Health blog
Bogged Down by Pain? Try These 5 Quick Tips for Less Pain and More Energy
If you’re hurting and need quick relief, Loudoun Sports Therapy Center can help. In a customized physical therapy program, you’ll learn some highly effective pain relief techniques that can also help boost your energy. Our physical therapy providers are experienced with all types of pain, and can help you live a pain-free life at last. Get in touch now to schedule your physical therapy appointment.
1. Take Breathing Breaks
Sure, you breathe all the time, but it’s not focused breathing.
Read full blogWhat is Considered a Properly Conditioned Muscle?
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”.
- How much weight can you lift?
How Plantar Fasciitis Starts
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.
Hip Pain Impacting Weekend Plans?
Hip problems make daily activities like simply walking difficult and painful. When you talk to your physical therapist or doctor about your hip pain, it’s important to be able to describe exactly where your pain is located. This helps confirm that your hip is actually the problem. It’s not uncommon for us to hear a patient say ‘my hip hurts’ and then once we’ve done a full evaluation of their area of pain, we find they actually are having a back-related problem.
Read full blogKnee Pain Keeping You from Starting a Workout Program?
Whether you are pounding the pavement for a short jog or you’re a routine racer, running is great cardiovascular training. It is a gratifying way to maintain overall fitness. Although the act of running itself may initially seem daunting if you’re not an avid runner, you will reap the physical benefits within a few weeks. The key is to start slowly and add distance incrementally to decrease the risk of injury.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of running:
- Improve Longevity: Running 1.5 – 2 hours 20- 30 minutes per week can increase your lifespan by 5-6 years!
What Most People Assume Makes Up the Core
By Devin Wurman, DPT
The core must be one of the most complex features of the human body. Everything we do involves the core. What is the core exactly? A lot of people think it’s those wonderful six-pack abs. But really that’s not the core, that’s only a small component of the core. So what else makes up the core?
- Your abdominal muscles
- Your hip muscles
- Your back muscles
- The muscles that surround your pelvis
You need all those muscles to be working well together as a team in order to have good core strength.
Read full blogIs Discomfort Impacting Walking Routines?
When was the last time you could go for a run, walk your kids to the bus stop or go shopping without experiencing nagging foot or ankle pain? If you or someone you know is experiencing foot/ankle pain, know that you are not alone. Approximately one-fourth of the population is affected by foot/ankle problems at any given time!
Foot/ankle conditions can present with a number of signs and symptoms including:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Redness
- Numbness/Tingling
- Burning sensation
- Inability to weight bear
- Stiffness
- Weakness
The foot and ankle are intricate structures that provide your body its foundation, and when not working properly, can alter the function of your knees, hips, back, and even your posture.
Read full blogTurning over in bed uncomfortable….
The hip is the largest ball and socket joint in the human body. The joint consists of the head of the femur articulating with the rim of the pelvis, with a ring of cartilage (the labrum) sitting between the two bones. When functioning properly, the hip joint allows us to move our legs smoothly in many different directions. However, if something is disrupting the hip, these motions can become very painful. Problems in this ball and socket joint can make just turning over in bed uncomfortable, and using stairs or standing difficult.
Read full blogDiscomfort While Standing
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. The plantar fascia inserts right into your heel bone, also known as the calcaneus.
Read full blogIs Sitting at Work Uncomfortable
By: Angie Austin, LPTA
Hip problems make daily activities like simply walking difficult and painful. This means that most hip problems are the result of repetitive movements we do on a daily basis. Because this joint is necessary for weight bearing activities like standing, walking and running, it can be a source of pain among all ages.
So what are the three most common causes of hip pain?
- Arthritis: Chronic hip pain is often due to arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis.
