Denver Physical Therapy & Wellness

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.

 

If you have recently been injured in a serious accident, you are undoubtedly thinking about the ways in which you can return to your original glory as soon as possible. Being out of action is never a pleasant experience to have to navigate through, whether it be your preferred physical activity or simply doing basic activities around the house. The rehab process can often be a painful, grueling affair which can lead to plenty of heartache and endless frustration, as you grapple with your new reality and figure out how to adjust to your present predicament. However, there are certain techniques and strategies you are able to employ which can help speed up and expedite the healing process. With that in mind, here are some of the things you can do to help recover as fast as possible from your Denver physical therapist.

 Receive Professional Treatment Immediately

When it comes to serious injuries, one of the most important things you can do as an individual is to be as proactive as possible and seek professional help as soon as possible. On that point, one of the worst things a person can do is to not address the issue and let it linger a long time before receiving treatment. If you are hurt, you can certainly make things worse by not taking the necessary steps to restore your health. If you have injured your foot but are not addressing the issue, you can exacerbate the situation by continuing to walk on it without treatment.

A doctor will be able to help determine the severity of your injury and set a course for how you can recover from the injury. Depending on the severity and specifics of your injury, you will likely have multiple health professionals advising you on each particular part of the process. In addition to your primary care physician, you will also be working with a trusted Denver physical therapist to ensure you take the steps needed to achieve your health goals. 

Follow the RICE Method

With regards to the things you can do on your own to help speed up the injury recovery process, one of the best and easiest things to remember is to follow the RICE method, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Regardless of what kind of injury you have and the severity of it, you will likely benefit from following this type of protocol, as it is a tried and trusted method for helping to aid in the recovery process.

First, rest and don’t overdo it when it comes to physical activity. Rest can allow your body to recover instead of continuing to put strain and stress on it. Putting additional stress on a serious injury can cause it to get worse and make the overall recovery process much longer as a result. Instead, take the necessary precautions and stay off the injured part of your body as long as possible. Ice the area on a consistent basis for about 20-30 minutes during each occasion as a way to reduce bleeding, swelling, and pain. 

Compression is also a recommended activity to engage in regularly, as it can help prevent additional swelling in the affected area. You will want to do this especially in the first 48 hours of the injury, as this is when swelling can be at its worst and most painful. Finally, you should definitely think about elevating the affected area, as this will also cause a reduction in swelling in the areas around the injury. For the lower limbs of the body, keep your ankle above your hip and for upper limb injuries, make sure to use a pillow or type of sling to elevate the affected area.

Determine a Plan of Action and Stick to It

When it comes to recovering from a particular injury, one of the things you will inevitably face is the need for a change in behavior. Let’s be honest: change is hard and isn’t a straightforward, easy path. Often, it requires continued persistence and willpower in the face of old, less beneficial habits which will need to be overcome. This is magnified when you are recovering from an injury, as your bad habits will often make things worse. 

For instance, if you are dealing with an injury which has persistent inflammation, you may need to change your diet and physical activity regimen, as this can be contributing to your overall inflammation levels. Recovering from an injury quickly can require making a plan of attack for how you can overcome the situation as fast as possible. Although it can be incredibly difficult to get beyond long-term habits, it can be absolutely essential to make a change as a way to achieve a much faster recovery. 

In terms of helping to speed up the recovery process, making positive health changes which impact our overall health outcomes can have the most profound effects on our recovery process. Often, an injury can force us to finally get beyond the nagging habits which have persisted and continued to cause us harm. Instead of bemoaning your current predicament, try to use the injury as a valuable tool towards achieving overall health goals. 

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.

 

When it comes to your health in 2019, there are several trends which are important to be aware of. If you’re looking to stay physically fit and healthy, there are a number of things which every person should make themselves aware of. It’s not just a matter of eating fresh, whole foods and getting plenty of regular exercise anymore. No, in 2019, there are quite a few health trends which are breaking the mold of the average refrain and are making interesting for anyone looking to set themselves apart from the rest of the pack. With that in mind, here are some of the most important health trends to be aware of in 2019 from your Parker Physical Therapist.

Bio-Hacking Galore

This may not be a term you are familiar with, but the idea of bio-hacking has taken off in recent years, as people look to find ways to optimize and improve their mental and physical health using helpful tricks, supplements, and other ways of achieving improved performance. One such way is through the use of legal nootropics, which can provide the brain with increased performance as well as an increase in clarity of mind and focus. 

Another popular trend which has continued to gain in popularity is the practice of intermittent fasting, which is where a person will regularly fast, usually at least 16 hours of every day, as a way to improve one’s particular health situation. Fasting allows the body time to regenerate cells and has shown incredible benefits in almost every area of life, showing how this slightly lost art is actually a very important part of human health. Many people have also taken this to the next level and are also performing multiple day fasts to achieve the maximum benefit of this activity.

The Importance of Mindfulness

Many people have begun to see the benefit of a regular mindfulness practice in terms of their overall health. It’s not just a way to zen out and feel at peace; it can have profound benefits which can lead to improved overall well-being, as a person is able to be more present and attentive to things in their life they value and care about. This is definitely something every person should look into in some form or another, no matter your experience level. 

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.