The Importance of Hydration: Please, Drink Water! A simple fact of life is that we need three things to survive: food, air, and water. The human body is essentially made of 50% water throughout the lifespan. It varies by age, gender, and body size, but in general, we are mostly fluid. Read on to find…
What is Kinesio Taping? Kinesio taping is a therapeutic technique that uses elastic tape to enhance the function of various tissues and physiological systems. By applying the tape in different ways, it can produce unique effects to aid in recovery and improve movement. Kinesio tape can be applied at any stage of treatment, including acute,…
How to Support and Talk to Your Child Who Stutters As parents, it can be stressful not knowing how to support your child who stutters. Stuttering is a complex speech issue influenced by various factors, including environmental, emotional, and communicative dynamics. By understanding these factors and creating a supportive environment, you can help your child…
Why Physical Therapy Is More Than Just a Massage Some patients come to physical therapy with the expectation that their treatment will primarily involve massage. It’s not uncommon for first-time visitors to ask, “When will I get my massage?” or to believe that a massage alone will resolve their pain. While massage therapy can provide…
14 Gift Ideas to Promote Your Baby’s Development It’s that time of year to start shopping for your little ones! Are you looking for gift ideas to promote child development? Let us make it a little easier for you. Read on to to find the best gifts for gross motor skills, crawling, walking, endurance, and…
What is Sensory Integration? Sensory integration is the process where the nervous system organizes sensations from one’s body and from the external environment and makes it possible to use the body successfully in the environment. Children with sensory processing deficits may experience hindrances with their activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, eating, socializing,…
What Causes Falls in Older Adults? One in four Americans aged 65 and older falls each year, making falls the leading cause of injury and injury-related death in this age group. Understanding the common causes of falls can help in preventing falls and reducing injury risk: Sensory Impairments: Vision and hearing may not be as…
The Importance of Stretching for a Healthier Lifestyle Stretching and flexibility are key components of a balanced fitness routine, yet they are often overlooked. Stretching helps expand the range of motion in your joints, allowing them to function more effectively, and promotes blood flow to your muscles, aiding in tissue repair. Adding regular stretches to…
Understanding How Children Learn Their First Verbs Watching your child learn to talk is one of the most exciting parts of parenting. You may hear your child use their first words around 10-16 months. These first words are typically nouns, such as mama, dada, doggy, and ball. Starting as early as 8 months of age,…
Creative Uses for Halloween Candy: Fun Activities to Boost Your Child’s Skills After a big night of trick-or-treating, many parents wonder what to do with all the leftover candy. Instead of just eating it, try using it for fun activities that encourage the development of fine motor skills, visual processing, cognitive processing, and sensory exploration.…
Creative Ways to Enjoy Halloween Candy: Fun, Safe, and Skill-Building Tips for Parents Halloween often leaves kids with bags brimming with candy—but what’s a parent to do with all those sweets? While a bit of moderation goes a long way, here are some fun ideas to keep candy consumption in check while also building…
Fun and Developmental Halloween-Themed Outdoor Activities for Kids Halloween is here, and in Arizona, that means beautiful weather and a perfect chance for outdoor fun! This season, let’s mix Halloween excitement with activities that help children grow their physical and motor skills. Here are some Halloween-themed games that are easy to set up, engaging for…
Pumpkin Washing Station: A Fun Sensory Activity for Kids Are you looking for a sensory-filled activity for children to enjoy during the holidays? During the fall, pumpkins are everywhere, so why not take advantage of these fall favorites for a therapeutic activity? You can easily add pumpkins to your list of sensory items and create…
Help! My Shoulder Hurts. If you’re dealing with shoulder pain, especially related to your rotator cuff, you’re not alone. This type of pain can affect athletes, people with physically demanding jobs, and even those who spend most of their day sitting. The rotator cuff is made up of four small but important muscles—supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres…
Why Can’t My Baby Sit or Stand Yet? Most babies love sitting or standing because it allows them to see the world around them. However, learning to sit or stand independently is a gradual process. Babies do not automatically know how to do this; they must develop the necessary muscle control and coordination. In this…
Say Goodbye to Poor Posture: How to Reverse Creep with Targeted Exercises When it comes to achieving better posture, understanding how the body adapts over time is key. Contrary to what many believe, poor posture is not something you’re born with; it’s often the result of habits and activities built up over years. This adaptation,…
Why Sensory Regulation is Important for Language Development in Pediatric Therapy The Role of Sensory Regulation in Pediatric Therapy Sensory regulation is commonly a goal in occupational therapy, but it is also an important concept in speech-language therapy. Occupational therapy assists in the participation and function of “occupations” and daily activities. A child’s job is…
Preventing Falls: Essential Exercises and Tips for Older Adults September is Fall Prevention Month! As the weather cools down and we become more active, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to safeguard our health—especially when it comes to preventing falls. Falls are a common risk, particularly for older adults, and can lead to serious injuries.…
The Importance of Foot Muscle Development Before Wearing Shoes Our foot muscles, particularly those that assist in developing the arch, play a vital role in providing stability during standing, walking, and other movements. These muscles, when developed properly, help increase load capacity during running and provide joint stability during single-leg stance activities. During typical child…
Understanding Pain: A Complex and Subjective Experience “It REALLY hurts.” Pain is a tough subject. It is subjective. Not to say that your pain is not real or to say something does not REALLY hurt. However, pain can be perpetuated, magnified, and catastrophized based on your perspective and attitude towards your pain experience. My Personal…
What is Pediatric Feeding Therapy? Pediatric feeding therapy is designed to help children who have difficulties with feeding, eating, or swallowing. Feeding challenges can arise from a variety of issues, including medical conditions like gastroesophageal reflux, developmental disorders like autism or cerebral palsy, sensory processing difficulties, or behavioral issues. Pediatric feeding therapists, often speech-language pathologists…
Optimizing Aquatic Therapy: The Critical Role of Air and Water Temperature When clients enter the pool area for aquatic therapy at AzOPT, we often hear “Wow! It is so warm in here.” Even the pool water is warmer than most expect. While local gyms keep their pool areas with ambient air temperatures in the mid…
The Importance of Crawling Crawling on hands and knees is a major milestone in your baby’s life. It is the first time they get to explore on their own, which is a huge stepping stone for future milestones to come. Typically, babies may start to crawl between seven and ten months of age, but it…
The Hidden Benefits of Plyometrics Training We all know the benefits to staying healthy through exercise. However, knowing what specific exercises are needed to accomplish our goals is often challenging. A quick online search is overwhelming, with results varying from cardio to lifting weights to body weight and stretching exercises. It’s confusing to figure out…
Vertical Play During Early Infancy During the early stages of infancy, many parents are educated on the importance of “tummy time”. Playing on their stomach is a crucial activity to improving muscle strength in an infant’s neck and trunk. However, this is not the only activity parents can facilitate with their little one! Although tummy…
How Can You Tell If Your Shoulder Pain is Serious? A shoulder quiz to get started: Are you experiencing discomfort when raising your arms? Can you easily perform tasks like reaching for pants or using the toilet? Do daily activities such as grooming or household chores cause pain? Does dressing yourself involve altering your movements…
Crocs Don’t Rock (A Pediatric PT Perspective) Independent walking is an exciting time for parents and their child! Your little one is now walking on their own and exploring their environment. Playing barefoot at home is preferred in order to develop the arches in the feet and strengthen the foot/ankle muscles. But, if families need…
7 Stretches and Exercises to Reduce Knee Pain Have you ever experienced knee pain? There are many different causes of knee pain – fractures, overuse injuries, arthritis, imbalances, instability, and more. The knee is a complex body part that works with muscles surrounding the knee in conjunction with the joints above and below the knee…
What is Core Stability? What is our core? Our core muscles include the abdominal and trunk muscles which make up the center (core) of our body. Core stability is achieved when our core muscles work together to create stability to allow for coordinated movement. Core stability is important for all positions and movements, both stationary and…
Baby Wearing – Safety and Postural Considerations Baby wearing is a common practice that involves carrying a baby close to your body using a carrier, wrap, or sling. In the last decade, baby wearing has become increasingly popular and has shown benefits including improved success with breastfeeding, improved infant to parent bonding, and improved attentiveness…
Poor Posture and Pain: What Comes First? Posture refers to your body as it aligns in space and how the alignment of each body part in relationship to one another and your environment is influenced by your joints. While your posture can be influenced by pain and poor posture can contribute to pain, posture is…
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) Ever wonder why your child drools? How about why your child’s teeth are crooked? Why your child isn’t able to say the “s,z,ch,r,” or “sh” sounds correctly? If you answered yes to one or all of the questions above, your child might have an orofacial myofunctional disorder. What is an orofacial…
Who are Physical Therapists The American Physical Therapy Association defines a physical therapist as “a licensed doctor who works with multiple patient populations impacted by disease, injury, and movement dysfunction.” Clear-cut and forward, this definition does not fully explain how a physical therapist specifically can help you. To do this, we need to break it…
Strategies for Successful Family Mealtimes Family meal times are a time to join together to sit and enjoy a variety of foods and conversations. But for families of picky eaters, family dinners can instead be stressful and even chaotic. Stress and anxiety overwhelm the table because no matter what is presented, your picky eater struggles…
The Hidden Importance of Reps and Sets Patients often wonder why their AzOPT physical therapists will ask them to complete three rounds of 10 repetitions for a specific exercise instead of simply stating 30 reps. Despite what many people think, the numbers we give are not arbitrary! They play a crucial role tailored to your…
Understanding Gestalt Language Processing Have you ever wondered why a child randomly starts repeating lines from a favorite show, book, or song? The child is most likely using delayed echolalia or gestalts to communicate a need or express excitement. The term gestalt means “whole”; a gestalt unit can be a “whole” sentence, song or story.…
3 Must-Try Balance Boosters! Did you know that one of the number one predictors of falls is having a fear of falling? It may seem surprising, but it’s true! Many patients visit us feeling unsteady or imbalanced and afraid of falling. Some have even experience injuries due to falls, while others worry about the consequence…
Boosting Early Language Skills This May, we celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, raising awareness about communication disorders and the role of pediatric speech language pathologists in providing life-altering treatment. Did you know by the age of two, the average child can say between 200-300 words? If your little one has not reached this milestone, try these…
The Hidden Benefits of Obstacle Courses Crafting an obstacle course for children extends beyond mere entertainment; it serves as a dynamic tool for fostering various skills essential for their development. Explore this guide on the benefits of obstacle courses, along with the best methods on how to create one that maximizes learning and fun! Skills…
Power is an important aspect of physical performance and is generally defined as performing work quickly, or generating force in a short period of time. Sometimes it is also referred to as “explosiveness”. However you want to describe it, power comes in handy when trying to do something quickly, like changing directions or jumping. This…
Mastering Foam Rolling Whether at the gym, CrossFit, or even AzOPT, you have seen someone laying and rolling around on a cylindrical shaped piece of foam. Foam rolling has become an extremely popular and effective self-massage technique. To understand why, let’s discuss the basic structure of our muscles and tissues. Our muscles are surrounded by…
Hand Manipulation Skills in Child Development Children are often referred to pediatric occupational therapy for concerns related to fine motor skills. Generally thought of as the movement and use of hands and upper extremities, fine motor skills include reaching, grasping and manipulating objects with your hands. Fine motor skills also involve vision, specifically visual motor…
What is Osteoarthritis? Your primary care physician diagnosed you with Osteoarthritis and now you’re wondering, “what is that?” More importantly, what are your options? Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in adults that results from the progressive wearing down of your joint tissue. This process is not to be confused with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which…
Using Indirect Treatment to Overcome Preschool Stuttering Indirect treatment is an approach that focuses on teaching the family strategies to enhance fluency through environmental modifications. It involves making changes in the environment rather than making any changes in the child’s speech. The message is always that stuttering is okay. Here are some suggestions on how…
Surprising Benefits of Vitamin C and Collagen Supplements for Tendon and Ligament Pain. Tendon and ligament pain are commonly seen in the physical therapy profession. Treatment of tendon and ligament injuries consists of manual therapy, exercise, and modalities for pain relief with good outcomes. However, nutrition is often neglected when encompassing the whole patient during…
How Can A Pediatric Occupational Therapist Help in Potty Training? Parents often ask our therapists if they can help children learn to use the toilet by themselves. Our therapists acknowledge that toilet training is a very important activity of daily living (ADL), but also know that countless factors contribute to toilet training success. Children are…
R.I.C.E. – Rest | Ice | Compression | Elevation R.I.C.E. is a fundamental principle for the management of various injuries, particularly those related to soft tissues like muscles and joints. This approach is commonly employed to address acute injuries such as sprains, strains, and minor fractures. Understanding the benefits of each component provides valuable insight…
The Negative Impact of Mouth Breathing by Michelle Slabach M.A. CCC-SLP, COM™ Is your child’s mouth open at rest? Does your child breathe through his/her mouth? Does your child drool? Hopefully, you said “no” to all of the above questions. Humans are supposed to be nose breathers. Breathing through our noses helps provide humidity to…
What is Pain? And How Does Physical Therapy Help with Pain Relief? What causes pain? Why am I experiencing pain? Why does some pain persist longer? If you ever asked yourself one or more of these questions, this blog hopes to provide some answers. First, let’s define pain. What is Pain? Pain is an early…
Raising Active Kids: Encouraging Physical Activity at Home and Beyond Look around your house and find your kids. What are they doing right now? Are they watching TV, playing on an iPad, playing with toys, or are they running around? Clinical guidelines for general activity from the CDC state that children should get 60 mins…
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy? Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy (PT) directed at treating pain, weakness, and/or dysfunction associated with the muscles within and around the pelvis (especially the pelvic floor). Currently, pelvic floor therapy is offered exclusively by Genevieve…
How Physical Therapy Treats Plantar Fasciitis Have you ever woken up in the morning with increased foot pain with your first few steps? After walking for a few feet does the pain improve? Pain when pulling or lifting toes/ankle towards your shin? Do you have tenderness and pain with pressure on your heel? If so,…
Using Sensory Strategies to Help with Self Regulation Do you feel like your child is more active than other kids? Does he or she have difficulty sitting down at meal time or to complete homework? Does your child seem to move about their day slowly or have trouble keeping their energy level up throughout the…
6 Stretches and Exercises to Improve Low Back Pain by Brooke Smith, PT, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Clinic Director Low back pain is often complex. There is no simple way to diagnose each individual’s root cause for the back pain. Even two people with pain in the exact same location may have different causes for the…
Signs Your Child May Need Speech Therapy As a child develops, we often find differences in how they are progressing their speech and language development. It is extremely important to remember that every child develops differently and at their own pace. In the first 3 years of a child’s life, we see the largest growth…
