Deep tissue laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses a laser to penetrate deep into the tissue to reduce pain, inflammation, and promote healing. It is commonly used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
Musculoskeletal pain: Deep tissue laser therapy can effectively relieve pain in the back, neck, shoulder, knee, hip, and other joints.
Sports injuries: It can help to speed up the healing process of injuries such as sprains, strains, and tendonitis.
Arthritis: The laser therapy can reduce inflammation and improve joint mobility in people with arthritis.
Neuropathic pain: It can be used to treat nerve-related pain such as peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and post-herpetic neuralgia.
Soft tissue injuries: Deep tissue laser therapy can help to heal damaged tissues and reduce scarring in conditions such as plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and rotator cuff injuries.
Note that deep tissue laser therapy should be performed by a qualified physical therapist. The specific benefits and results of the therapy may vary from person to person and it’s always recommended to consult your therapist for a professional assessment and personalized treatment plan
Do all your early fitness plans blast out of the jet engine when you travel? New time zones and ill-equipped hotel gyms may make you want to put off training. But now, with the internet just a tap away, there’s no excuse to miss a workout.
Being away from home doesn’t mean you have to abandon your fitness goals. Check out these apps (most of them are available for free from iTunes or Google Play) and work out wherever your travels take you.
For the Marathon Trainer
If you forget your Fitbit and need to track your miles, Moves has your back. With automatic tracking capabilities and features that tell you how far you’ve walked, cycled, or run, this app will help you stick to your training schedule. It also recognizes and maps routes you’ve run before.
For the Meditation Newbie
Wanderlust’sguiding mantra is “Find your true north.” During yoga, meditation, and Pilates classes, Wanderlust instructors can help you focus your energy and restore your physical and mental well-being. Download this app or visit Wanderlust’s website for free classes, like the 21-day yoga challenge, which can keep you disciplined and motivated. Additional workshops and events are available for a small subscription fee.
For the Frequent Flyer
Don’t miss your workout just because you’re away from your home gym. Use Rise Today to locate a class near you. Use filters to search for the type of class you want, from CrossFit to barre workouts. Once you’ve selected a class, you can secure a spot with the in-app reservation feature. There’s no need to fall behind in your Bodypump class.
For Those Who Aren’t Morning People
An app that lets you finish your morning workout in bed? Yes, please! Yoga Wakeup does exactly what the name suggests: It wakes you up with a short yoga or meditation routine. From “Reach and Root Wake up” to “Spirit Wake up,” you can select each morning routine’s intensity. choose a wake up, set your wake up time, and let the gentle voice of your instructor clear away the morning’s inevitable grogginess. Forget breakfast in bed; you’ll feel so much better waking up this way.
Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
Vertigo affects millions of people in the United States. Those who suffer from it experience disturbing, nauseating sensations that make even simple acts like getting out of bed extremely uncomfortable. Worse still, vertigo throws off your body’s natural sense of balance, increasing your risk of falling while performing basic activities. How can you tell if you or a loved one suffers from this common condition, and more importantly, what can you do to fight it?
What Causes Vertigo?
The most common form of vertigo is caused by damage or decay in the inner ear. Specifically, bits of calcium can break off within the closed circuit of the vestibular system, the part of the ear that helps control balance and eye movements. Trauma can cause this breakage to occur, but so can aging. As the head moves, these loose bits of calcium roll around, stimulating the nerves our bodies use for balance. These false signals confuse the brain, producing a host of unpleasant sensations.
What are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of vertigo are most apparent while moving, especially when shifting between standing and lying down. If you frequently experience any of the following symptoms after shifting positions, you may have a form of vertigo:
Dizziness
A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving
A loss of balance or unsteadiness
Nausea
Vomiting
Because of the difficulties of living an active life with these sensations, secondary symptoms, like anxiety or depression, are common.
What Can Be Done?
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, or VRT, has been proven to help treat vertigo. This specialized form of physical therapy takes a holistic approach that addresses both the symptoms and the root cause of vertigo. Through a series of exercises, mind and body are trained to compensate for the vestibular damage. At first, this can make the symptoms feel much worse. But through expert training, patients soon develop far greater control and feel improvement on all fronts.
If you or a loved one suffers from vertigo or other vestibular disorders please reach out to us. We can give you an assessment and the tools you need to stop the spinning, headaches, falling, or dizziness.
Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
It only takes 3 ingredients to make these crispy, flavorful potatoes. They’re perfect side dish for a meal.
Ingredients:
2 pounds red potatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons basil pesto
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 F.
In large bowl, combine potatoes and pesto. Toss to coat. Transfer potatoes to large baking sheet or shallow roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Roast 20 minutes and remove from oven.
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over potatoes and put pan back in oven. Roast for additional 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and crispy. Remove from oven and serve warm.
As a white food, potatoes are often lumped together with white bread and white pasta, and are considered no-nos when trying to eat healthier. But potatoes are filled with nutrients that promote good health. And red potatoes are particularly healthy because you may be more likely to eat their skins, which are loaded with fiber, B vitamins, iron and potassium.
Help With Weight Loss
Red potatoes with the skin are a good source of fiber. One medium baked red potato contains 3 grams of fiber. Fiber in food makes you feel less hungry and might help you eat less. According to a review article published in “Nutrition Reviews,” eating more than 14 grams of fiber for more than two days is associated with a 10 percent decrease in total calorie intake and a 4-pound weight loss over a four-month period. So if you’re trying to lose weight, red potatoes can help, not hurt.
Lower Blood Pressure
If you need to lower your blood pressure, you might want to consider eating more red potatoes. One medium baked red potato contains 943 milligrams of potassium. Getting more potassium in your diet reduces the effects of sodium and may help lower blood pressure, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. The guidelines also point out that most Americans don’t meet the recommended 4,700 milligrams a day of potassium.
Blood Builder
Red potatoes are also a good source of iron, with 1.2 milligrams in one medium baked potato. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans note that women who may become pregnant do not get enough iron in their diet. Women between the ages of 19 and 50 need 18 milligrams of iron a day, while men and women over age 51 need 8 milligrams a day. You need iron to make hemoglobin, which is found in your red blood cells and is what helps carry oxygen throughout your body.
Protection Against Free Radicals
Free radicals are substances produced through normal body functions, such as breathing and physical activity, as well as through harmful habits such as smoking. These free radicals attack healthy cells and weaken them, making them more vulnerable to disease. Antioxidants are nutrients found in food that help protect your cells against free radicals. Red potatoes contain high amounts of the antioxidant vitamin C, 21 milligrams in one serving. In addition to protecting your healthy cells from damage, the vitamin C in the red potato also helps your body absorb more iron.
But what is the difference between Thai Massage and Classic Massage therapy?
My clients who frequent massage therapists are always pleasantly surprised upon our first session together. There are a few key differences between Thai massage techniques, and those “regular” methods traditionally practiced by western massage therapists.
THAI MASSAGE VS. CLASSIC WESTERN STYLES
The first difference you’ll notice between a Thai massage and the classic western styles is the lack of a massage table. Traditional massage takes place atop a massage table, we take the the Thai massage to the floor on a floor-mat. This allows the client a more complete range of motion — which comes in handy. Because unlike western massage styles, you won’t just be lying on your back or stomach when you receive a Thai massage.
Rather than just using hands, fists, forearms and elbows — the standard tools of the Swedish masseuse — Thai therapists may use legs and feet during the massage. Oftentimes, they will use a combination of both to gain leverage as they initiate deep stretches of the client’s arms, legs, hips, and shoulders. Thai Massage therapists also use acupressure to stimulate blood flow, flush out internal organs and for overall relaxation.
LAZY MAN’S YOGA
Clients receive similar relaxation and elongation of muscles from an hour long yoga class, but without the exertion. The client simply relaxes and breathes while the masseuse turns and folds legs, hips and arms into stretching poses, coaxing the muscles to release. Lazy Man’s Yoga is passive which allows the client to relax while the therapist does all the work.
RELAX INTO A THAI MASSAGE
Since no oil is required in a Thai massage, the client may remain fully clothed. However, comfortable, relaxed, fitting clothes are recommended so the clothes don’t become constricting during the session. The more you relax into a Thai massage, the more you’ll feel at ease and knot-free afterward.
Nicole Anthony is an RYT200 Yoga Instructor and Level 2 Intuitive Energy Therapist with over 7 years of leading private and group classes. Along with her passion for yoga, there came a deep connection to the ancient healing practice of Thai Bodywork.
With training from Master Thai Bodyworkers of traditional Thai Massage, Nicole creates a peaceful experience that attends to the energetic, spiritual and emotional bodies. Nicole’s clients leave with a sense of peace for both the body and mind.
