Cupping comes to CoachAmyPT
Exciting news! CoachAmyPT added cupping to our services menu!
Cupping is trending now, but its ancient origins date back to 1550 BC with the ancient Egyptians. It became widely known in modern times when Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps sported cupping’s telltale “purple dots” after receiving cupping treatment to assist his recovery and to treat muscle soreness and pain during the 2016 Olympics.
Cupping is a manual therapy technique that uses suction to elongate connective tissue such as skin, fascia, and superficial muscle layers. This process increases fluid flow within the tissues to help eliminate inflammation and pain.
Coach Amy places the acrylic cups in areas of restrictions within muscles and fascia and along seams between muscles that are not moving past each other correctly. Cupping helps treat many conditions, including tendonitis, bursitis, tension headaches, and fascial syndromes.
Depending upon the problem, cups may remain in place for 1 to 15 minutes. Amy then manipulates the cup along restricted areas to break up adhesions and release the tissues from all directions. She combines active and passive patient movement while the cups are in place to restore proper biomechanics and function.
“Typically, it isn’t enough to place the cups or to manipulate them. The primary benefit of this treatment is gained when functional movement is incorporated with the cupping.”
Cupping is another tool in Coach Amy’s toolbox, along with dry needling, active release technique, and applied functional science. Amy finds that using cupping in conjunction with other treatment methods is helpful and uses it especially when dry needling and ART are contraindicated. Manual therapy techniques like cupping work best when incorporated into a full rehabilitation program. This includes a home exercise program to train the tissues to move correctly again so they no longer cause pain or dysfunction.
As with all physical therapy treatments, the number of treatments needed depends on a number of factors. Typically cupping is done one to three times. Tune-ups every one to six months may be needed when patients continue to perform activities that build up trauma to the tissue, such as repetitive activity for work, hobby, or sport.
Cupping is included with your physical therapy treatment at no extra charge for both self-pay and insurance-covered patients.
Interested in adding cupping to your treatment protocol? Ask Coach Amy if this is an effective treatment for your problem at your next appointment. Not yet a patient? Our schedule is frequently full with a waitlist. If you cannot find an open appointment, please check back soon.
Hello Summer and New Health and Fitness Goals!
It’s hard to believe when the Stay-at-Home-Order first went into effect that we were still in the season of Winter. Many of you so courageously embraced the drudgery of winter weather and declared it as a season of growth and development towards personal goals. Some of those goals such as practicing daily gratitude and working on consistency may have blossomed despite the circumstances. However, with gym closures, race cancellations, and social distancing requirements, many personal fitness goals were yanked out from underneath us.
One of the keys to surviving and thriving in the face of adversity is to innovatively adapt. I am so impressed by the motivation and discipline of CoachAmyPT patients and RRKC athletes who continued core strength work “at home” vs. at the gym, pushed through long distance runs and bike rides solo without the comradery from fitness buddies or friends, or incorporated daily walks or activity into their previously semi-sedentary schedules. With so many factors of daily life that we can’t control, it feels good to take ownership of some health and wellness goals that we can control.
Before Coronavirus, I was planning on training for and running the Portland Marathon in Maine with my RRKC friends in October, but after much consideration, I’ve changed my plans. It is doubtful that Fall races will be held due to the forecasted spike of Coronavirus in the Fall. I venture to guess that until there is herd immunity or a vaccine, that race organizers will not find it safe to hold races.
Even if Fall races are held, according to the CDC travel still increases your risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, so I’m opting to stay local for now. I’ve also changed my race distance goal to a half marathon instead of my planned marathon distance to decrease the strain on my immune system.
But choices and goals, as always, are not one size fits all. These are my personal choices that take into consideration that I treat patients and live with family members that are at high risk for complications from COVID-19. Each person needs to consider their own situation and with the current state of things, we may have to get creative with our goals, but we don’t have to surrender them all together.
What are your Summer goals going to be?