Goal Setting For Success Do you wonder where you will be in five years? Have you thought about your main objective in life? What is it you want to achieve by the end of every day? Successes in various aspects of our life are often driven by the goals we establish. Goals lead us to…
Each year, to no surprise, the most popular New Year’s resolution is to improve one’s health and get in better shape. How do you succeed with this resolution? What are the keys to getting started, and more importantly, maintaining that focus throughout the year to stay in shape? Here are 5 tips to help you…
What is Pediatric Speech Therapy? Pediatric speech therapy focuses on evaluating and treating children with communication challenges, including speech, language, social communication, and feeding/swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with children from infancy through adolescence, addressing issues such as delayed speech, articulation disorders, stuttering, voice disorders, and difficulties with understanding or using language. Additionally, SLPs…
Elevate Your Mountain Biking Performance with These 5 Essential Exercises There’s no doubt that mountain biking has exploded in popularity in recent years. Living in Arizona, there is no shortage of trail variation and difficulty resulting in a wide range of skill levels who participate in the sport. Whether you are a weekend warrior or…
A Holiday Gift Guide for Kids by Pediatric Occupational Therapists It’s that time of year! Here are some holiday gift recommendations for your children by the Occupational Therapists here at Kids Place: *All recommendations can be found on Amazon or at Target and Walmart* Toys: We can use toys to develop fine motor skills, hand…
5 Important Types of Play for Developing Children Throughout development, children will participate in a variety of occupations like dressing, feeding, toileting, sleeping, and even watching television. One of the most important occupations that typically takes up the most of children’s time is likely play. Play offers physical and mental stimulation, not to mention it’s a lot…
Are You a Professional Sitter? Today, we live in a world with incredible advancements in technological development and assistance. In general, life is so much easier and more comfortable. For some, we can view our lives as relatively luxurious, especially compared to the lives of other generations. However, we have also significantly reduced and even…
The Effects of Sugar on the Growing Human Body Did you know that the daily maximum amount of added sugar that the American Heart Association recommends for children ages 2 to 18 years old is 6 teaspoons or 25 grams? That is equivalent to 1 mini can of coke (7.5 ounces), 3 regular-sized Reese’s Peanut…
Maintaining and Improving Function with Low Back Pain by Drew Satterfield, PT, DPT AzOPT Gilbert Clinic Manager and Doctor of Physical Therapy It’s almost inevitable for us all to feel low back pain for one reason or either at some point in our life. Common symptoms include aching along the middle lower back or aching…
How to Cope with your Child’s Sensory Overload by Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place East Clinic Manager and Pediatric Occupational Therapist Anyone who has children understands that emotions are a part of everyday life. While upset behaviors can often be labeled as “tantrums” stemming from a child not getting their way, sensory overload can often…
Should I Start Physical Therapy Before Surgery? We hear it all the time – “I’m having surgery anyways.” “I’ll wait until after surgery.” “It hurts to move now so you can’t really help me.” But the truth is, pre-operative rehabilitation (or pre-hab), can be just as important as the surgery. Read on to find out…
The Importance of Climbing for Kids Children begin climbing early in life to explore their environment. This can start as soon as a baby starts to crawl or pull up to stand. As a child ages, they may climb surfaces to copy other children or just to engage in play. General Benefits of Climbing and…
Q&A with Ryann Roberts, PT, DPT, & AzOPT Owner Arizona Orthopedic Physical Therapy (AzOPT) was established in 2007 in Goodyear. After working many years for other physical therapy practices, Ryann believed there was a better approach to physical therapy than packing a therapist’s schedule and using techs to guide his patients’ experience. Ryann wanted a…
What is Vestibular Therapy? People often don’t realize how large the scope of physical therapy practice can be. There are many different domains including orthopedics, geriatrics, cardiopulmonary, pediatrics and more. One unique niche of physical therapy is vestibular rehabilitation. What is vestibular therapy exactly? It’s an exercise-based treatment program that works to improve your sense…
Should You Be Worried About Gross Motor Delays in Your Child? Your pediatrician tells you that your newborn is at risk for gross motor delays. What are gross motor delays? A gross motor delay refers to the large motor movements of the body and the ability to move through space. In practical terms, this…
Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month with Activity! This October, we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM)! NPTM is an awareness celebration held each October by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) to recognize the important roles physical therapists play in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives. Nobody understands this more than the “Active Adult”…
Get a (Pencil) Grip! Does your child hold a pencil in an awkward manner? Does your child struggle with fatigue or pain with drawing, writing, or coloring activities? If so, you may be wondering: “Should I get a pencil grip for my child to help with their grasp on a pencil?” The short answer: maybe.…
What is a joint mobilization? Joint mobilization, often called a manipulation, is a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint, using high-velocity, low amplitude (HLVA) thrusting maneuvers. Often associated with chiropractors, this technique has been used by a variety of practitioners throughout history and has evolved with time, experience and study. But did you…
The Sleepytime Struggle: 5 Sleep Tips for Children Sleep is a vital part of a child’s life to promote growth and development. Optimal sleep impacts a child’s readiness to participate in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Oftentimes, a child will have difficulty with the skills of going to bed and getting enough sleep, resulting…
Sore? “Who Cares!” Achy? “No problem.” Stiff? “No big deal.” We…are Weekend Warriors, athletes, Crossfitters, exercisers! If we did not like to “feel the burn,” we would still be working out at a local gym using elliptical machines and machine weights. But when the feeling goes beyond the burn and enters into pain, or even…
We understand that starting any pediatric therapy at Kids Place is challenging and slightly intimidating. Parents and children alike are nervous. This is normal – and ok! To better prepare you for your first visit, let’s talk more about what you can expect at your first pediatric therapy session. What to Expect at my Child’s…
How Much Should You Be Working Out? Are you looking for unique ideas to increase your physical activity? The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that adults should participate in moderate intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes on 5 days per week or vigorous intensity aerobic activity for a minimum of…
Are You Ready to Play? Impulse control is the ability to control oneself from engaging in behaviors that are often harmful to oneself or others. Having good impulse control is an important skill for individuals of all ages and for a variety of daily activities. What does poor impulse control, or lack of impulse control,…
We are blessed to live in a state with many resources for families with children with disabilities. We’ve compiled a list below of some very helpful resources for families in Arizona. Share this blog with other families to get the word out! Pal Experiences Helps families plan and prepare for outings, including watching videos of…
This Unique Protocol May Help Your Headaches Are you suffering from chronic migraines and headaches? Dry needling might be the solution for you! But first, let’s differentiate between migraines and cervicogenic headaches, as oftentimes these get mistaken. Cervicogenic headaches include neck stiffness, reduced range of motion, pain limited to one side of the neck, and pain…
Letting Your Child Fall Safely During Developmental Play by Abby Thompson, PT, DPT Pediatric Physical Therapist at Kids Place West Your child is now pulling themselves into standing, but they haven’t quite figured out how to lower themselves from a standing position. What should you do? Is it okay to let them fall or should…
Physical Therapists, Chiropractors, Massage Therapists – What’s the Difference? There are many misconceptions regarding the similarities and differences between physical therapy, chiropractors and massage therapy. Patients often believe they are the same thing. In fact, the three professions have very different theories regarding the preferred method of treatment, the benefits of each treatment, and the…
3 Simple Home Exercises to Help Your Baby Walk By Jeanette Cartafalsa, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Are you concerned that your baby is not walking? According to the CDC, most babies should be taking a few steps on their own by 15 months old. The most common reasons we see for your…
ACL Injury Prevention: Tips to Protect Your Knees by Kennedy Greene, PT, DPT, Cert DN AzOPT Gilbert Doctor of Physical Therapy The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial part of the knee joint, providing stability and support. Unfortunately, ACL injuries are common among athletes and active individuals. This injury significantly impacts your ability to…
8 Fun Handwriting Activities for Kids Summer is an opportune time to hone in your child’s handwriting skills. Handwriting can be a difficult skill for children to learn. If your child tends to have difficulty focusing during writing activities, try to switch up the activity. Here are fun activities to help your child stay engaged when…
5 Simple Ways to Decrease Low Back Pain by Logan Anglin, DPT Low back pain is no joke and very common in the United States. Nearly 3 out of 10 adults – 72.3 million people – currently suffer from chronic low back pain, surpassing the number of Americans who have arthritis, diabetes or heart disease.…
10 Fun Summer Activities to Promote Child Development by Marisa Fiorentino, OTR/L Kids Place North Pediatric Occupational Therapist As summer rolls around, finding activities to keep your kids busy and entertained seems daunting. Luckily, there are hundreds of activities for your home that are both fun and help with various developmentally appropriate skills and occupations.…
The Problem of Low Back Pain It is estimated that almost half of the US population will experience low back pain at some point in their lifetime. Low back pain can decrease our ability to participate in recreational sports and everyday activities, such as dressing and getting out of bed. Back pain can be acute…
It’s dinner time. You’re all eating around the table, and suddenly your child’s plate is almost empty! But alas… all of the food is still in their mouth, stuffed to the brim. How do you prevent an overstuffed mouth in your child? Read on to find out! What is Overstuffing? Overstuffing is when your child…
Understanding Symptoms – The Victim and The Culprit by Cassidy Cooney PT, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Understanding the symptoms we experience can be frustrating and confusing. They tend to limit and bother the life in which we need and hope to participate in. It is, however, underappreciated how truly interconnected each tissue and region…
What is a Healthy Amount of Media Use for Your Child? Media, including TV, computers, smartphones, tablets and video games, can affect how your children learn, feel, think, and behave. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages you to help your children develop healthy media use habits. “Nudges” to consider that help with healthy media…
Ask the Therapist: Do I Really Need Physical Therapy Before Replacement Surgery? “My surgeon is going to remove all the arthritis from my bone-on-bone knee and replace it so I am pain free! What’s the point of physical therapy before surgery?” True – during most replacement surgeries, patients often have great success removing the arthritis…
Targeting Speech and Language Skills Through Everyday Life By Stephanie Celaya, CCC-SLP Kids Place Central Bilingual Speech and Language Pathologist The first three years of a child’s life is crucial for speech and language development. Their brains are developing and maturing rapidly. It is very important for children to be consistently exposed to environments that…
Avoiding Golf Related Injuries by Ryann Roberts, DPT, Cert. DN, TPI Certified Medical Professional It’s Sunday afternoon, and you’re sitting in front of the television watching the final round of this week’s golf event. And then you hear the line that drives all of us nuts – “his swing just looks so effortless and smooth.”…
Our Prescott physical therapists are no strangers to the demands that mountain biking places on the body. Here are some excellent exercises to help support your riding. From climbing to technical descents these exercises are a great way to strengthen and maintain mobility to optimize your riding! For those beginning their biking journey or…
My child qualifies for occupational therapy at school; should I stop coming to the clinic? NO! (Although this may vary based on family circumstances). A child is able to receive occupational therapy at school and in the clinic at the same time. This can actually be incredibly beneficial for the child, and we highly recommend…
Healing After a Meniscus Injury by Jeff Landram PT, DPT, Cert. DN AzOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist More than a decade ago, long before my days as a physical therapist, I tore the meniscus in my knee playing football a little too rough on Thanksgiving. Immediately afterward, my knee would lock in a way that would…
What is Occupational Therapy? Celebrating OT Month By Jessica Tallent, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist Since 1980, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has recognized April as occupational therapy month. But what exactly do occupational therapists, specifically pediatric occupational therapists, do? The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (OT) defines occupational therapy as a “client-centered…
Is Occupational Therapy Right For My Child? Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) is a specialty designed to help individuals with developmental, physical, and cognitive delays. Occupational therapists help develop, recover, or maintain skills needed to perform their everyday activities (occupations). A child’s occupation is to play, dress, groom, bath, and perform school work. Factors that may…
At Kids Place, our pediatric occupational therapists are dedicated to helping children develop the skills needed for everyday tasks. Whether it’s at home, school, or in the community, we aim to enhance each child’s ability to participate fully and independently. What is Pediatric Occupational Therapy? Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping children gain independence in…
Creative Speech Therapy Activities To Do at Home Are you looking for creative speech therapy activities to do at home? Speech and language can be targeted anywhere, any time. The best and easiest way to target speech and language without interrupting your day is to target them during daily activities. Some examples of daily activities…
What is Occupational Therapy for Kids? by Thomas Stevens, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist Your pediatrician has referred your child to occupational therapy and you’re thinking to yourself – “my child doesn’t have a career, what in the world is his occupation?” Not to worry, we won’t be building your two-year old’s resume just…
Pregnancy and Exercise – Important Notes to Consider When the stick turns blue, you may start to consider all the different things you can do to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby. There are the obvious tweaks you can make in your lifestyle such as avoiding foods, strenuous activities and heavy work. But many women…
The Importance of Stabilizing Your Core By Brooke Smith, DPT, PT AzOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager You have some pain and your doctor tells you to strengthen or stabilize your core. What does strengthening your core even mean? Where do you start with strengthening/stabilizing your core? And how can you strengthen your core without causing more…
Concerns Over the Revised Developmental Checklist by Lauryn Bates, M.S., CCC-SLP Kids Place Speech and Language Pathologist Research has indicated that 80% of brain development occurs in the first 3 years of life. The brain is more flexible during this time because it must learn to accommodate new environments, interactions, and experiences. A child is…
6 Simple Training Tips for Mountain Bikers by Daniel Cox, DPT, Cert DN AzOPT Glendale Clinic Manager Are you ready to improve your riding on those beautiful Arizona trails? Avoid time-off from your peak riding form by taking the time to improve specific aspects of your physical fitness. Focusing on the following will not only…
4 Benefits of Play Based Speech Therapy By Kaileigh Nall, M.S. CCC-SLP Kids Place North Speech & Feeding Therapist What is Play-Based Speech Therapy? Play-based therapy is a client-led approach in which the child chooses a toy or activity and the speech-language pathologist uses the activity to effectively target the skills the child is working…
Ask the Therapist: Is a MRI Necessary for my Low Back Pain? by Alex Bocchi, PT, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Low back pain is something most of us will experience at some point throughout our lives. Some of us recover within days while others may have ongoing pain for years. A licensed physical therapist…
Four Valentine’s Day Activities that OT’s LOVE by Amalia Garcia, OTR/L Pediatric Occupational Therapist We are always looking for fun ways to enhance our activities for the kiddos while still working on important developmental skills. We love to use holidays as inspiration and Valentine’s Day is here! Try these Valentine’s Day themed activities with your…
