Elevated Physical Therapy

When speaking with new clients I often hear, "I need to get an MRI/X-ray so I can know exactly what's going on". Imaging shouldn't be a routine part of injury recovery. Pain as an isolated symptom does not warrant imaging - especially pain without any sort of trauma, like a car accident. ... If the goal is to heal naturally without surgery, imaging is not needed. Plenty of people have herniated discs and don't even notice, meaning it's possible to recover and live a normal, active life despite imperfections on pictures. If you haven't even tried another course of action, you don't need to wait for imaging before starting to fix your problem. Physical therapists are able to assess and diagnose neuromuscular and musculoskeletal issues and actually tailor your treatment to your specific goals and needs. If you're ready to take action and get your health back in gear, give us a call or shoot us a text at (626) 406 - 2505 to learn more about how we can help, even without imaging! We love helping active people continue to live life in motion. #healthiswealth #physicaltherapy #onlyinoldpas #oldtownpasadena #naturalhealing #pasadena #activelife #pasadenafitness #wellness #healthcarenotsickcare

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT Physical therapists are doctoral-level movement experts who are trained in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of human movement. And we don’t need to expose you to radiation, injections or pain killers with scary side effects, or risky surgeries to do to ... And in a great majority of cases, you don’t need those toxic things either If you’re someone who wants to heal themselves naturally, get back to being active, and takes ownership of their health and well being, you could benefit from physical therapy! We love helping active people continue to live life in motion. To learn more about how we can help you, give us a call or shoot us a text at (626) 406 - 2505. #healthiswealth #physicaltherapy #onlyinoldpas #oldtownpasadena #naturalhealing #pasadena #activelife #pasadenafitness #wellness #healthcarenotsickcare See more

Check out our latest blog post to learn more about how Redcord can help you! https://www.elevatedpt.net/blog/index.php

Now that we know how to improve the mobility of our upper backs (if not, refer to Monday's post for some stretches), let's get into what can cause pain in this area. Read below Muscle Tension. This is usually due to poor posture leading to muscular imbalances. In the age of technology, we often see shoulders that are rounded and heads that are forward, rather than in good postural alignment. Compression Fracture. Usually a result of osteoporosis. This pain is typi...cally severe & requires early, more aggressive intervention. Joint-related. Facet joints are at the back of your spine. Bending backwards is typically more painful when these are behind your pain. Degenerative changes can cause pain to these joints. These are just a few things that can cause pain in this area. If you are worried about a compression fracture, you should first check with your primary care physician or an urgent care facility to rule it out. If it doesn’t seem as sinister as a fracture, the best thing to do if you have pain in your upper back is to work with a movement specialist. A brace may improve your symptoms, but it won’t correct the root cause. Call our office today at (626) 360 - 2712 to book a consultation. Let’s get you back to life, pain-free. #onlyinoldpas #oldtownpasadena #losangelesfitness #losangeleshealth #pasadena #posturepolice #midbackpain

So you want to improve the way you move in your mid & upper back... This part of your spine has far less mobility than your neck and low back. However, it does move in the same directions and can get stiff! These stretches & exercises may not help everyone - it’s impossible to say what’s best for you without an assessment! If you are experiencing some dull, achy pain or sensations of tightness, these may be worth a try! ... Cat Camel Start on your hands and your knees with your hands directly under your shoulders. Round your back up and tuck your chin. Slowly move out of this into arching your back and looking up at the ceiling. Move in & our of these slowly, remembering to breathe as you go. Hand Behind Head Thoracic Rotation Begin again on your hands and knees. Raise one arm to put your hand behind your head. Twist so your elbow points towards the ceiling and then slowly twist back down to touch elbow to elbow. Move slowly, remember to breathe, and switch sides. Thread the Needle Same principle as previous exercise, just with a straight arm and then lowering onto that arm as you pull your arm underneath your body. Thoracic Foam Rolling with Flexion & Extension Firstly, if this does not seem to be helping your symptoms, don’t do it. Foam rolling is as good as it feels. Start with the roller in the middle of your back. Remembering to breathe, bend forward and backward over the roller, adjusting position as necessary. #onlyinoldpas #oldtownpasadena #losangelesfitness #losangeleshealth #pasadena #posturepolice #midbackpain

Do your feet collapse inward when you stand - making you feel like you have no support in your feet whatsoever You may need a motion control shoe for running These running shoes are the most stable out there. These bad boys have cushion and supports to protect the foot from that pesky over-pronation (landing on the inside of your foot), thus helping to keep you on the road or trails. These shoes have firm posts to reinforce the arch as well as stiffer heels. ... Examples of Motion Control Shoes: Brooks Addiction by @brooks (pictured above) New Balance 1540v2 by @newbalance Saucony ISO Redeemer 2 by @saucony Asisc Gel-Foundation by @asics Mizuno Wave Paradox 4 by @mizuno #running #runner #runningshoes #sneakers #footpain #footstrike #runpasadena #gorunla #pasadena #socalrunners #fitness #wellness #health #therapy #halfmarathon #marathon #marathontraining #training #roadrunner #trailrunner #race #footsupport #injury #injuryprevention #injuredrunner #achyfeet #physicaltherapy #onlyinoldpas #oldtownpasadena #happyfeet

