Atlas Physical Therapy Blogs

As yoga becomes increasingly popular around Denver and the United States we consistently get patients that are looking to improve…

Dry Needling Therapy for Neck and Shoulder Pain: What You Need to Know Are you experiencing chronic neck or shoulder…

Dry Needling for Back Pain: A Natural Approach to Relief Back pain is far too common. Many people experience chronic…

The Science Behind Dry Needling: Does It Really Work? As the population of pain seekers increases nationwide, particularly in an…

Exploring Advanced Equipment Used in Denver Physical Therapy Clinics Physical therapy is essential for healing from injury, surgery, or chronic…

Top Physical Therapy Techniques Used in Denver Clinics Have you ever suffered an injury? Had surgery? Dealt with chronic pain?…

How to Determine the Best Physical Therapist in Denver Whether you're looking for pain relief, an increased range of motion,…

5 Signs You Need Physical Therapy in Denver Not everyone knows when they can benefit from physical therapy to restore…

Common Conditions Treated by Physical Therapists In Denver, CO Denver physical therapy clinics provide treatment to anyone of any age…

Pregnancy, childbirth, and meeting your newborn little one is a beautiful experience. From first smiles, to first laughter, first words,…

Training for physical fitness or sports performance involves interplay between frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise (Pescatello, 2014). All…

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in the shoulder characterized by periods of “freezing” during which…

Most people have a sore back at some point. As we age, it becomes more likely – but it starts…

Here is a list of some of the muscles that you can foam roll if you are experiencing tightness/soreness: Calf…

As we age, our ability to maintain good balance when standing and walking decreases over time. As a result, individuals…

Dry needling is the insertion of monofilament needles into muscles, ligaments, subcutaneous tissue, scar tissue, or in the vicinity of…

Missed our webinar on shoulder pain and the rotator cuff? Not to fear! link posted below   Dr. Lukas Mehling,…

During the coronavirus crisis our patients who are healthcare workers have been busier than ever, putting in lots of extra…

Most people know that core strength is important for spine health, but have you heard of your multifidi muscle group?…

Low back pain affects more than 28% of adults in the U.S. across all ages and activity levels.  A majority…

Everyone knows that exercise is good for the body. It has been shown time and time again that exercise helps…

The big question...which nut butter is healthier for you, almond butter or peanut butter? Many think almond butter is the…

A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is the titled earned by Physical Therapists after completing their graduate degree. 212 out…

Wednesday June 27th is Bike to Work Day in Denver. This annual event will have stations set up around town…

The weather is getting warmer around the Denver area and that means it is time to get outside and do…

Do you have pain on the outside of your hip that has been nagging you? Does the pain get worse…

Individuals that are highly active in any activity will likely require outside management of injuries to be able to sustain…

In athletics, and fitness in general, the importance of the warm-up and cool down are stressed by coaches, trainers and…

We have a lot of patients who are tennis players or are interested in getting into the sport! Tennis is…

As the temperature drops around Denver we all start to think about snow in the mountains, which means ski season…

Most of us at some point in our lives have taken anti-inflammatories (i.e. ibuprofen, alleve, motrin) to help with minor…

Recently the American Physical Therapy Association released an article to use physical therapy for low back pain as opposed to opiate prescriptions…

Do you have low back pain that limits your ability to live your life like you want to? At least…

You may have heard recently about that fact that the Acupuncture Association of Colorado is suing the Physical Therapy State…

Often times people with shoulder pain come to physical therapy go through their treatment feeling good and want to return…

Psoas muscles...What are they? The psoas muscles are located in the front of the hips and attach along the sides…

With today’s accessibility to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) we are able to more accurately diagnosis different injuries within the body…

What to do in the gym?  This is a question physical therapists get often.  This topic has been addressed in…

How can a Physical Therapist help? December 2016   What is Incontinence? Incontinence is a very common condition among men…

Since Crossfit became a “thing” in 2000, one of the biggest concerns people come across is that injury during a…

As the weather conditions continue to deteriorate around Denver we see an influx of injuries from people falling. Just because…

The holidays and new year are approaching and people increase their activity level to try and keep the pounds off. One…

What is the ACL and why is it important in the knee?   The knee joint is supported by four…

Exercises that are good for everyone! Part 2: Lower Body   People are always asking what are good exercises for…

