Power in Motion Rehab

07/12/2023

The Senior Games have been a blast to volunteer at these past few days! This is just one of the many inspiring and awesome stories out there.

Every athlete is a great example of perseverance, strength, and courage. Every person had a story. Every person was there to have fun, but also to compete. To be the best. Not just as a golfer or basketball player or runner, but to be the best version of themselves as a person.

I was lucky enough to have the chance to meet so many wonderful people and hear their amazing stories. The Senior Games was also very eye-opening to me. That we need to keep pushing ourselves no matter what our age is. That age is literally JUST a number and nothing else.

Happy Wednesday all! :)

07/07/2023

Happy Friday all!

I am beyond pumped to volunteer this weekend (as well as a few days next week) for the National Senior Games here in Pittsburgh! It is an almost two-week event where individuals and teams from all over the country are coming in to compete! From Pickleball to Basketball to Shuffleboard to Golf, these athletes are ready!

This is a perfect example that aging does not HAVE to be a scary thing. That you can maintain an active lifestyle and be an ATHLETE no matter what your age is.

The awesome thing is that these athletes are competing yes, but competing at a HIGH level. On a national level!

I am excited to watch and help this weekend and to see these athletes from all over compete. I already know it will be amazing as well as inspiring!

Let's gooooo! Congrats and Good Luck to all the the athletes.

04/20/2023

❌❌❌ Pain, whether it is acute or chronic, is awful.

Back pain. Neck pain. Shoulder pain. Knee pain.

Most of us will end up experiencing some sort of pain at some point in our life unfortunately.

During our golf trip last week, my husband ended up having pretty significant muscle spasms after golfing 36 holes.⛳️

We went to the pharmacy for the heating pad, Icy Hot, and advil.

But, you know what helped him the most.....

Stretching and walking.🚶🏾🚶🏾🚶🏾

We worked on his stretching and walked 2-3 miles after that golf round. We did this as well as made him change positions every hour in the hotel room.

We did this because he had goals. He was adamant to play another 18 holes the next day.

And guess what? HE DID! The walking and not just laying around after the spasms really helped him resolve the symptoms within 24 hours.

If you are experiencing pain, remember to not just stop moving and rely on pain meds. Movement is the best medicine.

Reach out if you are have aches, pains, restrictions that are limiting your ability to lift, golf, garden, etc! 🏋🏽‍♂️ 👩🏼‍🌾

04/18/2023

🏌🏼🏌🏼‍♀️This was us last week at Myrtle Beach.

It was the best course in some of the worst conditions.

However, it was worth it.

We were outside. Playing golf.

This time last year, I was dreaming of this after hurting my back.

And this year, I was able to get back on the course and finally play 18 holes again. Not that well, but still. I was back on the course playing this game I love.

Know that injuries reallllyyy stink.

No matter how acute or chronic the injury may be. It is hard to see the other side. It is hard to understand that this is only temporary. That you CAN and WILL get out of this.

The best advice I can give is: keep going. 💪

Our bodies, backs, knees, joints, etc. are resilient. You are resilient. Keep going. Keep moving.

Reach out if you need help with that nagging shoulder pain, low back tightness, knee pain, etc! Whether you are a weekend warrior combatting this pain on the soccer field or maybe you are a work-from-home professional dealing with chronic shoulder/neck pain, reach out! We can see if we can come up with a good plan to help you!

03/27/2023

https://youtube.com/shorts/HvydSYhOty0?feature=share

Happy Monday all!

Pickleball 🥒 🥒 🥒 🥒

I know it has been around for awhile, but it appears that more and more people are getting into it!

It is a fun sport for everyone! People of all ages! I have gotten beaten by many that are over the age of 70 to be honest!

I have had a few clients that have been interested in getting stronger for the upcoming pickleball season. These clients (all in their 70's and 80's) want to be strong and competitive.
These are just a few exercises that I have been using to prepare these Pickleball athletes for the season ahead.

A few of these clients have a significant history of back pain, knee pain, history of joint replacement, mild balance impairments, etc. Each program is different, but we make sure to have a specific plan for each athlete.

