massage. 

While the majority of our hand therapy patients come to us after suffering an injury to their hands —from fractures, dislocations and sprains to cuts, infections or sports-related injuries. Others who seek hand therapy treatment here at Peak Physical Therapy & Wellness include those who suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, or congenital defects. No matter what your medical history or profession, chances are your hands take a beating just from the day-to-day tasks they’re responsible for every day. How can occasional hand therapy keep your mitts in peak form? The ways are innumerable.

How Can a Hand Therapist Help Me?

The team of qualified hand therapy experts here at Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness provide non-operative interventions, preventative care and post-surgical rehabilitation for a wide variety symptoms. The goal of our professional hand care experts is always to return your hands to their pre-surgery condition and, if possible, give you greater range of motion and more comfort than you had before your injury. 

 Whether you’re a Denver-area patient who is recovering from a minor hand injury or suffering from a  chronic hand-related condition like as arthritis. Our hand therapists utilize a variety of hand massage techniques to soothe aching muscles and release tension in your hands and fingers. Their numerous techniques and tools range from activity and exercise programs, fitting you for custom orthotic fabrications, and can helping you with pain management and swelling around wounds and scars. Our expert hand therapists can also consult you how about to more safely and efficiently utilize your hands at work —regardless of your profession — in order to stave off unnecessary wear and prevent future injury while establishing healthy work habits that will protect your hands long term. 

Even if you have not suffered an injury or are not dealing with constant pain in your hands, an occasional hand therapy session can offer you a tremendous array of benefits. The human hand contains a wide variety of acupressure and reflexology points which are associate with various organs and tissues located throughout the body. Hand massage is a quick, relaxing way to experience immediate health benefits, including improved finger and wrist range of motion, enhanced circulation and reduction of your trigger points in your hand muscles.

Denver’s Hand Experts

Each of the hand therapists here at Peak Physical Therapy & Wellness have earned advanced certification as a certified hand therapist (CHT). The CHT credential is earned after a therapist practices for a minimum of five years, accumulating at least 4,000 hours of treatment for hand and upper extremity disorders. Certified hand therapists must also pass a rigorous certification exam to demonstrate their competency in treating hand and upper extremity conditions. Our team of Denver-based hand therapists work closely with regional orthopaedic and general surgeons who also specialize in the hand in order to stay abreast of modern treatment trends and preventative techniques.  The hand team here at Peak Physical Therapy also specializes in splinting. Splinting can be used to protect or immobilize a joint, stretch or mobilize a stiff joint with both static and dynamic progressive techniques, or to facilitate function.

Top Notch Physical Therapy in Denver

Whether you’re an active professional, an amatuer athlete, or a practicing competitive athlete, we welcome you to explore the wide variety of treatments available to you here at Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness. With nine care and treatment centers across the Denver metropolitan area and over two decades of experience, Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness has established itself as the region’s premier source for musculoskeletal care.
 

You’re probably entering the 2019 calendar year with high hopes of how you can transform your physical health in the next 12 months. Indeed, January is often a time when people begin to consider their current behaviors and issues and assess what is needed in order to turn the situation around. A person’s physical health is determined by a number of different factors which contribute to the overall picture of wellness. Thankfully, there are a number of choices and decisions a person can make that will improve their overall health condition. Here are a few from your Denver physical therapist.

Eat More Whole Foods, Healthier Snacks

A big trend in recent years has been the prevalence of individuals deciding to go on a Whole-30 diet for the month of January. This entails eating a diet free from processed foods and sugars, and is often reminiscent of the paleo diet. There’s a reason why people are deciding the eat more whole vegetables and healthy meat choices: the evidence is mounting that processed foods are a major contributor to poor health. The maxim of ‘you are what you eat’ is beginning to ring true more often, as you can directly see a correlation between poor health outcomes and the decisions a person makes at the dinner table. 

Eating a diet which is rooted in real ingredients is a huge way a person can improve their overall health situation in the short term. In addition to dealing with less complications from having too much sugar or carbs, eating whole foods will provide a sustainable level of energy free from the constant crashes caused by poor snacking habits. Giving up chips in favor of a carrot can be a difficult task for many people hooked on the crunch, but it can provide immense health benefits in the long-term.

Individuals who eat more whole foods and less processed snacks tend to deal with less issues related to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Beyond the long-term health benefits associated with eating healthier foods, a person will also experience short-term benefits of feeling better and having more energy. Making the decision to eat healthier can be compounded by following the next important habit change.

Exercise Regularly

It’s no accident that your doctor, friend, family member, or just general health-advocate will relentlessly stress the importance of eating healthy and exercising often. Indeed, these health nuggets have become so commonplace, it can be easy to look past them in the fight to retain and improve one’s health situation. However, things are often cliche for a reason and are a primary part of taking the path to overall wellness. 

Exercising regularly can have profound health benefits beyond simply being in better shape. Consistently exerting oneself physically can reduce a person’s risk for a heart attack, as your health will be in a much better state. It will also contribute to a person managing their weight, as it’s one of the best strategies for burning calories and eventually burning away layers of fat. Exercise can also contribute to lowering a person’s blood pressure, as well as lower the risk of other serious health conditions, including cancer, and diabetes. A person will also have stronger bones and muscles from consistent workouts, reducing the possibility of dealing with an injury as a result of a fall.

Find Time to Reduce Stress, Healthily 

Stress is one of the biggest sources of poor health, as stress can lead to a number of health complications, including high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease to name a few conditions. Without a proper release valve for the stress we experience in our lives, it is easy to become overwhelmed by our life and experience compounding health concerns as a result. Headache, insomnia, chest pain, and upset stomachs are just a number of the symptoms that can follow a person dealing with stress.

