Can Exercise Ward Off Cold and Flu Symptoms?
As cold and flu season approaches, so does the season of illness prevention. From getting flu shots to adding a little extra Vitamin C to our diets, prevention often becomes a focus for those concerned with getting sick, missing work and/or school, and optimizing the joy of their upcoming Holiday Seasons. It’s based on this […]
Study Shows Cardio Exercise Aids Stroke Survivors
Following a stroke, the rehabilitation process often focuses on improving the survivor’s ability to move and perform everyday tasks, with a lesser emphasis on general aerobic fitness. This is likely a mistake – at least when it comes to long-term endurance and quality of life. A recent study published in an August 2019 edition of the Journal of the American Heart Association shows […]
6 Physical Therapy Myths during National PT Month
October is National Physical Therapy month, a time when physical therapists like Dr. Marc Gregory Guillen of Chicago not only celebrate their profession, but also educate others about the role physical therapy plays in improving the health and vitality of their patients … and of health care in general. While a physical therapist’s roles are both broad and diverse, Dr. Guillen says several misconceptions […]
5 Exercises for Improving Balance & Preventing Falls
When we’re young, falls are treated as teaching opportunities. “Get back on your feet, brush yourself off and keep moving toward your goals,” we were told. But as we age, falls take on a much greater significance. When someone of advanced age falls, they tend to suffer greater distress to their health as well as their pocketbooks. In other words, a fall can greatly impact a senior’s ability to […]
Save the RICE for First-Aid, Not Healing & Recovery
For decades, the standard and recommended response to an injured muscle, tendon or ligament was to “apply RICE,” an acronym that stands for a protocol of rest, ice, compression and elevation. Yet these days, according to Chicago physical therapist Dr. Marc Gregory Guillen, the application of RICE as a treatment for these sports-type soft-tissue injuries isn’t 100 percent supported by […]
To Stretch or Not to Stretch? Tips for Optimizing Flexibility
Many have grown up with the understanding that, whenever you’re about to work out, compete or otherwise push your body, it’s important to stretch immediately before the activity in order to prevent injury and perform your best. Yet, despite these long-held beliefs – and perhaps surprisingly – there’s little evidence to support this theory. Today’s evidence suggests that there’s no connection between injury prevention and stretching – static, or reach-and-hold-type stretching – before a workout. Performance-wise, there’s also no […]
Concussion Symptoms can Improve with Managed Exercise, Physical Therapy
With high school sports starting up soon and NFL training camps in full swing, concussions are certain to ramp up within the mainstream consciousness. And, while talk will often point to conventional wisdom which states that “time and rest” are the best and only options for recovery from concussion, Chicago physical therapist Dr. Marc Gregory Guillen says that studies now […]
Parents: Be Aware of the Signs of Sports Injuries
As student-athletes train over the summer, preparing to head back to the practice fields later this season, injuries are going to happen. Despite concerted efforts to reduce and prevent sports injuries, it’s impossible to eliminate them from sports. So in order to ensure injuries are diagnosed and treated quickly, before they worsen, it’s paramount parents and […]
Chicago Wellness: How to Talk Positively with Your Kids about Exercise
All kids need exercise. Stacks of scientific research through the years support the myriad ways exercise helps young bodies and minds as they develop and grow. It’s important, then, for parents to encourage their children to be active and develop healthful habits as they grow and develop. During such conversations, however, Chicago physical therapist Dr. Marc Gregory Guillen says setting […]