For most people, waking up with a stiff, twisted neck is a moderate inconvenience and a difficult way to start the day. But for those with a condition called torticollis, or wryneck, it’s often much more than that. Wryneck causes the neck to twist involuntarily, which leads to an unnatural tilt or rotation of the […]

Shoulder pain can be debilitating, often limiting daily activities and affecting one’s overall quality of life. For patients with severe shoulder arthritis and some other long–term issues that don’t respond to physical therapy, total shoulder arthroplasty–also known as a total shoulder replacement–may offer a path to relief. In this surgical procedure, damaged portions of the […]

Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury that affects the tendon connecting your calf muscles to your heel bone. It often develops in runners and active individuals due to repetitive stress and inadequate recovery. Those with Achilles tendinopathy…

As we age, staying active becomes increasingly important for maintaining health, independence, and quality of life. Yet, many older adults find it challenging to identify the most effective and safe forms of exercise to meet their needs. Traditional advice often emphasizes low–impact activities like walking, but emerging research suggests that structured exercise programs like High–Intensity […]

Imagine your head as a bowling ball perched on top of a flexible straw. Now picture that straw being violently whipped back and forth. This is whiplash, a traumatic event that happens in a few seconds but can continue to bother you for months or years. More than 40% of people who experience whiplash develop long–term symptoms, including […]

Imagine a tiny, invisible hitchhiker nestled between your toes, one that announces its presence with every step you take. This unwelcome passenger is Morton’s neuroma, a thickened nerve tissue that transforms the simple act of walking into a painful ordeal. Morton’s neuroma occurs when tissue thickens around a nerve in the foot, typically between the third […]

As a physical therapist, I see it all the time–an athlete comes in worried because they’re feeling pain, but after an evaluation, we find there’s no real tissue damage. Pain doesn’t always mean injury, and understanding this can help you train smarter and recover better. Pain vs. Injury – What’s the Difference? It’s natural to […]

The global population is aging at an unprecedented rate. By 2050, the number of adults over 65 will double to 1.5 billion people, while the number of those over 80 will triple to 426 million. These totals will represent the highest number of older adults alive at any time in history, which will drastically alter […]

If you’ve ever experienced a deep, aching pain on the outside of your hip, especially when walking, climbing stairs, or even lying on your side, you might be dealing with gluteal tendinopathy. This common but often misunderstood condition affects the tendons that connect the gluteal muscles of the buttocks to the hip bone, and it tends […]

Physical Therapy Can Get You Back in the Pool If Swimmer’s Shoulder is Slowing You Down Imagine gliding through the water, your arms slicing effortlessly as you chase the perfect stroke. For some, swimming can be seen as poetry in motion, since it combines strength, endurance, and grace. But what happens when something gets in […]

Picture this: You’re sprinting down the field or court, about to make a game–changing play, when a sharp pain in your groin suddenly stops you in your tracks. Sound familiar? If you’re an athlete, especially in sports like soccer, football, or hockey, you may have experienced groin pain or know someone who’s dealt with it, and […]

Did you know that only 8.7% of adults aged 75 and older engage in muscle–strengthening activities? As our loved ones age, they often face a silent battle against muscle loss, known as sarcopenia. This decline can lead to severe challenges in maintaining independence and mobility. However, there’s good news: physical therapy and targeted resistance training can […]

Everyone knows that however your morning starts can often have a big impact on how the rest of your day goes. So, if you’re waking up every morning to persistent, nagging back pain that announces its presence immediately, it could be a sign that a difficult day is ahead. Unfortunately, this is frequently the case […]

Iliotibial band syndrome, or ITBS, has earned a reputation as one of the most persistent obstacles encountered by runners. This common overuse injury, which is responsible for up to 22% of all running–related injuries in the lower extremities, causes a characteristic sharp pain along the outside of the knee that gets worse with activity. As […]

Ever tried to swing a racket or lift a coffee mug, only to feel a sharp twinge in your elbow that said, “Nope, not today”? That sensation may be lateral epicondylitis–more commonly referred to as tennis elbow–announcing its presence like an uninvited guest. It’s a pesky condition that doesn’t just haunt tennis players, as anyone […]

Ever heard the saying, “Never squat past your knees”? It’s a common piece of advice, often given with the best intentions of protecting those precious joints. But what if we told you that going deeper in a squat might actually be beneficial for your knee health? For years, many believed that deep squats–where your thighs […]

Elbow pain can be a persistent and frustrating issue, often sneaking into one’s daily routines with subtle discomfort that gradually worsens. For many, especially those suffering from lateral elbow tendinopathy–commonly known as tennis elbow–simple tasks like turning a doorknob or trying to open a jar end up becoming painful challenges. Tennis elbow affects a significant […]

Have you finished chemotherapy, only to find yourself facing new problems from your treatments? Many cancer survivors develop nerve damage in their hands and feet, which is called chemotherapy–induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN. This happens because some chemotherapy drugs can harm the nerves that connect your brain to the rest of your body. These damaged […]

If you occasionally wind down at the end of a long day by having a drink or two, you may not think much of it. You’ve probably heard countless times how a small amount of alcohol can be good for your health–especially your heart health–and might even recall the saying that a little wine is […]

Falling might seem like a minor mishap to some people, but if you’re an older adult, you know full well that a fall can be anything but “minor.” Depending on one’s health, a simple fall can lead to serious injuries, reduced independence, and even life–threatening complications. Every year, more than one in four adults over […]