I consider myself a bit lazy, both mentally and physically. Do I want to go out on a run with you this morning? No, I do not. I would rather sit here on the couch and find something more constructive to do with my time. I will drag myself to the gym several times a […]
How Stress Affects Your Healing
It is clear that we live in a world full of stressers. There is work stress, home-life stress, parenting stress and, often times, unnecessary stress. Many people are unaware of the actual physical demand that stress places on the body. Our body has various systems that are always trying to work harmoniously, but when we […]
Are You a “Motor Moron?”
Do you have one of those friends that is always getting hurt for no particular reason? You know – that friend that always manages to trip over their own feet or stumble into inanimate objects. This is also the same friend that manages to cut themselves, regularly, when trying to cook or slams their fingers […]
Using Your Natural Turnout: A Cry for Dance Injury Prevention
In the dance community, particularly the ballet community, turnout is such a coveted talent. It becomes ingrained from a very early age that this perfectly externally rotated foot position is necessary to be considered a good dancer or one that is better than the other dancers. The problem is that turnout is not just a […]
Review of Specialized Sleeping Pillow
A few months back I was getting to the point of extreme frustration in regard to sleeping on my sides. I have a partial labrum tear in my left shoulder from years of sports, weight training, and lord knows what other repetitive activities. I would also not be surprised if I have a small tear […]
Rotator Cuff or Rotator Cup?
I often hear people refer to the muscles that encircle the shoulder at the “rotator cup.” This of course is a misnomer. The muscles that surround the shoulder are correctly referred to as the “rotator cuff.” The definition of a “cuff” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is as follows: “Something (such as a part of […]
Proper Foot Care for Dancers
It is commonly known that dancers do not have the nicest feet to look at. Despite their rough appearance, dancers do generally work quite hard to care for their feet. The most minor of foot issues could really deter their training or performance schedule, so proper maintenance is paramount. Some major tips include (1) loving […]
Addressing the Inflammatory Process of your Injury
Often times when people have an orthopaedic injury, it is accompanied by pain. Pain is message of discomfort that is brought to our attention by our nervous system from a specific type of nerve. Pain has many different types of sensations or characteristics including, but not limited to, sharp stabbing, dull ache, burning, tingling, or […]
Internal Rotation of the Shoulder: The Under-Prescribed Exercise!
In clinical physical therapy practice, I have noticed that rotator cuff exercises tend to have more of a bias towards external rotation rather than internal rotation. Why is this? Here is an example of external rotation (see video below). This can be done either on one’s side as in the first video or standing with […]
Getting en Pointe: For the Progressing Dancer
The art of dancing en pointe is something that many little girls in ballet class work towards. It is a typical sign that you are now one of the “big girls.” However, the excitement of getting to this milestone can sometimes cause premature entry into the world of pointe shoes. Pointe shoes are a much […]
