Valentine’s Day isn’t the only reason to celebrate hearts in February – did you know it’s also American Heart Month? There are many types of heart disease, including hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary heart disease (heart attack), and cerebrovascular disease (stroke) The good news is that most forms of heart disease are preventable by making lifestyle changes, practicing good nutrition habits, reducing stress, and staying active in your everyday life. Physical therapy can get, and keep you active.

Most of us know that exercising regularly is good for our health, but getting started (or restarted) can often be intimidating, and even more so if you’re experiencing pain or recurring injury. It’s not uncommon that pain in the back, neck, knee, shoulder, or other joints and muscles sidelines a person for an extended period of time – and in many cases that periodic injury can slip into permanent inactivity.

Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts who are trained to get your body healthy enough to start exercising or get back into a routine without pain, as well as create and support an appropriate exercise program for people of all ability levels. PTs can help get you moving again by:

 ⦁ Assessing and diagnosing the root causes of pain and injury

⦁ Treating problem areas with customized plans of care that can include a wide range of modern clinical approaches, including manual (hand-on) therapy, exercises and stretches, dry-needling and more.⦁ Treating problem areas with customized plans of care that can include a wide range of modern clinical approaches, including manual (hand-on) therapy, exercises and stretches, dry-needling and more.

⦁ Teaching correct form and posture to ensure that you’re performing exercises correctly to prevent future injuries.⦁ Teaching correct form and posture to ensure that you’re performing exercises correctly to prevent future injuries.

⦁ Whatever your goals are, don’t let pain stop you from achieving them, especially when it comes to your heart health. Getting back into a routine of cardio and strength training can be a vital part of preventing heart disease down the road, and physical therapy can get you back into action and keep you moving.⦁ Whatever your goals are, don’t let pain stop you from achieving them, especially when it comes to your heart health. Getting back into a routine of cardio and strength training can be a vital part of preventing heart disease down the road, and physical therapy can get you back into action and keep you moving.

If you’re decreasing or avoiding activity because of pain, know that in most cases you can see a physical therapist with a doctor’s referral. We can assess your symptoms and let you know if PT is right for you, or if there are other avenues to moving pain-free again.

Proactive is here to be your PT for Heart Health