I hate tendonitis and the misery that it brings. The loss of function, the psychological frustration that comes with having pain with motion, and visits to health professionals are annoyances that many of us who have tendonitis must endure. Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon that usually stems from repetitive stress or overuse. We commonly […]
Five Holistic Strategies for Managing Pain
As physical therapists, we frequently hear this question: “I have this ache or pain, what should I do?” While specific aches & pains need a bit more assessment, there are general strategies that you can implement for musculoskeletal pain. In this blog post, we’ll be focusing on some strategies that are efficient in terms of […]
Dealing with the Aging Process
A common cause of orthopedic injury is over-training. Working out at the gym, playing your favorite sport, or even walking can be the root cause of a multitude of orthopedic injuries. The key to managing these types of injuries may lie in adjusting your routine to fit your age. People in their teens and twenties […]
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 […]
Managing Expectations When Recovering from a Labral Repair
I have seen many clients with post-operative shoulder labral repairs. It is a frustrating injury that takes time to recover from. Being the recipient of two labral repair surgeries myself, it is my opinion that the key to recovery with a labral injury is managing expectations. The shoulder labrum is a fibrous, or rigid type […]
What Does a Shoulder Labral Tear Feel Like?
From personal experience I can attest that labral tears can hurt quite a bit. What we will be discussing today in this blog post are a few ways to differentiate between shoulder labral tear pain and pain associated with other shoulder problems. For the sake of brevity, we have already described the basic anatomy of […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Healthcare Plight of the Working Dancer
Something that many people do not understand is that performing artists do not always have the same luxuries as a general office worker when it comes to healthcare coverage. While some may argue that fine arts are a needed part of society, the public is typically not aware of how little support these artists get […]
Swan Neck Deformity of the Finger
Take a look at your hand and straighten your fingers out. If they look crooked, there can be a few different possibilities of what may be taking place. A specific pattern that will be discussed in this article is called Swan Neck deformity. In a swan neck finger, the tip of the finger is bent […]
How Long Will It Take Me To Recover From Surgery?
This is one of the most common questions asked of both patients in our little outpatient orthopedic clinic and through the question sections in our blogs. This question is, of course, broad, and the answer depends on a myriad of variables. The answer in short is… probably longer than you were told. Here is our […]
Ruling Out Alternative Causes Of Spinal Pain
Most people who report a sudden onset of back pain find that it alleviates within a relatively short period of time without significant medical intervention. An example of this could be someone performing a lift of a heavy object off of the ground and “throwing out” the lower back. A few days of rest and […]
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 […]
Soccer Injury Treatment
We see injuries stemming from sports every day here at PhysioDC. Sports that involve high velocity collisions in particular can be devastating in countless ways. Throughout our blog, we highlight specific sports and correlating injuries that commonly occur while playing these sports. Ankle Injuries Ankle traumas are very common injuries, given that running and changing […]
Suffering from Trigger Finger?
The common definition of “trigger finger” involves a person who enjoys or is perhaps likely to discharge a firearm. The medical definition of a “trigger finger” is quite different. Trigger fingers (sometimes referred to as stenosing tenosynovitis, ugh) are quite painful. Typical symptoms include a painful range of motion of the finger(s) with bending and […]
Why Won’t My Shoulder Rotate?
Deficits in the shoulder’s ability to rotate both internally and externally occur in patients with shoulder pain all of the time. Today we will be talking about internal rotation deficits. This is clinically referred to as “GIRD” (Glenohumeral Internal Rotational Deficit). The following photos illustrate how GIRD presents. Note that with the patient’s attempt to […]
What Exactly Is the Rotator Cuff?
The Anatomy Ah, the infamous rotator cuff. Nearly everyone knows someone who has injured it, but what is a rotator cuff? During my physical therapy career, I have heard individuals call this a rotator cup, rotary cuff, rotor cup, and many other alternatives, but do not worry because we understand what you mean. First, a […]
Why Does My Knee Cap Dislocate?
The most common type of knee dislocation is sideways toward the outside of the leg. This is usually due to weakness in the quads, more specifically the Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO). The VMO is the innermost quad muscle that provides stability and allows the knee cap to move properly. When this muscle is weak, there […]