Health blog Category: Health and Wellness
Experiencing Headaches?
Have you ever experienced recurrent headaches or ones that appear after neck movements?
There are different types of headaches that respond to different treatments. Some are mild and resolve on their own while others can last for extended periods and can feel debilitating. Headaches can begin to affect ability to do everyday activities and overall quality of life.
If you are experiencing tension or cervicogenic headaches physical therapy will help reduce the symptoms. A cervicogenic headache develops in the cervical spine or neck and radiates to other areas.
Tight Muscles Causing Pain
Tight muscles can lead to decreased mobility, inability to perform every day activities and eventually lead to pain. It is also true that decreased mobility and pain can lead to tight muscles.
Hypomobility
Hypomobility or motion that is restricted due to tight muscles, can occur because of:
- Extended periods of decreased motion
- Sedentary lifestyles
- Poor posture
- Muscle imbalances
- Weakness
- Stress
- Trauma
Stretching
Stretching can be done to help reduce tight muscles leading to more range of motion and flexibility
Benefits of stretching to decrease muscle tightness include:
- Improved range of motion and flexibility
- Overall fitness
- Injury prevention
- Decreased soreness after exercise
- Improved ability to perform every day activities
The Role of PT
In order to keep this new range of motion and flexibility it should be coupled with appropriate strengthening and endurance exercises. That’s what a physical therapist can help with!
If you feel that your muscles are tight and causing pain give us a call today 703-450-4300!
We want to get you on the right path as soon as possible! It is important to be performing stretches that are appropriate for each body part with proper form, intensity, duration and frequency to avoid injury.
Read full blogHere’s What to Do If Surgery Is Coming Up!
Pre-op physical therapy can help prepare you for what is going to happen. It will help you establish your goals before and after surgery as well as determine what your expectations are.
What to expect?
- Examination to set a plan of care and determine a baseline
- Set goals for before and after surgery
- Plan and education of post op and recovery
- Progression of range of motion and strength to improve overall function
- Use of any assistive device currently using or that may be needed after surgery
- How to perform transfers and get around if weight bearing status will be different after surgery
The importance of exercises prior to surgery:
- Being able to set and target muscles around the surgical site before surgery will improve ability to perform after surgery
- Strengthen above and below the surgical area
- Range of motion of the area to enhance mobility
Why should you come to physical therapy before surgery?
Read full blogEngaging Our Core Muscles
Have you heard anyone tell you that you need a stronger core? This is because the core is the body’s support system, it helps to stabilize and transfer forces from the upper body to the lower body. This does not mean you need six pack abs, but the deeper muscles that support your spine need to get stronger.
What makes up the core?
- transverse abdominis
- obliques
- rectus abdominis
- erector spinae
- diaphragm
- multifidus
- hip musculature
- pelvic floor
When your core is not strong you are more prone to injury.
Read full blogPersistent Knee Discomfort and the Road to Relief
Don’t let persistent KNEE PAIN hold you back…
Knee pain is something that everyone will experience at some point in their lifetime. Having knee pain can be the result of many factors and affects all ages. We as physical therapy clinicians work with patients to educate them about their problem in addition to how it can be corrected. So don’t sweat it! We are here to help!
About the Knee
The knee is a large hinge joint that gives you the ability to bend and straighten your knee which is necessary for day to day functional tasks like getting up from a chair or going up and down stairs.
Read full blogUtilizing Dumbbells can Cause a Bicep Strain
With everyone doing at home workouts it’s important to be careful especially if you are just starting to do this for the first time. The bicep is that muscle that people are always striving to make big in the upper arm.
A common issue that occurs when utilizing dumbbells is a bicep strain. 
The bicep’s job is to bend the elbow when we are speaking in this sense.
Keeping up with Home Exercise Programs
Bodily maintenance is important for you whether you’ve finished a course of physical therapy, or you’re currently attending physical therapy.
It is important to continue at home exercises to reach the goals you have set for yourself and maintain the strength you have gained. Now is a good time to make time everyday to do some exercises from your HEP to maintain strength that you have built up.
What is Your HEP?
Read full blogCOVID-19: Preventing the Spread 101
Steps to a Virus Free Clinic!
At LSTC we take pride in having a germ and virus free clinic all the time. We do this through cleaning and disinfecting equipment, exam tables and counters, washing our hands frequently, and staying home when sick.
Several times throughout the day we clean and disinfect:
- Check-in and Check-out counters
- Door handles
- Waiting room chairs
- Bathrooms
- Computers and desk working spaces
- Exam room tables (sanitized after every use)
- Gym equipment (sanitized after every use)
- Exam tables in the gym (sanitized after every use)
- Phones
- Our hands
With the outbreak of this virus, we have increased the frequency of this to insure that COVID-19 as well as other viruses do not spread.
Read full blogGuide to Better Running
The way we run is a matter of energy and efficiency. We may ask ourselves how some people can run farther, faster and make it seem effortless. The trick is in how their body moves.
Our Body When Running
Our body is like a spring; it stores energy at one point in our stride and releases it to move forward. If our body is strong, flexible, and coordinated, our muscles and tendons act like elastic bands.
Read full blogNew Year, New Goals
A new decade, a new set of goals to achieve. At LSTC, we’re all about helping people reach their physical goals. In fact, some of the goals we helped people reach last year were:
- Back to golfing
- Picking up a baby without pain
- Back to running
- Completing triathlons and the like…
- Sleeping comfortably
- Doing necessary household chores without wincing
- Managing concussions and getting students back to school and sports
- Dancing again without pain
- Taking trips out of the country pain free
- And so much more…
So what are your goals for the new year?
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