Hello AlignMend Family,

Well, I am just over a week into my restorative gut and hormone plan with Deanna Elliott. Wow, is it funny how the mind and gut work.

Not to sound like your PT has a beverage problem…but…these are some things I miss. The funny thing is that I don't drink a lot of either one.

I am a one cup a morning coffee drinker. I love good coffee. My husband and I owned a coffee shop for 10 years on Queen Anne. Patrick taught me about what good coffee is, how it should be sourced, and how it should taste…and I miss that in the mornings.

A few times a week after work or with friends, I love to have one shot of Tito’s vodka in 32oz of bubble water with fresh lime.  I know it sounds crazy. My friends would say “What is the point?”. “One shot in 32 oz of water?”.  It is just what I did and, well, I miss that too.

When speaking to Deanna, I mentioned that it is funny how that mind works.  I mean, I drink so...

True confessions of a PRI health professional…

I built a practice around education of mindfulness, self-love, meditation, breath work, wellness and body/pain management.

 Over the last nine months I have been doing anything but the above. Starting 18 months ago things started to change for me drastically. 

 stopped having a period

 started having severe night sweats.

 started questioning all my decisions professionally, emotionally, and personally

 started to think I was losing my mind

 have put on 15 pounds since January 2022 even though I was constantly thinking about everything that went into my mouth and feeling guilty regardless of the decision I made : good or bad

 exercising five times a week without any results

 started having severe hot flashes during the day over the last six months

 severe self-doubt

 body image issue

 heavy mood swings

 feeling self to defeated

 First I went to my primary care...

Hello AlignMend Family,

This blog is a bit different.  One of my very respected colleagues was kind enough to share a recommendation letter that her son wrote about Postural Restoration. If you have any doubts, concerns, questions, or are simply curious about Postural Restoration, I highly encourage you to read this letter from Lucas.

My son can relate to what is it like to grow up with a "PRI Mom" for sure.  PRI changed Rowyn's life (he will begrudingly admit).  Postural Restoration has change my life, my family's life, my practice as a PT, and my outcomes for my clients.

Please enjoy this letter .I promise you it is worth the read and you will not be disappointed.

In Health

Paige, PT, PRC, PCES, CSCS, CKTP

A Letter from Lucas:

"I lace my boots. I slide my shin guards in. I reach in my bag to grab… a balloon? As I sit on the rough concrete steps that lead to the bleachers, holding the pink latex in my hand, I look towards the mass of players standing...

Hello AlignMend Family, 

Those of you who have worked with me know how important a good shoe is for recovery and balance of side-to-side sensory support.   

You also know that a good shoe must fit to your specific sensory system or body. 

Shoe fits are something that I do daily in my practice.  Shoe fits can be an eye opening and life changing experience in regard to pain, balance, movement and performance.   

I want to let everyone know that the Asics Nimbus 24 came out a few months ago.  The Asics Nimbus has been on the shoe list for years and I am sad to report that NOW the Asics Nimbus 24 is BEING TAKEN OFF THE SHOE LIST.   

This shoe is not holding up to the normal success that PRI practitioners have seen in the past. The lateral heel has too much give (decreasing normal pronation) and the overall sole is breaking down quickly in my regular runners. 

SO...if the Asics Nimbus was the shoe of choice during your...

Hello and Happy Sunny Thursday,

I wanted to share a blog post I read this morning by Seth Godin.

The Physical Therapy Metaphor

Seth Godin is the founder of the altMBA program, as well as a writer, entrepreneur, and expert on leadership.  This program is particularly special to me as my husband Patrick successfully completed his altMBA in March of 2020.

Since his completion of the altMBA program he has transformed his career path as a creative content writer.  He has now written for many different organizations on many different topics. He has also written for a non-profit organization involving art therapy for the elderly, and children with different abilities.  And he has been a regular contributor to Oregon Sport News.  

He also just completed his SECOND BOOK!!  For those of you that enjoy creativity, sarcasm, wit, and pure entertainment without any stress...Patrick's books will be right up your ally. I always tell him that writing is his...

Another “avoiding food waste tip” from AlignMend PT

 Every had leftover sweet potato…

1 slice potato into 1/4” slices

2 broil on high for 2-4 minutes

3 spread avocado 

4 place egg on top and sprinkle with red pepper for a bit of spice

 gluten free avocado “toast”

Happy Eating,

Paige, PT, PRC, PCES

Hello AlignMend Family,

I don't know about you but food waste is a big issue in my household. I am working hard to limited the amount of food that we throw away.

Roasted veggies is a staple in our house but often I am the only one that will eat the leftovers for the next few days.  

Therefore, I came up with an idea...

Try this next time you have some roasted veggie leftovers

• Roasted veggies
• One egg
• One tablespoon flour (Regular or gluten free)
• Parmesan cheese to taste/texture

Blend in a food processor. Form into patties. Use a small amount of avocado/olive oil and fry in a pan till crisp on each side.  

These are delicious little treats to eat as finger food, pack in lunches, or make a great snack.

I even froze my left over veggies for a couple weeks in a freezer bag. Then simply thawed them in the fridge and made this last batch of veggie patties.

So easy and so delicious with no waste and no guilt.

Hope to see you soon,

Paige, PT, PRC, PCES, CSCS, CKTP...

Hello and Happy Holidays, 

I wish I was better at getting these blog posts out regularly, but this crazy and continuing education-filled Autumn has just not allowed me enough time. 

It’s important to me to get this holiday blog sent your way.  I want to thank you personally for supporting me, my education, and my desire for growth professionally. And for allowing me to take this journey of wellness with you.  I may not have all the answers, but I promise I will do my best to figure things out in regard to your recovery. 

I want to share a funny little tip for you this holiday season.  For those of you that work with me directly, you know the importance of a long and slow exhale. We talk about it with ALL activities and how in incorporate it into your daily lives. Taking the time to appreciate a long exhale is not only for postural positioning, education and pain relief, but also for an autonomic parasympathetic response to allow for...

If you are working on better positioning and movement but are having a hard time letting go of your foam roll…

Try this exercise as instructed by @posturalrestoration called the Sternal Stretch. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IS8Vuy_erb2Muc0A6KFAhFrORDdG7hyR/view?usp=sharing

• Fold a yoga mat in half and then in half again to use as the pad
• Pad should be the width of your shoulders
• Lay on your back with your knees bent
• Push both feet into the floor to posteriorly tilt your pelvis and get your tailbone off the floor
• Arms are out to the side, palms up, with shoulders supported on the mat
• Head is off the mat but supported by the floor 

What will you gain and feel with this exercise

• A true stretch of the anterior chest without over extension of the spine
• A true pectorial stretch without over lengthening of the anterior shoulder joint
• Major abdominal recruitment for core strength
• Grounding through the feet to help with upright activities
• Expansion of the...

Pain is a Pandora’s box. Physical pain can lead to psychological and emotional pain...emotional and psychological pain can lead to physical pain...sometimes it’s hard to know what’s what.

Pain is your body’s way of saying “Hey brain, there’s something you need to pay attention to!”

Sometimes asking for help is enough - we all need resources and connection.

My job is to recognize and educate what is driving my clients’ “pain”.  If I cannot fully educate you in how to manage your symptoms, I will work hard to find the network or community you need to help on this journey.

Unfortunately, pain is usually what drives people to see me, but by the time they are discharged they have the understanding that pain can be a symptom of many aspects of life.  They see how their environment, stress, travel, love, loss, and what we call “life” can affect the overall physical and mental self.  They...