Do you know that a good night of restful sleep is probably one of the single most important this to insure good overall health.  The average adult needs 7-8 hours of restful sleep, teens 8-10, and school age children anywhere from 10-14 hours of sleep. 

Good Sleep Leads to Many Great Things:

• Sharper Brain
• Heathier Heart
• Better Mood Balance
• Improved Athletic Performance
• Improved Management of Blood Pressure
• Decreased Risk for Diabetes
• Improvement of Balance Metabolism
• Better Immune Response
• Improved Weight Management
• Reduced Stress
• Regeneration of Proteins and Muscles for Healing

WOW!! That is a lot of amazing benefits from getting good sleep.  That being said, good sleep is often very hard to come by for many individuals (including myself). I do not know about you, but January is always one of the worst months for sleep.  December is a month of giving.  We give in December because we want to. We want time with family and friends to celebrate and come...

Anyone that has worked with me or any other PRI provider knows that a good shoe is a critical part of your healing process. A good shoe helps the body right itself against gravity to allow a sense of safety through reference centers in your feet.  A good shoe can change sense of reference, testing, and availability or range of movement.

 As a PNW resident, I get inquiries all the time from patients about good hiking boots and boot modifications that can continue to benefit ground sense and reference.

I reached out to my PRI nation, and I got some good information regarding hiking shoes, over the counter inserts and lacing. 

So here we go:

Most trainers are good, it just depends on if you and your PT feel you need more support or not.

• Topo makes a nice wide toe box with decent support, but both Brooks Cascadia/Caldera are very comfortable and capable.
•  Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore Tex comes in a low and mid height hiker. The
•  Mid seems to work best for reference...

Dear AlignMend Clients, 

The past three years have been filled with love, laugher, learning, changes, growth, continuing education, and some unprecedented circumstances.  I am very fortunate to work with all of you, providing physical therapy services and overall wellness both in person and online. I am passionate about people, movement, system integration and overall wellness.  As you know, I am very committed to my education and to further delivery of high-quality care to meet your goals and expectations. 

Starting January 1, 2023, AlignMend Physical Therapy will convert to cash-based services only. This means starting January 1, 2023, I can no longer accept insurance and will be consideredan out-of-network provider. 

I am sure a lot of you are wondering why I would make this change.  I am also sure that a lot of you are wondering how you will continue PT when it’s an out-of-pocket expense.   I didn't make this decision...

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