Falls are something we don’t always think about—until they happen to someone we love. For me, this became personal recently when my 80-year-old father sustained a serious fall that resulted in fractures to his hip, shoulder, and hand. Watching him go through recovery has been tough. It reminded me just how devastating falls can be—not […]
One of the most common misconceptions I encounter in the clinic is the belief that pain automatically equals injury. It's an easy assumption to make - if something hurts, it must be damaged, right? But in reality, pain and injury are not the same thing, and confusing the two can actually slow down your recovery. […]
At CAIRN Strength & Physical Therapy, we often meet people who carry a quiet but powerful belief: "My body is fragile." They may have been told they have arthritis, a disc bulge, or a tendon tear. They may have felt something "pop" or shift and assumed the worst. Or they may simply believe that getting […]
Getting It Wrong About Safety When most people think of “safe” training, they picture light weights, minimal effort, and workouts that never feel uncomfortable. But safety in strength training doesn’t come from avoiding challenge — it comes from smart, progressive programming. The truth is, safe training can still be hard, and it often needs to […]
When it comes to physical therapy, not all experiences are created equal. At CAIRN, we've talked before about what physical therapy looks like—what to expect, what it includes — but today, I want to dig deeper into what actually leads to success in PT. Whether you're dealing with stiffness, weakness, chronic pain, or recovering from […]
As healthcare providers, we're trusted to offer guidance rooted in best practices and current evidence. But here's the thing - healthcare isn't static. What was considered best practice when I started in 2008 isn't necessarily how we treat things today. Like any field, medicine evolves. And staying current takes more than the occasional continuing ed […]
"How strong is strong enough?" That's a question I often hear from patients and clients - and honestly, it's one I've struggled to answer until recently. On a recent solo episode of the CAIRN Strength Podcast, I realized that answering this question isn't about hitting a specific number - it's about building your body's capacity […]
If you're new to strength training, you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed. With endless options like yoga, Pilates, boot camps, HIIT classes, and barbell training - not to mention the constant stream of online advice - it's hard to know where to begin. Everyone seems to have a different opinion about what's "best," what to […]
As we age, the natural process of aging brings about physical and metabolic changes that can affect our health and independence. These changes are often associated with a decline in strength, mobility, and bone density. Fortunately, research has shown that strength training can significantly help mitigate these effects, preserving independence, preventing frailty, and improving overall […]
As we age, our bones naturally become weaker, and this is especially true for women after menopause. This can lead to a condition called osteoporosis, where bones become brittle and more prone to fractures. For years, doctors have recommended moderate exercise to help keep bones strong. However, recent research suggests that a more intense approach, […]
