Latest news with #physicaltherapist
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Adults Need Tummy Time, Too — Here Are The Ailments It Can Actually Help Fix
If you're a parent, 'tummy time' is probably a familiar term, considered by many to be key to the physical development of babies. But now, tummy time is trending for adults, too. Getting out of your desk chair and spending some time on your stomach might seem awkward at first, but if you think about how long you sit in the same position much of the day — at the office, on the couch and in the car — it makes sense. Experts say it's offsetting the effects of tech neck and tight hips, too. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker spends 45% of the day sitting. In addition to sitting, they stare at electronics all day; 91% of Americans own a smartphone. Screen-based lives might be causing a variety of orthopedic problems. 'Lying on your stomach for 10 or more minutes a day while watching TV or reading can improve bad posture and relieve 'tech neck' — the strain in our necks and shoulders caused by looking down at phones and laptops for hours each day,' said Julie Landis, a physical therapist and ergonomist in Washington, D.C. Here's what to know as you consider getting out of your chair and down on your belly — a position that's no longer just for babies. What is tummy time? Tummy time is an activity in which new babies spend time while awake on their stomachs. There, they build multiple muscle groups and improve mobility as well as arm, trunk and neck strength. In a TikTok post from 2023 that has recently gained popularity again, physical therapist 'Sammy' on her profile 'unifiedptandyoga' focuses on how adult tummy time can help one age gracefully by achieving more mobility. She shows viewers a progression of lying on your stomach with multiple pillows under you, and then reducing the number, assuming pain goes away each time. She recently made a new video, noting her old one probably gained traction due to tech neck, a term used to describe the chronic shoulder or neck pain experienced from using technology. She showed some updated techniques in the video and stated that it's even hard for some patients in her clinic to get into that position on their stomachs — but it's important to be able to do. Tummy time can have an effect on tech neck. 'I've seen a noticeable increase in patients of all ages complaining about neck stiffness, tightness or pain, which can be linked to prolonged screen time,' said Dr. Ehsan Jazini, a spine surgeon at VSI in Reston, Virginia. 'The mechanics of looking down for long periods squishes our spinal discs, which I refer to as 'shock absorbers' of the spine,' Jazini said. 'Over time, this pressure placed on the discs can accelerate disc degeneration, pinch nerves, reduce mobility and trigger symptoms that radiate into the shoulders, arms and hands.' He said not addressing poor posture affects your spine's function in the long term. 'That strain can lead to chronic neck pain, stiffness, instability and pain throughout the rest of the body. If left uncorrected, poor posture can lead to wear and tear on the spine that's harder to reverse down the line.' Tummy time can impact hip and back pain. Adult tummy time also helps to open up the front of the hips and activate the core and back muscles, which are key players in everyday back pain. 'Many people spend far too much time sitting, whether at a desk, in a car, or on the couch. The human body was not designed for such inactivity,' said Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, a spinal and orthopedic surgeon at the Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care in New York and New Jersey. He fears if we don't change these habits we will soon see 'an increase in musculoskeletal issues across all age groups.' These include: Degenerative disc disease, where the discs between the vertebrae begin to wear down due to constant pressure and a lack of movement. 'This can lead to stiffness, pain, and even nerve compression.' Sciatica, occurring when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed, often by a herniated disc or tight muscles in the lower back. 'People may experience sharp pain that radiates down the leg, along with numbness or weakness.' Tight hip flexors, leading to pelvic misalignment and lower back pain. 'Over time, this can impact your gait and make everyday movements more difficult.' Flipping onto your stomach can counteract extended sitting just as it does for infants, he said. 'When you lie on your stomach, you naturally extend the spine, which helps reverse the flexed posture that sitting creates. This gentle spinal extension relieves pressure on the discs, especially in the lower back, and allows the back muscles to stretch and activate differently.' In addition, you are able to open the hip flexors, which are often tightened and shortened from sitting too much. 'By relaxing into a prone position, the hips and pelvis can realign more naturally, which supports better posture when you return to standing or sitting,' Okubadejo said. So, your tummy time actually makes you better at sitting too. Here's what tummy time looks like for adults. 'The adult tummy time position isn't natural for most of us, so I recommend starting slow, and breaking adult tummy time into increments,' Jazini said. 'Take three to five minutes at a time, a few times a day, lying on your stomach while propped on your elbows. You should feel a stretch in the front of the neck, as well as in your back and in your hips.' Katie Breaker, a sales director in Denver, said she'd tried various seat cushions and stretches without much improvement in back pain. Then, her physical therapist suggested tummy time — simply lying face down for 10 minutes per day. 