Do your feet collapse inward when they hit the ground running If so, you may be dealing with what the industry refers to as, over-pronation. But why is that such a problem? This altered positioning of your foot can cause injuries over time and sideline you from running. Stability shoes are for the runner who's foot rolls inward (pronates) with each step. These shoes have stability devices to control pronation and side-to-side movement. The rigidity of these shoes lies betw...een neutral and motion control. Examples of Stability Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline by @brooks (pictured above) Hoka Arahi by @hoka Nike Air Zoom Structure 22 by @nike Asisc Gel-Kayano by @asics Mizuno Wave Horizon 4 by @mizuno #running #runner #runningshoes #sneakers #footpain #footstrike #runpasadena #gorunla #pasadena #socalrunners #fitness #wellness #health #therapy #halfmarathon #marathon #marathontraining #training #roadrunner #trailrunner #race #footsupport #injury #injuryprevention #injuredrunner #achyfeet #physicaltherapy #feethurt #oldtownpasadena #onlyinoldpas

Keeping it neutral. These shoes hit the sweet spot between cushion and comfort. These shoes are for runners who like a bit of cushion, but don't need so much support. This shoe is usually great for runners with a higher arch as they boast great shock absorption and protection without adding unnecessary support while your foot is on the ground. Made for runners who tend to land on the ball of their feet or closer to the outside, these shoes don't control or restrict moti...on. Tell us about your favorite shoe below! Examples of Neutral Shoes: Hoka One Clifton Six by @hoka (pictured above) Brooks Ghost by @brooks Nike Zoom Romero by @nike Fresh Foam 1080v9 by @newbalance Altra Escalante by @altra #running #runner #runningshoes #sneakers #footpain #footstrike #runpasadena #gorunla #pasadena #socalrunners #fitness #wellness #health #therapy #halfmarathon #marathon #marathontraining #training #roadrunner #trailrunner #race #footsupport #injury #injuryprevention #ankleinjury #plantarfasciitis #achyfeet #onlyinoldpas #oldtownpasadena

The Minimalist! These shoes were born from the Less Shoe, More You premise. These ultra lightweight, quick-drying kicks were invented by hikers and climbers. This type of shoe gained in popularity after Christopher McDougall's popular book "Born to Run" about the sandal-clad Tarahumara runners was published. The "Running People", as they are called, scoured the canyons deep in Mexico with nothing but rubber sandals on their feet. Tread lightly though, these shoes are N...OT meant to be jumped into without slowly working down in the way of shoe cushion and stability over time. Doing so can be a recipe for injury! Are you a #minimalistrunner ?? Tell us below! Examples of Minimalist Shoes: Noravan SL by @arcteryx (pictured above) V-Trail 2.0 by @vibram Trail Glove 5 by @merrell Minimus Trail 10v1 by @newbalance Altra Men’s Vanish-R by @altra #running #runner #runningshoes #sneakers #footpain #footstrike #runpasadena #gorunla #pasadena #socalrunners #fitness #wellness #health #therapy #halfmarathon #marathon #marathontraining #training #roadrunner #trailrunner #race #footsupport #injury #injuryprevention #injuredrunner #achyfeet #physicaltherapy #onlyinoldpas #oldtownpasadena

Before we dive into the different types of running shoes, let's get deeper in your PT's favorite topic... Anatomy! We'll break down the parts so you can understand every square inch of your kicks! ... The Upper: This part of your shoe covers your foot to allow for a snug and secure fit. It's usually made with an engineered mesh or knit. The Overlay: In an effort to reduce the weight of a shoe, not all shoes have an overlay. For those that do, this is the layer of fabric that lays over the upper to provide structure. The Tongue: This protects the top of your foot from the laces. Did you know you can actually irritate the tendons atop your foot if your laces are too tight? The Toebox: This protects the toes and should allow for ample splaying with impact to prevent blisters. The Heelcounter: This provides support to your heel and prevents too much side to side movement of your foot. The Midsole:This is the rubber-like foam between the upper and rubber part of your shoe. This is the core of the shoe! There are a few different types of foam that vary in weight, durability, and bounce factor. Check out our blog to learn more! The Outsole: We’ve finally reached the bottom! The outsole is the rubbery bottom of your shoe, which is made of either solid rubber, air-injected rubber, or a combination of both. The design of the outsole is dependent on the purpose of the shoe. Happy running, and stay tuned this week to learn about which running shoe may be the best for your foot and form! #runningshoes #footpain #runpasadena #gorunla #socalrunners #losangelesfitness #halfmarathon #marathon #marathontraining #roadrunner #trailrunner #injuredrunner #onlyinoldpas #larr #oldtowpasadena

Air quality is AWFUL in the San Gabriel Valley right now, and we’re feeling extra lucky to have a treadmill! We had a nice weekend running indoors social distance style with some of the Pasadena Pacers! It was The LA Marathon Kick-off Weekend after all Also, big congrats to everyone who found cleaner air to do their Boston Marathon this weekend!! Especially Becky, who was able to swing by for a shake out run!

Let's Talk Shoes! How important are these things we put on our feet to run?! Well, if you've ever been in a pair that didn't quite do it for you, you know! ... It all depends on your foot structure, the strength of the muscles in the arch of your foot and surrounding your foot and ankle, what part of your foot tends to contact the ground first, your speed, and your typical distance. Join us this week as we introduce the different types of running shoes & who they will work for the best! #running #runner #runningshoes #sneakers #footpain #footstrike #runpasadena #gorunla #pasadena #socalrunners #fitness #wellness #health #halfmarathon #marathon #marathontraining #training #roadrunner #trailrunner #race #footsupport #injury #injuryprevention #injuredrunner #achyfeet #physicaltherapy #onlyinoldpas #larr

When working out, we love to get the most bang for our buck! This is why High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is so popular! But is it possible that you're doing too much HIIT? Check out our new blog post below! https://www.elevatedpt.net/blog/index.php