Should You Only Go To Physical Therapy After You’ve Been Injured? Most people think of attending physical therapy following an injury or surgery. However, physical therapy can also be best utilized in preventative care. Just like you see your primary care physician annually for a health check-up, see a licensed physical therapist annually for a…
The Importance of Addressing Bilateral Coordination Skills at Home by Marisa Fiorentino, OTR/L Kids Place North Pediatric Occupational Therapist Bilateral coordination skills are essential for successful participation in school activities, self-care tasks, participation in play activities, and so much more! Upper extremity bilateral coordination is being able to use both your left and right arms/hands…
Choose Physical Therapy First by Drew Satterfield, PT, DPT AzOPT Gilbert Clinic Manager Physical therapy (PT) is the best first-line option for most injuries, symptoms, and conditions you face. From head to toe, a licensed physical therapist is able to treat pain or limitations and help you return to the activities you need and love…
How is Heavy Work Beneficial for My Child? by Marisa Fiorentino, OTR/L Kids Place North Pediatric Occupational Therapist Are your kiddos constantly running, crashing, and jumping around the house? Do they have difficulty sitting still and sustaining attention to activities at school or home? Does their constant need for movement prevent them from partaking in…
Do I Really Need to Get an X-Ray or MRI? by Casey Rightmyer, DPT AzOPT Prescott Doctor of Physical Therapy Are you confused about imaging? Your doctor suggested an X-Ray or MRI based on your symptoms. But what does each analyze and how do they help understand your condition? Let’s break down the most common…
8 Tips to Support a Positive Mealtime Environment by Kaileigh Nall, CCC-SLP Kids Place North Speech and Feeding Therapist Are mealtimes stressful at your home? Here are 8 tips to help support a positive mealtime environment for the whole family! 1. Involve your child in food preparation and clean up. Parents can do this by…
Five Toys to Develop Visual Motor and Fine Motor Skills by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Slot Toy Slot toys help to improve wrist dexterity, precision with visual motor tasks, object manipulation skills, and problem solving. These toys also address object permanence, or the ability to know that an object…
Should I Go to Physical Therapy If I’m in Too Much Pain? By Tyler Guymon, DPT Buckeye Clinic Manager and Physical Therapist “I am going to cancel today; I am in too much pain to come in.” We hear this every now and then at AzOPT. During the course of your rehabilitation program, you may…
Haircuts are sometimes KNOT fun! Many people associate going to the salon or barber with a fresh start, a time to wind down, or to be pampered. It can be a relaxing experience for most individuals; however it can also be a scary and uncomfortable place for children with sensory processing difficulties. What is sensory…
Each year, more than 30 million falls are reported among adults 65 and older. While increased numbers of falls are associated with older adults, falls are not a normal part of aging. Medical experts recommend staying active and completing activities that strengthen your legs and improve balance. Tai Chi activities on land and Ai Chi…
Play Based Speech Therapy by Lauryn Bates, M.S., CCC-SLP Kids Place Speech Language Pathologist Play based speech therapy is a common approach used by speech-language pathologists that creates engaging and meaningful experiences for their patients. It is commonly used for young children, but it can continue to be used into the elementary years. Play based…
Keep Fit Over 50 with Physical Therapy By Ryann Roberts, DPT Owner and Doctor of Physical Therapy Arizona Orthopedic Physical Therapy (AzOPT) Why should I be in physical therapy if I’m over 50 years old? Physical therapists play an important role in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives. Nobody understands this more than the…
Tips for Introducing Solids When is my child ready for solids? By six months, most children are ready to be introduced to solids. Regardless of age, it is important to consider your child’s gross motor skills before introducing solids. There is a direct relationship between gross motor development (e.g., sitting up, crawling, walking, etc.) and…
10 Benefits of Physical Therapy What is Physical Therapy? Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a health profession that uses evidence-based assessment, exercise, joint mobilization and education. Physical therapy treats conditions such as chronic pain, acute pain, soft tissue injuries, arthritis, physical impairments and gait disorders typically of musculoskeletal and neurological origins. We…
Using Dry Needling for Pain By Genevieve Afan, PT, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy What is Dry Needling? Dry needling is a technique used by physical therapists who successfully complete a certification process. It is a treatment rooted in Western medicine, unlike acupuncture, which is rooted in Eastern medicine. Dry needling uses acupuncture…
What to Expect During Your Baby’s Pediatric Physical Therapy Evaluation Your doctor recommends a pediatric physical therapy evaluation for your baby. We understand this can feel overwhelming. We hope this blog will help calm your fears so you can approach your evaluation with less anxiety and stress. Your licensed physical therapist will begin the evaluation…
The Importance of Strength Training for Endurance Athletes by Taylor Rock, PT, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Doctor of Physical Therapy Strength training and weightlifting are imperative to maintaining good health and reducing injury risk in all athletes. But while strength training is crucial for all athletes throughout every sport, the benefits are still debated by many…
Does My Baby Need Knee Pads for Crawling? by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Does your baby need knee pads for crawling? The short answer – probably not! While as an adult, it can hurt to crawl on hands and knees due to pressure on the patella (commonly called the ‘kneecap’), a baby’s patella is made…
The Power of the Sit to Stand (Squat) Do you… find it hard to get out of a chair? have difficulty bending down to pick things up from the floor? feel like your legs have become weaker over time? Many people know the importance of strengthening and conditioning for maintaining your physical health and well-being.…
What Exactly IS Good Posture? Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while performing all activities during rest and movement. Your optimal posture is when the least amount of strain or stress is placed on ligaments and muscles during stationary and dynamic movements. Every person’s exact posture will be…
Balance Bike or Tricycle? By Teri Roberts, DPT, PCS Kids Place Owner and Pediatric Physical Therapist I often am asked whether purchasing a balance bike or a tricycle is a better investment for a two and a half year old. Truth is, there really is not a correct answer, so there is not a wrong…
Sandals and Foot Pain Nothing says summer quite like breaking out the flip flops and shades, however; regular flip flop wearing can put you at risk for developing foot pain. So how can you keep your feet healthy and happy this spring and summer? First, we must define plantar fasciitis. What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar…
Improving Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Everyone needs sleep and rest to support their health and participate fully in their daily lives. When a child is experiencing sleep difficulties, the sleep quality of the entire family can also be affected. Poor sleep can lead to challenging daytime behaviors and negatively impact daytime function.…
Why Is Balance So Important? We’ve all heard the expression “If you don’t use it, you lose it”. That expression especially rings true for our sense of balance. We’ll talk about what balance is, the role that balance has on our daily lives, and consequences of falling. What is balance? Balance is made up of…
Shoe Recommendations for New Walkers and Toddlers Those first steps your child takes is an exciting time – watching them develop from those first, uneasy steps to eventually running! As your child begins walking, parents will need to begin purchasing shoes to help your little ones. Below are recommendations based on where your little one…
6 Important Reasons We Play Games Together at Kids Place Pediatric Therapy Parents often ask us why we will place two children together during a therapy session to play a game. This is a great question that has an even better answer! When two children are playing together, we are able to build several social…
2 Reasons You May Be Experiencing Unexplained Pain By Cassidy Cooney, PT, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist I often hear the question – “what caused this?” – when chatting with my patients about their unexplained pain. Unless there was a specific moment or injury that preceded the symptoms, the reality is we are often unable…
Why Is Play Important for Child Development? We often hear parents ask, “What can I do with my child to help him or her grow and develop?” Now, if someone came to you and said, “Just play with your child” would you believe them? What Is Play? According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (2008),…
Addressing Knee Pain by Brooke Smith, PT, DPT AzOPT Clinical Co-Director The knee is a very mobile structure that relies on surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments as well as the joints above and below to provide stability. When those joints are not working properly – that is to say they are either not as flexible…
Pediatric Feeding Disorders by Jacque Kujath, M.S. CCC-SLP Kids Place Central Speech Language Pathologist Our amazing team of speech-language pathologists are qualified to treat a variety of speech and language deficits including expressive and receptive language delays, articulation skills, and phonological skills. Did you know they are also qualified to evaluate and treat pediatric feeding…
What Can You Do About Nagging Heel Pain? by Drew Satterfield, PT, DPT AzOPT Gilbert Clinic Manager Heel pain is one of the more aggravating injuries for those of us who are on their feet for most of the day. At its worst, it prevents us from accomplishing our tasks throughout the day and keeps…
12 Effective Tips to Teach Your Child to Dress Themselves Dressing skills are a vital part of child development. Not only does learning to dress themselves help support children’s growing independence, but it also promotes the development of many other valuable skills including, but not limited to sequencing, motor coordination, balance, bilateral coordination, dexterity, attention,…
11 Practical Water Safety Tips for Kids It is about that time of year again when the temperatures outside are blazing hot in Arizona! In Arizona, this is the time of year temperatures begin to blaze and many families “escape the heat” by engaging in water play or swimming activities in pools, lakes, or local…
Benefits of Cardio Fitness for Children with Cerebral Palsy by Danielle Burke, PT, DPT Kids Place West Doctor of Physical Therapy Cerebral palsy is a complex neurological disorder affecting approximately 1.5 to 3.8 children per 1,000 births. Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy often present with developmental delays as a result of muscle weakness, impaired balance,…
Tips for Helping Your Child Tie Shoes How can you teach your child to tie shoes? Tying shoes is a complex self-care tasks that requires adequate visual motor skills, fine motor-coordination, task sequencing, and motor planning. Most kids learn to tie their shoes around age 6, but this can take longer due to the complexity…
Common Misperceptions About Physical Therapy By: Brooke Smith, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager Should you do physical therapy? There are many common misperceptions about what physical therapy entails. Let’s discuss a few common misperceptions and explain how physical therapy can help you get back to the activities you love, without pain! Myth #1: Physical therapy…
Using the Pool for Exercise during the Summer Are you wondering how you can use the pool for exercise this summer? One of the benefits of living in AZ in the summer, other than sweating off ten pounds of water weight, is our access to swimming pools and other forms of water activity to keep…
What are some strategies to improve my child’s language skills? Kids Place Pediatrics Therapy celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month. Check out this video from Lauryn, Stephanie, and Paige, Speech Therapists at Kids Place Central, to learn more about how you can improve your child’s receptive and expressive language skills at home. For more information,…
The Benefits to Heart Rate Training for Runners by Tyler Guymon, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Clinic Manager Over the years, my wife and I have turned to running for the majority of our physical fitness. We enjoy the simplicity of running. You really only need a decent pair of running shoes and you are ready to…
Dynamic Warm Up Exercises for Overhead Athletes Overhead Athletes Injury Prevention Athletes who perform repetitive movements overhead, such as softball and baseball players, are at a slightly higher risk of injuries to the shoulders and/or elbows. Injuries may include labral tears, rotator cuff injuries, and lateral epicondylitis, to name a few. A proper warm up…
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, degenerative neurologic disease that affects the brain’s ability to produce specific chemicals that allow normal, smooth movement and motor planning. It affects approximately 50,000 people in the United States every year with about 1 million people currently affected. The average age of onset for…
Halliwick Water Specific Therapy Certification by Genevieve Afan PT, DPT, Cert DN & Bobbi Michels PT, DPT, PAq AzOPT Buckeye Aquatic Therapists Halliwick, or Water Specific Therapy, was originally developed in 1950 as a way to teach people with disabilities how to swim and be independent in the water. This method uses a 10-point program…
Addressing Mobility That May Affect Your Golf Swing by James Poupongtong PT, DPT, TPI Certified AzOPT Buckeye Staff Physical Therapist Since the start of the pandemic, golf as a sport has exploded in popularity. In 2020, there was an estimated 24.8 million golfers, an increase of 2% from the previous year, the largest growth in…
Is it Normal for My Child’s Toes to Point In or Point Out? by MayAnne Belcina, Student Physical Therapist My Child Walks With Their Toes In or Out Do your child’s toes point in or point out? This is called in-toeing and out-toeing. If a child in-toes, they typically have more range of motion with…
Yoga for Low Back Pain By Taylor Kitkowski PT, DPT, Cert DN Should I Try Yoga for Low Back Pain? It is estimated that almost half of the US population will experience low back pain at some point in their lifetime. Low back pain can cause both physical and mental limitations to everyday activities. Back…
Using Aquatic Therapy to Treat Knee Osteoarthritis by Blake McDonald, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is an irreversible condition that will eventually require surgery. So why bother treating the knee with physical therapy if it is just prolonging the inevitable, right? WRONG! Oftentimes, knee replacement surgery is only…
How Hippotherapy Is Used with Pediatric Therapy by Martina Tannahill, DPT Kids Place Central Pediatric Physical Therapist The term hippotherapy originates from the Greek word, “hippos” meaning horse. Hippotherapy involves using the natural gait and movement of a horse as a treatment tool and strategy that can be incorporated and integrated into an occupational or…
So, You Want to Learn About Deadlifting? by Acacia Rightmyer, DPT AzOPT Prescott Staff Physical Therapist Deadlifting – I am sure you have heard of it, maybe even seen others perform it, but did you know at some point in your life you most certainly have done it yourself? Even if you weren’t pulling weight…
A Few Tips for Car Seat Safety by Elissa Casey OTR/L, ATP, CPST There is a lot to know about car seats and all of it can seem very overwhelming. Time to take a deep breath, as we are here to help. My name is Elissa Casey and I am a pediatric occupational therapist and…
Why Do I Have Neck Pain? by Daniel Cox, DPT AzOPT Glendale Clinic Manager Neck pain and pain between one’s shoulder blades is one of the most commonly seen problems by our physical therapists. When a person complains of neck pain, usually we diagnose “posture” as the cause of neck pain, but is it really?…
Debunking Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Myths by Lauryn Bates, CCC-SLP Kids Place Central Pediatric Speech Therapist The average person speaks approximately 150 words per minute. In a typical day, most of us will express more than 15,000 words for a variety of communicative intents. We use language to maintain social relationships with others as…
Is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Right For You? by Alex Bocchi, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Doctor of Physical Therapy Platelet rich plasma therapy. You may have heard of the hype. But what is it? Who needs it? Does it work? Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a form of regenerative medicine using your own blood to…
GoBabyGo Provides Children with Disabilities the Gift of Mobility By Courtney Gerhart, DPT Pediatric Physical Therapy, Kids Place West During the first few years of a child’s life, they begin to explore their environment and make crucial connections that will inevitably set them up for success mentally, physically, socially and emotionally. A typically developing child…
How Foods Heal Your Body by Meghan LaMarca, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy To quote Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine, let medicine be thy food”. Our bodies are an incredible machine that requires food to help nourish and fix tissue that is damaged especially after an injury or surgery. Innumerable processes are…
Potential Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Specific Diagnoses by Morgan Wilhelm, Student Physical Therapist Below we look at specific diagnoses that have benefitted from participating in aquatic therapy. This is, of course, not an exhaustive list. There are many adults and children who can benefit from therapy in an aquatic environment. Follow this link…
The Best Toys for Children by Ian Larson, DPT AzOPT Tempe Doctor of Physical Therapy As a fellow parent of four children under five years old and a physical therapist, the types of toys and devices my wife and I allow in our home has received more and more attention. I think most parents can…
