A Physical Therapist Offers a New View on Wellness

Physical therapists have a wealth of information I’ve long thought the general public would benefit from tremendously—if only they could get referred to one. Z Altug, licensed physical therapist and performance specialist has changed all that with his new book Sustainable Fitness: A Practical Guide to Health, Healing, and Wellness, a thorough reference tome that should be on everyone's shelf.

He doesn’t just go into how to squat correctly, or rest shin splints after a run, Altug's vision of wellness includes such topics as How to Control Your Stress and Type A Person Needs to Find Better Life Strategies. I found the chapters on Bright Light, Mood, and Sleep and Using Personal Energy Wisely particularly eye opening.

Parents will find the chapters on Sports Medicine and specific Sports Injury Prevention Resources crucial, as youth sports coaches don’t always include nutrition and exercise education as part of their practice routines. Youth will find the chapters on Test Taking Routine and Rest, Recovery, and Restoration Techniques enlightening from a fact based approach, that also includes integrative medicine practices.

For the exercise enthusiast, Altug draws on his certifications by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, by USA Track & Field as a level 1 coach, and USA Weightlifting as a level 1 sport performance coach. He devotes a significant chunk of the book to training programs in the Your Exercise Menu section, so that you can customize your own training program.

But what I appreciate most about Altug's all encompassing compendium is he focuses on wellness, not injury or illness. The section on Mind and Body Training includes the importance of diaphragmatic breathing and a mindfulness walking program, as well as whole list of other integrative medicine techniques. This new view on wellness applies 25 years of allopathic training in the field making Sustainable Fitness the new bible for the whole family.

@JillGambaro is the author of The Truth About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome . She advocates for patient engagement and employee engagement to resolve carpal tunnel syndrome and keep everyone working healthy. Follow her on LinkedIn, Blogger, Facebook and Twitter.