Dr. Austin Weiher

What Is Lactic Acid? Lactic acid is a chemical your body naturally produces when your cells break down carbohydrates for energy. It doesn’t cause muscle pain or burning.

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/...

I first learned this years ago, found it fascinating, and I still share it with patients to help them better understand exercise and recovery.

What’s interesting is that current research shows lactate actually acts as a buffer, helping to prevent a drop in pH. (A lower pH means your muscles are becoming more acidic, which is what makes something an acid.)

So I’m catching up on some CEUs this weekend about exercise physiology for physical therapists. One point mentioned that stood out to me was the idea that lactate lowers pH and causes fatigue, something that used to be widely taught.

Have you heard of “lactic acid”? 🧵⬇️

#Exercise #Health

Our bodies don’t stay the same.
They adapt.

And that…
is our greatest weakness.
and our greatest strength.

Movement is Medicine.

But… we also adapt.

We move → our bones harden
We resist → our muscles grow
We learn → our neurons connect
We struggle → we grow stronger

But when we stop moving,
muscles weaken.
bones soften.
the mind grows dull.
the spirit dims.

Teaching that one of our greatest weaknesses is also our greatest strength.

As humans, we change.
We become ill.
We get injured.
We grow old.

That’s what makes us human.

For me, it’s this:
Giving hope.

I’m often asked:
What’s one of your favorite things about being a physical therapist?

We Were Born to Move

#BornToMove #PhysicalTherapy #HumanMovement #Health

Urge your representatives to support the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act, H.R. 1171, to empower PTs to offer no-cost falls risk screenings during Medicare annual wellness visits.

www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

Yet despite the data, physical therapy continues to face reimbursement cuts under Medicare.

Is it not COMMON SENSE to invest more into physical therapy?

According to the APTA, each PT-led fall prevention episode yields a $2,144 net economic benefit on average for each individual. Imagine the public health impact and personal savings if we scaled that.

The APTA calls fall prevention one of the most evidence-based and cost-effective interventions PTs deliver.

According to the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI), physical therapy after a fall reduces:

• ER visits & hospitalizations ↓ 50%
• Opioid use ↓ 39%
• Medicare spending ↓ up to $10 BILLION annually

According to the CDC and as outlined in an APTA position paper:

🔹 More than 1 in 4 older adults fall each year
🔹 Every 19 minutes, an older adult DIES from a fall
🔹 The average fall-related hospitalization costs $30,000
🔹 Falls cost $50 BILLION annually, 75% paid by Medicare & Medicaid

Many politicians are talking about “common sense”. So, let’s talk common sense. 🧵

#FallPrevention #SAFEact #ChoosePT #CommonSense #HealthyAging #Medicare #Health #PhysicalTherapy

Urge your representatives to support the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act, H.R. 1171, to empower PTs to offer no-cost falls risk screenings during Medicare annual wellness visits.

www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

Yet despite the data, physical therapy continues to face reimbursement cuts under Medicare.

Is it not COMMON SENSE to invest more into physical therapy?

According to the APTA, each PT-led fall prevention episode yields a $2,144 net economic benefit on average for each individual. Imagine the public health impact and personal savings if we scaled that.

The APTA calls fall prevention one of the most evidence-based and cost-effective interventions PTs deliver.

According to the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI), physical therapy after a fall reduces:

• ER visits & hospitalizations ↓ 50%
• Opioid use ↓ 39%
• Medicare spending ↓ up to BILLION annually

According to the CDC and as outlined in an APTA position paper:

🔹 More than 1 in 4 older adults fall each year
🔹 Every 19 minutes, an older adult DIES from a fall
🔹 The average fall-related hospitalization costs $30,000
🔹 Falls cost $50 BILLION annually, 75% paid by Medicare & Medicaid

You are seen. You are valued.

#ScienceMatters #InclusiveHealthcare
#EvidenceBasedCare

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Research shows that safe environments dramatically reduce suicide rates, improve mental health, and lead to better long-term outcomes for all individuals, including those who are transgender.

Every person deserves dignity and respect, especially when the science is clear: support saves lives.
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Let’s come together to advocate for healthier environments, understanding that our collective actions today shape the quality of life for generations to come.

As a movement professional, I recognize the profound connection between environmental factors and physical health. It’s essential to stay informed and proactive, ensuring that we continue to promote practices that support both personal wellness and environmental sustainability.

We’ve seen significant shifts in policies that directly impact our environment and, consequently, our health and well-being. These changes influence the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the stability of our communities.

#EnvironmentalHealth #CommunityWellness #SustainableLiving

Whether you’re concerned or optimistic about the president-elect and his cabinet, remember: real power comes from community-level engagement—grassroots action, local organizing, volunteering, donating, and holding leaders accountable.

#PublicHealth #CommunityEngagement
#ChangeMakers

Healthcare Workers vs Hunger Healthcare workers vs Hunger is an annual friendly competition between teams of healthcare workers to help relieve food insecurity.

In Nov 2020 as the #pandemic raged, #HCWvsHunger was born to help fight #FoodInsecurity. As our friendly competition enters its 5th year, we’ve raised >$2.4M, fed a lot of people in need, & boosted #MedSky morale.

Read our origin story, see FAQs, log a donation, or get merch: HCWvsHunger.org