Have you suffered an injury that has led you to be bed-ridden for an extended period of time? Are you recovering from surgery? Are you planning a long trip where you will be in a cramped space for long periods of time? If you answered yes to any of these, you could be at risk [...]
Physical Therapy: Avoid Painful “Groundhog’s Day”
Have you ever seen the movie “Groundhog’s Day”? It stars Bill Murray as a man who keeps living the same day (Groundhog’s Day) over and over. It is one of Murray’s best performances, and believe it or not, it makes me think of Physical Therapy. You see, so many individuals today are living their own [...]
Physical Therapy: Understanding How Balance Works
When you have a problem with your balance, you probably have an issue with your inner ear (vestibular system), your eyes (visual system) or the sensory receptors in your lower extremities (somatosensory/proprioception system). All of these systems work together to give you balance. If there is a problem with your vestibular system, your body will [...]
Preventing Shoulder Injuries
If you have chronic shoulder pain, you should see a physical therapist. They can help you recover from your injury and reduce or eliminate the pain. But why wait until you get hurt? There are things you can do on a regular basis that will help prevent shoulder pain. You might tell yourself now “I [...]
Physical Therapy: Skin Cancer
The most common type of cancer in the United States is skin cancer. This form of cancer usually develops on the top layer of skin. It usually presents as a bump or an irregular patch on the surface of the skin. If not caught early is can spread beneath the skin and to other muscles [...]
‘Lack of Time’ No Excuse to Neglect Exercise
It’s very frustrating when I see a patient who clearly hasn’t been keeping up with their home exercise program. It’s frustrating because it’s not that they can’t do the program I’ve assigned them. It’s not that the program is too hard. It’s that they don’t think they have the time to do it. Of course [...]
The Importance of the Shoulder
What do all of the following activities have in common? Picking up your children or grandchildren Getting something out of the cupboard Painting your house Throwing the ball with your sons or daughters Eating Changing the channel Driving Getting something out of the attic Cleaning the house in any way High-fiving a friend First, they [...]
Physical Therapy: What is the Female Athlete Triad?
According to femaleathletetriad.org, the Female Athlete Triad is a serious health problem that involves disordered eating, low bone mass, and amenorrhea (cessation of the menstrual cycle) in female athletes. The condition is most common in sports that emphasize leanness, such as cross country running, gymnastics and figure skating. In the past 25 years, much has [...]
Physical Therapy: Lung Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can wreak physical havoc on your body. That’s why it’s important to utilize physical therapy before and after treatment for lung cancer. Prior to receiving chemo treatments, a licensed physical therapist can help you work on an exercise program to build your strength and your cardiovascular system. Specifically, cardiovascular therapy [...]
Physical Therapy: Groin Injuries
Two weekends ago the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a painful loss in the first round of the NFL playoffs. It wasn’t just painful for fans to watch our beloved black and gold fall to an inferior team, it was painful for several Steelers players. Defensive lineman Casey Brett Keisel suffered a serious groin injury early in [...]
