Coming up in our
Free Public Lecture Series
(SA Clinic, 6-7pm)
Dr. Sharon Cushman, Psychologist
(Novato Clinic, 7-8pm)
--------------------------
Sport & Spine Therapy of Marin, in partnership with local physicians and/or athletes, presents a series of free, informational lectures open to the public. Lectures are held in the evenings at either the Novato clinic,
165 Rowland Way # 101
or the San Anselmo clinic at 220 Greenfield Ave.
Please RSVP as seating is limited.
For more information,
415-898-1311. |
|
I would like to express my gratitude to the staff for the expert, professional treatment that you gave me.When I started my treatment I did not imagine that I was going to have the level of recovery that I experienced. This restoration of my health is one of the better gifts that I have received in my lifetime...
-- Bridget R.
After 2 months of weekly therapy, I have become optimistic that my left hand is healing and feeling stronger. The initial pain that was preventing me from writing, opening bottles, etc. and the swelling it caused, is no longer a constant concern...The services I received at SSTM were top notch! Thank you!
--Linda G.
The physical therapists and assistants at SSTM were the bright point of my surgery/ recovery process. They were personable and professional. I felt that they were concerned about me/ my injury and were encouraging every step of the way. They were invaluable in my recovery from knee surgery. -- Dan G. |
 |
|
Refer A Friend!
Do you have a friend or family member who could benefit from thera-peutic care? Refer them to Sport & Spine Therapy of Marin and be entered in a raffle to win a
$25 gift certificate to Peet's Coffee.
*Pick up a referral card from the front desk. Write your name on it and give it to your friend or family member. Have them bring it in when they come for their first appointment. (Or, just make sure they mention your name!) One entry for every referral. |
|
|
|
| Greetings!
 According to the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, May is Physical Fitness and Sports Month! (It was so proclaimed in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.) Each May, individuals and organizations across the U.S. support the President's Council by encouraging people to get out and get fit!
For some people, the late season rain and cold weather has been making it more difficult to get going. For others, injuries or physical ailments are to blame. In honor of Physical Fitness and Sports Month and to help support and encourage our patients, we've got a few things for you to consider.
First, if you are still being hampered by any ongoing pain and/or physical issues AFTER your completed course of PT, I want to know about it. Call our front desk and ask to speak with me for a FREE
15-minute follow-up consultation. Our goal at SSTM is simply to get you better so you can get back to the things you enjoy doing.
Secondly, we've got some upcoming lectures that will be of help to some of you and in particular to: overhead athletes (tonight in Novato!), chronic pain patients AND golfers who want to improve their game through better physical fitness. Check out our free lecture series line-up in this email (see left hand column) and call to reserve your spot.
If you're able, get out and get moving this month and keep it going!
If you're not able to get out and get moving, give us a call and let's see if we can help.
In health and wellness,
Steve Thompson  |
|
|
Getting in Shape for Spring Sports
 Spring sports activities are already in full swing, but it's not too late to make sure you are doing all you can to be in shape and stay safe. Whether you are a "weekend warrior" or someone who is involved in sporting activities throughout the year, it's wise to take steps to prevent injury. Most injuries occur to ligaments, which connect bones together, tendons, which connect muscles to bones, and muscles. Only about 5 percent of sports injuries involve broken bones. The most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) and strains (injuries to muscles). These injuries are usually caused when abnormal stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. Tips for Preventing InjuryWhether you've never had a sports injury and you're trying to keep it that way or you've had an injury and don't want another, the following tips can help.
- Avoid bending knees past 90 degrees when doing half knee bends.
- Avoid twisting knees by keeping feet as flat as possible during stretches.
- When jumping, land with your knees bent.
- Do warmup exercises not just before vigorous activities like running, but also before less vigorous ones such as golf.
- Don't overdo.
- Do warmup stretches before activity. Stretch the Achilles tendon, hamstring, and quadriceps areas and hold the positions. Don't bounce.
- Cool down following vigorous sports. For example, after a race, walk or walk/jog for five minutes so your pulse comes down gradually.
- Wear properly fitting shoes that provide shock absorption and stability.
- Use the softest exercise surface available, and avoid running on hard surfaces like asphalt and concrete. Run on flat surfaces. Running uphill may increase the stress on the Achilles tendon and the leg itself.
- Don't be a "weekend warrior," packing a week's worth of activity into a day or two. Try to maintain a moderate level of activity throughout the week.
- Learn to do your sport right. Using proper form can reduce your risk of "overuse" injuries such as tendinitis and stress fractures.
- Remember safety gear. Depending on the sport, this may mean knee or wrist pads or a helmet.
- Accept your body's limits. You may not be able to perform at the same level you did 10 or 20 years ago. Modify activities as necessary.
Increase your exercise level gradually.
- Strive for a total body workout of cardiovascular, strength training, and flexibility exercises. Cross-training reduces injury while promoting total fitness.
(Source: National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services) |
|
What's New?  Cristie Bennett is new! Cristie is the most recent physical therapist to join Sport & Spine Therapy of Marin. Born and raised in Davis, CA, Cristie received her B.S. in Kinesiology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2006. She is also a recent graduate of the MPT program at Cal State, Northridge. Cristie brings with her several years of physical therapy experience focused on sports-specific conditioning, manual therapy, modalities and therapeutic exercise. She is also a certified Pilates Instructor.
A new resident of Mill Valley, Bennett's love of exercise and working with people while promoting health, led her to a physical therapy career. When she's not working, Bennett enjoys many different sports and outdoor activities including swimming, running, hiking and skiing.
Welcome Christie! |
PT News
Study Find Pilates Helps Back Pain Sufferers More than Other Therapies
Low-back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability in the United States, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Odds are, you're among the sufferers of this pervasive, chronic and painful health condition - and you're looking for better ways to find relief without taking pain medication all the time.
One method worth trying? Pilates.
Recent research supports what many Pilates experts have been saying for decades: That doing Pilates is not only great for sculpting a strong, lean body - but also for preventing and treating low back pain.
According to a small, randomized, controlled study published in the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, participants who practiced Pilates over a four-week period experienced more relief from their symptoms than those who went through typical treatment programs.
Post testing revealed that the Pilates participants had significantly lower levels of functional disability and pain intensity than the control subjects. A year later, the Pilates participants had maintained their physical improvements. (Excerpted from InnerIDEA®)
If you are interested in incorporating Pilates into your treatment program, please talk with your referring physician, or one of our Physical Therapists or Pilates instructors to see if Pilates is right for you. Also, click here for our current Pilates class schedule. |
|
Congratulations to Helen C. of Novato --
winner of our free golf fitness screening & training session give-away in April!
An avid golfer, Helen was delighted to win the free Golf fitness screening and training from Steve Thomposon, Titleist Performance Institute Certfied Golf Fitness Instructor. You can get a preview on improving your game through better fitness, by attending our free lecture later this month. If you are interested in learning more about our Golf Fitness Training Program, click here to download a free brochure. |
|
|
Sport & Spine Therapy of Marin
has two locations to serve you:
Novato:
165 Rowland Way, Suite 101, Novato, CA 94947
415-898-1311
220 Greenfield Avenue, San Anselmo, CA 94960
| |
|
