I recently met “Maureen,” who has been coping with low back pain and tingling in her calf for over a year. After a good physical therapy program, her pain had lessened. But, when she went back to the boot camp-style workouts that she enjoyed so much, the pain returned. Being a … [Read more...]
I still limp down stairs like I did before my surgery!
“What am I missing?” my new client Pam asked me. “I thought having my knee replaced meant that I’d be able to walk up and downstairs normally again, but I still limp down stairs like I did before surgery—sometimes worse! My PT said I did great through therapy. Why am I not still progressing? I just … [Read more...]
Considering joint replacement? 4 things you need to know!
Total joint replacement is increasingly popular in the US. It is estimated over 700,000 knee replacements and over 300,000 hip replacements are performed each year. If you are coping with severe arthritis pain that is hampering your active lifestyle, you may be considering such a … [Read more...]
To reduce stress this holiday season, just STOP!
Tis the season when many of us feel rushed, overwhelmed and stressed out! Here is a short mindfulness practice that is quick and easy to use. No special equipment needed! Fittingly, it uses the acronym STOP and can be practiced as many times per day as needed. It is very useful anytime … [Read more...]
The Next Step After Physical Therapy
“I failed Physical Therapy” This self-effacing statement came from “Bonnie,” my newest client. Bonnie went on to tell me the whole sordid story of her back pain, which developed over the last several years: courses of treatment including chiropractic, physical therapy, and epidurals, followed by … [Read more...]
Use These 6 Tips to Stay Active This Fall
Fall is a great time to become more active: the kids are back in school and the air is crisp and inviting. The outdoors beckon, and if you’re not ready, you could suffer a few set-backs as you adjust your activity level. Here are 6 tips to keep you strong and healthy as you enjoy the … [Read more...]
Hope for Low Back Pain
The low back pain problem Your back pain has been hanging around for what seems like forever. You’ve been to multiple doctors, tried chiropractic, and have finally broken down and consulted an orthopedic surgeon. He ordered an MRI, but the MRI showed nothing more than mild stenosis (narrowing of … [Read more...]
What exactly is a Medical Exercise Specialist?
"What is a Medical Exercise Specialist?" It’s a good question and one I get often, because the profession itself is relatively new in the Healthcare continuum. An MES, as we are known, goes through a rigorous training and certification process to effectively and safely deliver exercise … [Read more...]
The Mysterious Origins of Knee Pain
“I can’t [fill-in-the-blank] because I have bad knees”, is a common complaint. Moreover, it’s one of the reasons I hear people give for becoming less active over time. Knee pain can be caused by something structural, like a tear or wearing down of the meniscus (cartilage) in the knee, or arthritis. … [Read more...]
Posture Hack #3 How to Improve “Tech Neck”
We’ve explored posture hacks on “duck feet” (link here) and “Donald Duck” posture (link here). For our final installment on posture hacks, we leave the ducks behind and look at the shoulders and neck. Now days, many careers are spent hunched over a laptop or squinting at a hand-held device which … [Read more...]