Eczema is a topic that hits close to home for me—born and raised with arms and legs smothered in steroidal creams and endless itch. My mother had no choice at the time; few alternative treatments were offered. I remember the stinging, the scratching until I bled, especially during every sport season when shin guards and sweat made my legs erupt in pain. As I entered adulthood the frequency of flare-ups eased but the condition quietly lingered.

Endurance is fundamental to athletic performance, whether training for a marathon, engaging in sports, or enhancing daily stamina. However, effective endurance training transcends merely increasing mileage or prolonged treadmill sessions. A strategic, balanced approach can elevate cardiovascular capacity, prevent injuries, and boost overall performance without overtaxing your body.

The ADD and Gluten Connection

Join me with our amazing nutritionist from Ivy Integrative for a Q&A all about the importance of gut health and Parkinson's disease 

Gratitude has been my guiding light through some of the darkest chapters of my life. One of the most challenging times was during the height of COVID-19 while I was working in a skilled nursing facility. I witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of social isolation as depression and dementia rates skyrocketed. The heaviness of the environment weighed on me daily, seeing patients disconnected from loved ones, grappling with loneliness, and losing their sense of purpose.

Manganese is an essential mineral required in small amounts for bone formation, blood clotting, and overall metabolic health. However, recent evidence has highlighted alarming risks associated with drinking water contaminated with high levels of manganese. Excessive exposure to manganese, particularly through water sources, has now been linked to serious health concerns, including neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and even cancer.

What is Fascia? Fascia is a connective tissue that encases every muscle, bone, nerve, and organ in your body, providing structural...

For over a decade, I've dedicated my career as a physical therapist to helping others live their best lives, especially within the geriatric community. From acute care and skilled nursing to assisted living and private homes, I've witnessed the incredible diversity in health, physical function, and vitality among people of all ages. This experience has fueled my passion for understanding what truly contributes to optimal health, longevity, and the art of aging gracefully. In

Plastic pollution has become an ever-present concern, infiltrating our environment from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans. Microplastics, ranging from tiny nanoparticles to visible fragments, have saturated our surroundings, finding their way into our bodies through food, water, and even the air we breathe.

Balance control is extremely important in athletic performance and exercise, and studies correlate its role in injury prevention. In Parkinson’s, exercise is truly the only “pill” for maintaining progression of the disease, so wearing appropriate footwear to facilitate the best exercise abilities at all times is crucial. Proprioception is a fancy word that plays the biggest role in balance, meaning knowing where your body is in space. Studies have shown that proprioception of

This month at Ivy, we're diving deep into a topic very close to my heart: maternal health! Before this year, I'll be honest - I didn't fully grasp the challenges that all the incredible Mamas out there face. Parenthood wasn't on my radar, and frankly, I wasn't ready for it. But life has a funny way of surprising us, doesn't it?

Chronic pain can be a persistent challenge that significantly impacts the quality of life for many individuals. While there are various approaches to managing chronic pain, the combination of yoga and physical therapy has emerged as a powerful and holistic solution. In this blog, we will explore the numerous benefits of integrating yoga and physical therapy into a comprehensive pain management plan.

In the intricate dance between mind and body, certain muscles play a crucial role not only in physical well-being but also in the realm of emotions. One such hidden gem nestled deep within our core is the psoas muscle. Often overlooked, the psoas is more than just a physical connector—it's an emotional muscle that weaves the tapestry of our feelings and experiences.

The holiday season is officially in full force with Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas decorations beginning to take over. Most...

While working as a physical therapist for many years, the number one complaint that people will come into clinic for is BACK PAIN! It seems like nearly everyone these days (or someone very close to them) can claim to have suffered from episodes of back soreness. Most recurrent episodes stem from the amount of time spent seated in a chair or in the same static positions, usually with poor posture.

My name is Sarah Apple Kingsley and I have been a practicing physical therapist since I received my Doctorate in 2014. During my first 5...