Techniques for Managing Neck Pain and Headaches by Genevieve Jenkins, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Wake up with a kink in your neck? Feeling a little tense in your neck and shoulders after a long day? You are not alone. Even as physical therapists, we’ve all had our share of neck pain and headaches. Here…
What Should My Baby Look Like In Tummy Time? by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Babies have the tendency to do things on their own timeline, but frequently parents ask us what we look for when working with babies. Here are some general things we look for when babies are…
Understanding and Improving Upper Cross Syndrome by James Poupongtong PT, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Upper cross syndrome is something that typically occurs due to bad posture. Muscles in the shoulders and chest tighten and other muscles in the neck and back weaken over time. This tightening and weakening of certain muscles can…
Why Does My Child Repeats Everything I Say? Have you noticed your child is repeating words or phrases consistently? Do they repeat what you say instead of answering a question, or watch one of their favorite movies and speak lines from it over and over for the next week? It is ok to feel confused,…
The Vestibular System and Balance Balance is a complex interaction of systems. It has both internal (inside our bodies) and external components (outside). These components work together in healthy individuals to maintain or regain balance. These components also know which way is up, what direction and how fast you are moving and can make posture…
Ask the Therapist: How Does Nutrition Affect My Physical Therapy? Often time’s patients will ask if the food they eat before and after their physical therapy appointments will affect their rehabilitation results. Regardless of whether you are healing from a surgery, recovering from a sprain, or managing chronic pain – yes, the food and drink…
Physical Therapy and Management of Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects roughly 32.5 million adults in the US. It is commonly referred to the “wear and tear” arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD). OA occurs when cartilage within the joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins…
I am Struggling with my Selective Eater, What do I do? It is common for families, parents, and or caregivers to have a child that is a “picky” eater. “Picky” eater may seem insensitive, so let’s call your child a selective eater. Often times parents and families may ask themselves, what in the world do…
The 411 on Massage Guns by Nick Travers, DPT AzOPT Doctor of Physical Therapy Have you recently turned on a sporting event and seen an athlete on the sideline with a massage gun? Maybe you have watched the thousands of slow motion videos on social media. Regardless, massage guns, which are a form of percussive…
Back Pain During Pregnancy It is not uncommon to experience back pain during pregnancy. In fact, 50-80% of women will experience some type of back pain during their pregnancy. Back pain can occur anytime during the pregnancy but becomes more likely later in the pregnancy, as the weight of the baby increases. As the baby…
Three Household Items to Promote Grasp Development by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist As a child grows and progresses with new skills, their grasp is developing as well. Adequate grasp development is important for age appropriate pre-writing and handwriting skills, manipulation of everyday items, and proper fine motor coordination.…
When Can I Return to My Sport/Activity? Whether you are participating in a highly competitive sport league or having fun with friends, activities are important to you and your overall health. However, injuries happen all the time that could limit your ability to participate. Many of you may even undergo orthopedic procedures or attend physical…
Activities for Your Toddler that Assist Language Learning Parents can incorporate virtually anything into an activity that promotes language skill development. The key is working on a skill that your child isn’t quite able to do independently, but they can do with your help. You can work on both expressive language (using signs, sounds, or…
Core-ology For Beginners by Cassidy Cooney, PT, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Doctor of Physical Therapy Back pain is a huge pain in the butt, often times literally as well as figuratively. Most people are quick to research the cause of their back pain from a FUM/GUM (Facebook/Google University of Medicine) trained provider. There, you probably heard…
The First Year of Baby’s Sitting by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Babies have the tendency to do things on their own timeline, but frequently parents ask us what we look for when working with babies. Here is a general timeline for when your baby begins to practice sitting: Newborns…
What is the Importance of a Home Exercise Program? Now that you have completed your initial evaluation, your first step to feeling better, functioning better and living better is complete. Your physical therapist and you have developed a plan of care that will get you back to doing what you need and love to do…
Using Blood Flow Restriction to Maximize Physical Therapy Results By Rina Ishii, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training is a method of physical training in which you restrict blood flow to a limb or limbs via a tourniquet while exercising or at rest. By restricting blood flow to a specific area,…
How To Know When My Child is in Pain by Chantal Scott PT, DPT Kids Place Central Pediatric Physical Therapist Assessing pain in children can be difficult, especially for babies who can’t tell you what’s wrong or for children who may be cognitively impaired or non-verbal. Even for typically developing adults, pain can be difficult…
What Causes Jaw Pain? by Jeffrey Landram, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy If you were asked to name all the joints in the human body, odds are you might forget about the joint that allows the jaw to move! This joint is called the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short. Although it is…
How a Tongue Tie Can Affect Your Child by Kacie Bartlett, CCC-SLP Kids Place West Pediatric Speech, Language and Feeding Therapist According to the Affiliation of Tongue-Tie professionals (IATP), “tongue tie is an embryological remnant of tissue in the midline between the undersurface of the tongue and floor of the mouth that restricts normal tongue…
Is Physical Therapy Right For Me? Who are physical therapists? Physical Therapists are trained to find the biomechanical dysfunctions that cause pain and assess physical movements to make sure pain never occurs. In other words, as highly trained healthcare professionals (most have a Doctoral degree), physical therapists will examine you and make a treatment plan…
Injury Prevention for the Performance Athlete (Dancer) by Taylor Kitkowski, DPT AzOPT Glendale Doctor of Physical Therapy In the world of sports, performance athletes, or dancers, are often overlooked. However, dance requires high levels of physical demands in addition to maintaining a lean body type. These factors make young dancers more susceptible to injuries. Dance…
Pediatrics: Hippotherapy vs. Adaptive Riding by Justine Gonzales, OTR/L Kids Place Central Occupational Therapist The terms hippotherapy and adaptive riding (formally known as therapeutic riding) are commonly misused. While both approaches incorporate the benefits of riding a horse, there are various differences among the two. To ensure children are receiving the most appropriate horseback riding…
Crawling Is Important Most infants will begin to crawl on their stomach at eight months of age, and begin to crawl on their hands and knees a month later. Crawling on hands and knees is a very important developmental milestone for many reasons. However, it is common for parents to say their child skipped crawling…
Don’t Get Bent Out of Shape from Scoliosis The human spine has natural, healthy curvatures built into it such as the arch in the low back or the slight rounding of the upper back. These curvatures are exclusive to what is called the sagittal plane, which means they either bend only forwards or backwards. Sometimes…
Midline Crossing Activities by Jessica Tallent, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist The midline is the term used to describe the invisible line at the middle of the body which goes from the head to the feet. When children participate in activities that require them to cross the midline, connections in the brain are…
Ask the Therapist: Heat or Ice? Heat or ice? It’s one of the most common questions we receive. While it is difficult to generalize all pain and injuries, there are a few simple rules that you can follow to help in your recovery. Ice is most appropriate for initial (or acute) stages of an injury.…
Start Reading Early With Your Child Most people are familiar with the notion that reading to your child regularly is beneficial. But when should you start? Reading comprehension and the ability to follow along do not come until age 4 or 5 (depending on the child), but the value of guided reading can be seen…
Why Babies Wear Helmets by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Ever noticed a baby wearing a helmet and wondered why? The short answer is to help shape their head. Babies are born with ‘soft spots’ or bones in their skull that have not fused together. This is so a baby…
Opt Outside – Take a Hike By Matt Flanagan, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Exercise is good for us. We all know that, or at least we should, because it is! While there are numerous forms of exercise, there is no right way. There are guidelines, though. The American College of Sports Medicine states adults…
Anxiety Concerns in Children Childhood – a time when one is carefree with no worries to keep them up at night. Unfortunately that is not the case for all children. Anxiety is thought to be a disorder that only affects adults, when in reality one can be diagnosed with a form of anxiety at the…
What is Aquatic Therapy and How it Helps by Jordan Ribota, PT, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Aquatic therapy, quite simply put, is using the physical qualities of water (or a pool in most cases) as a form of rehab or exercise. Once your physical therapist and you determine aquatic therapy is best…
Adaptive Sport Programs and Recreation Resources for Children with Disabilities Individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities experience problems with their overall health including higher rates of obesity when compared to their typically developing peers. Obesity is a worldwide health concern that is not often tracked in children and youth with disabilities over their lifespan. Children…
Strength Training is for Everyone, Regardless of Age Exercise is an important aspect of overall health and wellness. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends adults participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise at least five days each week. However, most adults do not follow this recommendation. Furthermore, we should be…
Holiday Gifts to Encourage Improvements in Gross Motor Skills by Danielle Burke, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Infants Pop Up Toys: Encourage reaching in multiple developmental positions such as quadruped (hands and knees), tall kneeling, and standing. (pictured toy $25 on Amazon) Floor Activity Mirror: Encourages child to look up while on their…
How to Create a Weighted Animal to Improve Calming Strategies by Thomas Stevens, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Deep pressure can be very calming for children who have a hard time with self-regulation and attention to tasks. For many kids, bear hugs, weighted blankets, or weighted vests are tools that get this type…
The Role of Physical Therapy in COVID-19 Recovery by Pamela Guevarra, PT, DPT, CCI, Cert. D.N. AzOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Researchers and healthcare professionals continue to learn more each day about the coronavirus that has uprooted our daily lives. While more is still to be learned, one thing for certain is the role physical therapy…
We are so thankful for the many provider offices who participated in our 12th edition of the AZOPT & Kids Place Pumpkin Challenge. This has been a challenging year, and we truly appreciate the fun and exciting distraction. You truly blew us away with your artistic creativity. Everyone who participated is a winner – because the…
Ergonomics for Remote Working More people than ever are working from home and/or sitting at a desk throughout the day. With such a sudden change, you may not have an ideal desk set up. This can lead to poor posture throughout the day. What is ergonomics? Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with designing and…
Maintaining Attention During Remote Learning By Kristi Knight, OTD/S Kids Place Student Occupational Therapist Online school can be hard for any child, especially if that child has a short attention span due to ADHD, developmental delay, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Helping your child maintain focus on their schoolwork proves to be difficult for many…
Pitt Hopkins Syndrome Awareness by Lauren Bacsalmasi, DPT Kids Place Central Pediatric Physical Therapist Pitt Hopkins is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a gene called TCF4 in chromosome 18. While this disorder is considered to be very rare, diagnosis is becoming more common with increased access to genetic testing. It is associated with other disorders…
Awareness is Key to Eliminate Stress-Induced Tension by Cassidy Cooney, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Have you been stressed lately? Honestly, I know that I have. These past months have been epic in regard to changes in lifestyle and the face of society in general, and whether we are aware of it or not, stress…
Brain Breaks for Virtual Learning by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist For families across Arizona, virtual learning is our children’s’ new way of life. A child’s main occupation is to learn through play and movement, which can be tricky during this time of online learning. Try some of these brain…
Ask the Therapist: Am I Confusing my Child by Speaking More Than One Language? by Pauline Munoz, CCC-SLP Kids Place Speech and Language Pathologist Families who speak more than one language at home are often worried their children may develop a speech or language delay. This is because of their fear that the child may…
Understanding Ankle Sprains by Daniel Cox, DPT AzOPT Glendale Doctor of Physical Therapy Arizona is home to many outdoor activities like hiking, trail running, and other sports. But our desert terrain leads to one common injury – ankle sprains! While many of us just ice and hobble along until we feel ready to return to…
Strategies to Promote Comprehension and Encourage Language by Lauryn Bates, M.S., CCC-SLP Kids Place Central Pediatric Speech and Language Pathologist Daily routines and activities are the perfect time to help your child learn early language skills. Language refers to the words/signs/gestures that we use and how we use these to express our wants and needs…
How to Fit Your Child Properly in a Car Seat by Justina Valgento DPT Kids Place Pediatric Physical Therapist It is important that all children are safe and secure in a car during short and long distances. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), a proper fitting child safety seat reduces the…
Easy Ways to Increase Language Input During Daily activities by Pauline Munoz, CCC-SLP KP Central Speech and Language Pathologist The amount of language children are exposed to from birth to three years of age significantly affects their learning and language abilities. Most parents understand the importance of talking to their children. However, it is easy…
Using Your Backyard Wall to Improve Your Child’s Motor Coordination By: Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist At Kids Place, we are always looking for new activities to keep our patients moving and learning at home. The following activities will help to work on eye teaming, bilateral coordination, problem solving, frustration…
How to Improve a Child’s Body Awareness by Hannah Whitty, Occupational Therapy Student Children with poor body awareness have increased difficulty knowing where their body is in space. Body awareness is an essential skill needed for children to properly participate in everyday tasks. Without appropriate body awareness, a child is unable to safely navigate their…
Aquatic vs Land Therapy – What is the Difference? by Bobbi Michels, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Aquatic physical therapy, like land-based physical therapy, is part of the physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty involving the expertise and knowledge of a licensed physical therapist. Land-based therapy incorporates rehabilitation of an individual using therapeutic…
The Benefits of Aquatic Therapy by Nick Travers, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Doctor of Physical Therapy In Arizona, one of the best ways to stay cool during the summer is to head out to the pool. Did you know that swimming and aquatic therapy is also a great activity for pain relief and joint health? It’s…
It’s Time to Get Fit! By Ryann Roberts, DPT AzOPT Owner, Doctor of Physical Therapy Is your gym closed or partially shut down due to COVID-19? CrossFit Fury is open! In fact, many CrossFits are open. If you are looking to get on the fitness train, now is the time. I am writing this as…
The Importance of Crawling for Babies and Older Children by Lauren Bacsalmasi, DPT Kids Place Central Pediatric Physical Therapist Frequently, we hear from parents of children who start walking without crawling, or they only scooted on their bottoms. It is important that children, even ones who are already walking, learn the skill of crawling and…
Should You Exercise If You Are Pregnant? Many often ask us whether it is safe to exercise during a pregnancy without causing potential complications. The answer is YES!!! In fact, you should exercise throughout your pregnancy. Of course, this does not mean to start lifting heavy weights or starting Crossfit if you haven’t before, but…
Sitting is the New Smoking by Meghann LaMarca, DPT AzOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Smoking comes with inherent risks everyone can agree upon – cancer, breathing, and coughing, to name a few. But sitting for long periods of time, especially behind a computer or the wheel of a car, can also create numerous health…
