Volunteering Benefits Seniors Physically & Mentally
For some, the Holiday Season can be a time of social isolation and loneliness. This can be especially true for older adults who live alone. Research shows social isolation can have adverse effects such as depression, reduced cognitive function, decreased activity, and...
No Time for Exercise? Make Time for Movement.
Don’t have time for exercise? Perhaps, say physical therapists, it’s time to reframe what true exercise looks like. After all, exercise doesn’t require a gym, special equipment or a high intensity. Down to its core, exercise is simply movement, and...
Can Exercise Ward Off Cold and Flu Symptoms?
As cold and flu season approaches, so does the season of illness prevention. From getting flu shots to adding a little extra Vitamin C to our diets, prevention often becomes a focus for those concerned with getting sick, missing work and/or school, and...
Study Shows Cardio Exercise Aids Stroke Survivors
Following a stroke, the rehabilitation process often focuses on improving the survivor’s ability to move and perform everyday tasks, with a lesser emphasis on general aerobic fitness. This is likely a mistake – at least when it comes to long-term...
6 Physical Therapy Myths during National PT Month
October is National Physical Therapy month, a time when physical therapists like Chad McCann of Tacoma not only celebrate their profession, but also educate others about the role physical therapy plays in improving the health and vitality of their patients … and of...
5 Exercises for Improving Balance & Preventing Falls
When we’re young, falls are treated as teaching opportunities. “Get back on your feet, brush yourself off and keep moving toward your goals,” we were told. But as we age, falls take on a much greater...
Save the RICE for First-Aid, Not Healing & Recovery
For decades, the standard and recommended response to an injured muscle, tendon or ligament was to “apply RICE,” an acronym that stands for a protocol of rest, ice, compression and elevation. Yet these days, according to Tacoma physical...
To Stretch or Not to Stretch? Tips for Optimizing Flexibility
Many have grown up with the understanding that, whenever you’re about to work out, compete or otherwise push your body, it’s important to stretch immediately before the activity in order to prevent injury and perform your best. ...