Here are mine:
Return to strength training 2x/week
Return to healthy eating habits
Run regularly at least 4x per week
Set a base to get half marathon race ready (just in case)
If you’re stumped with trying to come up with Summer goals, perhaps it’s because the purpose behind your goals needs to change. If you’re motivation to train for that destination half marathon was to take a fun trip with friends, you’ll have to find a new purpose for running those miles this summer. We may just have to dig deep within ourselves to find the purpose.
Perhaps your purpose is improved health, increased stamina, raising money for a charity, or staying healthy despite this pandemic. Vocalizing and writing down goals increases the likelihood that we’ll achieve them. Identify those goals and sign the CoachAmyPT clinic “wall of fame” or share with us on Facebook. We’re here to support you all the way.
COVID-19 Clinic Policy Update as of May 17, 2020.
We are happy to report that CoachAmyPT is open now for all appointment types including maintenance and performance based treatments as well as running evaluations. As before, and as always, our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our patients and their families. Following are the policies in place for our clinic.
Who should NOT come in?
Patients or patients with household members who have been ill in the last 2 weeks.
Patients or patients with household members who may have come into contact with someone who has been experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19 symptoms within the past two weeks.
Patients or patients with household members who have traveled out of state within the past two weeks.
What do I do if I have to cancel my appointment?
If you were traveling or came into contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms, go ahead and schedule for two weeks from your return/your last contact with an ill person. Just be sure to review the parameters again before coming in for your rescheduled appointment.
If you are ill, please wait until you are healthy to schedule. Schedule two weeks from when you are symptom-free.
What is being done to protect against contamination?
The waiting area is closed indefinitely. Our patients wait for their appointments in the comfort of their vehicles. Text Coach Amy upon your arrival. She will inform you when it is safe to enter.
All providers and patients are wearing masks while in the building and during treatment.
Patients are being asked to reschedule if they meet the above-stated specifications regarding illness and travel or have nonessential needs.
Cleaning and sanitizing processes follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, including using alcohol-based products on all surfaces following each patient visit, including devices used for payment and recording patient notes.
Patient payments are made online when possible.
Coach Amy follows CDC and WHO recommended processes for handwashing for anyone entering the clinic.
Coach Amy takes her temperature twice a day and takes the temperature of anyone entering the clinic.
We are closely monitoring recommendations from CDC and WHO.
Email reminders are sent to patients the week of their appointments reminding them of clinic guidelines.
We will continue to keep you up to date.
Thank you for your trust, confidence, and cooperation. We wish you all the best of health.
Miles for Charity Virtual Run Challenge Raises $2,280 for Children's Mercy Hospital
Roadrunners of Kansas City (RRKC) congratulates Janet Buchanan and Scott Merryman, winners of RRKC’s first-ever Miles for Charity Virtual Run Challenge, held April 27 to May 3, 2020. Janet and Scott, who were paired through random selection, ran a combined 96 miles over the week-long challenge.
Challenge donations totaled $1,140, which CoachAmyPT matched for a total of $2,280 total funds raised. Our winners chose Children’s Mercy Hospital as the beneficiary of the virtual charity run.
COVID-19 Clinic Policy Update as of May 2, 2020
We understand that it can be confusing to determine which services you can legally and safely receive as regulations and recommendations change frequently. Following are the updated policies for our clinic, as of May 2, 2020, based on new information from our state and local governments.
If you have any questions, please contact us. As before, and as always, our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our patients and their families.
Who should come in?
Patients with pain and/or swelling.
Patients experiencing limitations in activities of daily living.
Patients recovering from surgery.
Patients experiencing chronic pain.
Patients recovering from an injury.
Patients being treated for other essential needs.
Who should WAIT to come in until Johnson County, Kansas Stay at Home is Lifted? (current projected date is May 11th)
Patients being treated only for performance-based treatments, including sport enhancement or recovery.
Patients seeking therapy for maintenance.
Patients interested in running evaluation.
Who should NOT come in?
Patients or patients with household members who have been ill in the last 2 weeks.
Patients or patients with household members who may have come into contact with someone who has been experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19 symptoms within the past two weeks.
Patients or patients with household members who have traveled out of state within the past two weeks.
What if I cannot or do not want to come into the clinic?
