People of all ages can experience joint instability. The condition may come on suddenly, including after a hard fall, or could be the result of repeatedly performing the same motion. Joint instability can make it difficult to stand on or use the affected limb. Over time, you may notice that the bone slips out of the socket as you perform a specific motion. Addressing this issue involves strengthening the full joint, including tendons, muscles and ligaments to reduce re-injury risks. What Is Joint Instability? The cartilage, tendons and ligaments surrounding our joints support the connecting b ..read more

Your ribs play a protective role, shielding your lungs and chest cavity from impact. Yet these forces may be sharp enough to break a rib or two, resulting in pain and breathing difficulties. Recovery following a broken rib often involves strengthening the area and addressing breathing concerns. Learn what to expect from physical therapy. How Rib Fractures Happen Roughly 300,000 Americans experience a fractured or broken rib each year. For children and adults, injuries stem from exposure to a high-impact force, including from a car accident, sports or falling on a hard surface. Older adults ha ..read more

All forms of dance combine artistry with strength, focus and athleticism. Among professionals and dedicated students, flexibility and agility are required, as well as hours of intensive training. Dance might involve the whole body but heavily relies on the feet, legs and ankles. As such, years of intensive training and performance schedules place extensive wear on these areas and may have a rippling effect on the lower back, hips and knees. In turn, serious dancers have elevated risks for repetitive motion injuries and fractures. Injury Concerns for Dancers Serious dancers take classes multip ..read more

While you can experience a fall injury at any age, risks and severity increase as you grow older. Especially for adults 65 and over, falls may negatively impact quality of life, resulting in reduced mobility, less socialization, cognitive health decline and higher risks for a subsequent fall injury. Physical therapy serves three key roles: injury recovery, strengthening the body against further injury risks and increasing a patient’s overall quality of life. Whether for yourself or a loved one, learn about the purpose and benefits of physical therapy after a fall. What to Expect During Physic ..read more

A strong core benefits everyone, whether you’re an athlete or office worker. Beyond the abdominal region, your core assists with and supports movement, from how you sit to your form during exercise. Learn more about the core region and the benefits of strengthening these muscles. What Is Your Core? The core region starts with your abs and extends to your back. Most movements start from or passively engage the core, as these muscles connect the lower and top portions of your body. The muscles involved include your: Abdominals, which assist with movement, support your spine and protect your or ..read more

The hip is one of the body’s largest and most stable joints. Intended for a wider range of motion, this ball-and-socket-style joint bears a significant amount of weight. It’s also surrounded by various ligaments, tendons and soft tissues for support. An injury to this area can affect your mobility on a broader scale and often requires physical therapy for recovery. Learn about the most common hip injuries. About the Hip Joint The thighbone or femur fits into an indent within the pelvis, which has three sections: the ilium, which flares outward, the pubis or inner portion and the ischium, whic ..read more

After a serious injury, surgery and recovery can take a toll on the body. Regaining muscle strength can be an uphill battle of slow, incremental progress to reach the level and skill once attained. Blood flow restriction therapy (BFR) partially interrupts this process to aid recovery without greatly impacting muscle strength. Learn more about this method. What Is Blood Flow Restriction Therapy? Blood flow restriction therapy helps the injured muscle hold onto low-oxygen blood, while providing a flow of oxygenated blood to the tissue. Facilitated by a cuff, this process helps preserve muscle s ..read more

Golf is often perceived as a leisurely activity, yet every time you take a shot, you’re engaging the hips, back, legs and arms. The repetition of gripping and swinging a golf club, coupled with potentially poor form, can place significant strain on these areas of the body. Learn about common golf injuries and prevention tactics to reduce their occurrence. Why Golf Players Experience Injuries During golf season, playing 18 holes every week can eventually result in an injury if you: Keep doing the same moves over and over without a significant break. This may occur as you train to improve your ..read more

Throughout your body, tendons keep the muscles secure to the bones. Although tendons are built to handle significant force, factors like repeat wear and tear, certain diseases, steroid use or an untreated injury can cause this thick, fibrous tissue to tear or snap, resulting in a rupture. The risk of partial and full tendon tears increases with age, as well as conditions like arthritis, gout, hyperparathyroidism and tendonitis that can weaken these tissues. When a rupture occurs, you’ll feel a sharp, debilitating pain and may hear a loud popping sound. Learn how ruptured tendons occur and the ..read more

Resistance bands are ideal for strengthening muscles and bones, without requiring whole-body movement. They also provide a solution for conditioning the body against fractures, fall risks and degenerative injuries. Learn why a physical therapist may recommend the use of resistance bands. What Are Resistance Bands? Resistance bands are made of an elastic rubber and help facilitate various strength training exercises. They are a lighter-weight, more convenient alternative to free weights and machines, allowing you to take your exercise routine wherever you go. Studies have found that resistance ..read more