Health blog Category: physical therapy
Sciatic Nerve Inflammation
WHAT IS SCIATICA?
Sciatica is the inflammation of the sciatic nerve that travels from the back, down to the foot. This means, sciatica can cause pain in your back, buttocks, hamstring, calf, shin, or foot depending on where the nerve is irritated.
Sciatica can also be a referred pain from levels L4-S2 sending pain signals to the body parts they innervate in the same regions as listed above. It can be caused by a pinched nerve, disc herniations, or stenosis at the spine.
Lower Back Problems Causing Discomfort
Lower back problems are very prevalent in our society and can greatly limit your ability to carry out daily tasks.
Unfortunately, many people think it is just something they have to “live with” so they try to push through the pain. BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE!
Thankfully, physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for resolving lower back pain thus greatly improving your quality of life.
Symptoms
When it comes to this condition, the number one complaint is pain and stiffness localized to the lower back which gets worse when you stand, walk or are in one position for a prolonged period of time.
Read full blogDefining Osteoarthritis
You’ve probably heard the word ‘osteoarthritis’ but what exactly does it mean and what are the symptoms?
Osteoarthritis:
- Joint inflammation that causes pain and stiffness
- It is progressive
- There is no cure for arthritis. (You can’t reverse the damage)
- Wear and tear of cartilage is continuous and worsens over time.
- Treatment: “Motion is Lotion” (stretching and strengthening)
Osteoarthritis is caused by progressive degeneration and wearing down of your articular cartilage over time which means there is less cushioning between your joints.
Read full blogCommon Hip Pathologies
While the pain or limitations you feel are at your hip, the evaluating doctor of physical therapy can determine where and what is causing your pain (even if it’s coming from another region, like your low back or pelvis). If the condition proves to require further medical testing, the evaluating therapist will be able to determine that and direct you accordingly.
Common Conditions:
- Osteoarthritis: wearing of the joint surfaces (cartilage) of the hip joint
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Wear and Tear
- Prior trauma
- FAI: see below
- Symptoms:
- Pain worse with prolonged positioning (e.g.
- Mechanism of Injury:
4 Causes of Neck Problems
The neck, a.k.a cervical spine, is comprised of 7 spinal segments and 8 nerves. The nerves that exit out of the neck go on to supply innervation and control function of the arms and hands. It is also important to know that some of the muscles that control neck motion are responsible for shoulder motion too.
Common Neck Conditions:
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Restricted nerve mobility in the neck that can cause pain into the shoulders and arms
- Muscle Spain/Strain
- Muscle that produces pain with contraction (use)
- The term “strain” specifically refers to faulty tendon contraction. Tendons are where muscles attach to bones.
Common Sources of Knee Pain
Knee pain has many sources, but all of them can be treated here at LSTC!
- Osteoarthritis: wearing of the joint surfaces (cartilage) between the tibiofemoral joint; wearing is most often on the inside (medial) portion of the joint
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Wear and Tear
- Lack of muscular support
- Reduced motor control
- Wear and Tear
- Symptoms:
- Pain worse with prolonged positioning (e.g.
- Mechanism of Injury:
Subacromial Pain Syndrome
Subacromial Pain Syndrome is the preferred alternate physical therapy diagnosis for “Shoulder Impingement.” It was previously believed that structural differences and a loss of space between joint surfaces was the cause of shoulder pain located towards the front/side of the shoulder in absence of known tears in the rotator cuff (group of muscles that hold your shoulder in the socket) or glenoid labrum (a cup that increases coverage over the shoulder bone). Thanks to Evidence Based Medicine, we now know that the experience of shoulder pain isn’t so closely related to the shape of your bones, which is great news. Bone shapes don’t change easily.
What is Subacromial pain syndrome:
It is pain located in the front or to the side of your shoulder and often a precursor for rotator cuff pathology (strains or tears of the rotator cuff muscle at the point of attachment around the front and side of your shoulder).
Read full blogCommon Sources of Low Back Pain
Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability and lost work time among adults.
What is the low back:
Low back refers to the lumbar curvature of your spine- the last 5 segments before reaching your bum.
Common Conditions:
- Nonspecific Low Back Pain
- most common
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Increased compression on a nerve causing burning, numbness, tingling into your glutes, thighs and/or down the length of the leg
- The sciatic nerve running down the back of the leg is commonly impacted this way, hence the term “sciatica”
- Not all radiculopathies are associated with the sciatic nerve
- Increased compression on a nerve causing burning, numbness, tingling into your glutes, thighs and/or down the length of the leg
Common Misconceptions:
- MRI or x-ray findings are associated with your pain experience
- Most people over the age of 25 will have some remarkable finding on an image of the spine (e.g.
Best of Loudoun 2021 Finalist!
Thank you so much to everyone who voted and supported us in Best of Loudoun 2021!
We were a finalist this year!
We are so honored to be able to help our community live a pain-free and active life. Be sure to vote at: https://www.loudountimes.com/best/#/gallery/270032482?group=375244 to see us in the next round of Best of Loudoun 2021!
NOW is the time to handle whatever pain or problem you are experiencing.
Read full blogTop 3 Tests for Knee Injuries
Knee pain and knee injuries is often the result of an imbalance in tension of muscles. When certain muscles are tighter or weaker than others, it affects the way the joint moves. When we assess someone who has knee pain, we often find that their patella, or the knee cap, is not tracking properly due to tight connective tissue. When the kneecap rubs against the sides of the knee joint, it can cause irritation and pain.
Read full blog
