"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming." This melodic chant, sung by Dory, the forgetful blue tang fish from *Finding Nemo*, captures the spirit of persistence. Dory sings this whimsically during her long journey through the ocean with Marlin as they search for his son, Nemo.

As a parent, my entertainment now consists of whatever my son wants to watch. While he watches the same movies on repeat, I'm fortunate he chooses good ones. Near the end of *Finding Nemo*, Marlin and Nemo find themselves in a predicament (spoiler alert). Just as Nemo is reuniting with Marlin, he gets caught in a fishing net. Marlin shouts the words taught to him by Dory, "just keep swimming." Nemo, along with other caught fish, swims downward into the net, causing it to break and enabling them to swim to freedom.

How Does This Relate to Physical Therapy?

In physical therapy, we often face pain, injuries, or surgery that make the outcome appear hopeless. "Just keep swimming" helps us persevere and move forward. By choosing action, we can overcome painful movement limitations and return to the activities we love. Sometimes, focusing on the process rather than worrying about the future helps us address the problems in front of us and keep moving forward.

The Importance of Movement in Physical Therapy

People seek our help when they feel pain, have difficulty moving, or both. They feel caught in a figurative net, having stopped or been told to stop moving. Their outcome is uncertain. Most cases of back, shoulder, or knee pain necessitate an active, movement-focused approach. Rest leads to de-conditioning and potentially more pain, whereas movement is medicine.

Movement as Medicine

Exercise decreases pain by enhancing blood flow, reducing inflammation, and calming the nervous system through neurologic pain modulation. At Joe Norton Physical Therapy, we inform our clients that movement is a major ingredient to help them feel better. We provide immediately useful strategies and tactics to treat their pain and encourage them to "just keep swimming."

Personalized Physical Therapy Solutions

- Running Movement Evaluations: Comprehensive assessments analyze your running mechanics to identify inefficiencies and potential injury risks. With personalized recommendations, we help runners in Washington DC improve performance and prevent injuries.

- Plantar Fasciitis Treatment: Our specialized physical therapy for plantar fasciitis alleviates pain and promotes healing. We guide you through specific exercises designed to stretch and strengthen the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, and calf muscles.

Dedicated to you

At Joe Norton Physical Therapy, we are dedicated to helping you overcome pain and injury through personalized, movement-focused care. Whether you're dealing with running inefficiencies, plantar fasciitis, or any other condition, our expert team in NW Washington DC is here to support you. Remember, just keep swimming!

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Joe Norton Physical Therapy today. Let us help you take the first step towards a pain-free life.