Get Your Health Back On Track With Physical Therapy
Have you struggled with pain? Are you dealing with an injury affecting your ability to do your usual routine? Our highly skilled physical therapists can guide you back to health and back to doing what you love!
Whether you have recently had surgery or are recovering from a new injury, physical therapy at Amber Hill Therapy Centers can help.
October is National Physical Therapy Month. Amber Hill Therapy Centers wants to make sure that you have a reliable source to help you resolve whatever physical condition you face. Our physical therapists are highly trained and experienced in treating musculoskeletal disorders. We understand how important it is to get to the root of the problem and provide solutions that work.
Our team of physical therapists is devoted to helping our patients recover from injuries and pain that are interfering with everyday activities and making life way harder than it should be.
Request an appointment with Amber Hill Therapy Centers today, so we can help you get back to the life you deserve!
Why Should I Choose Physical Therapy?
There are several reasons to choose physical therapy over costly surgeries and medications. Physical therapy has been shown to not only help resolve pain and improve function, but it is also effective at enhancing your overall health and well-being.
One of the most significant benefits of physical therapy is that it can uncover the underlying reasons for your injuries and/or pain. Some of the impairments your physical therapist can help you correct include:
- Loss of motion
- Weakness
- Poor posture and faulty movement patterns
- Gait abnormalities
- Loss of balance
- Coordination deficits
- Neurological impairment
- Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (i.e., poor sleep habits, improper nutrition, lack of exercise, etc.).
Exercise of the Month
Heel Slides Long Sit
(Knees, Hamstrings)
Start by sitting on the floor with both legs extended out in front of you and your back flat. Loop a strap around your foot on your injured leg and place a towel under your heel. Slowly pull your heel toward your butt by tugging on the strap until you have reached your max comfortable range of motion. Slowly allow your heel to slide back out until your leg is straight. 3 Sets, 10 Reps. (Materials needed: towel, belt)
4 Benefits of Physical Therapy
A physical therapist can educate you about ways to move more safely, use your energy more efficiently, reduce the risk of re-injury, and enhance the overall effects of your care. The benefits of physical therapy treatments include easing pain, reducing spasms, increasing circulation, and promoting healing.
- Physical therapy can help improve your joint range of motion and overall mobility: Our ability to move depends on how individual joints move and how the body’s joints move in concert with one another. Increasing joint range of motion and mobility of the connective tissues around your joints (including the tendons, muscles, fascia, and joint capsules) will help your joints feel better and move better. This will also help you improve overall functional mobility and activity tolerance, essential for work, leisure, and simple daily functions.
- Physical therapy can help strengthen weaknesses and compensation patterns: Through injury or surgery, muscles become weak and impact your ability to move and function normally. For some, an old injury or abnormal movement pattern has led to weakness due to compensations. Physical therapists are skilled at assessing the whole body, identifying weaknesses, and teaching how to restore strength and function.
- Physical therapy can improve your overall health and well-being: When you see a physical therapist for pain and injuries, you will receive rehabilitation benefits to resolve the condition and a total body approach to health. Physical therapists can recommend nutrition to improve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve overall health. In addition, physical therapists are movement experts and trained to help you move/exercise more, no matter your limitations or restrictions. More activity equals improved health!
- Physical therapy can help you reduce the risk of injury: By implementing a holistic approach, we can improve and restore your function and prevent injuries. This may include all components of typical physical therapy and include gait modifications and coordination exercises to stimulate the nervous system and help ensure your mechanics are ideal to avoid an injury.
Sources: https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/95/10/1433/2686492, https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/90/7/1014/2737793, https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/24/1557.citation-tools, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568997218302106
Call Us Today To Request An Appointment
The mission of our physical therapy clinic is to use compassion, encouragement, and motivation in the treatment of our patients and clients. We provide outstanding and personalized skills as movement and rehabilitation physical therapists through exceedingly high customer service and results!
Our goal is to positively impact people’s lives and improve their quality of life. Your therapy will be centered around helping you get back to doing the things you love without pain. We understand that no two pain conditions are alike, and no two treatment plans should be either.
Contact Amber Hill Therapy Centers to learn more about National Physical Therapy Month and the benefits of physical therapy.
If you’re struggling with a painful condition or experiencing a physical limitation, our therapists will work with you to ensure your success!
Clinic News
We have some exciting personal news to share! Our PTA, Kyle Staley, and his wife welcomed their baby girl, Evelyn, on August 29th. Congratulations to the Staley family on their new arrival!
Understanding Dry Needling
Dry needling is a modern, science-based physical therapy technique used to ease pain and release muscle tension. Though it involves inserting a thin, sterile needle through the skin into tight muscles, tendons, or ligaments, it’s not acupuncture. It’s strictly grounded in Western clinical research and targets musculoskeletal and neuromuscular dysfunctions directly.
This approach can be effective for a wide range of issues, including both acute and chronic injuries, overuse syndromes, neck and back pain, sciatica, muscle spasms, strains, tendinitis, hip and knee discomfort, fibromyalgia, and repetitive-strain conditions like tennis or golfer’s elbow. When paired with conventional therapeutic exercises, many patients achieve the improved mobility and pain relief they’re aiming for.
Most people report little to no discomfort during the session; at times, a brief “twitch” sensation may be felt. Afterwards, you might notice temporary muscle soreness, similar to post-workout fatigue, that usually subsides within 24 to 48 hours. Gentle use of ice or heat and staying well-hydrated can help with recovery.
Following a thorough assessment, your physical therapist can determine whether dry needling is a suitable addition to your treatment plan, offering a supported pathway to improved function and relief.
How Nutrition Can Help Improve Bone Health
When it comes to improving bone health and density, most people immediately think of resistance training and weight-bearing exercise. But did you know nutrition also plays a key role?
Certain nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, protein, and more, all contribute to building strong, healthy bones. Eating a diverse diet rich in fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to ensure you get the nutrients you need. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Calcium
- Dairy like milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Leafy greens like collards, turnip greens, and kale
- Broccoli and okra
Vitamin D
- Certain types of fish, including salmon and tuna
- Foods that have been fortified with vitamin D (like milk–get your calcium and vitamin D in one go)
Protein
- Nuts, seeds, and legumes
- Fish and chicken
- Dairy products
- Whole grains
Older people sometimes struggle to get the nutrients they need because their appetites decrease. Putting a little more thought into your meal planning can ensure you’re getting everything you require.
The physical therapists at Amber Hill Therapy Centers can provide additional guidance on the lifestyle factors that promote good bone health. Schedule an appointment to get started.
Sources: https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients/treatment/nutrition/
Healthy Snack: Apple Nachos
- 2 apples, any variety
- 1/4 cup creamy nut butter
- Toppings of your choice (granola, shredded coconut, caramel, slivered almonds, raisins, etc.)
- Slice apples thinly and arrange on a plate.
- Melt nut butter in the microwave (30-60 seconds). Stir.
- Drizzle nut butter over the apples.
- Top with a sprinkling of your choice of toppings.
- Serve immediately.
