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 »
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 »
You Can’t Treat an MRI Often I meet patients that are distressed after getting the results of an MRI or X-Ray. This is not unusual situation. Between the medical terms and fact you are reading something about a condition you may have to face it can be difficult to interpret. At times we have “incidentalContinue Reading »
Stop Doing Rotator Cuff Exercises! Many athletes and non- athletes suffer from rotator cuff tendinitis or rotator cuff tears. Many times, a solution doesn’t lie in strengthening the existing rotator cuff, but rather the scapular stabilizers. Scapular stabilizers provide support for the rotator cuff to function. They are the foundation of the rotator cuff andContinue Reading »
If you’ve suffered from a knee injury or have undergone knee surgery in the past, there’s a chance you may experience a flare-up of pain from time to time. If you’re finding it difficult to participate in activities you typically enjoy, like walking or running, perhaps a spin on a stationary bike is the answerContinue Reading »
Wyckoff Physical Therapists talking about Exercise and Arthritis Pain One of the most common types of Arthritis is osteoarthritis. This happens due to the breakdown of the cartilage. Arthritis is commonly seen in joints that include knees, hips, lower back, hands, shoulders, and neck. People suffering from osteoarthritis will feel stiffness, swelling and pain inContinue Reading »