Health blog Category: Physical Therapy
Rotator Cuff Strains: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments for Quick Recovery
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that help stabilize our shoulder within it’s socket as we do overhead movements. There are four muscles that make up the rotator cuff, each muscle has a different action and all must be equally strong and flexible in order to avoid a number of different shoulder injuries.
Shoulder Injuries
Rotator cuff strains are common in professions that require a lot of repetitive overhead movements and rotator cuff tears are common in sport athletes who participate in overhead motions for example baseball, tennis, and basketball.
Read full blogWhat Makes this Joint Pop, Snap, and Crackle?
If you hear or feel your joints pop, snap, or crackle, this could be a sign of patellofemoral pain.
What exactly is patellofemoral pain?
Patellofemoral pain is a general term used to describe pain that resides in the front of the knee and around the kneecap. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, PFPS, is also known as both runners’ and jumpers’ knee due to the type of athletes who commonly complain of the problem.
Read full blogSitting for Several Hours Each Day?
Neck pain is a common complaint that we see in physical therapy. Our posture as a society has continued to decline with the increased use of phones and computers. Poor posture when sitting or standing can lead to many neck injuries that can be addressed with physical therapy.
Common Neck Injuries:
Cervical radiculopathy is a term that means radiating pain down into your arms/hands or upper back. This is due to nerve compression in the neck.
Read full blogThe Importance Of Core Strength
When most people think of the core, they think of the abdominals and doing sit-ups and generally know that one needs to have good core strength. Beyond that, most people don’t know much else about the core.
So what are the core muscles and what do they really do?
The core muscles consist of the muscles surrounding and providing stability and postural control to the torso, abdomen and pelvis.
Read full blogCauses of Shoulder Discomfort
Shoulder injuries are one of the most common injuries. Injury or overuse are the most common causes of shoulder discomfort. Some of the most common ailments related to the shoulder include tight/overworked muscles, tendonitis, impingement, and joint stiffness. These not only may cause pain, it may also cause weakness, and limit your ability to drive, prepare your evening dinners, reach into your overhead cabinets and other everyday activities.
Common Causes of Shoulder Injury
- Traumatic injury/dislocation
- Weak muscles
- Repetitive movement
- Poor shoulder mechanics
- Post Surgery
Shoulder pain and discomfort can present itself in many different ways.
Read full blogElbow, Achilles, and Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
Tendonitis can be summarized as inflammation or irritation of the tendon. A tendon is a thick cord like structure that connects muscle to bone. All throughout our body, we have muscles that are attached to bones by tendons, which is why so many people suffer from tendonitis somewhere in their body. Some of the most common types of Tendonitis are; Elbow, Achilles, and Rotator Cuff Tendonitis.
Tendonitis is a result of small micro-tears in the soft tissue.
Read full blogPhysical Therapy Before Surgery
Facing the prospect of joint replacement surgery can be daunting. Attending physical therapy before surgery (pre-operative physical therapy) is the key to a smoother recovery.
You might be asking, “Don’t I do therapy after surgery?” Actually, pre-operative therapy plays a crucial role too.
Why is Physical Therapy Before Surgery Important?
Pre-operative physical therapy prepares you physically and mentally for surgery.
During these sessions you will:
- Learn what to expect and what will happen in therapy after surgery.
Tips to Relieving Neck Pain
Do you find yourself with a nagging neck or headache, especially after a long day or stressful event? The American Academy of Pain Medicine reports that neck pain and severe headaches or migraines make up about 30% of all commonly reported pain conditions. There are many reasons for neck pain, but the majority of episodes are caused by the following:
- Poor posture
- Weak shoulder and neck muscles
- Stress
- Injury
- Arthritis
While many of us will take over the counter medication, such as Advil, to numb the pain, the main source of the problem is still present.
Read full blogManaging Arthritis with Physical Therapy
When it comes to managing Arthritis aches and pains, you may have more options than you realize. There is a lot you can do to reduce your aches and pains from arthritis while gaining more mobility and function.
Managing Arthritis pain and inflammation is what we help our patients day in and day out with. Patients often experience pain from arthritis because of stiff joints, muscles and other tissues. In addition, muscles become weak, therefore not supporting the arthritic joints.
Read full blogDo I Need a Referral to See a Physical Therapist in Virginia?
Physical therapy is a fantastic, non-invasive way to address various health issues, from chronic pain to sports injuries. We know, the process of getting a referral from your primary physician can be a hassle. Did you know, in Virginia, you don’t need a referral to see a physical therapist! This is because Virginia is a Direct Access State, meaning you can come directly to us!
Immediate Access to Physical Therapy Care
One of the biggest benefits of not needing a referral to see a physical therapist in Virginia is immediate access to care.
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