RecoverRx Performance and Recovery BlogThis blog is dedicated to all things from recovery to performance. Our industry expert Physical Therapists provide evidence based information and opinions educating our readers on how to optimize their health in order to be able to overcome injuries and live the life they were meant to live!
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By Dr. Sarah Greenwell, PT, DPT, CSMPT As a physical therapist, I cannot prescribe medications. However, as a Doctor of PT, I am here today to prescribe a daily dose of M.E.D.S. But not the kind that comes in a pill. The MEDS I am talking about are: Mindfulness Exercise Diet Sleep  Most people come to physical therapy because of pain. Or because they cannot workout or participate in life the way they want. But along with strengthening muscles and mobilizing joints, many of these issues can be significantly improved with a healthy and daily dose of Mindfulness, Exercise, Diet, and Sleep. And along with improving joint and muscle pain, daily M.E.D.S. can help improve stress, anxiety, lack of energy/motivation, poor mood, and upset stomach. Let’s quickly break these down. Mindfulness: is achieved by focusing on the present moment, accepting your thoughts and feelings, and being able to focus on what you CAN control. Instead of mindlessly going through the motions of your day, take time to think about what your goals are for the day. In the morning, ask yourself: What do you want to accomplish or what do you have to do to overcome the day’s challenges? Or in the evening, reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and what can you learn from today to make tomorrow better. Don’t focus on the obstacles. Focus on the progress. Progress gives you purpose, energy, passion, enthusiasm, joy, gratitude, and hope for the now and the future.  Exercise: It is recommended that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense exercise per week. But if you are not there yet, start with something. Make it a daily routine to do at least 20 minutes of physical activity. Try to include a mix of flexibility, strength training, and cardiovascular exercise. A daily walk or a beginner yoga session is one place to start getting your body moving. We are learning more about the protective effects of muscle mass and strength on lifelong health and aging while maintaining an active and Independent lifestyle. So make sure to pick up some weights a few times a week. If you need any help or guidance, shoot us a message or give us a call today! 331-253-2426  Diet: We are not talking about a short-term weight loss strategy. Rather, your diet is the way you fuel your body to perform. Although it can be confusing and conflicting in today’s world to know what is healthy, most nutritionists would agree that if it is a plant – eat it; if it was made in a plant – don’t. Try to stick to food in its more natural form and with ingredients that are found in nature. And although added sugars may taste good, they do not provide your body with nutrition. Instead, they add inches to our waistline and increase inflammation in our gut and skeletal system.  Sleep: Adults need 8-9 hours each night to function at our best (and kids need even more)
Any less, and our bodies struggle to repair tissue, store memories, support immune function, and fight fatigue. Napping and caffeine do not replace the need for consistent quality sleep. The physical and emotional stress that we put our bodies through during the day needs a full night of rest to recover and prepare for the next day. So instead of an ‘apple a day to keep the doctor away,’ try to take your M.E.D.S daily, and reach out to us if you have any questions or would like some trusted resources on any of these topics!
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Dr. Ariel Sernek, PT, DPT DRA stands for Diastasis Rectus Abdominis. It can be tricky to pronounce but you can just call it DRA, and we’ll know what you’re talking about. First, it helps to understand a bit of the underlying anatomy and terminology. Your “six-pack” muscle is called the Rectus Abdominis and diastasis means “the separation of normally joined parts” (Dictonary.com). So a DRA is a separation of your six pack abdominal muscles. Now, your muscles are not actually splitting apart, there is a ligament between your right and left sides of your rectus abdominus called the Linea Alba. The linea alba is meant to be flexible and this structure is what stretches and recoils back to its original size. Pretty Cool, right?  How common is this? DRA is most commonly seen around pregnancy and post-partum, in fact 100% of pregnant women will have a DRA to accommodate for the growing baby after 35 weeks gestation. Fun fact: men can also have this too; think “beer belly.”  "Do I need surgery?" This is something I hear all the time. Surgery can fix this, but primarily if there is an abdominal hernia. This is when part of your intestines protrudes through a hole in the linea alba. This can cause abdominal pain and dysfunction with bowel movements because there is now a kink in your bowels limiting stool from moving as it should. Surgery is not the only fix, physical therapy can also help! How does physical therapy help? First, we need to get a global assessment of your rib angle, your thoracic spine mobility (your mid back), posture, abdominal strength, and MOST importantly- how you manage pressure through breath work and correct timing of your core. Your core is not just your abdominals, but your diaphragm, your pelvic floor and your lower back muscles. These muscles have to work together in order for pressure to be managed and your body to work properly. Imagine the last time you coughed or sneezed, you probably felt your belly pooch out and maybe down. That’s the internal pressure we have to manage that can pull apart your rectus abdominis muscle.  Picture a can of pop, it’s pressurized until you open the tab and then the pressure can escape. Now, imagine the middle of your abdominal wall being the open part of the can. Pressure is going to travel wherever there is weakness or an opening. This is why surgery does not always fix the issue. Sure they can stitch the rectus abdominis muscle together, but if you cannot manage abdominal pressures, the surgery can fail and you can separate again. This is not a good situation.  People don’t like to hear this, but the distance of the muscles is not my main concern. The strength and tension created by your linea alba ligament and how you manage abdominal pressure with your daily activities is my main concern. Some people have separation, just as some people have stretch marks or looser skin. These are normal changes with pregnancy and post-partum and are okay to have. Genetics, diet, water intake, previous history of exercise and training regimen, and current exercise can all influence the cosmetic look of your abdominal wall. In addition to pressure management and addressing core dysfunction, we also address urogenital symptoms of urine leakage, urgency, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, musculoskeletal pains, and anything else that can influence your core. We are then able to load and progress your abdominal muscles based on where you are at with your activation and control. If the activity is something that causes you to have coning, we back off. That just means your body isn’t ready for that exercise yet. We would also need to address gluteal strength, posture management, strengthening your deep core and pelvic floor, how you move in/out of positions, and teach proper bracing to address… you guessed it, PRESSURE! Hopefully this article has answered some of your questions surrounding DRA and how you can address your symptoms without the need for surgery. Please reach out to us if you need help with this condition. We offer 1-on-1 sessions to look at your specific situation and invest in helping you live a healthy, happy life where you are confident to care for yourself and your family. If you know of others who could benefit from this information, please share this article with them. You can also reach out to me directly at ariel@recoverrxpt.com or check out our Pelvic Health page https://www.recoverrxpt.com/pelvichealth.html Also, check out our youtube Curiosity Corner!
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AuthorsDr. Luke Greenwell, Dr. David Bokermann, Dr. Sarah Greenwell, & Dr. Ariel Sernek are Performance Based Physical Therapists with extensive backgrounds in treating the injured athlete. At RecoverRx, they are passionate about returning people to the sports & activities they love. Check out more about them by visiting our About Us page. Categories
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