Englewood Physical Therapy & Wellness

When it comes to outdoor activities in Colorado, perhaps one of the most popular is skiing and snowboarding. The centennial state is known for its vast amount of ski resorts and destinations where powder addicts can fulfill their craving for the best possible action on the slopes. The 2018-19 season was filled with snowfall, providing endless opportunities for skiers and snowboarders to carve into their favorite run, offering both recreation and exercise is one fell swoop. But before you get amped up to take it to the mountains this year, it’s important to be prepared, as an accident on the mountain can be extremely serious to your health, possibly even deadly. Here is what you need to know before you take it to the slopes this year from your Denver physical therapist.

Stretch Early and Often

It is especially important to regularly stretch during the course of a ski season, as this is one of the best preventative measures you can take to ensure you don’t become injured. It’s crucial to stretch all parts of your body that you will be using on a regular basis, as these will be much more vulnerable to injury. You will want to focus primarily on your lower body, as this will be the area that you will be using the most to traverse down the mountain. It’s important to make sure you are stretching before you hit the slopes and afterwards, as this will help you prevent injury more easily than if you did not stretch.

Areas which you should think about stretching include the hips, as you will be using this part of your body to turn. Engaging in squats while having your knees bent, making sure to keep both feet on the ground, is a great way to enhance your hip strength. Rotating from side to side while in this position will help to keep your hips loose, while also keeping your lower back engaged throughout the process. Stretching your hamstrings and calves will also help to provide the protection you need when you are hitting the slopes.

Aerobics and Cardio Exercises

One of the important things you need to be focused on prior to engaging in skiing and snowboarding is to make sure you are in peak physical shape in terms of your cardiovascular health. Although heading down hill may appear to be an easy activity to the laymen, anyone who has spent any amount of time on the mountain skiing and snowboarding knows how intense and grueling a day on the slopes can be. It is important to make sure you are in optimal cardiovascular health prior to hitting the mountain, as it will come back to bite you if you are not careful.

Prior to skiing or snowboarding, it is important to engage in regular activities which raise your heart rate. Anything such as running, riding a bike, or jumping rope can be a helpful way to make sure your endurance level is where you need it to be prior to the ski season beginning. Many injuries can occur when your endurance level is not where it needs to be, causing you to strain yourself and overexert your body. If you are regularly engaging in cardio activities, you will be more prepared to handle the stress that can come with hitting the slopes. Additionally, you will get much more enjoyment out of your day, as you won’t be constantly needing to catch your breath after every run.

Make Sure Your Vehicle is Ready for the Snow

Although it is absolutely important to think about all of the various ways in which you need to get ready physically for the ski season, you also need to be very mindful of the things needed to make sure your vehicle is ready for the season ahead. Skiing and snowboarding can be one of the most enjoyable activities you engage in in Colorado, but it is not worth risking your life for if you haven’t taken the necessary precautions to ensure your vehicle is in optimal condition. Anyone who has spent any amount of time driving on I-70 in the winter time knows how treacherous the highway can be, especially in the midst of a snowstorm.

Prior to heading up to your preferred ski resort, make sure your vehicle is ready to handle whatever a Colorado winter will be ready to throw at it. If you are not driving a vehicle with all-wheel drive, it is important to carry chains with you, as this is a new consideration not only for safety but also to remain compliant with traction laws. Additionally, regardless of whether or not your car has AWD, you will want to make sure you have the best possible tires to handle the roads. Studies have shown that tires make more of a difference in terms of driving in the snow that all-wheel drive, and it is important not to get arrogant simply because your vehicle has AWD. Consider investing in snow tires to double down on your car’s traction, as this can be the difference between spinning out and crashing on the highway, and driving safely and smoothly to your destination.

If you are looking to improve your physical health situation is 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.
 

The act of locating the best Denver physical therapist can be a challenge, as there are seemingly endless numbers of clinics to sift through in order to find the one that fits your needs. Often times, you will be looking for a clinic after a serious accident and perhaps insurance will play a key role. Or perhaps you will have to pay out of pocket and you will be looking for a clinic who not only fills your specific injury needs but will also provide you will affordable services. Unfortunately, physical therapy can often be an expensive service to utilize, as clinics must meet their own financial needs during the course of business. But there are certain factors to consider above all others when locating the best Denver physical therapist for your recovery.