It is important to be sport specific, but also to work on the whole body (lateral stability, balance, lower body strength, core strength, agility, power, etc.).

When the Pickleball athletes ask for a program, I make sure it is very specific to that individual and consider their:
✅ Past medical history
✅ Any aches and pains with movement
✅ Strength
✅ Mobility
✅ And their overall goals (work on speed, balance, better strike of the ball, etc

The most important thing is to prepare their body for the season. For something they enjoy!!

The exercises included in the video are:
🟢 Rotational punches with resistance band
🟢 Bent over rows (alternating)
🟢 Single leg RDL
🟢 Lateral lunges with emphasis on explosive movement up
🟢 Pallof press with rotation (in mini lunge)

03/14/2023

Hey hey hey! Hope everyone is enjoying this lovely snowy ❄️ Tuesday!

Tuesday's Thoughts are below. 🚽

The main take away is to be proactive in your health.

Today's small aches, pains, imbalances, etc...

Can turn into tomorrow's debilitating pain, falls, or being held back from your life or hobbies you love.

A tightness in your back can lead to an inability to run or participate in the exercise class tomorrow....

A "twinge" pain in your knee when squatting down to pick up the groceries can lead to problems walking or climbing stairs...

Realize that you need to fix the leaky toilet today.

Don't wait until it is out of control.

Be proactive and fix the small problem before it is a bigger issue!

02/27/2023

Happy Monday all!

Been a minute since I got "Reel."

:)

54 Likes, 1 Comments - Power In Motion Rehab (.in.motion) on Instagram: "Monday Monday Monday! ☀️ ☀️ It's been a minute since I have been on here, but I'm back babyyyy. Today, we are going over ways to strengthen that leg that just feels a little weaker 🍗 compared to our "good" leg....

02/23/2023

⛳️🏌️ FORREEEEE! Happy Thursday on this beautiful day!

Thursday Thought:
Back to baseline is not good enough. I was just hoping to get back to baseline after my back injury last year. Hoping and praying for that.

Now, I realize that my body and my mind is more resilient than that. Now, I am striving for better than what I was before....

I hate the idea of “baseline” now.
Why do we have to stop when we get the patient back to baseline?
We can get them out of pain or improve their mobility enough, but why stop there?
I want to think more long term. Greater progression.
Not just back to baseline.

We want that individual to be stronger.
Preparing the body for whatever life throws at them.

To get them back strongER and more independent.

We must also create a buffer. To increase their health and fitness level to decrease the chance of “sickness levels.”

We need to have more of a “buffer” before LIFE happens.

Life could mean:
❎An injury during a soccer game.
❎A car accident.
❎A surgery.
❎Going through chemotherapy.

The more fit you are prior to these unfortunate events will help your recovery.

Physical therapists/Occupational therapists often see patients in a state of sickness (in the hospital or even in outpatient).
We often work on taking these patients from a state of sickness to a state of being “okay.”

We need to be focusing on more long term health. Long term fitness. Better than okay. Better than what they were before.

I also understand that sometimes a stroke, peripheral neuropathy, surgery, etc. might change things. Maybe we can’t do EVERYTHING like we did before.

However, does this mean we just stop?

No. We adapt.

We reassess and learn how to move our bodies again. How to lift things again. How to walk/run/bike/dance again....

Just know that fitness is a life-long journey that WILL have ups/downs. You WILL have pain at some point. You might even have a surgery.

The question is do you let those things stop you?

02/20/2023

Happy Monday everyone!

📢📢📢 This just in....

YOU ARE AN ATHLETE.

I'm not kidding....

Whether you know it or not you are an athlete.
We might not move or train like professional athletes (or get paid like them💰),but even daily life involves movements like jumping, squatting, lunging, etc.
That's why exercise or some form of fitness routine (both cardiovascular and strength training) is imperative.

Unfortunately, life events will happen and can cause an interruption into our fitness routine.
Our strength.
Our endurance.
Our balance.
Even our independence.....
Can be disrupted or affected.

