Haymarket Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Blog

Putting on the Stripes to Ease Pain

On April 25, 2012 / Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, Triathlon / Leave a comment

The Wall Street Journal Online did a great piece on Kinesiology Tape which included a video of Haymarket Physical Therapy & Chiropractic’s Dr. Holly Moriarty, DC applying Kinesiology Tape to a runner. We treat many patients in our practice who have benefited from use of the tape. Kinesiology Tape is designed to help take pressure off overused muscles, reduce swelling and alleviate pain from injuries. Have you ever used Kinesiology tape? What’s been your experience? You can read the complete Wall Street Journal Online article here: Putting on the Stripes to Ease Pain

HPTC Sports Psychology Clinic at The Running Store – April 10th

On April 4, 2012 / Sports Medicine / Leave a comment

Don’t Miss an in-store Sports Psychology clinic with Dr. Peter De Michele, Haymarket Physical Therapy & Chiropractic’s Sports Psychologist, on Tuesday, April 10th at The Running Store in Gainesville. The one-hour presentation will discuss the way people handle information about discomfort in different situations, including “tuning-in” vs. “tuning-out” important signals. The presentation will cover how the mind and body “converse” quite clearly with each other, followed by a general discussion about performance expectations and the research linking expectations with actual performance. You’ll also learn how physical and psychological interventions can affect mood and performance. Space is limited. RSVP to Mary Davison (mary.davison@therunningstoreteam.com) at The Running Store to attend. Peter De Michele has a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology (B.A.,

Find the Missing Pot O’ Gold and You Could Be $77 Richer!

On March 2, 2012 / Promotions / Leave a comment

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, our HPTC Leprechaun has hidden a pot of gold within the pages of our newly launched HPTC Health & Fitness Blog. If you find it, you could win $77! Here’s how to play: Check our HPTC Health & Fitness Blog’s recent posts to find the missing pot o’ gold. Once you find it, go to our HPTC Facebook Page and tell us the name of the article in which you found the pot o’ gold. If your answer is correct, your name will be entered into a drawing to win $77!* Why $77, you ask? Well, according to our leprechaun, the 77th day marks what is simply the finest day in all

Are You Sabotaging Your Workout?

On February 22, 2012 / Sports Medicine, Strength and Conditioning, Triathlon / Leave a comment

Q: Would you go to the gym and train one muscle over and over again every day? A: NOOOOOO!!!! Q: Would you repeatedly do only bench presses every day? A: NOOOOOO!!! So why do runners only run? This is mind-boggling to those in the rehabilitation industry. We meet patients every day with injuries directly related to overtraining a specific area. When you do any activity, you use certain groups of muscles to perform the motion. Now think of running as doing the same activity 100-1,000 times per day, and now complicate that by doing it each day of the week. Can you imagine how fast your biceps would break if you went to the gym and did 2,000 bicep

What a Bummer!!

On February 11, 2012 / Chiropractic Care, Sports Medicine, Strength and Conditioning / 1 Comment

Now that you are working on losing some weight, it’s important to keep motivated. Getting injured can really get in the way of developing a solid workout routine. Many people allow an injury to interrupt their exercise routine for long enough to prevent them from reaching their goals. When setting your goals and making your exercise plan, be sure to incorporate time for preventing road blocks. There are many things you can do to prevent road blocks from getting in your way. Your risk of injury is best predicted in two ways: First, do you have a previous injury. Tissues in your body that have been injured before are much more likely to break down a second time. If you have

Build a Fat Burning Engine

On January 31, 2012 / Diet and Nutrition, Strength and Conditioning / Leave a comment

Let’s talk about how to lose weight. There are many diets and trends out there that claim to help you lose weight fast. Your goal should not be to lose weight fast as the body responds to this by reacting in the opposite manner. If your body identifies too fast of a drop in weight it will react by forcing calories into fat stores as a survival mechanism. You need to plan on dropping weight slowly over time. The rate suggested is about 1/2 kilogram per week or 1.1 pounds per week. Calories are the next big issue. Do you go “no calories” or do you limit your calories. Just like everything in life, the keyword is moderation. Calories are needed for

Losing Weight After the Holidays

On January 2, 2012 / Diet and Nutrition, Strength and Conditioning / Leave a comment

Around this time of year we all start thinking of weight loss (me included!). Some people want to know what is the fastest way to loose pounds. Some people want to know what is the best exercise to shed pounds. What is the best way to go about approaching this topic? First, let’s get a baseline, figure out your current body type and set some goals. Begin by calculating an ideal weight and BMI: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/idealw.htm I say pick a number somewhere in that range and set your goal. Tune in to the next blog to discuss what to do next.

What is Core Training

On November 20, 2011 / Sports Medicine, Strength and Conditioning / Comments Off

The basic premise of core training is that the muscles of the body that lie deep within the torso (the core muscles) serve as the foundation for all movement. These muscles in the torso stabilize the spine and provide a solid foundation for movement. When these muscles contract, the spine, pelvis and shoulders are stabilized to create a solid base of support. This allows us to make powerful movements with our extremities. In addition to providing strength, training the core muscles can also correct postural imbalances that lead to many types of injuries. Core strengthening programs focus on using many muscles in a coordinated movement, instead of isolating a specific joint. Stability exercises are designed to work the

What are the Benefits of Massage Therapy?

On November 20, 2011 / Massage Therapy / Comments Off

Therapeutic massage can improve circulation, loosen contracted muscles and stimulate weak muscles. It is also useful in reducing stress, improving flexibility, and helping to prevent and relieve pain from injuries and muscle spasms. Massage therapy also fosters a peace of mind and a feeling of well-being, promotes mental alertness, and can improve the ability to monitor stress.

What is an Adjustment and What Does it Do?

On November 20, 2011 / Chiropractic Care / Comments Off

One aspect of chiropractic care is to identify joint restrictions, correct them and restore the body to its maximum performance. A chiropractic adjustment is moving a joint with a low-force and precise direction to restore the joints proper movement. Adjustments add motion to the spinal and extremity joints which help the bones gradually return to a more normal position. Adjustments release tension from the surrounding spinal nerves and spinal cord which results in improved nerve function and health. Adjustments also allow the surrounding muscles to relax and decreases the pressure put on the body by these muscles. Spinal adjustments restore the normal, healthy motion and position that each spinal segment requires. There are numerous techniques and types of