Welcome to the very first newsletter from Better Fit Therapy! I'm so excited you are here and part of the community! I'm thrilled to be bringing you monthly newsletters that will be filled with tips, tricks, resources, and programs to help you live your best, and most healthy, life. If you know me, I've been a physical therapist for almost 2 decades and I'm passionate about helping people live well and age well, both working with injuries and preventing injuries, assisting in mobility and functionality, and supporting others in achieving their physical (and often, mental!) goals. In addition, personally, you can usually find me running around in search of the best cupcake, and moving my own body through activities such as aerial yoga, lyra, silks, ropes, and just a few more!

 

 In celebration that October was Physical Therapy month (I'm just a little late!), I wanted to highlight some of the things that can be treated by a physical therapist that you might not know about! This includes, but is not limited to:

Any surprises in there for you? There might be and that's okay! A lot of times, a physical therapist is seen as someone who is only working on acute physical pain and treatments, which is true - but it's not the only thing we do! We do work with injuries and post-surgery patients, but in addition to the list I just mentioned, we also work closely with those who are wanting to prevent future injuries, or even develop a daily fitness routine.

 

 If this has piqued your interest, make sure to check out my website where I talk about some classic Myths vs. Facts, including a whole host of topics in both the PT world, and the general world of movement. For instance, if you believe that your back pain might be caused by tight hamstrings, I have a great post just for you!

 

And finally! As a quick reminder, the holidays are upon us and it's that time of year where everything gets a little out of control!  Keeping that in mind, I've included a couple of quick exercise ideas to help you survive.  First, everyone needs to remember a little "proper lifting technique" for all of those packages, decorations, or other items you might find yourself suddenly moving around.  This is a brief demonstration of the "hip hinge" technique that requires you to keep your spine in neutral and use your gluteals to protect your spine. 

 

 

The second exercise is a brief core activity.  The stronger your core, the more you will also protect your back and also who doesn't like to work their abs in a time filled with excess treats?  Give your abdominals some love in this brief exercise, but remember, your core must be engaged before your legs move, so that your back doesn't arch (and to make sure you are activating the correct muscles). 

This is also your gentle reminder to practice some self-care (more on this in the upcoming December newsletter!) which could look like a walk, some gentle stretching, blissing out in a Hallmark Escape, taking a bath, or setting some boundaries on what you want to commit to for the rest of the year.Chat soon!