Self-care has gotten a bit of a rebrand lately. Somewhere along the way, it became synonymous with bubble baths, candles, massages, and the occasional day off. While those things can feel great, they’re not what actually keeps your body healthy, resilient, and moving well long-term. Real self-care—the kind that supports longevity, independence, and confidence in your body—is much less glamorous. It’s built on consistent movement, strength, and maintenance , not quick fixes. A

When we talk about “loving your body,” most conversations focus on strength, cardio, or flexibility. But there’s one critical system that often gets overlooked—until something goes wrong. Your pelvic floor . Pelvic health is not just about pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or aging. It’s about how your body supports you every single day , whether you’re lifting weights, running, managing stress, or simply trying to feel confident and comfortable in your own body. At Nashville P

Knee pain has a way of sneaking into daily life. One day you’re squatting, running, hiking, or playing pickleball without thinking twice—and the next, your knee hurts going up stairs or getting out of the car. For many people, the first instinct is to seek imaging, injections, or a referral to an orthopedic specialist. But in most cases, physical therapy should be the first step , not the last. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , we regularly help active adults reso

If your knees ache, your back feels stiff, or your running stride feels “off,” there’s a good chance your hips are involved—even if they’re not where the pain shows up. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , we often tell patients: the hips are the boss . They influence how you walk, lift, run, sit, stand, and age. When hip mobility or strength starts to slip, the rest of the body quietly picks up the slack—until it can’t anymore. Understanding how to care for your hip

If you deal with frequent neck pain or headaches—especially during stressful weeks—you’re not imagining the connection. Stress, neck tension, and headaches are closely linked, and treating one without addressing the others often leads to temporary relief at best. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , this is a pattern we see every day: people chasing headaches with medication, massage, or posture changes, only to have symptoms keep returning. The missing piece? Unders

If your shoulders feel tight, achy, pinchy, or just done  by the end of the workday, you’re not imagining it. Desk-related shoulder pain is one of the most common issues we see—especially in people who spend long hours at a computer, work on laptops, or bounce between meetings without much movement. And despite what you’ve probably been told, this isn’t just a posture problem. Your shoulders aren’t weak or damaged.They’re simply being asked to do too much, for too long, witho

Ever notice how your pain seems worse during stressful seasons of life—busy work weeks, poor sleep, emotional overload, or when you’re running on caffeine and adrenaline? That’s not a coincidence. Pain is not just about tissues. It’s deeply connected to your nervous system, stress levels, and how your body perceives safety. If you’ve been told your pain is “just stress” or, on the flip side, that it’s only  a mechanical problem, the truth sits somewhere in the middle. Let’s b

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons adults reduce activity, miss work, or stop exercising altogether. In fact, nearly 80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point  in their lives. Yet despite how common it is, back pain is often misunderstood—and frequently over treated with rest, imaging, or medication before addressing the real issue. If loving your body means taking care of it wisely, low back pain is one area where doing less medical chasing  and

We tend to think about joint health only when something hurts. A cranky knee, a stiff back, a shoulder that suddenly doesn’t want to cooperate. But healthy joints aren’t built during flare-ups—they’re maintained through small, consistent habits over time. If loving your body is part of your goal this year, taking care of your joints is one of the most practical ways to do it. Here’s a joint-health checklist every adult should be following—especially if you want to stay active

When we talk about heart health, most conversations stop at cholesterol numbers, blood pressure readings, and maybe a reminder to “exercise more.” While those things matter, they barely scratch the surface of how movement truly supports cardiovascular health—and how to do it safely, effectively, and sustainably. This is where physical therapy plays a bigger role than most people realize. Heart Health and Movement: What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You (But Your Physical Therapis

For years, fitness culture told us that being “healthy” meant being smaller, leaner, or burning as many calories as possible. But the conversation is changing—and for good reason. Strength training isn’t just about aesthetics or lifting heavy weights. It’s one of the most powerful ways to support long-term health, confidence, and independence. If February is about loving your body, strength training may be the most tangible way to show it some appreciation. Strength Is More T

When people think about physical therapy, they often picture backs, knees, or shoulders. But one of the most important—and commonly overlooked—areas we treat is the pelvic floor . Pelvic floor dysfunction is far more common than most people realize, affecting adults across genders, ages, and activity levels. And yet, many people live with symptoms for years before realizing that physical therapy is often the best first-line treatment . January is about resetting habits, rebui

January motivation is powerful. Gyms are packed, routines are ambitious, and many people are determined to “make up for lost time.” Unfortunately, this is also when we see a spike in preventable injuries—often not because people are doing the wrong exercises, but because they’re doing too much, too soon . If your goal this year is to stay consistent, pain-free, and strong, your first four weeks back in the gym matter more than you think. The Problem With “Hitting It Hard” in

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care—and one of the biggest drivers of missed workouts, disrupted sleep, and ongoing frustration. If you’ve ever felt a tweak while bending over, stiffness after sitting too long, or a nagging ache that just won’t fully go away, you’re not alone. The question most people face isn’t if  they’ll have back pain—but what to do when it shows up . At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , we believe physical th

Pelvic floor issues are often framed as a women’s health topic, which leaves many men confused—or silent—when symptoms show up. The reality is simple: men have pelvic floors too , and dysfunction in this area can affect everything from bladder control to sexual function, core strength, and persistent pain. January is about resetting patterns, rebuilding foundations, and realigning priorities. If you’ve been dealing with nagging symptoms and hoping they’ll resolve on their own

When you hear “physical therapy,” what comes to mind? Probably recovering from knee surgery, rehabbing a sprained ankle, or dealing with low back pain. Those are all important parts of PT, but they’re just the beginning. Physical therapy covers a much wider  range of needs—some that might surprise you. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , we work with active people every day on things they didn’t even realize PT could help with. Surprising Ways Physical Therapy Can H

If you work at a desk, there’s a good chance January feels familiar: tight neck, stiff upper back, low-grade headaches, and shoulders that feel “off” by the end of the day. Many people assume this means their posture is bad—and that they need to sit up straighter all the time. Here’s the truth: posture itself isn’t the villain. Sustained positions are. And January is the perfect time to reset how your body handles hours at a desk. Why “Bad Posture” Is an Oversimplification Yo

When pain shows up—whether it’s your back, knee, shoulder, or hip—the most common advice is simple: “Just rest." And while rest can be helpful early on, it’s rarely the solution for ongoing pain. Rest won't fix your pain. In fact, too much rest is one of the most common reasons aches turn into long-term problems . At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance, we often see people who did “everything right”—they rested, avoided aggravating activities, waited it out—only to fin

(Not Your Doctor, Not Google, Definitely Not TikTok) When pain shows up—whether it’s your knee, back, shoulder, or foot—most people follow the same script: Google the symptoms. Try a few stretches from social media. Wait it out. Eventually call a doctor when it doesn’t go away. By the time they reach physical therapy, the problem has often been lingering for weeks or months. In 2026, there’s a better way: start with physical therapy first . The Traditional Referral Maze (And

When people hear “pelvic floor physical therapy,” many immediately think of pregnancy or postpartum recovery. While pelvic health PT is incredibly important during and after pregnancy, that’s only part of the story. The pelvic floor plays a role in bladder and bowel function, sexual health, core stability, breathing, posture, and pain management —for both women and men, across all stages of life. If you’ve ever wondered whether pelvic floor PT could help you (or assumed it wa