‘The Healing Power of You’: Local physical therapist publishes book to promote lifestyle changes for improved wellness

WASILLA — Northern Edge Physical Therapy owner and physical therapist Keith Poorbaugh recently published his first book, “The Healing Power of You” aiming to empower people to learn how to heal themselves with lifestyle changes.

“There’s a lot of things out there that we can heal if we have the tools,” Poorbaugh said.

“The Healing Power of You” came out June 24 and is currently available for shipping from Amazon and Archway Publishing. People can also pick up the book at the Northern Edge office, located off the Seward Meridian Parkway.

Poorbaugh said on top of healing whatever ails them, readers will be able to use the lasting changes to bring balance and improved wellness to their overall health.

“I try to do healing of movement,” Poorbaugh said.

He said part of his motivation to publish the book comes from how vastly physical therapy can heal people without wasting years with ineffective treatment.

“Part of it was frustration from the typical approach… You can’t fix structure with surgery or drugs,” Poorbaugh said. “It points out the difference between exercise and skilled movement, taking movement and prescribing it like a medication.”

So many people who haven’t tried exercise or changed other habits for their overall wellness experience chronic pain, according to Poorbaugh.

“There’s just an imbalance... between the joint and the muscle... then everything requires a heavier load... then comes then pain,” Poorbaugh said. “There’s a reason why I’m dealing with your hip even though you’re here for your neck. You can’t treat and isolate one part, you have to treat the whole body from head to heel.”

If people simply adjust and monitor their daily movements, they’ll attain lasting relief and experience higher qualities of life, according to Poorbaugh.

“You have to put some skilled movement into the process. This book helps point out if you want healing to work, you can’t just wing it. You do have to do something right with movement,” Poorbaugh said. “If only you make some small changes to the functions your pain will go away. If you have good function you can overcome bad structure.”

Poorbaugh will be selling signed copies of “The Healing Power of You” at the Bearpaw Brewing Company July 24 at 5 p.m. He said people can spend $15 for a beer and book. He noted people can also stop by during normal business hours for signed copies of the book at the office.

“We’ve had a good response so far,” Poorbaugh said. “My goal is not to have a best seller. My goal is to build a following both on the client and caregiver side.”

The book can be ordered online by visiting amazon.com or archwaypublishing.com.

For more information, call 907-631-4029 or visit northernedgept.com.

Contact-Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com