When you hear the term “eccentric,” you may think of a quirky aunt or a piece of shabby but chic furniture. In the physical therapy world, however, this term has a much different and very important meaning. Eccentric exercise—active contraction of a muscle while it is lengthening—has gained popularity in recent years among both athletesContinue Reading »
Your rotator cuff is a collection of muscles and tendons located where your upper arm meets your shoulder socket. Its primary purpose is to provide structural support to your body so that you can perform a wide range of arm movements, especially ones that involve overhead motion. These include manual labor activities—painting and carpentry, forContinue Reading »
For all my athletes that enjoy running please follow this link The Health Center for Runners from the American Physical Therapy Association. On the web site there is a free E-book: The Physical Therapist’s Guide to Healthy Running to download for information for friends and family. Many great topics are covered: Pregnancy and Running Barefoot Running InjuriesContinue Reading »
A routine question that comes up in our clinic centers around which is the best mattress for a comfortable night’s sleep. In 2009, a study was published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, entitled “Changes in back pain, sleep quality ,and perceived stress,” by lead author Bert H Jacobson, EdD. The researchers found that mediumContinue Reading »
Ankle sprain, one of the most common injuries, affects about 25,000 people every day. An ankle sprain is an injury to one of the ligaments in your ankle. A sudden twisting motion can cause these tough bands of tissue to stretch too far or snap entirely. Wearing high heels, playing sports that require swift changesContinue Reading »
If you have had a hip replaced with a metal-on-metal (MoM) implant, you may be concerned about reports of health problems with this type of artificial joint. Hip implants are fabricated from metal, plastic, ceramic or a combination of materials. Each type has risks and benefits, and it is up to you and your surgeonContinue Reading »
In the past, everyone was taught to stretch before engaging in physical activity. Now, however, researchers say that certain popular stretching routines are not only ineffective as warm-ups but can sometimes leave you even more vulnerable to injury. There are two types of stretching techniques. Dynamic stretches are aerobic exercises of light-to-moderate intensityContinue Reading »
YES! I recently went on a ski, hike and snow shoeing vacation to Tuckerman’s Ravine located at Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Prior to the trip I did a fair amount of preparations to ready my body and my left knee for the demands of climbing and skiing. To provide a little bit of background.Continue Reading »
One approach used in a rehabilitation program, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses an electric current to stimulate muscles to contract. Electrical impulses are thought to interrupt messages sent by pain receptors from the nerves to the brain. If the brain does not receive these messages, it does not recognize pain, and you do notContinue Reading »
Do you have a “SICK” scapula? No, not sick with a fever or a cold, but SICK—an abnormal condition of the shoulder blade. This condition is characterized by Scapular malposition: The scapula has moved to an abnormal position on the rib cage. Inferior medial border prominence: The scapula protrudes abnormally along the back.Continue Reading »