Awareness holidays can shine the light on health issues facing everyday Houston area residents. In September, awareness holidays relating to physical therapy include Healthy Aging, National Disaster Preparedness, and Pain Awareness Months. There’s National Childhood Injury Awareness and Childhood Obesity Awareness which illustrate kids musculoskeletal issues. Let’s start with Healthy Aging Month. Healthy Aging: Adding Life To Your Years Healthy Aging Month encourages people 45 and older, to take a proactive approach for their health and well-being. It’s about promoting positive attitudes about ..read more

If your world spins with balance issues, know you’re not alone. A study of Balance Disorder Trends in the US pointed to an increase of reported balance issues in 2008 (24.16 million) ‐ 2016 (36.78 million). In the same study, “adults with balance problems were limited in ability to drive motor vehicles (13.0%), exercise (14.4%), participate in social activities (12.9%), or walk downstairs (12.8%)”. As you age, balance disorder often leads to falls. According to the CDC’s 2020 statistics, over one million older Texans reported falling. Which brings us to Balance Awareness Week. raises awareness ..read more

Let’s talk about age-related muscle loss. If you’ve crossed the 50+ age threshold, you probably noticed things changing in your body. If your muscles aren’t as strong as they used to be, you’re not alone. This age-related muscle loss, or Sarcopenia, is part of your body’s natural aging process. But here’s the great news – it’s not a losing battle. As an experienced physical therapist, I have seen, firsthand, how physical therapy can turn the tide in your favor and regain some of the vitality you once knew. What to Expect With Age Related Muscle Loss When you are young, you feel strong, energet ..read more

Considering DIY physical therapy? Before you start, here are 23 reasons why you should re-consider. Self Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Disorders Without proper medical training, you’ll be challenged to accurately self diagnose your musculoskeletal injuries. The internet, filled with medical misinformation and generic symptoms, can be misleading. Of course, many people look for information or know someone who jumps on Google/WebMD to self diagnose. Before you know it, they develop 5 diagnoses that fit their symptoms. Unfortunately, you might mistake a severe condition for a minor one, or vice ve ..read more

Pickleball injuries on the rise. When we first read that headline, we weren’t surprised. After all, we treat pickleball related injuries in our clinics. The study noted that the most common injuries were lower extremity sprains, strains, and fractures. We’ve seen lower back, rotator cuff, and elbow related pains, too. In fact, most pickleball injuries look like tennis related injuries. Pickleball injuries disproportionately affect the 50+ year old crowd. According to the Journal of Emergency Medicine, “patients 50 years or older accounted for 90.9% of the patients”. In a 2010-2019 non-fat ..read more

In today’s world, many people are looking for ways to save time and money. When it comes to seeking physical therapy treatment, some people might be tempted to go to the closest facility. However, in some cases, driving a little farther can make a big difference in your treatment. Here are three reasons why traveling 60 miles round trip for physical therapy is worth the effort. 1) The therapist can have more experience treating your specific condition. 2) You’ll likely receive more individualized treatment based on your specific needs. 3) You’ll be more likely to achieve successful results whe ..read more

One day, you’re running. The sky looks gorgeous and you breathe deep. You use the oxygen rush to push a little harder. You run farther and faster. As you see the end of your run in sight, you hear a pop in your knee. Your knee begins to ache and burn on the outside of your knee. Even worse, the pain stretches up into your hip. What’s happening? You could be suffering from IT band syndrome. IT band syndrome, also known as iliotibial band friction syndrome or iliotibial band syndrome, happens when your IT band starts rubbing against the outside of your knee and hip joints. This irritating condit ..read more

A swollen knee (also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome) can cause extreme pain in the joint area. But what causes knee swelling? And how does physical therapy help relieve it? Find out in this article on knee inflammation symptoms, causes, and treatment options. Types of knee inflammation Traumatic Swelling – occurs as a result of a traumatic injury to the knee or surrounding structures. Knee Osteoarthritis – happens when the cartilage of the knee degenerates. This can lead to increased production of fluid in the joint. Baker’s Cyst – develops when a bursa in the back of the knee fill ..read more

Do you find yourself getting up and walking around a lot, but still feel like you’re being stabbed in the knee with every step? Or have you been told that it’s your IT band that is causing the knee pain? Does it feel like the knee pain is just starting to come back, even though you took a break from running for a few weeks? If this sounds like you, then your condition may be runner’s knee. This blog post will teach you what runner’s knee is and how it can slow down your life. We’ll talk about what causes runner’s knee and how physical therapy can help treat it.  (Please note that the term ..read more

The 2021 Patchwork of Life happens Thursday, October 7. This year’s theme is “A Closer Look”. Funds raised from this year’s Patchwork of Life virtual event will purchase updated MRI and CT scan machines for OakBend’s Radiology Department. Who is OakBend Medical Center? Oakbend Medical Center is the last independent, non profit hospital in the Houston area. They serve Fort Bend County and surrounding communities at including hospitals, emergency rooms, surgery centers, physical therapy clinics, physician offices, and many more. As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, OakBend relies on patients, f ..read more