Diva Day hit a record number of registrants at 905 this year.  The race was good by report of the many  participants as the rain decided to subside.

This wonderful event promotes women in many ways: from raising breast cancer awareness, to general fitness, to women’s businesses, and so much more.

Alpine Physical Therapy and the Core Studio are proud to be a part of this event.  Many women sought out a much deserved post race massage.

This was a first 5k for many of the participants, and an acomplishment to finsh this race, whether they are recovering from breast cancer or just working to get in shape.  The Core Studio made it’s first appearance offering free demos and discounts for race participants interested in starting classes.
​
Overall the “Physical Fairies” made a wonderful presence and were appreciated for their efforts in supporting women. Check out the photo of some of the physical fairies (Kristi and Sam), who were once again present for Diva Day.

A free exercise program minimizes side effects of cancer treatment and helps patients and survivors stay fit.

“This program really allow a perfect opportunity for people to learn how to safely return to a fitness program in a supportive group and also stay healthy while they’re fighting cancer,” says Sam Schmidt, Physical Therapist and Fit to Fight Co-Founder.

The Fit to Fight program welcomes cancer patients who want to exercise once a doctor releases them to do so.

The specially designed exercises in the 8-week long program help terminal patients, those going through treatment and cancer survivors.
​
“In the group setting, we do pretty basic exercises just because the fitness levels are so varied. So we do lots of stretching, some core work, some balance, breathing, relaxation,” says Sarah Rott, Fit to Fight Exercise Physiologist.

“This program puts the spark back in ya,” says Bob Albee, Lymphoma survivor. “This program here is to get back all that strength that you’ve lost, because you laid around for 6, 7 months just getting infused with chemo.”
​
“It’s really helped me get back into shape. I’ve been trying to work out for about year and then I had breast cancer and everything got put on hold. So it’s an opportunity to come back in the gym and start getting stronger again,” says Ami Davis, breast cancer survivor.

Schmidt says research shows the right amount of exercise can help many people counter some side effects of cancer treatment.

“It improves appetite, it can improve sleep patterns, reduce nausea, reduce fatigue,” Schmidt said.
“It’s really hard for a lot of people to exercise at a low level where we want them, because they don’t realize how much that really is working their body. They’re not going to have the response that healthier people will have with exercise sometimes, because of what their body’s gone through,” Rott said.

Alpine Physical Therapists donate their time to help patients in the Fit to Fight program, while the Peak donates the facility.

For more information, visit our clinic web page on Fit to Fight by clicking here.

Several of our physical therapists at Alpine Physical Therapy are skilled in the application of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM). Although the treatment may be somewhat uncomfortable at first, it is highly effective in releasing tissue adhesions and scar tissue that contribute to tendonitis, chronic pain, and sport- or work-related injuries.

The original form of IASTM has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Gua Sha, as it is called, involves use of the edge of an object such as a coin, a spoon, or piece of horn or jade to “scrape” along the skin.

Similarly, our use of IASTM involves use of a precision tool to stroke along the involved area. The repeated action of gliding the tool along the sore area helps to improve lymphatic drainage, improve mobility in the soft tissues, and improve blood flow.

The objectives of this form of treatment are as follows:

• Break down scar within the tissues
• Promote blood flow into the sore area
• Establish healing in damaged tissues
• Release adhesions within the layers of tissue
• Improve lymphatic circulation

Brace Hayden, DPT oversees our use of IASTM at Alpine. Take a moment to view his discussion of this form of treatment. Please take moment to watch a brief video on the topic.

​For more information on IASTM at Alpine, visit my clinic web page by clicking here.

When you spend a lot of money to learn a new method of helping relieve pain . . . and it works . . . you get pretty excited and want to tell the world. That’s all fine and dandy, but talk to me in a year. Is it still all it’s cracked up to be?

My answer to this question was “Heck Yeah.” In fact, the Basic course of Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) which I took in ’05 helped me ten-fold in helping my patients get better, faster.

Great. Talk to me about how it’s working in another year. Better yet. I spent the time and money a year later and went to the Intermediate course. Again, my results soared to even greater levels. So much so that in ’07, I again spent way more money and time to complete the Advanced level of Primal Reflex Release Technique.

As with each of my progressive level courses in PRRT, the results I got in the clinic afterwards were superb.

Thus, I used these ever evolving techniques in the clinic for another four years.

Fast forward to April 2011. That’s when I attended another course taught by the developer of PRRT, John Iams of Poway, California. Only this class was on the level of Star Wars. In fact, it was titled “Beyond Advanced. John made the class available to all the 150 advanced-trained practitioners across the globe. No way was I gonna miss this class.

