If you’re studying for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), you need to have an NPTE prep book. Without one, you are making the study process excessively hard and are playing with fire when it comes to passing this thing on exam day. Plenty of students every year want to know what the best exam prep book is, and in …
Rumble Roller Vs Foam Roller: How to Choose Which One to Use
I’m a firm believer that every tool has a time and a place. This is no different in the world of injury prevention and rehab. Many believe that foam rolling is a waste of time, while others swear by it. Many say “it depends” since one must take into account the context of its use, who is using it along …
Using an Acupressure Mat: Five Pro Tips for Greater Pain Relief
Back in my younger days, I used to think that anything in the acupressure world was something worthy of scoffing at – mainly because I was uninformed and perhaps a bit arrogant. Maybe I thought it wasn’t “hardcore” enough for me, or maybe I just had a misinformed understanding of them. Either way, I’ve long since changed my beliefs – …
The Plan: How to Get Back into Running After Gaining Weight
Life throws us all sorts of curveballs, and the only thing that seems to be consistent about it is that curveballs are thrown to everyone, no matter who you are. For many of us, these curves can disrupt our pursuits of exercise and any other healthy practices, which can lead to cessation of activity and weight gain. If this happens …
Proven by Science: Best Blood Flow Restriction Exercises for Seniors
As a physical therapist and certified strength & conditioning specialist, blood flow restriction is an intervention that I believe holds great benefit and promise for seniors wishing to stay strong, active, and avoid the troubling effects of sarcopenia (decreased muscle health). When used properly and on the appropriate individuals, it can be a real game-changer for those who use it. …
Should You Run Barefoot on a Treadmill? (Benefits & Considerations)
Feet are incredibly complex, and the only thing more complex than these structures is the ever-present, ongoing (and often passionate) debate around whether or not we as humans should keep our feet as free from the confines of shoes as possible. Many advocate that we should avoid cushioned shoes, orthotics, and such structures like the plague, whether walking or running. …
Motivate Yourself to Workout at Home | Pro Tips to Get Fired up
I absolutely love working out – I’ve been going to gyms since I was in early high school. To me, few things are better than going to one of my favorite gyms and getting a great session in, one in which I leave the gym feeling like I’ve challenged my body in ways that will make it stronger and healthier. …
5 Awesome Benefits of Walking Sideways on a Treadmill (You Need These)
Yes, you can walk sideways on a treadmill and yes, it has some pretty great benefits so long as you do it appropriately. If there’s one thing you need to know when it comes to exercise equipment, it’s that any piece of equipment can be used in a multitude of ways, be it conventional or unconventional. So long as it’s …
Four Handy Exercises to Help Loosen Stiff Ankles in all Directions
Stiff ankles are no fun. And the only thing better than getting them un-stiffened is getting them un-stiffened with exercises that are simple, straightforward and easy to perform. And while there are numerous exercises and ways you can work on improving your ankle mobility all by yourself, the four easy exercises in this article can help improve your ankle mobility …
Vibrating Massage Balls: Here’s Some Effective and Nifty Benefits
As a physical therapist who is also a strength & conditioning specialist, I am always proud to say that I am stupidly passionate about helping others feel as physically well as possible. And I must admit that I tend to have a serious case of gear acquisition syndrome, in which I’m always playing around with therapeutic devices to see which …