Focus Physical Therapy

05/18/2022

Is this really true???

If you believe you are only as old as you feel, then absolutely...YES!

Feeling "old" is due to stiffness, soreness, and a lack of feeling as physically capable as you did when you were younger. Exercise and appropriate recovery provides more energy, less stiffness, and an ability to do more of the things that you want to do without injury and pain.

More activity and more engagement leads to higher quality of life and contributes to longevity.

As an an undergrad at Virginia Tech, I helped with a study that showed that adding resistance training to a cardiac rehab program was more effective than aerobic (cardio) exercise alone. Now, every cardiac rehab program has weight training as a key part of cardiac health.

Beyond the heart benefits, consistent exercise has been shown to improve brain function and bone health.

Find a type of exercise that you enjoy doing and do it regularly to feel young as long as possible!!

05/05/2022

04/13/2020

Back Pain in the morning?

Does it take several minutes of walking around to finally work the stiffness out?

This amazingly simple routine can dramatically reduce or even ELIMINATE back pain and stiffness in the morning.

Like, Comment, and Share this hack for low back pain.

Don't forget to like www.facebook.com/DaveBassPT for more hacks for aches and pains!!

04/07/2020

Simple adjustments for making gardening and yard work more comfortable for lower backs

04/02/2020

You know how your neck gets really stiff after talking on the phone, while trying to drive an work? Here's a simple fix.

03/30/2020

Simple stretches to help loosen up those muscles that get so tight with sitting for long periods in front of a computer!

03/27/2020

Simple modifications to show how sitting slightly differently can make a HUGE impact in posture and help reduce or eliminate low back pain!

03/25/2020

SImple modifications to home or office to help reduce and eliminate neck pain that comes from long hours in front of the computer.

03/25/2020

Starting this evening, I will be posting videos showing simple modifications to typical home office set ups (ahem...kitchen table) to help improve ergonomics and decrease stiffness, aches and pains from trying to work from home.

These also work for actual offices with real desks and office chairs, too.

Please Like and Share, if they are helpful. Also, like Focus Physical Therapy for more videos upcoming to help with self-management of aches, pains and stiffness!

03/21/2020

Physical Therapists are considered part of the Critical Infrastructure Workforce, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security. As such, we will remain open during this crisis to serve our patients and help them heal naturally, without pain pills, injections, or surgery.

At Focus Physical Therapy, we only treat one person at a time, 1:1 with their Doctor of Physical Therapy, in a private office. We have no waiting room, either, because there is no wait to be seen.

This has always been our practice, and we will always practice this way. Not only do we believe it gives the best care, but in these unique circumstances, it allows our patients and providers to avoid crowds and maintain social distancing as much as is possible with our physical practice.

We continue to clean all surfaces before and after appointments, and we ask all of our patients and therapists to wash their hands before and after appointments, as well.

We understand that this is an uncertain time, but we also know that if you are in pain, it can affect everything in your life. As some of us get less busy, it may afford more time for self-care, and time to finally address lingering or acute pain that limits your ability to do the activities that you enjoy.

We are here for you in whatever capacity you prefer. You can reach us anytime by phone, text, or email. If you have a question or concerns about your pain, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to serve you, and if we can help out your mind at ease, or give you relief, that is our passion and our purpose.

https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

March 19, 2020 Read the Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce MEMORANDUM ON IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS DURING COVID-19 RESPONSE

03/17/2020

In the midst of this constantly evolving heathcare situation, we understand that orthopedic injuries and pain can and will still happen. Maybe you've had pain for weeks or months, but never really had time to be able to address it due to work or some other life events. If you find yourself with more time on your hands than you've had for a while, and think maybe it's time to get that pain taken care of, this may be the perfect time.

We have no waiting room, so there are no crowds and no wait. All visits are 100% just you and the Doctor of PT, so there are no other people being treated with you, and no extra staff to increase your exposure.

We focus as guides for your recovery and rehab - we identify the cause, educate you on what is causing your discomfort and why. Then we address it to get immediate relief. Then we teach you how to do the same thing at home. We follow up with an email with videos of how to do everything that we covered in the office. We then typically follow up in a week to make sure that you are making progress and being successful with your home activities.