We are pleased to announce that we are able to offer telehealth consultations for those who cannot come in or would prefer to stay home. These services work especially well for:
New patients.
Patients with new or changing symptoms.
Patients with high risk for complications from COVID-19.
Patients that are under mandatory isolation due to current illness, exposure, or travel.
Patients needing progression in their home program on a case by case basis.
Telehealth does not work well for manual therapy, including dry needling, ART, and joint mobilization. However, Coach Amy can do some diagnosis and home treatment planning via telehealth, including demonstrating and checking the safe and accurate performance of functional exercises and dynamic motions. If you are unsure if telehealth works for your needs, email Coach Amy at amy@coachamypt.com.
Telehealth is not covered by insurance. Fees are $75 for a 30-minute appointment. Most patients need to follow up in person once it is safe to do so. Telehealth appointments cannot be made online. Patients interested in a telehealth appointment must email Coach Amy at amy@coachamypt.com.
Which group do I fall into?
Where your therapy needs fall is not always clear. In that case, please rely on us. We do not want you to go without therapy if you need it. Please email Coach Amy at amy@coachamypt.com to describe your situation if you’re unsure.
What do I do if I have to cancel my appointment?
If you were traveling or came into contact with someone with COVID-19/CODIV-19 symptoms, go ahead and schedule for two weeks from your return/your last contact with an ill person. Just be sure to review the parameters again before coming in for your rescheduled appointment.
If you are ill, please wait until you are healthy to schedule. Schedule two weeks from when you are symptom-free.
If your therapy needs do not fall within the parameters of those we can currently see, please schedule an appointment after May 11th, 2020.
What is being done to protect against contamination?
The waiting area is closed indefinitely. Our patients wait for their appointments in the comfort of their vehicles.
All providers and patients are wearing masks while in the building and during treatment.
Patients are being asked to reschedule if they meet the above-stated specifications regarding illness and travel or have nonessential needs.
Cleaning and sanitizing processes follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, including using alcohol-based products on all surfaces following each patient visit, including devices used for payment and recording patient notes.
Coach Amy follows CDC and WHO recommended processes for handwashing for anyone entering the clinic.
Coach Amy takes her temperature twice a day and takes the temperature of anyone entering the clinic.
We are closely monitoring recommendations from CDC and WHO.
Email reminders are sent to patients the week of their appointments reminding them of clinic guidelines.
We will continue to keep you up to date with any new information we receive.
Thank you for your trust, confidence, and cooperation. We wish you all the best of health.
Miles for Charity Virtual Run Challenge
Roadrunners of Kansas City (RRKC) is excited to announce our very first VIRTUAL charitable run challenge open to all runners in the Kansas City area: Miles for Charity.
As a running community, we are all mourning the cancelation of our half-marathons, triathlons, and group training runs. But that doesn’t mean we cannot still run together virtually as we distance ourselves physically.
The Dates
This week-long virtual run challenge begins Monday, April 27, 2020 and ends Sunday, May 3, 2020.
The Inspiration
A CoachAmyPT patient participated in a small neighborhood virtual, distance-based contest to raise money for charity. The winners chose which charity the funds benefited. We were INSPIRED!
The Beneficiaries
Well, that’s up to you … if you win!
Winners will choose among several types of organizations impacted by COVID-19 in the Kansas City Metropolitan area, including:
Hospitals and healthcare workers.
Example: Children’s Mercy Kansas City
First responders (including firefighters, police officers, and ambulance workers).
Example: KC KS Fire Department
Housing support.
Example: reStart, Inc
Food insecurity.
Critical human services.
Example: Working Families' Friend
We gave examples for each type of organization, but our winners may choose their local hospital, food pantry, etc.
The Match
Let us know if you work with a company that would like to match funds raised.
The Plan
RRKC will pair each participant with another runner. While the teams will not run together because of the need for social distancing, the pair’s miles will be combined together.
Runners will log daily miles for one week. RRKC will tally the totals and announce the winner.
The Cost
The cost to enter the challenge is a minimum donation of $25. You may donate more if you’d like.
