Health Resources

Why Does My Hand Fall Asleep at Night?

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Tara Hackney, PT, DPT, OCS, KTTP

Numbness and tingling in your hand can be described as “your hand falling asleep.” But what does this really mean? Tingling and numbness is a type of nerve pain that typically subsides with the limb’s movement. In this case, the pain is usually due to restricted blood flow. The tingling can feel uncomfortable and unpleasant, but it is only temporary. Sometimes people complain of waking up in the middle of the night with numbness or tingling in their hand or arm, they may not experience these symptoms during the day, or the symptoms are not as noticeable. (more…)

Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Your Ankle Pain

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Owen Campbell, PT, DPT, OCS

We’ve all tweaked our ankles at some point in our lives. Some of us have even done it so forcefully that we have sprained a ligament, broken a bone, or strained a muscle. Hopefully, you took appropriate care and are feeling better, but often in my practice, I hear the dreaded phrase, “oh yeah, that’s my bad ankle. It never got better after I did (insert something youthful and nostalgic here).” There are two forms of untreated ankle issues I see in the clinic regularly. The painful ankle that is effectively avoided or the stiff ankle that the patient thinks is normal. Both can have long-term effects on ankle health and wear and tear on the knees, hips, and even low backs. (more…)

Body Weight Exercises for Beginners

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Brandon Bowers, PT, DPT, Astym Cert.

Are you getting back into exercise after a long time off? Or maybe you’ve never exercised before and aren’t sure where to start. For some, the thought of lifting weights can be a little daunting. For others, getting to the gym can be tough due to the time commitment or schedule conflict. A research study performed in 2021, showed that body weight exercise improved cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). CRF has a direct correlation with mortality and disease risk. Simply put, if someone has better CRF, their risk for disease should lower. These bodyweight exercises can be performed at home and will provide a nice starting point for beginners on their fitness journey. (more…)

P.R.I.C.E. for an Ankle Injury

Posted on June 27, 2022 by Kathleen Warner PT, DPT, OCS

Ankle sprains are one of the most common orthopedic injuries. Common ways to end up with a painful, swollen ankle include:

• A misstep off a curb or stair
• A poor landing from a jump in an athletic activity
• A stumble while wearing high heels
• A slip on a patch of ice

Static Stretches for Improved Flexibility

Posted on June 24, 2022 by Brandon Bowers, PT, DPT, Astym Cert.

Are you dealing with tight muscles, or maybe you don’t feel very flexible? When used correctly, stretching can be a useful tool to address tight muscles and improve muscle flexibility. Recent studies have confirmed that performing low intensity stretches over a long period can improve flexibility. Let’s look at a handful of simple stretches you can do to improve tight muscles. (more…)

Things You Should Know About Diastasis Recti

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Ariss Pierce, PT, DPT, Cert. MDT

Whenever there is a large expansion experienced throughout your trunk, all of the abdominal muscles will be affected. Normal weight gain during pregnancy, abdominal weight gain in the absence of pregnancy, and having an abdominal surgery are all reasons someone may be diagnosed with Diastasis Recti (DRA). A Diastasis Recti means a separation of the abdominal muscles and their associated fascia that holds them together at the midline of the trunk. An abdominal separation greater than .9 to 2.7cm along the midline of the abdomen from the sternum (breastbone) to the pubic symphysis (joint between your left and right pelvic bone), is considered DRA. DRA by itself is not the main issue; the symptoms that may arise are more prevalent in determining the relevance of having a DRA. Some individuals are asymptomatic and may not seek physical therapy care to address it. (more…)

Celebrating Athletico’s Newest Dry Needling Certified Clinicians!

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Athletico

Athletico is committed to promoting clinical excellence and inspiring professional growth. As an opportunity for continuing education, we partner with Myopain Seminars, Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Training, and Biomedical Dry Needling to deliver dry needling cohorts across our platform. While each of these partners may call their certification something different, all pathways require a significant investment of time and energy. We are proud of these clinicians who are committed to our core value of continuous innovation as well as improving their patient outcomes. (more…)

Return to Sport vs. Return to Work

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Chelsea Silva, PT, DPT

The American Physical Therapy Association describes Physical Therapists as “movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.” As physical therapists, with our patient’s help, we shape their goals around what improves their specific quality of life. Often, we picture athletes returning to sports or patients relearning how to walk. Less commonly, we think about the importance of injured workers returning to their jobs without limitations. It’s easy to understand why the rehabilitation process for return to sport is so intense and personalized for a patient. The rehabilitation process for return to work should be just as intense and personalized to assist the employee in reaching their goals. (more…)