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 […]
I Might Be Insane
Over the last several years I have heard much about the popular fitness craze known as Shaun T.’s “Insanity.” Many of you have undoubtedly seen the commercial advertisements. Buffed out twenty-somethings are seen jumping around and performing brutal plyometrics and calisthenics to the point of utter exhaustion. As a clinician, I was, of course, curious […]
Athletes: Land Quietly Like a Ballet Dancer
Working in an outpatient orthopaedic setting, a common goal for many of our patients is returning to sports. For many, that means being able to run, jump and change direction quickly. Because of my personal background in dance, my patients probably get very annoyed with me when I begin working on plyometric activities with them, […]
Updates on the Treatment of Tennis Elbow
Last year I had the opportunity to attend a conference here in Washington, D.C., that focused on upper extremity injuries. I attended a specific lecture on the nasty, nagging, and otherwise problematic diagnosis of “tennis elbow.” It does appear that the medical community is making some discernible changes in terms of how this diagnosis is […]
How Much Grip Strength Do I Need To Drive a Car?
Grip strength with post-operative and geriatric patients is an important consideration when it comes to safety. If a patient does not have functional grip strength, there is a much higher risk of dropping objects, driving accidents, and a general inability to negotiate doors in public spaces. I will typically advise against driving if the patient […]
Compression Socks for Everyday Use and Travel
In the past, compression socks or stockings were only seen in the hospital setting or amongst the older population with lymphatic or circulatory problems. They have been known to be white or beige ugly stockings that usually end just below or above the knee. However, due to the practical everyday use of these garments, compression […]
BOSU Training for Dancers
Dancers’ requirements vary so much. It is asked of them to be strong, agile, flexible, and balanced all while maintaining some level of artistry and making things look easy. Dancers train in a similar way as other conventional athletes to attain the previously mentioned goals. It may just not look the same. Similar tools are […]
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 […]
Pilates Reformer & Tower Reviews
As a physical therapist, I at times feel the need to try out different forms of exercise that my patients participate in. I have tried the Pilates mat classes with the hallmark one hundred pulsed repetitions of modified abdominal crunches. Meh. My fit fifty-something neighbor finally convinced me last month to try “back to back” […]
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 […]
Does the “Fitbit” Foster Compliance?
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 […]
The Rowing Machine Challenge
Personally, the most horrifying workout that I have experienced is the 2000 meter sprint using the Concept II indoor rowing machine. Even my friends who are Crossfit acolytes would rather do other grueling workouts than face the rower for a dreaded sprint trial. The gold standard for an adult male being crowned an absolute “badass” […]
Tandem Stance: Try It!
Do we ever give any thought about “balance” as we age? Given that upwards of one-third of individuals over the age of sixty-five will have a fall in any given year, it may be a good idea to be proactive about doing some balance training. Let’s use tandem stance as a great example of an […]
Reacquaint Yourself With “Straight Leg Raises”
The straight leg raise is the most commonly prescribed exercise in physical therapy for patients with knee pain. Unfortunately, it is probably the exercise that is most frequently performed incorrectly!! How can something that looks so simple be done incorrectly? The answer lies in successful recruitment of that pesky portion of the quadriceps known as […]
Staying Injury Free in Social Dance
When people think of dance injuries, the mind often automatically goes to a setting of a ballet barre or stage show. Sometimes dance injuries happen in the social dance arena as well. For the purposes of this article, the term social dance will be defined as a dance style that requires at least 2 people […]
Dealing with Dancer’s Hip: Snapping Hip Syndrome
Snapping hip syndrome is a disorder that is characterized by a popping or snapping sound when you bend, straighten, or rotate your hip. This is not a specific functional diagnosis, but is more of a descriptor. This dysfunction is more medically known as coxa saltans (Latin for dancer’s hip). It is less formally but more […]
Self-Massage & the Importance of Mobility Practices with Exercise
During formal rehabilitative sessions, patients spend portions of their treatments doing exercise, getting various modalities (hot/cold packs, ultrasound, electric stimulation), and spend time on a table where the therapist may be doing joint mobilization or soft tissue mobilization. Physical therapists are always stressing the importance of strengthening, stretching, and achieving functional range of motion. Often […]
Continuous Passive Motion Machines, Are They Worth It?
A Continuous Passive Motion machine, or CPM, is sometimes prescribed by surgeons to work on early active range of motion on a given joint following a surgical procedure. Lately, we have seen a few patients here at PhysioDC who have come for post-op knee rehab who have been prescribed a CPM unit for home use. […]