Week 11: The Calf Stretch (Gastroc) By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Standing Calf Stretch: Start by standing and leaning both hands against a wall or table. Put one foot back and the other forward. Bend the front knee and keep the back knee straight with your heel firmly…
Week 10: The Hip Flexor Stretch By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Supine Hip Flexor Stretch: Start by lying on a table or a bed. Let one leg hang off the side and slowly lower towards the ground until a mild/moderate stretch is felt in the front part of…
The Benefits of Crawling (Before Walking) By Nikki Robinett, PT, DPT and Amanda Bruce, OTR/L AZOPT Kids Place Central Therapists In the ever changing world of pediatrics, where new evidence and opinions are constantly telling us what our children should (or should not) be doing, parents can be understandably confused. One recent discussion revolves around…
Week 9: The Piriformis Stretch Type of stretch: Static The piriformis stretch is a simple yet powerful tool for reducing pain and improving mobility. Whether you’re dealing with tightness in your hips, lower back discomfort, or sciatic pain, incorporating this stretch into your routine can make a significant difference. At AzOPT, we often recommend the…
Are You A Sloucher? By Pamela Guevarra, PT, DPT AZOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist “Sit Tall!” “Straighten up!” “Stop slouching!” Do these sound familiar? Some of you may hear this frequently while working, playing video games and now, even texting. These constant reminders feel like nagging, and can be very irritating, BUT…. they are right! If…
Week 8: The Quad Stretch By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Standing Quad Stretch: Start by standing up straight. Bend one knee behind you and grasp your ankle/foot with the same side hand. Pull your foot/ankle towards your buttocks until a mild/moderate stretch is felt in the front of…
Animal Walking: Building Strength, Balance, and Coordination By Nicole Campbell, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Gross motor skills are an important aspect of child development. When participating in gross motor activities, children are able to release their energy in addition to building strength. A fun and easy way to incorporate gross motor…
Week 7: The Hamstring Stretch By Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Seated Hamstrings Stretch Begin sitting towards the edge of a chair. With one leg bent, straighten the other leg with your toe pointed at the ceiling. Keep your back straight and lean forward at the hips until a…
Week 6: Child’s Pose/Prayer Stretch by Trent Brooke, DPT AZOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Type of stretch: Static Start in a kneeling position. Sit back onto your heels as much as you can with your knees apart. Reach forward and walk your hands out on the floor in front of you. You can also walk both…
Encouraging Effective Communication and Discouraging Negative Behavior By Katy Moakley, CFY-SLP Kids Place Pediatric Speech Therapist When children are learning how to communicate, they learn that their actions influence your actions (cause and effect). This is the basis of communication. In order to get what they want, children will use the simplest, most effective option.…
