New clients will get a comprehensive physical health assessment that includes a review of your health and activity history, fitness and health goals, and current fitness level. The first session may include a movement screen or a full movement analysis of your posture and functional movement patterns and assessment of your strength, mobility, flexibility, and balance. Programming is personalized to you, from the ground up or whatever your starting point. Sessions will integrate corrective exercise strategies if indicated from your assessment. Clients are provided detailed and thorough instruction on proper mechanics and form with safe progressions. Workouts change and evolve with you.

Training is provided from the unique perspective of a blend of personal fitness training and physical therapy to provide a safe, structured and effective approach to training. Programming is tailored to your specific needs. With a broader scope of practice Anne is able to provide hands-on techniques as well as safe modifications as may be required for those with chronic conditions or co-morbidities that otherwise would limit participation in exercise. A thorough assessment viewed through a physical therapy lens in the first session, and continuing through subsequent sessions, can reveal potential issues that will be addressed to reduce the risk of limitations and injuries. In addition to her background as a licensed physical therapist, Anne is also certified in myofascial decompression and is NASM credentialed as a personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist, senior fitness specialist, and stretch & flexibility coach. 

In addition to a review of static posture, it includes a thorough assessment of movement patterns, movement quality and postural alignment during dynamic functional movements. Assessing for mobility limitations, potential structural & functional impairments, muscle imbalances and compensation patterns, and relative flexibility. Therapeutic Fitness’s assessments may also include assessing balance, strength, mobility, flexibility, and fascial mobility. This analysis is not limited to just the first visit, ongoing assessment during sessions provides information on potential issues, optimizing movement and utilizing proper technique and making adjustments as indicated. The movement analysis determines your starting point for a safe and effective program.

Following a comprehensive movement assessment, corrective exercise is a systematic programming process used to address neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction using inhibitory, lengthening, activation, and integration techniques. Inhibition addresses myofascial restrictions (such as trigger points) that can limit ROM, flexibility, muscle firing patterns and lead to muscle imbalances. Lengthening addresses myofascial flexibility and soft tissue mobility. Activation addresses muscles that are underactive —whether in ability to fire and/or due to delayed firing. Integration is using functionally progressive movements to improve the function of all muscles working together synergistically. A program specific to you is developed as a program of it’s own,  integrated into your already existing exercise routine, or as part of the full exercise program developed by Therapeutic Fitness.

Yes! Restrictions in soft tissue flexibility can lead to muscle imbalances, compensations, decline in mobility, altered muscle firing patterns, localized micro muscle spasms, structural changes, altered or compressive forces on joints, and potentially injury or pain syndromes (such as patellafemoral, lateral hip, low back, neck… the list goes on). What your needs are is highly individualized and best discovered with a full assessment to understand the type and parameters of stretching that would work best for you (there is more than one way to stretch!)

It depends. We all know by now that NOT exercising is not good for you. Will exercise cause you harm - that depends on the cause of your back pain. You may need to modify your type or way of doing an activity but if you are compensating that could lead to further injury or pain. Evolutionary, pain is our brain’s way of signaling harm but that isn’t always the case - a feedback loop can be created, especially with chronic pain, that does not mean harm but the brain interprets it as such. If you are not sure, it is best to work with a professional that can assess and provide a safe and effective program so that you can exercise and do activities you want to do. 

The most important thing you can do for yourself is keep moving! Sedentary behavior leads to decline in overall function and general health. Will you need to modify? Maybe. But just because you are getting older does not mean you can’t do the activities you enjoy. And if you have never been a fan of exercising, it is never too late to start. Our bodies have an amazing ability to adapt, grow and change at any age. When you start to notice changes, limitations, and decreased mobility, flexibility or strength - don’t accept it as “normal aging” (it isn’t), address it! Not sure where to start? Start with a  professional that can assess, develop, monitor and progress a safe and effective  exercise program specific to you.