How to Keep up With Your Physical Therapy This Summer
Are you planning a vacation with your family this summer? Are you wondering how to keep up your PT treatments now that you finally feel better? At Ellis Physical Therapy, our physical therapists can help by providing you with home exercises that you can do no matter where you travel!
It is well known that patients who adhere to their prescribed exercises are significantly better at achieving their goals and have improved physical function. Non-adherence, on the other hand, increases the risk of re-injury or flare-ups and overall less positive outcomes long term.
Our team believes that providing a home exercise program to fit your needs is part of the solution to non-adherence. We understand that your life situation can make prioritizing exercises and physical therapy home programs difficult. We will work with you to provide the most important exercises and a straightforward program for you to follow so you can enjoy your summer vacations and do what you love!
Request an appointment with one of our specialists and see how we can help you feel better again!
We’ve Opened a New Location!
We’re excited to share that Ellis Physical Therapy has expanded with a brand new location: Peak Performance in Ammon, ID! While the clinic may look familiar to some, it’s now under Ellis ownership—meaning you’ll get the same high-quality care, personalized treatment, and trusted approach you’ve come to expect from our team.
If you or someone you know is in the Ammon area, we’d love to help you move and feel your best!
Learn MoreOur Patients Get Great Results
“This is the fourth surgery that I have had to get physical therapy for. It’s been several years since the last time. The faces have changed, Jay Ellis has retired (feeling old now) but the receptionist is still the same. I still get the same professional care and personal treatment. I don’t get that run-through-the-mill feeling I’ve had from other places in the past. They talk to you and with you. In other places, I rarely get that. Jay had a special therapy pool and water treadmill put in, which my husband says made a big difference. I guess it shows in the fact that it’s my fourth time coming here. I like the treatment you get.”
How to Incorporate Home Exercises into Your Travels
One of the most challenging aspects of traveling is finding time to do all the things you want. Our physical therapists understand how difficult it is to do your home exercises when not attending regular physical therapy visits. We provide our patients with home exercises that take their daily life into account.
Here are a few tips to keep up with your physical therapy:
Use the hotel gym
Nowadays, most hotels offer small fitness centers with equipment to keep up with your physical activity and exercises.
Exercise in the pool
You will often stay at a facility with a pool or access to a pool. Aquatic therapy is a safe and effective way to keep up with your home exercise program. For some people, an outdoor pool will also offer you a boost to your energy levels and get you some much-needed Vitamin D. Water offers easy ways to increase resistance by moving your arms or legs faster. This allows you to safely increase the intensity of your exercises with the benefits of buoyancy supporting your joints. Increasing your resistance allows you to engage your muscles more thoroughly and helps you burn more calories in a shorter amount of time. Aquatic exercise also improves your strength, flexibility, and endurance.
Explore the town you are staying in
Does your schedule leave little time to fit in physical activity? Walking around the neighborhood or visiting the shops can be an easy way to exercise. Even adding 30 minutes of physical activity into your busy schedule can make a big difference in helping maintain your function. Try taking a walk during your lunch breaks, or if you have access, take a walk on the boardwalk or beach to enjoy some fresh air too!
Maintain a healthy diet on the go
Dining out spikes during the summer because more people tend to venture out in the summer and dine outside. This can pose some health risks if you are not careful. Often the foods are loaded with calories and/or are highly processed. These types of foods can lead to inflammation, which in turn can exacerbate your painful conditions. Maintain a healthy diet this summer by making healthy choices when you dine out and balancing dining with exercise. You can also choose the healthy options on the menu and keep the portion sizes under control.
Our team understands that delivering personalized home exercise programs that take your daily lives and travel plans into account is the key to success in maintaining improvements you have made at physical therapy.
✨ Staff Spotlight
Tonya Ellis-Jones
(PTA, LMT, PPS)
Tonya Ellis-Jones was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Hillcrest High School, where she enjoyed Track, lettered in Swim Team, and participated in choir and musicals.
She graduated from Career Cosmetology in Rexburg in 1997 and later attended BYU Idaho from 1997–1999, earning an Associate’s Degree in General Arts and Science. Tonya then completed the ISU PTA Program and graduated in 2006.
Tonya loves working with people and helping them with their individual needs. She became Idaho Certified in Massage Therapy in 2010 and is also certified in Pain Pattern Solution Massage (PPS). She enjoys continually learning hands-on techniques to help reduce pain and improve daily function.
Outside the clinic, Tonya enjoys spending time with her husband, six children, and six grandchildren. She especially loves being outdoors camping, hiking, and floating Big Springs in Island Park with family.
Request an Appointment at Ellis Physical Therapy Today
It’s essential to keep your health a top priority no matter where you travel or what you do this summer. Keeping track of your progress with your physical therapy exercises is a great way to stay motivated on the go. If you need guidance regarding your existing physical therapy treatment, or you’d like to begin participating in a regular exercise routine, call Ellis Physical Therapy to set up an appointment! We’re here to help you and keep you feeling your best during the summer months, so you can continue to do all the fun things you love!
Exercise of the Month
Calf Raises
(Calves & Ankle Stability)
- Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart.
- Rest your hands on a chair or countertop for support.
- Slowly rise up onto the balls of your feet, lifting your heels off the ground.
- Hold briefly at the top of the movement.
- Lower back down with control.
- 3 Sets, 10 Reps.
Materials: Chair or countertop for balance
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1/2 cup mixed berries
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, honey, and vanilla extract in a bowl or jar.
- Stir until well combined.
- Fold in the sliced banana and mixed berries.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
- Serve chilled and top with additional berries or banana slices if desired.
