and

Stride to Health

join together to offer you a day of FREE classes and treatments

Come Experience The Benefits Of Yoga!

FREE Treatments For That Nagging Pain That You’ve Been Trying To Ignore!

Cranio-Sacral Therapy Trial Treatments.

Event Schedule

8:00 – 9:00 Group Run – Metaphors & Mental Imagery

9:00 – 4:00 Free Physical Therapy Evaluations and Treatments

9:30-10:30 Yoga – Vinyasa -Yin Blend

11:00-12:00 Yoga with Weights

12:30-1:30 Gentle Yoga

2:00-3:00 Yogalates

3:30-4:30 Yoga – Mixed Levels Flow

4:30-5:30 Group Run – Agility, Speed & Power Workshop

Raffles, Live Music, And Refreshments All Day

730 Hopmeadow Street, Rear Lot, Simsbury, CT

Come down for some FREE yoga classes.  Or go on a group run and learn strategies to enhance your running experience.

FREE physical therapy treatments to help you get rid of your pain, including manual therapy, cold laser therapy, and exercise prescription so you know how to manage your condition at home.

Spread the word and bring some friends!

Come anytime and leave whenever you’d like…see you there!

However, most golfers miss out on the most important element to improving their golf game.

The key to improving your golf game is all about strengthening the golf-specific muscle groups and creating balance at the major joints involved with your golf swing.

Specifically, you really want to work on improving hip rotation and spinal rotation.  If your hip rotation is inadequate, then your spine will have to rotate more to compensate.  This can lead to back pain and injuries with golfing.

The opposite is also true, if your spinal rotation is inadequate you can develop hip pain due to the need to get that rotation range of motion from the hips and an overcompensation to do so.

Rotation range of motion is a good start, but you also need to strengthen the muscles that perform spinal and hip rotation during your golf swing.  This will help to generate power and give you the ability to drive the ball further and straighter.

Muscle balance around a joint is also important.  If there is an imbalance (one muscle is weaker or tighter compared to another), then you will increase the chances of your golf club straying away from its intended path, leading to hooks and slices and a very frustrated golfer.

At Stride to Health in Simsbury, our “Golf Health Program” consists of a biomechanical evaluation and a golf-specific strengthening and muscle balance session to help improve your golf swing and take a few strokes off of your golf score.   This program is designed to help Farmington Valley golfers take their golf game to the next level by simply strengthening specific muscle groups and focusing on balance within your body.

After you learn these exercises, you can help improve your golf game in just one hour per week by exercising for just 15 minutes per day for 4 days per week.

To learn more about Stride to Health’s “Golf Health Program”, click here.

Former athletes who are looking to get back in shape in a fun and healthy environment are also encouraged to register.  The program focuses on increasing speed and athleticism in adults.

Each session lasts 4 weeks and will take place on a grassy field in Simsbury, CT.  The group setting allows for a fun and motivating environment.  Participants have the option of performing workouts 2 or 3 days per week.

The program is open to men and women.

In addition to the workout sessions, participants will also be monitored by physical therapist, Dean Teitelbaum.  The Platinum and Gold levels include physical therapy sessions to ensure optimal health of the participants.

“There’s a misconception that we have to become less of an athlete as we age,” says Teitelbaum.  “While we may not be exactly at the same level we were in high school or college, there’s no reason why somebody in their 30’s, 40’s, or even 50’s can’t improve their natural athleticism when given the right exercises and drills to do.  This program is fun and will have you feeling a sense of pride that you may not have felt in a while.”

For complete details about “Agility, Speed, and Power Training”, Click Here

Click the videos below to listen to the interview (broken up into 3 parts).

The program is unique in that the focus is on exercising and eating in a way the promotes “pH balance” inside of your body.  By focusing on balancing the inside and focusing on health, the weight will naturally melt away.

