Tom Willemann Health Tips

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

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Elbow Excellence Through Tommy John Surgery

Elbow Excellence Through Tommy John Surgery

One of the major advancements in sports medicine in the last 35 years, surgical repair of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is named for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John, the first person to successfully undergo the procedure in 1974. John returned to the mound two years later. This procedure, invented and pioneered by Dr.Continue Reading »

Shape Shoes- Good or bad?

My wife has been asking me a about using these shoes and the possible downsides  for her low back, hip and knees and ankles.  I always get concerned when we alter the biomechanics of our walking through using weights, radically different shoe wear, etc.  Things to consider when wearing shape shoes: If you have hadContinue Reading »

Working Out in the Great Outdoors

Working Out in the Great Outdoors

Say your gym is expensive, and there are long waits to use certain exercise equipment. Maybe it is time to return to the basics and exercise outdoors. There is considerable evidence that an outdoor workout can be more beneficial than indoor exercise in several ways, especially to improve your mood and relieve stress. One reasonContinue Reading »

Relieving Ankle Pain with Joint Fusion

Relieving Ankle Pain with Joint Fusion

If you suffer from a painful arthritic ankle joint and your physician has suggested a procedure called arthrodesis, you may be confused. Simply put, an arthrodesis fuses the bones that form a joint, making it one continuous bone and permanently stiffening the joint. The procedure is used when pain, disability or instability from a diseasedContinue Reading »

Working Your Way Through Shin Splints

Working Your Way Through Shin Splints

Occurring in the front of the outer leg, shin splints result from inflammation to the posterior tibial tendon and related tissues. They commonly happen to runners or those who walk vigorously. Symptoms include pain in the front of the outer leg below the knee, ranging from dull discomfort to significant pain that increases with activity.Continue Reading »

Team Sports: How Safe Are They?

Team Sports: How Safe Are They?

The physical benefits of participating in sports are obvious in our increasingly obese society, but team sports also teach cooperation, responsibility to the team, mental preparedness and social development. What about the risk of injury? With the consequences of repeated concussions of football players as a hot topic in the news, it is reasonable toContinue Reading »

Transitioning to Indoor Activities

Transitioning to Indoor Activities

While summer offers opportunities to walk, jog, bicycle, garden, play sports and get into shape, cold weather brings the temptation to eat more, move less and hibernate indoors. Shorter days, frosty air and holiday parties can threaten the fitness gains you made during the summer. Instead of fighting the cold and darkness, you can maintainContinue Reading »

Tips on Low Back Pain

When you initially develop low back pain a few questions come up.    Do I need bed rest?  What exercises should  I perform?  What pain should I seek help for immediately?  Here is a few facts and tips about low back pain for the first six weeks: More than two days of bed rest is often more harmful thanContinue Reading »

Knee Replacement Surgery: Before and After

Knee Replacement Surgery: Before and After

Many patients believe that a physical therapy regimen follows joint replacement surgery, but exercise before surgery can reap many benefits afterward. Think about it: The pain in your knee has probably rendered you less active. Less activity causes the muscles—in this case, those in the thighs and hips that directly and indirectly support your badContinue Reading »

A Smooth Recovery After Hip Resurfacing

A Smooth Recovery After Hip Resurfacing

If you are undergoing aBirmingham Hip resurfacing procedure, you probably have questions about rehabilitation and physical therapy. The Birmingham Hip procedure involves placing a new metal surface on your hipbone to slide against a metal socket surface. This procedure is longer lasting, ideal for active patients, less invasive and preserves more bone than traditional hipContinue Reading »