OUR BLOG

We depend on our nervous system to help us interpret the world around us. Our autonomic nervous system is the part of our body that gives us ‘fight or flight’ or ‘rest and digest’ responses. Fight or flight responses are directed by the sympathetic nervous system, while rest and digest responses by the parasympathetic system. However, in our modern day world, this part of our nervous system is challenged in an unprecedented way...

I felt inspired to write this blog after re-watching a 2011 TED Talk by Lorimer Moseley on the topic of pain. I have seen this episode multiple times and it always makes me laugh. He knows how to tell a good story that merges science with comedy. He actually makes learning (about pain) fun!

I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist (OCS). I work at Activcore in Denver, Colorado. I enjoy working with all types of orthopedic conditions, but I am most passionate about helping athletes overcome injury and return safely to their sport.‍ That's because I participated in athletics from a young age and played competitive volleyball throughout my high school years.

I joined the Activcore Performance team in Atlanta, GA in April 2023. An Atlanta native and Juilliard trained professional dancer, I discovered Gyrotonic during my time in Chicago dancing at Hubbard Street, one of the preeminent dance companies in the United States. My dance career has also included performing in the cast of Hamilton. I now teach dance around Atlanta, and I am thrilled to be on the Gyrotonic teaching team at Activcore.

There is strong evidence to support suspension based physical therapy for shoulder rehabilitation and performance. So it’s perplexing why it has taken so long to become the gold standard of care. This type of treatment intervention is common in Norway, where it originated. But here in the United States it barely exists. I guess one reason for this is that the profession of physical therapy began in this Nordic region of the world in the early 1800s. Therefore they have about a hundred more years of clinical experience than we do.

Every Wednesday at 5:00pm from May 17th to June 14th, I will be teaching a one-hour pregnancy prep class that includes both education and exercise. Whatever stage of pregnancy you may be in, this class will help you understand the physical changes happening within your body. I will cover topics like push prep, perineal massage, your pelvis during labor and birth, low back pain, constipation, painful sex, and more.

Every Tuesday at noon from May 16th to June 13th, I will be teaching a one-hour postpartum recovery class in Denver, Colorado that includes both education and exercise. This class is made for birthing persons ranging from 1-week postpartum to 5-years postpartum! I will cover topics like pelvic floor healing, leaking, prolapse, painful sex, diastasis recti, constipation, and much more.

When I talk to my patients about the importance of cross training, the strength training component is typically what they are most nervous about. Understandably so, especially if it is a new type of exercise or if they are in pain. When pain is present, the last thing on our minds is picking up weights. However, strength training can actually help resolve pain, when performed under the guidance of a qualified physical therapist.

When you begin an exercise routine, it is helpful to develop a goal for yourself so that you stay on track. When making your goals, keep them simple and SMART. When goals are SMART, they give you the opportunity to make a concrete plan. SMART is the acronym for all components of a well-planned goal.

In my last blog, I talked about the importance of cross training to prevent injury. Now I would like to talk about two additional factors for improving exercise performance and preventing injury: sleep and hydration. ‍“Get 8 hours of sleep a night!” and “Make sure you are drinking enough water!” are phrases we probably hear more often than we can count. Yes, these are important habits to build and maintain for our overall health, but let’s talk about WHY they are so important.