Peyton's Blog

  Writing in the Health Sciences: A Guide for Movement & Aging Disciplines Welcome to your guide for writing effectively in the fields of kinesiology , physical therapy , and gerontology . Whether you’re preparing a research article, reflective blog, lab report, or patient handout, writing in this discipline demands clarity, evidence, and empathy. This guide offers practical strategies to help you communicate complex ideas with confidence, engage your readers, and meet academic or professional standards. Who Is This Guide For? This guide is designed for: Students  (like me) studying kinesiology, PT, exercise science, or aging studies Emerging professionals writing clinical reports or public-facing content Writers communicating across academic, clinical, and community settings Health sciences writing spans a wide spectrum: from peer-reviewed studies and grant proposals to blogs, educational pamphlets, and public health messaging. Regardless of genre, your go...

  Rethinking Fitness Goals After 65 What Strength Really Means What does it mean to be strong? For older adults, strength isn’t always about hitting a PR in the gym. It might be about reaching the top shelf, climbing stairs with confidence, or holding a grandchild without a fear of falling. As a kinesiology student with a focus on physical therapy and gerontology, I’ve come to believe we need to rethink how we define strength in later life. The fitness world often centers strength on youthful ideal like: big muscles, high-intensity workouts, and competitive goals. But the reality for older adults is different, and that difference deserves celebration, not stigma. What Older Adults Actually Want from Exercise When we talk about fitness, the focus is often on weight loss, aesthetics, or athletic performance. But for older adults, the goals are practical and personal,  centered on living life fully and independently. Research shows that older adults prioritize movement that ...

  Is Physical Therapy Worth It?  When it Helps, Why it Works, and Why it’s Often Overlooked When we hear “physical therapy,” we often imagine athletes recovering from injury or someone learning to walk after surgery. But for older adults, physical therapy is much more than rehab. It can be the difference between living independently and needing full-time care. With the U.S. aging population growing rapidly, understanding when and how to use physical therapy is essential. And yet, PT is often misunderstood, under-prescribed, and underutilized, especially for elderly patients. So this is how we are going to break it down: what is physical therapy really for, when should someone seek it out, and does it actually work? What Is Physical Therapy Really For? Physical therapy (PT) is a healthcare specialty focused on improving how people move and function. It’s NOT limited to post-injury recovery! It can help prevent decline, manage chronic conditions, and even delay or avoid maj...

  Analyzing a Patient Education Handout In physical therapy, one of the most widely used professional genres is a  patient educational handout . These documents serve as essential tools for conveying important therapeutic instructions and health information in a format that is easier to understand. For this analysis, I examine the Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditioning Program handout published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). This document shows the functional and rhetorical strategies used in clinical settings to educate patients and support their recovery outside of in-person appointments. Content and Author The Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditioning Program is designed to communicate a set of exercises specifically made for individuals recovering from rotator cuff tendinitis and other shoulder-related injuries. The document provides an introduction that explains the importance of flexibility and strength in the rotator cuff, followed by a list ...

  “The Age of Champions”  A Documentary That Redefines Aging Through Sport In this week’s blog post, I’m excited to share a review of the inspirational documentary The Age of Champions  . A powerful film that follows five senior athletes as they compete in the National Senior Olympics. As a kinesiology student with a focus on physical therapy and a minor in gerontology, this film resonated with my career. It tackles ageism, mobility, fitness, and resilience with heart and humor, offering an engaging way to rethink what it means to grow older. More Info The Age of Champions is a sports documentary that doubles as a pretty interesting  story . It captures both the thrill of competition and the deeply personal motivations of its senior athletes. Including a 100-year-old tennis champion and a team of basketball-playing grandmothers!  This hybrid genre approach works exceptionally well. By focusing on individual stories, the film creates emotional investment wh...

  Unequal Access to Physical Therapy for Aging Adults In my last two blog posts, I introduced the idea that physical therapy is a powerful tool for helping older adults stay mobile, independent, and healthy. But in this post, I want to explore a harder truth: not everyone has the same opportunity to receive that care. Despite the growing need for physical therapy in aging populations, many older adults still face barriers that keep them from getting the help they need. What’s the Issue at Its Core? This issue is about access to care . Physical therapy can reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent injuries; but not everyone can access these services. Older adults may not get referred to a physical therapist by their doctor. Even if they are, challenges like transportation , high costs , insurance limitations , or lack of providers in their area can prevent them from receiving treatment. According to the American Physical Therapy Association , many older adults, especially th...

  How Physical Therapy Supports Healthy Aging in Older Adults Aging is a natural process, but it doesn't always mean a loss of independence or quality of life and it shouldn't. As a Kinesiology major with a Gerontology minor and an emphasis in Physical Therapy at San Diego State University, I’ve come to understand how important movement is in the aging process. Through my academic journey and personal experiences with physical therapy, I’ve developed an interest in how targeted rehabilitation and structured exercise can help older adults live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.  Connection My major focuses on the science of human movement, while my minor explores the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. Then my emphasis brings these two worlds together. I hope to become a physical therapist who specializes in working with older populations. Helping them recover from injuries, prevent future falls, manage chronic conditions, and stay active as th...