Health blog Category: physical therapy
Carrying a heavy back pack or purse everyday?
By Devin Wurman, DPT
Back pain is one of the most common complaints that patients have when they are coming to physical therapy. It is not only affecting middle-aged adults, but becoming more prevalent in the younger adult population. Most patients that come in report dealing with the pain for at least a month or more because they believe “it will go away on its own”, however more and more people have sedentary desk jobs or are performing activities without addressing core muscle strength.
Why we don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get PT
By: Rachel Herrmann, DPT
It’s common for us to say, ‘I’ll wait and see if it gets better.’ Often times, people will get an injury or develop a pain and then wait a period of time to see if it will go away on its own—especially if it starts after we were a little more active one day. We assume the pain is normal.
But when that pain doesn’t go away, the next step is often to see a doctor, which may or may not be something you can schedule right away.
Weather changes making your joints stiff and achy?
By: Jessica Freedman, ATC
What is arthritis and who can get it?
While arthritis may be very common, it is not always well understood. Arthritis is actually not a single disease, but rather an informal way of referring to joint pain or inflammation. One of the most prevalent types of arthritis, osteoarthritis, occurs as result of degenerative changes occurring over time within a joint. Osteoarthritis involves the wearing away cartilage, the smooth cushioned surface at the end of our bones, causing the joint to “bone on bone” leaving the joint unprotected.
Spend several hours on your phone each day?
Neck problems are becoming more common due our sedentary lifestyles. How often do we use computers and phones throughout the day? Now think about your posture whenever you use these devices. Chances are, there’s probably room for improvement there.
Posture plays a large role in maintaining neck health and limits your chance of developing problems that can negatively affect your daily activities. Issues with your neck are commonly associated with pain, headaches, and general stiffness.
Reading in bed or sleeping on an old pillow?
By: Angie Austin, LPTA
Your neck is a vital yet vulnerable part of your body due to its ability to move in all directions. That’s all while holding the weight of your head, which is an average of 10 pounds. While neck pain or pain in the cervical spine is not as common as say lower back pain, located int eh lumbar spine, millions of people will experience neck pain or problems st some point in their lives.
Ever stepped off a curb incorrectly?
Have you ever “rolled” your ankle? Chances are that you have, because what is commonly referred to as a “rolled ankle” or ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries that people experience. Once an ankle is sprained the chances that someone will sprain it again are raised dramatically. Fortunately there are steps that you can take in order to get back on your feet.
First let’s talk about what happens when you “roll” your ankle.
Don’t Mask the Symptoms: Treat the Origin of the Issue with Physical Therapy
Pain can be a helpful messenger, an alert that something in your body needs fixing ‒ but it can also be an agonizing annoyance that ruins your quality of life. To make matters worse, many pain problems are rooted in deep-set underlying conditions, often originating in a different part of the body than the part exhibiting symptoms. Medication may mask your pain temporarily, but it isn’t going to solve a chronic underlying functional problem. For a more meaningful solution to the issue, take advantage of the drug-free options we offer at Loudon Sports Therapy.
Read full blogDoes sitting for a long time bother your knee joints?
By: Jason Makoutz DPT
Knee pain/injures are one of the most common injuries we see at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center. Whether they are caused from a sports/weekend warrior traumatic injury or muscular weakness/imbalances. Three of the most common ailments related to the knee are arthritis, meniscus injury, and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).
Common Causes of Knee Injuries
- Traumatic contact injury
- Twisting on a planted foot
- Normal ageing
- Muscular weakness
- Poor mechanics
Knee arthritis
Knee arthritis can occur from a previous injury to the joint or normal wear and tear over your lifespan.
Ever felt sharp discomfort when climbing stairs?
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 blogWhy isn’t heat, massage getting rid of that headache for good?
By Mike Bills, MS PT
The problem with headaches is that typically, the small muscles in our neck and those covering our skull have gotten into a more permanent state of tightness and pressure. This is why our headaches will often go away for a day or two but then come back. Just like all muscles in your body, the muscles in your neck and skull are like rubber bands. If they are not treated properly, they will gradually shorten over time.
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