BenchMark Physical Therapy

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

Because of your votes, BenchMark PT won the Best of 2021 in the Physical Therapy Center Category! We are grateful to our customers and community and appreciate Best Self Atlanta Magazine for this honor.

We are excited to announce the opening of our newest clinic in Cummings, GA. The clinic is located at 5310 Matt Highway Suite 105 and can be reached at 470-239-4255. Clinic director Katie Dwozan earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a doctor of physical therapy degree from the University of North Georgia. She is trained in pelvic health rehabilitation for women and is certified in trigger point dry needling. For more information and to request an appointment, v...isit: https://benchmark.urpt.com/locations/cumming-matt-hwy/ Be sure to like our clinic Facebook page for news and updates: https://www.facebook.com/bmptmatthwyga

"Sports have been part of my life since I was a young girl. I played baseball/softball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and even a year of flag football. When I reached high school, I knew I wanted to do something that involved sports for my career. Throughout my time in athletics, I experienced no serious injuries until my senior basketball season when I tore a ligament in my knee. When this happened, I thought I was going to miss out on my senior softball season, my favorit...e sport I played and one that I aspired playing at the collegiate level. Carley Casado was my Athletic Trainer at the time and was the main person that supported me throughout my recovery and helped me return to softball and have a record-breaking season, which led to me being able to play at Penn State Altoona. After going through this experience, it made me realize that I wanted to be on the other end of this situation. I wanted to be the one that would help athletes to recover from injuries and return to playing the sport they love. There are so many aspects I love about being an Athletic Trainer. However, my ultimate favorite part is the relationships that I develop with the athletes. I get to be one of their biggest cheerleaders and be with them through all the successes and failures. I am the first person they see when they get injured, and the last person they see before they return to the sport they love. This process allows me to create important relationships and help shape them into not only a better athlete, but hopefully a better person overall. I hope to always have a positive influence on all my athletes’ lives in whatever way I can, whether that’s being an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to be their biggest advocate. The best part about this is that they also have a big impact on me as well, both as a clinician and as a person. They help me to grow every day as well!" ~Ashley Struble, ATC Happy National Athletic Training Month! We are celebrating by taking a time out with some of our athletic trainers to find out what athletic training means to them. Our athletic trainers and clinical staff work closely together and are committed to providing superior sports medicine services. #NATM2021 #UpstreamFamily

Tomorrow is the first day of spring - are you ready for some spring cleaning? 30 minutes of housework is considered moderate exercise. Who knew that getting your home into shape could get you into better shape, too? Now that the winter hibernation is over and it’s time for our spring cleaning, let’s take a look at how your household chores can improve your fitness.... https://bit.ly/3bZaDiG

Our clinic in Lake Oconee - Greensboro GA will be opening soon! The clinic is located at 6183 Lake Oconee Parkway and can be reached at 762-445-1940. For more information and to request an appointment, visit: https://benchmark.urpt.com/locations/lake-oconee/

Our clinic in Berwick - Savannah GA will be opening soon! The clinic is located at 5710 Ogeechee Road Suite 440 and can be reached at 912-777-3378. For more information and to request an appointment, visit: https://benchmark.urpt.com/locations/berwick/

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.