No boring exercises, no wasted time, and no visits to the office 2-3 times a week. Just simple, straightforward things to do while watching TV to help you get better results in fewer, but higher quality visits.

If you know someone who's been in pain for a while, but they haven't done anything about it, yet, please like and share this with them. Being in pain isn't fun - either for the person who is in pain, or the loved ones around them.

Call us if have questions or would like more information.

02/17/2020

02/16/2020

12/04/2019

Do you have weak ankles?

Do you have a history of a really bad sprain?

Do you sprain your ankles often?

If so, you NEED to keep reading....

The number one cause of "weak ankles" and frequent sprains is one very important muscle in your lower leg. It's called the posterior tibialis, and it is responsible for controlling your arch as it flattens during normal walking and running. This is part of the normal shock absorption mechanism if your foot and ankle.

BUT...

If it's overworked (usually because your calves are tight!), it not only gets weaker, but it also gets shorter.

In the photos below, you'll see 2 examples of a tight and overworked (weak) posterior tibialis.

When this is the case, when your foot is in the air (running, walking, jumping, stepping up or down a stair), it is already turning in, so if your foot doesn't come down exactly right, your ankle will continue to roll, and you've sprained your ankle again!

This is shockingly easy to fix!

No stretching, no SUPER BORING theraband exercises, and no 2-3 months in physical therapy - who's got the time or money for that?

Maybe you were told you will always have weak ankles. Maybe you thought this was just the way it would always be. Maybe you've stopped some of the activities you enjoy because of fear of another ankle injury...

There is a better, faster, more compete way to make your ankle issues a thing if the past. Call us. Let us help. Get back to the life you want to live. 804.372.8000

05/12/2019

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing Moms out there! Each and everyday, you are appreciated for all that you do for your families. You wear a million hats, and yet somehow you make all the magic that you do seem easy.

One day isn't enough to fit all the love and gratitude that we have for everything that you are and everything that you do. Thank you.

04/28/2019

Check out this Manion WOD recovery. Simple, easy, and effective to help deal with leg soreness.

04/25/2019

I saw a patient the other day whose knee had gotten pretty stiff and achy, so she goes to the orthopedic surgeon.

The surgeon doesn't do a physical exam, just an x-ray. He told her she was going to inevitably need a knee replacement, and he gave her some anti-inflammatories.

That was it...drop a bombshell that she'll need a major surgery without even touching her knee, and give her a pill, essentially just waiting for her to come back to him and pay him thousands of dollars because she has some wear and tear on x-ray.

I see her a couple days after this. She's super down and out that she has arthritis and she's going to need a knee replacement. So here's the thing...

Arthritis means inflammation of a joint.

Her joint is completely not tender with little to no swelling, and all of the areas of her pain are where muscles attach. We work on her muscles, and she is able to walk without pain, her stiffness when getting out of a sitting position is nearly gone (all the stuff that was bothering her).

Here's the scoop...Joint wear and tear takes years or decades to occur. Certainly there are things that can speed this process up, but it doesn't just show up one day. That x-ray today shows the same knee that was there months ago that didn't hurt.

Showing a picture of a joint with some wear an tear is an amazing marketing strategy - you can see the space between your knee bones isn't as big as it should be. The key missing piece, though, is...is this narrowed joint space the cause of your pain? Or, does it just happen to be there, and something else entirely is causing your pain?

03/04/2019

If you have an ache, pain, sprain, etc. that you've been dealing with, and it just isn't going away, come to our Ask the Doc night at CrossFit Pushin Weight/Focus PT, this Wednesday from 4-7pm.

You'll get an answer for what's wrong, and at least one thing that you can do to treat it at home (along with videos to help remind you how to do it!).

Cost is less than a copay ($25). Cash or check, please. If a follow up is necessary, your $25 will be credited towards that next visit.

Stop dealing with discomfort, when the solution is easier and less costly than you might think!