Some years ago, I was asked by a quite accomplished massage therapist, “How are you able to feel what you do with your hands?” My answer was very simple; “Because no one told me I couldn’t.” I admit that perhaps I had selective listening and did not hear any of the messages of “You can’t”. This message has guided me well in my practice of physical therapy with clients. The same message works with the goals and intentions we set for ourselves. When working with patients, I too often hear,...

Is Your Knee Being Victimized? Do you suffer from knee pains? Structural strains and damage in your knee are often caused by problems stemming from your back, foot and ankle. Your knee, by virtue of its location, often compensates for restrictions and imbalances in joints occurring above and below it. Pes planus or fallen arches of your feet cause your knees to roll inwards, thus placing additional strain on the medial (or middle) aspect of the knee. This can lead to increased angular...

Cross-training is a sports term. It describes training parts of your body differently from the one you’ve been focusing on. An example is a runner who cross-trains by lifting weights to build strength in the upper chest and back. Personally, I’ve noticed how much stronger a dancer I am from integrating kickboxing into my weekly exercise routine; and vice versa, my kickboxing is also improved by integrating the techniques I learn from dance. You don’t need to be an athlete to incorporate...