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The Center for Physical Health offers innovative physical therapy complemented with
integrative healing techniques and dynamic rehabilitation exercise.
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Issue 12
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September/October 2014
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We hope to have the opportunity to accompany, assist and inspire you to enjoy the benefits of an active, healthy, pain-free lifestyle.
To your health! Marc Pierre and Pat Barragan Owners, Center for Physical Health
Patient referrals are the key to our success. Please consider forwarding this newsletter to a friend or telling someone about us. We also invite you to visit our website and social media pages.
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Physical Therapy and Women's Health
Understanding Gender Differences
 It is important to understand that there are several physical and physiological attributes that are unique to women, and that physical therapy plays an important role in women's health.
Every physical therapy program is different and is customized to the patient's needs. Women have unique physical and physiological attributes that physical therapists take into consideration, such as:
- Men have more muscle mass than women.
- Women tend to have a higher proportion of body fat than men. This fat is generally stored in the breasts, hips and buttocks.
- Men tend to have more body hair (especially facial hair).
Our physical therapists understand the physical gender  differences and needs of women and are uniquely qualified to assist them to live healthy, pain-free lives. Exercises and techniques to treat issues specific to women include:
- Muscle retraining - creates body awareness (how you get in and out of your car, how you bend to pick things up, how you sit, overall posture, etc.) and improves movement patterns. Kegel exercises to strengthen weak pelvic floor muscles in addition to Pilates can be very beneficial.
- Exercise Therapy - helps improve mobility, strength, and endurance. This also strengthens bones and joints.
- Modalities - Application of heat and/or ice, electrical stimulation therapy, and massage therapy to reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling.
- Manual therapy - helps improve joint and soft tissue flexibility and mobility by using repetitive and specific hands-on movements and motions.
 Specific actions also need to be taken to ensure healthy aging for older women. Physical therapy can help identify and eliminate risk factors for falls and fractures. Regular strengthening and weight bearing exercise can slow down the reduction in bone density as women age. Pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence can also be treated with PT.
Conditions (some of which tend to be more common among women) in which physical therapy can play an important role include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Breast and other cancers
- Rehabilitation following breast surgery
- Lymphedema
- Post-menopausal heart disease
- Chronic myofascial pain
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Hypermobility syndrome
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
- Fibromyalgia
- Ailments unique to female athletes
Physical therapy can also help reduce discomfort and recovery before, during and after pregnancy.
Call 310.475.6038 to find out how our experts can help you or a woman in your life.
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Emotional Freedom and Physical Health
FREE Class on Thursday, Oct. 23rd 6-7pm
 Research has shown that our physical health is impacted greatly by the way in which we experience and express our feelings.
For example, the tendency to repress emotions has been linked to immune system related diseases while the practice of writing about emotional experiences is associated with improved immune functioning.
 Come to the Center for Physical Health for a FREE class on Thursday, Oct, 23rd from 6 to 7pm to learn more about how you can feel your way to improved health and well being. Center team member Bridget Quebodeaux will be presenting resources and practical strategies for helping you to tune into and liberate your body and emotions.
 Bridget has a Master's Degree in psychology and completed a 3-year training in Dynamic Emotion Focused Therapy (DEFT). She has been a practicing Feldenkrais Method practitioner and movement educator for over 15 years and presents options related to movement and mental health to the general public and mental health professionals.
Please call us at 310.475.6038 to RSVP for the class or for more info about DEFT.
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In the Community
The Arthritis Foundation is committed to raising  awareness and reducing the impact of this serious, painful and unacceptable disease, which can have devastating consequences and rob people of living life to its fullest.
Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation's leading cause of disability.
They are leading the way to conquer arthritis through increased education, outreach, research, advocacy and other vital programs and services.
 The Arthritis Foundation's vision is to create a world free of arthritis pain by:
● Building involvement in the cause via advocacy, events, fundraising appeals, media relations and consumer
● Mobilizing funds and capacity to create broader reach and meaningful engagement that helps people adopt and maintain healthy behaviors.
● Mobilizing public and private funding as well as societal alignment around goals and strategies that offer major benefits for people with arthritis. 
● Mobilizing support for public and private policies that support arthritis prevention, innovation and access to quality care.
● Creating greater capacity to assist under-served populations that have a significant arthritis burden.
For more information contact the Arthritis Foundation Los Angeles office at 323.954.5750 or visit their website at
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Classes at the Center
Ongoing support at the Center for Physical Health helps you stay on the path to health. Current classes include Feldenkrais Method Awareness Through Movement®, Therapeutic Yoga, Therapeutic Fitness and TRX Suspension Training. All classes are $18 or $20 each and $150 or $180 for purchase of a series of ten.
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Accepting all insurances. In network with Anthem Blue Cross and Medicare.
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12 Ways Physical Therapy Can Help
1. Reduce, manage or eliminate pain.
2. Recover from or prevent an injury.
3. Avoid, prepare for or recover from surgery.
4. Recover from a stroke, heart attack or other medical event.
5. Improve your mobility, flexibility or range of motion.
6. Improve your balance and prevent falls.
7. Manage a chronic condition.
8. Manage age-related issues.
9. Take care of yourself as a caregiver.
10. Take extra care of yourself during and after pregnancy.
11. Improve your fitness (strength, endurance, stamina).
12. Improve your ability to handle stress.
Call our trained professionals today to let us know how we can help YOU.
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