THE HISTORY OF LABOR DAY A Celebration of Hard Work
Americans work hard, and on the first Monday of every September we take a moment to acknowledge their efforts. Labor Day has a fascinating history, and one that you might not expect. The roots of Labor Day stretch back to the Industrial Revolution, when jobs became plentiful, but not without a cost. As conditions worsened and work days grew longer, unions sprang up as a way to protect the rights of the common laborer. Workers in Canada didn’t fare quite so well because unions were illegal. In 1872, workers marched directly to the door of Canadian Prime Minister John Macdonald, demanding the right to organize. He relented, and the march became a Canadian tradition. As for who brought the tradition to our country, there are two competing candidates. Peter J. McGuire, a carpenter and member of the American Federation of Labor, witnessed the celebrations in Canada and proposed
a similar parade to New York City’s Central Labor Union in 1882. That same year, machinist Matthew Maguire proposed a national Labor Day after a public demonstration by the Central Labor Union. Labor Day didn’t become a federal holiday, though, until a few years later. In 1894, the American Railway Union went on strike against the Pullman Company in what is now known as the Pullman Strike. President Grover Cleveland called in the Army and U.S. Marshals in an attempt to break the strike, and several workers in Chicago lost their lives. In an effort to quell tensions and garner union vote support, President Cleveland signed Labor Day into law just six days after the strike ended. Our country would not be what it is today without the immense effort of laborers. As you enjoy the last long weekend before fall, take a moment to acknowledge just what a difference these hardworking people make.
SERVICE HIGHLIGHT
A Patented Approach to Pain Relief
EXPLAINING ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES
One of the factors that makes physical therapy so effective for treating numerous ailments is the wealth of techniques a therapist has at their disposal. Think of it as a toolshed stocked with ways to make you feel better. In this shed, one of the shiniest tools is the soft tissue repair method known as Active Release Techniques (ART). ART is a patented approach, requiring extensive hands-on and theoretical training before a therapist can be certified.We are proud to offer ART at Advance Physical Therapy. Dr. P. Michael Leahy developed ART after helping many elite athletes return to a performance level no other technique could
the tools they need to pinpoint specific impediments.
Once an issue is identified, ART uses motion to alleviate pain and improve performance. A combination of hands-on treatment by a therapist and guided exercises done by the patient serve to free up problem areas. ART helps increase flexibility and range of motion, providing relief to people who never thought they’d experience it. Whether you’re an elite athlete looking to get back to the top of your game or just an average Joe trying to make it through the day pain-free, ART can help you on the path to recovery. Since an ART-certified therapist is qualified to diagnose and treat over 400 biomechanical structures, odds are good that if you have a soft tissue injury, ART can help.
achieve. The basis for ART is the study of biomechanics, which focuses on the
mechanical laws related to the movement of your body. Soft tissue and nerve injuries can be difficult to diagnose, but ART gives therapists
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