Physical Therapy Blog

Anyone who has either played on a team as a kid or has children who participate in sports has experienced the occasional bump and bruise. But did you know that every year around 1.35 million young athletes have a sports-related injury severe enough to send them to the emergency room? What’s more, this number does not include the kids whose parents take them to Urgent Care clinics, or their family doctor for treatment. Youth sports injuries have reached alarming levels. The most common types of sports-related injuries among children are sprains, muscle strains, bone or growth plate injuries, repetitive motion

As more and more children are participating in year-round youth sports leagues, the the rise in single-sport athlete injury has become alarming. What’s more, because many of these kids are not only competing all year but also competing on multiple teams simultaneously the issue becomes even more compounded.  The result? Over-training, which leads to burnout, which leads to detrimental physical effects on developing bodies, which can affect lifelong health. Unfortunately, experts discovered one contributing factor may be parental pressure to compete and succeed.  According to a consensus by the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) the emphasis on competitive

  Trigger point dry needling (TDN) is a buzz word that is gaining traction in the physical therapy industry. So, what is dry needling, does it work? Testimonials are the most significant reason that this therapy has caught on with some physical therapists, athletes and other patients. Nevertheless, testimonials are not convincing scientific proof. Here are some facts about TDN. What is Trigger Point Dry Needling? Trigger point dry needling (TDN) is an intervention used to treat myofascial pain syndrome and associated impairments. Myofascial pain syndrome is characterized by the presence of one or more symptomatic myofascial trigger points (MTrPs)

Lateral epicondylitis, commonly referred to as tennis elbow, is a painful condition of the elbow joint and forearm which is caused by overuse. While you can certainly get it from playing tennis or racquetball, several other sports or activities, involving repetitive motion may put you at risk. So, what is tennis elbow? How is it treated? Can it be prevented? Is surgery required? Read on for the answer to those questions, and more! What is tennis elbow? Tennis elbow is a form of tendinitis or a swelling of the tendons. Tendons are bands of rugged tissue that connect the muscle

  Have you recently been diagnosed with sciatica? What is it, and can it be cured? At this point, your doctor may have referred you to a physical therapist. How does physical therapy help sciatica pain? The sciatic nerve begins at the low back and runs down through the buttocks and continues to branch out down the back of the leg into the foot. Some of the symptoms you may have been experiencing could range from numbness and tingling, cramping, burning and shooting pain. Many reasons may be causing the inflammation, including Disc herniation, Stenosis, Trigger Points, and Piriformis Syndrome,

If you have been experiencing pain or weakness in your shoulder, it is likely you may have a rotator cuff injury. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), rotator cuff issues are the most common cause of pain and disability among adults. AAOS estimates that over 2 million people in the United States are treated for this common type of problem. Furthermore, the odds increase as you age. What are the rotator cuff tear symptoms and treatments? Luckily, there is a standard of diagnosis and treatment regarding this type of injury. Here is a step-by-step guide. Step 1:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are approximately 6 million car accidents in the U.S. every year. Furthermore, over 2.5 million car accidents are rear-ended collisions, which most commonly cause the injury referred to as whiplash. There are many treatments a person may use during recovery from whiplash and other accident-related injuries. Does Physical Therapy help? Yes, it does. There are definite benefits of Physical Therapy after a car accident. Here are some reasons patients should seek this type of care. What is Whiplash? First, let’s explain what whiplash is and the common symptoms that patients experience.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 3.4 million student-athletes aged 14 years or younger are treated for sports injuries annually in the United States. The vast majority of these injuries are soft tissue bruises, sprains, and strains, but some can be more serious. Many occur at the beginning of the season, commonly among athletes who have not maintained fitness and activity levels in the off-season. Can you prevent student-athlete injury? More and more students are training and playing sports year-round. Whereas, in the past, students played a variety of sports throughout the year, and developed the different muscles

Who is a Weekend Warrior? Any athlete that concentrates on intense bouts of exercise 1 to 3 times a week is considered a weekend warrior. Medical professionals also agree the category includes men older than 30, who were formerly competitive athletes. The primary concern is that these sportsmen expect their bodies to adapt and recover in the same way that they did when they were teenagers. This behavior puts them at an increased risk for injury. What are some of the injuries that weekend warriors experience? Leg Muscle strains, such as hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves. Ligament sprains particularly including ankle

Are you a desk jockey? Meaning, do you spend hours during your day sitting at a desk? You’re not alone. Studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveal that the average person spends over half of his or her waking hours sitting. And, what’s more, this sedentary lifestyle may increase your risk for heart disease, obesity, cancer, and diabetes. Some researchers are even going as far to say, “sitting is the new smoking.” But you’ve got options. Workplace ergonomics to the rescue! Fancy Word, Simple Solution What is workplace ergonomics? Simply put, it is arranging a comfortable, supported, yet