In addition to exercise sessions, the program also includes:

• Biomechanical evaluation by a physical therapist to identify potential trouble areas that can hinder your exercise program.  This will help prevent injuries and ensure that you are able to stick to your exercise program.
• Nutritional consultation with meal plans and recipes.
• Target heart rate zone prescription with heart rate monitor.
• Nutritional supplements that promote alkalinity and pH balance in the body.
• Weekly access to a physical therapist to modify your plan as needed and to address any aches or pains which may occur along the way.

To learn more about this weight loss program offered by Stride to Health, visit:  http://stridetohealth.com/weight-loss-programs/.

Low-Level Laser Therapy now in Simsbury, CT at Stride To Health.

In October 2009, the State of Connecticut passed Public Act 09-232 as an “act concerning revisions to Department of Public Health licensing statutes.”  A subsection of this act repeals a previous statute which prohibited physical therapists from using “low-level” laser therapy as part of their treatments.

According to the Public Act, physical therapists practicing in Connecticut are now permitted to use low-level laser therapy “for the purpose of accelerating tissue repair, decreasing edema or minimizing or eliminating pain.”

Dean Teitelbaum, physical therapist and owner of Stride to Health in Simsbury took advantage of this act by purchasing a low-level laser unit for his practice.  He states that low-level laser therapy is an up and coming treatment that is gaining popularity.

“Low-level laser therapy was approved for use by the FDA in 2002, but it really hasn’t become popular until a couple of years ago.  Recently, it’s become popular with athletes as they are always looking for quick fixes to their injuries to get back out onto the field quickly.  The New England Patriots have used low-level laser therapy in the past with good results.”

Teitelbaum states that low-level laser uses the power of light energy to accelerate healing.  “Scientists have discovered several possible mechanisms in which light energy from a laser can be used to promote healing and reduce inflammation.”

Increased cellular activity, increased collagen production, and changes in blood vessel activity are the mechanisms in which researchers theorize that the low-level laser therapy works.

According to Teitelbaum, most patients do not feel anything while the laser treatment is being applied.  The wavelength of the low-level laser allows the laser light to penetrate up to two inches deep in the body without any heating effect.  A typical treatment will last 10-15 minutes, though larger areas of the body may require a lengthier treatment.

In various studies, low-level laser therapy has been shown to be effective with treating carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle strains, fractures, tendonitis, and back pain.  It’s also been shown to be effective with accelerating the healing of wounds.

“It really helps with just about any type of injury,” says Teitelbaum.  “Some people have results after just one treatment, though most people require 3 to 9 treatments before their symptoms are completely gone.  It’s definitely not going to help all people and all injuries, though most people will be pleasantly surprised at how effective this little laser can be after just a few treatments.”

Low-level laser therapy is considered to be very safe with the only warnings of avoiding direct beaming of the laser into the eyes and avoiding application over a fetus.

“Low-level laser therapy is non-toxic, non-invasive, and fast acting,” says Teitelbaum.  “In my opinion, if you’re dealing with pain or an injury, laser therapy is a better alternative to drugs or surgery.”

Teitelbaum said he is happy to discuss the laser device with anybody who would like more information and even offers a free trial treatment for those who would like to give laser therapy a try.

He can be reached at Stride to Health: Optimum Health & Running Center in Simsbury at (860) 325-0RUN (0786).

Most feet have abnormal movements which need to be controlled with foot orthotics.

If you’re like most people, your instinct would tell you that the problem lies wherever the painful area is.  If you have back pain, then the problem is likely in your back, right?  Many times, however, this type of gradual onset pain can be related to your feet.

Most people do not have “perfect” feet.  As a result, when many people walk, they may walk with abnormal foot mechanics.   These abnormal movements may be rather small and unnoticeable to the untrained eye, but they can have a large effect on your entire body.

Think about it in terms of a house.  The foundation of the house is the connection between the ground and the rest of the house.  If the foundation is crooked, the floors of the house are likely to be uneven.

As the years go on and gravity takes its toll on the house, walls and floors start to crack and there may be damage to the supportive beams and columns.  This damage can occur due to abnormal strain on the house resulting from the crooked foundation and the force of gravity.

Your feet are your foundation and the connection between your body and the ground.

