Gardening is great exercise, fun, and can be a wonderful part of healthy, active living. It also improves strength and can help increase and maintain flexibility. Not only does it offer physical benefits, it can also do wonders for the mind. People often find gardening a great stress reliever. But before you head out to spend hours digging and planting, read these important tips on how do it safely!

• Don’t over reach. Move to the job and keep moving to be close to your work.
• Keep your elbows partially bent, especially when doing resistive activities requiring elbow strength.
• Face your work without twisting.
• Hold objects with a light grasp for a short period of time. Avoid a tight, sustained grasp.
• Squat with your heels on the ground.
• Keep your back relatively straight, feet apart about a foot and toes pointed outward.
• Plan your projects when it's easier to do them. Moist earth is easier to dig in than dry, compact earth or soggy, saturated earth. 
• Keep tools close at hand.
• Alternate tasks that require heavy or repetitive movement with tasks that are easier to do.

Both shingles and chickenpox are caused by the same virus. Once a person has had chickenpox the virus remains dormant in your system. If the virus returns due to a weakening of the immune system caused by things such as stress, aging, disease, or some medications it comes back as shingles. Shingles is not necessarily contagious, one person cannot catch shingles from another person, however if someone who has not had chickenpox comes in contact with a person with shingles they can catch the varicella-zoster virus and in turn get chickenpox. For the majority of individuals, once they have had chickenpox the virus stays dormant in their system, it's just in some individuals it will become active again for one reason or another which causes a shingles rash. The only time in which the virus could be passed from one person to another is during the time when the sores are open and weeping. Once the sores crust over the virus can no long be passed. If you come in contact with someone who has shingles, as long as you have already had chickenpox there shouldn't be anything to worry about, however you should make sure to wash your hands and anything the person has come in contact with, as the virus could be spread to another individual who has not previously had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.

Looking for a fun, convenient, and healthy way to treat your staff or co-workers? How about the gift of massage! Your employees will feel appreciated for all of their hard work as our team of professional massage therapists uses their magical fingers to help them relax and melt away stress. And unlike meals out and high-calorie treats that often adorn the break room, the gift of massage is a healthy way to say “thanks.” 

With NPT, we make it easy! Our therapists will travel to you and bring and set up their own equipment. If you prefer, gift certificates may also be purchased for a massage at any of our locations.

And don’t forget…Administrative Professionals Day is April 25th!

Does “better health” top your resolutions this year? If so, then you’re not alone. It’s a popular time of year for people to resolve to lose weight, eat better, or quit smoking. While all of those are definitely positive, consider making a bigger picture lifestyle change. When we choose to live a healthier lifestyle overall, the other things like losing weight, being more positive, etc. just happen naturally. There are three main components for health: exercise, diet, and mental well-being. Depending on where you’re starting, it might be too much all at once. Start with one thing, and then slowly add the others every few weeks.

Exercise: Get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (brisk walking) and at least 2 days of muscle strengthening (lifting weights, resistance bands) each week.

Diet: Help prevent illness by eating immune-boosting foods such as spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, garlic, and low fat yogurt. And don’t forget proper hydration! An easy rule of thumb when it comes to hydration is 8-8 oz. glasses of water every day.

Mental Health: Exercising will help a lot in this area, but don’t forget to get enough sleep (between 7-9 hours each night). And taking some time out just for you can also reduce stress. Take up a new hobby (or pick back up on an old one), treat yourself to a massage, surround yourself with positive friends, and don’t forget to laugh!

With so many types of arthritis, it’s no wonder people are often confused in diagnoses related to bones and joints. Here are some definitions to clear the mud on the “medical jargon.” Physical therapists are experts on bones and joints and often work with physicians on treatment plans for patients that can involve both medication and therapy. If you have been diagnosed with arthritis and have questions, please ask one of our therapists.

Arthritis: a general term for inflammation at a joint. It causes swelling, pain and limited mobility.

Osteoarthritis: Wear and tear of the cartilage, which acts as joint protection between joint surfaces. All joints will have normal wear and tear, but may be accelerated or may be more painful with injury, weight gain, age and genetics.

Rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic disease that causes inflammation at many joints, and may affect other organs. It is considered an “auto-immune” disease in which the body is attacking itself in different ways.

Osteopenia: Decreased bone density and “bone thinning” due to more bone reabsorption than bone creation. This bone density loss does not meet the criteria for osteoporosis, and osteopenia does not necessarily mean that a person will develop osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis: Decreased bone density leading to porous and brittle bones. This disease will lead to increased fractures.

Melt away holiday stress with the gift of massage therapy! Massages make great gifts for family, friends, and even employees. Individual massages are offered at any of our five locations and if you wish to purchase chair massages for your employees, we’ll come to you! Stop by any of our locations for gift certificates.