Staying Active While Maintaining Social Distancing by Taylor Rock, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist COVID-19 is causing major disruptions to all areas of life and currently presents a serious threat to our health. We support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for staying safe and avoiding unnecessary exposure – staying home to self-isolate…
Recently, the Federal Government and State of Arizona made changes to allow virtual visits for physical, occupational, and speech therapy. While all of our clinics will remain open, we will be scheduling patients virtually who wish to take additional safety precautions. What is a Virtual Visit (Telehealth/E-Visit)? A virtual visit is an opportunity to connect…
Adaptive Easter Activities by Anna Cardosa Gray, DPT & Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L The holidays provide wonderful opportunities to teach children old traditions and new skills; Easter is no different! Whether it is via a classic Easter egg hunt, crafting, decorating, or with worksheets, children of all abilities can participate in the festivities with a few…
Yoga for Kids by Julia Meriwether Student of Physical Therapy The fundamental purpose of yoga is to promote balance in the body, mind, and environment. It is a low-impact form of physical activity which includes breathing techniques (pranayama), postures (asanas), relaxation and meditation. Yoga at an early age encourages self-esteem and body awareness with physical…
Understanding the Diaphragm by Brittany Witherell Student Physical Therapist The diaphragm is an important organ we use to breathe. Although breathing is the diaphragm’s primary function, did you know it has many more important functions? It also helps with postural control which helps us stand tall and balance. It also plays a vital role in…
Student Therapists at Kids Place by Jeanette Mangano, DPT, PCS Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist At Kids Place, we are active within the educational communities for therapist’s education. We seek to assist speech language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy students with advancing their education and completing clinical rotations in order to obtain their…
Creating Your Own Soft Tissue Work By Rina Ishii, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Most are familiar with the acronym RICE to help with pain after an injury – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate. While there are many benefits to following this method, there are also more active approaches to help initiate and supplement the health…
My Child is Constantly Putting Things in His Mouth by Tracie Dahl, OTR/L Kids Place Central Pediatric Occupational Therapist You may have heard your child’s therapist talk about proprioception and the importance of providing proprioceptive input, but what is it? The proprioceptive system helps tell us about the movement and position of our joints and…
Signs of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) by Blake McDonald, DPT AZOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Have you experienced motion sickness and/or nausea with just simply turning your head or looking up? Have you laid down in bed for the night only to find yourself incredibly dizzy? Most likely it’s not your sinus headache…
Developing Healthy Sitting Babies by Kim Ellison, PT, DPT, C/NDT Kids Place Pediatric Physical Therapist Moms, dads, caregivers – you all share in the dance of balancing chores along with the care and development of your infant. Tummy Time is extremely important for development, and so is working on sitting! When your baby is not…
by Tracie Dahl, OTR/L Kids Place Central Pediatric Occupational Therapist Teeth begin to appear as early as six months old and should be brushed twice a day as soon as they appear, according to the American Dental Association. But brushing a child’s teeth, especially a young child, is challenging (and stressful), especially when there is…
The Role of Social Media in Pain Management by Brooke Smith, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT AZOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager and Doctor of Physical Therapy Often in the clinic, I hear patients tell me “I really thought my pain would just go away,” or “I looked online, and it said to do…fill in the blank.” Admittedly, I…
The Best Way to Hold and Carry Your Baby Holding your baby is one of the most joyous and relaxing experiences. It is during these special moments you will bond and enjoy memories of cute smiles, initial communication, and quiet gazing upon your precious baby sleeping in your arms. During the first year of life,…
Cervical Radiculopathy: What Is It and What Can You Do? by Jordan Ribota, PT, DPT AZOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Cervical radiculopathy can be summed up as the nerves exiting the neck are in some way being “pinched,” causing the nerves to function improperly. Most often, symptoms include numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness into…
The Developmental Benefits of Chores by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist For many of us, chores are a normal part of childhood. What you may not realize is that common household chores can help children develop a variety of executive functioning skills that are beneficial later in life. Executive functioning…
Kids Corner – All about Caffeine by JP R. Freshman, Archway Trivium Caffeine is one of the world’s most popular stimulants. It is found in more than 60 different plants world-wide. Caffeine is in many items such as coffee, coffee beans, tea, soft drink products, energy drinks, chocolate, nuts such as kola and guarana, and…
Spinal Decompression through Position and Breathing Did you know that you can use deep diaphragmatic breathing to decompress your spine to help relieve pain? We all live with some form of spinal compression caused by gravity, ground reaction forces, ligaments, and muscular contractions. When a person stands upright, the lumbar spine can compress up to…
Temper Tantrums and Behavior Management by Amanda Mazerall M.S. OTR/L Temper tantrums are ‘behaviors’ that I see on a daily basis. Although Kids Place is an extremely fun and exciting place, it is common for children to get upset while present for therapy. There are a variety of reasons for these upset behaviors: Seeking a…
In our 11th edition of the AZOPT & Kids Place Pumpkin Challenge, we tested the creativity of the amazing provider offices who participated. And wow – what awesome results! Smaller pumpkins are definitely more challenging! Everyone who participated is a winner – because the kiddos who voted truly enjoyed seeing your creations! Thank you to all!…
What is pediatric physical therapy? Pediatric physical therapist work with a variety of children ranging from babies with torticollis or delay, orthopedic sports injuries, and children with delays due to diagnoses such as cerebral palsy and autism. Pediatric PTs help to improve gross motor skills, walking pattern, strength, balance, coordination, and motor planning through a…
Physical Therapists Treat Headaches by Daniel Cox, DPT AZOPT Glendale Physical Therapist Increased digital device use and ‘screen-time’ are becoming a major contributing factor to more frequent complaints of headaches. Recent studies actually estimate that one out of every 6 Americans suffer from headaches. This means the odds are that you, or someone you are…
Your Child’s Progressions in Handwriting by Jenna Zellner, OTS Kids Place Student Occupational Therapist Handwriting acquisition is a crucial learning process necessary to get children prepared for school and adult life. Similar to a child’s physical development, handwriting skills follow a sequential progression. First children develop precursor readiness skills which consist of drawing simple shapes.…
What Plumbers and Physical Therapists Share in Common By Genevieve Jenkins, DPT AZOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy What do plumbers and physical therapists have in common? They can both fix leaks! While a plumber would be best employed for household leaks, a physical therapist can help you address a different kind of leak referred…
Upper Body Weight Bearing By Jessica Tallent, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist Occupational therapists assist in developing fine motor coordination and grasping skills needed for children to carry out everyday tasks. These tasks include playing with different sized, picking up pieces of food, learning to use utensils such as spoons and markers, tying shoes,…
Physical Therapy Management of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis by Taylor Rock PT, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist 25% of Americans have experienced low back pain in the last three months. Think about that. That’s 1 out of every 4 people. Not only that, but 80% of you will experience some form of low back pain at…
Promoting Fluent Speech for Children Who Stutter by Alexandra Pagel, M.A., CF-SLP Kids Place West Pediatric Speech and Language Pathologist You’re staring at a large audience, delivering an important speech. You find yourself starting sentences over, taking long pauses, and repeating parts of words or entire words. You’re nervous and your words just aren’t coming…
Using Tai Chi to Decrease Risk of Falls One in four Americans fall every year. In fact, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in the 65 and older population. Not only can a fall cause hip fractures, broken bones and head injuries, but it can also cause fear and depression, making…
My Child is Walking! Now What? by Jeanette Mangano, PT, DPT, PCS Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Your new baby begins to walk for the first time! How exciting! Walking is a very important motor milestone for many families. But after your child begins to walk – now what? Often, we are asked what…
Signs and Symptoms of Water Dehydration by Ian M. Larson PT, DPT Cert. DN, CCI The extreme heat is upon us, and it’s a great time for us Phoenicians to remember to keep water with us wherever we go – work, gym, errands, etc. Water dehydration is very serious, yet many of us do not…
Messy Face, Empty Plate by Kacie Bartlett, CCC-SLP Kids Place West Speech and Feeding Therapist Parents have been taught that when their child is hungry, they will eat. This may be true for some children but not all. Many children have difficulty consuming adequate nutrition orally, whether it is due to a medical diagnosis, motor…
The 8th Sense by DeNell Dykstra, OTS Kids Place West Student Occupational Therapist Most of us are aware of the five main senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Some of us have also heard of the two ‘hidden’ senses – proprioception and vestibular. Proprioception is the ability to sense joints and muscles. The…
Don’t Let an Ankle Sprain Keep You From Moving by JD Fields, DPT, OCS AZOPT Glendale Clinic Manager One of the more common injuries we encounter at AZOPT is ankle sprains. Most think ankle sprains only can happen during sports or high-level activity, but in truth, these occur more regularly during normal daily and recreational…
Tools to Manage Your Child’s Challenging Behaviors by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Children misbehaving or testing the limits is a normal part of childhood development. Most challenging behaviors emerge between the ages of 3—6 when the child is developing a sense of autonomy. However, these behaviors can reach a…
Common Types of Dizziness and Vertigo By Tyler Guymon, DPT AZOPT Buckeye Clinic Manager and Doctor of Physical Therapy If you have ever woken up one day experiencing symptoms of dizziness and vertigo without knowing why, you are not alone. While many cases of dizziness and vertigo can be traced to a specific incident, many…
The Risks of Prolonged Use of a Pacifier by Paige Luetkemeyer, MS, CF-SLP Kids Place Central Speech Language Pathologist It’s in your nature to comfort your baby when in distress. Pacifiers are a helpful tool that not only soothes a crying baby but also satisfies her natural sucking instinct. In fact, several studies have shown that…
How Yoga Challenged This Crossfitter with Unrealized Benefits By Brooke Smith, DPT, FAAOMPT, CERT DN, CCI AZOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager As an avid Crossfitter, I enjoy a challenging workout with immediate results. So, I was skeptical when I was invited to participate in my first yoga class. Would it be difficult enough? Would I even…
Kids Place celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month. Check out this video from Morgan and Allie, Speech Therapists at Kids Place West, to learn more about strategies to encourage your late talker to effectively communicate. For more information, please visit: Encouraging Early Developing Social Language Skills Parentese: What Is It and Why You Should Do…
Kids Place celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month. Check out this video from Lindsey and Brandi, Speech Therapists at Kids Place Central, to learn more about the benefits and strategies for teaching your child sign language. For more information, please visit: Should I Teach My Child Sign Language? Jump-Start Your Baby’s Language Learning with…
Rehabilitation Following a Stroke by Mariah Devries, DPT Kids Place West Physical Therapist A stroke is defined as a period in time where the brain does not receive sufficient oxygenation, resulting in death of brain cells. A stroke may produce resulting impairments including changes in strength, weakness on one side of the body, altered sensation,…
Picky Eater or Problem Eater? by Stephanie Celaya Kids Place Speech and Language Pathologist As many parents (and non-parents) know by now, children do not come with a neatly written manual that explains everything one should know about their child (bummer!). One of the hurdles that some parents come across with their children is during…
Increasing Strength Through the Use of Blood Flow Restriction By Matt Flanigan, DPT, Cert BFR AZOPT Goodyear Doctor of Physical Therapy What is Blood Flow Restriction? In a rehabilitation or exercise setting, blood flow restriction (BFR) can be very useful to improve strength and increase muscle mass. Essentially, we use a specialized blood pressure cuff…
Kids Place celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month. Check out this video from Kacie and Christy, Speech and Feeding Therapists at Kids Place West to learn more about how you can improve your child’s feeding habits. For more information, please visit: Feeding Foundations For Success Simple Ways to Help Your Child Try New Foods:…
Identifying Common Injuries in the Weekend Warrior by Ryann Roberts, DPT, Cert DN Owner, Doctor of Physical Therapy Many of us fit the pattern of a weekend warrior – work and family throughout the week restrict our ability to participate in fitness and activities. So instead, we complete vigorous workouts and recreational activities on weekends. The…
Ask The Therapist – What is Visual Motor Integration? by Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place Central Pediatric Occupational Therapist Visual Motor Integration, or ‘VMI,’ is a form of coordination that allows us to accurately control our hand movements based off of vision. Poor VMI skills may impact a child’s ability to write their name, catch…
Understanding and Managing Plantar Fasciitis Plantar fasciitis is a common condition involving the support structure along the bottom of your foot. It leads to abnormal thickening and thinning of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue often affected by overuse due to poor foot mechanics, unsupportive footwear, or prolonged time spent on your feet. This…
How to Keep Your Wandering Child Safe by Jennifer Gile, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Wandering is common in children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Approximately half of children with ASD will wander from a safe environment. While this is more common in children with ASD, it can affect other children as…
Oodles of Fun with Pool Noodles by Bobbi Michels, PT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Did you know you can enjoy your pool noodle year-round using it to get some exercise on land until it is time to enjoy it in the pool? Pool noodles are so much fun to use on land. I…
Cupping Therapy in Arizona Physical Therapy: What You Need to Know Cupping, also known as Myofascial Decompression, is a type of alternative therapy that originated in China in 241 AD. However, it became more mainstream following the 2016 Summer Olympics. You may remember seeing circular marks all over Michael Phelps’ back. This gave rise to…
Container Baby Syndrome & Tummy Time by Kids Place Pediatric Physical Therapists The first year of life is critical for your baby to acquire gross motor skills such as gaining head control, ability to roll, crawl, sit, stand, and walk in order to efficiently explore her environment. Primitive reflexes like asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR),…
Spring Break Activities That Challenge Your Children By Brittany Ricciardi PT, DPT, PCS Kids Place Central Clinic Manager and Pediatric Physical Therapist Spring break is just around the corner! Are you nervous? Many parents are often challenged with ideas and activities to keep their children busy. Here are a couple that are not only fun…
Breathe Better for Better Health By Jim Mulroy, PT, MPT AZOPT Glendale Physical Therapist The average person breathes 21,000 times a day, 12-20 times per minute, and ventilates 6-10 liters of air per minute. The primary breathing muscle in our body is the diaphragm. Good diaphragmatic breathing uses less secondary breathing muscles which lessen the…
Try Playing on a Vertical Surfaceby Melissa Engelhardt, SOTKids Place West Student Occupational Therapist Most writing, drawing, coloring, and playing occurs on a tabletop or floor, both horizontal surfaces. While these surfaces are convenient because toys stay in place, they also encourage poor posture. Playing on horizontal surfaces can lead to poor posture from slouching,…
Understanding Visual Processing Visual processing involves making sense of what you see. This is vital for school skills such as reading, writing and math. They also impact life skills like reading signs and maps, finding objects in a busy space, and taking part in hobbies and crafts. When visual processing has not developed properly, the…
Safely Lifting and Moving Loads Back injuries are very common. They can happen at any time or from the simplest of tasks. Here are a few tips to help decrease the risk of injuring your back from lifting or moving items: Assess the load before attempting to lift Is the load too heavy to be…
Watch for a description of the hamstring/hurdler stretch, a perfect static stretch for post-activity. Please comment below if you are interested in learning more about a specific topic.
