The Pilates reformer is a versatile piece of equipment that takes basic mat work to the next level. The reformer uses your own body weight and springs for increased resistance. A Pilates reformer also incorporates deeper stretching than you would...
Joseph Pilates developed his signature method of exercise in Germany in the early 20th century. He was living in England during the outbreak of World War I, and was placed in an internment camp because of his German citizenship. It was here that...
Physical therapy is available for the treatment of injury rehabilitation and painful or debilitating medical conditions. If you have surgery and need help getting back into shape, you may seek help from a physical therapist. If you are...
The Pilates Premier machine is a Reformer designed for home use. On the Pilates Premier, you can exercise your core without further strengthening the already dominant hamstrings and pectorals. Throughout all Pilates exercises, draw your lower...
In the early days of weightlifting, strength training and body building, free weights and barbells were the primary types of equipment found at fitness centers. Then, in the middle of the 20th century, the fitness industry began to favor the...
The Pilates Premier resembles founder Joseph Pilates's original "bednasium" that he developed during World War I using a hospital bed frame and mattress springs. The Pilates Premier carriage slides back and forth along a frame, pulled by straps...
Drop foot or foot drop -- the two terms are interchangeable-- is the condition in which you cannot lift up your forefoot. The front half of your foot may be damaged from either a muscular or nervous system injury, making walking and holding your...
Pilates has gained popularity in recent years, although it's actually existed for more than 70 years. If you have a shoulder injury, it's usually wise to avoid certain types of exercises until you're completely healed, unless directed by your...
The Total Gym is commonly used in home fitness, but physical therapists also use it for rehabilitation. It consists of a sled that slides along a track and a footplate that the user stands on. The Total Gym uses gravity and your bodyweight for...
Foam rollers are growing in popularity as self-massage tools. Many athletes use foam rollers to promote myofascial release, which involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the connective tissue that surrounds muscles. This helps eliminate...
A man may have invented Pilates, but female athletes have been using Pilates for conditioning as early as the 1920s. The New York dance community embraced Pilates in the late '20s for its numerous benefits to athletes. Today, famous women from...
The Food and Drug Administration is commonly known for setting dietary recommendations and ensuring that foods and medications are suitable for consumption. According to Dr. Lori Love of the FDA, a reasonable approach to weight loss and...
If your physician is concerned about the loss of range of motion in a joint, especially after surgery, he may prescribe a continuous passive motion machine or a dynamic splint. These devices move the affected joint through a prescribed range of...
While elastic resistance bands are often used in fitness programs, their origins lie in physical therapy. The affordable and versatile products are often used in physical therapy clinics for rehabilitation of upper and lower body injuries....
Joining a fitness club is a great way to reach your personal fitness and weight loss goals. Central Philadelphia has plenty of fitness centers conveniently located in the area. At these centers, you will find various exercise equipment, classes,...
Stretch workout bands designed for resistance-based strength training and flexibility, come in many shapes and sizes and are available from a variety of manufacturers. The bands are mostly made out of latex material and vary in degree of intensity...
Electronic stimulation has been used to restore atrophied or injured muscles to normal function during the rehabilitation process, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. With the benefits tested and noted through physical therapy...
Lateral epicondylitis is the medical term for what is commonly called tennis elbow. If you are suffering from this condition, you will usually experience pain and inflammation on the lateral or outer part of the elbow. Thera-Band, a company whose...
Therabands are the brand name for a popular type of exercise equipment known as exercise bands. Originally used for physical therapy and rehabilitation, the product has gained popularity as an accessory for multiple forms of exercise, from...
Ankle strains are a common injury. They are more likely to occur in people who place their ankles under a lot of stress, particularly if the ankle is not accustomed to the workload and/or does not have the muscular strength to adequately support...
As the fluid production that hydrates your joints begins to decrease with age, the discs in your back break down, which can lead to degenerative disc disease. The pressure that results can cause back pain and lead to conditions such as disc...
Elastic exercise equipment provides a low-tech, low-cost, low maintenance and lightweight form of resistance training. While once used exclusively in physical therapy settings, elastic resistance training is now a standard practice at fitness...
Receiving a devastating diagnosis for your child like spina bifida can trigger feels of anger, sadness and depression. That's perfectly normal. After a brief period of grieving for the child you hoped to get, embracing the child you got is...
Amyotrophic neuropathy, which is more commonly known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and is also called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurological condition that causes progressive nerve dysfunction. This condition typically affects...
Thera-Band is a company that manufactures lightweight exercise equipment for fitness, sport-specific training, injury prevention and physical therapy. The company began as producers of elastic resistance exercise bands and now produces a variety...
Over time, skin loses its elasticity and decreases the amount of collagen it produces. At the same time, skin becomes thinner and is more prone to dryness. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the same cleansing routines that worked...
Most teenagers get pimples, but acne generally doesn't cause pain, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. However, severe acne that includes cysts or nodules can be very painful, with inflammation and infection deep in the skin causing...
