Celebrating You and the People Who Keep You Moving
October is National Physical Therapy Month — a time to recognize the important role physical therapists play in helping people stay active, recover from injury, and keep doing the things that are important to them.
At MVPT Physical Therapy, that looks different for every patient. It could mean returning to a favorite sport, getting back to work after surgery, improving strength and balance, or simply moving through everyday life with greater confidence.
Our physical therapists have the opportunity to be part of that progress every day. This month, we’re proud to celebrate the work they do, the expertise they bring to their patients, and the difference they make in the communities we serve.
Physical Therapy Is About More Than Where It Hurts
Physical therapy starts with understanding what’s getting in the way. Pain may be what brings you in, but your physical therapist also wants to know how it’s affecting your movement, your daily activities, and the things you enjoy doing.
Physical therapists are movement experts trained to evaluate strength, mobility, flexibility, balance, and movement patterns. That evaluation helps your PT better understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and develop a treatment plan specific to you.
Your goals are an important part of that plan. Whether you want to return to a sport, get back to work, improve your balance, or move through your day more comfortably, your physical therapist works with you toward meaningful, measurable progress.
Ultimately, progress in physical therapy isn’t just about how you feel in the clinic. It’s about what you’re able to do outside of it.
Your Goals Become Our Goals
Physical therapy is a partnership. Your physical therapist gets to know what you’re working toward and stays closely involved as you make progress.
That means more than guiding you through exercises. Your PT helps you understand your condition, answers questions about what you’re experiencing, and adjusts your treatment as your strength, mobility, and function improve. They also help you build the knowledge and confidence to manage your health beyond your time in the clinic.
Over the course of treatment, your physical therapist gets to know you as a person, not just a diagnosis. They understand why getting back to work matters, why you want to return to your sport, or why being able to walk around the neighborhood comfortably is important to you.
And often, progress shows up in everyday ways: putting on your shoes more easily, making it through a full day at work, returning to practice, or getting back to a regular walk.
Those are the improvements our physical therapists work with patients to achieve every day.
Celebrating the Team Behind the Care
Across MVPT Physical Therapy, our clinicians and care teams have the opportunity to make a difference in thousands of lives each year.
They help people recover from injuries and surgeries, stay active as they age, return to work and sports, manage ongoing conditions, and regain strength, mobility, and confidence. They educate and encourage their patients, adapt care as needs change, and help people better understand and take an active role in their health.
And we can see the impact of that work in our patients’ results. Throughout care, we measure changes in our patients’ ability to move, function, and complete everyday activities. In 2025, our patients made improvements that went well beyond the amount of progress considered clinically meaningful.
We’re equally proud of the personalized experience our teams provide to each patient along the way.
99.8% Patient Satisfaction
In 2025, 99.8% of our patients reported being satisfied with their experience at MVPT — something that reflects not only the quality of care our teams provide, but the relationships they build with their patients every day.
National Physical Therapy Month gives us a special opportunity to recognize those teams and the work they do. But it also gives us an opportunity to thank the people at the center of that work — our patients.
To every patient who has chosen MVPT Physical Therapy, shared a goal with us, put in the work, celebrated a milestone with our team, or recommended us to a friend or family member: thank you for allowing us to be part of your care.
Helping you Move Better. Feel Better. Live Better. is why we do what we do.
Don’t delay care that can help you live the movement-filled life you desire. Schedule your evaluation today!
Physical Therapy for Your Changing Needs
Throughout this year, we’ve shown the incredible ways physical therapy can improve lives. Since October is National Physical Therapy Month, we wanted to give you an easy look at the helpful information we have provided over the past few months to help identify how physical therapy can help you or your loved ones.
Building Strength and Stability to Support You
When the seasons change, it’s the opportunity to take a fresh look at what you have, how you can improve habits, and pursue new goals or revisit the ones you’ve not quite fully achieved. However, while you’re considering the everyday changes you can make to improve your health, why not also focus on who on your healthcare team you can count on to help you reach your wellness goals?
Physical therapists are licensed medical professionals who are musculoskeletal experts who understand the mechanics of movement and use their immense skills to get to the root cause of pain.
Stronger for What’s Next: Prepare, Prevent, and Keep Moving Forward
While advancements in surgical procedures have improved the lives of millions of people around the world, surgery is still a massive undertaking and can come with significant side effects, financial burdens, and extensive recovery periods.
In some cases, physical therapy can be used to avoid surgery altogether. However, when surgery is necessary, working with a physical therapist before surgery can prepare your body for the upcoming procedure and contribute to a speedier recovery! And, when you plan ahead, you can also be certain you’ll have the access needed to start rehab after your surgery, so you can stay on-track with your recovery timelines.
Focused on the Future: Physical Therapy as Preventative Care
Many people can point to a moment when they realized their body no longer moved the way it used to. Sometimes it is obvious, following an injury or surgery. More often, it is subtle. Tasks take longer. Certain movements are avoided. Activities that once felt routine begin to feel optional.
For some, this shift occurs as time once devoted to exercise or intentional movement is gradually replaced by new responsibilities. Work demands increase. Family needs change. Schedules fill in ways they did not before. Movement becomes something that happens less deliberately, even if staying active still matters. These changes do not always prompt immediate action, especially when discomfort comes and goes. But over time, small limitations have a way of reshaping daily life.
Strong Arms. Better Health. Stronger You!
Whether you’re tossing a ball with your kids, hoisting a backpack for an outdoor adventure, or simply reaching for your morning coffee, your shoulders are working hard to keep up with your busy life.
