THE SMITH CLINIC FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY - Blog

He's in the Waiting

9/28/2020

There are often times in our lives that we find ourselves in a time of waiting. This season of life can look different for everyone. Some might be waiting to hear from a doctor, heal from an injury, begin a relationship, start a business, hear from a family member, find their dream job, see COVID restrictions lifted, or to see a seed of hope come from a hopeless situation. There are so many ways in which God asks us to wait throughout life, often making us wonder why it feels like He has forsaken us. I recently came across the blog post below and thought it was filled with encouragement for those who find themselves in the waiting. The verses it offers bring comfort and hope for hearts that may feel discouraged. The Lord is in the waiting. He does not withhold good things from those who walk uprightly. During this season, we remind ourselves to press further into the heart of God, instead of growing distant or callous. Often by waiting and engaging in prayer, our desires are shaped to look more like Christ; our character is matured and our dependence on Christ is strengthened. We must remember to place our ultimate trust in what does not change, the promises of Christ. Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, making Him the safest place to anchor our unwavering confidence. The promises of The Lord assure us and give us hope to hold onto even when we feel like we are missing out on our deepest desires. Christ is not slow to fulfill His promises, He is right on time and unrelenting. If you open your heart to Him, He will reveal more of Himself and give you a deeper love for His character. Take a second to read through some of the promises the Bible offers us in the waiting and be encouraged by the faithful kindness of our Father.

Read Full article here!

Whole Life Challenge

8/26/2020

Need some help jump-starting your goals during a global pandemic? Join us, as we partner with The Whole Life Challenge! We will help you get on track for the rest of 2020 AND give you the tools to get a healthy lifestyle!
6 WEEKS, 7 HABITS, 1 BETTER YOU!
Teaming up with our Smith Clinic staff, together we will track the 7 key habits of health and wellness:
Nutrition Exercise Mobilization Sleep Hydration Well-Being Reflection
What if I told you that in 6 weeks you could participate in something that could change you? Actually transform the way you live and feel. For 6 weeks, you’ll make the choice to invest in yourself – whether it be sleeping better, eating “cleaner”, or simply drinking more water. Yes, it will be a challenge, but also an exploration and for those who make it to the end – an accomplishment. Whole Life Challenge is a program designed to improve one or all of the following 7 Daily Habits: Nutrition, Exercise, Mobility, Hydration, Sleep, Well-Being, Reflection. By participating in the Challenge you will break through your comfort zone and do something you might not currently think is possible. Our goal is to create a culture of wellness and inclusiveness around this Challenge!
Package 1: You will receive TWO (2) InBody Assessments, Goal Setting Tools, a Beginning and Ending Fitness Test
Package 2: You will receive Goal Setting Tools, a Beginning and Ending Fitness Test
What is the InBody?
InBody is a machine that quickly measures your fat mass, muscle mass and body water levels. No pinching. No discomfort. Simply stand on the device and hold the hand electrodes. We will save your data, creating charts and more, so we (and you!) can easily track your progress!
The Whole Life Challenge begins Sept. 26th and ends Nov. 4th Registration fees are as follows:
Package 1: Individual: $80 Couple: $150 Family: $175
Package 2: Individual: $50 Couple: $90 Family: $100
Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. Don't Wait! Let us help you make 2020 your healthiest year yet... Join our team today!
To Register: Come by the front desk and fill out a registration form or email smithclinicelliegrace@gmail.com your name, number, date, and package choice.
Once you complete registration, we will send you everything you need to hit the ground running, including a deep dive into the game rules.

Come Try the InBody

8/24/2020

What is the InBody Test?

What does your weight really represent? When you step on a scale, you can’t see how much muscle or fat you have. All you see is how heavy you weigh.

Go beyond the scale with the InBody Test, a non-invasive body composition analysis that provides a detailed breakdown of your weight in terms of muscle, fat, and water on an InBody Result Sheet. An InBody Test can take anywhere from 15-120 seconds, depending on the model used.

No more pinching. No more dunking. Get results you can trust so you can reach your health and fitness goals with precision and actionable objectives.

Do you want to take an InBody Test? The Smith Clinic for Physical Therapy has appointments available for scheduling.

If you would like to make an appointment to measure your weight breakdown, please call us at (901) 756-1650 for pricing/scheduling. We would love to help you on your journey to health and fitness.

PT is more important now than ever

5/27/2020

In light of the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic, we want to ensure that our patients continue to make progress toward their goals and recovery. Staying on track with your plan of care is more important now than ever, which is why we are staying committed to your wellness and safety during this uncertain time.

Increased sedentary activity and increased levels of stress resulting from the current pandemic and social distancing have the potential to intensify symptoms for those suffering from chronic pain. This in addition to the fact that many elective surgeries are being postponed, there is an even greater need for therapists to continue to help relieve pain and manage symptoms as patients wait for their doctor appointments and/or surgeries to be rescheduled.

As you train or exercise, you build strength, endurance, and power, but when you stop exercising, those effects can deteriorate quite rapidly. While home exercise programs are helpful, they don’t have the same impact as in-clinic treatment. By continuing your visits to the clinic, our therapists are able to provide more comprehensive assessments and updates as you progress. This is especially important for our patients who are post-operative or at risk for falls.