Details for payment will be provided following registration.
The ONE Non-Negotiable Rule
To prevent injury and protect your immune system, participants may not increase their weekly mileage by more than 10%.
To determine this number:
Look at your total weekly distance for the last 4 weeks.
Choose the week with the most miles run.
Take 10% of that number.
Add it back to the original distance.
For example, let’s say your last 4 weeks look like this:
week 1 - 40 miles
week 2 - 50 miles
week 3 - 45 miles
week 4 - 43 miles.
Here are your calculations:
Take the largest number (50 miles).
Multiple it by 10% (5 miles).
50 x .10 = 5 miles
Add it back to the original number (50 miles)
50 + 5 = 55 miles
You may not exceed 55 miles during the challenge week.
Please read the Racing and Training Virtually RRKC blog post to learn more about this rule.
While that’s our only rule, you must, of course, also follow all social distancing mandates decreed by our state government.
The Final Step
Please join RRKC’s first-ever VIRTUAL charitable run, Miles for Charity, by registering here.
Our Big Ask
Let’s raise as much money for these charities as possible! Help us encourage our entire KC running and triathlon community to participate. Please share this blog post or our social media posts on your social media accounts or email the link to this post to friends and family.
We look forward to seeing you, virtually, on the run!
Questions? Contact RRKC at info@roadrunnerskc.com.
Stay Strong and Stay Healthy While You Stay at Home
The past couple of weeks have led to changes in every single facet of our lives, and if we are going to come out healthy on the other side we must adapt. Due to public ordinances, many people are working from home. Since most of us don’t have an ideal home office setting, there is the potential for injury if we aren’t intentional about how and where we set up our home offices.
“I predict a rise in injuries over the next several months as people work in less than ideal ergonomic positions and move less. ”
It is tempting to slouch on the couch with a laptop and sit idle in the same position for extended periods of time. With no meetings to attend, parking lots to walk from or stairs to climb throughout the day we are at high risk for becoming petrified at our desks. This can lead to a slew of symptoms such as back pain, pain in the butt, headaches and forearm pain.
Here are some tips to help eliminate unwanted pain and injury while working from home:
Set an alarm to change your location every 30-60 min to vary body position. If your workstation is movable, consider relocating from sitting at the dining room table to a standing position at the kitchen island.
Set up your workstation far from the kitchen and fill your cup up halfway, forcing you to get up and walk more often back to the kitchen for refills.
Use the restroom furthest from your workstation so that you are forced to walk a longer distance or up and down the stairs.
Walk up and down the stairs 10 times for heart health and glute strength each time you take a break from your workstation.
Use a Swiss ball in lieu of a chair at one of your work stations to work your core while sitting upright.
Incorporate dynamic stretches into your lunch break and again at the end of the workday. Stay tuned for a video with our favorite mobility routines.
Set up your screen and keyboard correctly. For both standing and seated positions, your elbow should be in an “L” position at the keyboard and your eyes should line up with the top 2-3 inches of your monitor.
Who knew that working from home would be so much work?! Establishing new habits can sometimes feel like work, so incorporate these suggestions into your at-home routine from the beginning and you’ll establish a “new normal” with greater ease.
CoachAmyPT remains open to treat patients recovering from surgery, major injuries and debilitating pain. If you develop debilitating pain during this time, please email Coach Amy so she can assess whether you need to make an in-person appointment or a telehealth PT consultation.
As always, prevention is the best medicine. A little intentional daily effort can help you stay strong and healthy while you stay at home.
Sheltering-At-Home Impact on Your Physical Therapy at CoachAmyPT
PT is considered essential as we mitigate pain and restore full function and movement, which is critical to staying well, especially now.
PT is considered essential as we mitigate pain and restore full function and movement, which is critical to staying well, especially now. Let’s put this another way:
Your health and well-being are essential.
The decision to remain open has not been an easy one. We re-evaluate on a daily basis. It continues to come down to this: our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our patients and their families. As long as we determine that you and your family are best served by Coach Amy seeing patients, we will continue.
Who should come in?
Patients recovering from surgery.
Patients experiencing chronic pain.