If you have ever experienced low back pain, had a coach/trainer and/or ever gone to physical therapy, I am willing to bet you were told (or felt the need) to STRETCH your hamstrings. You probably felt a cramping and tightness sensation in the back of your legs and thought, “if I could just stretch these further, deeper and more often, the pain will go away.” Despite continuing to stretch, whether regularly or infrequently, these symptoms often do not improve. For some people

Asthma is termed as a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the airways. It is characterized by hypersensitivity to stimuli and...

Alzheimer’s Disease is a form of Dementia that is more specifically diagnosed by the presence of beta amyloid plaques within the brain. They especially like to target the Hippocampus, which is where we store our memories. This contributes to short and long term memory loss in individuals diagnosed.

High blood pressure or hypertension is a serious health condition that often shows no symptoms. However, it puts you at a greater risk of developing heart disease, strokes, and even cancer. The increased pressure buildup in your arteries and throughout your cardiovascular system puts an increased strain on your heart, nervous system and entire immune system making you more susceptible to many chronic and autoimmune diseases.

Most people think of NEEDING physical therapy only when they are injured, in pain or prescribed by a doctor…

Ever been to a yoga class because you were having pain, only to find after the class you felt in more or the same pain? That’s because NOT ALL YOGA IS CREATED EQUAL. Most yoga classes and yogic postures are based on thousands of years ago and were actually designed for a males body type. Women’s bodies, joints and alignment are different from males, and not meant to excessively over rotate in the hips and pelvis.

Depression rates have continued to rise in America, and these rates were especially increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. While social isolation and financial risks and concerns associated with job losses contribute to a high portion of these increased rates, I also believe that there were other contributing factors.

Scientists, physical therapists, and physicians have always known balance to be an important health aspect. Falls and fall related injuries, incidences and hospitalizations account for a major sum of our health care expenses. However, there is now new information that actually confirms that balance is a key proponent of good health and longevity. A recent study published in the British Journal of Medicine Longevity scientists administered a ten-second balance test to 1,792 pe

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that can not only affect your joints but many other body systems as well. RA can cause a wide variety of symptoms, impacting the lungs, skin, kidneys, eyes, heart, bone marrow and blood vessels. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused from typical wear and tear to the bones and joints, RA differs in that your immune system is attacking its own body tissues and joint lining. This leads to painful swelling a

Sleep is one of the most underestimated components of healthy living and success in life as well as exercise performance. In today’s world we are suffering from a sleep loss epidemic. We are now, more than ever, surrounded by countless distractions, technology, thoughts, worries and stressors that make sleep challenging. Maybe you are having trouble getting into bed because you just had to send one last email, or finish one last episode of the show you were binge watching. Or

As summer comes to a close, it’s time to get those kiddos back in school. The heat and high activity levels may have increased your kid’s calorie intake with foods less favorable than veggies. Yes…I’m talking about the ice cream, popsicles, goldfish, hot dogs, and BBQ. But as we get back into school mode, keep in mind that there will likely be less time playing and more time sitting. We want to fuel our kid’s bodies with good nutrients to help their brains pay attention to ne

***This blog is intended for medical professionals

Ever heard of the phrase “I just had this gut feeling?” Well, believe it or not, there is actually a lot of scientific merit to support this long-used phrase. Our brain-gut axis, also referred to as our HPA axis, is a newer term in the medical field that reveals a direct connection between what we consume and the hormones our bodies produce in response. This includes foods, prescription and over the counter medications, as well as other toxins and pollutants from the environm

June is Skin Health Month and also my personal favorite month (as my birthday is in June!). What better way to celebrate than to discuss my new found favorite topic FASCIA ! So what is this new buzz word?

