FLOW Physical Therapy, LLC

03/11/2026

🌿 CranioSacral Therapy & Chronic Pain

A large-scale systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders confirms that CranioSacral Therapy (CST) significantly helps reduce chronic pain.

✔️ Gentle
✔️ Non-invasive
✔️ Scientifically supported

As the healthcare community looks for sustainable solutions to chronic pain, CST is emerging as a powerful complementary therapy.

📖 Read the full studyhttps://www.iahe.com/storage/docs/articles/Craniosacral-therapy-for-chronic-pain.pdf

03/11/2026

Keep it simple!

A recent study revealed that you can reduce your risk of dying early from all causes (health related of course) by as much as 60% just by walking 9,000 or more steps per day.

Walking, especially at higher step counts, can significantly improve cardiovascular health. It helps lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, all of which are major contributors to early mortality.

Walking also helps regulate blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity and manage weight. These factors are crucial for preventing or managing conditions like type 2 diabetes which is also a significant risk factor for early death.

Beyond cardiovascular and metabolic improvements, walking can also contribute to better bone density, reduced inflammation and improved mood, all of which indirectly impact overall health and longevity.

Studies have shown a dose-response relationship between step counts and mortality, meaning the more steps taken, the lower the risk of death (so you could theoretically push beyond 60% risk reduction by increasing step counts beyond 9,000 steps).

Even for individuals with high levels of sedentary time (desk jobs, etc.) increasing daily steps can still lead to significant health benefits.

Also, while step intensity (pace) may offer some additional benefits, the overall volume of steps (how many taken) appears to be the primary driver of mortality reduction.

SEE PMID: 35247352 & 39799282

03/11/2026

I see this in my clients, as well

Consuming negative news triggers a survival-based “negativity bias” in the brain, which can lead to chronic stress, increased anxiety, and significant physical health issues. Even brief exposure-just 14 minutes a day-can cause a measurable spike in negative mood and catastrophizing.

Alarming news revs up the limbic system, specifically the amygdala, which sends stress signals that keep you scanning for more threats. “Doomscrolling” can release dopamine in the brain’s reward circuit when you find new information, creating a loop where you seek more news despite feeling anxious.

Constant stimulation from digital news can also lead to cognitive fatigue, reducing your ability to process information efficiently and potentially even declining cognitive control in younger adults. Repeated exposure can rewire the brain to stay in a state of high alert, making statistically unlikely events feel like immediate, impending dangers.

Frequent exposure is strongly linked to symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, and PTSD, especially when the news feels personally relevant or beyond your control. Constantly hearing about global crises can lead to a sense of powerlessness, making individuals feel that any effort to improve the situation is futile.

Heavy news consumption can cause persistent, unwanted thoughts about news events throughout the day. Over time, relentless negative headlines can lead to emotional numbness and a reduced ability to cope with daily stressors.

Aside from mental impacts, chronic stress from negative news triggers the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight), releasing adrenaline and cortisol, which can lead to long-term physical damage. For instance, prolonged high cortisol can contribute to high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and heart disease.

Stress also disrupts the digestive process (leading to IBS or acid reflux) and can weaken the immune system over time. Consuming distressing news before bed keeps the brain stimulated, harming melatonin production and causing insomnia or nightmares.

Constant “fight-or-flight” activation also causes muscle tension, headaches and profound exhaustion or burnout.

SEE PMID: 32452211

02/20/2026

Why support with craniosacral/brain/glial techniques and lymphatic drainage are important and effective.

02/16/2026

Taking a moment to celebrate in Avl NOLA style

02/12/2026

Interesting correlation

Strong legs are linked to higher cognitive function, increased gray matter and larger brain volume because they are the body’s largest muscles and act as a powerful engine for cardiovascular health and chemical signaling to the brain. Training them releases myokines (signaling proteins) that boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), enhancing neuroplasticity, while improving blood flow and reducing inflammation that causes brain aging.

To elaborate:

📑Chemical Signaling (Myokines): Activating large leg muscles releases “hormone-like” myokines into the blood, which cross the blood-brain barrier to support memory and neuronal health.

📑Increased Blood Flow: Stronger legs demand more oxygen, improving circulation, which floods the brain with nutrients and oxygen, fostering a healthier environment.

📑Neurogenesis & Reduced Atrophy: The biochemical released (such as BDNF) spark the growth of new neurons, particularly in the hippocampus, directly countering age-related brain shrinkage.

📑Biomarker for Overall Health: Leg strength is a reliable, strong predictor of cognitive aging, sometimes even more indicative than overall fitness, as it reflects a high level of consistent physical activity.

Research indicates that even in identical twins, the twin with higher leg strength showed significantly better cognitive function and more gray matter, with a 40-watt increase in leg power linked to improved brain performance equivalent to being 3.3 years younger. Maintaining strong legs through exercises and strength training effectively protects against brain atrophy.

PMID: 26551663

02/06/2026

Something of Interest

SumiThe human brain is a marvel we still don’t fully understand. Despite decades of research and countless studies, there are aspects of our neural machinery that remain deeply mysterious. Recently, scientists made a discovery that could rewrite how we think about brain evolution and cognition its...

02/06/2026

02/06/2026