Stretch or Not to Stretch? Just because your back or calf feels tight doesn’t mean you should stretch it. I discuss this often with my patients. Maybe you simply need to get stronger. Feelings of “soreness” or “tightness” in any area is not a blanket recommendation to do one or the other. I just beganContinue Reading »
Should I have surgery? I always recommend friends, patients and family to get an physical therapy evaluation before they undergo an orthopedic surgery. The reason is twofold. Evaluation ensures that loss of strength or range of motion is not the root cause of their problem. Various studies have shown that osteoarthritis may be present butContinue Reading »
How to pick a good physical therapist If you are recovering from surgery or an injury you may be spending a lot of time with your physical therapist. Continuity is key. When I graduated from physical therapy school I worked in a clinic that required that the same physical therapist treat the same patient eachContinue Reading »
Core Training to Relieve Lower Back Pain After the common cold, lower back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor. Although lower back pain is easy to recognize, its causes are many, varied and often unclear. Thus, one of the greatest challenges facing physical therapists is to match the suspectedContinue Reading »
This question came up after my uncle’s recent trip to California after just retiring from the New York City MTA. In the week following his retirement, he had a loss of balance, caught himself stepping forward, which resulted in him straining his calf muscle. After this occurred, he saw an orthopedist who told him toContinue Reading »
Dr. Fiebert’s words still ring in my ears, “Having your patients understand how posture influences their condition is one of the keys to successful treatment!” For years I have tried to find ways to remind patients to stand up straight. Poor posture, leading to muscle imbalance, can result in neck, arm, leg or back pain. Continue Reading »
Do you have trouble checking your blind spot in either direction while you’re driving? If so, this simple self-stretch is for you! It’s best for those who are experiencing headaches and/or more general neck stiffness and pain. It is NOT intended for those with weakness, numbness or tingling down the arms. It also should NOTContinue Reading »
I read an article on Science Alert recently announcing a change in the latest US Exercise Guidelines. According to the article, which references the document published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it’s no longer necessary to exercise for long periods of time; the total volume of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is what counts.
It’s no secret … staying active during the winter months is really important! Recently, I wrote a blog (you can find it HERE) about what’s called the “Winter Effect”. In a nutshell, I tend to see a lot of patients – especially those with spine related issues – with aches and pains after winter hasContinue Reading »