Utilizing Yoga For Therapy has Multiple Benefitsby Sarah Koppenhoefer-Little, OTR/LKP West Pediatric Occupational Therapist For those of us who practice yoga regularly, we are aware of its many benefits. But did you know that it’s good for children, too? Utilizing yoga in therapy sessions, as well as the home, has many benefits for your children,…
Watch for a short dynamic stretch routine from AZOPT’s Ian Larson to perform prior to sport or activity. Please comment below if you are interested in learning more about a specific topic.
“How Do I Stretch?” by Daniel Cox, DPT AZOPT Glendale Doctor of Physical Therapy This is a question we often get from our patients, and the simple answer is: It depends on your goals. There can be a lot of uncertainty about the most effective way to do it, and why it’s even beneficial to…
Holiday Gift Guide by Kids Place Occupational Therapists Looking for that perfect holiday gift for your little one? Overwhelmed by all the options out there? Here are a few choices from our team of occupational therapists and how each will support development and growth. For under 2 years of age: Shape sorters and ring stackers…
Preventing Pain from Poor Office Posture Ever wonder why, after a long day of work, you return home with a sore neck or lower back pain. It could be poor office posture. Having the right set up at your work station can help prevent back, neck, and even shoulder problems. So what is the ideal…
Pediatric Orthotics – Why the Heel? by Kids Place Central Pediatric Physical Therapists As pediatric physical therapists, we often recommend a child be evaluated and fit for a pair of ankle-foot orthotics or AFOs. AFOs are plastic devices created by a certified orthoptist, custom made to control certain parts of an extremity, guide specific movements,…
Balance Games for the Home by Jeanette Mangano, PT, DPT, PCS Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Balance is an important aspect in our ability to navigate environments safely and effectively. Balance training is something that we need to practice throughout our lives. Here are some fun ways that your kids and you can practice…
Promoting Better Sleep Habits in Children by Kyla Johnson, M.S., OTR/L KP West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Sleep has such an important impact on your child’s mental and physical development. Poor or inadequate sleep can also affect a child’s behavioral responses. Sleep, or lack thereof, can affect your child’s ability to self-regulate and make it difficult…
Five Stretches You Should Perform Before Hiking By Tyler Guymon, DPT AZOPT Physical Therapist Originally posted Jan., 2013 Count me as one of those individuals who moved to Arizona for the weather! In fact, one of the main reasons I decided to relocate my family from the Northwest was the sheer amount of fun outdoor…
Costume Ideas for Kids with Sensory and Mobility Concerns By Sarah Koppenhoefer-Little, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Most children love Halloween! But for parents of children with special needs, Halloween can be stressful. Will my child tolerate a costume with their sensory concerns? How can I customize a costume for my wheelchair-bound child?…
Newborn Tummy Time As a new mother to a beautiful baby boy born January 9, 2018, I understand the difficulties parents have incorporating tummy time at the home. If you have not already heard by now, tummy time is very important for your child’s development, even a newborn. Here are some tips and tricks that…
Using Physical Therapy to Help Relieve Pain and Ailments Following a Pregnancy: How my Own Personal Experiences Guide my Perspective By Pamela G.Guevarra, PT, DPT AZOPT Physical Therapist My husband and I waited patiently for years to have a baby. When our doctor told us we were pregnant with twins, like most families of multiples,…
Why Should You Choose PT? Do you have nagging pain or lingering discomfort and not sure what to do or how to get better? Have you, or your loved one, began to decline in your functional ability? AZOPT is ready to help! More and more people #ChoosePT (physical therapy) first, and AZOPT is their top…
What’s That Sound? by Kacie Bartlett, CCC-SLP Kids Place Pediatric Speech Therapist In the world of speech, sounds made verbally are classified using a system called the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). This is a written alphabet that represents sounds using symbols (just like the A, B, C’S). For example, let’s look at the word “that.”…
AZOPT/Fury Family Health and Fitness Day By Teri Roberts, DPT, PCS Owner and Pediatric Physical Therapist To register for the 7th Annual Family Health and Fitness Day, click here! As a physical therapist, and more importantly, a mom, one of my highest priority items for my children and the children I treat is living a…
Tips and Tricks for Learning how to Ride a Bike By Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT and Megan Schwengler, Student Physical Therapist Teaching your child to ride a bike is very exciting but very challenging. Each child learns differently. Often we are asked, “When is a good time to start?” Or what is the best way…
Encouraging Early Developing Social Language Skills Kids Place Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist “Pragmatic language” refers to how we interact with others in a socially appropriate manner. It not only includes what we say but also nonverbal cues, such as the tone of voice we use, facial expressions and body language. Social language skills begin developing…
Pool Play for Active Movement By Bobbi Michels, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Active movement in water, also known as aquatic therapy, is used to reduce pain, improve joint range of motion, provide cardiovascular conditioning, improve strength, and assist balance skills. As an added benefit, water provides support for low impact exercises…
Why Does My Muscle Cramp? By Brooke Smith, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Everyone, at some point, has experienced a muscle cramp. Whether it’s at night, after a workout, or randomly throughout the day, a muscle cramp comes without warning. It can be located along the front or back of the thigh, hands, arms, calves, abdomen,…
My #SuccessStory by Layne S. Layne is an active, busy, and care-giving 62 year old woman who enjoys golf, photography, walking her dogs, and was just starting to learn Pickle ball. Her husband was a couple months removed from getting much of his life back after completing an intensive physical therapy program called Big and Loud,…
Tips for Successful Potty Training by Bailey Boss, Occupational Therapy Student Potty training is a major milestone for kids and parents alike. Just like other daily skills, children with and without disabilities need to practice to learn how to properly engage in toileting. Independence in toileting requires that the child be able to get on…
Stretching for the Active Adult Woman By Ryann Roberts, DPT and Brooke Smith, DPT AZOPT Physical Therapists It is hard enough to squeeze a daily exercise routine into your busy schedule. You may think adding extra time with a before or after workout stretch is something you should just fit in when time permits. The…
Ugh, It Is Too Hot Outside and My Children Are Going Stir Crazy By: Teri Roberts, DPT Kids Place Owner and Pediatric Physical Therapist An Arizona summer can pose a difficult challenge trying to keep children active, yet safe. Without a pool, I often find myself telling my two children it is too hot to…
What is Dry Needling and How Can it Help Me? By Tyler Guymon, DPT AZOPT Physical Therapist On October 22, 2013, the Arizona State Physical Therapy Board determined that Dry Needling is within the scope of physical therapy practice and can be implanted by licensed physical therapists throughout the state of Arizona. So what is…
The Long Term Dangers of W-sitting By Teri Roberts, DPT Kids Place Owner and Pediatric Physical Therapist One of the greatest milestones achieved during a baby’s first year of life is sitting. This is an enormous progression towards independence for the child and the parent. Sitting is typically learned around 5 months of age through…
What is Typical Leg Alignment in Early Childhood? Your child will go through many significant changes in the structure and alignment of their legs throughout their development. Alignment is an important contributing factor to your child standing and walking. Often, parents will ask me if their child’s legs are aligned properly. The following information is…
Summer Heat and Exercise Safety People from Phoenix are more than aware of how our summers are hot. With temperatures greater than 110 degrees, it’s no wonder we are known as “The Valley of the Sun.” Despite the hot temperatures, our Valley is full of opportunities to be active indoors and outdoors. All of us,…
The Important Role of Vision in Child Development By Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place Central Pediatric Occupational Therapist The ability to see, and see clearly is often an overlooked skill. When working with a child, it is best practice to never assume that he or she is able to see until they have been evaluated…
Taekwondo’s Positive Impact on Child Development by Jessica Raykovich, SPT Student Physical Therapist Taekwondo is a form of martial arts that has been around for hundreds of years. It stands for Tae=foot/leg, Kwon=fist/fight, and Do=way or discipline. It incorporates various forms of kicking, punching, and blocking all while teaching discipline and respect. So should it…
Should Physical Therapy Hurt? By Ryann Roberts, DPT , Cert DN AZOPT Owner and Physical Therapist Many people believe that physical therapy is painful. However, it should never be painful to the extent that you do not want to attend. Yes, there is pain involved in physical therapy. This is due in large part to…
Reading Books to Children with Language Delays By Pam Cooper, CCC-SLP Kids Place West Speech and Feeding Therapist A language delay is the slow or late acquisition of language abilities in comparison to their same-aged peers. Children with language delays often lack exposure to vocabulary and environments that allow for learning and understanding. Reading books…
Just for Kicks – Injury Prevention by Ian M. Larson, DPT, cert. DN, Credentialed CI AZOPT Buckeye Doctor of Physical Therapy Chief Instructor of Martial Arts Academy Of Tang Soo Do Arizona As a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Black belt instructor, my passion is to promote physical activity and fitness in the local community. …
AZOPT Kids Place pediatric occupational therapists, Jenn and Jessica, define relex skills and how pediatric occupational therapy intervenes to positively impact children with developmental delays. For more information, please visit: Reflexes Role in Child Development A Guide to Understanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy
AZOPT Kids Place pediatric occupational therapist, Amanda, define the skills necessary for strong handwriting and how pediatric occupational therapy intervenes to positively impact children with developmental delays. For more information, please visit: Correct Children’s Handwriting Grips Helpful Tips for Your Child’s Handwriting Your Child’s Progressions in Handwriting A Guide to Understanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Reflexes Role in Child Development By Jenn Gile, OTR/L; Jessica Tallent, OTR/L; Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapists A reflex is an automatic, instinctual movement pattern that occurs in response to a stimulus. There are several primitive reflexes that are present at birth or emerge shortly after birth and integrate within the first…
Self Care Skills and Child Development by Egle Majute, Student Occupational Therapist The role of an Occupational Therapist is to support children of any age in participation of their daily occupations. One of those occupations is self-care skills. Self-care skills are everyday tasks such as toileting, bathing, grooming, and dressing, commonly referred to as activities of…
AZOPT Kids Place pediatric occupational therapist, Sarah, and student, Egle define self care skills and how pediatric occupational therapy intervenes to positively impact children with developmental delays. For more information, please visit: A Guide to Understanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy Self Care Skills and Child Development
AZOPT Kids Place pediatric occupational therapist, Sarah, defines visual motor skills and how pediatric occupational therapy intervenes to positively impact children with developmental delays. For more information, please visit: A Guide to Understanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy Defining Visual Motor Skills and Visual Perceptual Skills Improving Your Child’s Visual Skills
AZOPT Kids Place pediatric occupational therapists, Kyla and Cindy, define fine motor skills and how pediatric occupational therapy intervenes to positively impact children with developmental delays. For more information, please visit: A Guide to Understanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy Summer Fun With Fine Motor Skills
Physical Therapy vs Opioids: When to Choose Physical Therapy for Pain Management According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sales of prescription opioids have quadrupled in the United States, even though “there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report.” In response to a growing opioid…
The Benefits of Cross Training by Brooke Smith, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Injuries happen in sports, but how can you help prevent them? Today, I am going to be discussing the benefits of cross training to help prevent overuse injuries that can occur if you play only one sport. Cross training is…
Orthotic Friendly Shoes By Brittany Ricciardi, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Finding fashionable shoes that fit over a Supra Malleolar Orthosis (SMO) and Ankle-Foot Orthosis (AFO) easily is a daunting task. When looking for shoes, it is recommended to find a wider shoe. But frequently, these shoes are bulky in order to accommodate…
Five Exercises to Avoid Injury and Improve your Golf Swing As the cold air breaks and returns to nicer golf weather, the courses will be filled with eager golfers looking to take advantage. But what can you do to avoid that dreaded injury that could sideline you during golf’s busiest and nicest season? Further, what…
Training Tips for Running Long Distance Races by Tyler Guymon PT, DPT Cert. DN AZOPT Buckeye Clinic Manager It’s the perfect time in Arizona to enjoy the outdoors! And if you are like me, you too are trying to be more active and healthy this year. One common outdoor activity here in the Valley of…
Sensory Boards and the Importance of Play by Sarah Koppenhoefer-Little, MS, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist One of the main jobs or “occupations” of a child is to play. As they play, they learn about their environment, gain essential skills, and have a fantastic time doing it. The poet Diane Ackerman once said, “Play…
Considering a Service Dog to Assist Children with Disabilities by Cindy Ewert, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist When you feel like you have exhausted every option, and are still looking for the one thing that could change your child’s life, a service dog therapy dog may be your answer! It is important to note…
Preparing For The CrossFit Open By Ryann Roberts, DPT, Cert DN Owner, AZOPT & Kids Place The CrossFit Open – a grueling, 5 week competition between you and the entire CrossFit community! Each week, you will complete a newly released WOD that is scored and logged so you will see your rank within your box,…
Mirror Neuron Therapy in the Pediatric Setting by Hailee Baryshnikov Student Physical Therapist Mirror neurons are a type of brain cell that respond equally when we perform an action and when we witness someone else perform the same action. They were first discovered in the early 1990s, when a team of Italian researchers found individual…
The Importance of Sleep Do you feel tired or fatigued throughout the day? Are you often irritable? Do you have trouble focusing? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you may not be getting enough sleep. In today’s fast paced society, often times we put getting the proper amount of sleep…
The Value of Vision by Toriann Maddux, OTS Midwestern University Occupational Therapy Student Did you know that vision accounts for as much as 80% of an individual’s learning process? If there’s a vision problem it will impede learning and development. Vision is not fully mature at birth but continues to develop through a learned process…
What is Direct Access to Physical Therapy? By Ryann Roberts, DPT, Owner Arizona Orthopedic Physical Therapy (AZOPT) It is beneficial for you to receive physical therapy first – before other types of interventions like surgeries or injections. Physical therapists not only reduce pain and improve function, but we provide long-term solutions at a significantly lower…
