Physical Therapy Blog

Warming Up can make staying active less of a challenge. Muscles tend to tighten up faster, and joints may feel stiffer than usual during cold Annapolis Winters. This colder weather can be challenging if you’re going through physical therapy. Fortunately, you can still move forward with your recovery by being mindful of how cold temperatures affect your body. With the right warm-up routine and a few extra precautions, you can exercise safely and keep making steady improvements. Why Cold Weather Makes Physical Therapy More Challenging Stiffer Muscles and Joints When temperatures drop, your body works harder to maintain its core

Recovering from an injury involves more than just rest and time. A structured approach to exercise is essential to regain strength, improve mobility, and prevent future setbacks. While physical therapy sessions are critical, you can also benefit from simple home exercise routines. You can recover faster and maintain long-term health by combining at-home exercises with professional guidance. Why Building Strength After an Injury Matters Regaining strength after an injury helps support your joints, improve balance, and enhance overall stability. Moreover, stronger muscles protect vulnerable areas from re-injury. By participating in regular exercise, your body adapts to everyday demands more efficiently.

Here are some easy leg stretches that will keep you moving. Have you ever stood up after sitting for a while and felt your legs tighten up? Maybe you’ve gone for a run and noticed soreness the next day. You’re not alone. Leg stretches are essential for keeping your muscles flexible and your joints healthy. They help prevent injuries and improve your overall mobility. This blog will discuss why stretching your legs is so important and how you can easily incorporate it into your daily routine. Why Leg Stretches Matter First off, injury prevention. Over time, muscles can become tight

Almost eighty percent of the population suffers from lower back pain. And nothing slows you down like back pain. According to the World Health Organization, back issues are the number one reason for missed work days worldwide. While you may not be ready to jump back into work, feeling better sooner is surely a priority! Lower Back Pain Relief You might think that resting will relieve your pain. Surprisingly, It’s actually the opposite. Movement is the best medicine. Inactivity can cause the muscles to tighten, causing even more pain. Try sticking to a stretching routine as much as the pain

After injury or surgery, it’s common for your primary care physician or specialist to refer you to go to physical therapy. This recommendation is typically to help you continue on your healing journey. The goal is for you to regain as much full function as possible in the affected area.  This is how we traditionally enter physical therapy. However, a physical therapist can help with various issues in many ways. You may not need a doctor’s referral to gain the benefits of physical therapy. What Can Physical Therapy Help With? While everyone, from the office worker to the athlete, the

Kinesio, or kinesiology tape, is a thin, flexible tape used in physical therapy. Have you ever seen that brightly colored tape on athletes at a sporting event, on TV, or even at your gym? That’s Kinesio tape! And kinesio taping is helping people, from athletes to your neighbors, continue their training and daily activities. Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor, invented it in the late 1970s. His goal was to mimic the body’s natural healing even after his patients left his care. This taping method provided a way to do just that! He went on to establish the Kase Chiropractic

As you sit at your desk, working on your computer, you feel a sharp stabbing pain between your shoulder blades. Ouch! Maybe your posture isn’t as good as you thought it was. You realize you’re hunched over your keyboard. A good shoulder stretch would feel great right now! You could have shoulder tension if you have pain or stiffness in your neck, shoulders, and upper back. Causes of Shoulder Tension Poor posture while sitting isn’t the only reason people experience shoulder tension. Engaging in repetitive movements can strain the shoulder muscles and cause tension. Repetition can happen during work, such

What type of runner are you? Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or a weekend jogger, it’s no secret that running puts your body to the test. Sure, you may enjoy the endorphin rush from going the distance. But addressing the potential injuries that can come with the territory is essential. Physical therapy can help you recover from running-related injuries. And just as importantly, physical therapy can also prevent injuries. Common Running Injuries It’s not really a matter of “if” a runner will sustain an injury. It’s a matter of “when.” The running community knows all too well that injuries can

Have you ever been walking, and suddenly a muscle in your leg tightens up, and you feel a sharp pain? The muscle feels hard to the touch compared to other relaxed muscles. This is a muscle spasm. Also known as muscle cramps, you experience pain when a muscle involuntarily contracts or tightens. While they can occur anywhere in the body, muscle spasms are most common in the legs, feet, back, arms, and hands. Various factors can cause them, including dehydration, overuse of muscle, lack of nutrients in your body, or increased blood flow demand. Muscle spasms can range in intensity

Physical therapy after a stroke? Vision loss. Sudden numbness in the face or a limb. Trouble speaking, causing speech to slur. These could be signs that someone is having a stroke. Every year, over 795,000 in the U.S. suffer a stroke, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Nearly one in four victims has had a previous stroke. The majority, about 610,000, are first-time stroke victims. What is a Stroke? A stroke is when a clot blocks a blood vessel that carries oxygen and blood to the brain. Or the blood vessel bursts. In either instance, blood can’t flow