Author: Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida

How Physical Therapy Contributes to a Healthy Heart

 February is not just about heart-shaped candy boxes, but since President Lyndon B. Johnson
proclaimed it in 1963 , it has been celebrated as American Heart Month , one of the most broadly
celebrated Health Awareness months on record. The goal of American Heart Month is to
eradicate heart disease (the Number 1 killer of Americans!) and stroke by reinforcing the need
for research and raising awareness of how to decrease the likelihood of developing
cardiovascular problems.

 According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , about 1,441,000 people in our own
state of Florida have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. This is the most common
form of heart disease, but the most current research shows that the majority of cases would
have been entirely preventable through healthy lifestyle choices.
Physicians agree that some of the most basic steps will readily contribute to a healthier heart
and an all-around healthier life.

● Eat Clean: A heart-healthy diet includes choosing fruits and vegetables while limiting
saturated and trans-fats and added sugar. Avoid processed foods and limit alcohol.
● Sleep more: Arranging your schedule to accommodate more sleep will allow your body
more time to self-repair and recover from daily life stress.
● Quit Smoking: Quitting smoking can only help your all-around well-being. Studies have
shown a 50 percent or greater decrease in the risk of recurrent heart attack and
cardiovascular death after ending the habit.
● Continue Learning: Take advantage of your local resources offered year-round. Our
very own Manatee Memorial Hospital offers a monthly Healthy Hearts Support Group to
help keep you on track toward your Heart health goals.
● Exercise: Any exercise at all is a step in the right direction! 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a
week is a great and practical stage to reach. Moving around more and rebuilding your
strength and endurance will benefit your heart, muscles, and joints dramatically. Studies
have shown mitigated risk through walking, swimming, weightlifting… So it really doesn’t
matter what you do, but get moving!

 Of course, at Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida, we realize that it is sometimes easier said
than done. And that is exactly where physical therapy can come into play! Maybe you’ve
suffered an injury or arthritis and can’t move like you used to. Or maybe your range of motion is
limited from allowing yourself to be sedentary. No matter what your situation, our team is here to
help.

 Safe, pain-decreasing exercise is our physical therapists ’ specialty . They’re ready to teach you
how to move again without pain. They will determine exactly which exercises and how much is
appropriate for you. This is not like getting a personal trainer at the gym! These are highly
trained, professionally certified practitioners utilizing science-based, hands-on physical therapy
designed specifically for YOU. Our physical therapy doctors will teach you techniques that can
restore your strength, endurance, balance, and pain-free mobility.

 Another important factor for a healthy heart is avoiding stress and hypertension. Pain caused
by injuries and diseases only increases the amount of chronic stress your heart and body is
subjected to. Decreasing pain and enabling the normal function of your body in everyday tasks
minimizes this chronic stress and creates a healthy physical environment for your heart and
whole life.

 Bradenton’s own Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida are qualified, experienced, and eager to
assist you in finding an overall healthy lifestyle right for you. Get more information or schedule
an appointment by calling us at (941) 264-1414.

From our Bradenton rehabilitation experts at Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida: Thanks for making 2019 a great year as we “Helped You Move Without Pain”

On behalf of the entire staff at Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida in Bradenton, FL, we’d like to wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season.  We hope it’s a safe and pleasant time of year for you, filled with lots of laughs and love as you celebrate with those closest to you.

2019 was a great year for Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida, and we have you, the patients in our community, to thank for all that we accomplished.

At Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida, we’re always striving to expand our knowledge, fine-tune our techniques and improve our services to better serve our patients.  Throughout the year we’ve attended various courses and conferences that help to highlight the latest developments in the physical therapy world while also helping us better understand the views of other health-care professionals.

This year, we are very excited to welcome Cindy Cantwell to the PT Doctors family. Cindy is a Physical Therapy Assistant with over 25 years of experience, and we are very happy to have her.

The expansion of our services and staff, and our ability to provide premier treatment to a wide range of patients has been met with great success.  Here’s what some of our patients have had to say about their experience at Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida:

“I was referred here by my Dr after hurting my neck. I tried going to a different PT but had difficulty with their insurance department (not the first time) From the first phone call I knew this was the place to go. I spoke to Jon and before my first appointment he gave me some tips to help me feel better before I even stepped into the office. I have had two sessions with him and now feel almost back to normal! They are professional and also very friendly. I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of quality care!” Ed

 “Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida were excellent, caring and very professional on every visit. Individual attention was given to the pain I was experiencing at the time. Thankfully I am now able to enjoy more activities and I will recommend them highly to my friends and family.” Susan

  “I was traveling and had to find a physical therapist in Bradenton for two weeks. I could not be more satisfied with the care at this facility. I have had PT in the past for two other injuries. Both times, I was volleyed between different therapists who had different levels of experience. They often spent more time telling me what to do at home than working with me at the office. At Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida, Jay made the most of our time AND gave me a home routine. With a combination of stretching, massage and exercises, I made tremendous progress in just two weeks. My PT back home was very surprised how much my range of motion had improved in just two weeks. The high level of personal attention was far different from other places I have been. I would highly recommend this facility.” Cindy

We are humbled and overjoyed by such kind words from our patients. We thank all of our patients for their support throughout 2019 and for allowing us to “Help Them Move Without Pain!”  We hope for an equally amazing 2020 and wish the same for you and yours.

For more information from our Bradenton rehabilitation experts, or for any other aches or pains you may be experiencing, contact Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida in Bradenton, FL at 941-264-1414 to schedule an appointment.