Commonly Utilized Fitness Tools: As recommended by your neighborhood Physical Therapist

Commonly Utilized Fitness Tools: As recommended by your neighborhood Physical Therapist

We take great pride in the work we do with our hands in physical therapy. But what about when you’re at home, on the road, at work, or sippin’ a pina colada on vacation? We like to empower our patients to help them take control of their own lives. Part of this is to help our patients remain committed to their program, and another part of it is to make sure the manual therapy we perform carries over. I always tell my patients, “There are 168 hours in the week. You see me for 2 hours per week. What are you doing with the other 166 hours?” Flexibility, strength, and motor control reeducation need to be a part of any compliant patient’s regular schedule. Below are some of our favorite “go to” items, and how much they will cost you (believe us, they are worth the investment):

• Foam Roller: this tool is useful on soft tissue structures. Roll out those muscles to keep them limber and healthy! The foam roller can also be utilized in several other positions to help facilitate good posture.
  
  Amazon: $29.11
  https://www.amazon.com/OPTP-AXIS-Foam-Roller-Density/dp/B001MPU106/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522177077&sr=8-4&keywords=optp+foam+roller&dpID=31-XA9wJsCL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
   
• Stretch Out Strap: this may just look like a green strap, but the loops throughout the strap allow for optimal flexibility training. You can stretch just about anything with this strap (and it comes with a booklet that has photos to guide you).
  
  Amazon: $15.95
  https://www.amazon.com/Original-Stretch-Strap-Exercise-OPTP/dp/B00065X222/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1522178188&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=stretch+out+strap&psc=1

• Lacrosse Ball: we like lacrosse, but this ball is used for more than the sport. A lot of health and fitness professionals use this with their clients/patients to assist in muscle/trigger point release.
  
  Amazon: $9.97
  https://www.amazon.com/Lacrosse-Balls-Massage-Ball-Therapy/dp/B01GQQOK16/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1522178306&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=lacrosse+balls&psc=1

• TheraCane: this one is great for those hard to reach areas, like the upper trapezius and neck region. A great addition to your fitness collection for those who have extra tension and stress in their neck (just about every working person in New York City).
  
  Amazon: $29.98
  https://www.amazon.com/Thera-Cane-JMAS5000-Massager-Green/dp/B000PRMCJU/ref=sr_1_cc_2_a_it?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1522178518&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=theracane&th=1

In my follow up post, I will be demonstrating activities that I most commonly perform (or show my patients) with these fitness tools. Stay tuned!

Dr. Paul Nasri, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Staff Physical Therapist
Sarrica Physical Therapy & Wellness