'No devices or setup. Just a flat surface, arms by the side, and a quiet room. After about a week of doing this twice a day, I added a thin towel under my chest and held it for fifteen minutes,' she said. Two weeks later, she could feel her back decompressing and had less hip tension and more flexibility. 'I could walk longer during event setups without fatigue,' she said. So, she kept upping her time and now does two 20-minute sessions per day, especially during long workdays on a computer. Jazini recommended pairing this practice with a screen break, too. 'Take five minutes to do something away from your screen whether it's going for a short walk, stretching, or grabbing some water.' You can work up to hourly breaks of around five to 10 minutes, setting a reminder or timer to stay on schedule. Breaker said: 'I still sit most of the day, but I do not carry the same tightness I used to. It has been the simplest thing I have added, and it has worked better than anything else I tried.' Related... Should We All Be Squatting More? This Surprising Posture Has Serious Health Benefits As You Get Older If You Notice This Sensation When Walking, Your Shoes Are Probably The Wrong Size Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Adults Need Tummy Time, Too — Here Are The Ailments It Can Actually Help Fix
If you're a parent, 'tummy time' is probably a familiar term, considered by many to be key to the physical development of babies. But now, tummy time is trending for adults, too. Getting out of your desk chair and spending some time on your stomach might seem awkward at first, but if you think about how long you sit in the same position much of the day — at the office, on the couch and in the car — it makes sense. Experts say it's offsetting the effects of tech neck and tight hips, too. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker spends 45% of the day sitting. In addition to sitting, they stare at electronics all day; 91% of Americans own a smartphone. Screen-based lives might be causing a variety of orthopedic problems. 'Lying on your stomach for 10 or more minutes a day while watching TV or reading can improve bad posture and relieve 'tech neck' — the strain in our necks and shoulders caused by looking down at phones and laptops for hours each day,' said Julie Landis, a physical therapist and ergonomist in Washington, D.C. Here's what to know as you consider getting out of your chair and down on your belly — a position that's no longer just for babies. What is tummy time? Tummy time is an activity in which new babies spend time while awake on their stomachs. There, they build multiple muscle groups and improve mobility as well as arm, trunk and neck strength. In a TikTok post from 2023 that has recently gained popularity again, physical therapist 'Sammy' on her profile 'unifiedptandyoga' focuses on how adult tummy time can help one age gracefully by achieving more mobility. She shows viewers a progression of lying on your stomach with multiple pillows under you, and then reducing the number, assuming pain goes away each time. She recently made a new video, noting her old one probably gained traction due to tech neck, a term used to describe the chronic shoulder or neck pain experienced from using technology. She showed some updated techniques in the video and stated that it's even hard for some patients in her clinic to get into that position on their stomachs — but it's important to be able to do. Tummy time can have an effect on tech neck. 'I've seen a noticeable increase in patients of all ages complaining about neck stiffness, tightness or pain, which can be linked to prolonged screen time,' said Dr. Ehsan Jazini, a spine surgeon at VSI in Reston, Virginia. 'The mechanics of looking down for long periods squishes our spinal discs, which I refer to as 'shock absorbers' of the spine,' Jazini said. 'Over time, this pressure placed on the discs can accelerate disc degeneration, pinch nerves, reduce mobility and trigger symptoms that radiate into the shoulders, arms and hands.' He said not addressing poor posture affects your spine's function in the long term. 'That strain can lead to chronic neck pain, stiffness, instability and pain throughout the rest of the body. If left uncorrected, poor posture can lead to wear and tear on the spine that's harder to reverse down the line.' Tummy time can impact hip and back pain. Adult tummy time also helps to open up the front of the hips and activate the core and back muscles, which are key players in everyday back pain. 'Many people spend far too much time sitting, whether at a desk, in a car, or on the couch. The human body was not designed for such inactivity,' said Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, a spinal and orthopedic surgeon at the Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care in New York and New Jersey. He fears if we don't change these habits we will soon see 'an increase in musculoskeletal issues across all age groups.' These include: Degenerative disc disease, where the discs between the vertebrae begin to wear down due to constant pressure and a lack of movement. 'This can lead to stiffness, pain, and even nerve compression.' Sciatica, occurring when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed, often by a herniated disc or tight muscles in the lower back. 'People may experience sharp pain that radiates down the leg, along with numbness or weakness.' Tight hip flexors, leading to pelvic misalignment and lower back pain. 