If you’ve ever had a family member experience a stroke, you understand how devastating it can be. It can instantly change a person’s life, affecting their mobility, strength, balance, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. While the road to recovery may feel overwhelming, physical therapy can help ease symptoms, rebuild independence, and improve quality of life. 

Understanding Stroke Recovery

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, either by a blockage (ischemic) or a rupture of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic), depriving brain tissue of oxygen. This can lead to temporary or permanent impairment in muscle control, speech, vision, or cognitive function. An ischemic stroke is the most common type; however, every stroke is different, and recovery depends on the location, severity, and timing of treatment. 

Physical therapy is often one of the first and most crucial steps in stroke rehabilitation. It focuses on restoring movement, improving physical function, and preventing future complications. 

Key Benefits of Physical Therapy in Stroke Recovery

Regaining Mobility and Strength 

Many stroke survivors experience muscle weakness or paralysis, often on one side of the body. A physical therapist can help patients relearn basic movements, such as standing, walking, or using stairs, rebuild muscle strength, and improve range of motion through targeted exercises and movement strategies. 

Improving Balance and Coordination

Strokes can impair balance and increase the risk of falls and injuries. Physical therapists can help patients regain their sense of awareness through balance training, posture correction, and coordination drills to help them move more confidently and safely.

Promoting Brain Plasticity

The brain has an incredible ability to reorganize itself and form new neural connections — a process called neuroplasticity. Repetitive, task-specific exercises guided by a physical therapist encourage the brain to rewire itself and restore function. 

Preventing Muscle Tightness and Joint Stiffness

Inactivity after a stroke can lead to complications like contractures (permanent muscle shortening) and joint stiffness, which limit movement and function. Physical therapists use stretching, range-of-motion exercises, and manual techniques to keep muscles and joints flexible. 

Restoring Independence in Daily Life

Beyond improving movement, physical therapy can help patients relearn essential tasks, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, or getting in and out of a car. Therapists often simulate real-life scenarios to rebuild confidence and independence. 

Improving Emotional and Psychological Well-Being

As a stroke survivor begins to recover physically, they may start to feel more confident, which can reduce anxiety or depression commonly experienced after a stroke. Physical therapists can also provide emotional support and needed motivation, helping patients stay positive through the many ups and downs of recovery. 

What to Expect in Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke rehabilitation typically begins in the hospital and continues at an inpatient rehab facility, outpatient clinic, or at home, depending on the severity of symptoms and the patient’s individual needs. A physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation and create a personalized treatment plan that evolves as recovery progresses. 

Treatment may include:

• Gait training to help relearn how to walk properly 
• Strength and endurance exercises to rebuild muscle, particularly in the affected limbs
• Balance and coordination work to improve overall movement control 
• Guidance on using assistive devices, such as braces, canes, or walkers
• Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), to help encourage the use of affected limbs
• Education for patients and caregivers on how to support the patient in their recovery journey 
• Goal setting to ensure therapy is aligned with the patient’s priorities and tracks progress

The Importance of Early and Ongoing Therapy

Research shows that starting physical therapy as soon as possible leads to better outcomes. However, recovery doesn’t stop after the initial stages — ongoing therapy can lead to continued improvement months or even years after stroke. 

Importance of a Multidisciplinary Team

While physical therapy plays an important role in recovery, rehabilitation often includes occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, neurologists, and psychologists. This team ensures that all aspects of a patient’s well-being are addressed. 

Physical Therapy Can Help Stroke Survivors Live a Better Life 

Stroke recovery can be a month- or years-long journey and requires time, patience, and good support. Physical therapy plays a crucial role in helping survivors regain movement, rebuild strength, and return to daily life with greater independence. With personalized care and consistent effort, many survivors can greatly improve and live a better quality of life. If you or a loved one is navigating stroke recovery, adding physical therapy to their care plan can make all the difference.

Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide and causes joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. While a cure hasn’t been found yet, physical therapy can play a vital role in managing symptoms, improving function, and enhancing your quality of life. 

Understanding Arthritis and Its Impact

Arthritis symptoms vary based on the person, but it almost always causes inflammation, swelling, and tenderness in the joints, and leads to pain, stiffness, and redness as well as limits range of motion. Your chances of developing arthritis depend on your weight, past injruies, age, and family history. Although, arthritis is more common in women than men.

Over time, arthritis can interfere with daily activities like walking, climbing stairs, or even gripping objects, impact emotional well-being, and even cause fatigue.  There are many types of arthritis, but the four most common ones are:

Osteoarthritis (OA) — Overuse or wear and tear overtime can cause the degeneration of cartilage in the joints. OA is usually found in the fingers, knees, and hips and causes joint pain, stiffness, and occasionally bony lumps around the joints. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) — This autoimmune disease causes the body’s immune system to attack the joints, causing inflammation and damage.  It oftens affects the hands, wrists, knees, and feet and causes pain, swelling, and fatigue. 

Psoriatic Arthritis — This type is associated with psoriasis, but it can occur in people without the skin condition. It usually affects the fingers, toes, and back and can cause joint pain, swelling, and skin changes, like scaly, red patches. 

Gout — This inflammatory condition is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints and blood. You can experience sudden severe joint pain, redness and swelling, and limited range of motion. Gout usually manifests in recurring attacks, often at night. 

Managing arthritis effectively often requires a multifaceted approach, and physical therapy is a key component.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Arthritis

Pain Management

A trained physical therapist can use a variety of techniques — such as manual therapy, ultrasound, or ice/heat application — to reduce inflammation, encourage blood flow, and prevent fluid accumulation in the affected joints, which can help reduce pain. 

