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…
