BLOG

3 Strategies for Bone Health
Bone loss is considered the “silent thief” of aging. You can’t see it like you can with muscle loss (or grey hairs!). When I talk about bone health in the clinic, I am more interested in your unique fracture profile.
How likely are you to fall?
What...

Protein for Low Bone Mass

Bone growth is a tough task. You can optimize your movement, improve balance, and take medications, but without a targeted nutrition plan – you’re still in the dark. Protein is a key regulator of muscle protein growth. With age, we become less efficient at...

Today, we’re sharing 3 home tests you can do for to gague and improve your posture. 

Ultimate Spine and Shoulder Posture Test

The Dowel Overhead Test measures an overlooked aspect of health – your posture. By taking this measurement, you can improve flexibility and reduce...

#1 Tip For Osteoarthritis Treatment

Preservation of your hip capsule is the MOST important factor in an effective hip arthritis treatment. If you have pain with walking, difficulty with flexibility, or trouble getting off the toilet – it could be your hip...

So a lot of people come in and they say, why am I not getting stronger? And I’ve been doing X, Y, and Z and I can do 20, 30 reps of, let’s say, a dead deadlift. Well, we’re gonna learn something today that’s called progressive tissue overload. It incorporates ...

Strength training is hard with knee pain. Trust me, I’ve had three knee surgeries, and often struggle with it too. This week, we are providing resources for people that are looking for osteoarthritis treatment at the gym safely and effectively.

The exercises we’ll be covering in this...

Most people are aware of the common risk factors for their health. Smoking, drinking, and eating unhealthy foods – all can contribute to chronic conditions. I enjoy having a beer with my friends, and I know that that might not always be good for me. It is important that these...

Hi everyone, Dr. Donovan here. Really excited to share what we have today on why bones matter.

It’s something I educate people a lot on in the clinic; how their osteoporosis profile relates to what they can do, and what they maybe shouldn’t do. All of these include...

What’s your baseline activity level? Are you getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week? How about the two days of multiple segment strength training?

A quarter of adults and eight percent of older adults achieve the recommended dose of exercise per week.

Well,...

Physical resilience is our ability to bounce back following a negative health stressor. Whether it’s stress-related or a physical injury, building a reservoir of resilience allows room for setbacks in life.

Health stressors come in many different shapes and sizes. They could be the...

While many states places restrictions on access to physical therapy, Colorado is among those that permit “direct access” to PT. If you live in Colorado, are you reaping the benefits of that?

What is direct access?

Direct access to physical therapy means that insurance will cover your...

When it comes to staying upright, it’s important that your body’s physical components – particularly your muscles, joints and bones – are in good shape. If you can keep these healthy, you have a much lower chance of falling.

Muscles and joints

...

It seems the older we get, the harder it is to perform precision movements like buttoning shirts or grip tasks like picking up a fork or opening a jar. Hand arthritis can cause joint damage and is one of the health conditions that can accelerate the hand’s aging. Hand arthritis can make it...

Riding a bike is great exercise for older adults—until that first twinge of bike saddle pain!

During the pandemic, biking has provided a welcomed way for people of all ages to stay active. When seasonal changes like flowers or leaves offer a beautiful backdrop for your ride, your...

Trouble sleeping at night is a common complaint among seniors. Whether it’s due to medications, poor sleep hygiene, health conditions or other issues, the result is the same—insomnia. Another common problem, especially for seniors 65 to 74 years old, is peptic ulcers....

It can be overwhelming when your parent or spouse is diagnosed with dementia. At times, you might feel frustrated and confused by the increasing difficulty you have communicating with your loved one. And you most likely won’t be the only one in the relationship experiencing...

Did you know that changing how you think can increase your lifespan, make you healthier and improve your memory, too? It’s true! No matter how old you are, positive change is always possible. Mindset matters!

Two beliefs to increase longevity

Being optimistic doesn’t mean being a...

Discharge instructions are not always something we take seriously. Sometimes they just end up in the recycle bin. But paying more attention to the post-treatment weeks can contribute to your full, pain-free recovery, according to Dr. Patrick Donovan, owner and physical therapist at ...

When it comes to life expectancy and how good you feel as you age, there are many factors at play. You can’t control your genetics, but you can give yourself a big advantage by making healthy lifestyle choices. Get smart about your diet, activity level, daily routine and...

Men over the age of 40 know that testosterone gradually declines as they age. Fear not—this is perfectly normal. Still, sexual dysfunction causes side effects that can be distressing for men as well as their sexual partners. If you’re an older man, you should be able to experience...

Are you noticing a hump forming on your spine? Is your head a little in front of your shoulders?

Hyperkyphosis is the condition that causes the hump and general stooping. Whether you’re afraid of developing hyperkyphosis or aging has already begun the progression of the condition,...

If you’re over 65, you have likely heard that you need to make sure you don’t fall. However, many people don’t know how to do that; how can you make sure something doesn’t happen? But since falls can limit mobility, well-being, and even lifespan, it’s...

Information abounds for older adults about the importance of cardio and strength training, but there’s less data available on flexibility training. However, a handful of studies do show that improving flexibility is key for increasing your comfort and longevity as you age.  

Why...

Syncope, or fainting, is common in adults 65 and older, with research suggesting that more than 20% of older adults have syncopal episodes. But today we know that you can live well and stay safe with the condition.

What is Syncope?

It’s regarded as “fainting” or...