BenchMark Physical Therapy

This Physical Therapy Month, our #upstreamfamily associates are offering their thanks to the physical therapists that have been a true inspiration to them personally and those who have gone above and beyond to support their patients, community, and clinics. Thank you, Sarah Christopher, DPT, for inspiring those around you! "Sarah Christopher is the new clinical director for this location. At first, I was afraid of how a new boss would be. Sarah is kind and concerned with not ...only her patients but her employees as well. Our patients enjoy working with her, and I feel they really look forward to conversing with her when they come in. She is good at remembering what her patients last spoke about and their concerns. I have had patients call me back after their appointment with her to tell Sarah, "thank you." She takes the initiative to market for our clinic and takes women's health courses to open up another branch of people we can help. She is awesome, and I want her to know that what she brings to our clinic does not go unseen, and we at New Vision want to thank her for all her hard work. Thank you, Sarah Christopher!!!" #Upstreamfamily #PTmonth #ThankATherapist

Physical therapy is a medical, hands-on approach to relieving pain and restoring function. So, what can you expect at a physical therapy visit? It's pretty simple. So simple, we've broken it down into four sections. #PTMonth #ChoosePT #UpstreamFamily

Help us prevent devastating, proposed Medicare cuts that reduce patient access to outpatient physical and occupational therapy! You can start by sending a letter to your lawmakers in Congress asking them to oppose Medicare cuts to specialty providers. To #FightTheCut, visit https://bit.ly/3iZie3S and select the option Contact Congress Today and Raise Your Voice Against Medicare Cuts.:

We love to hear our patients’ success stories. How has your life improved through your experience with us? Are you moving better and feeling better? Do you have a therapist you want to applaud? Share your experience with us, and we might include your story in one of our upcoming emails or social media posts. https://bit.ly/3uhLypR

Physical therapy wound care is for patients who have open wounds as a result of pressure, vascular insufficiency, trauma, surgery, or diabetes. One of our therapists, Emily Myers, DPT, answers the common questions regarding wound care and physical therapy. #PTMonth #ChoosePT #UpstreamFamily #AskATherapist

Ready to run? Not so fast! Many of us have heard about the value of warming up before an activity, but what does that actually mean? Here are our top 5 warm up tips: * Warm-ups should mimic the activity you plan to perform: a jog before interval running, for instance.... * A general rule is to warm up at least 10 minutes before any activity that you perceive as somewhat hard or a heart rate of 130 or more beats per minute. A less-rigorous activity does not severely stress the body and almost is a warm-up itself. * The warm-up should be completed close enough to the actual event such that you do not return to a resting heart rate, but with enough time elapsed to allow some relaxation of the muscles. * A good warm-up should include dynamic stretching or stretches that include movement as opposed to static holds after heart rate has increased. The idea is to simulate movements that you will be performing within the activity but in a slow, graded and progressive way. For example, walking lunges can increase stride length and elongate body tissue to prevent strain while performing the activity. * Consider performing the activity in partial-practice at full speed once some priming has been completed. So if you are planning to race for 20 minutes, it would be ideal to run a few times at your intended speed for about 20 seconds each to get your body ready to perform at your desired level. See more

American adults sleep an average of 6.8 hours per night, according to a 2013 Gallup poll. But are they getting a good night’s rest? Physical therapists often are asked what the best sleeping position is. This is a great question, as musculoskeletal conditions involving the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (low back); hips; shoulders; and knees can be exacerbated by abnormal stresses to the body while you’re snoozing. Sleeping positions often are habitual and ch...osen based on comfort. Although there are variations, these are the most common positions and how they can be modified to the benefit of your body. The answer? On your side! The best sleeping position is side-lying in order to maintain the natural curve of the spine and hips. A moderate-sized pillow under the base of the neck will support the head, and one between the knees will maintain proper hip position. A pillow or towel roll may be placed under the waist for additional comfort, and the knees may be slightly bent under for balance. If you have any questions, your physical therapist will be happy to assess your preferred position and suggest potential changes.

Elevate your PT Results with our new home exercise program kits. Our kits provide access to a wide range of premium home exercise products that can be use for stretching, rehabilitation, balance training, and more. Visit our online store for more information: https://bit.ly/3qo2JEe

Is Active Release Technique (ART) right for me? Physical therapists that are certified in ART use this hands-on technique to help break up and remodel scar tissue to improve range of motion and decrease pain. Benefits... Patients with a wide variety of symptoms related to chronic pain, muscle spasm or scar tissue buildup may benefit from ART. In addition, ART can be used to improve sports performance with tasks such as golf, running, and walking. Visit us online to learn if ART is right for you. https://bit.ly/3nEC1Fh *Services are not available at all locations. Call or click the location page near you for that center’s services.

Life, it turns out, literally is a balancing act. And the longer we live, the more challenged we are to stay on our feet. Consider that more than 30 percent of people aged 65 and older will fall this year. If you reach age 80, your odds of falling increase to better than 50 percent. You can make a difference by focusing on these fall prevention strategies: ... - TALK to your healthcare provider to help assess your risks for falls. - REVIEW your medications with your doctor and pharmacist. - ASK your doctor about a balance and exercise program - Keep your home SAFE. - Get your vision and hearing CHECKED annually. - Talk to your family members to get help in taking steps to make your home SAFER. Keep moving! Research shows that people who are less active are more likely to fall because they lack strength and balance. Therefore, a regular exercise program is highly recommended for fall prevention. *As with all exercise programs, make sure to consult with your physician before beginning the program.