My #SuccessStory by Sergeant Rich As a 49 year old former college athlete who is very active at work and play, I have suffered my share of injuries. In September, I strained the LCL in my right knee while on-duty. My job requires a lot of knee movement and twisting motions. It hurt to walk,…
Idiopathic Toe Walking and Bracing by Andy Albrecht, DPT, PCS Kids Place Central Clinic Manager Idiopathic toe walking has long been a diagnosis pediatric physical therapists have difficulty treating. On the surface, it seems straight forward. A child has tight gastrocs (calves) and therefore walks on her tippy toes. By stretching out the calves, the…
Type 2 Diabetes, You Have Control As physical therapists, we treat patients for a variety of diagnoses, including Type 2 Diabetes. For the most part, everyone knows “diet and exercise” are important aspects to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, many do not understand how to actually and correctly go about it. Therefore, it is important…
Ask the Therapist: Shoes or No Shoes? by Brittany Ricciardi, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Is it better for my child to walk with shoes or barefoot? When should my child start wearing shoes? What shoes are best for my child to wear? These are all questions we often receive from new parents.…
Keep on Pedaling: How to Saddle Up and Reduce Back Pain By Matt Flanigan, PT, DPT, Cert. DN AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Cycling is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that is also great for developing quadriceps and calf muscles. However, cycling does not promote good posture. In fact, it promotes terrible posture. This poor posture leads…
My #SuccessStory AZOPT is dedicated to providing quality, personalized care by enthusiastic and passionate physical therapists. But don’t just take our word for it. Our patients tell their story best. Like Barbara, who for more than 20 years had unbearable back pain. Read more about her successful experience… My name is Barbara, and for more…
Are You a Fall Risk? Falls are a serious health concern in the United States that bear significant monetary and physical costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one third of adults, 65 and older, fall each year. Statistically, over 2.5 million fall injuries are treated every year in emergency…
Ask a PT: “What Sport Should my Child Play?” by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Often, as pediatric physical therapists, we are asked which sport we recommend. The answer is simply – ANY! Every sport has benefits, some different than others. Swimming is a low impact sport that improves strength,…
Play Ball – Using a Therapy Ball Therapeutically by Andy Albrecht, DPT, PCS Kids Place Central Clinic Manager Of the many pieces of equipment used on a daily basis as a pediatric physical therapist, one of my absolute favorites is the therapy ball. Not only is the ball fun and exciting for kiddos to use,…
Post-Partum Strengthening and Return to Exercise After nine months of carrying your baby to maturity, it is time to get into a healthy routine of physical activity and wellness. During pregnancy, your body produces increased levels of estrogen and relaxin hormones, resulting in loose ligaments throughout the body. Increased slack at a joint can result…
To register for Stop Back Pain NOW Workshop, please click here. Description of stretches: Trunk rotations Start by standing tall with your arms together and out in front of you Swing one of your arms like you are opening the page of a book, keeping the other pointed straight forward Go as far as you…
Backpack Back Pain: Protecting Your Child’s Back from Their Own Backpacks It is the time of year again when we trade our kid’s swimming suits and flip flops for uniforms and backpacks. The beginning of the school year brings with it an increase in back pain by school-aged children. Unfortunately, many of our children suffer…
Outpatient Occupational Therapy vs. School-Based Occupational Therapy By Jeanette Mangano, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist As children are preparing for the start of a new school year, parents often ask about the difference between school-based occupational therapy and Kids Place, an outpatient occupational therapy clinic. The answer can be somewhat confusing. The Role…
Chronic Low Back Pain By AZOPT Physical Therapists As we learned in the last blog, there are two types of low back pain (LBP) – acute and chronic. Acute back pain is sudden and can last from a few days to a few weeks. Chronic low back pain typically lasts longer than 3 months. For a review on…
Acute Back Pain By AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapists If you have ever experienced low back pain, then you know that it can be debilitating. According to Medlineplus.com, 8 out of 10 individuals experience back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, the second leading reason why Americans visit their health care provider is due…
Unusual Causes of Low Back Pain By Pamela Guevarra, PT, DPT AZOPT Physical Therapist There is no one, specific cause of low back pain. Several reasons, including a herniated disc pushing on a nerve, the normal aging process (osteoarthritis), and faulty posture, can contribute to pain in the low back. These are only a few…
Torticollis, literally translating to ‘wry neck,’ is a condition in which a child’s neck is typically flexed or bent in one direction and rotated in the other direction. This is due to a muscle in the neck, called the sternocleidomastoid, which has become shortened, strained, or weakened. This results in an abnormal posture of the…
Static Lower Body Stretches Description of stretches Half kneeling hip flexor stretch Begin by placing one knee on a soft surface or a pad with your opposite foot positioned forward on the floor Lunge your weight forward until a mild/moderate stretch is felt on the hip that is down on the mat Hold for 20…
Why Do Our Joints Pop, Click, Crack and Make Noise? By JD Fields, DPT, Cert DN AZOPT Glendale Clinic Manager and Physical Therapist Have you ever noticed your joint popping, clicking, cracking, or making some other type of noise? I commonly hear this symptom described in my physical therapy evaluations. Naturally, it is very concerning…
Sitting Ourselves to Death by Trent Brooke PT, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Throughout history, people found themselves standing, walking, and generally being on their feet more often than not. However, in 2017, sitting has become the position people find themselves in more often and for longer throughout the day. We sit when we drive,…
Oral Health Made Fun! By Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist Kids often have a hard time tolerating tasks that deal with their teeth. Brushing teeth, going to the dentist, and removing loose teeth are just some of the challenges parents face while children grow. Fortunately, there are fun, preparatory activities to help…
AZOPT’s Patient of the Month Mike had been training for months to prepare for a triathlon with his family. One day, after a vigorous ramp up to his training, he experienced significant pain in his right knee. Overuse injuries are common in athletes from the increased stress being placed on their body. Mike was in need…
Incorporating Proper Body Mechanics By Pamela Guevarra,PT, DPT AZOPT Physical Therapist Often times, patients will ask me if the combination of physical therapy and exercise will be enough to heal their neck or back problems. Don’t get me wrong, treatment by a physical therapist and a specialized home exercise program contribute heavily and play a…
Summer Activities for Children to Prevent Skills Lapse By Sarah Koppenhoefer-Little, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist With summer fast approaching, it is natural for parents to be concerned their child will lose hard-gained skills from the school year. To prevent this, here are fun, creative ideas to slow or stop the loss, but still not…
May is National Arthritis Awareness Month By Brooke Smith, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager and Physical Therapist Do you or someone you know have pain in their joints? You may have symptoms of arthritis. Today, nearly 50 million Americans suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is often misunderstood as minor aches and pain associated with getting old. …
Adaptive Sports for Children with Disabilities By Khristian Morrell, Student Physical Therapist Obesity across our nation has become an alarming health risk over the past generation. Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities are at a particularly higher risk for this, as they are less likely to participate in organized sports and activities. In addition to decreased participation,…
Activities to Assist Your Child with Buttoning by Sarah Koppenhoefer-Little, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist The ability to button and manipulate clothing fasteners is a significant self-care skill most parents want their child to learn. This is an important task children need to have independence with dressing. The typical child will learn to…
Understanding Speech Sound Disorders Kids Place West Speech Language Pathologists Speech sound disorders are what the pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist is most well-known for treating. There is the classic case of a child who says “wabbit” instead of rabbit,” or the child who lisps. But what exactly are speech sound disorders? Let’s talk about the basics…
Squatting Technique Is Everything by Brooke Smith, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager Have you ever wanted to increase strength and tone your gluts and legs? If so, squatting is one of the core exercises most fitness instructors will recommend. Not only does squatting increase muscle mass but resistance strength training will improve your body’s ability…
The Importance of Playground Play by Jeanette Mangano, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist The playground is an exciting place for most children that is crucial to the development of social, fine motor, and gross motor skills. In addition to promoting an active lifestyle, children will also learn and develop many skills needed to…
Case Study: Minimally Invasive Muscle Sparing Patient Specific Total Knee Replacement By Brooke Smith, PT, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Recently, I had the opportunity to observe a total knee replacement surgery performed by Dr. Brandon Gough, MD, of Hedley Orthopaedic Institute. Dr. Gough performs a newer procedure that is less invasive with a shorter…
Which Hand Will My Child Use? by Kids Place Occupational Therapists Are you a righty or a lefty? 9 out of 10 of you will be right handed while one of you is either left handed or ambidextrous. Your dominant hand is determined in utero, but it takes several years of motor learning and experience…
What is Frozen Shoulder? Like back pain, shoulder pain can be caused by many things — stress, exercise (or the lack thereof), working in the same position for a long period of time. But if you have chronic shoulder pain and stiffness, as well as limited movement in your shoulder joint, especially over a longer…
Parentese: What Is It and Why You Should Do It By Nicole Overy, MS, CFY-SLP Kids Place West Speech-Language Pathologist When you talk to a baby, you’ll likely use a high-pitched voice, draw out your vowels, and speak with a musical prosody. You’ll probably face the baby directly and use exaggerated facial expressions. This way…
Beginning and Following Through With Better Fitness By AZOPT Physical Therapists It’s no surprise the most popular New Year’s Resolution is to get in better shape. It’s also no surprise that this resolution ends in failure more times than success. But how can you succeed with this resolution? What are the keys to getting started,…
Vertigo (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) by Brooke Smith, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager and Physical Therapist Dizziness in the form of Vertigo comes in many different varieties. Commonly, patients who present with vertigo are experiencing what we define as BPPV. BPPV, or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, is caused by a disruption of crystals within the…
Hand Strength: 5 Fun Activities for Children by Emma Clark, Student OT Childhood is a critical time for the development of intrinsic hand muscles. Without the proper development of these muscles, children will have delayed fine motor skills or fatigue during fine motor activities. Building hand strength in children leads to the development of skills like…
Injury Prevention in Youth Athletics Youth sports are a great way to help keep kids active, learn the value of teamwork, and make new friends. It can be rewarding for both the athlete and family members. However, the increasingly competitive nature of sports these days has them starting at a younger age and training harder…
Keys to Being Active and Staying Active By Ryann Roberts, DPT Owner and Physical Therapist Ahh… retirement – the time to finally enjoy your hobbies! Golf, pickleball, tennis, arts & crafts – retirement has them all. Some are active, some not. Regardless, you need to stay active to continue enjoying your retirement. Activity and proper…
Is My Child Healthy? By Kelsie Noel, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist America has a growing problem of young children becoming overweight and obese. Recent statistics have placed Arizona as having the fourth highest obesity rate in the country. In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were diagnosed as overweight…
Using Manual Therapy and Exercise to Achieve Results By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist As physical therapists, we utilize an individualized mixture of manual therapy and exercise to treat and get you moving better. Throughout the day, I am often asked why I may perform a certain technique or why the patient has…
Feeding Foundations For Success Parents never intend for their children to eat only junk food and chicken nuggets. However, unfortunately there are many children currently who have an extremely limited food repertoire. Eating is a basic skill most people are not concerned with until they have a child who refuses to eat or only eats…
Physical Therapy Treatment of Headaches by JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Most of us have experienced a headache at some point in our lives. We also know a person who suffers from chronic headaches that affect many aspects of their day. This is a very common condition that can be present for numerous…
Save the Spiders Game by Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Want a fun, balance activity for the fall season? Create a spider web on the ground using tape and place plastic spiders around the edge of the web. Have your child pretend they are the parent spider and they must…
Could Your Child Have Tactile Defensiveness? By Jenn Gile, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Our sense of touch: Our sense of touch is registered through various receptors in our skin making up the tactile system. The tactile system provides us with information about touch sensations: pressure, vibration, movement, temperature and pain. Within this…
The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients By Brooke Smith, DPT AZOPT Physical Therapist Breast Cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer affecting women today. Approximately one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Research and treatments continue to make advancements, and today, there are many treatments available…
There are two main types of stretching: static and dynamic. Static stretching is the type of stretching most people are familiar with. It typically consists of getting into a position until you feel a stretch on a specific muscle or muscle group, then holding that position for a given period of time. Dynamic stretching involves…
Stretch of the Week: Plantar Fascia Stretch by Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Static How to Perform: Place one hand on the heel and the other at the great toe. Gently bend the ankle and at the same time you pull the great toe back. Hold for 60 seconds and…
Stretch of the Week: Rocking Ankle Mobilization by Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Place a small towel roll under the ball of the foot. Keep your heel on the ground, and rock your knee forward over the toes. Repeat 20-25 times. Why Perform This Stretch: This is dynamic…
Using the Hula Hoop for Indoor Activities By Teri Roberts, DPT, PCS AZOPT Kids Place Owner and Pediatric Physical Therapist As a pediatric physical therapist, I am always looking for inexpensive and fun, yet safe activities to perform indoors. One that I would like to share is playing with a basic hula-hoop. Of course, your 2-5…
Stretch of the Week: Posterior Shoulder Mobilization by Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Static How to Perform: Lie on your stomach propped up on your forearms. Be sure your elbows are slightly in front of your shoulders, and your forearms are parallel to one another. Thumbs should be placed up. Drop…
