Z. Altug, PT, DPT

Z. Altug, PT, DPT Welcome! I’m Z. Altug, PT, DPT, MS, DipACLM, OCS, a Physical Therapist, Health Coach, and author of The Lifestyle Medicine Toolbox (2024).

This is a supportive space for health professionals, wellness coaches, educators, and wellness-minded individuals.

Can lifestyle choices really help manage back pain?That’s the question I explored today during a 60-minute webinar for t...
07/24/2025

Can lifestyle choices really help manage back pain?

That’s the question I explored today during a 60-minute webinar for the South African Lifestyle Medicine Association—and the answer is a resounding yes.

We looked at how sleep, movement, nutrition, and emotional well-being all impact low back pain—and how simple, evidence-based lifestyle shifts can support:

• 📉 Reduced pain intensity
• 💪 Improved function and resilience
• 🧠 Better stress regulation and sleep quality
• 🌍 A more sustainable, patient-centered model of care

🔍 Evidence from randomized trials, systematic reviews, and global guidelines points to one clear conclusion:

When we treat the person—not just the pain—we create lasting change.

If you're a clinician, coach, or researcher exploring non-invasive, root-cause-based back pain strategies, lifestyle medicine is worth your attention.



South African Lifestyle Medicine Association

07/22/2025

⏳Zen Gardening as a Path to Inner Calm

When was the last time you felt calm just by looking at something?

Zen gardens were designed precisely for that—helping the mind settle through simplicity, stillness, and contemplation.

Whether it’s a large outdoor garden or a small desktop tray of stones and sand, these quiet spaces offer:
✅ A connection to nature
✅ A pause from noise and overwhelm
✅ A moment for reflection

The world-famous Zen Garden at Ryoanji Temple in Japan contains only 15 stones on white sand—and it’s been used for meditation for centuries.

In fact, new research (Yuen & Kwok, 2025) even shows that virtual Zen gardens can improve quality of life in long-term care settings.

🌾 Remember - Stillness is the therapy.

📖 Read more
• Yuen I, Kwok T. Effect of virtual Zen garden on quality of life of residents in long-term care home. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025;22(4):510.

Would you try a mini Zen garden on your desk?

📍 Zen Garden photography taken at The Huntington: https://www.huntington.org

07/20/2025

🌳The Art of Bonsai for Stress Relief

Feeling overwhelmed? Try connecting with something centuries old—bonsai.

Research (Song et al. 2018) shows that simply viewing a bonsai tree can induce relaxation, and the act of caring for one—hands in the soil, pruning with care, observing growth—can be deeply meditative.

One study (Hermann, 2021) calls bonsai “a connection of the tree with the human heart.”

Whether you grow one or visit a bonsai garden, like those at The Huntington in Pasadena, California, you’re engaging in a living mindfulness practice.

🪴 Remember - Small tree. Big calm.

📖 Read more:
• Hermann C. Bonsai as a group art therapy intervention among traumatized youth in KwaZulu-Natal. Psych J. 2021;10(2):177-186.
• Hermann C, Edwards SD. Practitioners' Experiences of the influence of Bonsai Art on health. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(6):2894.
• Song C, Ikei H, Nara M, Takayama D, Miyazaki Y. Physiological effects of viewing bonsai in elderly patients undergoing rehabilitation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(12):2635.

What if your next stress-relief tool wasn’t an app—but a tiny tree?

📍 Bonsai photography taken at The Huntington: https://www.huntington.org

07/08/2025

New Article:
Patient-Delivered Continuous Care for Weight Loss Maintenance: A Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA Internal Medicine
May 27, 2025

Leahey and colleagues concluded that, "In this trial, patient-delivered lifestyle intervention (mentor interventionists plus peer support) yielded significantly better weight loss maintenance (WLM) and cardiovascular risk outcomes compared with standard-of-care treatment (SOC) delivered by professionals. Future research may examine the effectiveness of this novel treatment approach in community and clinical settings."

Source:
Leahey TM, Gorin AA, Huedo-Medina TB, et al. Patient-Delivered Continuous Care for Weight Loss Maintenance: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2025;185(7):767–776.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2834317?guestAccessKey=4e2ccafc-d746-4ee0-b9a4-bdb7c881dd22&utm_medium=email&utm_source=postup_jn&utm_campaign=article_alert-jamainternalmedicine&utm_content=etoc-tfl_&utm_term=070825

New LinkedIn Newsletter Alert!Lifestyle Medicine Toolbox – Z. Altug’s quarterly LinkedIn newsletter explores practical l...
07/01/2025

New LinkedIn Newsletter Alert!