They Take Your Individual Circumstance Into Account

One of the key factors to consider when searching for a Denver physical therapist is to look for a practitioner who will think about your individual needs first and foremost. Often times, physical therapy clinics can make clients feel like they are being churned through a one-size-fits-all treatment approach, which can seriously overlook your personal needs and condition. It’s not as if every person will be able to react the same way to all forms of treatment, and it is important to keep this in mind when searching for a physical therapist.

The best physical therapists in Denver will look at all aspects of their clientele in order to formulate a treatment plan which effectively tackles and addresses their clients needs and treatment goals. If you are suffering from both knee and back pain, what works for someone with just knee pain will likely not be sufficient for you, as certain exercises may trigger your pain in your back. Bad physical therapists will overlook these elements and will not take the time to think about an approach that will address your concerns without causing you additional suffering in the process.

They Offer You Realistic Treatment Outcomes

When it comes to the health and wellness industry, one of the most common things which clients and patients can deal with is to navigate through a minefield of unrealistic expectations and promises from practitioners who are looking to gain as much business as possible. While it can be tempting to fall prey to unrealistic expectations, it will ultimately do you harm by not staying grounded within what is realistically possible. 

Physical therapists who claim that you will be able to make an extremely fast recovery will not only set you up for disappointment, they may also set you back in your recovery process, as you may try to do too much too soon. One of the fastest ways you can regress in your treatment is to engage in activities which you are not suited for. Physical therapists who are overly optimistic and are not grounded in reality can do their clients a serious amount of harm. Always be cautious of physical therapists who are making proclamations which seem unrealistic and not achievable.

Provide You with Fact-Based, Useful Information

Outside of the exercises you will be practicing with your physical therapist, an important component to look for when searching for a quality Denver physical therapist is to find someone who can provide you with useful information for your specific situation. If you have been injured in an auto accident and are having a difficult time engaging in your favorite physical activity as a result, a strong physical therapist will give you information which will help you achieve a faster recovery so you can get back to engaging in that form of activity. 

Often times, physical therapists will provide patients with information which is either too generalized or is not particularly relevant to their client’s individual situation. Always request information which is relevant and helpful for your situation. Additionally, a physical therapist should also provide their clients with helpful alternatives in addition to physical therapy, as there are many other modalities which can help a client achieve a faster recovery. Things such as massage therapy, chiropractic work, and acupuncture can all help you in your recovery and a trusted physical therapist will be able to provide you with reliable practitioners in these fields.

Cool and Compassionate

Although it can seem like something of an afterthought, one of the most critical things to take into account when searching for a reliable Denver physical therapist is to find someone who is kind and compassionate. A physical therapist who appears to be disinterested in the well-being of their clients will not help you feel tended to and will likely make you feel less engaged in your own treatment as a result.

Bed-side manner is often cited as something which every healthcare professional should have, but unfortunately this can be something that many physical therapy professionals lack. You should never have to put up with someone who is cold and not compassionate towards you as someone who is recovering from an injury. Always seek out a physical therapist who seems truly engaged in your treatment and will help you get back to where you need to be, as this is especially important.

If you are in need of physical therapy, or have questions about what physical therapy consists of, 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.
 

It’s been said a thousand times: regular exercise is critical to maintaining your overall health. Simply eating fresh food and taking the necessary supplements for your body is not enough to keep yourself in the best possible health condition. You also need to exert yourself physically, whether it is in the form of strength-training, cardiovascular activities, or other things which will improve your physical health conditioning levels. Clearly, exercise is incredibly important to staying healthy, especially as we age. But simply exercising is not as straight-forward or as easy as you might think, as there are a number of components which can come into play. With that in mind, here is what you should know about exercise from your Parker physical therapist.

