It is common for Symmetry’s therapists to have clients tell us that they “used to be athletes”. Often, people seem to think that participation in sports as youth athletes has set them up for whatever musculoskeletal aches and pains that they are experiencing later in life. Someone might say “all that running must have been bad for my knees”, or …
To “RICE” or Not to “RICE”?
This post was written by Daniel Hernandez, a graduate physical therapy student in Texas State’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. Daniel is finishing up his last clinical internship at Symmetry and will graduate in May. To “RICE” or not to “RICE”: the age-old question. The RICE method for treating acute injury has been around for decades and many individuals, including …
Update to Mask Wearing Policies at Symmetry
As of Monday, March 28th Symmetry has updated the mask-wearing policies for the clinic. This policy change has been made in conjunction with the City of Austin and the Travis County Health Department’s recommendations and adjustments to county-wide policies. Masks will continue to be required in the clinic for all staff and visitors between the hours of 7:00 am & …
Patients Should Strive to Be More Educated Healthcare Consumers
Most people spend a lot of time researching and weighing options for a large purchase or a decision like changing a job. When it comes to healthcare, however, most people don’t do much research or consider options at all. A 2010 Gallup poll showed that 70% of people feel confident in their doctor’s advice and don’t feel the need to …
Elevate Your Heart Rate with Physical Therapy
Heart disease is a leading cause of death and disability. This shouldn’t be a surprise – it’s been at the top of the list for years. You know that taking care of your heart is important. That means doing things like eating right, avoiding smoking, and exercising regularly. For the purposes of this article, the focus is on cardiovascular exercise. …
Reset Yourself: 22 reasons to visit a Physical Therapist in 2022
(This article was published in the Austin American-Statesman on Jan 24th, 2022. It was submitted via the USA Today Network by Dr. Virginia Reed, a physical therapist practicing in Fort Myers, Florida.) The pandemic threw off our health and wellness routines. People changed their diets. They broke fitness habits. They skipped “non-essential” doctor’s appointments. The last point is especially perplexing. …
Expect to Get Better. You Probably Will.
Research has shown that positive expectations increase the chances of a good outcome. It’s the old self-fulfilling prophecy; your attitude determines your approach to situations. If you believe you’ll be successful, you’ll likely put in more effort. You’ll be more willing to try new things, take some risks and keep trying after failures or setbacks. A negative attitude will likely …
Reminder to Review Your Insurance Plan
As the New Year approaches, there are often changes pending for many insurance plans. It is common for insurance plans to ‘roll over’ at the beginning of the calendar year. This typically means that a new set of benefits is available to each plan holder. It may also mean that there are updates to plan attributes such as deductibles, co-insurance, …
Your Smart Phone Could Be Progressively Straining Your Spine
Chances are that you probably haven’t given much thought to how your neck and back are faring in theera of the smart phone, but studies show that you most certainly should. It’s practically a reflex thesedays to pull out our smart phones when we’re standing in line, sitting at the airport or riding thesubway. And while it’s great that we …