Physical Therapy Blog

Maintaining balance is crucial for everyday activities, whether navigating a busy sidewalk or reaching for an item on a high shelf. Improving your balance enhances your overall physical function and significantly reduces the risk of falls and injuries. Fortunately, there are effective ways to improve your balance at home. It can be critical, however, to consult a professional like a physical therapist for personalized exercise recommendations. We love helping our clients at EW Motion Therapy reduce fall risk and continue to pursue their favorite activities. But even if you decide that physical therapy with us doesn’t fit your needs, you can still read this article as we discuss various exercises and safety considerations to help you develop better balance in the comfort of your home.

As we age, our bodies undergo various changes, and one of the aspects that can be significantly affected is our balance. Maintaining balance is crucial for daily activities and overall quality of life. However, the efficiency of the systems that help us balance can decline with aging. Physical therapy can be an excellent resource in improving the function of those systems - we help our clients do this every day at EW Motion Therapy. But even if you choose not to do physical therapy with us, this comprehensive guide will explore the reasons behind this decline in balance, offer practical tips for ensuring safety, and discuss the best professionals to seek help from.

Aging is an inevitable part of life. As we journey through the years, our bodies undergo various changes that can affect our mobility, strength, and overall quality of life. However, the good news is that there's a powerful tool in our arsenal to combat the physical challenges of aging: physical therapy. In this article, we will explore the physical effects of aging, the benefits of physical therapy, and what a typical treatment plan entails.

Parkinson's disease is a complex neurological condition, and one of the key players in this disease is dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in various brain functions. While physical therapy does not directly increase dopamine production, it is an essential component of managing Parkinson’s disease, and some activities performed in physical therapy sessions can increase dopamine over time. We consider it a privilege to work with our clients with Parkinson’s and their caregivers to develop a treatment plan that addresses their needs. Even if you decide that our physical therapy does not fit your needs, you can still learn the relationship between dopamine and Parkinson's disease, what dopamine does in the brain, how its deficiency affects daily life, ways to increase dopamine production naturally, and the role of physical therapy in managing the condition.

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder affecting millions worldwide. While it is commonly associated with tremors and rigidity, another aspect of the condition that often goes overlooked but profoundly impacts a person’s quality of life is the amplitude of movement. Physical therapists are experts in human movement and can be great professionals to help you move better - we consider it a privilege to do this for our clients at EW Motion Therapy. But even if you decide that our physical therapy is not suitable for you, you can still read on as we explore the amplitude of movement, how Parkinson's disease affects it, and how physical therapy can play a crucial role in improving the lives of those with this condition.

In physical therapy, innovative techniques and technologies have continuously evolved to enhance patient outcomes and accelerate healing. Two commonly utilized modalities are electrical stimulation and ultrasound, each serving unique roles in rehabilitating injuries and alleviating pain. Your physical therapist can help you choose the best treatment for your symptoms - our team at EW Motion Therapy does this for our patients daily. Even if you decide that our services do not fit your needs, you can still read on as we delve into the differences between electrical stimulation and ultrasound and explore how physical therapy applies these therapeutic tools.

Knee injuries are common for anyone, from high-level athletes to anyone who steps off a curb wrong. The joint structure is fairly complex - many tendons, ligaments, and other structures surrounding the joint keep it stabilized and moving fluidly. One of these structures is the meniscus; if you have never torn it before, you may not even know what it is. What does it do for the knee joint, and why can it be torn? And if you tear it, do you need surgery to fix it?

Most people know upper back pain and stiffness all too well. At the end of the day, many office workers, parents, and others come home and begin to feel the effects of the stress from their day, especially in their upper back. Generally, the upper back is the area of the thoracic spine between the shoulder blades and might include the joints, muscles, and connective tissue of both scapula (shoulder blades) and your first 7 ribs. While some stretches, strengthening exercises, and a good night’s sleep can reduce most upper back pain, it can become a chronic issue if not treated daily. So what can you do when your upper back tightness/pain becomes chronic and begins to impact your daily activities? And which professionals should you see to get the help you need?