Health blog Category: Physical Therapy
Is discomfort getting in the way of your exercise plan?
By: Devin Wurman, DPT
In physical therapy we see a lot of hip injuries. These injuries range from bursitis to fractures to replacements. Some injuries happen to healthy joints, while others occur in the elderly due to osteoporosis or because of congenital deformities. Either way, physical therapy can be beneficial and help strengthen the muscles around the injury, improve balance, and help patients return to normal function whether it is walking around without an device or return to sport.
Spine Anatomy and Spine Problems
By: Mike Bills, MS PT
In order to understand why spine problems get started, let’s first talk about spine anatomy. Your spine is comprised of many vertebrae. These are the bones that make up your spine and they’re like rocks that sit on top of each other in a very specific fashion. In order for the spine to do its job, these vertebra must sit on top of each other, from your neck all the way to your tailbone, in a curve that looks like the letter S.
Sprains, Strains and Automobiles
Have you ever “rolled” your ankle? Chances are that you have, because what is commonly referred to as a “rolled ankle” or ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries that people experience. It’s important to know though that once an ankle is sprained, the chances of re-spraining it go up dramatically. Fortunately, there are steps you can take in order to get back on your feet.
First, let’s talk about what happens when you “roll” your ankle.
Why Daily Repetitive Motions Can Lead to Problems
Overuse injuries aren’t just sustained by athletes and weekend warriors. In fact, just about anyone can get them. If you have a daily walking routine but do not do any targeted stretching or strengthening, you are prone to overuse injuries. Anyone who plays any type of sport, has a job that requires repetitive posturing or repetitive lifting, or anyone who does not take time to warm up properly before an activity, perform static stretching after an activity, or focus on strength training stabilizing muscle groups will likely sustain an overuse injury at some point.
Read full blogCarrying a Heavy Purse or Tote Bag?
Back pain is one of the most common complaints that patients have when they are coming to physical therapy. It is not only affecting middle-aged adults, but becoming more prevalent in the younger adult population. Most patients that come in report dealing with the pain for at least a month or more because they believe “it will go away on its own”, however more and more people have sedentary desk jobs or are performing activities without addressing core muscle strength.
Read full blogIncreased Activity this Time of Year?
Hip pain is a very common problem we treat here at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center and it can result in difficulty with many daily activities. People frequently come to physical therapy with different complaints involving the hip. The number one complaint being pain localized to the hip joint and muscles surrounding the joint. Some people also experience stiffness in and around the hip and even the lower back. These issues create difficulty moving the joint and generalized weakness in the affected leg.
Read full blogSpending A Lot of Time Texting, Typing or Driving?
If you spend hours driving, texting, typing or even just sleeping in the wrong position the odds are you have either poor posture or neck pain. Spending extended periods of time in incorrect can lead to incorrect movement patterns and increase your injury risk over time. One of the easiest ways to see if you are at increased risk for a neck injury is to look at the motion that you have. We will highlight a few quick screens that you can complete to assess your own injury risk.
Read full blogWhy Cross Training is Important to Prevent Injury
By Xavier Thompson, ATC
Cross training. What is it and why is it important? If you follow the headlines of any sports’ stars in the off season, you’ll likely see multiple stories about how an athlete is doing something besides their professional sport to prepare for the next season. You can find videos on the internet of star basketball players boxing or doing core work. Articles are written about football players taking up ballet or yoga.
Flip flops or ‘Flip Nots’?
It’s 90 degrees outside, the suns is beaming and you’re ready to head out and enjoy the day. As you’re heading out the door though, you’re faced with a dilemma: sneakers or flip flops? Of course, you want to choose your flip flops. They keep your feet cool, you can put them on and take them off quickly and let’s be honest, they’re just plain comfortable! However, along with that comfort comes some structural sacrifices.
Read full blogDiscomfort or Difficulty Reaching Up to Grab Dishes
You’ve probably just spend the past month or so sprucing up your garden, putting mulch out around your home, and/or performing other projects while the weather was a bit more tolerable. Now it’s summer, and you get to look at all of the sweat equity that you just finished putting in. You may also notice that your shoulder is talking to you.
It’s pretty common that different joints become sore after repetitive use over a short period of time. The shoulder is no exception. Your shoulder is a joint that is very mobile and is made up of multiple muscles which attach to the bones via tendons. Those muscles and tendons, the rotator cuff, are notorious for getting inflamed and becoming painful with overuse. In addition, as we get older, usually in our 50’s and 60’s, it is common to find arthritis in the joint. This is just from “wear and tear” over time. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is it painful to reach overhead into the kitchen cabinet or to change a light bulb?
