Ever jam your finger into something and it hurts for a while, but then the hurt goes away? It is likely because you sprained a ligament. Ever jam your finger and it hurts for a while, and then you realize you can’t straighten it all the way? If so, chances are you have Mallet Finger. […]
Janaye’s Meniscal Transplant: Weight Bearing & Dynamic Balance Training!
Our patient and favorite medical exercise trainer has been full weight bearing for several weeks. She reports that her hip and lower back pains are decreasing along with her increased acceptance of weight on the surgical leg. Hooray for symmetry! Our PT’s have progressed her to some standing dynamic balance activities. In the photo, Janaye […]
Why ACL Tears Happen
In the season of The World Cup, I thought it may be good to discuss one of the most common soccer injuries, the ever-present ACL tear. Even more, it’s the Women’s World Cup, and females are more likely to get this injury compared to their male counterparts. Let’s discuss why this is the case. The […]
Janaye’s Meniscus Transplant Saga Continues
Janaye is now past the six (6) week window of non-weight bearing required for her meniscal transplant surgery. She is thrilled to be walking, to say the least. Read the previous updates on Janaye: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Here is a quick update of Janaye’s recovery! 1. Her calf muscle on the surgical […]
Meniscal Replacement Surgery
One of the Medical Exercise Trainers affiliated with our practice, Janaye, has just undergone a meniscal replacement surgery. We thought (with her permission) that this would be a great opportunity to chronicle what she is going through during her path to recovery. The menisci are shock absorbing pieces of cartilage that serve to lessen the […]
Tennis Elbow, Ouch!
Tennis Elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a very common problem that involves pain and inflammation along the outer aspect of the elbow. It is arguably one of the most nagging problems that we see here at the clinic, and it is most likely caused by repetitive activities involving extension of the wrist and the fingers. […]
Meniscal Transplant, Part 2
Our willing subject, Janaye, is now approaching two (2) weeks post-operative meniscal transplant surgery (see Part 1). Overall, she is reporting that things are going well. Her pain levels are under control. Janaye is bored, and rightfully so. Post-operative protocols for this type of surgery are highly restrictive early on. Only partial weight bearing is […]
The Truth about Flexibility, Part 1
Flexibility is portrayed both in the media and in the fitness industry as a key factor in joint and muscle health. The current train of thought appears to be, “The more flexible you are, the less likely you are to injure yourself.” The recent popularity of yoga in the United States bolsters this viewpoint. It […]
Poor Posture at Work? Do Something About It!
Any patient with a repetitive overuse injury who walks into our clinic will be asked the following question upon evaluation, “What does your work desk set-up look like?” Countless bouts of thumb tendonitis, back pain, elbow epicondylitis, and other maladies could be avoided if employers only took the time to make basic modifications to computer […]
Review of Specialized Sleeping Pillow
A few months back I was getting to the point of extreme frustration in regard to sleeping on my sides. I have a partial labrum tear in my left shoulder from years of sports, weight training, and lord knows what other repetitive activities. I would also not be surprised if I have a small tear […]
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 […]
Janaye’s Final Meniscal Blog Update!
Here is a final update from Janaye in regards to her meniscal replacement surgery. Take a look at the video clip of Janaye performing a “3-hop test.” This is a great measure of how a patient drives off one leg. She is surprisingly close to the level of her other leg. “I am 5 months […]
The Truth About Flexibility: Part 5
Below is a list of normative values for healthy muscle and joint ranges of motion. It is also worthy to mention that, in general, females tend to have slightly better flexibility than males. TABLE OF NORMATIVE VALUES Hamstrings stretch straight leg raise 80-90 degrees (women 90 / men 80) Hip Flexion / knee bent 125 […]
The Truth about Flexibility, Part 4
My initial instruction to patients that I see with this “over-stretched” phenomena is simple: Stop stretching. In most cases, a cessation of stretching will greatly reduce their lower back pain within a few weeks. Most people when confronted with this information inevitably begin to question the merits of stretching as a means of improving their […]
The Truth about Flexibility, Part 3
It is also worth mentioning that many people are born with an excessive amount of joint and muscle flexibility. There are many people who can, while standing, touch the palms of both hands to the floor without any prior stretching or practice. These people in short do not need to pursue stretching as a form […]
The Truth about Flexibility, Part 2
A common example of chronically stretched muscles involve the abductors of the hip. Women, who have broader pelvises than do men, are in danger of stretching out their hip abductor muscles from sleeping on their sides. Picture a woman side-lying on a bed: with the placement of her knee from the top leg on the […]
Rosie’s Rink Story 1
After nearly two weeks of taking in His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings on peace and goodness and a mysterious case of hit-and-run stomach flu last week, Rosie took to the ice Saturday afternoon. It was 102 degrees out, and she couldn’t think of a place she more wanted to be. Yet, she was nervous, […]