Pain along the inside (medial) portion of your ankle is often due to Posterior Tibialis Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD), also known as posterior tibial tendon syndrome or tibialis posterior syndrome, and it can be very difficult to treat. The posterior tibialis muscle is a particularly important muscle in runners as it is used in plantar flexing the ankle (pointing the ankle/toes downward) and inverting the ankle (rolling it inward).  More importantly, its role is to support the arch of the foot. Injury to this muscle is common in runners as well as those who play sports involving high foot imp ..read more

Knee pain is a common complaint among exercisers and non-exercisers alike. So often the actual cause of the knee pain is actually a muscle imbalance elsewhere. Weakness in the hip musculature, particularly the deep hip external rotators muscles, is a common contributing factor for knee pain. In the following videos, I demonstrate different exercises designed to specifically strengthen your hip and lower leg in order to address muscles imbalances common with knee pain. Addressing these muscle imbalances can lead to the permanent resolution of your knee pain and symptoms. My Top 3 Videos to Sel ..read more

I often hear others comment, “It’s too late to make a change now. I’m too old!” Worse yet, so many people actually believe that, but I don’t! I believe that it is never too late to change. You are never too old or out of shape to make improvements and renew your life. Being healthy and aging well is not a single choice to be made once and then never re-visited. It is a series of constant choices that add up to a way of living and constant renewal. Aging well encompasses all of the following aspects of our being: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It also includes the community around ..read more

The COVID-19 pandemic and the events of the past two years have impacted all of us. Through this hardship, we have learned the importance of working together and being proactive in taking control of our own health and well-being. Working together and supporting one another makes taking the necessary steps to age well easier and more fulfilling. Being proactive is a key component to aging well. The purpose of The Physical Therapy Advisor is to help people like you to take control of your health and to save money by learning how to safely self-treat and manage common musculoskeletal, neurologica ..read more

Did you know that low back pain (LBP) affects nearly 80% of the US population at one time or another? It is one of the most prevalent medical conditions in the United States and one of the most common reasons why people miss work. However, in MOST cases, LBP is not a sign of a serious life-threatening condition. Only approximately 3% of serious pathology cases report low back pain as a symptom. While most LBP is not serious, it can be very painful and have a significant impact on your mobility and quality of life. The good news is that you can follow simple guidelines to navigate an episode o ..read more

Hip impingement pain is commonly felt in the groin, front of the hip or sometimes the side of the hip or deep in the buttocks. Like many lower extremity injuries, hip impingement is often multifactorial stemming from muscle strength imbalances (often due to weakness in the deep hip external rotators) and/or hip mobility imbalances. These mobility imbalances combined with muscle strength imbalances lead to altered hip biomechanics and ultimately, pain and inflammation in and around the hip labrum. These issues can be accelerated or started by a traumatic event or an overuse situation. The biome ..read more

Sponsored and written by Des Moines University Physical Therapy Clinic Whether you’re an athlete or a weekend warrior, physical therapy can improve performance and prevent injury. Learn more about the different types of therapy and how it can benefit you. May Help You Avoid Future Injuries While physical therapists help you heal and get over injuries, their expertise can also help you avoid future injuries. Your therapist does this by considering: Your sport or activity’s physical demands Any past injuries Your weaknesses Then, your therapist can create a custom plan for you, which includes ..read more

A common reason for anterior hip pain, groin pain or even side of the hip or deep buttock pain can be hip impingement. Hip impingement, like most hip pain, is often multifactorial stemming from muscle strength imbalances (often due to weakness in the deep hip external rotators) and/or hip mobility imbalances. These mobility imbalances combined with muscle strength imbalances lead to altered hip biomechanics and ultimately, pain and inflammation in and around the hip labrum. These issues can be accelerated or started by a traumatic event or an overuse situation. The biomechanical imbalances cau ..read more

If you have pain along the inside (medial) portion of your ankle or even the arch of your foot, you may have posterior tibialis pain. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD), also known as posterior tibial tendon syndrome or tibialis posterior syndrome, can develop into a tibialis posterior tendon insufficiency which causes a fallen arch. In fact, Posterior tibialis insufficiency is one of the most common reasons for adult acquired flatfoot. The posterior tibialis muscle is a particularly important muscle as it is used in plantar flexing the ankle (pointing the ankle/toes downward) and inv ..read more

Mobility bands (like the VooDoo Floss Band) are gaining in popularity as a self-treatment tool particularly among the athletic population. There are many brands manufacturing mobility or floss bands with most of them being very similar. Most mobility bands utilize a long piece of thicker elastic latex rubber to compress tissue in or around varying locations. Other brands (like the CTM Band) have made innovations to the more traditional style band which allows for a more aggressive mobilization into the soft tissue. (“CTM” stands for compression, tension, and movement.) Reasons why you may choo ..read more