Patients recovering from an injury.
Patients being treated for other essential needs.
Who should NOT come in?
Patients or patients with household members who have been ill in the last 2 weeks.
Patients or patients with household members who may have come into contact with someone who has been experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19 symptoms within the past two weeks.
Patients or patients with household members who have traveled out of state within the past two weeks.
Patients with nonessential needs.
Are my PT needs essential?
We do not expect you to determine whether or not your needs are essential on your own. Please rely on us to help you make that decision. We do not want you to go without therapy if you need it. Please email Coach Amy at amy@coachamypt.com to describe your situation if you’re unsure.
What do I do if I have to cancel my appointment?
If you were traveling or came into contact with someone with COVID-19/CODIV-19 symptoms, go ahead and schedule for two weeks from your return/your last contact with an ill person. Just be sure to review the parameters again before coming in for your rescheduled appointment.
If you are ill, please wait until you are healthy to schedule. Schedule two weeks from when you are symptom-free.
If you have nonessential needs, schedule for the end of Johnson County’s 30-day stay-at-home order: April 23rd.
Email Coach Amy for further instructions. We are looking into ways to help you remotely, including telehealth options. We will keep you informed.
What is being done to protect against contamination?
We closed our waiting area. Our patients wait for their appointments in the comfort of their vehicles.
All providers and patients are wearing masks.
Patients are being asked to reschedule if they meet the above-stated specifications regarding illness and travel or have nonessential needs.
Cleaning and sanitizing processes follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, including using alcohol-based products on all surfaces following each patient visit, including devices used for payment and recording patient notes.
Coach Amy follows CDC and WHO recommended processes for handwashing for anyone entering the clinic.
Coach Amy takes her temperature twice a day and takes the temperature of anyone entering the clinic.
We are closely monitoring recommendations from CDC and WHO.
Email reminders are sent to patients the night before their appointments reminding them of clinic guidelines.
A Message from Coach Amy
This is a difficult time. It’s hard to make decisions with little information. It’s hard to know what’s best. I will do whatever I can to help you navigate whether or not you should come in for treatment. Email me. I will answer you as soon as I can.
We are all affected by COVID-19, whether we are on the front lines saving lives or being responsible by sheltering in place. My heart goes out to each and every one of you.
We will continue to keep you up to date as additional information is provided to the physical therapy community regarding how we can ensure your health and safety, alternative opportunities to treat our patients, and any other information impacting how we can best help you during this difficult time.
Thank you for your trust, confidence, and cooperation.
COVID-19 Update for CoachAmyPT Patients
Our number one priority always is and will remain the safety and well-being of our patients and their families and that is vital especially now.
Coach Amy is closely monitoring the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization, and we feel confident that the universal precautions we follow on a daily basis with regard to the treatment of patients are excellent. We have taken extra precautions to provide the safest environment for your scheduled appointments.
Again, we ask that if you or anyone in your family has been ill in the last 2 weeks, please reschedule your appointment. Additionally, we ask that you reschedule if you think you may have been exposed to anyone who has been ill or experiencing symptoms related or similar to the COVID-19 symptoms. We want to keep all of our patients, staff and community healthy.
Our hearts go out to anyone affected by COVID-19. Again, you and your family's health and well-being are our top priorities. We appreciate your continued trust, confidence, and cooperation. As we continue to provide care for our patients, we hope CoachAmyPT can be a place of healing, respite and positivity. Thank you for your understanding while navigate these new circumstances.
COVID-19 Announcement: CoachAmyPT is Open
CoachAmyPT is open and operating for scheduled (and wait-listed) appointments. For the safety of our high-risk patients, if you or any family members have flu-like symptoms including fever or cough, please cancel and reschedule your appointment. Late cancellation fees will be waived. Please notify us as soon as you can if you need to cancel.
As always, our clinic is safe and clean. We have taken additional measures to ensure that patients can continue their PT treatments.
We will continue to monitor the current situation in Kansas City regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and will keep you up to date with any changes to clinic policies. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our clinic and patients safe. We hope you stay healthy and well.