A forty-year old woman ”Jane” came in to the clinic last week with a look of exasperation on her face, clutching her left arm. A month ago she had reached behind her to get something out of the back seat of her car and felt a sudden, jarring pain in her shoulder that she described […]
The Importance of Strengthening Rotators & Stabilizers, Part 1
Strong stabilizers are key in joint health and stability. According to the Access to America’s Orthopedic Services (AAOA) Act of 2011, annual direct and indirect costs for musculoskeletal diseases and conditions total over $849 billion. The lack of endurance in the spine and lumbo pelvic stabilizers, can lead to common chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as […]
Momentum, Collisions, Car Accidents, and the Advantage of Playing Sports Drunk?
That is indeed a very long title. And, no, we as physical therapists would never advocate playing sports under the influence of alcohol. Where to start… A few weeks back a patient and I were discussing the concept of momentum and collisions. My patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident and was hit by […]
The Physics Of Falling On Your Ass
Now that I have your attention from the catchy title of this week’s blog ….. Walking to work this week, I witnessed several spectacular falls on icy sidewalks. There are two main reasons why these falls occur. Given that we are in the midst of a particularly nasty winter, it is worth our time to […]
How Do I Stabilize an Unstable Shoulder?
A significant percentage of the population has “unstable” shoulders, or shoulders that have the ability to move into ranges that place one at risk for orthopedic injury. Also known by the medical community as “multi-directional instability,” loose shoulders are fairly easy to identify. If you suspect that you have an unstable shoulder, ask yourself the […]
How Do I Strengthen My Neck Muscles?
Those of us that sit at a computer will probably recognize the image on the left. Notice the forward position of the head on the neck. This position has the chronic effect of weakening the deep muscles of the neck, in particular a muscle known as the “longus colli.” Chronic weakness of the longus colli […]
Why Are My Ring Finger & Pinky Finger Numb?
Have you ever awoken to a numb hand? This is the result of one or more of the nerves in the arm being either clamped or stretched due to sleeping position. One of the most common nerves involved in this type of numbness is the ulnar nerve, as it passes around the elbow joint in […]
Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Head Concussion
For those of you who have seen the movie “Concussion” (yeah, it was a good flick especially with Willenium being the star), one wonders what REALLY happens after concussions in everyday life. I’d like to clear the air – the movie is depicting individuals who have sustained multiple hits over a long duration, so you […]
Sleeping Comfort after Shoulder Surgery
Rotator cuff repairs, labral repairs, acromioplasties, and shoulder replacement surgeries are performed on countless patients every day in the United States. Although rehabilitative protocols differ depending on the surgery, there is one common complaint shoulder patients have regardless of the type of surgery. Most patients are not equipped to deal with the pain associated with […]
How Do I Deal With A Shoulder Dislocation?
Shoulder dislocations typically occur from sudden jarring motions while the shoulder is in a compromised position. An auto accident, fall off a bicycle, or collision while playing sports are common examples of situations that can cause dislocations. For those of us who are naturally hyper-flexible, it may take much less force to cause a dislocation. […]
Five Exercises that Physical Therapists Hate
Below are five exercises that keep your physical therapist in business: 1. Head Stands Yes, you look cool in your outfit, and yes, you are getting improved blood flow to your head. The vertebral segments of your neck, however, are not meant to bear weight like this. The potential risk for neck injury is high, […]
Post-Surgical Ankle Boot? Please Get a Lift For Your Other Shoe!
Many of us know someone who has suffered trauma to the ankle or foot (fractures, surgeries etc.) that requires the usage of a giant, cumbersome immobilization boot. Ankle boots are a necessary evil: They protect the joints and bones of the lower leg and allow for bones and soft tissues to heal. The problem that […]
Our Newly Modified Gluteus Maximus Exercise
Please check out our latest contribution to the gluteus maximus exercise library. We are always tinkering with existing exercises, and we have found that placing the yoga block under the foot really helps to give an extra recruitment challenge! We have found that this is a great way for people to “figure out” how to […]
Takeaways From My First Yoga Experience
You would think that, having practiced as a full-time physical therapist for twenty-two years, perhaps I might have taken a few yoga classes for educational purposes? You underestimate both my stubbornness and my aversion to trying new things. Last weekend I was finally convinced to make the five-minute trip down the mountain to the unofficial […]
Information on Stroke Recovery
In a nutshell, strokes are awful. Strokes affect upwards of 800,000 people per year in the U.S. and cost our healthcare system a massive amount of money. There is a huge range of severity involved with strokes. For example, my grandfather had a small stroke that resulted in lost vision in one of his eyes. […]