Since most feet are not perfect, many people have abnormal foot mechanics while walking, which causes a domino effect.  To compensate for these irregular foot movements, your ankles may move abnormally, which causes your knees to move abnormally, which causes your hips to move abnormally, and so on.  The abnormal strain on your joints can lead to pain throughout your legs and spine.

And just like the house, as the years pass gravity will affect your body more and more and magnify the initial problem making you more prone to non-traumatic injury.

You can help to control the abnormal movements of your feet and legs with “foot orthotics.”  Foot orthotics are inserts placed into your shoes which will help to control abnormal motions and put your feet and legs into better alignment.

A physical therapist can evaluate your walking mechanics, determine if your pain is related to your feet, and then recommend an appropriate foot orthotic.  Wearing the right foot orthotic will ensure that your “house of health” stays healthy for years to come by helping to reduce your pain and prevent future injuries.

Stride to Health is owned by Dean Teitelbaum PT, DPT.  Dean is a physical therapist and runner who lives in Simsbury.  His passion for health and running is what fueled his desire to open up a not-so-typical physical therapy practice.

“There are a lot of people out there who struggle to enjoy exercise and have a hard time getting healthy.  There are runners who struggle with pain, and those who want to run, but are scared off because they anticipate pain,” said Teitelbaum, who has run several marathons.

“Most of the time, a simple shift in running style and addressing any abnormal bio-mechanical issues can help to eliminate or prevent pain and injuries.  At Stride to Health, we also stress the importance of proper nutrition and hydration.”

Stride to Health offers physical therapy services to runners and non-runners.  “When it comes to physical therapy, we really want to get the patient to feel at least 80% better within 6 visits,” Teitelbaum said.  “Our success as physical therapists really depends upon how well the patient does their homework.  We help to normalize motion in the patient’s body and it is up to the patient to maintain this new state of health.  So, we like to empower the patient and let them know that they can control their health.”

The running coaching programs at Stride to Health take a non-conventional approach to running.  “We are more focused on ‘health’ than ‘fitness’.  Fitness and health are different.  Many runners may be able to run a marathon or run very fast, but that does not mean the inside of their bodies are healthy.  In fact, I’d be willing to argue that the vast majority of them are quite unhealthy,” said Teitelbaum.

The physical therapist points to running too fast and consuming too much sugar as major flaws with many runners training programs.  “Most runners are so focused on ‘winning’ and how fast their times are.  The problem with running fast is that the faster you run, the more acid your body produces.  The acid is what causes havoc to the insides of your body, leading to pain, injuries, and even disease.”

“We teach runners to slow down and run in their optimal fat burning zone, which produces less acid and leads to a much more enjoyable running experience.  We also teach people that ‘carbo-loading’ and eating ‘energy gels’ and other sugary foods is unhealthy.  Again, it comes down to too much acid in the body as sugar and starchy carbohydrates are very acidic.”

“If you’re looking to run for health, run a 5K race, or even a marathon, we can help you do that,” said Teitelbaum.  “If your goal is to run real fast and win a 5K race or marathon, we won’t help you do that, but we’ll be happy to help you with injuries or health issues you may come across in the process of training or after the race.”

Stride to Health offers foot orthotics to runners and non-runners.  These are inserts placed into your shoes which help to control motion in the foot.  By controlling the abnormal motions in the foot, Teitelbaum claims that one can reduce pain and prevent future injuries.

“Many pain symptoms in the feet, knees, hips and back can be traced back to your feet.  It’s all connected.  If your feet are moving abnormally, then your knees move abnormally, and then your hips move abnormally…and so on.  So with every step you take, you’re putting abnormal strain on your body which can lead to injury.  Foot orthotics help to correct that,” said Teitelbaum.

In addition to the services mentioned, Stride to Health also offers nutritional counseling and supplements and weight-loss programs.

Stride to Health is located at 730 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT in the rear of the building, just steps away from the ”rails to trails” running and biking trail.  They can be reached at (860) 325-0RUN (325-0786) and online at www.StrideToHealth.com.