Take a look at anyone’s resting shoulder blade position from behind the next time you are at the pool or at the beach. If you look closely, you may notice that many people’s shoulder blades, or scapulae, do not sit evenly. Two common observations to see are one shoulder blade sitting higher than the other […]
When Can I Start Working Out After Shoulder Surgery?
At PhysioDC, we hear this question all of the time. It is a vague question, because it depends entirely on what type of procedure/repair you had on your shoulder. IN GENERAL, here is a basic protocol for many types of rotator cuff repairs, labral repairs, bankart repairs, and acromioplasty. It goes without saying that you […]
Why Should I Stretch My Back on a Foam Roll?
Too many of us sit at a desk all day. The effects of focusing on a monitor and reaching for a keyboard over time can be devastating. Fortunately, there is a simple stretching exercise that can help to counteract our imposed postural duress. There are two major benefits of lying on a foam roller. The […]
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 […]
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 […]
A Ballet Class en Flat in Pointe Shoes
Most people can only imagine how difficult a ballet class is. Then they start to think of ballerinas that they see on the main stage dancing on the tips of their toes in pointe shoes. They start to imagine what type of loopholes these people could have possibly found in Newton’s laws of physics to […]
Shoulder Pain With Yoga? Adjust your “Downward Dog”!
The bones and tendons of the arms are not anatomically equipped to bear the brunt of our weight. If they were, we would still be walking around on all fours. The yoga “downward facing dog” position places us “on all fours,” placing abnormal stress on the tendons of the rotator cuff as the shoulder joints […]
The Anatomy of First Position in Ballet
In ballet, first position is so much more than having your toes pointed outward. It has been said that dancing ballet is like being a duckling. A duckling glides effortlessly across a body of water, but what we don’t see is the constant work happening below the surface. If it looked hard to pull off […]
Should I Use Ice or Should I Use Heat?
Here is a basic list that tries to answer the epic question: Ice or Heat? 1. Ice is generally advised for acute injuries, particularly during the first two weeks following tissue damage. Ankle sprains, sports injuries, back spasm, or most sudden orthopedic injuries that cause swelling and inflammation are a few examples. 2. Heat is […]
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 […]
Floor Barre Practice for Dancers
Efforts to prevent injury for dancers are far and wide. There are many techniques utilized. The major thing done, as with most athletes, is cross training. Dancers don’t necessarily go into the gym to run miles, stack up heavy weights or bust out the agility ladder, although some do – dependent on their style of […]
Ankle Stability and Trail Running
I don’t get trail running. It is needlessly dangerous. I was walking my dog on a trail in Rock Creek Park the other day and played witness to a poor chap falling on his ass and sustaining one heck of an inversion ankle sprain. I had to help him get back to the street. Thank […]
What to Expect from Physical Therapy: Team Players Do Better!
You’ve waited on dealing with an injury for quite some time, because you’ve heard the jokes about physical therapy that don’t make it sound so appealing. “Don’t you know that PT stands for pain and torture?” Because of either pain or loss of function, you finally find yourself in physical therapy. What can you expect? […]
Comprehensive Guide for Dancers Staying in Shape During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As I am writing to you, it is May 2020 in the Washington, D.C. area. There is a stay at home order for most states, and people have been encouraged to only go to public spaces for essential things such as groceries or medications. People are struggling in so many ways with social distancing. People […]
Why All The Fuss About the Gluteus Maximus?
The buttock, the derrière, the bum, the can, the posterior, and many more nicknames abound for the gluteus maximus, the largest single muscle in the body. The gluteus maximus is a vital supporter of both the lower back and the legs. With normal mechanics, the gluteus maximus powers our bodies with walking, stair climbing, and […]
Can You Balance on One Leg?
Take your shoes and socks off. Stand on a flat surface and try to balance on one leg with the stance knee slightly unlocked. Can you do this ON EACH LEG for ten seconds without losing your balance or having to use your other foot to touch the floor? If you cannot, you need to […]
Right Side Dominant: Do We Have A Problem?
Yes, you actually might have a problem if you are “too right-sided.” Let me start by saying that our brains are naturally wired to be right side dominant. If everything goes well in utero, during childbirth, and during our early developmental stages, one can expect to be right-handed. It so happens that this is the […]
Musicians & Complex Motor Programming of The Hands
I have always marveled at the complexity of the sensorimotor programming of the hands. From an evolutionary standpoint, we developed the ability to oppose, circumduct, flex, extend, and abduct the thumb. This allowed us to effectively grasp objects and tools. Our remaining fingers have a complex network of both intrinsic and extrinsic muscles that provide […]
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