Choose Activities Which You are Likely to Engage In

If you haven’t exercised in ages and the thought of going to gym is the last thing you would consider to be an enjoyable experience, it is important to find something which you will be likely to engage in. For instance, if you hate the thought of running but you are more inclined to want to get on a bike, consider enrolling in a spin class as a way to get your cardio activity. Whenever you are taking on a new habit, you should seriously think about the activities which you will be likely to engage in. However you can remove the barriers and obstacles to working out, the more likely it is that you will actually do it. 

Making significant behavior changes requires a persistent mindset and a commitment to getting better, but you should also be realistic when you are taking on the task of a new workout routine. If you are thinking you will go from no exercise to running a marathon, you are simply setting yourself up for serious failure. Instead of shooting for the moon right off the bat, think about ways you can slowly wade into the waters of exercise, especially with activities you enjoy. Sports can be a terrific way to achieve your exercise goals while also having fun. Think about the things you enjoy the most in relation to physical activity, and pursue these activities as much as possible. 

Be Careful Not To Overdo It

When people begin to exercise when they haven’t done so in ages, often individuals are tempted to go from zero to a hundred in a short amount of time. The idea of making up for lost time can be appealing for people who are wanting to catch up to their more active peers, but this can be a recipe for disaster, as you may end up overdoing it and regretting your decision. It’s important to ease into physical activity if you haven’t worked out in a long time, as it can be dangerous to your health in a number of ways. 

For instance, if you are overweight or have circulation issues, making the decision to overexert yourself can be extremely dangerous to your health, as you may end up experiencing serious repercussions as a result. Don’t ever overdo it when it comes to exercising, as you may end up seriously injuring yourself in the process. Going too hard, too soon can prevent you from reaching your health goals, as you may be incapacitated for a long period of time and will be incapable of working out. Whenever you haven’t worked out a long time, make sure to take your time and start slow, eventually building to more serious and strenuous activities. 

Consider Working Out in a Group

If you haven’t worked out in a long time, it can be difficult to start this type of habit on your own accord. The prospect of going to the gym or simply going for a run in your neighborhood can feel like pulling teeth, making it much less likely that you will actually go out and do it. In order to increase the chances that you will actually complete the task, it can be a great idea to consider working out in a group. Consider finding someone you are close to who will want to work out together with you, as this can increase the odds that you will actually complete the activity. 

Having someone to hold yourself accountable can dramatically increase the chances of you starting a new routine, as you will have to make an excuse to another person why you can’t workout instead of just yourself. And let’s face it: it’s always easy to tell yourself why you don’t need to do something, but telling someone else is much more difficult.

Think About Gyms Which Are Close To Your House

If you have had a long day at work, often the last thing you will want to do after you get home is to get stuck in traffic driving a gym that is far away from your home. For this reason, it is definitely wise to think about joining a gym which is close to either your home or the office, as it will make it much more likely that you will actually go. With any new behavior, it is always best to remove the barriers to completing the activity, and having a gym close by is a great way to ensure you end up taking advantage of your gym membership.

If you are looking to improve your physical health situation is 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.
 

Health benefits come in all forms and facets of life. From your mental and physical well-being, to your spiritual and social life, keeping your health in peak form requires a persistent and driven mindset to maintain all critical components of your life. It’s not just a matter of going to the gym regularly and trying to eat healthy, fresh food. While that is certainly an important part of the equation, it’s also important to keep your mind sharp and free from many things that can drag you down. There are many benefits to keeping a regular mindfulness practice to be aware of from your Denver physical therapist. 

Improves Your Mental Health

One of the most critical and well-known benefits of maintaining a regular mindfulness practice is that it can improve your overall mental health. In 2019, the modern world can present many challenges to remaining still and present in our daily life, as there are endless distractions and activities which can present significant hurdles to you and your mental health situation. For this reason, keeping up with a regular mindfulness practice can allow you to improve your individual health with each day. Mindfulness has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, providing an individual with a grounding space to connect with themselves and become more centered.

Provides Benefits to Your Physical Health 

While mindfulness is certainly something which can offer significant benefits to you with regards to your mental health, it can also provide immense benefits when it comes to your physical health as well. Mental stressors can creep in to many aspects of one’s life, not just your mental space. There has been a correlation between individuals who are stressed and many chronic physical health conditions, including hyper-tension and heart disease.

