Health blog
Lateral Epicondylitis or ‘Tennis Elbow’
Lateral Epicondylitis or Tennis Elbow is a commonly seen injury in physical therapy. This injury impacts the outside or lateral part of the elbow and can be very painful for those suffering from it. This injury can impact all ages and all activity levels, not only athletes.
Causes:
Lateral Epicondylitis is an overuse injury. It is caused by performing repetitive actions or vigorous actions that cause an inflammation of the muscle tendons on the outside of the elbow.
Read full blogPatellofemoral Pain and Treatment
Patellofemoral pain is a term used to describe a generalized aching or sharp pain located at the front (anterior) of the knee most often located on the underside of the kneecap (patella). This injury is most often referred to as runner’s knee, but can also have other causes.
This is one of the most common injuries people suffer from and is proven to be helped through conservative treatment. Physical therapy is the conservative method of treating injuries, which means surgery isn’t needed in order to get better!
Patellofemoral pain can present with movements such as:
- squatting,
- climbing stairs,
- running,
- walking,
- and other activities where the weight is shifting forward onto the knee.
Shin Splints, What are They?
Have you ever experienced pain in the front lower portion of your leg after trying new activities? This is called Medial tibial stress syndrome, also known as shin splints. It is the overuse of the muscles and tendons that make up the front of the shin and causes inflammation and irritation.
Causes of Shin Splints:
- Change in activity – such as beginning a running program and not properly progressing. Increasing intensity by performing at a faster pace or further distances increase your likelihood of developing
- Type of surface activity is being performed on – hills and uneven surfaces will challenge muscles in the different way than on flat hard surfaces
- Overuse and repetitive activities
- Shoe wear may have an impact as well if worn out or not supportive enough
Pain will generally decrease with rest and ice, but may return with resuming activity.
Read full blogHow to Prevent Injuries this Winter
With the winter weather here, there is usually that fear in the back of our minds that we are going to hurt our back or get injured. This can especially happen if in previous years you shoveled wrong and tweaked your back, shoulder or slipped on some black ice.
Fortunately, most of these injuries can be avoided if you prepare and understand the nature of the injury or know what to look out for!
Read full blogFrozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in the shoulder that causes the capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint to become inflamed and freeze up causing pain and loss of mobility.
What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
- Inflammation to the joint capsule or surrounding soft tissue structures
- Injury or trauma causing lack of movement of the joint
- Random onset
What are the symptoms of frozen shoulder?
Read full blogPlantar Fasciitis
Foot pain is very common. It can be caused by many different factors including poor footwear, low arches, high arches, and inflammation of the plantar fascia. When there is inflammation of the plantar fascia, it is called plantar fasciitis. This is one of the most common reasons for someone to experience foot pain.
What is Plantar Fascia?
The plantar fascia is a connective tissue that extends along the bottom of your feet.
Read full blogProper Sitting Posture
We sit for a good majority of our day whether it is at work, at home, or at school. It is important to ensure that you are sitting with good posture so that you can prevent any injuries from forming in the future.
When sitting, here are some tips to remember:
- Find a chair that is comfortable and can support your back.
- Sit so that both of your feet touch the floor, and your ankles are not behind your knees or legs crossed.
Common Running Injuries & Prevention
Running is a great way to work on your cardiovascular health and to maintain your overall level of fitness but is associated with several types of injuries.
Some of the most common running injuries we see here are:
- Shin Splints
- Pain in the front or sides of your shins
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Pain in the front of the knee from your kneecap tracking improperly
- IT Band Friction Syndrome
- Pain on the outside of your knee from overuse
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Pain on the bottom of your foot from tightening of the plantar fascia
- Ankle Sprains
- Pain in the ankles from either instability or trauma during a run
Most of these injuries are caused by overuse with running.
Read full blogWhiplash Injuries
Whiplash is a term usually used to describe injuries that occur as a result of a sudden quick movement in one direction followed by a sudden stop of movement. Generally whiplash injuries are associated with motor vehicle accidents but it can also results from sports accidents of falls/trauma. Whiplash injuries cause damage to the soft tissues and can also be referred to muscle strain injuries of the neck.
Symptoms that can occur as a result include:
- pain
- stiffness
- loss of cervical mobility
- muscle spasms
- headache
Can physical therapy help?
Read full blogHow does Physical Therapy Help with Balance?
Physical therapists are movement experts. They improve quality of life through hands on care, patient education and prescribed movement no matter what the diagnosis is. If you are losing your balance and are feeling frustrated, keep reading. Physical Therapy might be the place for you!
Are you noticing that you are having a hard time sitting or standing upright, feel like you are falling over when walking and just not as stable as you use to be?
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