Unfortunately, many people decide to deal with stress in unhealthy ways which can actually make the problem worse. This includes abusing drugs and alcohol, binging on food or television, or acting out in ways which are damaging to the person’s relationships and overall life situation. If you are experiencing regular outbursts of anger, out-of-ordinary amounts of substance abuse, or social withdrawal, it’s probably time to consider a healthy solution to deal with your health concerns. 

Instead of dealing with stress in a negative way, find positive outlets to channel and release your stress which won’t also impact your life poorly. This includes exploring a mindfulness practice, whether that be through yoga, meditation, or simply receiving a deep-tissue massage from a trusted practitioner. It can also mean going out with friends, spending time with loved ones, or simply getting the proper amount of socialization with the people in our life. 

Setting time aside to work on our hobbies, whether it be an art form or other form of recreation, is an important part of managing one’s stress. Having an activity which can provide joy as well as relief from the difficult parts of our life is an important tool to use in terms of balancing our stress load. Finding productive ways to channel our stress can help us make meaning of this experience. 

If you are looking to improve your physical health situation and are in need of physical therapy due to an accident or other physical ailments, contact Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness today and we will be happy to assist you with your first steps towards recovery. We have an extensive team of qualified physical therapists and specialists who care deeply about their clients and go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the highest quality treatment in the industry. If you are looking for a therapist who will carefully assess your individual needs and formulate a treatment plan that is specifically tailored to your needs, Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness is your preferred choice for the physical recovery process.

Athletes from across Aurora, Denver and Englewood know to rely on Peak Physical Therapy when it comes to healing and rehabbing from accident or injury. But what you may not know is how athletes from across Colorado also utilize our friendly and knowledgeable team of medical experts to prevent injury as well. One of the most specialized services we offer to athletes of all sports and skill levels is gait analysis. Gait analysis isn’t just a great way to see if you can minimize common aches and pains you experience from running, it’s also a way to improve your future running performance and to make it as pain free as possible. 

Your individualized running assessment —also known as gait assessment —will provide you all the information you need to to know to enhance your performance and prevent injury, through both adjustments to your gait and by providing the type of information you can utilize to invest in the proper equipment. In addition addressing prevalent musculoskeletal and biomechanical impairments that could be causing you pain, our team also provides patients with a a comprehensive video analysis of your running form which can be utilized to make any necessary adjustments. 

The process starts when one of our team members records footage of your movement on a treadmill. This footage —about thirty seconds long —allows us to see what type of pronation, or natural side-to-side movement of the foot as you walk or run. It is also known as “eversion.” There are three types on eversion, and our staff will help you to determine which category you fall under.

Overpronation: Around 70% of humans overpronate, which means their plant leg rolls inward as they step into their gate. You may overpronate if you have low arches or flat feet. 

Underpronation: Also referred to as supination, this occurs when the ankle strikes the ground at a steep angle. This pronation is usually common among athletes with high arches. 

Neutral: Neural pronation occurs when the food lands flat in a controlled manner, distributing weight evenly from the front of the foot up the leg. 

The Peak PT team will analyze your specific running gait in an effort to reduce pain, decrease your risk of future injury and even hope to improve your future performance. We can also recommended specific styles of running shoes In addition to offering you a range of therapeutic exercise tailored to your protonation, as well as manual therapy and soft tissue mobilization to help keep you running fresh. 
 

The new year is upon us and with it comes a slew of new fitness goals for individuals seeking to improve their overall health. The new year is one of the biggest times when people seek to improve their circumstances, whether it’s financially, health-wise, or just general improvement. If you’re one of the many individuals who has made a new year resolution, it’s important to be aware of the ways in which you can make your resolution stick. Here are some of the ways to reach your fitness goals in 2019 from your Parker physical therapist.

Make Your Resolution Realistic

One of the biggest ways in which individuals fail to stick to their new year's resolution is due to the fact that they make resolutions which are completely unrealistic. Sure, it’s good to shoot for the stars and end up reaching the moon, but if your goals are completely out of touch with your current situation and not attainable, you are simply setting yourself up for disappointment and failure. That’s not a recipe for success, that’s a recipe for disappointment. If you want a chance of reaching your goal, it’s important to make your resolution manageable.

Break Up Your Resolution

If you’re seeking to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year, this goal can appear to be a bit too daunting for the average individual, especially if you haven’t worked out in a while. One way of overcoming this is to break up your resolution into more manageable chunks. For example, if you’re seeking to lose 30 pounds in a year, it’s a good idea to break it up into a 3-month segment, planning to lose seven or eight pounds by the end of March. 

Incentivize Yourself

Another helpful tool to be aware of in the battle to achieve your resolution is to reward yourself for reaching certain milestones associated with it. If you have a goal of working out 3 times a week and have managed to do so for a month straight, set a reward that you’ll go out to the movies with friends or have another pleasurable activity which helps motivate you to stay on track towards your resolution. Incentivizing yourself can make a huge difference in staying on track. 

If you are looking to improve your physical health situation and are in need of physical therapy due to an accident or other physical ailments, contact Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness today and we will be happy to assist you with your first steps towards recovery. We have an extensive team of qualified physical therapists and specialists who care deeply about their clients and go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the highest quality treatment in the industry. If you are looking for a therapist who will carefully assess your individual needs and formulate a treatment plan that is specifically tailored to your needs, Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness is your preferred choice for the physical recovery process.