How Does the Vestibular System Affect My Child? By Brittany deRoche, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist The vestibular system is a small group of organs located in our inner ear which is responsible for helping our body figure out where it is in space. The vestibular system detects movement (linear and angular) of…
Physical Therapists Treat Balance Issues Did you know that seventy five percent of Americans older than 70 years are diagnosed as having “abnormal” balance? That is 3 out of every 4 people! Balance problems increase by almost thirty percent in people at least 80 years old.2 According to the Center of Disease of Control, more…
Stretch of the Week: Genie Stretch for Posterior Shoulder By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Static How to Perform: Bring your right arm up to 90 degrees with elbow bent. Lean your right shoulder into a corner to assist in stabilizing the shoulder blade. Bring the left arm over top…
Stretch of the Week: Thoracic Extension with Rotation By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Place a small towel roll or foam roller along the upper portion of your back. With your knees bent and hands behind your head, gently arch your upper back over the roller.…
Stretch of the Week: Side Lying Thoracic Rotation Stretch By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Lie on your side. Pull your knees towards your chest. Grab your knees with your bottom arm. Keep your top arm across your chest. Rotate your torso down towards the ground so…
Pregnancy and Back Pain: What You Can Do To Help By Tyler Guymon, DPT AZOPT Physical Therapist I am very blessed to be the father of four beautiful children. But, as most people know, I would not have accomplished this great achievement without my wonderful wife. Confidently I will say that while my wife would…
Stretch of the Week: Active Hamstring Stretch By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Lie on your back. Keep one leg straight on the floor or table. Hold the opposite leg behind your knee with both hands. Gently alternate straightening and bending your knee so you feel…
Stretch of the Week: Hands and Knees Posterior Hip Stretch By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: From your hands and knees with your core engaged, shift your buttocks back towards your heels about half way. There should be no pinching in the front of your hip. …
Say Goodbye to Positioning Devices By Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT & Bobbi Michels, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapists As a new parent, you will see many different positioning devices as you walk through the baby department of a store. Exersaucers, Jumperoos, Bumbo Chairs, and similar positioning devices are marketed as strengthening devices…
Stretch of the Week: Hip Flexor and Mobilization By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Static How to Perform: Secure a band inside a doorway or to a sturdy object. Place the band around the right leg, up toward the thigh. Then, kneel on right knee with your left foot in…
When a Home Exercise Program is Not Enough By Ryann Roberts, DPT AZOPT Owner and Physical Therapist Ever had an injury or nagging pain that just won’t go away? During the course of exercise, sports, and sometimes normal daily activities, these injuries occur frequently. Some people will turn to word of mouth, YouTube, or a…
Stretch of the Week: Side Lying Quadriceps Stretch By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS A ZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Static How to Perform: Start by lying on your left side. Pull your left (bottom leg) up towards your chest. Reach behind and grab your right (top) leg. Hold 30 seconds and repeat 3-4 times.…
Stretch of the Week: Sleeper Stretch By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Static How to Perform: Start by lying on your side on a firm surface. Reach your bottom arm out straight. Roll over on top of your shoulder and bend your elbow to 90 degrees. Using your other hand,…
Should I Teach My Child Sign Language? By Katy Gudim (Moakley), M.S, CCC-SLP Kids Place West Speech Language Pathologist If you have a child who is a late talker, late communicator or has a language delay, you may have heard of using sign language as an augmentative or alternative form of communication. Will my child…
Stretch of the Week: Super Lunge By Amanda Gallow, DPT, SCS AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Begin standing tall. Step forward with your right leg, landing on the ball of your foot in a lunge position. Be sure to keep your shoulders over your knee. Place your right hand on…
What is Torticollis? By Andy Albrecht, DPT Kids Place Central Clinic Manager and Pediatric Physical Therapist Torticollis is a term used to describe a tight neck muscle. Congenital Muscular Torticollis occurs when a neck muscle, often involved is the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), is tight or shortened. This presents with a position of one ear towards the…
Stretch of the Week: Hurdle Step Overs By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist How to Perform: Begin in a standing position. While walking forward, lift one leg straight up and swing your leg as if you had to bring it over a hurdle (rotating the leg out and around). Continue walking forward and…
Stretch of the Week: Bear Hug (with hold) By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist How to Perform: Begin with your arms straight out to your side at shoulder height. Then cross both arms across the opposite side of your body as if you were trying to give yourself a big hug. Try and…
Child Development of Self-Care Skills By Jessica Holyoke, OTR-L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist Activities of daily living (ADLs) are a necessary part of our day and include various tasks such as getting dressed, bathing, brushing our teeth or hair, and feeding ourselves. Most of us place very little thought or effort when carrying out…
Stretch of the Week: Inchworm Crawl By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist How to Perform: Stand up straight, with your legs together. Bend over until both hands are flat on the ground, trying to keep your heels on the floor. “Walk out” forward with your hands until your back is straight and parallel…
What is Kinesio Taping and Can it Help Me? The Kinesio Taping Method was developed 30 years ago by Dr. Kenzo Kase, and since has been studied more than 500 times in 25 countries showing positive clinical outcomes. Since its development, taping techniques have refined and the tape itself has improved. The Kinesio Taping Method…
Sensory or Behavioral? How Do I Know? By Emily Pierson, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Sensory processing refers to a person’s ability to take information from the environment using their seven senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, movement, and position) and interpret that information to make sense of the world. When any part…
Stretch of the Week: Carioca/ Grapevines By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist How to Perform: Start in an athletic position and begin by moving to your left. Drive your right leg up and across your body, crossing the leg in front of your left and planting it on the ground. Then bring your…
Stretch of the Week: Lateral Shuffle with Hip Stretch By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Dynamic How to Perform: Begin in an athletic stance with knees slightly bent and a wide base of support. Start shuffling, or stepping (depending on your pace), laterally in one direction. After two shuffles, stop…
Keeping Your Fluid Levels Up By Ryann Roberts, DPT AZOPT Owner & Physical Therapist, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer There’s nothing better than a cold glass of water after a workout, but don’t forget to fuel up on liquids before you hit the gym. Athletes can lose a significant amount of fluid during physical activity; the…
Stretch of the Week: Dynamic Lunges By JD Field, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Begin in a standing position. Take a large step forward (as far as you feel comfortable) and rock your weight forward on to the front leg. Now, start to lower down towards the floor in…
Ask The Therapists By Kelsie Noel, DPT & Brittany deRoche, PT, DPT Kids Place Pediatric Physical Therapists Q: My child is walking on her toe, should I receive therapy? The concern is not whether you child is toe walking, but whether your child toe walks more than 50% of the time. Toe walking is a…
Stretch of the Week: Arm Circles By JD Field, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Start by standing tall with your arms at your sides. Perform one arm at a time. Begin by making small circles with your arms and progressively get bigger with your circles until you are performing…
Couch Potato Children – Tips to Get Them to be Physically and Mentally Active By Bobbi Michels, DPT Kids Place West Physical Therapist It’s a Saturday morning, and already we can hear the kids: “Mom, it’s my turn to play on the computer!” “Can I watch T.V?” “No, I want to play an X-box game!”…
Stretch of the Week: Trunk Rotations By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Stretch Type: Dynamic How to Perform: Start by standing tall with your arms together and out in front of you. Swing one of your arms like you are opening the page of a book, keeping the other pointed straight forward. Go…
Stop Back Pain Now By Tyler Guymon, DPT, Cert DN AZOPT Buckeye Clinic Manager Back pain is a major problem for many people. It can come in different ways – as a small, nagging injury, or worse, a debilitating condition. Regardless of its severity, back pain is a nuisance that affects our lives and our…
Stretch of the Week: Small Skip Dynamic Warm Up by JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Stretch type: Dynamic This is going to be like a normal skip just quicker and shorter. To begin, start in a marching position and rise up on to your tip toes. Once in this position, continue to push off your…
Stretch of the Week: Dynamic Hip Adductor/Abductor by JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Stretch type: Dynamic To begin, stand tall and balanced using a nearby wall or something similar. Kick one leg to the side as far as you can and then bring that same leg as far as you can across your…
The Benefits of Co-Treating By Amanda Bruce, MS, OTR/L and Stacy Taylor, MS, CCC-SLP Kids Place Pediatric Therapists Many parents new to pediatric therapy are unfamiliar with the term “co-treat.” Short for co-treatment, this refers to two different therapy disciplines working with one child at the same time. For example, your child may receive treatment…
Stretch of the Week: Hamstring/Hip Flexor Stretch by JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Stretch type: Dynamic Please note: Many dynamic stretches require good balance and coordination to perform, such as this stretch. Utilize a wall or another object that allows you to stand tall and maintain balance. Begin by standing tall and close…
Stretch of the Week: Knee to Chest By JD Fields, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of Stretch: Dynamic Note: Many dynamic stretches require good balance and coordination to perform. First, begin to march in place or while walking forward. After a few warm up marches, you should be ready. Bring your right knee up…
Reading Strategies for Increased Speech and Language Skills Kids Place Pediatric Speech Therapists Reading. This word generally carries an automatic association with school and academic learning. However, many parents may not realize that in addition to academic growth, reading can also help develop a child’s speech and language skills. Here are some of the ways…
Week 11: The Calf Stretch (Gastroc) By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Standing Calf Stretch: Start by standing and leaning both hands against a wall or table. Put one foot back and the other forward. Bend the front knee and keep the back knee straight with your heel firmly…
Week 10: The Hip Flexor Stretch By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Supine Hip Flexor Stretch: Start by lying on a table or a bed. Let one leg hang off the side and slowly lower towards the ground until a mild/moderate stretch is felt in the front part of…
The Benefits of Crawling (Before Walking) By Nikki Robinett, PT, DPT and Amanda Bruce, OTR/L AZOPT Kids Place Central Therapists In the ever changing world of pediatrics, where new evidence and opinions are constantly telling us what our children should (or should not) be doing, parents can be understandably confused. One recent discussion revolves around…
Week 9: The Piriformis Stretch Type of stretch: Static The piriformis stretch is a simple yet powerful tool for reducing pain and improving mobility. Whether you’re dealing with tightness in your hips, lower back discomfort, or sciatic pain, incorporating this stretch into your routine can make a significant difference. At AzOPT, we often recommend the…
Are You A Sloucher? By Pamela Guevarra, PT, DPT AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist “Sit Tall!” “Straighten up!” “Stop slouching!” Do these sound familiar? Some of you may hear this frequently while working, playing video games and now, even texting. These constant reminders feel like nagging, and can be very irritating, BUT…. they are right! If…
Week 8: The Quad Stretch By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Standing Quad Stretch: Start by standing up straight. Bend one knee behind you and grasp your ankle/foot with the same side hand. Pull your foot/ankle towards your buttocks until a mild/moderate stretch is felt in the front of…
Animal Walking: Building Strength, Balance, and Coordination By Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Gross motor skills are an important aspect of child development. When participating in gross motor activities, children are able to release their energy in addition to building strength. A fun and easy way to incorporate gross motor…
Week 7: The Hamstring Stretch By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Seated Hamstrings Stretch Begin sitting towards the edge of a chair. With one leg bent, straighten the other leg with your toe pointed at the ceiling. Keep your back straight and lean forward at the hips until a…
Week 6: Child’s Pose/Prayer Stretch by Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Start in a kneeling position. Sit back onto your heels as much as you can with your knees apart. Reach forward and walk your hands out on the floor in front of you. You can also walk both…
Encouraging Effective Communication and Discouraging Negative Behavior By Katy Moakley, CFY-SLP Kids Place Pediatric Speech Therapist When children are learning how to communicate, they learn that their actions influence your actions (cause and effect). This is the basis of communication. In order to get what they want, children will use the simplest, most effective option.…
Week 5: Tricep Stretch by Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Start by sitting or standing with your back straight. Raise your right arm overhead and bend it so your right hand touches the middle part of your upper back. Grab your right elbow with your left hand and gently…
Choosing the Proper Running Shoe By Abby Burbach AZOPT Student Physical Therapist It’s the perfect time to dust off those shoes, and hit the pavement! But how can you be sure your sneaker is snug and not causing some unwanted aches and pains? Or worse, leading to training-halting injuries? Here are some tips to pick your…
Week 4: Stretching Shoulders/Deltoid by Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Start by standing tall with your back and neck straight. Bring your arm across your body by grabbing your elbow and pulling to the opposite side. Hold for 20-30 seconds when you feel a mild/moderate stretch in the shoulder.…
Week 3: Stretching the Wrists and Forearms By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static A. Wrist Extensor stretch: Extend your elbow in front of you with your palm facing the floor. Using your opposite hand, gently bend your wrist down until you feel a mild/moderate stretch in the forearm. Hold…
Springtime Gross Motor Activities for Children By Nikki Robinett, DPT Kids Place Pediatric Physical Therapist That perfect time of year for us Phoenicians is just about upon us. The daytime temperatures are perfect! Nighttime isn’t too cold. We can finally enjoy some fresh air without sitting in shade. Let’s use this time to encourage our…
Week 2: Chest Stretch (Doorway Stretch) By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Standing in a doorway, place your forearms along the frame with your hands facing up. Elbows should be at shoulder level with a 90 degree bend. Lunge one leg through the doorway and lean your weight forward until…
Week 1: Stretching the Upper Trapezius By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Place your left hand over the top of the right side of your head. Gently pull your head toward to the left shoulder. Keep your right arm placed comfortably behind your back. Hold this stretch for 20-30…
