RISE UP Blog
We share evidence-based information, reflections, and expertise in wellness, longevity running, pelvic health, lifting, dance, chronic pain, and being the best version of YOU that you can be!
Celebrating Black History in Physical Therapy
Today, the field of physical therapy is a doctoring profession that allows physical therapists to have autonomy as health care providers and an education that prepares them to be true experts in musculoskeletal and movement medicine.
Dr. Mary McKinney Edmonds, PT, DSc, PhD, FAPTA
But we would not be able to deliver our high-level care, diagnoses, and expertise without this black woman pioneer, Dr. Mary McKinney Edmonds (1932-2017). Dr. Mary founded the Physical Therapy program at Clevland State University and spear-headed the autonomy in the field to advance rehab specific research and to shift physical therapy education to the doctorate degree.
She boldly advocated for minority and women students and faculty in the field of physical therapy given the extreme lack of minorities within the profession. It is clear we must continue the work she started as minorities make up less than 23% of the workforce among physical therapists in the US!
Dr. Efosa Guobadia, PT, DPT
That brings us to the current landscape of physical therapy and diversity, I want to highlight an incredibly influential physical therapist, friend, and global citizen, Dr. Efosa Guobadia.
Dr. Efosa has made a profound impact in the field through starting programs and businesses that highlight service to the world as core tenants of our profession. He founded PT Haven, an online resource for rehab information, and is the co-director of Global PT Day of Service. He also founded a non-profit called Move Together which has been instrumental in empowering clinicians to create positive change in their communities and in other communities around the world. Move Together has helped build multiple rehab clinics internationally to provide free care to those in need. Efosa’s mission is to “increase access to quality rehab medicine around the corner and around the world.”
Our nation and our world has historically erased the contributions of black game changers, scientists, and pioneers. I want RISE to be a part of changing that by celebrating and elevating the work of black men, women, and other minorities of which our country was built on. I thank them for their contributions in the face of adversity, and want to emphasize the evidence that we need each other to come together to make this world a better place.
Learn more about Global PT Day of Service and Move Together and help support Dr. Efosa’s vision of inclusion!
Getting those spins on point!
How controlled are your spins? Are you leaving yourself at risk for injury?
If you are a professional dancer, a performer, a weekend social dancer, a social media sensation, or simply dance for a hobby, improving your dance skills is a constant. Especially SPINS! Not only do we need to be working on the efficiency of our spins for our own performance and to reduce risk of injury to ourselves, but also for the sake of our dance partners.
Leads, follows, solo dancers…we all need to learn how to control balance and momentum in order to nail those reaches, spins, kiz tricks, and pirouettes. When we first learn spins we are all over the place, can I get a witness? So we practice keeping our center of mass over our feet, keeping free limbs close & controlled, spotting in front of a mirror, and subconsciously calculating force, direction, and friction on the floor. But what about what we can do inside our bodies to help protect ourselves from injury and perfect those spins, tricks, and all things on the dance floor?
While there are sooo many things to focus on, improving core strength takes it for the win!
In order for our bodies to create that perfectly controlled circle, our abdominal and core muscles must work to achieve the rotational momentum necessary along with our hip rotator muscles and stabilizers. Think about it, how else could we spin without pushing off of anything!? Try it. Stand on one leg, then without pushing off with your other leg…spin! See how your upper body turns first? It all stems for the CORE (aka. our trunk muscles…and how they coordinate with our hip muscles)!
Ok, blah blah blah…so why does this matter? Research shows that dancers (both recreational dancers and performers…especially performers with how much y’all put your bodies through) who demonstrate poor core and abdominal strength are at a higher risk of injury and actually sustain injuries more often (Russell, JA. 2013). Yikes! And you thought sit ups were over rated. Research also shows dancers who perform core exercises 3 days per week can significantly improve balance and performance with spins, reaches, relevé, and pirouette within 8 weeks of starting core training (Watson et al. 2017). So I think we have a real clear sign for ALL of us to immediately start improving our spin performance and reduce injury, both on and off the dance floor, just by hitting some sit ups and planks weekly. Just like that!
You may be thinking, ‘So what do I do Dr. Steph?’, glad you asked! Let’s break it down with some examples to strengthen together…