Health blog Category: Physical Therapy
Pain When Touching Our Toes can Indicate a Hamstring Problem
Our Hamstring Muscles are the reason behind our ability or inability, to touch our toes. The hamstring, is the muscle that runs from deep in the buttock to the back of the knee. This muscle primarily bends the knee and extends the hip backwards, and is very important with walking and running.
Some common hamstring problems include:
- Lack of flexibility
- Lack of strength
- Poor endurance
When these muscles in the back of the thigh are neglected, these deficits can cause cramping when we roll in bed and get up in the morning, can contribute to lower back problems and stiffness, and can even cause a strain or tear when playing a pick-up basketball game.
Read full blogGet Rid of That Creeping Back Pain
Back pain can creep up on us after simply sitting too frequently and for long periods of time, after a bad night’s sleep, after strenuous activity such as repeated lifting, or after participating in leisurely sports. This could even prevent us from standing straight, and bending over to tie our shoes or do the laundry.
Signs and symptoms:
- Muscle ache
- Shooting or stabbing pain
- Pain that radiates down your leg
- Pain that worsens with bending, lifting, standing or walking
- Pain that improves with reclining
Some common causes:
- Muscle or Ligament Strain/Sprain
- Bulging or Ruptured Disc- (compression of the intervertebral discs resulting in bulge outward (herniation) or rupture
- Radiculopathy- compression, inflammation and/or injury to a spinal nerve root
- Arthritis
- Skeletal Injuries/Deformities
Why You Should Address Back Pain Right Away:
It is important to address the cause of your back pain when it starts.
Read full blogWhat to do About a Concussion
Many people think that a concussion only happens in football games or car crashes. But the truth is, all athletes are at just as high a risk for these brain injuries.
So how do you reduce the risk of you or your athletes getting sidelined by a concussion?
What is a Concussion and How Does it Occur?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way the brain functions.
Read full blogWhere These Headaches are Coming From
Anyone who experiences ongoing or recurring headaches, has probably taken aspirin or any other over-the-counter medication to “relieve” the symptoms. However, this is only temporarily relieving the symptoms as it is creating a false release of the muscles and thus a temporary release of the muscle tension and pressure.
How They Occur:
The problem with headaches is that typically, the small muscles in our neck and those covering our skull have gotten into a more permanent state of tightness and pressure.
Read full blogStretches to Prevent Injuries
Hiking and rock climbing and other sports are wonderful recreational activities that provides significant benefits to the body. They can workout pretty much every muscle in our body and help to build up our endurance. Even if it’s a short hike or climb, if we’re spending much of it scrambling over rocks or walking up a steady incline, we will feel it!
While these activities are challenging, adventurous and a lot of fun, it can be rough on the body.
Read full blog“I’ve Pulled My Hamstring!”
There have been numerous times athletes have grabbed the back of their leg and hobbled off the field or court in pain. This is often because they’ve pulled their hamstring muscle.
What is the hamstring and why is it injured so often?
The hamstring complex is made up of three muscles that originate from the ischial tuberosity (bone in the buttock region), proceeds down the back of our leg, and then crosses the knee on either side.
Read full blogWhere That Elbow Pain is Coming From
Nov 12th 2019Many people have heard of and will use terms like ‘tennis elbow’ and ‘golfer’s elbow.’ What exactly are these conditions and what’s the difference? The truth is, not much. Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are both overuse injuries that are caused by any activity that requires repetitive motion of the arm and wrist.
The difference between the two conditions:
The difference lies in where the elbow is inflamed.
Read full blogWalking and Standing Shouldn’t Be Painful
Foot and ankle pain, and discomfort in the heel and arches are common problems for every age group. This type of discomfort and pain makes daily, functional activities such as standing, walking and using stairs difficult. It can also mean we have trouble going from a seated position to a standing one without pain.
What causes foot and ankle problems?
Foot and ankle pain can stem from a number of factors.
Read full blogWe’ve Been Nominated for Best of Loudoun 2020!
Nov 11th 2019We have great news! We have been nominated for Best of Loudoun 2020! Now we need your help…
Voting begins on December 13th to see who will move on to the top 5!
Be sure to vote once a day starting on the 13th to see us in the final round! Thank you to all those who have nominated us!
https://northernvatimes.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-Loudoun-Nominations-2020/gallery/197222913
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Read full blogThe Importance of the Discs in Our Spines
What are They and Why do we Need Them?
You may have heard the analogy that the discs in your back are like a jelly doughnut. The outer lining of the disc is made of up rings and then in the center, there is a jelly-like fluid. When a disc is healthy, it is somewhat oval-shaped, the fluid is in the center of the disc and the rings are strong and thick.
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