How Physical Therapy Can Help You Get Healthier
Cutting Through the Noise, One Simple Step at a Time
From fad diets to detoxes, the media regularly bombards us with messages about how to get healthier. Even seemingly simple advice like “exercise regularly” can be difficult to navigate when fitness influencers battle it out to prove that their 30-day program is better than the rest.
At The Center of Medical Arts, we want to help you cut through the noise. Our trained experts take a holistic view of health and wellness and understand that good health isn’t just about physical health but mental and emotional health, too. We also know that everyone isn’t starting from the same place — and that’s okay! We’ll meet you where you’re at and help you develop strategies to find a health-promoting regimen that works for you.
Despite what you may have read on social media, evidence-based health-promoting behaviors are fairly straightforward. However, they can be difficult to implement, especially between work, family, and other obligations. We get it. That’s why we advocate for small, simple changes that can make a big difference.
Are you ready to start making healthy changes in your life? Call us today to set up an appointment!
What It Even Means to “Be Healthy”
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,” which speaks to the complexities of health as a concept.
Good health also means different things to different people. For example, an 80-year-old on medication to manage high blood pressure and diabetes might consider herself healthy because she’s still physically active and can live independently. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old with no health conditions and excellent metabolic health might consider himself unhealthy because he struggles with exercise.
Living an entire life free of disease or illness is impossible for most of us. However, we can still strive to live as healthily as possible. Moving regularly, managing stress, and eating a nutritionally dense diet will help you feel your best, regardless of whether or not you meet the WHO’s (or anyone else’s) definition of “healthy.”
5 Simple Tips for Healthy Living from Our Team
Get Enough Sleep
A lack of deep REM sleep affects cardiovascular health, insulin levels, and cognitive abilities. Aim for 7-8 hours a night.
Move Your Body
Regular exercise improves metabolic health, elevates mood, and helps you stay mobile. Aim for 150 minutes a week — about 22 minutes daily!
Eat a Nutritious Diet
Emphasize adding healthy foods — fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats — rather than restricting less healthy choices.
Stay Hydrated
Hydration helps prevent injuries and may lessen your chances of chronic illness. Aim for around 8 cups a day.
Meditate Daily
Five minutes of deep breathing and mindfulness each day can have a radiating effect on your physical and mental health.
Physical Therapy’s Role in Promoting Good Health
Our physical therapists have several tools to help you live the healthiest life possible:
- We can help you manage or resolve injuries and/or painful conditions that keep you from being physically active.
- We can help you develop a fun, effective exercise program that suits your interests and abilities.
- We can identify areas of musculoskeletal weakness or impairment that might cause problems for you down the road — and give suggestions for managing that impairment now!
- We can show you relaxation techniques to manage stress.
And much more! When you visit us, we’ll create a customized program that addresses your unique needs.
Find Good Health with The Center of Medical Arts!
Our team of movement and musculoskeletal experts is here to help you live a full, healthy life. To get started, call us to schedule an appointment today!
Schedule an AppointmentPatient Success
“Center of Medical Arts (CMA) is an incredible physical therapy and wellness office. Due to a chronic condition, I have been a patient in the office for more than a year. I truly don’t know if I would be able to walk at this point were it not for their excellent PT and patience with me.
I have come to know the staff not just as professionals, but as part of my healing community and family. Each one of them brings their unique talents and abilities to my treatment, and I am so grateful for them. I appreciate how they draw a balance between being my strength and motivation and being kind and supportive as I continue my physical therapy journey and healing.
In addition to my treatment, it has been heartwarming and affirming to see other, less chronic, patients in passing as they progress and heal. CMA offers not only exemplary practitioners but also knowledgeable staff who are genuinely kind and so very helpful. The office is lovely, clean, bright, and conveniently located for my life. I cannot recommend them highly enough.”
Leave Us A Review
Your feedback helps others feel confident choosing CMA for their recovery journey.
Simple Strategies for Incorporating Exercise Into Your Daily Routine
Regular exercise is crucial to so many aspects of your health. It can prevent chronic health conditions like cardiovascular disease or diabetes, help you stay mobile well into old age, and even regulate your emotions.
