Health blog Category: muscles
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a buzzword right now and is likely one you have heard thrown around by your doctor or friends currently receiving physical therapy treatment. A lot of people think of acupuncture when they first hear about dry needling. They use similar needles, but the similarities start and finish there.
Thin microfilament needles are used to penetrate skin and subcutaneous tissue to address the underlying tissue directly. In most cases, the needle will be inserted into a trigger point in a muscle.
Read full blogWarm Up & Cool Down to Prevent Injuries
Many people go out for a run or start a pickup game of baseball without taking the time to properly warm up or cool down afterwards. But making this part of your routine before and after playing a game, running, exercising or engaging in any high-intensity activity is crucial to preventing serious injuries.
Some of these injuries include:
- Strains and sprains
- Shin splints
- Knee injuries
- Tendinitis
- Dislocations
- Fractures
We see these types of injuries on a regular basis.
Read full blogTightness in Hamstrings
We’ve all been there, we spend a long time sitting and when we go to stand up and walk we feel a pull in the back of our thigh and feel like we can’t stand completely upright. Those tight muscles we feel stiffening up are our hamstrings. These are the muscles that we commonly feel to be tight or restricting with our motion in our legs or sometimes our lower backs. The hamstrings are a large muscle group made up of 3 muscles:
- semitendinosus
- semimembranosus
- biceps femoris
These muscles attach from the bottom of our pelvis to just below our knee.
Read full blogShoulder Dislocations
What is a shoulder dislocation?
The shoulder joint is called a ball-and-socket joint. The ball is the rounded top of the bone in the upper arm (humerus), which fits into the socket — the cup-shaped outer part of the shoulder blade. When the top of the humerus moves out of its usual location in the shoulder joint, the shoulder is said to be dislocated. A related injury called a shoulder subluxation occurs when the top of the humerus is only partially displaced and not totally out of its socket.
Read full blogBone Health and Fitness by Walking
Walking is a great step to improve bone health and fitness. It is one of the easiest ways to get a workout and it offers many physical and mental health benefits. So, lace up your shoes and go for a walk.
Bones and Muscles Strength
Walking is a low impact exercise, which means that it is gentle on your joints. Unlike running, the amount of stress placed on your joints is much less when walking making it a great exercise alternative for those with knee, hip or back problems.
Read full blogSources and Reasons for Back Issues
Back pain can come from multiple different sources and can occur for a number of different reasons. The muscles, lumbar discs in between the bones and the joints of the spine can all be sources of back pain. These are all things that coming to PT can address as well!
So what can I try when experiencing a bout of pain?
- If you injured your back after carrying/lifting or twisting try icing it 10-12 minutes 2-3 times per day.
Top 7 Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are injuries that occur during any sport or physical activity. Typically in a sports injury, the musculoskeletal (muscles, bones and ligaments) system is involved.
Why do sport injuries occur?
Sports injuries are commonly caused by:
- Poor training methods
- Muscular weakness
- Structural abnormalities
- Faulty movement patterns
- Improper form
- Improper warm-up and cool-downs
Common types of sports injury:
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome:
- Pain at the front of the knee due to improper movement, tight muscles and/or overuse.
A Sprain or A Strain
I’m sure you’ve heard of someone that has had a sprain or a strain or even experienced one yourself. Sprains and strains are common injuries that affect the soft tissues of your body. You don’t have to be an athlete to experience one of these injuries.
People of all ages and activity levels are susceptible to sprains and strains. Sometimes these injuries can be confusing to keep straight, so what is the difference between a sprain and a strain?
Pain from Posture: Get Relief TODAY!
Posture is something that we hear about all the time and it’s usually followed by “oh, I have terrible posture”.
Postural weakness in the neck is a problem many of us struggle with. We spend a lot of time sitting whether it is at a desk or on a couch and 9 times out of 10 we are looking down at some kind of a screen. This is the number one reason we have postural weakness.
Tight Muscles Causing Pain
Tight muscles can lead to decreased mobility, inability to perform every day activities and eventually lead to pain. It is also true that decreased mobility and pain can lead to tight muscles.
Hypomobility
Hypomobility or motion that is restricted due to tight muscles, can occur because of:
- Extended periods of decreased motion
- Sedentary lifestyles
- Poor posture
- Muscle imbalances
- Weakness
- Stress
- Trauma
Stretching
Stretching can be done to help reduce tight muscles leading to more range of motion and flexibility
Benefits of stretching to decrease muscle tightness include:
- Improved range of motion and flexibility
- Overall fitness
- Injury prevention
- Decreased soreness after exercise
- Improved ability to perform every day activities
The Role of PT
In order to keep this new range of motion and flexibility it should be coupled with appropriate strengthening and endurance exercises. That’s what a physical therapist can help with!
If you feel that your muscles are tight and causing pain give us a call today 703-450-4300!
We want to get you on the right path as soon as possible! It is important to be performing stretches that are appropriate for each body part with proper form, intensity, duration and frequency to avoid injury.
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