Think rest is the answer to your pain? A physical therapist explains why the opposite is true - and what to do instead.

I want to tell you something that might reframe how you think about exercise - and maybe take the pressure off entirely. You don't need a barbell to strength train. You're already doing it. Every time you haul a laundry basket up a flight of stairs. Every time you reach up to put a dish on the top shelf. Every time you spend two hours crouched in the garden. Every time you stand at a standing desk for six hours in a row. Your body doesn't know the difference between a deadlif

Let me set the scene. I had a rare night out - truly, the first in a long time. And I woke up the next morning to something I was not expecting: a large, angry bruise across the top outer part of my foot, and the immediate realization that putting weight on it was not going to happen without a serious wince. My first thought - the same thought literally everyone has in that moment - was: is my foot broken? Cue the anxiety spiral. The lying very still hoping it would somehow i

Short answer? Yes - you can (and should) do physical therapy at home. In fact, most lasting progress happens outside the clinic. With so many exercises, mobility routines, and recovery tools available today, people are more empowered than ever to take care of their bodies on their own. Stretching, strengthening, walking, and mindful movement all have real value - and for many people, they’re essential. The key question isn’t whether at-home work helps. It’s whether you’re wo

Figure out how to fix your pain by understanding it better.

Starting physical therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve had a past experience that left you confused, rushed, or still in pain. Many people assume discomfort, confusion, or lack of progress is just “part of the process.” It’s not. Good physical therapy should feel collaborative, intentional, and empowering. Excellent physical therapy typically includes a Mindfulness-Based Pain Relief approach that helps you connect positively with your body on your road to y. H

In the United States, roughly 25% of adults report knee pain. There are roughly 700,000 knee surgeries that occur within a single year. But what happens if you address the symptom (pain) without addressing the reason it's there in the first place? This is where I hope to change your mind. Is Pain the Problem? Often times, people go to their doctor to determine the cause of knee pain. Next steps are usually to get an X-ray or MRI, you find some arthritis or some deterioration

Find out more about stress and its impacts on your body related to tissue healing, injury recovery, and a healthy, happy life.