The holidays are a special time of year. Keeping up with your health and your physical therapy can be challenging during this time. But you don't have to fall behind. With some planning and flexibility, you can stay healthy, survive the holidays and head into next year with good momentum!

If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, don’t lose hope. Physical therapy can help you regain functional mobility and independence, improve your quality of life and well-being, prevent or reduce complications and make the most of your recovery.

The dangers of being sedentary are well known and documented in the research. High amounts of sedentary time has even been called the new smoking. Unfortunately for many of us, sitting and being inactive is part of our jobs. However, research has shown that getting in enough movement can counteract the negative effects of being sedentary.

Whatever your barriers to physical activity are, your PT can likely help you overcome them. As movement experts, physical therapists are trained to deal with a variety of conditions. They'll help you work around whatever issues you have so you can safely elevate your heart rate and keep cardiovascular disease away.

To become more resilient and defend against heart disease, diabetes, strokes and cancer, research says you should move more. The dangers of being sedentary are well known and documented in the research. High amounts of sedentary time has even been called the new smoking.

PT for arthritis is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on your concerns and treatment goals, a physical therapist may use different types of interventions to help you improve your function and quality of life.

Physical Therapy is more than just a way to get back on your feet after an injury - it also helps people stay at the top of their game. Whether it’s an athlete, a dancer, or someone who wants to stay in shape, physical therapy can help reach performance goals. With the right exercises and treatments, physical therapists help people improve strength, flexibility, and endurance so they perform at their best while lowering injury risk.

High-value care leads to better outcomes, is easy to access and is cheaper for both patients and insurers. Physical therapy fits into this category, but looking at other high-value treatments helps us start to see a theme.

When the weather gets cold, you should make some changes to how you exercise. We're not talking about starting earlier because of the shorter days or making a playlist that motivates you to leave your warm house. There are some physiological changes that occur in your body in the cold that you need to consider. Joints become stiffer, your body reduces blood flow to your skin and muscles to stay warm, and your heart must work a little harder. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't be active in the cold, it just means there are a few changes in your routine that are warranted.

Learn the difference between a Medical and a Movement “Diagnosis.”

Sometimes kids need some help with movement. From now on, when you think of your physical therapist, don't leave kids out of the picture!

Healthcare, like most other things these days, isn't known for being cheap. Healthcare costs have been rising for years. But even in this environment, there are still bargains to be had - like physical therapy.

How important is moving well? It could keep you out of the hospital. Make sure you're moving your best with an annual PT exam.

Physical therapists are experts in human movement who are trained to evaluate and treat all kinds of musculoskeletal issues. They are highly trained in prescribing and progressing exercise to help people move and feel better. Because everyone moves and everyone can benefit from exercise, physical therapists can help people through their entire lives.