'Over time, this can impact your gait and make everyday movements more difficult.' Flipping onto your stomach can counteract extended sitting just as it does for infants, he said. 'When you lie on your stomach, you naturally extend the spine, which helps reverse the flexed posture that sitting creates. This gentle spinal extension relieves pressure on the discs, especially in the lower back, and allows the back muscles to stretch and activate differently.' In addition, you are able to open the hip flexors, which are often tightened and shortened from sitting too much. 'By relaxing into a prone position, the hips and pelvis can realign more naturally, which supports better posture when you return to standing or sitting,' Okubadejo said. So, your tummy time actually makes you better at sitting too. Here's what tummy time looks like for adults. 'The adult tummy time position isn't natural for most of us, so I recommend starting slow, and breaking adult tummy time into increments,' Jazini said. 'Take three to five minutes at a time, a few times a day, lying on your stomach while propped on your elbows. You should feel a stretch in the front of the neck, as well as in your back and in your hips.' Katie Breaker, a sales director in Denver, said she'd tried various seat cushions and stretches without much improvement in back pain. Then, her physical therapist suggested tummy time — simply lying face down for 10 minutes per day. 'No devices or setup. Just a flat surface, arms by the side, and a quiet room. After about a week of doing this twice a day, I added a thin towel under my chest and held it for fifteen minutes,' she said. Two weeks later, she could feel her back decompressing and had less hip tension and more flexibility. 'I could walk longer during event setups without fatigue,' she said. So, she kept upping her time and now does two 20-minute sessions per day, especially during long workdays on a computer. Jazini recommended pairing this practice with a screen break, too. 'Take five minutes to do something away from your screen whether it's going for a short walk, stretching, or grabbing some water.' You can work up to hourly breaks of around five to 10 minutes, setting a reminder or timer to stay on schedule. Breaker said: 'I still sit most of the day, but I do not carry the same tightness I used to. It has been the simplest thing I have added, and it has worked better than anything else I tried.' Related... Should We All Be Squatting More? This Surprising Posture Has Serious Health Benefits As You Get Older If You Notice This Sensation When Walking, Your Shoes Are Probably The Wrong Size
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nayeli Clemente, 24, Dies After Collapsing in 96-Degree Endurance Run
Nayeli Clemente, a 24-year-old athlete and physical therapist, died on May 2 after collapsing during a high-intensity endurance event in 96-degree heat in San Andrés Cholula, Mexico. The event, known as the 'Team Pyramid Run,' was part of the Cholula Games, a competitive fitness challenge pushing athletes to run increasingly longer distances. Organizers confirmed her passing in a statement to the Daily Mail on May 9. 'She was treated by the event's medical team and transported alive to a private hospital, where she sadly died the following day,' the Cholula Games said. Her brother later shared that Nayeli suffered a sudden stroke, E! News reported. Advertisement Clemente was more than just a competitor. She was a devoted physical therapist who loved nature and community. Her brother, Kevin Armando Hernández, described her as 'a strong woman, an athlete, and a nature lover,' passionate about helping others heal. Related: Congressman's Daughter 'Died Suddenly' at 23 After Feeling Nauseous Though the event wasn't sponsored by CrossFit, Clemente was a regular presence in that space and had spoken openly about the toll these extreme competitions can take. In a May 2024 Instagram post, she reflected on a prior endurance event, admitting she ignored warning signs from her body. 'There were physical and emotional signs I didn't want to see and pushed aside because I wanted to conquer the world in one day,' she wrote. 'I don't consider it the most responsible decision, but it showed me how brave, persevering, and strong I am.' CrossFit acknowledged her passing in a statement, saying, 'Our hearts go out to Nayeli's family and friends, and especially her CrossFit teammates and community.' Advertisement Clemente's death has sparked broader conversations around athlete safety, heat protocols, and the growing intensity of fitness competitions. Her legacy will be remembered not just for her physical strength, but for the courage she showed on and off the course.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arizona therapist dies after hyperbaric oxygen chamber catches fire
