Tom Willemann Health Tips

"Almost Daily Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."

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What are the risks of anti-inflammatory use?

What are the risks of anti-inflammatory use?

Often patients ask me about what the “down side” is of taking over the counter or prescription anti-inflammatories. Most of these drugs have the following risks: Delayed wound healing Gastrointestinal Bleeds Hemmoraghic Occurrences Renal and Liver Toxicity Edema, Nausea Central Nervous System dizziness, stupor, tinnitus Most of our physicians when recommending non-steroidal antiinflammatories (NSAIDs) willContinue Reading »

Jump on Treating Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Jump on Treating Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease (syndrome), a common cause of knee pain in as many as one in five children and young athletes, especially boys, 10 to 15 years of age, usually occurs after a period of quick growthcoupled with intense physical or sporting activity.  Children who participate in running and jumping activities experience a greater strain onContinue Reading »

Stretching and Strength-training for Safer Soccer

Stretching and Strength-training for Safer Soccer

While any athletic activity has an inherent risk of injury, soccer has traditionally been considered less dangerous than, say, American football, hockey and lacrosse. Significant tragic events in soccer usually involve the goalposts; either the player hits the post or a faulty goalpost lands on a player.Fortunately, these events are extremely rare. Still, some dangersContinue Reading »

The Case of the Wandering Kneecap

The Case of the Wandering Kneecap

Kneecap dislocation occurs when the patella, or kneecap, slides to the outside of the joint, thus stretching and possibly tearing the ligaments that hold it in place. Kneecap dislocations fall into two categories Those involving an accident, such as a blow to or a twisting of the knee, are called traumatic dislocations. Atraumatic dislocations occurContinue Reading »

Treating a SICK Scapula

Treating a SICK Scapula

When a scapula, or shoulder blade, is described as SICK, it doesn’t mean ill; it is actually an acronym invented by researchers/physicians who observed a syndrome involving the shoulder areas of professional baseball players. It stands for Scapula Internal rotation, Coracoid pain and Dyskinesia (SICK), the conditions that make up this syndrome. Because the scapulaContinue Reading »

Vary Your Exercise Routine for Health and Fitness

Vary Your Exercise Routine for Health and Fitness

But precisely because it is a habit, you may easily fall into the trap of doing only one form of exercise that works on a limited set of muscles. However, recent research suggests that health as well as fitness benefits can be gained from a variety of exercises. One study found that people who performedContinue Reading »

Where is my shoulder pain coming from?

It could be coming from your neck or your shoulder?  Unfortunately, I have treated patients that have had shoulder surgery for a fracture, rotator cuff repair, stabilization procedure for shoulder instability or a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) that didn’t make enough progress.    Only later found to find out a portion of their shoulder pain was coming from theirContinue Reading »

Can poor vision give you a headache?

Yes!  My wife had an experience with a series of headaches about 4 years ago.   We consulted with a neurologist who asked whether she had a recent eye exam.  She was convinced she had a brain tumor and did  not want to admit her eyes might be failing her.  Finally, she gave in, andContinue Reading »

Does stretching your hamstrings prevent hamstrings tears?

As of right now it has Not Been Shown that hamstring flexibility decreases the chance of a hamstring tear.   The chief risk factors include: Previous hamstring tear Age Decreased hip flexor and quadricep flexibility Hamstring weakness Muscle Imbalances at hip/trunk Type of sports pursued One of the things that seems to reduce the incidence ofContinue Reading »

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