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…