Exercises that are good for everyone! Part 1: Upper Body   People are always asking what are good exercises for…

Following pregnancy and delivery women can experience a multitude of physical issues including pain, incontinence, diastasis recti , loss of…

The sooner the better! Most people have experienced some degree of muscle or joint pain during their lifetime. During these…

Let’s face it. We have all used our back to lift things off the ground. However, when we continuously bend…

Many people out there swear that pilates saved them from their pain or that yoga cured them, but which is best for you?  Both yoga and…

Most individuals will have some degree of knee pain throughout their life, which is why it is one of the…

And you ask, what is a trap and why do I need to relax it?  The trapezius, “trap,” muscles are…

Colorado has great conditions for runners and beautiful scenery as well. Whether you like to run at the park, on…

Free Deep Tissue Massages for LIFE!   Yes, you heard it here first! Free deep tissue massages for life. Who…

Do you ever have trouble remembering where you put your keys? Difficulty multi tasking? Or even trouble making decisions? All…

In a recent physical therapy article, it is estimated that between 25- 90% of women will experience low back pain…

Physical Therapy for Headaches Many people suffer from headaches as often as daily.  Did you know that physical therapy treatments…

I find myself talking with patients on a daily basis about effects of “father time” and aging on the body…

Know Pain, Know Gain It is estimated that 126.1 million people will experience pain in the next three months. Sometimes…

Ball chairs, whats the hype about? Are you thinking about trading your desk chair in for an exercise ball? There…

With springtime fast approaching many people will start to look forward to their outdoor hobbies such as hiking and biking…

More research has been focusing on chronic pain and the role that the brain plays in either inhibiting or amplifying…

More and more these days office workers are asking about switching to a standing desk. As physical therapists we will…

Low Back Pain and the Costs People with musculoskeletal low back pain are a significant percentage of patients in physical…

Know Your Rights-How to challenge your insurance for more visits. Many times certain insurance companies will approve a number of…

New ideas behind muscle cramping We can all relate to the football player who goes down on the field holding…

A recent article published in The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy looked at the use of a soft knee brace…

Today we have a guest blog writer, Janna Friedland, who is a certified personal trainer. Her blog post addresses reasons…

With icy conditions upon us, car accidents are becoming more frequent and even low impact fender benders can leave you…

The rotator cuff is one of the most frequently injured parts of the shoulder and requires a very individualized approach…

Surgery is one of the most difficult things our body can go through.  Some surgeries are straightforward and not too…

El Nino is coming and every skier and snowboarder is telling us this will be an epic year for snowfall…

Are your legs ready for ski season? In the PT clinic we see a big influx of ski related injuries…

What is the Best Way to Recover after Exercise? This is a question physical therapists get asked frequently. The answer,…

Many times after an injury or surgery athletes struggle to return to their previous levels of agility.  Being injured affects…

Compression stockings: What are they and do they help with performance? Runners are notorious for finding ways to better their…

Sit up straight….please!!! More and more these days patients come into the office with issues stemming from poor posture over…

I know summer is just ending, but winter is just around the corner.  In order to get in shape and…

Diagnostic imaging (i.e. X-ray, MRI, CT scan) can be beneficial when you have an injury to see a bigger picture…

Many patients will look up exercises to help get rid of their pain.  Some doctors may also give exercise handouts…

Attitude affects your recovery Many patients come into physical therapy expecting lots of pain and frustration. However, with most conditions…

10,000 steps a day? What does this mean Daily exercising and physical fitness has become a common occurrence these days,…

With many injuries people ask “why did this happen to me”.  Sometimes injuries are just bad luck and sometimes there…

What is Trigger Point Dry Needling   Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN) is a new practice making headway across the…

My hand is numb do I have carpal tunnel? The answer as it often is, is “It depends”.   Numbness, pain…

t is not uncommon for patients to ask us about personal training.  Should I stop with my personal trainer,  Should…

It now seems we are finally ramping up into warmer weather here in Colorado after a drizzly spring. Warmer weather…

Many people come to physical therapy with complaints of leg or arm pain and the therapist explains to them that…

With fresh swelling it's important to remember the acronym RICE. "R" stands for Rest, but generally this doesn't mean being…

1) Over the Counter Heat Creams Heat creams like Bengay and Biofreeze are often effective at giving temporary pain relief,…

