Understanding how people are impacted by pain can help to develop treatment strategies Neck pain is very prevalent in general, but especially common in working individuals, where it occurs in between 45-63% of the population worldwide. Although this is such a major issue, little is known about the consequences of neck pain on these people, […]

It’s almost 2010. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions, and it often involves exercise. Well, here is what I hope will be a little more motivation for you. First, on a personal note. The developer of our website, who is a physical therapist, shared a great story with me. His father, overweight for most […]

Do you know anyone that has or ever had pain in the front of the knee or around the kneecap? Patellofemoral pain syndrome is the diagnosis, and it’s a fairly common problem that affects women more than men. It can be quite a nuisance. Some have to take anti-inflammatory pain medication and often have to […]

First, a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I read this article a few days ago and while I know it will have little impact on most people, if the advice can help just one parent and infant avoid an injury, it’s all worthwhile. Pediatric doctors looked at fractures (bone breaks) in the tibia (bone between the […]

I was watching 60 Minutes the other night and while the main topic of the piece was about Americans and end of life, I was more focused on some of the comments about the cost of health care. If you read past news feeds, you probably will get my drift when I say that patients […]

Before you have a painful cortisone (corticosteroid) injection for your knee osteoarthritis, it’s worth understanding that the relief you obtain can be significant but often is only temporary. A recent review, by medical doctors, of several clinical research studies on corticosteroid injections for knee osteoarthritis, concluded that while you may experience some relief, it is […]

Just a couple weeks ago, leading physical therapy experts from around the world met to discuss the latest clinical research public direct access. Direct access to physical therapy means that consumers could go directly to a physical therapist without the need for a physician referral. American Physical Therapy Association President R. Scott Ward, PT, stated, […]

A recent research study published in the October, 2009 issue of Health Affairs concluded that people with low back pain, that live in more densely populated areas (cities over rural areas), are more likely to have an MRI and are also more likely to have back surgery. Curiously enough, a major factor that determines whether […]

This video has some compelling arguments as to why you should see a physical therapist first before you pursue more aggressive treatment such as surgery or injections. While surgery and injections may be appropriate for some, physical therapy treatment, involving hands-on (manual physical therapy) often times has about the same outcomes. See for yourself why […]

In a recent study in the September issue of Arthritis Care and Research, the authors studied quadriceps (the 4 muscles on the front of the thigh) and its associate with knee osteoarthritis. The studied aimed to determine if people with quadriceps weakness presently have osteoarthritis. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include knee pain, stiffness, swelling, limited function, […]

Thousands have back surgery each year as the result of disc herniation. The disc herniation typically pinches a spinal nerve resulting in radiating pain down into the leg often accompanied by tingling/numbness. It is common for patients to wait several weeks before they have surgery. But, what happens to your back with that prolonged pain?It […]

The American Physical Therapy Association recently held a rally regarding the need for physical therapists to participate in the debate on health care change. The themes of the discussion were clear and consistent (click here to view learn more on the virtual rally): Back pain, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, etc. all cost the […]