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Movement Therapies
Exercise and movement are universally accepted as an essential element
of the human condition. Since exercise is both a necessary condition
of good health and a powerful tool in the rehabilitation of disease
and injury, we believe it is important to take a diversified and
holistic view of the training and treatment programs we offer our
clients and patients. In most cases people have a combination of
issues such as previous or current injuries, chronic disease, weight
loss concerns or fitness goals that might influence the nature of
their exercise programs. At the Allied Therapy Center, our goal is to
design an exercise therapy program that meets your goals and your needs.
Contact us to find out more about Exercise
Therapy and Personal Training at our Gainesville, Florida clinic. Exercise
therapy is really more than a “program” and while we provide you
with everything you need to meet your goals, we want you to have fun
and come to enjoy the process of movement. It is a vital element of
your health and in order to be successful, you need to find the
“turtle” inside you that allows you to accept exercise and movement
for what it might be – a regular habit, something to be enjoyed and
not dreaded. Everyone picks up the exercise habit in their own way and
we are here to help you down this road.
Exercise Therapy
The exercise therapy programs are designed to treat patients with
specific conditions such as back and neck pain, myofascial pain and
orthopedic injuries. Patients receive a thorough evaluation by our
exercise physiologist and then begin a personalized exercise program
that includes home exercise, ergonomic assessment and lifestyle
recommendations. Since many patients are already undergoing treatment
with other physicians or therapists, the exercise therapy is
intentionally integrated with existing treatments.
Personal Training
Personal Training is the core of our exercise training programs. We
are committed to providing our clients with the appropriate fitness
and exercise programs for their needs and desires. We believe that
exercise is a life long endeavor that is essential to health and
wellbeing of everyone. In our experience, our clients are more
successful if they have personalized programs that meet their physical
condition, health concerns and lifestyles.
Sports Specific Training
Our sports specific training programs are geared to elite level and
recreational athletes who want comprehensive fitness and performance
training. Our programs are individually tailored to your sport and
current condition with an emphasis on developing those qualities
necessary for optimal performance. In general we focus on improving
the athletes core strength and balance, increasing their explosive
power, and enhancing their agility and speed. We are also firmly
committed to the “whole” athlete and believe in training for injury
prevention, muscle balance and identification of those “hidden”
elements in the athletes program that prevent them from achieving
optimal performance.
The Feldenkrais Approach
The Allied Therapy Center offers Feldenkrais Lessons in association
with Trish Markey, LMT. Trish is a professional engineer and massage
therapist who is certified by the F. Guild and has many years of
experience working with a variety of patients and clients. She is
especially gifted treating patients with serious brain injuries.
“The aim is to make the impossible possible, the possible easy
and the easy elegant.”
Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
Throughout our life we develop movement patterns that form the
basis of all of our activities. Our nervous systems has essentially
infinite possibilities, but we often get stuck in habitual patterns
that interfere with what we want to do and in many cases eventually
cause us pain, especially after we are injured or as we get older.
The Feldenkrais Method is named after Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais who
developed lessons using gentle, pain free movements to increase ease
and range of motion and to improve flexibility, coordination, and
balance. These lessons help teach clients and patients an awareness of
the habitual patterns that are limiting their movement and help them
discover movement patterns with less effort and more pleasure.
The Feldenkrais Method is useful for a wide range a people
including those clients and patients with limited or impaired movement
due to stroke, accidents, cerebral palsy or other debilitating
conditions. It is also useful for performance based professionals such
as actors, musicians, athletes, and dancers who use the Method to
enhance their skills and to integrate more efficient movements with
less effort and less wear and tear on their bodies.
Feldenkrais lessons are taught in two formats- group lessons and
individual lessons. In the group lessons you follow verbal
instructions in your own unique way. In an individual session, the
teacher uses touch to guide you to become aware of existing patterns
of movement and to learn new choices. During a lesson you may be lying
down on a mat or table, or sitting or standing. You don’t need any
special gear for Feldenkrais other than comfortable clothing, and a
mat to lie on for a group lesson. Each lesson lasts about 45 minutes
to an hour.
Group Exercise Classes
Group exercise classes are taught by Allied Therapy Center staff
members in their areas of expertise or by invited guests of the Center
who have something special to offer. Our classes are designed to
address the clinical needs of our clients and patients. We are
especially aware of the challenges of group exercise for people with
illness or injury and we limit the size of our classes to the number
of participants that is appropriate to what is being taught. We do not
offer a regular schedule of classes because classes are formed around
your needs and issues. Please see our Home Page for Class information.
Patient and Professional Educational Forums
In addition to the clinical focus, the ATC provides educational
forums, classes and workshops for its members, patients and
therapists.
These programs include patient education classes and seminars for
the treatment of specific conditions, general heath classes in
exercise and movement, and community education forums.
We also sponsor continuing education courses and forums by
providing access to conference and meeting space for allied
professionals who offer a variety of programs that enhance the
clinically based alternative rehabilitation concept. |
