Simpatico Physical Therapy, Health and Wellness

07/10/2025

At Simpatico, we believe preserving our function is easier than trying to regain it. It is true that aging comes with physiological changes, however, it does not sentence us to a life of debility. The loss of mobility, strength, and balance occurs so gradually that it is not until it all adds up to pain or debility that we pay attention. But what if we can detect these changes early? We can put a small fire out, instead of battling a forest fire. This year, we will showcase a fundamental movement pattern or position each month that we feel is critical to preservation of function. If you find yourself struggling with them, no sweat. The human body is amazing and can always improve. You just need a place to start.

CONTROLLED STEP
The ability to control ascending and descending a step requires trunk stabilization to position our center of gravity over the ankle. It also requires activation of the hip muscles to maintain the knee in line with the hip and ankle to minimize rotational motion and uneven motion. While day to day household steps do not enlist this level of control and stability, especially when railings are used, the ability to perform this movement pattern with control ensures adequate lower quarter mobility, core stability, leg strength, coordination, and balance necessary for the preservation of function, as well as joint protection and injury prevention.

06/05/2025

At Simpatico, we believe preserving our function is easier than trying to regain it. It is true that aging comes with physiological changes, however, it does not sentence us to a life of debility. The loss of mobility, strength, and balance occurs so gradually that it is not until it all adds up to pain or debility that we pay attention. But what if we can detect these changes early? We can put a small fire out, instead of battling a forest fire. This year, we will showcase a fundamental movement pattern or position each month that we feel is critical to preservation of function. If you find yourself struggling with them, no sweat. The human body is amazing and can always improve. You just need a place to start.

PELVIC TILTS
Pelvic tilts involve moving the pelvis slowly forward and back to move the lumbar spine (low back) from an extended and flexed position without using upper body movement. This slow controlled segmental motion gives us awareness and control over every degree of motion available within the low back. The ability to do this enables us to make subtle adjustments to our back position during activity to provide stability, as well as relieve pressure and tension for injury prevention.

06/01/2025

Simpatico Physical Therapy, Health and Wellness is about helping EVERYONE, no matter who you are, who you love, what you believe, or where you come from. Happy Pride Month! Wear it proudly and take care of yourself ❤️

05/17/2025

Stop using age as a diagnosis or excuse. You can always get better. Don't know where to start? Something hindering you? Come see us at Simpatico. We will find your obstacles, knock 'em down, teach you well, and get you going!

05/11/2025

Tom Kalka from Sarge Boot Camp Studio came to Simpatico after noticing some movement problems while teaching an exercise class. He doesn't have any pain, but wants to know why he can't move. Our Functional Movement Screen can find the hidden issues. Check out his session with us!

05/06/2025

At Simpatico, we believe preserving our function is easier than trying to regain it. It is true that aging comes with physiological changes, however, it does not sentence us to a life of debility. The loss of mobility, strength, and balance occurs so gradually that it is not until it all adds up to pain or debility that we pay attention. But what if we can detect these changes early? We can put a small fire out, instead of battling a forest fire. This year, we will showcase a fundamental movement pattern or position each month that we feel is critical to preservation of function. If you find yourself struggling with them, no sweat. The human body is amazing and can always improve. You just need a place to start.

BOW (HIP HINGE)
A controlled bow involves keeping a stable trunk and flexing forward using the hip joint. This allows us to utilize the anterior (front) chain trunk muscles and posterior (back) chain trunk muscles together to stabilize the spine while using our larger leg muscles (gluts, hamstrings, quads, and calves) to assume the workload when performing tasks that involve bending forward. This protects the spine from excessive loads and torsional forces when lifting, squatting, crouching, and lunging.

04/05/2025

At Simpatico, we believe preserving our function is easier than trying to regain it. It is true that aging comes with physiological changes, however, it does not sentence us to a life of debility. The loss of mobility, strength, and balance occurs so gradually that it is not until it all adds up to pain or debility that we pay attention. But what if we can detect these changes early? We can put a small fire out, instead of battling a forest fire. This year, we will showcase a fundamental movement pattern or position each month that we feel is critical to preservation of function. If you find yourself struggling with them, no sweat. The human body is amazing and can always improve. You just need a place to start.

FUNCTIONAL LUNGE
The ability to perform a functional lunge involves core stabilization during hip hinge movement, single leg strength, balance, and hip/pelvis co-contractions for knee rotational control. It also requires hip, knee, and ankle mobility. This movement pattern is a component of everyday movement like walking and stair negotiation. It also enables us to access the floor for item retrieval, household tasks, recreation, and sport. The loss of this pattern can lead to excessive stress to the spine, knees, and feet/ankles, especially when repetitive, at high velocity, or with high load.

03/26/2025

Many medical practitioners use the popular term "evidence-based" technologies while using lights, lasers and electricity, claiming to heal their patients. While there may be a time and place for some passive modalities, those windows are rare, and there is little evidence that they provide any statistically significant gain over placebo. How do you think human beings survived, progressed and thrived over half a million years before electricity? They moved! Do you want to heal, move, thrive and be empowered without being "plugged in"? Come check out what we do! Simpatico Physical Therapy, Health and Wellness offers a spectrum of truly functional interventions that heal but more importantly prevent illness and injury. We teach, so you can learn to move well, again.

03/23/2025

Step outside YOUR comfort zone!
At Simpatico Physical Therapy, Health and Wellness, we can help you grow, get stronger, gain confidence and live well.

03/03/2025

03/01/2025

At Simpatico, we believe preserving our function is easier than trying to regain it. It is true that aging comes with physiological changes, however, it does not sentence us to a life of debility. The loss of mobility, strength, and balance occurs so gradually that it is not until it all adds up to pain or debility that we pay attention. But what if we can detect these changes early? We can put a small fire out, instead of battling a forest fire. This year, we will showcase a fundamental movement pattern or position each month that we feel is critical to preservation of function. If you find yourself struggling with them, no sweat. The human body is amazing and can always improve. You just need a place to start.

UPRIGHT STANCE WITH 3 POINTS OF CONTACT
While this month’s feature is a position rather than a movement, it is the foundation for core stabilization during movement. The ability to stand, look forward, while maintaining wall contact at the back of the head, shoulder blades, and sacrum aligns the head over the shoulders, and the shoulders over the hips. It fosters the natural curves of the cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), and lumbar (lower back) spinal segments for optimal load bearing force attenuation and balance. This position also maximizes core muscle function, providing a stable torso to anchor the arms and legs during movement (i.e. walking). The inability to get into this position signals a loss of mobility somewhere along the spine, scapular/shoulder complex, and/or pelvis/hip complex which the body will naturally shift to adjacent structures to maintain the ability to stand. Over time, mobility limitations can add up to affect multiple segments, cause excessive stress, and develop into functional limitations or pain.