Improved Joint Mobility and Flexibility

Arthritis can cause stiff joints and muscle atrophy, restricting joint flexibility and making movement difficult. Physical therapists guide patients through stretches and mobility exercises to maintain or increase range of motion.

Strengthening Muscles Around Joints

Stronger muscles support and protect joints. Targeted strengthening exercises help remove pressure from the affected joints and build muscle strength, reducing discomfort and the risk of further injury.

Better Balance and Coordination

Arthritis can affect proprioception (your body’s awareness of its position and movement), causing balance issues and increasing the risk of falls. Therapy programs often include exercises to improve body awareness and coordination.

Personalized Plans

Physical therapists assess each individual’s condition and tailor programs that fit their specific needs and limitations — making it safe and sustainable. They can also educate you on healthy lifestyle choices, exercises, and diet changes you can incorporate into your daily life to help support joint health and manage symptoms. 

Posture and Body Mechanics Training

Proper posture and movement techniques can reduce stress on joints. Physical therapists can address muscle imbalances and teach you proper body mechanics and how to perform daily activities with less strain.

They may also be able to help you learn how to properly use assistive devices, such as canes or walkers, if you need them to support your joints and muscles.

What to Expect in Physical Therapy

A typical physical therapy session for arthritis may include:

• Assessment of joint function and pain levels
• Guided exercises for strength, mobility, and balance
• Education on joint protection and activity modification
• Home exercise program to continue progress between sessions
• Tips on how to improve your diet 

Wasatach Peak, in particular, may offer aquatic therapy, which allows you to exercise without putting pressure on your joints, and occupational therapy to help you relearn the skills you need to go about your day-to-day life.

Long-Term Advantages

Engaging in regular physical therapy not only helps manage arthritis symptoms but can also delay the progression of joint damage, reduce dependence on medications, enhance independence in daily living, and provide long-term strategies for joint health. 

Physical Therapy Can Give You Your Life Back

Living with arthritis doesn’t have to mean living with constant pain or limitations. Physical therapy can safely, effectively, and proactively manage arthritis symptoms and improve overall function. If you’re dealing with joint stiffness and pain, consider speaking with your healthcare provider about adding physical therapy to your treatment plan.

Whether you work in an office or at home, you may find it challenging to maintain good posture. Or you might not even realize your office setup or how you sit has affected your body. But if you find yourself dealing with back pain, fatigue, and even long-term health issues, you may need to make a few mindful adjustments. Here are some simple, effective tips to help improve your posture throughout the workday.

1. Set Up an Ergonomic Workspace

Your environment plays a huge role in how you sit and move throughout the day. Start with:

Monitor Height — Set your monitor straight in front of you, behind your keyboard, about an arm’s length away from your face. It should be between 20 and 40 inches away from you and sit at or slightly below eye level. 

If you use a laptop, you may need to invest in an external keyboard and mouse, along with a laptop stand, to keep yourself from feeling uncomfortable or cramped. 

Chair Position — Your chair should support your spine and allow your feet to rest flat on the floor. If you have adjusted your seat, but still can’t rest your feet on the ground, you could use a footrest to keep your thighs parallel to the floor. If your chair has armrests, position them so that when you rest your arms, your elbows sit close to your body and your shoulders stay relaxed.

Keyboard and Mouse — Your wrists and forearms should be in line, and your shoulders relaxed when you use your keyboard and mouse. While you type, keep your wrists straight and  your upper arms close to your body. Consider using a keyboard tray if your desk is too high for good ergonomics. 

Documents and Other Items — Along with your keyboard and mouse, make sure documents and other items are within arm’s reach, so you aren’t bending down or over and straining your back.

2. Sit With Purpose

Instead of slouching or leaning forward, sit up straight with your back against the chair and your shoulders relaxed. Resting your back against the chair gives you additional support. Avoid crossing your legs, as this causes poor circulation and puts pressure on your hips and spine, shifting them out of alignment. 

3. Move Every 30 Minutes

You aren’t meant to stay stagnant all day. Remember to stand up and stretch your neck, shoulders, back, and legs. Take a quick walk around your room or office and roll your shoulders to release any tension. 

You can also use the 20-8-2 rule — every 30 minutes, sit for 20 minutes, stand for 8, and move around for 2.

4. Engage Your Core 

Your core muscles help support your spine. While sitting, lightly engage your abs — think of gently pulling your belly button toward your spine. This subtle movement will help you maintain an upright posture without stiffness.

5. Use Support Tools If Needed

If your chair lacks support, try using a lumbar roll or cushion to support your lower back. In addition, consider using blue-light blocking glasses if you find yourself leaning toward your screen to reduce eye strain. You could also get a sanding desk or a sit-stand converter, so you can switch between sitting and standing.

6. Be Mindful of Your Tech Habits

Tech neck, the hunching of your neck and back from looking at devices, affects many people, especially those with office jobs. Whether checking your phone or typing away, don’t crane your neck forward, and remember to hold your phone up instead of looking down. 

7. Practice Regular Stretching and Strengthening

Outside of work hours, consider performing exercises that promote good posture, doing chest-opening stretches to counteract hunching, adding strength training for your back and core, and doing yoga or pilates for flexibility and strength.  

Track How You Feel 

In order to have the best workplace set up, monitor your symptoms, such as stiffness or aching in your shoulders, back, and neck. As you note these different issues, you can find patterns in your workday routine that could be contributing to your pain. You may notice you feel more discomfort during certain days or certain times of the day. As you learn more, you’ll be able to adjust your posture to benefit your health. 

Improved Work Posture Means Improved Health

Having good posture at work doesn’t just mean sitting correctly — it includes creating a workspace and daily habits that support your health and comfort.  With a little awareness and some easy adjustments, you’ll feel more energized, have less back pain, and reduce the risk of strain or injury.