How Much Do You Know About Back Pain?
Many people throughout their lives have encountered back pain. In fact, as many as two-thirds of adults will be affected by back pain at some point in their lives. Anyone that has had to deal with back pain knows how difficult it can be. However, back pain comes with difficulty in determining what treatment options are best, what will happen if I can’t work, and what can I do to make sure this back pain doesn’t happen again.
Hip Pain When Walking?
Hip pain, in general, can be caused by a wide variety of reasons. Hip pain can be caused by the hip itself or the back. It can also be caused by muscle weakness and/or joint stiffness. The hip joint typically causes pain in the front or “groin” of the hip. The hip bursa or muscular dysfunction can cause pain felt on the outside of the hip. The SI joint, low back, and muscles of the back of the hip can cause pain felt on the backside of the hip. But for starters, why do I have hip pain when I walk?
Physical Therapy After a Heart Attack
An unexpected cardiac event, like a heart attack or an open-heart surgery, is an extremely scary experience. I’ve witnessed this first-hand as I was beside my father when he suffered a heart attack in October 2021. Thankfully, he survived the heart attack, but my father underwent an open-heart surgery quickly after that. His ongoing recovery process has been life-altering for our family, but his commitment to cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) has been critical in returning to a healthy life. For those of you that are going through this yourself or have loved ones that have experienced a cardiac event, here are some things to consider related to physical therapy after a heart attack:
Tips from a PT: Maintaining Endurance During the Winter
Winter is when many of us hibernate inside to watch Netflix and make sweet treats in the kitchen. But if you are someone looking to build your endurance for later in the year – such as for a race or general fitness – you do not want to take these winter months off before resuming activity in the spring. If you are usually active in the other three seasons of the year, it would greatly behoove you to maintain regular activity in the winter months. Winter is the perfect time for endurance athletes to take it a little easier and focus on building and maintaining their base for a more efficient aerobic system. Here are some tips to consider during the cold months:
Can PT Solve My Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic low back pain is extremely prevalent and the leading cause of disability in industrialized countries. Chronic low back pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months. 10-20% of those who experience low back pain develop chronic low back pain, and there are numerous reasons for this. Many commonly prescribed treatments such as supportive back braces, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, injections, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications only provide short-term relief. They have no evidence to support their use for long-term management.
4 Exercises to Strengthen the Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a hot topic when it comes to shoulder injuries. A rotator cuff is an important group of four muscles that help move the shoulder to perform activities of daily living. Damage to one or more of the rotator cuff muscles can become a source of pain, reduced range of motion, reduced strength, or overall function. It is important to keep this muscle group strong to minimize injury and recover from a shoulder injury. Let’s look at some exercises that you can do at home to strengthen the rotator cuff.
Team USA Olympians to Watch in Beijing Winter Olympics
It’s Olympics time again! Due to COVID, the Summer 2020 Olympics were postponed to 2021, and it is already time for the winter 2022 Olympic Games held in Beijing. Olympic athletes train year-round for their chance to compete on this world stage. Due to this intense training schedule, injuries do occur. Let’s look at some Team USA athletes to keep an eye on when you watch the winter games this year!
The Connection Between Fitness and Mental Health
Taking care of yourself and your mental health continues to be at the forefront of many of our priorities, especially with the increase in mental health symptoms noted since the start of the pandemic1. Exercise has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and prevent symptoms from forming2. It also has a strong correlation to preventing cognitive decline3. Exercise can reduce inflammation through various mechanisms/pathways and positively affect mental health and well-being4, among many other positive benefits. Now more than ever, it is important to take care of your mental health and prioritize it. Our bodies are designed to move, and as shown previously, it has a direct correlation to mental well-being. A relatively “easy” way to do that is through exercise.
