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…
