From recovery to resilience: A Q+A with Dr. Kate Newsom on preventing and treating injuries
Dr. Kate Newsom’s journey into physical therapy began in high school, sparked by an unexpected event. After her best friend suffered an injury from being kicked by a horse, Kate joined her in physical therapy sessions and discovered a deep appreciation for the field. As an athlete herself, she quickly realized the vital role physical therapy plays in sports and knew she had found her calling.
Today, Dr. Newsom channels that same passion at EQ Physical Therapy, where her focus extends beyond treatment to the prevention of injuries. Her goal is to empower patients to maintain strong, resilient bodies.
In this Q+A, Dr. Newsom shares insights into her career, tips for injury prevention, and how physical therapy can transform lives.
Q. Why should someone see a physical therapist even if they aren’t injured?
A. Injuries can be very limiting in your day to day life so it is extremely important for people to seek out a physical therapist's help/advice when they first start to have a nagging pain. A nagging pain is a sign something is wrong, and physical therapists can usually find and fix that before it becomes an injury or before you have to go to a doctor.
Q. How can PT help with long-term health and injury prevention?
A. Physical Therapists' role in long term health is to help teach you ways to keep your joints healthy through appropriate strengthening and stretching techniques. We also educate people on proper body mechanics with everyday activities, which help with injury prevention. There is so much physical therapists can do to help with your long-term health and injury prevention so if you have never met with one, I highly encourage you to. In the state of SC, you can see a physical therapist without a referral with MOST insurance plans.
Q. Can physical therapy help with stress management or mental health? If so, how?
A. Yes. If you have ever dealt with pain, you know how much that can affect your mental health. Or if you have been an active person your whole life and suddenly you are sidelined by an injury, that can be very disheartening. So, we as physical therapists are always looking for ways to help with patient's stress management/mental health by helping them focus on what they can do in the moment and remind them of what they are working so hard towards as well.
Q. Are there signs someone might need PT even if they feel healthy?
A. Signs you may need PT even if you are feeling "healthy" overall would be if you wake up stiff in the mornings and that stiffness lingers for a while. Or maybe you have this annoying foot or knee pain that comes and goes. It may not last very long but if it is coming back on a fairly regular basis, it's usually only a matter of time before it becomes an injury. So, come see a PT before that happens!
Q. What are the biggest misconceptions about physical therapy?
A. That physical therapy is only for the injured or old. Physical therapy is for everyone who wants to stay as active with their friends, family, grandchildren for as long as they can. Starting to take care of yourself in your 30s and 40s will help you tremendously in staying active in your 70s and beyond.
Q. Are there exercises or techniques everyone should practice at home?
A. Stretching is the number one thing I tell everyone they should be doing. And knowing what stretches to do can be overwhelming since there are so many out there. So, I encourage people to seek out advice on the stretches they should be doing for their body either from a physical therapist or maybe a trainer they are already working with. As a general rule, everyone should be stretching their calves, hamstrings, upper traps and pecs. And if you want to know why, feel free to reach out to me.
For more tips, you can follow Dr. Newsom on Instagram or schedule an appointment.