By: Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS During a woman’s monthly cycle, the concentrations of hormones will vary significantly. But, what we don’t often realize is that these fluctuations can affect our athletic performance. Two hormones—estrogen and progesterone—play central roles in our energy levels, recovery, and exercise tolerance. Understanding how these hormones shift across the menstrual...
it is hard to find someone in a Boulder County gym or outdoor area who is not utilizing music to help fuel their workout. Whether engaged in aerobic exercise or strength training music can provide participants more enjoyment during the activity and also boost performance during the session. Thanks to technology advancements it has become...
By: Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS When it comes to exercise, the way you train matters as much as what you train. The same movement — be it a squat or a row — can achieve different results depending on the sets, reps, load, and the length of the rest breaks you use. Understanding these...
By: John Crawley, PT, DPT, OCS Plyometrics are a type of exercise that involve explosive, high-intensity movements and are often used in sports training and rehabilitation programs for many types of overhead athletes, but not often enough for rock climbers. They can be an effective way to improve muscle power, speed, and coordination, and can...
By: Megan Davis, PT, DPT, OCS Low back pain is the leading cause of pain and disability as research suggests 50-80% of people will experience at least one episode of low back pain in their lifetime (1). This means it is very common to have low back pain as well as recurrence of low back...
By: Ian Nay, PT, DPT, OCS Neck pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out physical therapy for neck pain, and it often stems from long hours at a computer, poor posture, or repetitive work. At Mend Physical Therapy, we understand how frustrating chronic neck stiffness and tension can be. The good...
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: John Crawley, PT, DPT, OCS The nature of TMJ related pain can be complex. Often manifesting from a combination of bio mechanical and behavioral factors. Based on a synthesis of peer-reviewed research and systematic reviews, the top five contributing factors or management components for TMD-related pain are: Muscle Disorders (Myofascial Pain): This is one...
Boulder and its’ surrounding areas are well known for many things including the percentage of citizens who exercise. Some surveys have reported over 90% of people living in Boulder are active making it one of the fittest cities in the country. Granted this is self report, but it is hard not to look around during...
Knee arthritis (osteoarthritis) one of the leading causes of disability in our country. Affected individuals report significant levels of pain and loss of function including both daily and recreational activities. Although initially associated with older adults this condition can also occur in a significant percentage of younger adults. Thankfully most knee arthritis cases can be...