Dumbbells have long been viewed as a tool for traditional body building style exercise for muscle growth and strength training. Most often they are used for isolated single joint upper body movements such as bicep curls and lateral raises. You will also see people using dumbbells to perform variations of an overhead press and a...
By Dr. Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Grip strength seems like a small thing: how hard can you squeeze a dynamometer? It’s actually one of the most predictive measures of overall health we have as physical therapists. It’s tied to bone density, cardiovascular health, fall risk, and mortality risk, and most people have no idea...
By Dr. Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS Ankle sprains are one of the most overlooked injuries in Muay Thai. Most fighters figure that if they can still walk and tape it up, the ankle will heal on its own. Pain and swelling do settle down over time, but that is not the same as full...
Women can experience a lot of undesirable symptoms during perimenopause, including reduced energy levels, dramatic mood changes, and incredibly uncomfortable hot flashes. Many also notice changes in their body composition, including the loss of lean muscle mass and increased abdominal fat. Put another way, perimenopause is stressful for everyone; however, it can be especially frustrating...
By utilizing evidence-based strength training programs, Mend’s expert clinicians provide personalized care to help patients regain bone mass and achieve optimal health outcomes. BOULDER, Colorado – Mend Colorado, a leading physical therapy practice with locations in Boulder and Lafayette, wants to remind residents of its innovative approach to treating osteoporosis through specialized weight training. Leveraging the...
Rucking, the straightforward yet powerful exercise of walking with a weighted backpack, combines the benefits of bone density health and strength training. The added weight provides a resistance that engages various muscle groups, promoting strength and muscle development throughout the body. This not only enhances overall physical fitness but also contributes to improved metabolism and...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we utilize the latest research findings to help patients achieve their goals. Over the last few years we have successfully utilized the findings on utilization of weight training to improve bone density among at risk groups such as patients diagnosed with osteopenia, osteoporosis, as well...
By: Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve been told you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, it’s natural to feel cautious about movement—especially anything involving weights. Many women are advised to “be careful,” “avoid heavy lifting,” or stick to walking and light exercise. In reality, this advice is not only outdated, but may be doing you...
An estimated 40% of women and 13% of men over 50 years old will have at least one fracture due to osteoporosis (decreased bone density) in their lifetime. Areas that are most susceptible to fracture include the spine and hip bones. The incidence of fractures increases with age and particularly after menopause, as the protective...
Despite the fact that bones respond favorably to high impact exercise and high-intensity resistance training these types of exercise are typically avoided in women with osteoporosis due to concerns that heavy loading of ‘fragile’ bone may result in increased risk of fracture. The LIFTMOR trial (Watson et al 2017, J Bone Mineral Research) calls into...
