Health blog Category: physical therapy
Experiencing Headaches?
Have you ever experienced recurrent headaches or ones that appear after neck movements?
There are different types of headaches that respond to different treatments. Some are mild and resolve on their own while others can last for extended periods and can feel debilitating. Headaches can begin to affect ability to do everyday activities and overall quality of life.
If you are experiencing tension or cervicogenic headaches physical therapy will help reduce the symptoms. A cervicogenic headache develops in the cervical spine or neck and radiates to other areas.
Pain, Weakness, & Loss of ROM
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.
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.
Read full blogKnee Ligament Injuries: Sprains & Tears
“Oh man, I think I just felt something pop in my knee!” This is a common statement made by those who have just experienced a ligamentous injury in their knee. The knee joint is made up of:
- Three bones
- Tibia
- Patella
- Femur
- Menisci
- Ligaments.
Ligaments in Our Knees:
There are four main ligaments that provide stability for the knee, as well as hold the joint together.
Read full blogHere’s What to Do If Surgery Is Coming Up!
Pre-op physical therapy can help prepare you for what is going to happen. It will help you establish your goals before and after surgery as well as determine what your expectations are.
What to expect?
- Examination to set a plan of care and determine a baseline
- Set goals for before and after surgery
- Plan and education of post op and recovery
- Progression of range of motion and strength to improve overall function
- Use of any assistive device currently using or that may be needed after surgery
- How to perform transfers and get around if weight bearing status will be different after surgery
The importance of exercises prior to surgery:
- Being able to set and target muscles around the surgical site before surgery will improve ability to perform after surgery
- Strengthen above and below the surgical area
- Range of motion of the area to enhance mobility
Why should you come to physical therapy before surgery?
Read full blogIT Band Syndrome AKA “Runners Knee”
I’m sure most of you have heard the terms runner’s knee or IT Band at some point in time… Now understanding what it means may be another thing. But don’t worry I’m gonna tell you all you need to know. ITB syndrome is very common and you may be suffering without knowing.
ITB refers to iliotibial band which is a band of tissue that runs on the outside of your leg from your hip to your knee.
The Why and Where of Arthritis
Pain due to arthritis is often chronic, and can cause very dull, achy and stiff feeling joints. Often times, the stiffness and achiness is worse after staying in one position for a prolonged period of time. For example:
- Sitting
- Sleeping
- Standing
Why does arthritis happen and where?
Arthritis commonly happens due to normal joint changes that occur from moving and being under gravity, but can also happen in people who have been sedentary.
Read full blog“Un-Freezing” That Shoulder
What is Frozen Shoulder?
Adhesive Capsulitis, or “Frozen Shoulder” is a condition in which the shoulder and the surrounding tissues thickens, which ultimately leads to:
- Stiffness
- Decreased range of motion
- Inability to move one’s arm
Frozen shoulder often prevents you from doing everyday activities or the things you love to do.
How Does Frozen Shoulder Occur?
Generally it occurs as a result of another injury.
Read full blogFacets in Our Neck
Are you having neck pain but are not sure why? You notice you can’t turn your head as far as you used to and you are having pain and muscle spasms. If this is true, you could be experiencing cervical facet dysfunction.
What is a facet?
Facets are joints in your spine. They are located on the back and side of the bones in out spine, or vertebra. These joints play an important role in allowing our necks to move.
Read full blogThat “Locking” of Our Knee
Before we get into information about meniscus tears, we must first learn about what a meniscus is, as well as its purpose inside of the knee joint. The meniscus consists of two rubber-like pieces of cartilage that provides cushioning between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia).
What exactly causes Meniscus Tears?
Meniscus tears can be a result of many different causes, ranging from:
- Twisting awkwardly when getting out of a chair
- Athletic injury that involves being tackled by another player
When one normally injures their meniscus, they have experienced an excessive amount of pressure or twisting at the knee joint that resulted in one of the many classifications of a tear.
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