Category: Newsletter

PT Anna Stoick’s Valentine’s Day Tips for Heart Health

Hey there, it’s Anna! So much has happened since I last wrote you one of these newsletters in July. The world finally said goodbye to 2020, Advanced Practice PT celebrated its ninth anniversary, and most importantly of all (at least to me), I got a new last … CONTINUE READING

Your Guide to Cooking Oil

Cooking oils have experienced a renaissance in recent decades. Today, health experts point to oils as essential sources of key vitamins and nutrients. So, why did we ever give up oils in the first place? Well, not all oil is created equal! Some cooking oils are good for you while others should be enjoyed  … CONTINUE READING

You’re Building Muscle While You Rest

February is the month when many of us give up on New Year’s resolutions. We lose motivation, or life simply gets in the way. If you find yourself sitting on the couch more than you did in January, when you may have been actively pursuing your fitness goals, consider this permission to sit a little while longer: Rest days are good for you! Here’s … CONTINUE READING

© 2021 Newsletter Pro. All rights reserved.

Goal-Setting Tips from a Fitness Expert

When I was a kid, I used to play every sport under the sun. Volleyball, basketball, track and field — I loved them all! Health and fitness were my passions back then, and they’re still front and center for me today as a physical therapist. Considering that, it’s probably no surprise that I … CONTINUE READING

Don’t Shy Away From Talking About Your Pelvic Floor

It can be awkward to talk about, but pelvic floor health can have a significant impact on your lifestyle and happiness. For many, the pelvic floor is a source of pain and incontinence, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Your pelvic floor is just like any other body part; with proper strength, it can … CONTINUE READING

Are You Up for a Challenge?

Everyone’s done it. We’ve rung in the new year on the promise that this is our year to get healthy. We’re going to finally lose the weight, eat healthier, and feel better than ever. Sadly, many of us … CONTINUE READING

© 2021 Newsletter Pro. All rights reserved.

All I Want for Christmas Is … Takeout? Yes, Please!

When you see a big pile of white and red Chinese takeout containers, what’s your first thought? Maybe your mind leaps to “movie night,” “game day,” or even “hangover cure.” All of those would be pretty normal reactions, but if you sat someone from my family of six down in front of that spread, I guarantee their first thought … CONTINUE READING

Perfect Fit

Buying the wrong shoes can have a profound impact on your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. If you don’t get the right support, it can affect the health of several areas throughout your legs. Adversely, buying good shoes can help you maintain better health through these same areas. It just comes down to finding the … CONTINUE READING

Physical Therapy Before Surgery?

Physical therapy has become a common part of most post-surgery rehabilitation routines. However, did you know that going through physical therapy prior to your surgery can benefit your recovery process as well? Strange as it might sound, strengthening your muscles and joints before surgery — after which they’ll most certainly be weaker — can ensure that you recover faster. This is called “prehabilitation,” … CONTINUE READING

© 2020 The Newsletter Pro. All rights reserved.

3 Thanksgiving Mistakes I Won’t Make This Year

Do you ever fall into bed at the end of the day and think, “Man, if only I could do today all over again?” That’s how I felt last Thanksgiving, which was my very first Thanksgiving in Great Falls. As you might remember, we had a big snowstorm just before Turkey Day that covered all the roads with snow and ice. My boyfriend, Adam, and I were planning a road trip to North Dakota to visit his family for the holiday, but … CONTINUE READING

What Is Family Burnout?

According to one study from 2018, over half of all parents surveyed were experiencing some form of burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, lack of professional satisfaction, etc.) — and that was before the pandemic. Now, as the world enters the eighth month of the coronavirus pandemic, many parents are working from home or dealing with … CONTINUE READING

How to Measure Your Oxygen Uptake

Unless you’re a seasoned endurance athlete, you probably don’t know exactly what a VO2 max score is — but understanding it can benefit athletes at all levels. In short, your VO2 max score (also known as maximal oxygen uptake) is … CONTINUE READING

© 2020 The Newsletter Pro. All rights reserved.

Andrea’s Tips for Staying Active in a COVID-19 World

How are you doing today? If your answer is, “Not so great,” you’re not alone. This marathon of a pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, and I think we’re all having trouble getting off the couch right now. Personally, I’ve been relying on the tips and tricks I’ve learned as a physical therapist to stay positive, fit, and healthy during this tough … CONTINUE READING

How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Though there are very real medical conditions, such as insomnia and sleep apnea, that deprive people of sleep, the reason most of us probably don’t get enough sleep is simply because we put off our bedtime. Instead of getting into bed, we opt to check off another item on our to-do list or watch another episode of our favorite show. This is sometimes called “bedtime procrastination.” We all know a good night’s sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, so how can we stop putting it … CONTINUE READING

Is Celery Juice All It Claims to Be?

Every couple years, a new “healthy” food or drink makes its rounds through celebrity social media accounts. Some of them are okay and actually have health benefits, but others are outright dangerous. Over the past few years, it appears that celery juice is one of the latest health fads purported to help with weight loss, skin health, digestive issues, and more. Some claims even border on the miraculous. So, how many of them are …CONTINUE READING

© 2020 The Newsletter Pro. All rights reserved.

It’s Time to Celebrate!

It’s hard to believe, but just a few weeks ago on Aug. 1, our little business turned 9! It seems like just yesterday that Dawn, Andrea, and I walked into the empty building that would become Advanced Practice Physical Therapy. The year was 2011, and the building was the vacant site of a company called Johnson Controls. It didn’t look much like a physical therapy office, but with a little bit of love and a lot of renovation, we managed to turn it into our … CONTINUE READING

How Stress Can Lead to Injury

While it’s pretty intuitive that physical stressors can cause physical injuries, you might not know that mental and emotional stress can also lead to musculoskeletal injuries that require physical therapy. That’s right — a lack of sleep, a busy workweek, and other stressful life events can make you more prone to injury. Why is this, and how can you prevent the stresses of everyday life from … CONTINUE READING

Feel the Burn From Your Living Room

Your living room might not be the most conducive environment for a good workout. But as the world continues to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus, working out at the gym, or any other public facility, is out of the question for many of us. Fortunately, you can still work up a sweat from home with the right workout videos for a fraction of the cost of a monthly gym membership. Here are a few …CONTINUE READING

© 2020 The Newsletter Pro. All rights reserved.

Wedding Bells Are Ringing!

Hello everyone, it’s Anna here! Dawn asked me to step in and write this month’s newsletter because I have some big news to share: If everything goes to plan, then next month on Aug. 15, my fiancé, Brian, and I will be tying the knot on the shore of the … CONTINUE READING

Build Stronger Knees Without Surgery

Knee injuries are all too common for professional athletes and weekend warriors alike, but the problem may originate higher than you think. Many knee injuries can be tied to hip weaknesses. Because hip muscles play a big role in controlling the position of the knees, even slight imbalances can lead to problematic knee flexion or … CONTINUE READING

What Should I Wear to Physical Therapy?

When your doctor refers you to a physical therapist after an injury, you may be wondering what you should wear to your appointments. If you’ve never been to physical therapy before, it’s natural not to know what to expect — much less what to wear while …CONTINUE READING

© 2020 The Newsletter Pro. All rights reserved.