PROSPER Performance & Physical Therapy

PROSPER Performance & Physical Therapy A Postural Restoration-based physical therapy clinic and Sanuwave provider, located in Sugar Hill and Atlanta, GA.

PROSPER P-PT started as a young girl with a dream in 1991. Her favorite player returned to pitch after a surgery never done before on an MLB pitcher. He credited his team physical therapist for his return. At that moment she realized that helping athletes return to sport was what she wanted to do with her life. Her parents gave a resounding, "You'd be good at that!" She never looked back...

PRO

SPER Performance & Physical Therapy, LLC was founded by Kristen Spencer, MPT, PRC in 2017. Kristen is a physical therapist who has been certified in Postural Restoration (PRI) since 2009. As one of the first 50 clinicians in the world to achieve certification, Kristen is often sought out for her expertise in the science of PRI. She has been utilizing PRI since 2007, including 5 years of working with professional, Olympic, collegiate, high school and recreational athletes. Prior to becoming certified in PRI, Kristen was a physical therapist in the US Air Force for nearly 10 years. Throughout her Air Force career, Kristen also led Prenatal Fitness classes, managed unit Fitness Programs and managed her unit Self-Aid-and Buddy Care Program.

ACT BEFORE it Presents!This is when we can make the most impact - before you typically think of it. Those of you in your...
05/30/2026

ACT BEFORE it Presents!

This is when we can make the most impact - before you typically think of it. Those of you in your 20's - 30's have THE GREATEST POTENTIAL to decrease your Arthritis Risk.

Why then?
🧬 This is the age-frame when cartilage cells regenerate the best
🔥 Inflammation due to past injury can still be modulated
💪 The ability to build muscle is at its peak
📅 Creating habits that correct alignment now will pay off later

Don't wait until pain starts or imaging shows damage... By the time signs of arthritis show up on x-ray, up to 50% of cartilage could have already been lost!

Likewise, if you've had a joint injury, the best time to act preventatively is within the first 10 years. On average, the lag time between a joint injury & osteoarthritis diagnoses (symptoms & damage appear) is about 10-14 yrs after the injury.

It's not too late to minimize the pain & slow down progression later on, but taking care of it before it starts is much easier & more complete!

This is why I am so excited to start our Arthritis Prevention Program this summer! If you'd like to be notified of the details when it's ready, comment "Happy Joints" or send me a PM!

❤️, Kristen and the Prosper Team
"Preserving Active Lifestyles in Unconventional Ways"

Joints need GOOD SLEEP 😴 Poor sleep is a significant driver of inflammation. How? 🔥 The very inflammatory markers...
05/30/2026

Joints need GOOD SLEEP 😴

Poor sleep is a significant driver of inflammation. How?

🔥 The very inflammatory markers that destroy cartilage & are prevalent in those with both
Rheumatoid & Osteoarthritis are released when we lack quality sleep

🔥 A single night of suboptimal sleep can activate the NF-kB inflammatory pathway.

🔥 Deep sleep clears out inflammatory waste. Without it, inflammation builds up in our joints
& brain.

🔥 Cortisol levels rise with Suboptimal Sleep (remember the hormone post?)
Cortisol = Inflammation & Cartilage breakdown.

👄 MOUTH BREATHING

An underappreciated influence on systemic inflammation & sleep quality is Mouth Breathing. Mouth Breathing during sleep is a large contributor to poor sleep quality & its consequences.

Mouth Breathing = ⬆️ Cortisol & ⬆️ Systemic Inflammation

Essentially, even DAYTIME MOUTH BREATHING MIMICS POOR SLEEP!

Additionally…

Mouth Breathing = a lack of Nasal Breathing 👃

Nasal Breathing = Nitric Oxide distributor

Nitric Oxide = Natural Anti-inflammatory Molecule

Nitric Oxide is brought into our bodies in large part through air moving through our nostrils. Decreased production & distribution of this important natural anti-inflammation powerhouse leads to increased systemic inflammation.

Knowing your Sleep Quality & recognizing a habit of Mouth Breathing are important first steps to decreasing your Arthritis Risk. Our Arthritis Prevention Program coming this summer will dive deep into each of these. Interested in learning more? Comment “Sleep” or PM us!

❤️, Kristen & the Prosper Team

“Preserving Active Lifestyles in Unconventional Ways”

Hormones Affect my Arthritis Risk?Yep! 📉 Low Testosterone & Low Estrogen both increase Arthritis Risk. ESTROGEN protects...
05/25/2026

Hormones Affect my Arthritis Risk?

