Make WELLNESS a Top Priority and Let HDPT Help!

AUGUST IS
NATIONAL WELLNESS MONTH!

Why a wellness routine should be your top priority, and how HDPT can help you get started!

Wellness: the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort. An approach to healthcare that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life, as opposed to just treating diseases.   2021 has been yet another stressful year so far. Some stress is good, but chronic levels of stress can lead to detrimental effects on our bodies involving the musculoskeletal system, nervous system and cardiovascular systems. Physical therapy can help with way more than just movement; therapists can offer techniques to assist in decreasing chronic stress levels and add balance back to your body...and life!   Here are 5 ways physical therapy can help bring your focus back to basic self-care, reduce levels of stress and help get you back into a healthy routine: 1.) Exercise Regular aerobic exercise will bring remarkable changes to your body, your metabolism, your heart and your mind. Whether chemical or behavioral, it has a unique capacity to exhilarate and relax, to provide stimulation and calm and to counter depression and dissipate stress. Physical therapists can create a safe exercise program specifically for you that helps not only areas of weakness or decreased mobility, but targets the body as a whole. We can also assess you before you begin any other exercise program. 2.) Reduce Prolonged Sitting As some of us continue to work from home, we must be aware that the amount of time we sit during the day is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and death, regardless of regular exercise. Physical therapists can educate you on ways to avoid sedentary time and stand up and move throughout your day in a way that won’t interrupt your daily tasks. A tip: follow the 20-8-2 rule. Sit for 20 minutes, stand for 8 minutes and move for 2 minutes. 3.) Hands-On Manual Therapy Manual therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy delivered with the hands as opposed to a device or machine. It can include manipulation, mobilization and soft tissue work to reduce pain, relax muscles, increase circulation, break up scar tissue, improve tissue extensibility, reduce swelling, inflammation, or restriction, help with flexibility and alignment and induce relaxation and decrease anxiety. Although there is no one answer for how manual therapy specifically works to improve overall function, studies have shown that there are many moving parts that contribute to its effectiveness. After a PT has performed a manual therapy treatment, you typically feel better and our goal as physical therapists is to help people feel better, move better and ultimately live better. 4.) Breathing Techniques In our stressful and fast-paced society, even without a pandemic, many people are susceptible to developing breathing dysfunctions. Breathing is the root of all movement. Daily diaphragmatic breathing is clinically proven to significantly lower cortisol levels (the primary stress hormone), improve relaxation and improve concentration. Talk to your physical therapist about properly learning this breathing technique to lower your overall stress. 5.) Social Benefits Most people find HD Physical Therapy to be a friendly atmosphere with varied conversation and a sense of community. Physical therapists listen to each person’s story, develop personalized plans and create a setting where patients feel safe, comfortable and successful in their ability to achieve their goals. Being in such a positive environment helps boost your overall well being.   So, are you not taking care of yourself? Is stress taking over, mentally and physically? Are you still off of your normal routines? Take a deep breath and seek out physical therapy for help today. Wellness is not a one time thing, it’s a lifestyle.

#WorldHealthDay at #HDPT!

Happy ‪#‎WorldHealthDay‬! This year, World Health Day is about bringing awareness to the ‪#‎diabetes‬ epidemic. Healthy ‪#‎diet‬, regular ‪#‎physicalactivity‬ & maintaining a normal body weight are ways to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Let a ‪#‎PT‬ help you get moving and stay moving!

#TestimonialTuesday at #HDPT!

#‎TestimonalTuesday‬: "I ‪#‎sprained‬ my ‪#‎ankle‬ hiking and found myself frantically searching for a local ‪#‎physicaltherapist‬. I did a quick ‪#‎Google‬ search and Glenn was able to see me for an eval the same day I called! Great service!
When you are hurt, you feel like you will never get back to doing the things you love. Working with the excellent staff at ‪#‎HDPT‬, I was back on my feet in no time!
Ironically, I twisted the same ankle a year later! I was glad to see the staff again at HDPT, but was feeling even more frustrated with a re-injury. Not only did Robbie and the staff help me recover a second time, but I ended up stronger than ever. I learned new ‪#‎exercises‬ and ‪#‎stretches‬ to get ‪#‎healthy‬ and stay healthy! In fact I completed my first 1/2 ‪#‎marathon‬ in the fall of 2015, and I have signed up for the 2016 ‪#‎BostonMarathon‬!
HDPT is ‪#‎professional‬, ‪#‎clean‬ and ‪#‎knowledgeable‬. Each staff member at HDPT sincerely cares about their ‪#‎patients‬ and invests in the ‪#‎health‬ and ‪#‎recovery‬ of each and every one. Thank you HDPT!" - Jennifer S. ‪#‎Peabody‬, MA

Two 'Wellness Wednesdays' Left

‘Wellness Wednesdays’ offers free activities in Melrose

From the: Melrose Free Press

Melrose, Mass. — A variety of free/discounted events and specials will be offered on Wednesdays in October, in an effort to promote healthy eating and active living among Melrose and Wakefield residents, and foster partnerships between local, public and private businesses and organizations.

The following are the events and programs that will be offered in Melrose. For further details on any of these items, or to find out about the activities available in Wakefield, or go to MiMmelrosewakefield.com and click on Calendar.

Every Wednesday in October
Free “Walk-in Wednesdays” at the Melrose Family YMCA, 497 Main St., all day

Oct. 23
Free fitness class by Fit Lifestyle Studios, West Knoll field under the lights, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Parks Department
Free Healthy Cooking Demo: Healthy Halloween Treats, Whole Foods Melrose: 880 Main St., 4-6 p.m.
Free Senior Walk in Fells: Autumn in Virginia Woods, intersection of Woodland Road and Pond Street, Stoneham, 10-11:30 a.m., hosted by Friends of Fells & North Suburban Community Health Alliance

Oct. 30
$5 Zumba, Memorial Hall in the GAR Room, second floor, 590 Main St., from 7-8 p.m., Recreation Department
Free healthy snack samples, Melrose Shell, 860 Main St., 4-6 p.m.

This initiative was established by Mass in Motion-Melrose/Wakefield, which works with the local health departments, as part of the statewide Mass in Motion program.

Happy Birthday Svet!

HD Physical Therapy's Svet Wilson, PTA, ATC celebrates his 30th Birthday today, October 21st! 

Stop by the clinic to wish him the best!

12th Annual National Women's Health & Fitness Day

Today, September 25, 2013, is the 12th Annual National Women's Health & Fitness Day.

At HD Physical Therapy, we encourage women to take control of their health, to learn the facts they need to make smart health choices and to make time for regular physical activity!

Let us know if we can help.