Arthritis: Movement is Medicine

Arthritis may seem relatively benign – everyone knows someone who has arthritis. But here are some numbers that help put the problem of arthritis into perspective: Clearly, arthritis is a serious condition, and a serious problem. The good news is that physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for arthritis. The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Managing Arthritis …

Don’t Keep Injuries Secret!

It’s well known that athletes hide injuries, but they’re not the only group known to do this. Performers like dancers keep injury secrets, and so do workers in all types of jobs. These groups might seem diverse, but they have a lot in common when we look at the reasons that they might hide or avoid reporting injuries. Stigma is …

Moving Through Fibromyalgia with Physical Therapy

Nearly 5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia – a chronic (long-lasting) disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue. Scientists do not fully understand what causes this disorder, but people with fibromyalgia may experience a variety of symptoms, including a global heightened sensitivity to pain, digestive issues, memory issues …

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 …