Yep!

📉 Low Testosterone & Low Estrogen both increase Arthritis Risk.

ESTROGEN protects our cartilage and its sudden drop during Menopause triggers a surge in inflammation. A woman's chance of developing arthritis DOUBLES after age 50.

Lower TESTOSTERONE is linked to a 40% increase in CRP (marker of inflammation also found in those with arthritis) in men. PS - women can also experience low T as well!

💣 CHRONIC STRESS = 40% ⬆️ Risk of Arthritis!

Stress releases the hormone, CORTISOL. Though Cortisol is initially anti-inflammatory, chronic Cortisol release (via chronic mental, emotional or physical srress) breaks down your cartilage & increases MMP's (see prior post about these).

⚖️ THYROID HORMONE Balance

T3 and T4 hormones regulate cartilage breakdown & growth. Too high or too low levels of these hormones can increase your arthritis risk.

⚠️ Stay on top of your hormones ... your joints will thank you!

❤, Kristen & the Prosper Team
"Preserving Active Lifestyles in Unconventional Ways"

MISALIGNMENT - Here's where things get fun! There is 4-8 x more cartilage loss found in joints that are misaligned. 🤯...
05/21/2026

MISALIGNMENT - Here's where things get fun!

There is 4-8 x more cartilage loss found in joints that are misaligned. 🤯

But, the good new is, there is a way to improve joint alignement & a little goes a long way!
🎉 A mere 1 degree improvement in your joint alignment has been shown to create a significant shift in weight distribution within the joint.

👉 Improving joint alignment is what Restoration Institute and Integration Academy movement specialists do best! We understand that it's not about improving alignment at just 1 specific joint, however. Your Knee or Hip alignment are dependent on Foot, Rib, Diaphragm, Sternum, Neck, Upper Cervical & even Teeth alignment. Finding one of these specialists is your best bet to improving joint alignment and equally spread the load across and among each joint.

Want help finding a "Joint Alignment Specialist" near you? PM me or Comment "Happy Joint" and we'll help connect you with one near you.

❤️, Kristen & the Prosper Team
"Preserving Active Lifestyles in Unconventional Ways"

Joint Inury or Surgery? Time is ticking! Mensicus & ACL injuries/surgeries are among the highest risks for future arthri...
05/16/2026

Joint Inury or Surgery? Time is ticking!

Mensicus & ACL injuries/surgeries are among the highest risks for future arthritis. 74% of people with an ACL injury develop osteoarthritis within 14 years! Chronic ankle sprains are also high on the list.

The inflammation cascade is triggered at time of injury and/or surgery. Staying ahead of it is an unrecognized opportunity to prevent.

Some of this early imflammation is necessary for stimulating the healing process, but it still triggers chronic inflammation & changes to cartilage environment, permanently.

The good news is, we can significantly minimize the response with timely intervention. An integrative (non-medicinal) anti-inflammatory & alignment program that starts around week 2 after injury or surgery is critical to longterm joint health. PM me if you'd like to know more about our Joint Health Program launching this Summer!

❤️, Kristen & the Prosper Team

Arthritis & Body FatYes, there is an associatioin between excess body weight and Arthritis risk. However, it is not sim...
05/13/2026

Arthritis & Body Fat

Yes, there is an associatioin between excess body weight and Arthritis risk. However, it is not simply about the weight of your body. It's more about body composition.

Not only does be heavier increase force on your joints, but body fat is a significant driver of inflammation.

⚖️ Increased load + 🔥increased inflammation = ❌️❌️ Double Whammy against your joints

⚠️ You can be a healthy weight, but have increased body fat (especially visceral fat) and have an increased Osteoarthritis risk! ⚠️

So, if you are told you can help your joints out by losing weight, it is true... but be sure it is the right kind of weight. See a good trainer, metabolic syndrome specialist, dietician, etc to get your body fat down to a healthy level.

⚠️ Beware! You can be a healthy weight, but have increased body fat (especially visceral fat) and have an increased Osteoarthritis risk.

So, if you are told you should lose weight to protect your joints, that is true... but, be sure it is the right kind of weight. See a good Trainer, Nutritionist, Metabolic Disorder specialist, etc who is well versed at getting you to a healthy weight without losing mostly muscle to get that Body Fat down.

❤️, Kristen & the Prosper Team

"Preserving Active Lifestyles in Unconventional Ways"

Arthritis is the #1 cause of Disability in the US. And 50% of people with Arthritis not sufficiently active.But BEING I...
05/09/2026

Arthritis is the #1 cause of Disability in the US. And 50% of people with Arthritis not sufficiently active.

