Medial epicondylitis - otherwise known as Golfer’s Elbow - is a common overuse injury of the elbow. It is caused when the wrist flexor tendons - the muscles that flex your palm towards your forearm - become injured and inflamed near your inner elbow from overuse. It is seen in avid golfers, but can also be seen in throwing athletes, tennis players, or people who work in jobs that require excessive and repetitive arm use (ex. Construction, plumbing).   In golfers, medial epicondylitis is usually caused by improper warm-up/practice habits, poor swing mechanics, and inadequate strength and ..read more

What is women’s health physical therapy? Have you wondered that? Maybe you were too embarrassed to ask? Women’s Health Physical Therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy that is comprised of A LOT of various diagnoses women may experience throughout our lives.  A women’s health physical therapist enrolls in additional training after their college education and licensing in order to evaluate and treat conditions specific to women. These conditions can include: Incontinence or “leaking” Pain lifting a child or even a bag of groceries Pain during sexual activity Issues durin ..read more

Intrinsic Foot Strengthening (or The Foot Core) The small muscles of the foot (a.k.a the foot core) are often overlooked when we rehabilitate a lower extremity injury. However, recent evidence has shown that strengthening these muscles can provide dynamic support to the foot and ankle in all standing activities. Many foot and ankle injuries benefit from increasing strength of the foot core: below are three exercises you can try. A physical therapist can help individualize these exercises in addition to creating a treatment plan for you and your injury. 1) Short Foot Exercise. GOAL: to bring ..read more

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome The thoracic outlet is formed by the first rib, the clavicle, and the superior border of the scapula. TOS occurs when there is compression of the brachial plexus, subclavian vein or artery. Compression can occur between the anterior and middle scalene, the first rib and the clavicle, or between the pectoralis minor and coracoid process.  It can be due to shortening of the surrounding musculature, hypertrophy of the musculature or trauma to the area. Common Causes: Poor posture and rounded shoulders  Constant overhead motions  Weightlifting Whip ..read more

The meniscus is cartilage in the knee that helps protect the joint and absorb shock during activities such as walking and running. A meniscus injury can be caused by trauma such as forceful twisting in sports or by degenerative changes that occur overtime. Common symptoms of a meniscus tear include swelling, catching / locking of the knee, and knee buckling. Some meniscus injuries can heal on their own while others may need surgery. Whether surgery is required or not, a physical therapist will create a treatment plan that focuses on range of motion and strengthening to help rehabilitate a meni ..read more

Balance Balance problems can be caused by injury, disease, or the aging process. Having difficulty with balance can lead to unsteadiness, which can increase the risk of falling. Our ability to maintain our balance is attained through a complex mechanism that involves our vision, sense of touch, and vestibular system. Other factors that can affect balance include strength and range of motion. Our physical therapists can assess which factors may be contributing to your balance deficits and will help properly train the systems needed to achieve good balance. A PT can also provide strategies that ..read more

National Sleep Awareness Week (March 14-20, 2021) One of the most important aspects of rehab is getting a good night sleep. It is something that people in pain often struggle with because it is uncomfortable to lay down and painful to move around in bed. Resulting in increased interruptions while sleeping and decreased total sleep duration in a night. Studies have indicated that proper sleep improved for cognitive, motor, and physiological functions. Hormones that are released during sleep act on many tissues to help promote healing, recovery, and growth. Physical therapy has been shown to be ..read more

Nutrition and Exercise Proper nutrition can help to enhance exercise performance. You are more likely to be tired and perform poorly if you are not getting a balanced diet. Carbohydrates provide the energy needed to fuel muscle performance. Complex carbohydrates such as pastas, whole grain bread and rice. This is a much better fuel for your body than sugars which give a transient boost in energy. Nutrition and Recovery During exercise your muscles undergo stress which leads to minor tissue damage and breakdown. Not to worry, because this is a good thing! This is the stimulus needed for your b ..read more

Patella Femoral Pain syndrome is the most common knee disorder, accounting for 25% of all knee diagnoses. It is often a common complaint following meniscus or ACL injury and is the most common injury for runners. There are multiple factors that contribute to PFPS. However, PFPS is commonly associated with repetitive micro trauma, impaired hip muscle strength, and lower extremity flexibility. Through proper examination a physical therapist can help to determine the contributing factors causing your pain and difficulty from PFPS and help give you the tools needed to improve function and decrease ..read more

There are several reasons that you may have difficulty reaching overhead or behind your back.  Each joint in your body has a joint capsule, which is a tough membrane that surrounds each joint and contains fluid to allow smooth movement. The capsule can tighten over time if you don’t move your arm into certain positions. For example when your arm is in a sling for a few weeks your shoulder joint capsule will limit your ability to move your arm overhead, which is different than limitations due to tight or weak muscles. A physical therapist using mobilization techniques using a strap to stre ..read more