We have been seeing a lot of finger fractures and sprains as of late. Here is my list of finger facts that you may find useful if you ever have to deal with a finger trauma and subsequent rehabilitation. 1. Don’t panic If your finger is crushed, jammed, sliced, slammed, or otherwise traumatized, in all […]
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 […]
Low Back Problems Can Be a Real Pain in the Butt
After suffering a low back injury a few years back, I realized I needed to make some changes. I had always been very active and strong. I could lift far more than the average person. I played multiple sports as a youth and continued through my young adult life. I worked hard labor jobs from […]
Femoracetabular Impingement – What Is It?
In recent years there has been a lot of talk about the hip in the world of orthopedics, physical therapy, sports, and fitness. Why, you may ask? Well, a very significant reason this area of orthopedics has exploded is due to improved technology, allowing better imaging techniques and a clearer view of the hip. What […]
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 […]
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
The “thoracic outlet” is the anatomical space through which vital nerves and arteries exit the neck and enter the arm. (See illustration below) You can see from the illustration that there are many structures that have the potential to get in the way of, clamp down on, or otherwise disrupt the nerves as they pass […]
Frozen Shoulder: What should I do?
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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. […]
What Is Normal Range of Motion for The Thumb?
Have you ever noticed that some people can flex and extend their thumb into crazy positions, while others have very limited thumb motion? What in fact is a “normal” amount of thumb motion? This is a tough question to answer given that the metacarpal-phalangeal joint (MCP joint) of the thumb has a somewhat unique property […]
Out of My Cast: What Do I Do Now?
Fractures are not fun. An accident or fall that results in a broken bone is followed by the inevitable hospital visit. X-rays are taken, insurances are billed, and in many cases, bulky and uncomfortable casts are tightly wrapped around fractured extremities. Casts are a necessary evil. Most orthopedists will keep a broken bone in a […]