Health blog Category: Physical Therapy
Sports Related Ankle Sprains
Defining Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are a common injury in sports and are a result of excessive stress on either side of the ankle causing excessive motion in the joint. Most commonly, people roll their ankle inward causing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle to stretch, tear or rupture. Some common causes of a sprained ankle might include a fall that causes you to twist your ankle, landing on your foot after jumping or pivoting, walking or running on an uneven surface or someone stepping or landing on your foot. 
Symptoms of an Ankle Sprain
- Pain, especially when you bear weight on the affected foot
- Tenderness when you touch the ankle
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Restricted range of motion (inability to point the foot without pain)
- Instability in the ankle
- Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury
Why is treatment so Important?
Read full blogBack Pain No More!
Many of us have complained at one point or another about stiffness, or radiating pain into the buttock/legs or mid-back. These are both indicators of low back problems affecting us. Low back problems are very prevalent in our society and can greatly limit our ability to carry out daily tasks.
Symptoms of Low Back Pain:
The pain can range anywhere from a mild nagging, to a severe pain that will greatly limit your mobility.
Read full blogKnee Pain Doesn’t Have to be a Common Problem
Knee pain is a very common problem which can result in difficulty with our daily activities.
Causes of Knee Pain
Problems can stem from many different causes. The most common cause of knee pain and dysfunction, is weakness of musculature surrounding the knee and hip resulting in abnormal mechanics. When the knee joint is not moving properly there is unnecessary rubbing and pressure within the joint that results in pain and inflammation.
Read full blogShoes can be the Cause of Foot Pain
Extended time using sandals over the summer can result in pain and/or other symptoms of the foot and ankle.
Why wearing sandals and flip-flops can cause foot pain:
These sandals and flip-flops lack the arch and heel support provided by tennis shoes and other closed toed shoes, which can result in pain, nerve irritation, and/or muscular dysfunction.
The Importance of Arch Support
When there is less arch support provided by shoewear over an extended period of time, this can cause you’re arch to “collapse” or overpronate.
Read full blogGolfer’s Elbow and What to Do About it
Golfer’s elbow, or sometimes called pitcher’s elbow, is medically defined as medial epicondylitis.
How it Occurs
This overuse injury is characterized by pain on the inside of the elbow that can radiate into the forearm. This condition occurs when inflammation affects our tendons that connect our forearm to our elbow. Golfer’s elbow usually occurs from repetitive gripping, flexing, or rotating the wrist as seen in golfers or pitchers. However, it can affect anyone who repetitively uses their hands, wrists, forearms, or elbows.
How to Treat Golfer’s Elbow
This condition can usually go away with rest, ice, and possible bracing.
Read full blogCuring Hamstring Pain
Pain that originates at our “butt” bones, behind/sides of the knee, or anywhere in between could be indicating a hamstring injury! First, let’s discuss a little bit about the hamstring anatomy and its function in our daily life.
The hamstring is comprised of three muscles:
- Biceps femoris
- Semitendinosis
- Semimembranosus
These three muscles all originate at the ischial tuberosity, commonly referred to as your “butt” bones, and inserts below the knee on your tibia and fibula. The Hamstrings primary function is to not only flex your knee, but also assist in extending the hip.
Read full blogInflammation of Our Joints
The term arthritis is often used in everyday conversation with family and friends and is usually associated with topics of joint pain.
What Arthritis Is…
This term refers to the inflammation of a joint. The two most common forms of arthritis:
- Rheumatoid arthritis, often abbreviated to “RA,”
- Osteoarthritis, often abbreviated to “OA.”
RA is more of a whole body presentation affecting multiple joints at once as a result of an autoimmune disease.
Read full blogGet warm for the colder season!
In the warmer months, it easier for our bodies to warm up to the activities and stresses we place on them. However, as a therapist, I do begin to see more patients, especially back related injuries in the latter half the year. Why is that?
One thing that doesn’t tend to like to change is our activity level.
We all have our hobbies and passions that we would pursue 24/7 if we had the time and energy.
Read full blogJust How Important are Core Muscles…
Slouching in a chair, slumping at the computer or your belly sticking out after standing for awhile are all signs of core muscle weakness. A weak core can negatively affect your health and create long-term back or neck pain.
What are Your Core Muscles?
Your “core” is the group of muscles that help stabilize your body and give a strong anchor point from which your skeleton can move properly with good posture.
Read full blogProper Preparation is Key to Avoiding Injuries
Nowadays, free-time activities can look a little different for kids as various technologies are at our fingertips. If you’re a student athlete who participates in sports year-round, you might maintain a higher level of physical activity. Overall though, the general lack of physical activity, means fitness levels decrease significantly and therefore the return to sports is more difficult. It’s all the more reason why proper preparation is key.
When returning to any sport, it’s important to treat your body appropriately, with care and attention.