Unfortunately, your workouts are often the first to slip when life gets busy. It can also be challenging to begin a regular exercise routine, especially if you have to fit it into an already jam-packed schedule.
The good news is that you don’t have to work out like a professional athlete to reap the benefits of staying active. In fact, a few simple strategies can increase your daily activity levels — no matter how busy you are!
5 Easy Tips for Sneaking in Physical Activity
Park at the far end of the parking lot, so you have to walk a little further to get to the store.
Take the stairs whenever possible.
Do some stretches or core exercises while you’re watching TV.
Go for a quick walk around your building during your lunch break.
Try a micro-workout — a short, 10-minute circuit-style workout that packs a big punch. Keep dumbbells by your desk and work out on your break!
Visit The Center of Medical Arts for More Tips!
Our physical therapists can work with you to develop a program for daily physical activity, no matter your needs. We can show you efficient strength training routines, suggest daily mobility exercises, and help you set movement goals. We can also help you resolve any pain or other conditions that might limit your physical activity.
Incorporating movement into your daily routine helps exercise feel like second nature. Schedule an appointment to get started!
Schedule an AppointmentUse Your Benefits Before They Reset
If you’ve already met your deductible or are close to meeting it, now is the perfect time to take advantage of your remaining physical therapy benefits before they reset.
Many patients delay treatment until discomfort becomes impossible to ignore. By scheduling care now, you may be able to maximize the insurance benefits you’ve already paid for while addressing pain, mobility limitations, balance concerns, dizziness, and other musculoskeletal issues before the new year begins.
Why Schedule Before Year-End?
- Your deductible may already be satisfied
- Unused therapy benefits often do not roll over
- Address pain and mobility concerns sooner
- Continue progress without interruption
Schedule Early
Appointment availability often becomes limited toward the end of the year as patients rush to use their remaining benefits. Contact our team today to reserve your preferred appointment time and make the most of your coverage before it resets.
Enjoy a Pain-Free Life This Fall
As leaves change and the air turns crisp, ensure back pain doesn’t cast a shadow on your fall festivities. Enjoy the season’s beauty without the burden of back pain. Our personalized treatments are tailored to your specific needs to ensure you get the results you deserve.
The perfect plan to conquer back pain includes the following:
- Effective treatments to eliminate pain and prevent future episodes.
- Personalized plans to restore your mobility and build your strength.
- Tips to enjoy family and friends without worrying about your back.
Take a step towards a pain-free life — connect with The Center of Medical Arts today, and we’ll help you get back to doing what you love this fall!
Celebrating National Physical Therapy Month
National Physical Therapy Month, recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association, celebrates the profession and the difference physical therapists make in people’s lives. At The Center of Medical Arts, we’re taking the opportunity to say thank you — to our incredible therapists and support staff, and to the patients who trust us with their recovery every day.
Muna Swairjo
As the proud founder and owner of The Center of Medical Arts, Muna is passionate about helping individuals reclaim their mobility and improve their quality of life through personalized physical therapy. With over 30 years of experience in the field, she earned her degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Ulster, UK, and has provided outpatient rehabilitative care for patients of all ages, from 12 to 90.
At CMA, Muna and her team pride themselves on creating a warm and welcoming environment where every patient feels valued and heard. Their dedicated team utilizes the latest techniques and evidence-based practices to develop individualized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs and goals.
When she’s not in the clinic, you can find Muna dancing and mastering Argentine Tango, or hosting events to stay connected to the community through arts, music, and wellness.
Mediterranean Chickpea Power Bowl
Need a healthy lunch you can make in minutes? This Mediterranean Chickpea Power Bowl combines protein-packed chickpeas, crisp veggies, and a bright lemon-herb dressing for a satisfying midday meal that fuels your recovery and keeps you energized all afternoon.
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped red onion
- 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the spinach or mixed greens to a bowl as your base.
- Top with chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion.
- Sprinkle with feta cheese.
- Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Drizzle the dressing over the bowl.
- Toss gently and enjoy!
