Most of us have heard the warning about obesity as it pertains to general health. Diabetes, coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal issues, and osteoarthritis are all common health concerns that are all associated with overweight patients. Here is one additional reason to lose weight that you may not have considered: Obesity, particularly as it pertains to […]
Hip Labral Repair Rehabilitation: What To Expect
The hip labrum is a cartilaginous ring that extends around the outside of the hip socket as seen in the illustration below. Hip labral tears manifest as sharp, nagging pain deep in the hip or the groin areas. Pain associated with a hip labral tear may also refer down the thigh towards the knee. Car […]
Ankle Sprains and Hip Strength
Inversion ankle sprains, or sprains that involve the ankle turning inwards, are a very common injury both with athletes and with sedentary people. This type of injury often needs physical therapy, and there is much published research and data in relation to why these injuries occur, how to rehabilitate sprains, and how to prevent repeat […]
What Is Normal Hamstrings Length?
Depending on whom you ask, you may get different answers. One thing is for sure, men tend to have less flexibility than do women. Take a look at the attached picture, Phillip’s leg is making roughly a 70 degree angle with the table. At this point in his range, I am feeling some resistance from […]
Why All The Fuss About the Gluteus Maximus?
The buttock, the derrière, the bum, the can, the posterior, and many more nicknames abound for the gluteus maximus, the largest single muscle in the body. The gluteus maximus is a vital supporter of both the lower back and the legs. With normal mechanics, the gluteus maximus powers our bodies with walking, stair climbing, and […]
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 […]
Beauty is Pain: Effects of Wearing High Heels
If you’ve ever been to physical therapy, then you might have noticed that posture is often a topic of conversation… and usually it’s more about your bad posture. Posture affects things from range of motion, strength potential, and even pain. Let me demonstrate how posture can be affected by something as simple as footwear, and […]
Can a “Sashay” Cause Lower Back Pain?
The short answer is yes. The word “sashay” by definition is “to walk in an ostentatious yet casual manner, typically with exaggerated movements of the hips and shoulders.” The sashay brings to mind images of models walking down runways, divas “strutting their stuff,” and the general positive connotation of female confidence. As empowering and popular […]
Why Are My Legs Different Lengths?
“My tailor told me that one of my legs is longer than the other when he measured me for my pants.” I have heard that quote countless times in my clinic from patients. Once people have this idea of “uneven leg lengths” ingrained in their minds, they think that it is an unfortunate permanent fixture […]
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. […]
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 […]
Hip Positioning With Squats: Should I Correct My Form?
Air squats, goblet squats, lunges, smith machine squats, thrusters, hack squats, back squats, front squats, overhead squats, and so on and so on… How many of us have been performing one of the above mentioned squats in a gym setting and have been told by a trainer or other professional to “rotate your hips outward […]