“My favorite memories of Thanksgiving are from my celebrations with my own kids. Every year, I hosted Thanksgiving dinner, and I still host today, even though my kids are all grown up. As they grew, my kids developed a love of board games, so we play Pictionary and other games after we eat turkey dinner. We also take a picture down at the waterfront each year to document the celebration. Since we live in Washington, my kids are natural Seahawks fans, and they don’t care to watch the Lions play like I used to do on Thanksgiving as a child- thank goodness!”
-Wendy Rue, Physical Therapist
Three Family Activities for Thanksgiving
Unless you have a child auditioning for “MasterChef Junior,” you’re probably not going to let the little ones cook the turkey this Thanksgiving. Just because the kitchen might be off limits, though, doesn’t mean you can’t find a few creative ways to make the holiday extra special for your kids. Spice up Thanksgiving with these fun, family friendly activities.
Coloring-Book Tablecloths
If you have a big family, you are probably familiar with the Thanksgiving tradition of the kids’ table. It may be smaller than the grown-ups’ seating arrangement, but it doesn’t have to be any less special. Turn your kids’ table into a canvas for a colorful, creative dining experience.
To do this, use craft or art paper to cover the table. Tape everything down tightly and provide crayons and colored pencils for every place setting. If you want to add some extra holiday spirit, put the drawing supplies in empty cranberry sauce and pumpkin cans.
Gratitude Mobiles
Of course, Thanksgiving isn’t just about delicious food. It’s also about reflecting on the parts of our lives we are grateful for. Teaching kids about gratitude is the most valuable Thanksgiving lesson. Bring that concept to life with a gratitude mobile.
Grab some colored paper circles – or cut them out – and have your children write down things that they are thankful for. A silver Sharpie is great for this. Punch holes in the tops of the circles and run string through them. Tie the other end of the string to a coat hanger or embroidery hoop and hang it from the ceiling.
Stuff The Turkey Game
Want to get the kids outside so you can get to work in the kitchen? Create a Thanksgiving-themed game for them to play outside while you prep the stuffing and put the turkey in the oven.
To create a holiday themed “Stuff the Turkey” game, all you need is a few paper bags. We’ll bet you have some left over from shopping. Use two small bags stuffed with scrap paper to create legs and glue them to a larger bag folded to look like the body of a turkey. Now that you have your turkey, you need some balls to stuff it with. Anything soft and baseball-sized will work, even some balled-up paper. Kids will take turns trying to toss the balls into the turkey, scoring points for every shot made.
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
Remember when your child spoke their first word or walked into your arms for the first time? Those firsts are magical moments, and they probably sill bring you so much joy. They were big accomplishments, right?
When compared to Aelita Andre, maybe not. Aelita’s paintings sell for thousands of dollars. This might not seem significant, except that she’s only 10. Aelita fits into a category of kids that are rare but often talked about: the child prodigy. Famous examples include Mozart, Picasso, and Pascal.
Aelita Andre, 10
Sounds great to have a kid like that, doesn’t it? With their talent, your prodigy can rake in the cost of a Harvard degree before finished elementary school. If you’re wondering how to determine whether or not your toddler is on their way to becoming the next Mozart, here are some marks of genius you can keep an eye out for.
They are exceptionally skilled at a very young age. Picasso completed his first painting at age 9. Drew Peterson played a piano concert in Carnegie Hall at 6. Child prodigies typically perform a skill at an adult level before the age of 12.
They paint for 24 hours straight. Whatever the skill, the prodigious child has an intense drive to master it and is found performing during all of their spare time, without prodding.
They have an advanced ability in a specific area. Prodigies are usually focused in the areas of music, math, athletics, and chess. did your child pick up chess at age 3 after watching their older siblings play it once?
That could be the sign of a prodigy.
They have a crazy-good working memory. Working memory is more than the ability to memorize. It’s the ability to hold memory at the same time you manipulate incoming information. Mozart could memorize music while rearranging compositions in his head.
They experience loneliness. Unfortunately, because they are so advanced for their age, prodigies have a hard time relating to other kids. This can leave them feeling alone in school.
Needless to say, don’t feel too disappointed if none of these qualities describe your child. Turns out, the path of a prodigy is probably a pretty lonely (albeit a potentially prosperous) one. If your child shows the above signs, do all you can to nurture and support them. If they don’t, applaud the wonderful accomplishments they will undoubtedly still have
Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
