By: Chelsey Vasquez, PT, DPT, PRPC Abdominal bloating and distension are common concerns I hear from patients in pelvic health physical therapy. Many people feel uncomfortable pressure in their abdomen after eating or by the end of the day. While digestive conditions can contribute, another often overlooked factor is abdominophrenic dyssynergia. Abdominophrenic dyssynergia occurs when...
VO2 max is an individual’s maximum utilization of oxygen during exercise. It remains the gold standard for measuring an individual’s cardiovascular fitness, but this measurement is also strongly correlated to our health and lifespan. Authors have shown VO2 max is a better predictor of future health than commonly utilized tests such as blood work and...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve done enough workouts in the CrossFit Open, you know one thing is almost guaranteed: double unders will show up when your heart rate is already through the roof. The difference between smooth sets and frustrating trip-ups often comes down to how well your ankles, calves, and reactive...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS CrossFit Open 26.1 places a significant metabolic demand on the lower body through repeated high volume wall balls. While leg fatigue is expected many athletes experience a rapid heart rate spike early in the workout that limits performance well before muscular failure. In most cases this response is driven...
By: Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS and John Crawley, PT, DPT, OCS Warming up is one of the most important parts of any rock climbing session. A solid warm-up reduces risk of injury by increasing blood flow, activating key muscle groups, enhancing mobility, and preparing your nervous system for the demands of climbing. Below are...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve been training long enough, you know the feeling: the CrossFit Open is coming, jump ropes are coming out, and suddenly double-unders feel a little more… stressful than usual. For a lot of athletes especially women, but not only women that stress can show up as SUI (stress...
Aerobic exercise continues to be our best intervention to improve cardiovascular fitness/VO2 max, metabolic health, and disease risk. Over 20 diseases have been shown to benefit from properly prescribed aerobic exercise. Despite the health benefits only 25% of Americans reach the recommended amount of exercise each week. The number one barrier for exercise participation in...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Pregnancy is a powerful journey, one that transforms your body, your strength, and your mind. As a physical therapist and strength coach, I firmly believe that staying active and lifting during pregnancy (when medically cleared) isn’t just okay it’s empowering and necessary. In this post, I’ll walk you through...
By: Chelsey Vasquez, PT, DPT, PRPC When it comes to pelvic health, misinformation is everywhere. Whether it’s a social media post encouraging everyone to do Kegels or outdated advice to just “deal with” pelvic pain, these myths can prevent people from seeking the care they need. Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect people of all genders,...
By: Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS When we think of exercises that keep us strong and healthy, we often picture walking, lifting weights, or stretching. But did you know that something as simple as jumping can be one of the best things you can do for your bones? Why Bone Density Matters Our bones are...