Blog | totalphysicaltherapy

Feb 21, 2018
1 min

How is your #ValentoneChallenge going?

There has been a lot of talk around our office, from clients, and friends about our #ValentoneChallenge that is happening on our Instagram and Facebook channels. If you have a workout partner and are looking for some ideas for simultaneous exercises to challenge each other or grab some bragging rights then check out the #ValentoneChallenge that has been holding steady now for 3 weeks. Just now becoming aware of the challenge? That's perfectly fine. Just jump in and hit the fl

Total Physical Therapy

Oct 18, 2017
2 min

Fixing Your Fanny Pain

Piriformis plays a very important role for protecting the hip, sacroiliac joint, and the pelvic floor. The muscle is often seen as the "guilty party" when it comes to blaming that "pain in the rear." Sometimes this is reality and sometimes piriformis is falsely accused, but either way it is indeed a very active muscle in your toosh. Dysfunction of Piriformis Encourages Poor rotational stability of the hip joint Sacroiliac joint instability Pelvic floor instability (through co

Running on Fat - Using Fat Cells for Fuel - A Beginners Guide to the "Fat Army"

Total Physical Therapy

Jul 28, 2017
7 min

Running on Fat - Using Fat Cells for Fuel - A Beginners Guide to the "Fat Army"

At some point in time we've all pondered, how can I lose some weight? And if you drop that catch phrase of "weight loss" into a search bar you'll find 10,000+ options. This is not an article to confirm or refute any plan, rather it is a simple physiological understanding of how the body can and does use fat as a fuel source. In its most simple form of sugar, glucose is the body's go to fuel source. Glucose is the metabolic result of numerous metabolic processes in the human b

What's All This Salt About? Hyponatremia - The Endurance Athlete's Silent Killer

Total Physical Therapy

Jul 19, 2017
5 min

What's All This Salt About? Hyponatremia - The Endurance Athlete's Silent Killer

Endurance athletes can be sticklers when it comes to what they put down the hatch. They have to be picky because they are pushing their bodies well beyond simple physiology. At times however one can become so driven by goals and the athlete's "mental block" that a simple everyday compound can gradually run low. If this compound runs dangerously low an individual can have some very serious complications. In today's world SALT is considered bad and for good reason.....because i

Getting to the Core of Core Stabilization

Total Physical Therapy

Jul 13, 2017
2 min

Getting to the Core of Core Stabilization

If you have endured an episode of neck or back pain then you can relate to the pain that can make you feel hopeless. For most of us these symptoms come and go quickly and many times that pain is a normal response to activity. BUT.... if you have encountered recurring episodes of spinal pain then you should not avoid paying particular attention to putting in the work to avoid severe pain and permanent damage. There is an absolute certainty when it comes to lower back pain and

Summertime "Fanny" Drills for the Dedicated! 6 Exercises to "Light a Fire" Under

Total Physical Therapy

Jun 29, 2017
3 min

Summertime "Fanny" Drills for the Dedicated! 6 Exercises to "Light a Fire" Under

If you're in the business of walking around the pool this year with the perfect "rump" then read on. If you're in the business of making sure your hips are stable, read on. If you're in the business of taking stress off your knees, read on. Basically, if you want to have a healthy frame to walk on, read on. In this blog we are going to visit some research driven exercises to burn that hind end into shape. The gluteal muscles that make up the back of your hip are critical musc

It's a Balancing Act for Runners! - 3 Drills for Mastering Your Coordination

Total Physical Therapy

Jun 17, 2017
4 min

It's a Balancing Act for Runners! - 3 Drills for Mastering Your Coordination

Balance and Coordination? Is it necessary for me as a runner? Am I even lacking? To understand balance and coordination in the human body you have to break down 3 systems in the human body. The body utilizes three systems including the visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems. While we rely on the visual system predominantly, we must use a collaborative effort from all three systems to maximize our coordination. Without realizing how critical these systems are to our hu

3 Common Runner's Foot Problems and How to Improve Them Fast

Total Physical Therapy

Jun 2, 2017
4 min

3 Common Runner's Foot Problems and How to Improve Them Fast

Foot problems for runners are nearly inevitable. The problems hopefully will be minor with the early detection and corrective action. Three common foot afflictions for runner's feet are achilles tendinitis or bursitis, plantar fasciitis, and posterior tibialis tendinitis. These are far from the myriad of potential foot problems, but they are assuredly the most frequent we see in the clinic. Pay particular attention to the -itis ending of all these conditions. The suffix -itis

Total Physical Therapy

Jun 2, 2017
4 min

3 Common Runner's Foot Problems and How to Improve Them Fast

3 Hacks to Getting Over that Pulled Hamstring

Total Physical Therapy

May 28, 2017
3 min

3 Hacks to Getting Over that Pulled Hamstring

So you were enjoying a nice run, training for your next football or soccer match, cutting out of a pick and roll, or rounding hard around second trying to stretch a triple and you pulled up a little ginger. No matter the sport the incident of a pulled hamstring can be incredibly painful out of the gate and if not properly tended to can turn into a nagging issue. Chronic hamstring injuries create not only a physical barrier but a mental barrier as well. The best piece of advic

