Flat feet???

In search of kids with flat feet. If you have a child that has incredibly flat feet and they complain of foot, ankle, or knee pain, you should consider having a me look at them. As they grow, there is a good time to catch this problem before is causes other biomechanical dysfunctions at the knee and ankle. Naturally, children have flat feet, but over time, they should grow a nice arch and their achilles tendon should be straight up and down, not pulled to one side or the other. If you know a child like this, please call me at 208-661-7167. Thank you for taking care of your little ones feet.

Ask Questions???

Please start to tell me what topics you would like information on in regards to your aches and pains. That way I can direct my blog to my followers needs. Thank you for following my blog. cathy

Are You Afraid to Exercise this New Year?

Well, this is my first blog. Knowing where to start is a challenge, so I thought I would address the standard New Year's Resolution of getting more exercise.

Are you one of the 80 percent of the adult population that has suffered from low back pain in their lifetime? Are you sitting behind your desk dreading your New Year's resolution because you are afraid that your low back pain with act up?
The New Year is here and there is no time like the present to think about your fitness and how it can help your low back pain. Exercise can reduce stress, improve circulation and ultimately help you maintain a heathly weight. If you are carrying around a spare tire, you are putting extra stress on your low back. The larger the distance betweeen your spine and your navel, the greater the lever arm that puts undo forces on your lumbar spine. By reducing this distance, you can greatly reduce low back pain.

If you have low back pain and you want to exercise, it is important to think about how you use your stomach muscles to reduce certain forces cause low back stresses. Core strengthening, lumbar stability exercises and motor contol patterning are all important when you are starting a fitness program. If you can keep good motor contolof your trunk muscles while exercising, you are less likely to have more low back pain and you can reap the benefits of exercise.

The position of your back during exercise is very important. Maintaining what physical therapist's call "pelvic neutral" can be the key to helping you during your fitness routine. Every person's "pelvic neutral" is different. Every person's low back pain story is different. Physical Therapist's understand the anatomy of the spine and the forces that are placed on your body specifically and how to reduce those forces with prescribed exercises.

If you have any questions about my first blog or need more information about low back pain contact Cathy Gephart PT, OCS owner of 2 Hands Physical Therapy. I specializes in individualized hands-on treatment for any musculo-skeletal condition,post operative rehabilitation, and medical massage. My contact phone number is (208)661-7167.