Lifestyle Medicine Toolbox – Z. Altug’s quarterly LinkedIn newsletter explores practical lifestyle medicine strategies to enhance wellness.

👋Hello Everyone!

I’m excited to share the latest edition of my quarterly LinkedIn newsletter, packed with evidence-based lifestyle medicine insights, health and wellness resources, and performance-enhancing strategies.

📅Published every January, April, July, and October, this newsletter is designed to help you optimize your health, happiness, and daily performance.

🔍In this issue, we’ll explore:

✅ Featured Article:
An Introduction to Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound In Point-Of-Care Physical Therapy Setting
By Dr. Shirish Sachdeva, DPT, MS, RMSK, FOR, PGDip-PPHC, DipACLM, DipDN, BPT

✅ Featured Article:
Biofeedback and Neurofeedback
By Dr. Luis A. Flacke and Nerella Chauvin N

✅ Performance & Practice
Calling All Surgical Teams: What Are Your Pre-Surgery High Performance Habits?

✅ Conference Preview
American College of Lifestyle Medicine 2025 Conference

✅ Product Spotlight
VictoryPOD ™ by Duncan Burns

✅ Organization Spotlight
A Loving Organization Consortium by Apurv Gupta, MD, MPH

✅ Organization Spotlight
Expressive Therapies Summits

✅ Book Spotlight
ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th edition

✅ Chapter Spotlight
Exercise Design for Individuals with Obesity by R. Kirby Baloy, DPT

✅ Clinical Corner
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Lifestyle Medicine

✅ Clinical Corner
American College of Lifestyle Medicine – Clinical Practice Guideline
Lifestyle Interventions for Treatment and Remission of Type 2 Diabetes and Pre-diabetes in Adults

✅ 1 Question Poll

✅ A Quick Refresher: 7 Essential Steps to Better Health

📬 Subscribe now to stay informed with the latest in lifestyle medicine, wellness coaching, chronic illness prevention, and performance:

👉 Follow The Lifestyle Medicine Toolbox Newsletter on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7104600763275902976/

📢 Repost to inspire your network, and

👥 Tag a friend, health coach, or clinician who’d benefit from this content!

💬 What topics would you love to see in the next edition? Comment below!



Join us in person at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine 2025 Conference!We're excited to present a 3-hour worksh...
06/22/2025

Join us in person at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine 2025 Conference!

We're excited to present a 3-hour workshop designed to empower healthcare providers with practical strategies to address chronic pain and support whole-person wellbeing.

🧠Workshop Title:
Creating a Lifestyle Medicine Toolkit for Pain Relief & Wellbeing

🎤 Presenters:
• Z. Altug, PT, DPT, MS, DipACLM, OCS
• Wendy F. Price, PT, DPT, MS, FACLM, DipACLM, NBC-HWC

📍 Location:
Ga***rd Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, TX

🗓 Date & Time:
Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM CT
🔗 Register now:
www.lmconference [dot] org
www.lifestylemedicine [dot] org

📩Tag a colleague, share this opportunity, and let’s transform pain care through Lifestyle Medicine.


American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Struggling to manage chronic pain in your patients—or yourself?Don’t miss this pre-conference, in-person workshop: Cre...
06/21/2025

Struggling to manage chronic pain in your patients—or yourself?

Don’t miss this pre-conference, in-person workshop:

Creating a Lifestyle Medicine Toolkit for Pain Relief & Well-being
Saturday, November 15, 2025
2:00–5:00 p.m. CT
In person | Separate Fee

Led by Z. Altug, PT, DPT, MS, DipACLM, OCS, CSCS and Wendy Farnen Price DPT, MS, WCS, DipACLM, FACLM, NBC-HWC

Learn to:
- Identify how lifestyle factors contribute to chronic pain, stress, and anxiety
- Apply evidence-based strategies across the six pillars of lifestyle medicine
- Integrate expressive therapies, nature-based techniques, and environmental tools for holistic care
This practical, hands-on session will empower you with tools to support both patient outcomes and your well-being.

Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/dXQzMbnX

I’m happy to share that I will be presenting at the California Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference in Palm Sp...
06/17/2025

I’m happy to share that I will be presenting at the California Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference in Palm Springs, California on September 21, 2025.

https://www.ccapta.org/page/CPTAAnnualConference

My Topic:
Introduction to Creating an Integrative Lifestyle Medicine Toolbox for Therapeutic Interventions

Stop by and say hello.



California Physical Therapy Association
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

06/15/2025

With Ariella Health and Fitness – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

06/15/2025

With APTA Orthopaedic – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

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