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Chiropractic Care and Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is a very significant function of the brain. It’s how you’ve grown up since birth and learned how to perform basic activities as well as handle the more difficult responsibilities that come with age. The concept of neuroplasticity is something that’s still prominent in your brain to this day, but it’s entirely possible for this essential process to deteriorate, along with your basic cognitive functions. At Medical Impact Cutler Bay, we want you to know the importance of neuroplasticity and how you can preserve it for a healthy brain.

Neuroplasticity Explained

The average person performs around 50 brain functions at any given time. Yes, we mean simultaneously. One of those functions is the ability to adapt to constant changes in your environment. This is something that occurs from the moment you’re born, allowing you to learn how to walk, talk, eat, any basic activity that you don’t pay much mind to now that you’ve been doing them for many years. This is because neural connections to the brain are created for every new action that you must learn to survive in your day-to-day. Think of it as your brain evolving to create the current “you”.

The idea of neuroplasticity sounds like a wonderful thing, and it is! However, some people encounter negative neuroplasticity (also referred to as neuroplasticity degeneration). This normally occurs in people who have suffered a stroke, head trauma, or those who struggle with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Symptoms of negative neuroplasticity include:

• Lack of cognitive function
• Memory loss
• Mental exhaustion
• Brain fog
• Lethargy
• Depression

The Link Between the Spinal Cord and the Brain

What causes neuroplasticity in the first place? The central nervous system is made up of both the brain and our spinal cord. This is because the spinal cord houses the nerves that are connected to the brain. For every function that you learn to perform as you grow, you create a nerve that goes through your spinal cord and transmits messages to your brain to perform the desired action. If your spine becomes out of line, these messages can get disrupted making it difficult for your brain to comprehend what to do.

How Chiropractic Care Can Improve Neuroplasticity

Keeping your spine straight and in good shape is key to a healthy brain because your nerves will have a clear path to their destination. It also opens the way for proper blood flow which is also essential for a working brain, improving memory and cognitive function in the process. Whether you’re looking to recover from physical trauma or want to prevent spinal misalignment, schedule an appointment with Impact Medical Cutler Bay to keep your brain healthy and capable of positive neuroplasticity so you can handle anything that comes your way.

Physical Therapy for Improving Your Golf Swing

If you are a golfer, being about to play a consistent game of golf is the ultimate goal; however, there are many issues that golfers face that impact their game such as injury, poor balance and stance, and poor posture. All these issues can be alleviated by physical therapy. 

Whether you are an avid golfer or someone who only gets on the green a few times a year, physical therapy can greatly improve your golfing performance and prevent golfing-related injuries. 

Our team at Impact Med Sun City Center discusses how physical therapy can improve your golf swing. 

Common Golfing Issues 

Common issues with a golf swing stem from:

• Poor balance and stance
• Poor posture 
• Decreased motion of the neck, shoulders, back, and hips. 

Golfers who experience joint restriction, muscle tightness, or poor posture can struggle to execute their golf swings consistently. A thorough physical therapy evaluation and treatment plan from our team at Impact Med Sun City Center can help you maximize your body’s ability to transfer energy to the golf club with greater efficiency and speed. 

How a Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Golf Swing 

A physical therapist can create a series of exercises that are designed to improve your golf swing to:

• Improve mobility of your joints since limited mobility can affect your swing. 
• Improve flexibility of the muscles of your shoulders and hips since they are both critical to your backswing and follow-through. 
• Improve your dynamic balance as poor control of the abdominals and hips could cause you to complete your golf swing off balance. 
• Improve your core strength as a base for your golf swing. 

Building a Strong Golf Swing 

A golf swing is a complex maneuver that requires skill, strength, and focus to complete properly. To develop a good swing, golfers devote many hours of time and practice to become consistent. If your swing is just not what you think it should be or if you have been injured, a physical therapist can help you develop the strength and flexibility that you need.  

To improve your swing, there are many things to consider, such as a proper stance, coordination, and balance, strength in the core muscle groups, and accuracy. But if you are recovering from an injury or surgery, or suffer from chronic pain, your body will naturally compensate as you work to improve your golf swing. The result could undo years of practice. 

