Most people don’t realize just how much they rely on their wrists and elbows to function properly until a problem arises. This is often the case for anyone with wrist or elbow pain, which can cause daily life to become a series of obstacles to overcome, often leading many patients to skip many activities altogether […]

In a typical day, you use your hands, wrists, and elbows extremely frequently. From vigorously brushing your teeth in the morning to switching the lights off before bed and during most other actions in between, these joints are very often in a state of movement. But over time, performing certain tasks on a repetitive basis […]

One of the few common shoulder diagnoses that does not directly involve the rotator cuff is adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder. This condition occurs when scar tissue forms within the shoulder, causing the shoulder capsule to thicken and tighten around the shoulder joint and reducing the amount of space for the shoulder normally. Although frozen […]

As we discussed in our first post, nearly 85% of shoulder conditions involve the rotator cuff, and among the most common of these is shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). SIS results from the rotator cuff tendons becoming compressed—or “impinged”—as they pass through a small bone on top of the shoulder blade called the acromion. Over time, this causes […]

Shoulder pain can be an extremely bothersome issue in your life. Although you may not realize it, you use your shoulder on a frequent basis every day, since it permits many of the movements that involve your arms. Therefore, if a problem arises that leads to pain and prevents your shoulder from moving normally, it […]

Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint. Up to 26% of the population is currently affected by it, and it ranks third—behind back pain and knee pain—in musculoskeletal conditions that lead people to consult their doctor. About 1% of the population visits a doctor for shoulder pain each year, and while the specific backstory may vary from patient to patient, […]

Myofascial pain syndrome and dysfunction of the muscles that support the upper spine and shoulders can lead to a variety of symptoms in these regions, including neck pain. The reasons neck pain develops are complex and often difficult to pinpoint, but research has shown that posture and muscle activation patterns are potential risk factors. Patients […]

As we’ve explained, myofascial pain syndrome is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions, with up to 85% of the population likely to be affected by it at some point. If symptoms arise—which are most likely to be noticed in the mid‐to‐upper spine—it can have a range of negative repercussions, including decreased work capacity, impaired […]

As we explained in our last post, myofascial pain syndrome is a common condition that can affect any muscle in the body, but the muscles of the upper back, neck, and shoulder are most likely to be involved. The deep, aching pain and stiffness that results from the characteristic trigger points of myofascial pain syndrome […]

The spine is possibly the most problematic area of the body. From the base of the spine up to the upper back and neck, there are various ways in which pain can manifest and produce disability. Although pain is most common in the lower back, several issues may cause bothersome pain in the upper spine […]

In our last post, we summarized a meta–analysis that investigated the use of spinal manipulation and found ample evidence from numerous studies that it was effective for chronic low back pain. But spinal manipulation is just one of many interventions that may be used during physical therapy, as all treatment plans are comprehensive and comprised […]

As we explained in our first post, physical therapy is strongly recommended as one of the best treatments for most causes of low back pain, and there’s an abundance of research showing that it leads to a variety of improvements. One intervention physical therapists commonly use to treat low back pain is spinal manipulation, a […]