Ex Rx: The Importance of Physical Activity Outside the Physical Therapy Clinic

Ryan Roenigk, SPT – Texas State University Doctorate of Physical Therapy Class of 2023 You likely are coming to Symmetry Physical Therapy for specific guidance on how to reduce pain and improve your overall function. Maybe you had a recent injury or surgery that brought you through our doors. It’s also very common that you have been dealing with chronic …

Healthcare Alphabet Soup

Kylie Dugan, SPT – Texas State University Doctorate of Physical Therapy Class of 2023 Healthcare is a field that is especially notorious for having many acronyms and initials that can often be confusing. You may hear your physical therapist (PT) or another healthcare provider referring to another profession, certified specialist, or treatment technique by initials.   We thought it might be …

What Physical Therapy Can Do for Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. The hips, knees, hands, and spine are the most commonly affected joints. Arthritis is not a single disease but an umbrella term that includes a variety of different types. Some of the more common examples are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis …

Blood Flow Restriction Training – Explained

This post was written by Seth Blankenship, SPT – Texas State University, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Class of 2023 – who recently finished a clinical rotation at Symmetry. It is widely accepted that when weight training, accomplishing muscle hypertrophy (the increase in size of your muscles) requires doing exercise repetitions with a resistance of 65-70% of your one repetition maximum …

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS):  Explained

Kassidy Covert, SPT – Texas State University, Doctorate of Physical Therapy Class of 2023 Physical activity and regular exercise are strongly recommended for one’s overall health and wellness. Benefits include decreasing the risk of chronic health conditions such as heart disease and type II diabetes, as well as improving cognition, mental health, sleep, and overall quality of life.1 However, there …

My Stress Influences My Pain? 

Rayanne Garcia, SPT – Texas State University, Doctorate of Physical Therapy Class of 2023 Has anyone ever told you that your stress impacts your pain? Or how about that fact that your stress can impact whether or not you experience pain at all? It all sounds a bit taboo, but current research shows that the prevalence of pain, site of …

Physical Therapy on the Road with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps

Recently, Symmetry’s founder, physical therapist & marching-band-mom Julie Mankinen had the opportunity to spend several days on tour with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps – a performance marching band that is traveling across the United States this summer.  The group is one of more than 40 organizations that compete in the Drum Corps International (DCI) season, which …

July is Ultraviolet Safety Month

July is UltraViolet Safety Month.  Most of us are aware that it is important to protect our eyes and skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.  Too much exposure to ultraviolet light can cause cancer and weaken the immune system.  UV rays also cause painful sunburns and lead to premature aging of the skin.  Because we live in a part of …

Is Your Diet Contributing to Your Pain?

Inflammation in the body is a common cause of joint pain and stiffness1.  Unfortunately, the process of aging is accompanied by changes that tend to exacerbate inflammatory processes.3 On a positive note, however, you may be surprised to learn that modifying your diet can help to alleviate some of the discomfort and stiffness associated with inflammation.1 So how does inflammation …