Freeform Physical Therapy

05/15/2023

Join us for an inclusive summer PE program at Showtime Strength & Performance! Classes will meet twice per week in an inclusive environment for games and activities focused on motor skill development, spatial awareness, coordination, teamwork, and most of all to have fun. See below for registration information.

Join us this summer for a PE program at Showtime Strength & Performance.

We will meet twice a week in an inclusive enviornment to work on motor skill deverlopment, spatial awareness, creative games for individuals and teams, and most of all have fun.
This 6 week program is designed for kids ages 8-17.

If you have any questions, please email nick@showtimestrength.com

Sign up here https://cxifda.pushpress.com/landing/plans/plan_87a573f8751d94/login?fbclid=IwAR0Fkf2-UgZDhcjrdmLVujYfPzP8f8gDG-QCi_yVrql8d2puANWp_32krtU

09/18/2022

Having a physical therapist on your side is one of the best ways to maximize your health and training. I am so excited to be a part of the team at Showtime Strength & Performance and to help our clients reach their health and training goals!

Our movement screening is designed to help our coaches develop a well rounded plan to meet athletes where they’re at while reducing the risk of injury in sport.

Did you know that our Doctor of Physical Therapy, Claire Kopko worked with us in helped design the movement screening we use.

This allows us to know things like :

• Normal ranges on each test and what it means when they’re out of range.
• What each finding means for injury risk and also performance output
• The correct exercises, stretches or movements to avoid in the training plan
• When the athlete should be referred to for PT

This is something very unique that we’re excited to utilize with all of our clients.

Having a Physical Therapist on your side is one of the best ways to maximize your health and training.

05/10/2022

There is a lot of clinical jargon below, but the gist of the study was: a patient with back pain underwent 10 MRIs in 3 weeks. Two of them showed a "bulged disc" in five different locations, while a third did not show any at all. Four of the MRIs showed "pinched nerves" while five others did not show any issues with nerves. Finally, not ONE of the MRI results correlated findings to symptoms.

Moral of the story: the spine is a mobile entity. Static evaluations (MRIs, x-rays) don't tell us anything about back pain. Movement needs to be evaluated to determine why back pain is occurring. Physical therapists are specialized providers in human movement and will help you to create better movement patterns to alleviate pain.

❓ How reliable is my MRI ❓
It has been said that a picture is worth 1,000 words. But what if the picture was an MRI and those words resulted in increased harm, medical overuse, and a cascade of events leading to more pain and disability.

Unfortunately, MRI’s have been a gold standard diagnostic tool for many orthopedic conditions. However, in this simple case study you can see the high variability and inconsistencies with one individual receiving 10 MRIs at 10 different testing sites.

MRIs are great at ruling out any significant and dangerous red flags such as tumors and fractures, but never justify the pain a person is experiencing.

An MRI is simply a small pixel in the grand picture of your life. Via

02/11/2022

Freeform Physical Therapy has opened an eDispensary! This a convenient online resource for home exercise equipment, sports braces/straps, and other aids to recovery, performance, and rehabilitation. If you have any questions about specific products, please reach out to Dr. Kopko via e-mail or phone.

claire.kopko@freeformphysicaltherapy.com
614-245-5359

https://www.ptunited.com/freeformpt

01/29/2022

This is a fantastic article regarding the effects of Autism Spectrum Disorder on motor development. This is an often overlooked area in the diagnosis and treatment of ASD. Delayed development of motor skills impairs communication, social interaction, and limits participation in play.

"Physical activity, in particular, benefits both physical and mental health, and reducing barriers for all people is essential to optimal life outcomes."

A physical therapist with experience treating the pediatric population and children with developmental disorders can help to improve motor coordination and facilitate a new way of interacting with the world around us!

Motor differences are more relevant than has historically been appreciated for understanding, assessing and supporting people on the spectrum.

09/29/2021

Did you know that, in many states, you do not need a prescription to start physical therapy? This is called direct access physical therapy, and it has many benefits.
A recent study by the APTA shows that patients who initially receive conservative care, such as physical therapy, for low back pain reduce their likelihood of opioid use by 85-91% when compared to patients whose first visit was to a primary care physician.
Even when you're in pain, a physical therapist can help you to get moving again.

In a recent study of over 200,000 insurance beneficiaries, those whose initial visit was with a physical therapist decreased their odds of early opioid use by 85-91%, and lowered their odds of long-term opioid use by 73-78% compared with those whose first visit was with a primary care physician.

Read more at: https://www.apta.org/news/2019/09/25/apta-co-sponsored-study-seeing-a-pt-first-for-lbp-lowers-odds-of-early-and-long-term-opioid-use

08/17/2021

High Volume Participation in Overhead Sports: is it worth it? Claire Kopko

Parents: imagine that your child asks to participate in an activity that has a 30% chance of causing joint pain, and in extreme cases, can lead to altered skeletal growth and limb deformities. What would your response to such a request be? Most parents would likely balk to allow their child to do th

06/02/2021

https://www.freeformphysicaltherapy.com/blog/what-is-normal-youth-sports-participation

The changes that the Covid-19 pandemic brought to our world have forced us to re-evaluate “normalcy.” This includes every facet of daily life: jobs, schools, and even youth sports. It is worth considering that a return to “normal” may not be in the best interest of the health of youth overhe...

05/25/2021

The Therapeutic Benefits of Regular Exercise

Mental Health Awareness month is coming to a close, but it is important to practice self-care all year long. A regular exercise routine is a tool for physical wellness, but the benefits also extend to mental wellness. Read on for more information.

May is Mental Health Awareness month, which is an opportune time to discuss the therapeutic benefits of exercise. From injury recovery to improving mental health, exercise brings measurable physiological benefits. It is well established that active individuals are physically healthier than their sed

04/27/2021

As we wind down Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to share the ways in which physical therapy can help children with ASD and other neurodiverse conditions. Follow the link below to learn more!

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an increasingly well-known developmental disorder that affects 1 in 40 children. It is most often characterized by a lack of social reciprocity, delayed or absent verbal communication, presence of repetitive behaviors, and severely restricted interests. Difficulty p

04/13/2021

Get the most out of your training! Proper hand position during upper body weightbearing exercises will improve shoulder stability, core strength, and upper back strength. All of these things go a long way in preventing shoulder and arm injuries.