May is detox month, and while this word has become quite the craze and fad, there are many ways of detoxing improperly that can actually lead to further imbalances in the body. We are surrounded by toxins on a daily basis, today more so than ever. Many additives are proven endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and skin and lung irritants. You can find these in your hair care products, lotions and body oils, makeup, soap, toothpaste and oral care products, all household products,

Vibration Plate exercise and therapies are spreading throughout the nation due to the many benefits they provide the body. Research has shown that use of these plates can alleviate back and joint pain by improving core strength and circulation, boosting metabolism by encouraging your body to burn fat faster, and decreasing stress through increased serotonin production and decreased cortisol hormones. Using vibration plates can improve strength and flexibility with improved st

New diagnoses of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, mild cognitive impairment continue to increase as well as findings of new and rare conditions continue to emerge and increase at an alarming rate. Moreover, anyone can experience symptoms of brain fog at any age, and it all stems down to the number one cause of all disease and illness…..INFLAMMATION! Medical doctors thought conditions such as these affecting the brain wer

As I mentioned in my other brain health blog, exercise is crucial to brain health because it produces what is called BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) which is literally like food for the brain cells! I have been an avid exercise advocate since I was a kid, captain of my ice and field hockey teams and voted most athletic high school senior superlative (yes I went to a small high school.) I have tried most forms of exercise ranging from running, weight lifting, pilates,

Research continues to grow on the fascinating heart muscle, teaching us that it is so much more than just an efficient pump that sustains life. The heart can actually be seen as an access point to a source of wisdom and intelligence that we can call upon to live our lives with more creativity, balance and intuitive capacity. We have known for years that the heart is the source of insight, emotion, and courage, however upon studying brain wave activity it has been discovered t

Lately, I have seen an increase in those suffering from symptoms of vertigo or dizziness. Many have noticed vertigo and other neurological side effects post COVID vaccine or infection. There is a difference between “dizziness,”more of a lightheaded feeling which can be solely from dehydration, hunger, or change in blood pressure when changing positions too quickly, and “vertigo,” a sensation of the room spinning around you, which has more to do with your vestibular system.

Whether you are male, female, or non binary, we as human beings all have a pelvis. Males or XY chromosomes have a slightly smaller space between the two iliac crests, while females or XX chromosomes tend to have a wider girth in order to support the load of bearing a child. Regardless of gender, pelvic floor health is incredibly important and symptoms of dysfunction are so much more common than people realize or tend to think about. Have you ever had increased urgency or freq

Have you been diagnosed with “sciatica?” Although a common back issue, many doctors are quick to diagnose these vague back, hip and leg pains as sciatica when it may not be the case. Much less discussed, and susceptible to irritation – if not more so in modern society – are the superior and inferior gluteal nerves.

With the new year in full swing and putting the holiday season behind us, many of us are feeling a bit guilty about overindulging during the holidays and may make resolutions about weight loss, physical fitness, or new lifestyle habits. The issue with “resolutions” is that often times we make them unattainable and don’t set realistic goals to keep ourselves on track, making it easy to fall off the wagon and never get back on. I personally have never believed in New Year’s res

The holiday season is in full swing, and with these cold weather days, the stresses of gift buying, traveling and surplus of heavy foods and sweets, it can be easy to put our good health mindsets and practices on the back burner. There are a few key things to remember about indulging – or not – this time of year to keep your mind and body sane, safe and healthy.

Lung health in general is important for all in our daily lives, but breath takes on an even more important role during yoga practice. Our breath is our life force and our energy (Prana); without it life is impossible. A human can go days without food or water but only minutes without oxygen to the lungs. Taking the time to be mindful and focus on your breath will help to improve focus, decrease stress, decrease risk for injury and improve overall health.

You might be familiar with the term “Stroke” from a relative, friend or perhaps someone famous on TV experiencing this broad spectrum of medical events. The World Health Organization (WHO), defines a stroke as “rapidly developing clinical symptoms and/or signs of focal, and at times global, loss of cerebral function, with symptoms lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin.” A stroke is a term that is also known a

Mental health awareness has recently become a more prevalent theme in social discourse. The COVID pandemic took a major toll on families financially, physically, emotionally and perhaps most of all mentally. Lives were flipped upside down, causing mental stress for many as human beings are creatures of habits and schedules. Socially we found ourselves isolated, hiding behind the zoom screens while losing much of our typical personal and physical connection. Depression rates s

Thyroid Health – Association and Risks for Frozen Shoulder

What is Chronic Inflammation?