One of the best ways you can overcome these conditions is to practice a regular routine of mindfulness, which can provide immense long-term benefits to your physical health. By reducing stress, mindfulness can have a profound effect on your body, reducing the incidence of chronic disease and other issues which can contribute to a poor health situation. Practicing mindfulness can be a primary component to achieving all of your health goals in your life.

If you are looking to improve your physical health situation is 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.   

There are many behaviors and routines a person can engage in which can significantly improve one’s overall health situation. You've likely heard of the regular refrain of eating healthy, fresh food and getting plenty of exercise as being a primary path to staying in peak physical health. It’s no secret that some of the most simple activities practiced on a regular basis can have seriously profound results for you and your body. Sometimes the most simple actions are the ones which need to be practiced the most. This is certainly true when it comes to stretching, as this simple, but extremely important activity can have many health benefits for both injured and healthy individuals alike. Here are some of the biggest benefits of stretching from your Denver physical therapist.

Increased Flexibility

We’ve probably all seen individuals walking around who are noticeably stiff and in need of more flexibility. Often, these individuals are older, as a lack of stretching and regular physical activity tends to build up and compound as a person gets older. However, being stiff and immobile person is not simply limited to people who are elderly, as younger people can also begin to show signs of not being limber, especially if they are not staying up to date with their workout routine and stretching exercises.

Being flexible has many health benefits, both in terms of posture as well as overall functionality when it comes to one’s health. If you are stiff and are not especially flexible, any kind of physical activity will present issues for you and you will likely be less capable of completing the activity if you are not stretching on a regular basis. It can not only help you when you are competing in strenuous exercise, but regular stretching can also improve your most basic physical activities. 

Increases Blood Flow

In terms of maintaining your overall health condition, one of the best ways you can achieve this goal by increasing your blood flow, as improved circulation is one of the most important things you can do. A lack of blood flow in your body can lead to a whole host of serious health complications, such as a heart attack, stroke, and decreased physical alertness and responsiveness. 

By performing regular stretches, you not only improve your overall physical flexibility, but you accomplish the goal of increasing your blood flow. By doing this, you will shorten your recovery time after intense workout sessions, as blood flood is an important component to aiding in your physical recovery time. It can also help you reduce your muscle soreness in the even that you exert yourself too much during a workout, for the same reasons. 

Helps Prevent the Onset of Chronic Pain Conditions

When it comes to developing chronic pain conditions, one of the worst things you can do in addition to not regularly working out is to also forgo regular stretching exercises. By regularly stretching, a person is able to improve their overall range of motion, allowing you to loosen your muscles much easier, which in turn prevents you from feeling cramped and lacking mobility. Stretching will reduce the likelihood of chronic pain, as you will be much less tight and not as vulnerable to injuring yourself. A muscles strain can affect many aspects of your life, as you may not be as capable of performing regular activities, especially those which require a large amount of physical exertion and movement. 

Improved Mental Clarity

In terms of improving your overall health, regular stretching can not only benefit your body but can also improve your overall soundness of mind. This is one of the big reasons yoga has seen a massive rise in popularity in recent years, as it is not only an activity done to improve one’s physical flexibility, but it also improves mental clarity and can calm the mind. Yoga is one of the best and most widely-practiced forms of stretching, and yoga studios are a dime a dozen in the Denver area. 

While stretching is not always something which is easy to practice, as it can be intimidating to jump into an intense stretching exercise, the benefits of stretching can improve one’s focus as well as make one feel more confident and less depressed. Often, individuals can find themselves getting stuck in a rut because they are too focused on their mental processes. Stretching allows a person to get out of their head and into their body in a very simple, quick fashion. 

Great For Stress Relief

If you’ve been keeping up on your regular workout routine, one of the things you may find is that your body will build up a certain amount of stress. This is also true in general, as we tend to hold our stress in our body, no matter if it originated from a workout or simply a stressful day at the office. Regularly stretching our body can be a great way to relieve this stress, as it will cause your muscles to lighten up and to release this stress in the form of a particular stretch. Stretching is not just to stay limber, it is also a great way to stay sane!

If you are looking to improve your physical health situation is 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.