pain Archives

03Mar 2021 by Brigitte B

Strengthen Your Quad Muscles to Prevent Injury and Maintain Independence

When you stand from a sitting position, you use your quads. When you straighten your knee or bend it, you use your quads. When you squat, run or jump? Again, your quads are working hard! It’s easy to see why quad strength keeps you in good shape and is the key to maintaining independence in order to live an active life. Physical therapy is one proven tool to keep quad muscles strong. Quads can weaken for several reasons, including: Injury or overuse. The wrong move during exercise or playing a sport can result in a quadriceps tendon tear, which in turn can cause pain to the knee. Simple overuse in athletics can trigger tendinitis (also spelled “tendonitis”), an inflammation of the tendon. Arthritis. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can inflame…

27Apr 2018 by Patrick Donovan

I Tore My Meniscus. Now How Do I Fix It?

knee, Treatment, Uncategorized

What is a Meniscus Anyways? Meniscus lesions account for almost one quarter of all knee injuries. Whether it’s an acute trauma or repetitive chronic degeneration we ask the menisci to cushion the knee. Your menisci mainly function to distribute stress across the knee during weight bearing activity. Injuries to this cartilage impair your ability to absorb shock and cause misalignment between the joint surfaces. Think of them as car’s suspension between the body and the wheel. They are important to absorb impact and distribute braking power evenly across the joint. It is no surprise that older individuals have a higher rate of meniscus tears compared to younger individuals. Older adults develop faulty movement mechanics, more osteoarthritic changes, and joint degeneration. What’s strange is that surgical remedies differ depending on your…

09Feb 2018 by Patrick Donovan

Two Video Exercises for Knee Pain-Relief

Health content, Hip, knee, Pain, Treatment

Understand the Cause! Pain in the front of your knee or under your kneecap is often called patellofemoral pain. The pain may be a nagging ache or an occasional sharp twinge, especially with stairs or walking downhill. Because the pain is around the front of your knee, treatment has traditionally focused on the knee itself. However, recent evidence suggests that strengthening your hip muscles can lessen the stress under the kneecap. A study published in the January 2018 issue of JOSPT suggests strengthening your entire leg and outside of the hip can decrease your knee pain and help you return to full activity. There is now evidence that stronger hip muscles can help lessen the stress under the kneecap, indicating that it is best to strengthen both the knee and hip…

01Feb 2018 by Patrick Donovan

How To Avoid Your Next Ankle Sprain

ankle, Health content, Prevention

Ankle sprains, commonly called a “rolled” ankle, often occur while running, walking on uneven ground, or during sport-related activities. Typical treatment involves rest, elevation, ice, and an elastic wrap to reduce swelling. Although the pain and swelling usually improve quickly, up to 80% will sprain their ankles again. Imagine if your car broke down and there was an 80% chance that same problem were to occur again. Not Okay! The rate of ankle re-injury is so high because of two factors. This article breaks down these two missing pieces to put an end to sprained ankles, once and for all! The Brain to Ankle (Internet) Connection To best understand an ankle sprain we must first understand the basics of the central nervous system. Your central nervous system (brain) is like…

23Jan 2018 by Patrick Donovan

From A Crick To Chronic: Low Back Pain

back, Health content, Pain

You’re not alone, low pack pain is incredibly common. 8 in 10 people experience low back pain that requires them to seek treatment. Although the pain may be severe, most low back pain is not due to a serious problem. Usually back pain is contained within the lower back and buttocks. Sometimes the nerves get irritated and cause numbness and tingling in the leg or even to the toes. Some common lifestyle factors are: Sitting or driving too much Being in poor physical condition Bending and lifting improperly As we get older, the most common culprits of back pain are weakened muscles and stiffening joints. Nutrition and sleep are also hallmarks of a therapy evaluation. Often times people overlook nutrition as it relates to pain. For instance, turmeric has proven…