Nine Golf Tools to Advance Your Game - A Case for Getting off Your A**

Lee Hatfield

May 24, 2017
2 min

Nine Golf Tools to Advance Your Game - A Case for Getting off Your A**

Have back pain? There could be several reasons why, such as a herniated disk, degenerative disk disease, muscle strains and sprains, bone fractures, poor mechanics in your golf swing or some other poor repetitive movement. Another reason could be Lower Crossed Syndrome. This is a group of weak muscles combined with tight muscles of the hip and low back that can lead to significant muscle imbalances, which can cause injury. This problem is usually is associated with what we d

3 Reasons Most Golfers (Including You) Kill Their Game

Total Physical Therapy

May 23, 2017
2 min

3 Reasons Most Golfers (Including You) Kill Their Game

Golfers are participants for life. Well, for as long as their bodies cooperate. TPT recognizes that the love of golf runs deep for the Amarillo community. Everyone from our amateurs to our seasoned veterans contribute to such a golf friendly community. The sport of golf once took a back seat to the "big three" professional sports when it came to conditioning and sport science. Slowly, the fitness and scientific worlds meandered their presence into the beautiful sport and have

The 10 Minute Warm Up to Get Runner's Race Ready

Total Physical Therapy

May 13, 2017
2 min

The 10 Minute Warm Up to Get Runner's Race Ready

Many runners that we know or we have treated have a very familiar story. When we ask about the warm up for training and races, the story usually sounds similar to this... TPT, "tell me about your routine before you run." Runner, "well, I usually stretch a little, swing my legs a few times, jog slowly, then take off running." TPT, "ok, that's a start. Now tell me how long this warm up might last?" Runner, "oh, I don't know 3 or 4 minutes." TPT, "hmm, let's start by obliteratin

Total Physical Therapy

May 6, 2017
1 min

TPT Tuesday Trotters 5/9/17

Join us this Tuesday for our next session of running education followed by a short run. We will take on some roads through Olsen for a 2.5 mi run. This week we hope you find some insightful education on knee pain for runners. We appreciate everyone's dedication to attending every Tuesday as it has been a lot of fun for us at TPT. We love to educate on sports that we find enjoyable as well. Also a big thank you to those that have brought friends to join in on the fun as well.

Total Physical Therapy

Apr 29, 2017
1 min

TPT Tuesday Trotters 5/3/17

Total Physical Therapy

Apr 24, 2017
1 min

TPT Tuesday Trotters 4/25/17

Join us this Tuesday for our next session of running education followed by a short run. We will take on some new roads this week as we increase the run through Olsen for a 2.5 mi run. This week we hope you find some insightful education on hip kinesiotaping examples. We appreciate everyone's dedication to attending every Tuesday as it has been a lot of fun for us at TPT. We love to educate on sports that we find enjoyable as well. Also a big thank you to those that have broug

Total Physical Therapy

Apr 18, 2017
1 min

TPT Tuesday Trotters 4/18/17

Join us this Tuesday for our next session of running education followed by a short run. We will continue with the same route as last week which is a short 2.0 mi run. This week we hope you find some insightful education on hip exercises. #exercise #runners #running #amarillo #cadence #injury #overuse #fitness #injuryprevention #wellness #conditioning

Your Quick Screen Guide for Choosing New Running Shoes

Total Physical Therapy

Apr 18, 2017
1 min

Your Quick Screen Guide for Choosing New Running Shoes

Whether you are in search of a new running shoe or are unsure if your current shoes have reached their limit, you can perform this quick screen to make your determination. First you'll need a flat, hard surface to perform your screen. If you're shopping then just drop the shoes onto the floor or onto the shoebox to perform the following tests. A little knowledge of the anatomy of a tennis shoe will help your understanding. We recommend you perform the following tests on any t

Total Physical Therapy

Apr 10, 2017
1 min

TPT Tuesday Trotters 4/11/17

Join us this Tuesday for our next session of running education followed by a short run. We will continue with the same route as the prior two weeks which is a short 2.0 mi run. This week we hope you find some insightful education on running shoes. What's the difference in stability, neutral, minimalist...? What can I look for in a shoe that fits my running style and my needs? Is there is perfect shoe? What brands are best? So on and so on. Hopefully you leave Tuesday knowing

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How is your #ValentoneChallenge going?

Fixing Your Fanny Pain

Running on Fat - Using Fat Cells for Fuel - A Beginners Guide to the "Fat Army"

What's All This Salt About? Hyponatremia - The Endurance Athlete's Silent Killer

Getting to the Core of Core Stabilization

Summertime "Fanny" Drills for the Dedicated! 6 Exercises to "Light a Fire" Under

It's a Balancing Act for Runners! - 3 Drills for Mastering Your Coordination

3 Common Runner's Foot Problems and How to Improve Them Fast

3 Common Runner's Foot Problems and How to Improve Them Fast

3 Hacks to Getting Over that Pulled Hamstring

Nine Golf Tools to Advance Your Game - A Case for Getting off Your A**

3 Reasons Most Golfers (Including You) Kill Their Game

Essential Four Pack Runner's Exercises

The 10 Minute Warm Up to Get Runner's Race Ready

TPT Tuesday Trotters 5/9/17

TPT Tuesday Trotters 5/3/17

TPT Tuesday Trotters 4/25/17

TPT Tuesday Trotters 4/18/17

Your Quick Screen Guide for Choosing New Running Shoes

TPT Tuesday Trotters 4/11/17