The Direct Access Law, signed into law in 2003 in the State of New Jersey, allows patients to receive care from a licensed physical therapist without seeing a physician first. Insurance is recognizing and covering patients for care received by a physical therapist without a physician referral. Typically the care is less expensive and just asContinue Reading »
If you have had a microdiscectomy— disc surgery to alleviate sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain caused by a herniated disc—a postoperative regimen that includes early exercise can help speed your return to a normal, active life. In the past, patients were advised to limit their movements for up to six weeks after microdiscectomy surgeryContinue Reading »
As an orthopedic and sports physical therapist in Wyckoff, NJ, I like to educate my patients on the many factors that can improve their healing and others that may delay or prevent it. For example, it may surprise you to learn that with conditions like diabetes, hypermobility syndrome (loose joints) and being overweight, taking certain antiinflamatoriesContinue Reading »
Can back pain ever be good? People suffering from backache would say, “No.” But some experts believe that back pain resulting from a process known as centralization can be a very good thing. Centralization means that pain originating in the back and traveling to the leg or the buttocks can be redirected to its actualContinue Reading »
A common assumption of most athletes and non-athletes is that running leads to knee osteoarthritis(OA). The joints can’t tolerate the constant pounding of running. FALSE! A study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine 2008 August 35(2): 133-138 shows evidence that this may not be true. In this study researchers looked at 45 runners andContinue Reading »
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The menisci, two semicircular pieces of knee cartilage located where the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) meet, help diffuse the forces on the knee and act as shock absorbers. Meniscal tears are common. Young athletes often tear a meniscus when twisting with the kneeContinue Reading »
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Ankle sprains are the most common sports-related injury, so athletes and coaches have a high degree of interest in preventing them. In addition to their prevalence, almost three-quarters of athletes with ankle sprains reinjure their ankle. Multiple recurring sprains can lead to chronic ankle instability andContinue Reading »
In our fast paced world, sometimes it can difficult for those who need it to receive physical therapy for low back pain. This can be because of fear, poor experience or results with past physical therapy, lack of time, insurance reasons, cost, or a mix of all of the above. For years I have beenContinue Reading »
Are you an avid swimmer now sidelined by swimmer’s shoulder? You have plenty of company. Swimmer’s shoulder can develop from overuse, a change in your stroke or an increase in the intensity or duration of your swimming activity. Swimmers tend to have above-average flexibility and range of motion in the shoulder—that’s great for swimming.Continue Reading »
I tell my patients with low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, stenosis, osteoarthritis, spondylosis or spinal pain to limit sitting to no longer than 20minutes. At that time I prefer if patients stand up and walk around to change the position of the spine. A great option is using a adjustable height desk that allowsContinue Reading »