Health blog Category: physical therapy
Enjoy Your Walk on the Beach This Summer
With warm weather and sunny skies, you are likely to go out to purchase a new pair of flip flops to rock on your summer vacation. While your new flip flops may be your favorite, and most comfortable pair of shoes, how much support to they actually provide?
Flip flops can fall into two categories of shoes; Barefoot shoes and Minimalist shoes. Barefoot shoes, are shoes where the soles provide the bare minimum in protection from potential hazards on the ground.
Read full blogDo I Have Sciatica?
You have probably heard the term sciatica, and have probably thrown it around without having a true understanding of what it is and what is actually causing the symptoms you are experiencing.
What is True Sciatica?
True sciatica is actually an anatomical anomaly where the sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis (small muscle in the buttock). When the piriformis gets aggravated it also aggravates the sciatic nerve, which causes the symptoms you may have experienced such as, pain that goes down the leg to your feet, or numbness and tingling in your leg.
Motion is Lotion
You have probably heard a thousand times, “If you crack your knuckles, you’ll get arthritis.” Well guess what, this isn’t true!
Cracking your knuckles isn’t really the main culprit (or culprit at all) for arthritis, I can tell you that NOT moving your joints will get you there much faster.
So what is Arthritis really? It is the degeneration of the cartilage in various joints of the body that lead to pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
Core Strength Helps Ease Lower Back Pain
Having core strength is important in your every movement and even ‘non-movement.’ Whether you’re sitting watching TV or moving around, a strong core is critical. It makes performing physical activities as well as daily movements easier. A strong core impacts how our upper and lower body functions. Think of a tree, a tree must have a strong trunk so that it can hold up with branches and support its roots underground. Without a strong trunk, the tree would bend over or break from the weight of the branches.
Read full blogAny Summer Vacations Planned?
Do you have any summer vacations planned? Do they involve long car or plane rides? This is something that may have been planned for months and is supposed to be the highlight of the year, but there is one problem; you are having pain! We want to make sure that you get to your final destination without any nagging aches and pains, so that you can enjoy your vacation completely. Whether you are taking a plane or driving in a car there are some things to consider and be aware to make traveling as painless as possible.
Read full blogShould I Get Surgery…
Many of us have questioned, at one point or another, whether or not we should get surgery. This is one of the most common questions we get asked at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center, ans it is a tough question, with several things to consider. Most people do not have a complete understanding of what happens during surgery and the potential risks it has. It is important to make sure we have a complete understanding of what surgery is being performed, the benefits, and potential risks, before anyone should even consider surgical intervention.
What to know about surgery
- No matter how small is invasive
- Surgery is not a quick fix and most times requires follow up Physical Therapy
- It has other complications and risks associated with it
- Surgery may not correct the issue
What to know about Physical Therapy
- Non-invasive
- No risk of complications
- Cost effective
- Can help decrease pain and return to normal lifestyle
- Teaches you what to do for long term success
When you ask this question our therapists answer with, why not try Physical Therapy first?
Read full blogWhat a Headache is and How Can It Stop Our Everyday Activities…
Many of us have probably experienced headaches at one point or another and some of us may have even experienced migraines. A headache, in its simplest form, is pressure from something on your brain. A headache can be broken down into two main causes:
- Headaches from external pressure
- Headaches that come from internal pressure
The most common type of a headache is that which comes from external pressure. By that, we mean that something is pressing from the outside on the outside of the skull and causing it to thus press inward on the brain.
Read full blogForget the Advil, Try These Steps to Relieve Headaches
Anatomy of Your Head
To understand the two main causes of headaches, and steps to take to relieve headaches, we need to first understand the anatomy of our head. Our skull is a combination of multiple bones that when put together, form a general circle and thus, a hard protective layer around our brain. On the outside of our skull, there are many muscles that surround the skull. These muscles on the outside have a direct connection to the muscles in our neck and shoulder blades.
The ‘Bell Ringer’ Injuries
Concussions are a traumatic brain injury, that alters brain functions such as, concentration, memory, balance, and coordination. When you think of the word ‘concussion’ you probably immediately think of ‘football’ or ‘football tackle’. However it is important to remember that you can get concussions from other sports, and even car accidents.
According to a study in the Journal of Athletic Training, 50% of concussions go unreported, Why is this?
In this study, it was determined that concussion knowledge, had a correlation with why some athletes reported concussion injuries, or ‘bell ringer’ injuries, and why others did not.
Is Foot and Ankle Discomfort Disrupting Your Everyday Life?
We spend a lot of time on our feet so it’s no wonder foot and ankle pain, and discomfort in the heel and arches are common problems for every age group.
How do Foot and Ankle Problems Affect You?
Foot and ankle problems make daily activities such as, walking, standing, using stairs,and running difficult. It also means you a can have trouble going from a seated position to a standing one without pain, and can have trouble walking your kids to and from the bus stop.