A physical therapist in Arizona died after receiving burns from a flash fire inside a hyperbaric chamber. Walter Foxcroft, 43, was found dead inside a hyperbaric chamber by first responders at his medical facility, Navasu Health and Hyperbarics, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, around 11 p.m. local time on July 9, officials said. The Lake Havasu City Fire Department said in a July 10 statement that it was dispatched along with the Lake Havasu City Police Department to respond to a report of a burn-related medical emergency. Foxcroft was pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said, after an apparent flash fire occurred in the chamber while the physical therapist was inside. Hyperbaric chambers are pressurized cylinders that administer high-pressure oxygen therapy. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the therapy treatment involves breathing 100% oxygen while inside the chamber, where increased air pressure helps the lungs collect more oxygen. More: What is a hyperbaric chamber? What to know about the therapy It has been used for decades to treat divers suffering from decompression sickness, known as the bends, and can be used to help treat several other conditions, such as tissue infections and poisoning, according to the Mayo Clinic. Officials confirmed that no one else was injured in the July 9 fire, and the incident is under investigation. The Arizona man's death is not the first hyperbaric chamber-related incident this year. In January, a 5-year-old boy died after the hyperbaric chamber he was in caught on fire at the Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan. Foxcroft co-founded Havasu Health and Hyperbarics in 2024, according to a press release announcing the new facility. He was a graduate of the University of Arizona, where he served as the university mascot, according to his brief biography on the facility's website, and earned a clinical doctorate in physical therapy at Touro University in Nevada. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona therapist Foxcroft dies after hyperbaric chamber burns
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 5 Hip Stretches I Swear by To Stay Pain-Free in My 60s
As you age, a sedentary lifestyle can cause a whole host of issues, one of the most prominent being the range of motion (ROM) in your hips. Without a generous ROM, you put yourself at risk of muscle fatigue, hamstring pain, lower back discomfort, impaired movement, and injury. Mobility training is key to keeping your hip flexor muscles—including the iliacus, psoas, pectineus, rectus femoris, and sartorius—in top shape, as they stabilize your lumbar spine and promote healthy daily movement. We spoke with Jerry McCollow, physical therapist at Foothills Physical Therapy at Confluent Health, to learn five hip openers he swears by that keep him pain-free in his 60s and active in triathlons. 'My 66-year-old hips have served me well, but I need to do regular maintenance on them,' McCollow, who's been a physical therapist for 40 years, explains. 'I have two dynamic stretches and three static stretches that are part of my daily routine. Fitness is better than brute strength. All of these exercises are easy and comfortable to do.' Now, let's dive into the hip openers that keep McCollow pain-free, mobile, and active in his 60s. You can easily weave them into your own fitness routine.'[This exercise] opens up the front of the trailing hip, as well as the chest and ribs,' McCollow explains. 'The abdominal muscles contract eccentrically to control lumbar extension and pelvic tilt, as they do in running.' Begin standing tall with your feet hip-distance apart, arms at your sides. Activate your core. Take a big step forward with your left foot. Lower into a lunge until your knees form 90-degree angles; your back knee should hover just above the ground. Reach both arms overhead. Press off your front heel to return to the start position. Complete 10 to 15 reps on each side. 'This exercise puts one hip into adduction (toward the midline) and one hip into abduction (away from midline). I love this because it works the gluteus medius muscle (hip abductor) eccentrically, like it works in walking or running,' McCollow tells us. Begin standing tall, feet hip-distance apart and arms at your sides. Engage your core and maintain a tall chest. Take a big step to the left. Bend your left knee, press your hips back, and lower into a side lunge. At the bottom, reach both arms overhead, keeping your spine elongated. Press through your left heel to return to the start position. Complete 10 to 15 reps on each side. '[This move is effective] because most of us spend so much time sitting, and then using our hip flexors on a bike ride to pull up the lagging pedal while the other leg pushes down the other pedal,' McCollow says. 'I also want to see my runners getting the trailing knee behind the hip in the late stance phase. This hip mobility unloads the low back and creates efficiency in the gait pattern.' Begin in a half-kneeling position on a mat—one knee on the floor and the other foot flat ahead of you. Shift your body weight forward, allowing the hip of your back leg to move forward. Keep a tall torso and engaged core. Hold the stretch on each side for 10-15 seconds, completing 5 reps.'This simple exercise [helps] me get my shoes and socks on during the transition from swimming to running. I'm also going into relaxation mode at this time,' McCollow explains. Lie flat on your back with bent knees and feet flat on the ground. Position your left ankle over your right knee to assume the 'figure 4' position. Gently apply some pressure on your thigh to increase the intensity of the stretch. Make sure your head and shoulders are relaxed. Hold the stretch on each side for 10 to 15 seconds, completing 5 reps. 'This is where I get deeper into relaxation breathing,' McCollow says. 'After about two to three reps, I can feel my small lumbar intrinsic muscles completely letting go.' Lie flat on your stomach with your legs extended behind you. Bring your elbows under your shoulders, keeping your forearms parallel and hands pressed into the ground. Slowly lift your chest off the floor, pressing into your forearms as you do so. Gaze forward. Hold the position for 30 seconds. Rest flat for 30 seconds. Repeat 5 times. The 5 Hip Stretches I Swear by To Stay Pain-Free in My 60s first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 4, 2025