In light of such uncertain times, we want to assure you that our clinic is a safe environment for you to come to rehabilitate your injuries. We ultimately want to get you back to being you. Whatever your treatment goals may be, we believe the single-biggest factor in a successful recovery from injury is completing the recommended course of care.

Thank you for partnering with us so that we can continue to provide you with the highest level of care, enabling us to help you return to the activities you love.

The Smith Clinic Family Welcomes Newest Addition!

5/20/2020

We are overjoyed to announce the arrival of the newest member to the Smith Clinic Family! Baby Blake Ross was born on 5/12/20, weighing 8lbs 9oz and measuring 20 inches long. Please join us in congratulating Josh and Kelsey and help is welcome sweet Blake to the SC family!💙

Cheers to 20 YEARS!!!!!

5/11/2020

We celebrate 20 YEARS in business today! What a ride it has been! We are grateful beyond words for the love and support we have received over the last two decades, and we look forward to serving you for many more!

Here are a few pics from our celebration today, along with a few from our first days 20 years ago!

The Smith Clinic Welcomes New PT: Meg Bolton

5/5/2020

The Smith Clinic is thrilled to introduce you to the newest addition to our staff and Smith Clinic family: Physical Therapist, Meg Bolton! A native Memphian, Meg received her undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi, most recently, her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

A fun fact about Meg? She is a twin! Her twin brother is a 2nd year medical student at UTHSC, and their younger brother is currently a baseball player in college. Meg is very close to her family, and she frequently enjoys playing them in games for some friendly competition.

When Meg is not spending time with family, she enjoys watching movies, exercising & playing sports, going on walks with my friends, and painting with my mom in her art studio. She has also recently developed a fondness for pickle ball.

In discussing why she chose physical therapy as a career path, Meg explained, "I’ve always known that I’ve wanted to be a part of the Healthcare industry and have also been passionate about exercising. I’ve experienced first-hand how life-changing Physical Therapy is during a time of chronic pain. Having seen and experienced how beneficial PT can be is what lead to me to pursue a career in Physical Therapy so that in return I may help give others that enhanced quality of life that I’ve received. I also value the opportunity to develop relationships with patients and try to be a light during a time of pain and uncertainty."

When asked about her recent decision to join the Smith Clinic, Meg stated, "I’m most excited about joining the Smith Clinic family, because of the positive and loving environment they embody. It is a family atmosphere, and I respect the way everyone performs their jobs and how well they serve their patients."

We couldn't be more excited to have you join The Smith Clinic family, Meg...we know everyone with love you just as much as we do!

Smith Clinic Celebrates 20 Years!!

5/1/2020

Common Springtime Injuries... And How to Avoid Them

4/21/2020

Spring is now in motion and, especially with us in quarantine, we are all moving around more at home. Whether it's diving into spring cleaning, running or biking, or driving balls, this invigorating time can also coincide with an increase in injuries.

Unless you’ve been very active all winter, we encourage you to start your spring activity slowly and deliberately over the course of several days. Let your body adapt to the increase in movement and work. Your muscles and joints will not cooperate if you jump in cold turkey at high intensity and for long periods, and this makes the perfect recipe for an injury.

To avoid injury, here are some tips for you to consider as you become more active this spring:

For spring cleaning
Start with light objects earlier in the day to warm up. Let your body get used to walking, squatting repetitively and lifting. Your muscles and joints will loosen up and will be able to take on bigger tasks and loads as the day progresses—without the risk of overuse or sudden injury.

For running
When the weather warms up, the pavement dries out and the birds start singing. It’s as if you’ve been given a natural invitation to start running! But if you start too quickly and go too far, you will set yourself up for shin splints, knee pain, calf and achilles tendonitis. The best way to avoid these injuries is to alternate between walking and running, and to keep your distance low for the first few weeks. Walking 2 minutes and running 30 seconds is a very good way to getting accustomed to your “new” running legs. Over the following three weeks, you can increase the running time and decrease the walking time.

For biking
When you start riding your bike in the spring—whether it’s a road, mountain or upright bike— the first miles will result in generalized soreness to your neck, shoulders and back. At the beginning of your season, avoid hills, get used to a regular cadence, and only ramp up the distance travelled once your body is well adjusted.

For golfing
When springtime arrives, there’s a strong pull to get to the golf course to swing some clubs. Having good game when it comes to golf means consistency: same velocity, same angles, same technique, same arc of swing. But this consistency can lead to overuse injuries. So before you jump onto the course, make sure your lower extremities are flexible or else your low back spine will take the torque and stress at the end of your swing. Also, for the first few weeks of play, avoid your full swing. You need to make sure you build up your functional range before pushing the depth of your swing.

An ounce of prevention goes a long way to ensure a long and enjoyable lifestyle for the spring and summer seasons. If you do find yourself injured or sore, try abiding by RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). If pain persists or gets worse, however don't delay. Promptly call us to schedule an appointment, and let us get you back on track as quickly as possible!

Healthy Recipes for Easy Spring Meals

4/16/2020

Spend your free time in the sunshine, not stressing in the kitchen. These easy, delicious dinners will last you all spring and beyond. From salmon and shrimp to taco wraps and flatbreads, these recipes will help you ease out of the heavy meals of winter and into light, fresher produce once again.