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 […]
Feeling Stiff in the Colder Weather
Snow is on the ground. The weather has definitely let us know that winter is approaching by the very brisk morning temperatures. I have personally noticed that, over the years, my body doesn’t enjoy the mornings so much when it starts to get too cold out. I essentially wake up feeling like a relative of […]
What is the Three (3) Hop Test?
The following video (below) gives us a quick example of what the three-hop test is. In a nutshell, our athlete is taking three consecutive hops using the same leg while striving for the maximum forward distance possible. Note that the participant must maintain total control of the hops: no loss of balance, stutter stepping, or […]
It’s Pool Season: Use It for Your Rehab
The weather is getting warmer and the sun is out for longer. People are putting on their swimsuits to sunbathe at the pool. If you are dealing with an injury, it’s a perfect time to change up your exercises a bit to do some rehab in that water. Benefits of Aquatic Exercises The buoyancy and […]
How to Landscape Without Experiencing Orthopedic Injury
It’s that time of year when the sun is out, the birds are chirping and bees are buzzing. It’s Spring! It’s the perfect time for gardening, whether you like to do so as a hobby or you just have to do basic maintenance of weeding and lawn mowing. These activities of botanical prowess sometimes come […]
The “Clamshell” Hip Exercise
It has stood the test of time and is a staple in just about every physical therapy clinic. It is the beloved “clamshell” exercise. This exercise is relatively simple, portable, safe, and effective in regards to recruiting the often-neglected gluteal muscles. Let’s take a quick look at the start and finish positions of this exercise. […]
How Do I Strengthen My Upper Back?
The muscles of the upper back are easily the most neglected in the patient populations that physical therapists see. Why? Two reasons reasons come to mind. 1. Most people sit at a desk all day in a forward-pitched position. The muscles in the front of the body become over worked with reaching movements of the […]
Neck Pain With Bicycling?
In terms of repetitive stress injuries involved with bicycling, one type of injury that we are encountering with increased frequency is the “neck strain.” Take a look at the relative positions of both the head and neck in the photo on the right. Note that this person’s neck has to extend quite a bit in […]
The Male “Kegel” Exercise? (A Taboo Subject!)
Men do not prefer to talk about the subject of urinary incontinence, but it certainly does exist. Most men, once they reach their late thirties, will notice that the urine stream becomes less strong. Many men will also note that there is less control over the extra “dribble” at the end of urination. (You can […]
Sugar Addiction: Confessions From a Physical Therapist
For as long as I can remember, I have been addicted to anything that is sweet. My parents tried to raise their children on healthy foods, but I always seemed to find a way to get around it. Secret trips on my bicycle to the general store, eating snacks at friends’ houses after school, and […]
Foam Rolling for the ITB: Why Am I Doing This Again?
How many gym-goers do you know who roll the sides of their legs up and down a foam roller before or after a workout? Throngs of people feel that they are doing themselves a service by mashing the “ITB”, or iliotibial band, in a fashion that resembles using a rolling pin on dough. I have […]
Electronic Pedal Assist Bicycle Review
Washington, D.C. is becoming a bicycle-friendly city. There are now many main thoroughfares that have delineated bicycle lanes for those of us who choose to commute to and from work in this manner. At first I was reluctant about using my bicycle as a primary means of getting around in the city. Now, I wouldn’t […]
Postural Shirts?
A client came in this week with something I have not seen before: a “postural” workout shirt. The shirt shown in the photo is a tightly sewn spandex nylon mix marketed as a way of facilitating upright posture and body mechanics. The client did report that she felt more upright. Is this a fad, or […]