Athletico Health Resources

Every job presents its own set of physical and mental challenges. However, no matter what demands our ergonomics or how we use our bodies while interacting with our work environments and surroundings, it affects how we feel during and after the day. It can be helpful to think of our bodies as tools with specific jobs and purposes and should be used as efficiently as possible to prevent injury and pain. Thinking about ergonomics from a few fundamental themes can help keep safety and efficiency at the forefront of our minds. Themes such as posture, positioning, and performance are married to ergonomics, and if we think of these ideas proactively, we can stay safe while at work. (more…)

While Americans work in various industries and hold many different jobs, there’s one constant thread that can be seen through nearly all people's work. They spend far too much of their day sitting. Sedentary jobs have increased 83% for Americans since the 1950s, and physically active occupations make up less than 20% of all U.S. jobs. The shifting landscape of American work doesn't seem to be reversing course anytime soon, and, unfortunately, it negatively impacts on our society’s health. (more…)

Each year we are expected to visit our primary care physicians, who are trained to prevent, diagnose, and treat a broad array of illnesses and injuries. Their scope of knowledge is the provision of comprehensive care — which means they can address chronic, long-term conditions like diabetes mellitus as well as acute problems like bronchitis, allergic reactions, or colds and flu. However, who is going to help you with that chronic back pain? Who will help you with neck soreness from carrying your children? Who can help you with that dizzy feeling when you first get up? Physical therapy can, and we are here to help! Here are the top ten reasons PT should be part of your annual wellness routine! (more…)

Congratulations, you’ve just had a baby! Whether this is your first child, or you’ve had many before, taking care of yourself postpartum is just as important as taking care of your baby. Many new moms attend their six-week postpartum checkup and are cleared to do whatever they want but don’t feel ready or don’t know how to begin exercising safely again. Not to mention, new moms may be experiencing other symptoms like urinary leakage, pelvic pain, or low back pain. These symptoms are often assumed to be normal, but they can be helped with the assistance of a physical therapist. (more…)

Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death over the last century. Cardio exercise, also called aerobic exercise, has become popular due to its benefits for the cardiovascular system. However, aerobic exercise is not the only form of exercise. Anaerobic exercise is another form that people of all ages need to participate in to achieve optimal health. Anaerobic exercise is defined as exercise of high intensity and short duration where oxygen is not the primary energy source. Anaerobic means “without oxygen,” and instead of using oxygen as the energy source, the body uses stored energy in the muscles and fat. (more…)

Physical therapy (PT) is a great treatment option for people with all sorts of ailments. In this blog, we will dive into four signs you could benefit from physical therapy treatment. Physical therapy treatment is made up of four primary components: therapeutic exercise, functional activities, neuromuscular re-education, and manual therapy. Therapeutic exercise refers to exercises designed to help address a physical problem or ailment. Functional activities are interventions that cater more to your daily activities. Getting up from a chair, walking a long distance at work or getting in and out of your car, to name a few. Neuromuscular re-education references the connection between the brain and nerves to tell the body what to do and how to do it. Finally, manual therapy is a “hands-on” treatment like deep tissue mobilization, passive range of motion, or mobilization of a joint. (more…)

By some estimates, up to 95% of New Year's resolutions are health or fitness oriented. Unfortunately, 43% of people abandon their goal after one month, and only 10% believe they will still be pursuing their health and fitness goals after three months. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand those are not good odds. So why do so many need help sticking to a New Year workout plan? The quick answer is found in the intention-behavior gap. (more…)

There has been much content written about establishing goals during the New Year. Much of the content revolves around personal finance, health, and exercise. Speaking from personal experience, oftentimes, these goals do not make it into the new year, mostly because they have never been measurable or a part of my subconscious routine, too often falling to the wayside. It wasn’t until I read, The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy that I gained a better awareness and ability to form habits that stayed with me. According to Hardy, the success of forming habits that stick is simply performing small compounding actions over a long period of time, quite literally building habits. This idea of compounding can be related to any area of interest, done gradually over time, allowing habits to form and stick. The idea of compounding can most definitely be applied to orthopedic health, wellness, and pain-free longevity if those are your goals. (more…)