Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome (PTPS) is often associated with any pain in front of the knee and around the patella or kneecap. Anterior knee pain is a concept that is experienced by many patients where the cause can vary from improper alignment to muscle dysfunction, or when the cartilage under the kneecap is damaged due to injury or overuse. This syndrome can be referred to as chondromalacia and runner’s knee. It is frequently seen in teenage athletes, people whose jobs require frequent standing, squatting, climbing ladders or stairs and can include cyclists and hikers. Symptoms are commonly intensified with descending stairs, prolonged driving with a bent knee, squatting and kneeling. Frequently people hear a click and the most common reason people experience this pain is overuse. Contributing factors to the syndrome include weakness, and tightness of the muscles around the hip and knee, an abnormality in the lower leg and hip alignment, and or improper tracking of the knee cap.

Continue Reading »

In this era of technology, a common symptom experienced by people who sit for extended hours at a computer are neck and shoulder pain. This phenomenon is referred to as forward head posture. As Physical Therapists, we often see this prolonged posture with the person who does repetitive work in an assembly line and is stooped forward or sits forward, the commuter sitting in traffic, a student who studies for endless hours, or in adolescents texting or playing video games. There is also the executive who sits uninterrupted with his head forward. Neck pain usually impairs function in daily activities and significantly impacts quality of life. Patients present with neck and or shoulder that can refer into the mid back and scapulas.

Continue Reading »

Are you experiencing numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your outer thigh?  We often suspect that these types of symptoms are related to our lower back (eg – sciatica).  However, there is a condition called “meralgia paresthetica” (MP) that could be the actual cause of the symptoms.  With sciatica, the sciatic nerve becomes irritated and pain can be felt from the lower back and down the back of the thigh and leg. With MP, the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve becomes compressed or pinched.  This results in tingling, numbness and/or burning on the lateral (outer) aspect of the thigh.

Continue Reading »

Pain is an alert that the body is not working optimally, and it should be addressed.  People tend to want to work through pain while exercising or to get things done around the house; however, this can lead to injury.  It is best to address the issues causing pain immediately and fix them so that we can avoid long term issues.  When muscles are tight or weak, or joints are stiff or unstable, the body does not work at its best.  It automatically compensates by using different muscles or poor alignment to get the job done.  Muscle tightness and weakness are results of how they are being used day to day.

Continue Reading »

The importance of core strengthening is that it stabilizes the spine in anticipation of all movements, starting from when we roll out of bed in the morning to going out for an evening walk. When the spine is not supported, there can be undue stresses that cause wear and tear over time or, even worse, an acute injury.  If the back has been injured, the muscles may not fire at all, or the timing of when they do can be delayed.  This inadequate muscle support can lead to an increase in stress on the spine.

Continue Reading »

Going to a physical therapy clinic for the first time can be very similar to your first day of school. You might have some nerves about meeting the therapists and the exercise specialists, much like the nerves that you get when you are meeting your teacher or professor for the first time. And as everyone who has survived their first day of school or therapy knows, your teachers or therapists are there to educate you and help you reach your goals.

Continue Reading »

Have you ever wondered who this “kid” helping you with exercises is? Well this “kid” is not a kid, rather a young adult who has either completed or is in the process of completing their education to receive their bachelor’s degree. The title that this “kid” holds is Exercise Specialist, meaning that he or she has the knowledge and training to show patients how to perform the exercises that they are given by the therapist safely and correctly. As a patient, if you are experiencing pain or discomfort while performing an exercise just tell an Exercise Specialist, who is always around, and they will help you modify the exercise to where you won’t feel the pain or discomfort while still targeting the muscle groups that the exercise intends. If we, exercise specialists, see that a patient is struggling with an exercise because of discomfort, even with modification of the exercise, we will make a note of that for the therapist and move the patient on to the next exercise. We do this because patients come into the clinic to get better, not to regress.

Continue Reading »

Most people know the importance of ergonomics and how it can help decrease injury at work. Ergonomics (per OSHA) is the study of work and is based on the principle that the job should be adapted to fit the person, rather than forcing the person to fit the job. Ergonomics includes restructuring or changing workplace conditions to make the job easier and reducing/stressors that cause cumulative trauma disorders and repetitive motion injuries. There are a few things like taking micro breaks and setting up “work zones” that can decrease stress and repetition that doesn’t take anyone coming to your work station and making adjustments.

Continue Reading »

In order to understand Achilles tendonitis, we must understand the Achilles tendon.  Per WebMD, “the Achilles tendon is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus)”.  The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (calf muscles) blend together, becomes the Achilles tendon, and inserts into the heel.  

Continue Reading »

What shoe is best for you? The short answer is it depends. It depends on a lot of factors, including foot type, joint mobility, strength and posture. There is not one shoe type or brand on the market that works for everyones foot. Lets talk about some general differences of shoes on the market.

Continue Reading »