Why? Because John has taken the last 4 years to continually research and develop his techniques . . . to the point they are thrilling to practice, particularly when you see the results day in and day out as I do with my patients.

People with lots of pain . . . get better. People  with complex pain . . . get better. Not all the time, as it’s not a panacea. But it works profoundly well in a host of orthopedic conditions, such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, tendonitis, and joint pain . . . among others.
​
Take a moment and watch my brief update on all that’s new with PRRT at Alpine Physical Therapy.

For more information on PRRT, visit my clinic web page by clicking here.

​My thanks to another of Alpine’s star physical therapy aides, Lindsy Campbell, for this fast-action and informative article on cyclocross. What she won’t mention to you is that she’s tearin’ it up . . . usually in front of the pack! Read on . . .

***********

Fall is here; you can feel the crispness in the air.  The days are getting shorter, and frost covers the ground in the mornings.
​
However, while most people are winding down their outdoor activities in between summer and winter sports, a handful of deranged bike enthusiasts, including myself, are just gearing up for a big season of cyclocross.  What’s that you ask?  Psychlo – cross?  No, the word itself doesn’t give us away as psychotic but rather refers to a type of bicycle racing that combines elements of both road cycling and mountain biking. (See what I mean?)

A cyclocross bike looks like a road bike but has more clearance for thicker, knobbier tires.  Also, the bike’s geometry allows the rider to get their weight back which is essential for balance in technical, off-road riding.
​
A cyclocross race sends cyclists on a short loop that includes sections of road, gravel, mud, sand, grass, hard-packed dirt, and sometimes snow and ice.  If this is not exciting enough, cyclocross races also include barriers and steep slopes that require contestants to jump off their bikes and run and leap with bikes in tow. (Here’s a perfect example of me doing exactly that!)

Really, all of this must be hard to imagine.  There is no way to give cyclocross justice in writing, so I invite all of you to my team’s race, Rolling Thunder, at the American Legion Field this weekend.  For me this is the biggest race of the year:  hometown fans, big prizes, a tough course, and even tougher competition.

​For the adventurous there is even a first timer’s race in the afternoon.  You may just find that cyclocross is far more interesting, challenging, and beneficial than your typical pre-ski season workout.  Not to mention fun . . . lots and lots of fun.

On Saturday September 24th Alpine Physical Therapy staffed the medical aid tent at the Mountain West Cross Country Classic Race. There were about 1,800 runners competing on a gorgeous fall day at the University of Montana’s premier golf course-come-cross country course.  We had a rather exciting day doing our best to triage the various acute sports injuries from ankle sprains, to abrasions, to heat exhaustion. Not the “typical day in the PT clinic” sort of rehabilitation we get to see at regularly Alpine Physical Therapy, but very rewarding to have the opportunity to work with Middle and High School aged runners.

Another exciting piece of news that day was the breaking of the course record by Andrew Gardner from Spokane, WA. Andrew beat his previous record from last year by nine seconds finishing three miles in 14 minutes and 38 seconds.  Alpine PT’s Doctor of Physical Therapy, Jamie Terry, was there at the medical tent near the finish line to consult him on proper post-race management of “sore quads and calves”.

Alpine Physical Therapy offers a specialized Runners Clinic for runners looking for a thorough evaluation of their current running injury or advice on improving their performance. More information can be found by clicking here.
​
We would like to thank the Michele Chalmers and the other good folks at Mountain West Track Club for this community partnership opportunity.  More information can be found about them on their website by clicking here.  For additional information on the race and results click here.

Alpine Physical Therapy recently launched the Wellness Program at Alpine. Designed by physical therapists, the program is focused on specific physical therapy patients and overseen by our team of physical therapists.
​
Take a moment to view a brief video by the developer of our Wellness Program, Leah Versteegen, DPT. Learn how this program adds value for our physical therapy patients at Alpine Physical Therapy.

For more information, visit our Wellness Program webpage by clicking here.

Hanging precariously 30 feet from the hard surface of the earth never felt so good, especially when it had to do with building teamwork.

The ropes course challenge provided by Missoula Parks and Recreation is nothing short of a rush. Additionally, it offers a unique team building activity that quickly takes your group to a new level.
One of our goals this year at Alpine Physical Therapy was to do some team building activities. The ropes course challenge was a great choice and one that has taken our team to new heights (pun intended!).

Along with the high ropes challenge, we went through a number of different activities that create opportunities for team members to collaborate and problem solve. We had a blast, and we’ve grown tighter as a company and team.
​
Check out some of our team in the heat of the ropes course challenge.

We all agreed this was a fun and meaningful event. Can’t wait to do this one again!
​
For more information about Alpine Physical Therapy, click here to view our clinic website.