Our physical therapists can help you find the areas where you may be overcompensating and help you correct the problems with your swing. Swing limitations could be caused by tightness near your injury, a weakened muscle, or even back pain. 

At-Home Exercises 

Any good physical therapy regimen will include exercises and stretches that you can do at home to help improve your strength and support your recovery.

These exercises might include:

Elbow Plank: Place your elbows beneath your shoulders and pull your shoulders down and back, the way you would for a push-up. Pull in your abdominal muscles and glutes for added stability. Hold this pose for 20 seconds. As you gain strength, hold the plank for more time. 

Core Strengthening: Lie down on your back with your abdominal muscles pulled in. Lift your legs together or one at a time for one rep. Repeat. 

Pectoral Stretch: Find a doorway or a corner and place your hands and elbows against the wall or doorframe. Lean gently forward to stretch your pectoral muscles. 

Side Shoulder Rotation: Lie down on one side and lift your arm straight up. Point at the ceiling and slowly lower your arm while keeping your body stabilized. 

Do not perform any of these exercises if you have any injuries or physical conditions affecting your arms, torso, or back. Consult your physical therapist before trying these stretches. 

Improve Your Golf Swing at Impact Med Sun City Center 

Take your golf game to the next level and improve your golf swing with our physical therapy team at Impact Med Sun City Center! We will create a targeted plan that is just for you so you can see results on and off the green. 

Ready to get started? Call Impact Med Sun City Center today—813-938-5195!

Why In-Person Physical Therapy Is Better Than Virtual

If you have been injured in an automobile or motorcycle accident in the greater Lutz area or are working to recover from a sports-related injury or surgery, chances are you will be referred to a physical therapist. 

Physical therapy is an essential part of the recovery process following such events. One might think that physical therapy can be done just as effectively from home, but this isn’t always the case. In-person physical therapy has been shown to be more effective in the rehabilitation process than virtual therapies, which often do not offer enough hands-on attention. 

The benefits of physical therapy include:

• reduced pain, 
• increased range of motion and strength
• improved balance 
• better coordination and control 

All of these are factors that contribute to a faster recovery time! Please read below for more information about how the in-person physical therapy that you will receive from our skilled staff at Impact Medical in Lutz is better than virtually based telehealth therapy.

WHAT IS VIRTUAL PHYSICAL THERAPY?

One of the recent advancements in healthcare has been widespread access to remote telehealth visits with many medical specialists, including physical therapists. This form of virtual communication allows PTs to provide physical therapy services to patients in their homes or a chosen location through technology or telecommunications software. This connects patients to their care providers from nearly anywhere.

However, when it comes to physical therapy, we feel that nothing compares to in-person sessions.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR BENEFITS OF IN-PERSON PHYSICAL THERAPY?

The types of equipment and location where you will have your physical therapy session significantly impact how effective it can be. Our in-clinic sessions at our Lutz location offer many benefits, including the latest in technology and state-of-the-art equipment to supplement our variety of treatment modalities.

PERSONALIZED CARE

During each of your sessions, our physical therapists will make careful real-time observations that consider any limitations or challenges you are facing. Additionally, you will get personalized exercises explicitly tailored to your needs based on what we observe during your appointments. The level of individualized care offered by our therapists’ in-person sessions is unparalleled.

FEWER DISTRACTIONS

In a world where we are increasingly spending time online and physically disconnected from each other, it can be challenging to stay focused on what you’re doing when trying to do physical therapy virtually at home. Many people find themselves easily distracted when trying to do exercises without supervision. That’s why visiting our Impact Medical team in Lutz is essential; because here, there will always be skilled PTs to keep you focused on your recovery.

A SENSE OF CONNECTION

One of the best things about visiting our in-person clinic is that you get to meet and interact with the many people who make Impact Medical in Lutz great. Building a relationship with your physical therapist remotely or virtually can be difficult, but when you meet with our team members face to face, you will feel connected to your care team.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US TODAY

If you require physical therapy services after an accident or injury, you will find no better team to treat you than the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Impact Medical in Lutz. We invite you to reach out to us to schedule a consultation so that you can get back to enjoying the Florida Sunshine and feeling your best. Don’t continue to suffer. Call us today at (813) 536-4271!

