AzOPT’s physical therapists are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who help our patients reduce pain, improve mobility and restore function. When health problems make it hard to move around and do everyday tasks, we help you move better and relieve pain. Our goal is to prevent expensive surgery and reduce the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects. We can also help improve or restore your physical function and your fitness level.
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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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