From fad diets to detoxes, the media regularly bombards us with messages about how to get healthier. Even seemingly simple advice like “exercise regularly” can be difficult to navigate when fitness influencers battle it out to prove that their 30-day program is better than the rest.
At Atlas Physical Therapy we want to help you cut through the noise. Our trained experts take a holistic view of health and wellness and understand that good health isn’t just about physical health but mental and emotional health, too. We also know that everyone isn’t starting from the same place — and that’s okay! We’ll meet you where you’re at and help you develop strategies to find a health-promoting regimen that works for you.
Despite what you may have read on social media, evidence-based health-promoting behaviors are fairly straightforward. However, they can be difficult to implement, especially between work, family, and other obligations. We get it. That’s why we advocate for small, simple changes that can make a big difference.
Are you ready to start making healthy changes in your life? Call us today to set up an appointment!
What It Even Means to “Be Healthy”
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,” which speaks to the complexities of health as a concept.
Good health also means different things to different people. For example, an 80-year-old on medication to manage high blood pressure and diabetes might consider herself healthy because she’s still physically active and can live independently. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old with no health conditions and excellent metabolic health might consider himself unhealthy because he struggles with exercise.
Living an entire life free of disease or illness is impossible for most of us. However, we can still strive to live as healthy as possible. Moving regularly, managing stress, and eating a nutritionally dense diet will help you feel your best, regardless of whether or not you meet the WHO’s (or anyone else’s) definition of “healthy.”
5 Simple Tips for Healthy Living from Our Team
- Eat a balanced, nutritious diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting saturated fats, salt, and added sugars to reduce the risks of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
- Engage in regular physical activity, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, such as walking, yoga, or sports, to improve cardiovascular health, mood, and weight management.
- Stay well hydrated by drinking around 8 glasses of water daily to support bodily functions like digestion, brain performance, and kidney health.
- Get sufficient quality sleep, ideally 7-8 hours per night, to help the body repair, strengthen the immune system, and maintain mental health.
- Manage stress effectively through practices like meditation, yoga, or spending time with loved ones, as chronic stress can negatively impact both physical and mental health.
Physical Therapy’s Role in Promoting Good Health
Our physical therapists have several tools to help you live the healthiest life possible:
- We can help you manage or resolve injuries and/or painful conditions that keep you from being physically active.
- We can help you develop a fun, effective exercise program that suits your interests and abilities.
- We can identify areas of musculoskeletal weakness or impairment that might cause problems for you down the road — and give suggestions for managing that impairment now!
- And much more! When you visit us, we’ll create a customized program that addresses your unique needs.
Find Good Health with Atlas Physical Therapy!
Our team of movement and musculoskeletal experts is here to help you live a full, healthy life. To get started, call us to schedule an appointment today!
Your Success Is Our Priority!
Return to Atlas Physical Therapy and Let’s Continue Your Journey to Wellness Together. Schedule Your Appointment Now!
Exercise of the Month
ERGONOMIC STRETCH
Feeling stiff at your desk? Try this simple ergonomic stretch to release tension in your neck, shoulders, and back—without ever leaving your chair. It’s a quick way to reset your posture, boost circulation, and help you feel more focused throughout the workday!
Start your day with a burst of color and flavor by sipping on this refreshing Pink Sunrise Strawberry Smoothie. Packed with fruity goodness and a creamy finish, it’s the perfect way to brighten your morning!
Enjoy This Seasonal Recipe!
Pink Sunrise Strawberry Smoothie
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/4 cup frozen raspberries
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- ½ – 1 small beet frozen
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup kefir
- 1/2 cup milk – regular, nut, coconut, hemp, etc.
- 2 tbsp honey (optional)
- 1 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1/2 cup ice
Place all ingredients into a high-speed blender. Run on the smoothie setting or on high for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth. Serve and enjoy!
Thank you for subscribing
to Atlas Physical Therapy
Follow Us on Social Media!
Follow the buttons below to find Atlas Physical Therapy on your favorite social media sites and stay up to date with what happens around our clinic!
Find Relief With Aquatic Therapy
Did you know that several painful conditions respond to aquatic physical therapy? At Atlas Physical Therapy, our team of therapists uses the healing properties of water to help our patients get relief and improve their function, so they can keep doing what they love!
What is aquatic therapy?
Aquatic therapy is a form of physical therapy that uses the benefits of water as part of a therapeutic intervention. Exercises are performed under the direction of a licensed physical therapist trained to use the physical properties of water to assist in patient healing and exercise performance.
Your therapist will use the water’s natural properties to create an exercise program that safely challenges you without provoking your pain. A physical therapist can increase the resistance of an exercise and make the movement more difficult by increasing the surface area of a person’s body by adding paddles, noodles, and kickboards.
What conditions benefit the most from aquatic therapy?
Water’s natural properties set the stage for a therapeutic environment. Your therapist will start with a comprehensive evaluation and a movement assessment to identify all the factors contributing to your condition. Using this information, we will develop an individualized aquatic therapy program that includes targeted mobility work, strengthening, and any other appropriate water-based techniques.
Aquatic therapy can combat the following conditions:
- Arthritis and other joint pains
- Weakness
- Balance and gait challenges
- Fall prevention
- Cardiovascular health
- Relaxation and stress management
- Neurological disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis
The buoyant properties of water help to support you, leading to an offloading of weight which reduces pain in the affected joints. Buoyancy makes balance and gait work safer because any fall in the water is more effortless for a therapist to deal with.
The benefits of aquatic therapy make it an effective way to implement exercise training to improve your function and help you get back to an active lifestyle.
What to expect with aquatic therapy
At your initial physical therapy appointment, you will be evaluated, and your treatment goals and care plan will be discussed. If your therapist determines that aquatic therapy will aid in your recovery, they will recommend that your follow-up sessions take place in the water to direct each treatment session.
Contact us today
Contact Atlas Physical Therapy today if you suffer from aches and pains and want to learn more about if aquatic therapy is right for you.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“Highly impressed with the staff at Atlas Physical Therapy (WGV). Dr. De knows his ‘stuff’ and can assist in any area. He has the foresight, patience, confidence, and compassion needed in this career field. He worked 11 weeks with me during TKR, he pushed and yet was always supportive. Techs were all so friendly and helpful, great group to be around while rehabbing. I would definitely utilize Dr. De and team again!”
— Tracy C.
Refer a Friend
If you’ve experienced the outstanding care at Atlas Physical Therapy, why not share it with your friends? Referring them means giving them access to personalized treatment that can make a real difference in their health and well-being. Help them find a trusted healthcare partner—refer a friend to Atlas Physical Therapy today!