However, you cannot give in. You have to realize that even if things might be different, you can still build your strength and independence.

You might always have some pain.
You might always have some stiffness.
You might always have weakness in that leg or arm.
You might always have to use a brace or a cane.

These are all possibilities, but that should not mean to stop all together..Right?

It shouldn't. At least not to me.

Even if you have some weakness in your arm, you can still build strength in your legs or build strength in the other arm right?

Or maybe you have goals to be able to get yourself up from the ground smoothly without help. Or pick up that gallon of milk.

Remember this:
Don't stop at "good enough."

Keep pushing. Keep striving to be better. To be stronger.

01/30/2023

Don't sleep 😴 on the Deadlift! 🏋🏾

The deadlift is an amazing exercise that not only builds strength of your posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings), but also has benefits regarding your low back strength as well!

The deadlift movement (Romanian vs stiff-leg) is VERY functional as well. It is a movement that should be incorporated with everyone whether it is a weekend warrior athlete to the 75 year-old who loves to stay active and garden.

This movement can be fairly difficult to learn to be honest. And form is imperative! However, the benefits are amazing.

The deadlift is an exercise that provides strength, power, as well as confidence!

Training with this movement will improve your confidence and strength when....
✅ Picking up a grandkid
✅Picking up that bag of fertilizer
✅ Being able to transfer a loved one from a wheelchair

Additionally, if you have any history of back pain, THIS exercise is crucial to build strength and decrease risk of of future back problems!

Deadlifts (as long as the form is good) is a movement for most of us out there whether you might have a history of osteopenia, stroke, herniated disc, etc.

Let's get stronger together!

01/18/2023

Wondering why Libby🐶 and I look ridiculous??

We are just surprised.

We are surprised how people often see physical therapy as something you "have" to go to.

Something that you only have to go to when you are hurt, in the hospital, or after a surgery....

Guess what?

It doesn't have to be just that.

And that is why I have started PIM Rehab. To help and educate others that physical therapy can be proactive instead of reactive.

If you feel like your balance isn't as good anymore....

If you are worried about squatting down and not being able to get up....

If you had a stroke last year, and worried about getting weaker in general or want to build up overall strength...

If you are getting ready for chemotherapy or a surgery...

ALL of these concerns can be and really should be addressed and involve some sort of fitness/therapy program.

The healthcare community will say:
❌ "you are fine"
❌ "this is just the way it is now"
❌"That's just what happens as you get older"

But not here. I want to make sure you are given a shot to continue to build strength or maintain independence as best as we can.

I say let's try for better than good enough. Better than expected.

Let's work on your health and fitness NOW. There is really no better time⏰than now.

01/11/2023

Happy Wednesday all!!!🐪🐪🐪

This year I want to immerse myself and this business into stroke rehab for those with chronic stroke.

These are those stroke survivors who have had a stroke and are now past 6 months since the initial onset of symptoms.

I want to push the boundaries of what is "good enough" for these survivors.

Many of these patients went to Rehab then Home Health then to Outpatient PT. They received often fantastic care, but then were limited in the number of sessions because of plateau of progress or insurance reasons or.....

The list can go on and on.

They were often left with questions. Concerns about their future. Lack of control over their life. A sense of emptiness at times?

They still wanted to walk. 🚶🏽‍♀️

They still wanted to be more independent.🚴🏼‍♂️

They still wanted to lift.🏋🏾

They wanted to be able to cook again.🍳

Each individual STILL had goals. They didn't want to be "good enough."

PIMR was started to help those people that are still left with unanswered questions, but a will to continue to improve no matter what the insurance or text books might say.

I have had the opportunity to work with several patients like this, and:
The arm weakness might not get better.
The walking might not be perfect.
They might always need a cane for walking outside.

But, I am treating these patients like adaptive athletes. Even with the continued weakness, these people still need to lift things, walk around their home, still want to exercise, and WANT to be as active and independent as possible.

All I know is I am VERY passionate about this and I want to change the idea of settling.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my thoughts!

Appreciate you all!