PTSMC’s Holiday Gift Guide 2020

Gift giving is one of the great joys of the holiday season, but finding the right gift for the right person can often be a struggle. While we all know “it’s the thought that counts,” we still prefer to gift something that won’t end up in the back of a closet or – worse – as a regift next year. 

Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of the top health and fitness gifts to give your friends and family this year! These items, sold at a number of PTSMC clinics, are good for a wide range of people in your life – from weekend warriors, runners, yogis and fitness enthusiasts to anyone dealing with frequent issues like back pain, neck pain and muscle strains. Remember that our experts are here to answer questions and provide assistance on how to use these tools correctly.   

1. Massage Gun 

Massage guns are all the rage in the athletic and fitness communities, and they can be used by almost anyone to loosen tight, sore or knotty muscles in regular day-to-day life as well. These tools are a handy replacement for massage therapy that can be done in one’s home for the one-time cost of the equipment. They work by reducing inflammation, flushing extracellular fluids such as lymph fluid and venous blood out of the muscle tissue and into the circulatory system, which promotes relaxing muscles, breaking up scar tissues, and decreasing muscle soreness and tension. High level massage guns are great for day-to-day recovery and to address recurring muscle tightness and pain.  

We are excited to sell Hyperice’s HyperVolt massage gun – one of the top guns on the market – at PTSMC clinics across the state! Even better – Hyperice products are on sale right now! Check out the prices below that are available for a short time!

Here’s a description of all the products available at PTSMC:

• HyperVolt: Percussion massage device featuring Quiet Glide Technology
• Vyper 2.0: High-intensity vibrating fitness roller
• Hypersphere: High-intensity vibrating fitness ball
• Venom Back and Knee: Vibration and heat, providing wearable hands-free relief

 2. Regular and Vibrating Foam Roller 

 Foam rollers are an affordable and accessible version of a massage gun. They help to release tension in muscles, relieve muscle soreness, and improve flexibility and range of motion. Foam rollers are often used by runners and weightlifters to target muscles, but regular foam rolling can provide a wealth of benefits for anyone dealing with muscle pain and tightness.  

There are various styles of foam rollers, but most of them have the same function. There are also foam rollers available (including at PTSMC clinics) that vibrate at different high frequency speeds to promote even more healing. Rollers can often be found to fit someone’s unique style, as there are a wide range of options for color, patterns and sizes. 

3. Pain Relievers

 No, we’re not referring to painkillers like Tylenol or Motrin – we’re talking about scientifically–proven heating and cooling methods that relieve muscle and joint pain and soreness. Most of us have at one point or another resorted to putting frozen peas on an injury or stiff area, but believe it or not there are products that provide pain relief in a more effective way. 

 Two of our favorite brands are Therapearl and BioFreeze, both offered at PTSMC clinics. TheraPearl packs a punch by offering a two-in-one heating and cooling pack that’s designed for specific parts of the body. Their design makes it much more comfortable to hold the pack on for the recommended 20 minutes. 

 BioFreeze products use menthol to create a cooling sensation on and under your skin to help relieve pain. It’s been found to be more effective than ice, and let’s be real, ice can be incredibly uncomfortable on the skin. With BioFreeze, you’re less likely to experience stiffness, skin irritation, numbness, and the inactivity required to apply ice.  

4. Fitness Equipment

Given the risky nature of gym-going at the moment, anyone looking to stay active this winter and spring will appreciate having their own fitness equipment to use at home. Even before the pandemic, having a handy set of equipment ensures that, if you can’t make it to the gym due to illness, weather, or time constraints, you can still get in a decent workout. Dumbbells, resistance bands, and physioballs are products that almost all active adults can appreciate. One of our favorite brands is BodySport, while TheraBand also makes great resistance bands that can provide some additional weight resistance in an at home workout or some additional approaches to stretching. 

 5. A Movement Assessment or Dry Needling Session with a Physical Therapist 

It’s a common myth that only those with injuries or recovering from surgery should see a physical therapist. The truth is that many people would benefit from seeing a physical therapist, especially athletes or others dealing with frequent muscle or joint pain! PTs are the musculoskeletal experts, and they can evaluate running strides, muscle imbalances and weaknesses, posture, and biomechanics for a wide range of activities. Someone who has never been evaluated by a professional could be setting themselves up for bigger problems in the future by squatting incorrectly, poor running technique, or just by sitting with poor posture at the work desk. 

 Those experiencing regular issues like a pulled neck or back, leg pain, shoulder pain, or sore muscles from activity can benefit from a trigger point dry needling session with a PT. Dry needling is a tried and true technique that releases tension in trigger points. It sounds like acupuncture, but it’s actually rooted in research-based evidence, scientifically-proven approaches to promote healing in injured muscles, while acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.  

Contact us to purchase an item or schedule an appointment! 

Almost all of the products and services mentioned above are sold at a number of PTSMC clinics across the state, and our experts are in the clinic and ready to answer your questions and offer guidance so your gift recipient (or you…we won’t tell!) can get the most out of them. We are also having a sale on a number of items for the holiday season – sale prices below! 

 If you have any questions or would like to purchase one of these items, please contact us through this form with your request and we will make sure we have the item in stock for you. If you’d like to schedule an appointment for an assessment or for Dry Needling, please submit your information here.