If your goal is pain relief then really it comes down to which modality that you prefer:  heat or ice. …

An injury can be one of the most challenging experiences of our lives. It is a true test of our…

Concussions are gaining more awareness as we start to learn more about how to recognize them following injury. Most people…

I recently talked with Lainie Hodges who is a performance and career transistion coach and was impressed with the ideas…

Many people don’t know that physical therapists are ergonomic specialists. Ergonomics is the ability to fit the workplace to the…

We frequently hear that patients are having a hard time sleeping.  This is the first part in a series of…

I recently read a story posted by NPR discussing proper lifting mechanics and positioning for nurses when lifting and transferring…

The choice you make when deciding on your physical therapist is one of the most important you make in your…

The Arthritis Advisor, which is a publication of the Clevaland Clinic, recently printed an article titled “Physical Therapy: An Easy…

Arthritis and Physical Therapy “But I have arthritis, how can physical therapy help me?” This is a common question that…

What are Glucosamine and Chondroitin?   Many people have heard these supplements mentioned at some point or another but what…

Many of you may have read the Washington Post article on “Text Neck”.  What is Text Neck?  Text neck refers…

The injury rate of knees of female athletes is significantly higher than males; four to six times higher in fact. …

Pain Issue vs. Tissue Issue If you have chronic pain you likely need a different treatment approach compared to the…

The rotator cuff and its function In the outpatient physical therapy world we see patients with shoulder pain on a…

Crossfit Crossfit is an exercise trend (or lifestyle) that has exploded the past three years.  There is plenty of press,…

You want me to get in the pool for my therapy??? We are currently working with area pools and rec…

Health Savings Accounts - FAQ Health Savings Accounts were introduced in 2003 partly as a means to reduce health care…

Many people wonder why we may not have you do exercises everyday.  If the exercise is good for you every…

Everyone's favorite time of year in Colorado is just around the corner, ski and snowboard season! With ski resorts starting…

What is that crazy tape athletes are wearing these days?   I get this question almost weekly in the clinic…

We have been getting a lot of questions on nutrition for injuries recently.  We reached out to medical colleagues for…

Anecdotally a few patients have reported to me that changing from rear foot to forefoot running cured their knee problems. …

Ski Season is Upon Us With our wet summer and the moisture continuing to trend towards a big snow year…

IASTM What the heck is that?  Other than a funny sounding acronym it is something that could help you a…

Our Sedentary Lifestyle (and what to do about it)A recent study came out saying a sedentary lifestyle is more detrimental…

Most physical therapy programs prescribed by Therapists involves some type of stretching component based on the findings in the initial…

Minimalistic running also known as barefoot or natural running is simply running without shoes or with very thin soled shoes…

Running injuries are common (up to 50% of runners per year depending on what you read) and we often get…

Photo credit: Karpati Gabor from morguefile.com As winter melts away and the weather turns warm  many of you will begin to trade in…

Photo credit: Ladyheart from morguefile.com March is one of the snowiest months in Denver and it also tends to be wet heavy snow…

The demands of trail running are significantly different than those of regular running.  Trail running in Colorado many times involves…

Neck pain is extremely common, but what is the best way to get rid of it? A recent study (3/13)…

With the ease of finding information on the internet many people try to research their conditions. One of the problems…

Many patients ask us about chiropractic vs physical therapy. They are actually very different treatments, for different purposes, and are…

Did you know you can see a Physical Therapist without a prescription? This is known as Direct Access and most…

Photo credit: pedrojperez from morguefile.com There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep and so many factors weigh in to create a perfect night’s…

Many people read the recent article in the Washington Post titled “Knee repair? Study finds physical therapy as good as…

Reading the International Spine and Pain Institute’s January 2013 newsletter, I recently came across the article cited at the bottom…

Did you know that most headaches are actually caused from issues in the neck? These are called cervicogenic headaches and…

Photo credit: dharder from morguefile.com It’s starting to warm up and everybody is looking forward to getting out and hiking our great state…

The views on stretches have changed over the last couple years and its time you changed the way you stretch…

Physical Therapy was the subject of a recent Dr. Oz show featuring cutting-edge treatments for low back pain. Some of…

Many times we get asked if we can just give a patient exercises to do to fix their issue. While it…