Health blog
Is Back Surgery Really Needed to Treat Back Pain…
What can you do to help reduce your back pain?
Most back pain is mechanical back pain. This describes the abnormal movement, or lack of movement in certain parts of the spine. It can happen because of poor posture, lifting injuries, accidents, and wear and tear on the joints in the spine. The vast majority of people suffering from mechanical low back pain can have significant improvement, and in most cases, complete relief. Here are some tips to get rid of your back pain:
- Improve your spinal joint mobility.
Are You at Risk for Developing Plantar Fasciitis?
Ouch! If you’ve ever had plantar fasciitis, you know just how excruciating those first few steps are when you get out of bed in the morning. It can feel like you’re stepping on a knife as the tight connective tissue on the bottom of your foot stretches out.
What Exactly is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, or connective tissue along the bottom of your foot, gets tight, swollen and irritated.
Fractures, and How To Treat Them
You may have had a fracture or know some who has fractured their bone. But how serious can fractures be?
Well let’s start with determining what exactly a fracture is.
The word, ‘fracture’ is a medical term that refers to a crack or break in a bone. Bones are made of calcified materials, which give them their hard rigid structure.
Serious fractures can have dangerous complications if not treated promptly.
Cure Your Back Pain Once and For All!
You may have experienced back pain anywhere from sharp, excruciating pain to general discomfort. Every individual experiences different signs and symptoms, however these are the most common:
- muscle tightness or spasms
- sharp or dull pain
- limited range of motion,
- stinging or burning pain that travels to the butt or thigh
- numbness and tingling
- difficulty sitting, standing, walking, or going up stairs
- pain that increases with prolonged activity
Lower back injuries can occur from something as simple as twisting to grab something off of a shelf or as intense as falling off of a ladder.
Read full blogWeak Core Muscles Could be the Reason for Your Slouching
Do you ever find yourself slouching in a chair, slumping at the computer or your belly sticking out after standing for awhile? This is a sign of core weakness that 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.
‘Runner’s Knee’ or ‘Office Worker’s Knee’
If you’ve experienced pain behind your kneecap or in the front of your knee, you may be suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome or ‘Runner’s Knee.’ Runner’s knee is often characterized by pain behind the knee (retropatellar pain), pain around the kneecap (peripatellar pain) or pain in the front of the knee (anterior knee pain). It is associated with activities that put stress on the knee joint, such as running, sports and recreational activities.
What’s in a Name?
Read full blogHave You Experienced Swelling?
You have probably experienced swelling at one point or another, but what is swelling really?
There are so many definitions of “swelling”. In its simplest form, the term “swelling” is used to describe the response your tissue exhibits when it is injured, irritated or under undue and abnormal levels of stress. For example your body can experience swelling of basically three types:
- Swelling related to an injury: This would be the equivalent of twisting your ankle and then it is swollen for a while afterwards.
Healing Our Shoulder With Physical Therapy
What Causes Shoulder Injuries?
Most shoulder pain occurs following repetitive movements. These movements cause wear and tear that breaks down your rotator cuff tendons. Activities such as raking leaves and shoveling are common culprits that send people to seek medical attention for shoulder pain. In addition, injuries that involve lifting can also cause increased pain in the shoulders.
What Is The Rotator Cuff?
The rotator cuff is made up of four small muscles that control movement and provide stability of the shoulder joint.
How to Relieve Arthritis Pain Naturally
Do you find your knees or hips hurting after sitting for too long? Has bending or squatting become difficult or even painful? This is a common complaint of people with knee or hip arthritis or osteoarthritis. Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that 1 out of every 2 people will have symptoms of knee osteoarthritis sometime before age 85?
The incidence of osteoarthritis generally starts to increase after age 35 and decreases one’s ability to perform walking, bending and every day tasks.
It’s Time to Start Eating Healthy Again
There are many parts to eating healthy, but one important part of healthy eating involves portion control. “How much am I eating?” you ask. “What is the best way to measure portion sizes?”
When food scales or measuring cups aren’t handy, you can still estimate your portions using these easy tips below to know exactly how much food you’re eating.
3 Ounces of Meat = Deck of Playing Cards 
Medium Apple = Tennis Ball 
1 oz of Cheese = 4 Stacked Dice 
½ Cup of Ice Cream = Tennis Ball 
1 Cup of Mashed Potatoes or Broccoli = Your Fist 
1 Teaspoon of Peanut Butter = Tip of Your Thumb 
1 Ounce of Nuts or Small Candies = One Handful 
*If you’re cutting calories, remember to eat healthy and nutritious food to keep you full.*
*For a list of the food groups and recommended daily servings, please visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/.*
If you have any questions about nutrition or portion control, call Loudoun Sports Therapy Center at 703-450-4300 to speak with our expert staff members.
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