Congratulations to two of our patients, Heather Low and Heidi Nichols, who recently completed the Goofy Challenge in Disney: a half-marathon day one, followed by a full marathon day two! Goofy reportedly couldn't keep up. 

Eric Ellingson, PT was excited to find himself on top of Mount Washington for a rare clear and calm day in January recently while winter hiking.

Our very own Physical Therapist Lois Donelson ran her first 10k over Thanksgiving weekend - way to go Lois!

If you have an accomplishment you would like to share, we would love to hear it.  It always makes our jobs more rewarding when we can hear about people getting back to what they love.  Please drop us an email or a call, and let us know how you're doing - whether it's comfortably lifting your grandchild again, doing that first triathlon, or just enjoying a good night's sleep at last.  

We have also started to display pictures of our patients in the clinic, getting back into whatever activity they enjoy.  We hope they will serve as an inspiration to us all to overcome our injuries and limitations.  If you have a picture you wouldn't mind sharing, we'd love to show them off in the clinic.

We are happy to welcome Caitlin Woodyard, PT to our practice.  Caitlin is joining our staff part time to service the critical need for a Women's Health

and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Provider in the area. 

Caitlin earned a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Duke University School of Medicine. She moved to the Upper Valley in 2008 and has practiced Physical Therapy primarily in an outpatient setting since that time. Her interest in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy has steadily grown and she has pursued further clinical training through the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute for treatment of both female and male conditions. 
 

Caitlin's training includes Pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and erectile dysfunction. The underlying causes of these issues can be found in High school and college athletes, pregnant and post partum females, as well as older populations. To lean more about the specific issues Caitlin specializes in call or visit our website

www.befitphysicaltherapy.com

Caitlin is featured at the bottom of our homepage. 

What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction? 

The pelvic floor is composed of a collection of skeletal muscles and connective tissues that span the bottom of the bony pelvis. It performs three primary functions crucial to a healthy and active life for both women and men. 

These functions include: 

      Structural support for internal organs 

      Continence of bowel and bladder 

      Healthy sexual function 

Often the presence and function of the pelvic floor is not fully appreciated until it is no longer working correctly. Conditions resulting from a dysfunctional pelvic floor can include the following: 

      Urinary and fecal incontinence 

      Urinary urgency and frequency 

      Pelvic organ prolapse 

      Chronic pelvic pain 

      Sexual dysfunction 

      Constipation 

Causes 

These conditions can be a result of weakness, poor coordination, chronic tension, or tightness in the muscles of the pelvic floor. Trauma to any structure within the low back, abdomen, or pelvis can affect pelvic floor function, as can natural processes such as pregnancy and childbirth. In an active and athletic population, pelvic floor dysfunction can develop from prolonged participation in high impact activities in the absence of a preventive pelvic floor strengthening program. 

Treatment 

Tips to Avoid Ski Injuries:

This winter we have seen an abundance of snow which has supported our local ski areas and enabled many of us to thoroughly enjoy excellent downhill skiing conditions.  Of course, this also means that we typically see an increase in ski related injuries. 

All skiers should pay attention to some basic tips for sports injury prevention when they are on the slopes. Knee injuries are very common amongst skiers because in the event of a fall, if the ski bindings do not release, it is the knee joint that takes the strain and is very likely to be damaged as a result.

There are a number of things you can do to help injury prevention and make sure that your ski holiday is everything you hoped it would be and not cut short by sports injury.

·         Equipment: First and foremost, make sure that your ski equipment and boots fit properly. It is always tempting to borrow a ski set up from a friend - but if you do, you are more likely to have an accident or injury!  Have your own ski equipment or double check that the equipment you are using really does fit you properly. Your boots should be a nice snug fit, without your ankle moving around at all inside. 
 

·         Ski Level:  When renting equipment don't be tempted to say that you have more experience. If you are given skis that are too long, you will find them harder to turn and if the bindings are set too high for your ability level, this could easily lead to an injury. 
 

·         Warm - Up: As with all sports, it is vital to warm up and cool down before skiing. Take just a few minutes to stretch your thighs, hamstrings, calves and hip muscles before you hit the slopes in the morning and make sure you hold each stretch for 30 seconds. Begin your day with an easier run to allow yourself to get your legs and technique down before hitting the expert trails.

 ·         Lessons: If you are a beginner, consider seeking professional instruction - Learning to ski properly is essential for injury prevention.  A lot of sports injuries happen because someone is trying to ski faster or on more difficult slopes than is safe for their ability level.  Gaining the proper knowledge of how to ski can help avoid picking up bad habits that can lead to injury.

 ·         Fatigue: Always quit while you are ahead! It can be tempting to try to fit in just one more run - but this can be a mistake! Don't ever ski when you are feeling overly tired as most accidents occur at the end of the day.

·         Know your limits: Don't try to keep up with more experienced friends. If you are a novice skier recognize this.

These simple tips they will help keep you on the slopes injury free. Happy Skiing!

"Thank you so much for your help!  It seriously feels uber-fantastic to work running/jogging back into my life and I really appreciate it!!"

-Meghan Liegel who had been unable to run for five years due to knee pain, now happily running after 6 visits and a lot of targeted strengthening and alignment work.