Health blog Category: Physical Therapy
Creaky and Stiff Joints Got You Down?
As we get older or the more active or reversely inactive we may be we all start to notice; creaky joints, joint pain, and stiffness at some point in our lives. These symptoms affect all joints however most particularly the knees because of their weight bearing function. Maybe you have become more inactive recently just sitting around and you’re noticing joint pain and stiffness. Or maybe you have been doing much of the same activities or exercises in attempts to stay active while we all adjust to a new sense of normalcy.
Read full blogClick, Pop, & Crack!
That click, pop and crack in your shoulder can develop for a variety of reasons, including:
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs protecting your joint
- Labral tears: Torn cartilage due to injury, age, or overuse
- Rotator cuff injuries: Damage to the muscles and tendons
- Dislocation: Your joint slips out of place
- Osteoarthritis: Cartilage degeneration in your joints
Anatomy of the Shoulder
The shoulder joint consists of the upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula) and the collar bone (clavicle).
Read full blogSigns & Symptoms of Strained Muscles
What is a “pulled” muscle?
The medical terminology for “pulled” muscle, is a strained muscle. The strain occurs when fibers of the muscles are torn. There are different degrees of a strain that directly correlate with how many fibers of the muscle are torn.
- Grade 1 strain: mild damage to tissues; less than 5% of fibers torn
- Grade 2 strain: more damage to muscle fibers; less than 50% of fibers torn
- Grade 2 strain: complete rupture of the muscle or tendon
What causes a strain of a muscle?
Read full blogCommon Causes of Low Back Injuries
Back pain is a primary cause for sick-days in working environments and can cost employers up to $1,685 per employee every year. Unfortunately back injuries are quite common and can happen for a multitude of reasons. Fortunately, there is a effective way to treat these injuries. Take a look below to see what causes back pain and how to address these injuries.
Anatomy of the lower spine:
The low back is made up of the lumbar spine, sacrum, and coccyx.
Read full blogOur Scapula is the Root of the Problem
Shoulder pain and problems can come from a number of different sources. One common cause stems from our scapula. This is known as scapular dyskinesis.
What is scapular dyskinesis?
Also known as SICK scapula
- S: Scapular malposition
- I: Inferior medial border prominence
- C: coracoid pain
- K: dysKinesis of scapular movement
Dyskinesis is the poor movement and control of the shoulder blade.
Read full blogWalk Away From Hip Pain
Walk Away From Hip Pain With Physical Therapy. Your hips, due to the amount of loading forces they take on throughout your lifespan, can be a common area of discomfort in the body. This condition known as arthritis is the “wear and tear” of your joint surfaces.
Hip pain can also be caused by some type of injury like a fall, sports injury or overuse/weakness of the soft tissues that support the hip.
Read full blogCore Strength & Abdominals
What is core strength?
Typically, when you think of core strength, you think of six pack abs, right? But that is actually the superficial layer of core muscles, specifically the rectus abdominis. There are 35 different muscle groups the core consists of, as seen below. Core strength refers to the muscles that stabilize the torso during all activities, postural control and even breathing. Without proper core strength, our body is unable to perform tasks in our everyday life, pain free.
Read full blogA Common Joint to Injure
The shoulder is a very common joint to injure. This is due to the nature of the joint. The shoulder joint is a very shallow joint which has mostly muscles and ligaments holding it in place in addition to a thick and stiff piece of cartilage called the labrum, which helps to vacuum seal the two bones of the shoulder in place. Since the joint has a lot of movement this can be a factor in causing injuries.
Read full blogIssues with Our Shoulder
If you are experiencing; trouble reaching into that cabinet, pain when brushing or washing your hair, or even trouble just reaching to pick things up, you’re probably dealing with a shoulder issue. There are several reasons you why you could be experiencing issues with your shoulder. Regardless of the cause, physical therapy is the solution to the problem!
Common shoulder issues you could be experiencing:
- Impingement:
- Caused by overuse, repetitive overhead motions, or poor mechanics with lifting and moving.
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis):
- Caused by any type of injury that significantly decreases range of motion at the shoulder.
Sources and Reasons for Back Issues
Back pain can come from multiple different sources and can occur for a number of different reasons. The muscles, lumbar discs in between the bones and the joints of the spine can all be sources of back pain. These are all things that coming to PT can address as well!
So what can I try when experiencing a bout of pain?
- If you injured your back after carrying/lifting or twisting try icing it 10-12 minutes 2-3 times per day.
