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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 […]

A recent release by the Associated Press reported that Americans spend about 1/10 of their income on alternative care options. Click here for the whole story. Massage, meditation, yoga, herbal supplements, such as echinacea and ginseng are all commonly used by consumers. But, as Dr. Sidney Wolfe, who leads Public Citizen’s health research, notes, many of […]

In a recent press release out of the Shlbourne Knee Center in Indianapolis, IN, they highlight their finding of a recently completed study on knee arthritis patients. 25 men and 25 women experiencing both knee pain and difficulty bending/straightening the knee participated in the study. The summary of the press release reads: “These findings highlight […]

The United States in experiencing a health care crisis. Certainly one of the burdens on consumers is long wait times before and/or between treatments. Some patients have to wait several days or even weeks before they see a doctor or specialist. One hospital, Virginia Mason, in Seattle, has a novel approach that significantly cuts down […]

Does this sound like you? You work at your desk all day for weeks on end and like so many others, you end up with neck pain. Neck pain is very common but there are some many different treatments, it’s hard to know what to choose. Yet another research study has concluded that hands-on manual […]