By Alyssa Burke, PTAThe season of 5k’s and obstacle course races like Tough Mudders and Spartan Races are in full swing. Whether you have thought about participating in one or are a seasoned race pro, you may have heard the term “weekend warrior” come up. So what is a weekend warrior? This is a person…
Why do knee problems occur in the first place? In order to fully understand knee problems, you need to know a little about the makeup of the knee joint. The knee joint is the junction of two major bones of your knee fitting together to form a hinge joint, like a door. The major difference…
By: Rachel Herrmann, DPT, PTWhen most people think of the core, they think of the abdominals and doing sit-ups and generally know that one needs to have good core strength. Beyond that, most people don’t know much else about the core.So what are the core muscles and what do they really do?The core muscles consist…
Bursitis is an inflammation of a structure called a “bursa” and most commonly occurs in knees, hips, shoulders and elbows. Pain is the number one symptom of bursitis. This pain can be deep and hard to pinpoint. It is often described as “dull and achey,” and can radiate to the surrounding areas. Bursitis can impede on nearly all…
I’m sure there have been numerous times you have watched a sporting event, or even participated in a sport yourself and heard the statement, “I’ve pulled my hamstring!” They often grab the back of their leg and have to hobble off of the field or court in pain. So it begs the questions, what is…
By Cierra Washington, ATCWhat exactly is patellofemoral pain? Patellofemoral pain is a general term used to describe pain that resides in the front of the knee and around the kneecap, also known as the patella. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, PFPS, is also known as both runners’ and jumpers’ knee due to the type of athletes who…
By: Jessica Freedman, ATCThe hip is the largest ball and socket joint in the human body. The joint consists of the head of the femur articulating with the rim of the pelvis, with a ring of cartilage (the labrum) sitting between the two bones. When functioning properly, the hip joint allows us to move our…
Is that clicking and popping in my shoulder normal? This is a question that physical therapy clinicians hear often at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center. There can be multiple reasons for clicking and popping in the shoulder. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint that is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The…
By Cierra Washington, ATCYou’ve probably heard of IT Band syndrome. But what is it exactly? Let’s start with the name. The ‘IT’ refers to the iliotibial band that runs along the outer portion of the thigh. When people refer to the IT band, they often have the misconception that it’s a muscle. Actually, the IT…
Plantar Fasciitis is one of the more common foot injuries we see here at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center. The pain can be caused by injury or an insidious onset. Some of the most common symptoms include stabbing or dull pain on bottom of foot or by the heel, many times greater in the morning. You…