Tips From a PT- Building Muscle Strength

If you are experiencing back pain, aching muscles, or any kind of chronic pain, physical therapy and exercise can help improve your muscle strength and build agility in your entire body. Here’s how our physical therapy team at Impact Med Wesley Chapel can help you build muscle strength so you can say goodbye to pain! 

Tailored Exercises for Part of Your Body 

At Impact Med Wesley Chapel, we will tailor exercises to your specific condition to ensure that we address the source of your pain and help your body heal and gain strength. 

Back Exercises 

We use a range of back exercises to strengthen the back, lower back, and shoulders to increase core strength. Exercises that strengthen the deep layers of muscles in the back can improve your posture, as well as help to support the spine. 

Back exercises are one of the best types of exercises to improve overall muscle strength throughout the body. Further, stretching the back can restore the balance between the spine and hip muscles allowing for greater flexibility and mobility. 

As you practice physical therapy exercises, the goal is to reduce the strain on the spine through strengthening muscle groups such as the abdominals and the hamstrings. These exercises also help to increase muscle strength in the legs and abdomen. 

Lower back exercise can be a remedy for lower back pain and can also relieve stress and discomfort that many patients feel in the spinal area. 

Upper and Lower Body Exercises 

When we are working to rebuild muscle strength, we offer physical therapy exercises that are targeted at increasing the core muscle strength of the entire body. Physical therapy exercises can help rebuild muscle strength in patients who have difficulty climbing stairs, lifting heavy objects, or have difficulty squatting.  

At Impact Med Wesley Chapel, we use upper and lower body balancing exercises to help improve balance while walking, knee exercises to help improve muscle strength in the legs, and shoulder exercises to rebuild strength in the rotator cuff and the shoulder muscles so patients can easily lift, throw, or do overhead movements. 

The benefits of physical therapy for rebuilding strength are many and offer more than just increased strength, but also offer greater flexibility, mobility, and quality of life. 

Read More> PT-Recommended Stretches for Shoulder Pain 

Individualized Exercise Program 

Physical therapy takes into account a patient’s movement, physical capabilities, body type, and activity level to design an exercise regimen to help improve strength and function. Our physical therapists will develop a custom exercise program based on the most effective exercises to enhance mobility and strength for your unique condition. The pacing, exercises, and the number of visits with the physical therapist will vary depending on the patient’s specific needs. 

Of course, developing the right exercise plan for a patient can include some trial and error, so these plans will be adjusted accordingly. 

Proper Form and Technique 

Without the proper form, a patient will not get any benefit from exercise. Doing exercises in proper form allows a patient to isolate the desired muscle or muscle group to increase the effectiveness and result of an exercise. Our physical therapists will instruct patients on proper form and technique to prevent injury and foster effectiveness. We will also discuss posture and movement exercises and provide tips and suggestions on how to improve posture for added protection for the spine.  

Tips for Performing Physical Therapy Exercises 

• Exercises need to be performed regularly under professional Physical Therapist supervision to prevent injury. 
• Exercises must be performed following a set of gradation that is suitable for a patient’s body and specific physical condition. 
• Core strengthening will help with problems such as back pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain. 
• Stay as active as possible, even if you have physical problems such as pain in the knees or shoulder. The more active you are, the stronger you will be. 
• Exercise often to improve muscle strength and to stay healthy and fit. 

Learn More> Physical Therapy for Pain Management 

Build Strength with Impact Med Wesley Chapel 

Say goodbye to chronic pain, weakness, or lack of mobility, and hello to physical therapy at Impact Med Wesley Chapel! We will create an exercise and strengthening program just for you so you can start your journey to a pain-free and more mobile life! 

Ready to get started? Call our physical therapy team at Impact Med Wesley Chapel today—813-953-1002!

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