Health blog Category: Loudoun County
Myth Busters – Physical Therapy Edition
Myth:
I need to see a doctor and get a script to go to physical therapy
Fact:
In the state of Virginia, you can be treated and seen for physical therapy for up to 30 days without a script from a doctor. After the 30 days is up, you will be required to have a signed script from your doctor to continue with your care if your PT provider has not already received one.
Read full blogCommon Foot and Ankle Injuries
Foot and ankle injuries are common across all populations. Whether you’ve stepped wrong off a curb, slipped in the shower, have trouble standing for more than a few minutes, or have noticed a structural issue physical therapy can help fix the problem. We’ve seen it all when it comes to foot and ankle injuries. A few of the most common are:
Common Injuries to the Foot
- Plantar fasciitis
- Fascia on the bottom of the foot becomes tight.
3 Most Common Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder pain and weakness are some of the most common reasons people seek help from a medical professional. The design of the shoulder as a ball and socket joint whereas the rounded head of the humerus articulates with the cup-like depression of the scapula giving it a wide degree of movement is why the shoulder is so commonly injured. This joint is held together by an extensive group of muscles and ligaments that can be weakened by certain types of repetitive forces.
Read full blogPreparing for an Upcoming Sports Season?
An impending sports season can be daunting when you feel like you’re not ready. But, there are many steps you can take to make sure your mind and body are prepared! Read below to see what actions you can take to make sure you are ready to perform at your best this season! This isn’t a comprehensive list, but a good start to get you going!
Condition!
To perform at it’s best, your body needs to be adapted to its demands.
Read full blogAnkle Sprains
Ankle sprains are a common injury for people. Ankle sprains are when your ankle “rolls” either in or out and causes the ligaments in your joint to stretch. The most common ankle sprain is when your foot rolls inward and you have pain on the outside of your ankle. This can happen from playing sports, or just stepping off a curb wrong. If not treated properly you can have chronic problems with your ankle such as:
- Decreased rain of motion
- Recurring ankle sprains
- Pain
When ankle sprains first happen you might experience any of the following signs or symptoms:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness in or around the ankle
- Limited range of motion
- Inability to bear weight
- Pain with ankle or toe movement
To help with the initial pain of the ankle sprains:
- Elevate your ankle
- Ice your ankle as soon as you can for no more than 20 minutes
- Wrap your ankle with an ACE or compression wrap to help reduce some of the swelling
You should consult a medical profession to make sure your ankle injury not anything more serious and to help get you back to your favorite activities.
Read full blogTendonitis vs Bursitis
Tendinopathy is a common issue with physically active individuals. Tendinopathy is a generic term for conditions that deal with overuse injuries with a tendon (tendonitis/tendinosis). A tendon is end of a muscle usually were stress is usually concentrated.
Tendinopathy signs and symptoms usually include:
- Pain during or after exercise
- Reduced exercise tolerance
- Usually the pain worsens as time goes on without physical therapy.
The most common places to have this issue are in the shoulder, elbow, knee, Achilles tendon and gluteal tendons.
Bursitis is the irritation of fluid filled sacs in our body called bursaes.
Read full blogSciatica – A True Pain in the Butt
WHAT IS SCIATICA?
Sciatica is the inflammation of a nerve that travels from the back down to the foot. This means, sciatica can cause pain in your back, buttocks, hamstring, calf, shin, or foot depending on where the nerve is irritated.
It can also be a referred pain from spinal levels L4-S2 sending pain signals to the body parts that they innervate in the regions as listed above.
Read full blogWhat to Expect for Post-op Physical Therapy
After you have any type of surgery, chances are you will be referred to physical therapy for post-op treatment to restore your range of motion, strength and get back to the things you love!
Depending on your age, surgery and many other factors your physical therapy may be different. Meaning, you may need to spend a night or two in the hospital after surgery so the staff can keep an eye on you if there are possibilities of complications or infection.
Read full blogWhat to Expect for Pre-op Physical Therapy
Pre-op or what is also known as “prehab”, can be seen a couple of different ways. This can be before surgery is even scheduled to see if the help of physical therapy and exercise can reduce your risk of needing surgery or it can be a few weeks or days before your scheduled surgery to provide exercises to do leading up to the big day.
No matter what kind of prehab you have, going to these appointments is more important than you think!
Read full blogScoliosis
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis in layman’s terms is the abnormal sideways curvature or rotation of the spine. Any curve, lateral or rotational greater than 10 degrees is considered Scoliosis. As the curve progresses to 20 degrees or beyond, there is an increased chance that the person or an observer, such as a parent or teacher, might notice abnormalities such as clothes hanging unevenly or the body tilting to one side. For The anatomy of the spine has “normal” curves in different regions to allow for proper movement mechanics and the absorption of force, however once those curves become excessive and/or create pain in additional areas it becomes an anatomical concern.
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