Next Level Movement PT

I’ve been so slammed with a busy schedule that I completely missed it. 😂

Next Level Movement Physical Therapy and Wellness turned FIVE YEARS OLD this past Wednesday!!!

I’m so honored and humbled to have five years’ worth of trust and relationships in the Lexington Parkinson’s community.

Here’s to more years, and more ways I can help make Lexington a shining example of living well with Parkinson’s. 💜🌷

“What’s PT going to show me that I can’t do myself?”

That’s an excellent question.
I do some bodywork on the side for active individuals (subtle plug), and one of the folks I was working with asked me that question.

She’d been having some nagging pain and her doctor recommended PT. (So was I, for that matter.)

But I get it. When you’re already diligent with stretches and exercise, and you have a fair grasp of the power of YouTube, carving time out to see a PT for your problem can seem…unnecessary.
Here’s what I told her:

“You come to this gym for personal training, right? What do you do here that you couldn’t do by yourself?”

She paused. I continued.

“It’s more than exercises. Anyone can find those on the Internet.

“It’s having someone watch you move and hand-pick WHICH exercises you should do, HOW *you* should do them, and explain to you WHY they’re going to help.

“And then progress your plan steadily toward your goals.”

She understood. Still wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but understood. 😂
Anyway, if you’re stuck on the YouTube hamster wheel of symptom management, I can help you out. If nothing else, I can at least point you to the right YouTube content!

Just shoot me a message and we’ll schedule a time to chat.

You should be having fun in your physical therapy sessions. (Is that a “hot take”?)

💁 For example, my first patient today was an individual with Parkinson’s. They’re very active, including Rock Steady Boxing classes a few times a week.

➡️ We’re working on turning more efficiently and safely, since they tend to get tangled over their own feet.

🕺 Cue the dance steps and boxing basics!! 🥊

Step-tapping to the sides, turning down the line, turning on the spot, initiating with the head vs the feet, arms as an extension of the feet, and so on.

I wish I had a picture to share, but we were too busy having fun. 😁

Conversations are my favorite.

I got to have conversations with 2 different athletes the other day.

One was a collegiate soccer player with lower back pain interfering with her training and her daily life.

One was a powerlifter navigating recovery from an SCJ subluxation while prepping for his first ever competition.

Both had already tried rest. No lasting benefit.

My favorite thing about these conversations was the opportunity to really dig into the nuance of their situations. Every circumstance is unique.

I didn’t solve all their problems in five minutes, but I got to listen and collaborate with them to help them take intentional, personalized steps forward.

I hope I get to follow up with them soon and have more conversations.
(Apparently I’m supposed to encourage y’all to respond in some way, so, if you’re uncertain about how to get back to the level you need to be at, hit me up. 🤙 I literally love conversations.)

(And photos are supposed to help y’all see stuff, so here’s one of a current strength client, crushing it.)

Let's talk about retropulsion. 🚀
This is the fancy shmancy name for that feeling of being pulled/pushed backward. If you find yourself backpedaling all the time, that's retropulsion at work.
And it can lead to some pretty aggravating falls if you're not prepared. 😬
So let's think about it a bit. If we say something is PROPELLED, we're saying it is pushed forward. "Propulsion" is the force that pushes the thing forward. Like a plane propeller or a boat propeller.
Stick with me on this.
If something is trying to push you forward, and you don't want to go forward, you match force and lean backward into it. Think of a mule digging in its heels. 🫏
Now! If something is trying to push you BACKWARD (retropulsion), you should lean FORWARD into it.
If the goal is to keep standing in place and talking to your buddies, then it's a relatively small force you need to match.
But if the force pushing you back is really strong, then you might need to REALLY lean forward..
Could it end up looking weird? Yeah, maybe.
But it beats falling. Or the worry on your friends' faces when they think you *might* fall.
Follow for more info on managing PD symptoms and preventing falls.

Ever find yourself holding your breath during a workout? 🤢
You’re not alone. I see folks do this all the time. (And I’m even guilty of it myself on occasion!)
Here are some ways you can train yourself to keep breathing during your aerobic workouts 👇

✅Count out loud — even if you don’t technically need to, it keeps you breathing. AND, if you’re working on your voice, you get two exercises in one!

✅Exhale on the Effort — whatever the hardest part of the movement is, that’s when you exhale

✅Sing/Talk — if you’re in a group class with good tunes, sing!! Even if it’s under your breath. Or, if you’re on a brisk walk, talk to yourself or to a friend.

Fridays are extra fun for me. 😁

It’s my All Level Circuit Class for Parkinson’s!! 🏋️🏃‍➡️

It brings me so much joy to push people to do more than they thought they could. 😉

And I have a great time coming up with variations that challenge EVERYONE, whether they sit or stand.

👇What are you doing today to push yourself?

We all know we need to get regular exercise, but where do you even start?
And what if you have other stuff going on, like Parkinson's or arthritis or nerve pain?
👋 Hellooooo, it's me you're looking for! 🎵
My name is Kaitlin, and I'm a Doctor of Physical Therapy AND a fitness coach AND a Parkinson's specialist!
I help folks set PRs for living their best life, whether that's getting up off that one sofa (you know the one) or squatting 300 pounds.
Got obstacles? Pain, weakness, tremors, balance, self-doubt?
👉I can find the options that work best for you RIGHT NOW, right where you're at.
💬If you've had the best intentions, but just don't know how to get past what you're up against, drop a note in the comments or shoot me a DM.
I want you to win. 💖

Why did I spend so much time on creating my AV setup? Why not just put a cell phone on a tripod and call it a day?

➡️Because higher quality recordings mean content that’s engaging for everyone.

You can see me clearly, you can hear me clearly, and you can enjoy the music all at the same time.

Whether I post a video on YouTube, or host a hybrid Zoom+live class, everyone gets the same energizing experience. ✨

I want ALL my exercisers to have a great time. The tech is part of making that happen. 🫶