We are pleased to announce that my colleague Tracey Doyle, staff physical therapist at Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Wyckoff, NJ, has recently completed a course on Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy with focus on Lumbar Spine Examination through the McKenzie Institute. Use of the McKenzie method for spinal examination enables therapists to determine how well patientsContinue Reading »
"Regular Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."
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Articles:
Can weak calves and glutes contribute to foot and ankle pain?
YES! For women with pain caused by posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, there does appear to be a link. A study in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy in September 2011 found that middle-aged women with mild posterior tibial tendon dysfunction have weakness in the hip extensors, hip abductors and calf muscles which mayContinue Reading »
“Filling” the Gap After Rotator Cuff Surgery
You may hear the term “fatty infiltration” for the first time when you see a physician about a rotator cuff injury. After you tear the tendon in your shoulder, a large gap remains between the tendon and the bones, keeping the shoulder muscle from performing its usual actions of shortening and lengthening. The body attemptsContinue Reading »
Cycling: What More Do You Need?
You love bicycling—outdoors when the weather is good, on a stationary bike indoors when it is not. Can you be confident that cycling, by itself, is enough to keep yourself fit for decades to come? It would be great if the single thing we loved to do most was all we needed to stay healthy.Continue Reading »
Climbing Stairs—One Step at a Time
Although going up the stairs may feel challenging, some people experience more pain going down. This is because your muscles have to work hard to control your weight as you descend. If you have suffered from knee problems in the past or continue to have problems, it is probably time to look at increasing strengthContinue Reading »
Does knee bracing make your muscles weak?
In the case of osteoarthritis in appears it does not weaken the muscles surrounding the knee complex. Details of recent study: Used custom fitted valgus knee unloader brace No loss of strength in six months of use Average time doning wear 5hours/day Small subgroup had negative effect in first two weeks Most effective for mildContinue Reading »
What is Piriformis Syndrome?
Facts on Piriformis Syndrome: *based on a a review article in Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA)* The Piriformis muscle acts chiefly as a hip rotator that rests over the sciatic nerve and in some cases the sciatic nerve passes through the piriformis muscle belly. Any trauma, inflammation or increase size of this muscleContinue Reading »
Putting Your ACL Back Together Again
The ACL—anterior cruciate ligament—provides stability to the knee by keeping the tibia (shinbone) from sliding in front of the femur (thighbone). About 250,000 ACL reconstructions are performed annually in the United States on individuals who experience the condition. ACL tears are not usually sutured together because the repairs do not fare well over time. Instead,Continue Reading »
Exercise Can Relieve That Aching Back
Back pain is a common complaint, with about 25% of people in the United States reporting low back pain within the previous three months. Back pain often occurs after surgery for a back injury. Other causes include a ruptured disc, osteoporosis, arthritis, lumbar muscle strain and sciatica. A sedentary lifestyle, pregnancy, obesity, smoking and depressionContinue Reading »
Simple Tip to Reduce Low Back Pain
This morning I woke up with severe right lower back pain. As a paramus physical therapist I always tell my patients to limit the amount of time you sit to less than 30 minutes at a time with any patient who suffers from neck or low back pain. More often than not patients tell meContinue Reading »