Knee Pain in Kids – When to Seek Treatment
Knees hurt sometimes. Even in young people. Common knee injuries fall into two categories: gradual-onset injuries, and sudden-onset injuries. Learn about the most common situations and what can be done about them.
The Pesky IT Band
Are you an active biker, runner, recreational or competitive athlete limited by pain on the outside of the thigh or the outer knee? You may be one of the many people dealing with pain in the iliotibial (IT) band!
The Fight Against Sarcopenia (Muscle Loss with Aging)
Most people have heard of a loss of bone that occurs as we age, known as osteopenia, but another important impact of aging, related to our muscle mass, is just as crucial to understand and address. Let’s dive into what causes sarcopenia and what we can do to combat it.
What is Incontinence? Symptoms, Causes, Types and Treatments.
Every year, 13 million Americans are affected by incontinence or involuntary loss of bladder and bowel control. Both men and women, young and old, may experience some form of incontinence. There are many ways physical therapy can help you regain control over your bladder and bowels.
What is Spinal Stenosis, and Can Physical Therapy Help?
When our spine wears down, it is less able to do its essential tasks, including protecting the spinal nerves: a condition called spinal stenosis. If you have been suffering from back pain, especially burning or achy pain associated with nerve irritation, physical therapy can help.
Physical Therapy and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is caused by a decrease in bone density, which makes bones more fragile and susceptible to breaking. A diagnosis can be intimidating, but understanding the risk factors, causes, symptoms and how to manage the condition can help you maintain an active life doing all the things you love.
What is Patellofemoral Pain?
There are many potential sources of injury to the knee, including cartilage, ligaments, muscles and tendons, as well as joint wear and tear (osteoarthritis). Sometimes, however, pain is felt in the knee even though there is no injury present. This is called patellofemoral syndrome.
What To Do For a Concussion
Treatment of concussions is a collaborative effort between primary care physicians, neuropsychologists, physical therapists, and other health professionals all committed to helping decrease symptoms and get you back to life and all the things you love.
Why does my shoulder hurt when I reach overhead?
It is easy to take the use of our shoulders for granted, and we may not realize how much we depend on them throughout the day for nearly all our tasks. That is, until something happens, and we suddenly find ourselves in pain and unable to do even the simplest things.
Hamstring Pain? Your Top 3 Questions Answered
As physical therapists, we hear a lot of questions related to the infamous hamstring muscles! Many of these questions are centered around the impact of a painful hamstring during running. We are going to tackle this one question at a time.
What’s Causing My Dizziness?
Some people just simply wake up dizzy one morning – the room is spinning and then, eventually, it settles down and feels normal again. But, if the feeling as if the room is spinning comes back every time you move your head in a certain way or you move your head quickly, you may have something called vertigo.
The Herniated Disc: What You Need to Know About the Most Misunderstood Back Injury
Of all the back injuries we see as physical therapists, there may be no greater misunderstood injury than the herniated disc. As musculoskeletal experts, we strive to help people understand what a herniated disc is, how to know if you have one, and if so, how physical therapy can help.
How Do I Know if I Damaged My Achilles Tendon?
There are many different factors that can contribute to the cause of Achilles tendon pain and swelling, though it generally occurs due to repetitive motions during athletic and recreational play, especially during activities involving running or jumping. Fortunately, a variety of treatments can provide effective relief.
Shin Splints — A Physical Therapist’s Experience and Advice
Physical therapist Pete Dills knows the pain and discomfort associated with shin splints based on his own personal experience. Today, a decade after his running journey began, he is passionate about helping others overcome the limitations caused by repetitive stress injuries such as shin splints through treatment, education, and prevention.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: We’ve Come a Long Way!
Pain around your kneecap can make everyday tasks difficult and athletic endeavors extremely challenging. A physical therapist can help patients gain an understanding of the symptoms and causes of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, establish a plan for treatment, and share education that supports prevention of future issues.
Urinary Frequency & Bladder Function – What’s Normal?
When functioning normally, the bladder can hold substantial amounts of urine as it fills and then empty when the time is appropriate. However, this is a complex process involving many different body systems and when one is not working properly, there can be many physical as well as psychological consequences.
Preventing Low Back Pain by Training the Correct Core Muscles
Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues worldwide, affecting more than 80 percent of adults at some point in their lives. While core training can address low back pain, it’s important to first understand how to correctly and safely exercise your core to support your back.
My Fingers Are Numb – Is it Carpal Tunnel and can PT help?
Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause numbness, tingling and sometimes pain and weakness to the hand. These symptoms can make it difficult to hold, grip or manipulate small objects, and makes writing and keyboard use challenging. Physical therapy can help reduce symptoms and relieve pain associated with this condition.
Skier’s Thumb: What is it and how can PT help?
It’s not just the knees that are at risk when you’re on the slopes – skier’s thumb is one of the most common injuries sustained by snow-sport enthusiasts. Depending on the severity of the sprain, physical therapy can help you heal as quickly and safely as possible.
Arthritis and Pain — What You Should Know
Taking care of yourself by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, and working with a physical therapist to address and understand pain can all help to reduce and often eliminate pain, even in the presence of arthritis.
Combatting the Common Challenge of Low Back Pain
If you have low back pain, you are far from alone. It’s one of the most common diagnoses we see in our clinics. At any given time, approximately 25 percent of people in the United States report facing debilitating low back pain within the past three months. It is estimated that across the world, back […]
MYTH: My MRI Was Positive, Which Means That Is the Source of My Pain
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI as we commonly know it, is an imaging tool that allows us to visualize tissues within our body. It can be a helpful resource and tool to assist with diagnoses and analyzing tissue damage when appropriate. For many people, getting a “positive” result on your MRI can be worrisome. Scary […]
Physical Therapist Treats Dizziness at High Altitude
Physical Therapist Kat Burns was traveling to visit family over the holidays on a red eye flight from San Francisco to Cleveland. Thirty minutes into the flight, there was an announcement seeking the assistance of a doctor or nurse on board. A physician (Gastroenterologist) on board volunteered her assistance. Meanwhile, Kat told one of the other flight […]
To Ice or Not To Ice?
Traditionally, ice and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) have played an integral role in the treatment of acute injuries. They were combined with rest, elevation, and compression to decrease swelling, reduce inflammation, and control pain. This method was believed to facilitate a quicker recovery time and faster return to activity. Recently, the effectiveness of these practices has […]
