Walk through the supplement aisle of your local pharmacy, and you will likely see row upon row of “joint supplements”—pills or liquids that promise to relieve joint stiffness and pain, and increase mobility. If there are so many of these products on the market, they must be effective—right? Unfortunately, the answer is not quite soContinue Reading »
"Almost Daily Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."
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Author: Tom Willemann
The Pain of a Pinching Hip
A very complex joint in the body, the hip is formed by a ball on the end of the thighbone (femur) that sits in a socket formed by a cavity (acetabulum) in the pelvic bone. The ball is held in place by a very powerful ligament, and both the ball and socket are covered byContinue Reading »
Make Your Winter Workouts Work
Exercise is essential—there are no two ways about it. But for many people, the ability to exercise is severely affected by their environment, especially people who live in areas with cold winters like us in NJ. Fortunately, a drop in temperature does not have to mean a drop in your exercise routine. Your exercises canContinue Reading »
True or False. If you strengthen your core, you can avoid back pain. Answer…
False. Everyone talks about strengthening the ab, trunk and hip muscles to avoid an injury to your back. I believe a strong core can indeed prevent many back injuries when lifting, and can assist a person in maintaining good posture and form. However, it has been shown that after longer than 3 minutes of sitting,Continue Reading »
Replacing Your Shoulder in Reverse
In conventional shoulder replacement surgery, the surgeon fits a plastic cup into the shoulder socket and attaches a metal ball to the top of the upper arm bone. But for some patients, especially those with muscle damage around the shoulder or large rotator cuff tears who have developed a complex type of shoulder arthritis, conventionalContinue Reading »
Don’t Let Your Asthma Freeze You Out of Winter Workouts
Avoiding asthma attacks while exercising in winter is best accomplished by preventing cold, dry air from getting into your bronchial airways. One way to do this is to exercise indoors when it is cold. Swimming in an indoor heated pool, where the air is comfortably warm but not overly humid, is an option that worksContinue Reading »
Tee Up Your Golf Game Without Hitting the Links
Your favorite green golf course is covered in white snow and ice. While your friends in warmer climates continue to improve their games, your clubs remain in the closet. But cold weather does not mean you cannot work on becoming a better golfer. Mental and physical strength can be honed throughout the year. As winterContinue Reading »
Flexing Your New Replacement Knee
Deciding to have your knee replaced can lead to many logical concerns regarding safety, rehabilitation and whether the increase in quality of life makes the procedure worth the trouble. Not everyone will regain full range of motion after total knee replacement. Depending upon the specific nature of your injury and knee replacement, however, a fullContinue Reading »
Are Back Braces Effective?
Lower back pain is a common concern among adults, especially those whose jobs involve heavy lifting. You might see workers at your local home improvement store wearing lumbar support bands—“back support” braces. These devices are becoming increasingly popular for the rest of us, as well. But do they really work? A brace is especially helpfulContinue Reading »
Knees Hurt? Strengthen Your Hips
Does your knee hurt when you walk, run or climb stairs? If so, you have plenty of company. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Americans make more than 19 million physician visits each year for knee pain. Although osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee pain in individuals over age 55, kneeContinue Reading »