While there is no strong evidence that it prevents people from getting COVID-19, exercise may help to limit the risk of fatal coronavirus complications. The ACSM has found that our bodies produce immune boosts by mobilizing millions of cells during whole-body cardio exercises. As blood circulates, it carries these boosts throughout our organs, where the immune cells look for foreign, potentially infection-carrying cells to fight. Read on to learn how many minutes of cardio per week the American College for Sports Medicine recommends: https://benchmark.urpt.com//exercise-may-protect-against-/

We are honored to be nominated for Best Physical Therapy Center with Best Self Atlanta Magazine! Cast your vote now through November 2nd!

The proposed 9% Medicare cut to physical, occupational and speech therapy will undermine patient access and lead to negative downstream consequences for seniors & healthcare delivery system costs. Ask your lawmakers to #fightthecut: https://www.APTQI.com/FightTheCut

We’re excited to announce the opening of our Sandy Springs, GA location! The new clinic is located at 5575 New Northside Drive, Suite 100. Clinic director, Jeff McIntyre, earned a doctor of physical therapy degree from Dusqusne University and is certified in dry needling and a certified functional evaluator, or CFE. Jeff’s clinical interests include orthopedic and neurological populations, sports medicine, injury prevention/wellness and injured workers. The clinic is open 9a...m to 7pm Monday and Wednesday; 7am to 4pm Tuesday and Thursday; 7am to 1pm Friday and can be reached at 770-726-7867. To learn more or to request an appointment visit our website: https://benchmark.urpt.com//sandy-springs-new-northside-d/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMPTNewNorthsideDr/

Hey all you cool cats and kittens!!! Benchmark Fort O is getting in the Halloween spirit!! Stop by and see us! #BenchmarkPT ... #Halloween See more

By focusing on being the best, we deliver an experience that exceeds our patients’ highest expectations. #PTMonth #TuesdayTestimonial

Outpatient therapy can play a vital role in helping the adult population continue to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. By providing services such as orthopedic rehabilitation, wellness programs, pre-habilitation, fall prevention, and pelvic health services, our trained clinicians can help improve independence, strength/conditioning, balance, and overall general well-being. Proposed Medicare cuts could limit your access to these very programs and services that keep you active and healthy. Help us #FightTheCut by visiting urpt.com/FightTheCut

People that have been affected directly by the coronavirus or who have limited physical activity due to self-isolation may have similar issues increased fatigue, weakness, difficulty breathing, decreased endurance, and reduced balance. The good news physical therapy can help! We take an individualized approach with each patient and perform a thorough evaluation that includes vital monitoring (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing function, etc.), balance testing, strength... and flexibility testing, and activity tolerance. These tests and measures establish a baseline of function. We then develop a plan to progress safely to the highest level of function. HOW WE DO THIS: Capacity Testing Musculoskeletal Evaluation Manual Therapy Corrective Exercise Balance and Gait Training Goal-Oriented Functional Activities Safe-Discharge Planning Evidence has shown that manual therapy, followed by corrective exercise, improves overall lung function. We teach strategies to minimize stress on the heart and lung systems and the rest of the body. Our ultimate goal is to return patients to their prior levels of function, improving their quality of life by getting them back to normal. #PTMonth

It's #PTMonth and we are proud to continue to spotlight our physical therapists. This #SaturdaySpotlight is on Cierra Thornton, PT, DPT. Cierra initially aspired to become a physician, but after personal interactions with physicians she knew she would desire more face-to-face time with her patients. After some more research, she discovered a list of careers that not only allowed, but encouraged extended face-to-face time with patients. Physical therapy was at the top of the l...ist based on her interest at the time and the diversity of the field. After shadowing a therapist in high school, her interest in physical therapy grew even more. Cierra says best part of her job are discharge days. "Discharge days allow both you and your patient to reflect and often rejoice in the progress they have made. Whether if be three weeks after initial evaluation or 16 weeks, the feeling is the same," she says. "Physical rehabilitation is a process that has many highs and lows and to know you have equipped a patient with the tools needed to heal or manage their condition is an amazing feeling."

For athletes facing injury, the ultimate goal of physical therapy is to get them back in the game as quickly and safely as possible. However, athletes who return to sport too early risk the chance of reinjury. We take a multi-disciplinary sports medicine approach to treatment with our athletes by including coaches, athletic trainers, and physicians in the process, carefully guiding the athlete’s rehabilitation to ensure a full and safe recovery. Physical Therapy Benefits for... Athletes Include: Functional baseline testing Decreased soft tissue inflammation Relief of spasms Improved tissue healing Increased balance and coordination Personalized exercise program to improve mobility Regaining lost strength Targeted sport-specific exercise to return to pre-injury function Preparation to avoid recurrent injuries See more

Core strength enhances both balance and stability which can help prevent falls and injuries as well as reduce pain. Physical therapists can show you which exercises are best to properly engage your core and achieve your goals. #PTMonth #PTHumor