But for many people, shoulder pain makes even the most mundane motions—reaching the top shelf, brushing your hair—feel impossible. We rely on our shoulders for so much of what we do on a daily basis. Since physical therapists are experts of the musculoskeletal system, they are perfectly qualified to provide medical care at the earliest stages of your pain.
Understanding Osteoarthritis: Moving Toward Better Movement
You wake up, and before you even move, you already know how your day will feel. Your joints are stiff, your knees ache, and standing up makes you hesitate. You push through the discomfort, hoping it will ease, but even simple movements – climbing stairs, bending down, or getting dressed – feel harder than they should.
Maybe you’ve started avoiding activities altogether. Perhaps the hardest part isn’t just the pain – it’s the feeling of losing independence. You’ve heard people say, “That’s just part of getting older.” But is it?
Move Better, Feel Better, Live Better Through Physical Therapy
There is often a quiet moment when people first notice change. Perhaps stairs feel a little harder than they once did. A long walk leaves you stiffer the next morning. An activity you enjoy takes more effort than it used to.
Many people assume these changes are simply something to accept with age. While changes in strength and mobility can be common over time, they are not always something you have to ignore or simply work around. The ability to move well influences much more than comfort. It affects the everyday activities that help people maintain independence and continue living actively.
Helping You Stay Active for the Moments That Matter Most
Whether it’s traveling with family, spending time outdoors, gardening, playing recreational sports, or simply taking longer walks in the warm weather, staying active allows us to participate in the moments that make life meaningful.
But with increased activity often comes increased strain on the body. A sore knee after a long hike, back discomfort while gardening, shoulder pain during a tennis match, or difficulty keeping up with grandchildren can all be signs that your body needs attention. Many people assume these aches and limitations are simply a normal part of aging or being active. In reality, movement challenges don’t have to keep you from doing the things you love.
A New Season with a New Focus on Health
Pain has a way of changing your life. Whether it’s back pain, arthritis, a sports injury, or discomfort that has gradually worsened over time, it can make everyday activities more difficult and keep you from doing the things you love.
When pain strikes, it’s common to look for quick relief. While medications may temporarily reduce discomfort, they often don’t address what’s causing the problem. Physical therapy offers a different approach, one that focuses on identifying the source of your pain, restoring movement, and helping you return to the activities you enjoy.
Ready. Set. Get Moving!
No matter your age or activity level, regular movement plays an important role in helping you stay strong, mobile, and ready for the things you do every day. And staying active doesn’t have to mean spending hours at the gym or following an intense workout routine. Simple, purposeful movements can help support your strength, flexibility, balance, and overall mobility.
Whether you’re keeping up with a busy day, enjoying time with family and friends, working around the house, playing a favorite sport, or simply looking to maintain your independence as you get older, taking time to move your body can make a difference.
This month, we’re sharing a few simple exercises you can incorporate into your routine to help you keep moving and feeling your best.
Katy C., PT, DPT, OCS
Managing Partner & Physical Therapist
This month’s exercises were selected by Katy C., PT, DPT, OCS, Managing Partner of Bay State Physical Therapy – Providence – Plain Street and Bay State Physical Therapy – North Providence.
Katy has been part of the Bay State Physical Therapy team since 2013 and has been caring for patients at our Providence – Plain Street clinic since opening the location in 2019. As a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Katy brings advanced expertise in evaluating and treating a wide range of orthopedic injuries, with a focus on helping patients restore function and return to the activities that are important to them.
Katy’s own experience with physical therapy following a college tennis injury helped shape her passion for the profession — a passion she continues to bring to her patients and community today.
Clamshell
What is it?
Hip strengthening exercise for your gluteus muscles that provides a more stable base for your knees and ankles while walking, standing, and doing stairs.
How to do it!
- Lay on your side with your hips stacked tall
- Bend your knees slightly with your feet aligned with your buttocks
- Keep your feet together and lift your top knee up, then lower your knee back down in a slow and controlled motion
- Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions and repeat on the other side
- Optional: For an added challenge, tie a resistance band just above your knees
Air Squat
What is it?
Functional strengthening targeting lower extremity muscles including glutes, hip abductors and adductors, quadriceps, and hamstrings.
How to do it!
- Stand with your legs hip-width apart
- Keep your chest up and shift your weight back onto your heels like you’re going into a sitting position
- Keep your knees behind your toes and sit your hips backward while allowing your knees to bend
- Return to the starting position
- Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Plank
What is it?
Core exercise that helps strengthen abdominal and back muscles to promote balance and stability.
How to do it!
- Start with your forearms on the floor and your feet hip-width apart (on your toes)
- Make sure your elbows are in line with your shoulders
- Brace your core muscles and tuck your hips underneath you to maintain a straight spine
- Hold for 10 seconds to start, working up to 30 second holds
- Repeat 5 times
Bridge
What is it?
Lower extremity exercise that targets glute muscles and hamstrings.
How to do it!
- Lay on your back with your knees bent, placing your hands by your sides
- Squeeze your glutes and lift your hips upwards without extending your back
- Slowly lower your hips back to the floor and repeat
- Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Single Leg Stance With Toe Taps
What is it?
Balance exercise that assists with proprioception and postural control of the body to prevent falls and improve stability during dynamic movements.
How to do it!
- Stand next to a stable surface, such as a counter or chair (to use for support if you lose your balance)
- Stand on one leg
- Lift the opposite leg off the floor and slowly reach forward to tap the floor in front of you, then out to the side, then backward
- Repeat the circuit 10 times, then repeat on opposite side
If you or a loved one are unable to be as active as you would like, or if pain or injury limits your function, call any MVPT Physical Therapy location to schedule an initial evaluation, or click the button below to request an appointment.
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