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…