But BEING INACTIVE ACCELERATES joint destruction.

Maintaining structured activity that supports your joints will:

➡️ Decrease joint pain by increasing muscle support
➡️ Bring nutrients to your cartilage (the ONLY way to get nutrients into the cartilage)
➡️ Decrease inflammatory markers by up to 40%

If rest and movement avoidance is the advice you've been given, give it a second thought. 🤔

Give us a ring if you are interested in learning how to keep moving the joint safely, even if damage is present. Link in Bio for a Free Discovery Call appointment.

❤️, Kristen & the Prosper Team

"Preserving Active Lifestlyes in Unconventional Ways"

The main cause of Osteoarthritis? It's NOT simply "wear & tear". 🤯Arthritis has often been thought of as ...
05/06/2026

The main cause of Osteoarthritis? It's NOT simply "wear & tear". 🤯

Arthritis has often been thought of as a result of too much stress on a joint. As if there is some sort of pre-determined amount of steps, force, or repetitions allotted to joints. Though this is a contributing factor, we now know that it is mostly triggered and controlled by inflammation - regardless of the physical amount of stress on the joint.

Studies show much elevated levels of inflammatory markers in osteoarthritic (OA) joints (and even moreso in RA). One specific inflammatory protein, IL-6, has been found to be up to 109x more present in OA joints vs normal joints.

IL-6 is highly destructice to joints in many ways:

🔥 increases MMP proteins that destroy Type II Collagen & Aggrecan
🔥 induces RANKL which erode bone (osteoclasts)
🔥 stimulates VEGF which stimulates pannus (overgrowth of synovial tissue which degrades cartilage & bone)
🔥 inhibits Wnt signaling, blocking new bone growth while signaling destruction

IL-6 is also considered a major cause of arthritis pain.

IL-1 and TNF-a are also highly prevelant in OA tested joints. These inflammatory proteins degrade cartilage, reorganize the cartilage matrix, and may even lead to the increased bone growth (i.e.spurs) associated with OA. This cartilage damage then triggers more inflammation... and the cycle continues.

So, when you hear that the amout of stress or pounding to a joint is going to wear it down & lead to arthritis, remember, it is not such a direct cause & effect. It is not neccessrily a simple mechanical break down, strictly from load.

Wanna know more? Stay tuned throughout the month of May for my Arthritis Awareness Month educational series!

❤️, Kristen & the Prosper Team

"Preserving Active Lifestyles in Unconventional Ways"

May is ARTHRITIS AWARENESS Month! Arthritis is one of the leading causes of inactivity as we age. But, did you know tha...
05/01/2026

May is ARTHRITIS AWARENESS Month!

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of inactivity as we age. But, did you know that there are many ways you can reduce your risk? 🤯

I don't just mean by "taking it easy" on your joints. We have learned so much over the years & I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Stay tuned throughout the month for facts & tips.

❤️, Kristen & the Propser Team

"Preserving Active Lifestyle in Unconventional Ways"

PAIN STILL LINGERING after 2 wks? Now What? Conventional instruction tells you to see your Primary Physician... you prob...
04/24/2026

PAIN STILL LINGERING after 2 wks?

Now What?

Conventional instruction tells you to see your Primary Physician... you probably need an xray or MRI, right? We can't know how to fix it without knowing exactly what's going on, right? Or do we...?

Conventional Way:
🔹️See Primary Physician (time delay)
🔹️More Meds (Bandaid, potentially detrimental)
🔹️Imaging (often useless or unnecessary)
🔹️Referral to PT (time delay, traditional methods & often incomplete)

Did you know that Primary Physicians are not musculoskeletal experts? (Ask them, they'll tell you)

Try this Unconventional Plan instead:

👉 Go directly to a high quality PT or Chiro
👉 Immediately start working on Movement Dysfunction
👉 Enhance your Natural Healing capability

This plan will:

💥 Get you started within the precious 14 day window
💥 Decrease likelihood of injections or surgery
💥 Get to the root cause, allowing for more complete healing
💥 Cut down time spent in doctor offices
💥 Minimize fear of movement (this is huge)
💥 Get you back to activity sooner!!

Read more in my "Be " blog. Link in Bio.

❤, Kristen
"Preserving Active Lifestyles in Unconventional Ways"

Address

245 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suite 100
Sugar Hill, GA
30518

Website

https://prosperperformance-pt.com/be-%23unconventional-blog

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