Health blog Category: Physical Therapy
Hate using stairs because of joint discomfort?
By Cierra Washington, ATC
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, also known as the patella. 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. Based on the nicknames of PFPS, most people tend to believe that it can only occur in athletes or those who participate in high intensity sports, however it can also occur in the older and more sedentary populations.
Turning the Steering Wheel Uncomfortable?
By C. Ashley Border, PT, DPT
Ever wonder what in the world the “shoulder” actually is?
The main joint of the shoulder is called the glenohumeral joint. This articulation consists of the head of the humerus (arm bone) resting in the small glenoid fossa of the scapula (shoulder blade), some would describe this joint as a golf ball on a tee. If you imagine how unstable a golf ball is on a tee, you can appreciate how hard the supporting anatomical structures must work to keep the “ball from falling off the tee.” The structures holding the joint together that offer passive stability consist of the labrum and a series of ligaments that encapsulate the joint.
Is it Tendonitis or Bursitis?
By: Ashley Border, DPT
What is “-itis”?
- indicates a condition of inflammation
So, what’s the difference?
- Bursitis
- is an inflammation of a fluid filled sac called a “bursa”
- the bursa’s job is to rest between a muscle tendon and a boney part of a joint the muscle controls and minimize friction that may fray the tendon
- Tendonitis
- Is an inflammation of a tendon, the structure that attaches a muscle to a bone
- The tendon’s job is to attach a muscle to a bone and allow for joint movement
- Repeated trauma from overuse prevents the body from being able to heal the frayed tendon
What are the symptoms?
Read full blogFour Reasons There Might Be Upper Body Discomfort
Pain in the neck is a common neck problem complaint. As a society, our posture has continued to decline as the use of phones and computers has increased. Poor posture can lead to many neck injuries which can make turning our heads to check our blind spots when driving and watching our family members play sports difficult. Bending our heads forward when looking at our phones becomes challenging.
What happens if you put off addressing the source of your neck pain? It gets much worse and limits you even further from possibly being able to get a good night’s sleep, clean the house, or cook the family dinner. The good news is physical therapy can address many of these ‘pain in the neck’ problems and you can avoid exacerbating the issue.
Nagging, Noisy Knee Pain
When knee pain starts, that’s when we start to notice and appreciate how big of a role our knees play in our day-to-day activities and the things we do for fun. Going up and down stairs becomes a dreaded part of the day. Getting on and off the floor when playing with our children is no longer an easy task. And we start to think twice before squatting down to get something off the floor or out from a lower cabinet.
Read full blogStanding up from a comfy couch uncomfortable?
By: Rachel Herrmann, DPT
Typically, you may not always realize how much you do with your knees in an average day. However, when you start to have knee pain, then you begin to realize how big of a role your knees play in your day-to-day and leisure activities. Going up and down stairs becomes a dreaded part of the day. Getting on and off the floor when playing with your children is no longer an easy task.
Reaching up or behind uncomfortable?
Ever found that reaching up to get a plate out of the cabinet was painful? Or maybe you feel a pinching in your shoulder when you lift your arms to washing your hair. These are common complaints we hear in the physical therapy world when patients are dealing with some kind of shoulder issue.
Shoulder pain is a very common problem and can cause a lot of difficulty with many daily activities. People frequently come to physical therapy with different complaints involving the shoulder.
Tightness or Pulling Sensations on the Outside of the Leg…
By: Kiara Holmes, ATC
Knock Knock!
Who’s there?
IT Band
IT Band who?
IT Band me from the system again and said they’re gonna keep a tight watch on me!
There’s some fun physical therapy humor for you! Today we’re going to talk about the IT band. So what is the IT band?
First of all, it has nothing to do with computers or technology. The IT band, known as the Iliotibial tract, is a band of tissue that runs from your hip to your knee.
What runners, dancers and high arches all have in common
By Devin Wurman, DPT
Have you ever gotten up in the morning and felt pain in your heel when you put your foot down on the floor? You’re probably wondering why your foot would hurt after you’ve been off your feet and sleeping all night. One of the most common causes of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis arises from the inflammation of the thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot.
Three Components of Strengthening Programs
By Mike Bills, MS PT
What does the word ‘strength’ really mean? In order to fully understand how to develop a strengthening program appropriately, you first have to understand what is really meant by the word “strength.” The word itself actually has three distinct pieces to it. Each piece is just as important as the other and all three must come into play in order for a muscle to have what is considered “good strength”.
