October is National Physical Therapy Month, and Kitsap County physical therapist Hayley Siegenthaler wants to remind community members about the important role improved and restored movement has on well-being. “Movement is central to a person’s quality of life, no matter the age or personal hurdles,” says Siegenthaler, doctor of physical therapy at Kitsap Physical Therapy and […]
fitness
Posted inAt Home
Exercise Essential for a Strong Mind
A relationship between the body and mind has long been theorized. As far back as the 1st century, Roman poet Juvenal suggested people should pray for “mens sana in corpore sano” (a sound mind in a sound body) above power and wealth. Today, of course, a physiological connection between physical exercise and improved memory isn’t […]
Posted inAt Home
Physical Therapy More Effective than Drugs for Chronic Pain
During a time when healthcare professionals and researchers continue to reevaluate the effectiveness and safety of prescription drug use for chronic pain, Kitsap County physical therapist Megan Morris emphasizes that physical therapy has long been considered a safer, cheaper and more effective treatment for such conditions. This remains especially notable as we approach Pain Awareness […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Skateboarding
Wheels screech up and down ramps, scraping against hard cement walls as wheel recreationalists attempt an “ole.” Checking every angle to see how the ramp could be used in a unique and creative way, skaters give each other advice as they practice and perfect their moves. It’s a typical scene at a skateboarding park — […]
Posted inAt Home
The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Arthritis Relief
Many individuals who have arthritis “treat” their pain by simply avoiding activity — usually because they think movement and exercise would be uncomfortable. But the opposite may be true. Movement and exercise may help relieve symptoms, according to physical therapist Jackie Gfeller with Kitsap Physical Therapy and Sports Clinics. “Movement is definitely medicine for those […]
Posted inAt Home
How Food Affects the Way We Feel
The pressure is on, deadlines are looming, and stress levels are nearly maxed out. Cue the pizza order, drive-through stop or late-night run for ice cream. We’ve likely all been there. Whether it’s work stress, school assignments or a meeting gone horribly wrong, we get stressed or frustrated and reach for high-calorie, unhealthy foods. But […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
How to Work Out in Cold Weather
As the weather gets colder outside, do you debate heading out for that run or recreation? Are cold-weather workouts good for your health or should you avoid them? Women’s Health magazine claims that exercising out in the cold has health benefits over warm-weather workouts. One argument is that cold weather makes you work harder, which […]
Posted inPeople & Places
From Backyard Game to International Sport
The fastest-growing sport in America was developed one rainy day on Bainbridge Island when some bored teens were sent outside to play on a badminton court with some paddles and a perforated ball. It was the genesis of pickleball. And since its simple birth as a backyard game, pickleball has evolved into an organized sport […]
Posted inAround West Sound
Tips for Staying Safe Around the Water
Summer means that more children spend time in and around water areas such as pools, lakes and oceans. Like many parents, you worry about your children’s safety around water, no matter how old they are. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of injury death among children aged 1-4, and the third leading […]