Alpine Physical Therapy

03/17/2023

Happy St Patrick’s Day! Tonight is going to be a whole lot of fun, especially those of Irish heritage.

But, we don’t want any of you to come down with a case of India Pale Elbow from flinging back too many green beverages. So, here’s our post from a few years ago highlighting how to stretch appropriately before the festivities begin. Plus, there are more great pics of Rob like this one on the blog. https://www.alpinephysicaltherapy.com/2017/03/16/prevent-drinking-arm-aka-india-pale-elbow-ipe/

01/28/2023

Have you ever sprained your ankle and then sprained it again and again? The ligaments, muscles, and joints in your body carry proprioception receptors. When an injury, such as an ankle sprain, disrupts these receptors, they can’t provide accurate feedback to the brain

Retraining proprioception requires work to improve balance with a specific focus on the “feel’ of movement. A typical balance program starts with static and slower-based movements, progressing to dynamic and agility exercises dependent on individual goals or recreational participation. Yoga and Tai Chi are also excellent exercises for improving balance. Physical therapy after a lower extremity injury works to build up and retrain muscles to their pre-injury or surgery condition and retrain proprioception so you can move with confidence.

01/26/2023

Appearing in about 40 percent of adults in the U.S., sciatica is a type of lumbar radiculopathy, which is an irritation of either a single lumbar spine nerve root or the group of nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest in the body. It forms from a group of nerves off of the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine and runs down the hips and buttocks, branching down each leg into the feet.

Sciatic nerve may appear as:
Increased leg pain with extended bending, sitting or lifting. People with this may also feel unstable, or their back will give way resulting in leg pain.
Unable to stand or walk a long distance without leg pain. These people often feel better or have total relief when sitting.
Moderate to severe pain in the lower back, buttock, and down the leg.
Numbness or weakness in the lower back, buttock, leg, or feet.
Pins and needles in the leg, toes, or feet.
A loss of bowel or bladder control (incontinence).

Treatment varies depending on the cause. Physical therapy can help. If you are experiencing sciatic nerve pain or any pain that has lasted longer than two weeks, schedule an evaluation with one of our physical therapists. You can learn more about sciatica by reading our article by clicking the link: https://www.alpinephysicaltherapy.com/2022/02/02/sciatica-is-a-pain-but-not-where-you-may-think/

01/25/2023

From pregnancy related aches and pains to age-related pelvic dysfunction, we’re here to help.

We treat:
Female urinary incontinence
Urinary frequency
Pelvic prolapse
Chronic pelvic pain
Vulvar and vaginal pain
Post mastectomy rehab

Not matter what phase of life you're currently in, if you have any of the above issues, pelvic floor physical therapy from the experts at Alpine Physical Therapy, can help. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment. No referral required to get started

Learn more by clicking the link in bio. https://www.alpinephysicaltherapy.com/womens-health-physical-therapy/

01/19/2023

Is pain in your head? Have you ever hurt yourself but didn't realize it until you saw the damage? Perhaps you've heard the stories of people being shot or otherwise severely injured but not noticing the pain associated with their injury until they saw the blood.

When tissue damage occurs, a peripheral nerve from the injured area carries a signal to the spinal cord. The information is passed onto a spinal nerve that carries the information to the brain, where a complex communication process takes place among many brain areas. This communication process identifies pain location in the body, the quality of sensations in that area, emotions, and thoughts.

Based on the brain’s conclusions about the incoming information, it sends instructions to the spinal cord, sensitizing the nerve pathway to promote a healing process. In a normal healing process, the nerves easily send signals. As tissues heal, sensitivity reverses.

For people with persistent pain, the nerves can remain sensitive, continuing to send pain signals to the brain even when the tissues have healed. In other words, pain is still felt despite the injury having healed. So, how do you overcome this? At Alpine Physical Therapy, we focus on a graded movement program that helps your brain re-wire its response to movement so one can more quickly return to function and achieve goals. This program includes movement and exercise, pain education, and relaxation/body awareness techniques. Want to learn more? Check out our website. https://www.alpinephysicaltherapy.com/2022/03/30/a-new-approach-to-understanding-chronic-or-persistent-pain/

01/18/2023

All this slipping and sliding has more than a handful of us falling on our bottoms - the result of which is often tailbone pain. Trauma to the coccyx (tailbone) is not uncommon in the winter months of Central Oregon due to the slippery conditions we face. And when the tailbone aches, using the bathroom, walking, running, and sitting can worsen the pain. The big question we often get is if your tailbone is broken. Most likely it is just bruised. If you have pain in the bottom, there are some things you can do to help relieve the discomfort. These include:

• Sitting on a wedge shaped pillow with a cutout to reduce pressure on the tailbone
• Lean forward when standing to reduce pressure
• Alternate ice and heat to tailbone area up to four times per day
• Avoid sitting for extended periods by taking breaks and standing while working whenever possible
• Take NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen to help reduce inflammation and pain

If you are still struggling, physical therapy can help feel better so you can get back to experiencing every day. We invite you to schedule an evaluation. No referral is required to get started. https://www.alpinephysicaltherapy.com/womens-health-physical-therapy/

01/12/2023

When chronic pain, injury, or dysfunction gets in the way of your New Years' goals, it is time to make some changes. Our team of licensed physical therapists cherishes the recreational and social opportunities of this region, and it’s their mission to see that everyone here is able to experience life to its fullest – every day. It’s what we do, and we do it well. Make 2023 the year you become stronger and healthier. Start with a physical therapy evaluation. No referral is required. Click here to learn more. https://www.alpinephysicaltherapy.com/about-us/alpine-experience/

01/11/2023

We are so glad that mindfulness has become mainstream. Mindfulness is the act of being present. So often, we are caught up in what we did or said in the past or what we are worried will happen in the future. None of that matters more than what is happening at this very moment. Take time to sit with yourself and practice being present. When you go for a walk, feel the cool air on your skin and smell the juniper, sage, and pine that make Bend so delectable. Experience every day by finding moments to be fully present and aware. Learn more about mindfulness by clicking here: https://www.alpinephysicaltherapy.com/2018/01/31/take-a-deep-breath-how-proper-breathing-can-improve-you-stress-management-ability-to-relax-lessen-pain-and-improve-your-core-strength/

01/05/2023

Does shoveling hurt? If you do it correctly, you may feel muscle soreness, but you shouldn't have pain. To shovel correctly, you should start with the right tool. Choose a shovel that allows you to keep your back straight when lifting. Lift smaller snow loads, limit twisting, and bend at the knees when lifting. Take breaks when shoveling, and know this activity counts as a workout!

Read our full article on shoveling snow by clicking here: https://www.alpinephysicaltherapy.com/2018/01/04/wintertime-shoveling-tips/

01/03/2023

Move your body every day. In physical therapy, we like to say that motion is the lotion. If you think of the tin man from The Wizard of Oz, he needed oil to move. Movement is your body’s oil. With movement, you keep your joints healthy and mobile. You’ve probably noticed that your joints and muscles get tight when idle. Movement keeps everything pliable. So, even if you only have time to get out a few times a day to walk the dog or take a minute to do some light stretching, make it happen.

01/02/2023

12/29/2022

Today, we're highlighting our staff's favorite ways to stay active and keep their bodies moving! Share yours with us in the comments below ⬇️