Health blog
It’s Not Just Our Posture That’s Affecting Our Neck
With the high prevalence of desk jobs, everyday cell phone and computer use, as well as ample time spent relaxing in front of your TV; your posture certainly suffers more often than you realize. Over time, these repetitive tasks put you into a position called forward head posture, in which your head and neck protrude forward into a flexed position.
Neck problems, neck spasms and general neck pain are common complaints in the orthopedic rehab world, and we’ve certainly treated our share of patients who suffer from various conditions related to neck pain at LSTC.
“Living With” Low Back Problems
Many of us think low back problems are just something we have to “live with” so we try to push through the pain. However, physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for resolving our lower back pain thus greatly improving our quality of life.
When it comes to this condition, the number one complaint is pain and stiffness which gets worse when you stand, walk or are in one position for a prolonged period of time.
Relieve Your Arthritic Aches and Pains With Physical Therapy
Anyone living with arthritis knows how debilitating it can be. Arthritis is the most commonly reported chronic illness across the nation, impacting millions of people. Arthritis occurs when joints become chronically inflamed, resulting in pain, stiffness, and even loss of movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, and they can all be split into two categories: monoarthritis (where only one joint is affected) and oligoarthritis (where multiple joints are affected.) The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which develops from “wear and tear” of cartilage.
Read full blogWe Don’t Have to Live With Hand, Wrist, or Elbow Pain
Hand, wrist, and elbow injuries are common among the population and have probably affected everyone at one point or another. Some of the most common issues we may have or will experience throughout the elbow, wrist and hand include:
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel
- De Quervain’s tendonitis
- Wrist fractures
So what can causes these various conditions and what symptoms come with them?
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): People with this condition usually complain of pain of the outer aspect of the elbow.
Knee Pain Doesn’t Have to be a Way of Life
For many of you, knee pain is a way of life, limiting your ability to climb stairs, squat down to get something off the floor, enjoy long walks, shopping and a host of other daily activities. Your knee joint is one of the most complicated joints in your body and has to bear up to 6 times your body weight with running or jumping.
This incredible joint has to move over a million times each year and over 80 million times over a lifetime.
How to Strengthen Your Core Muscles in 4 Easy Steps
Have you ever had that sagging feeling at the end of a long day? You know, when your belly seems to protrude way out and your back aches. The main reason for this is your lack of core strength. Your core is made up of a variety of muscles that support your trunk and spine. These include your abdominal, erector spinal, multifidi, pelvic, and hip muscles. A healthy, strong and flexible core is the key to having great posture, a slim stomach, relieving back pain, and feeling energetic.
Read full blogHow Your Desk is Set Up, Could be the Reason For Your Discomfort
Do you ever experience pain or discomfort while working at your desk? Do you experience headaches, eye strain, shoulder, neck or back pain while sitting at your workstation? If you answered yes, then your office may have some shaping up to do.
So what exactly is ergonomics?
Ergonomics is defined as “an applied science concerned with designing and arranging items people use so that people and things interact most efficiently.” So, how do we apply ergonomics to our everyday workplace settings?
Is Standing On One Foot Difficult?
Have you ever experienced a sharp pain in the bottom of your foot when you take your first few steps in the morning? Does your ankle feel unstable or painful when you’re walking or running? Do you have difficulty balancing on one foot without holding onto something for support?
These are all signs of common foot and ankle conditions that we often treat in physical therapy. Although there are many contributing factors leading to the aforementioned symptoms, here is a breakdown of the most frequent causes of foot and ankle pain as well as resulting ankle instability.
Using Proper Body Mechanics While Raking Leaves
Using Proper Body Mechanics While Raking Leaves
Using proper body mechanics while raking leaves can greatly reduce your risk of sustaining a back injury such as a herniated disc or a spinal muscle strain. The following tips will help you safely use your arms and legs to do all the work, placing less stress and strain on your lower back.
- Stretch before your begin raking leaves to warm up and prepare your muscles for yard work.
Scoliosis and How to Know if We Have It
Depending on how you look at a ‘normal,’ healthy spine, it will appear straight or have two gentle curves. When the curves appear more exaggerated, it’s likely you’re looking at a spinal deformity. There are three ways that the spine can be categorized when it strays from the normal shape; Kyphosis, Lordosi, or Scoliosis.
In this article, we will focus on scoliosis because it’s a condition we help patients with at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center quite often.