Tom Willemann Health Tips

"Regular Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."

Use the Form Below to Get Them All Sent to You for FREE

Climbing Stairs—One Step at a Time

Tom Willemann |

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 strength to make navigating stairs less difficult.
 
Knee problems that can make stairs difficult to manage include injury or overuse from sports, tendinitis in the knee and weakened cartilage beneath the kneecap.
 
In paramus physical therapy exercises focused on strengthening the quadriceps (muscles in the front of the knee) and hamstrings (the muscles in the back of your thigh) that support and stabilize the knee will help by specifically building up these parts of the body and reducing knee pain when going down stairs. We will focus on exercises in which you lower weights. Also, low impact exercises such as swimming and water aerobics can help relieve chronic pain associated with climbing stairs. And because tight muscles also can lead to injury, stretching is important. An exercise regimen we can design will help

  • improve mobility
  • increase flexibility
  • enhance strength 
  • improve your balance

Some people find that losing weight helps reduce pain associated with stair use. Every extra pound puts additional strain on your joints, increasing the risk of ligament and tendon injuries and even osteoarthritis.  A colleague of mine Amy Regina Bolz  https://www.nutritionwithamy.com/who is a local nutritionist from Hartzband Center for Hip and Knee Replacement in Wyckoff, NJ has remarked on how several of her patients have avoided joint replacement surgery from pursuing a weight loss plan.  These changes will help make walking and stairs significantly easier for you, especially if you are someone who needs to use them daily at home, at work or just for running errands.
Knee problems that harm a person’s ability to comfortably navigate stairs can afflict people of all ages. It is good practice to work with us before pain becomes severe. You will prevent the frustration of limited mobility and gain the joy and freedom of movement—up or down stairs.
Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Wyckoff, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Ridgewood, Wyckoff, and Bergen County region.  This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative program.
 

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
Share This