Health Blog
Scoliosis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, often occurs when children are just entering puberty, which is a stressful enough time without also having to deal with a physical limitation. The cause is not always known, although rarer forms are connected to injury, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy. Yet through a range of treatments, including physical therapy, scoliosis does not have to be disabling — or even noticeable.
What are warning signs of scoliosis?
Read full blogWhy physical therapy is important after you have surgery
In the weeks leading up to surgery, the most feared words after “anesthesia” and “hospital” are “physical therapy.” For many people, the anticipation of any pain that goes along with physical therapy is enough to keep them from stepping foot into a PT’s office after surgery. In reality, the only way back to full recovery after surgery is through a physical therapist.
Physical Therapy Aids Healing
Like it or not, physical therapy is vital to the healing process.
Read full blogFour at home exercises to stretch out your hip flexors
There are few things more painful than hip flexors that stop working the way they should. Ranging from a dull ache to stabbing pains in the pelvis or groin area, problems with hip flexors can stem from overuse, underuse, improper use, and a lack of good stretching habits. Fortunately, there are four at-home exercises that are designed to stretch out these muscles and offer relief from pain or discomfort.
- One Knee Up
Kneel on the floor on one knee with the other foot planted on the floor.
Read full blogWhy Physical Therapy Is Important Before You Have Surgery
It is easy to see why physical therapy is important after surgery. Not only can it help minimize the development of scar tissue around the wound, it can also help a person heal faster and return to full mobility. It may be a little more difficult to see why you need physical therapy before surgery, but participating in it before going under the knife may be even more beneficial in the long run.
Read full blogThe Importance of Proper Breathing for Your Overall Health.
It is not called “The Breath of Life” for nothing. One of the most basic functions of the human body, breathing not only fuels the body with oxygen, it can also clear a foggy mind and help strengthen the muscles. Yet few people learn how to breathe in a way that allows the body to function the way it should.
The Process of Breathing
Before you can understand proper breathing techniques, it is important to know a little about how your body breathes.
Read full blogSick of sciatica? What you can do at home to relieve your sciatica pain.
Sciatica is one of the most common back pain complaints in the country. Yet few patients truly understand what sciatica is or what can be done at home to help relieve the persistent, often radiating pain down one or both hips.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is not itself a diagnosis, but rather a term used to describe a set of symptoms associated with a spinal condition. The largest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve travels from the lower back through the buttocks and down each leg to communicate messages to the muscles in both legs.
Read full blogPlantar Fasciitis: What it is and How Physical Therapy Can Help
Nobody expects to feel stabbed when they get out of bed in the morning, but that’s exactly what people with plantar fasciitis experience the moment their heels touch the floor. Fortunately, there’s non-surgical help for this painful foot condition.
What is plantar fasciitis?
When the band of tissues nearest your heel bone becomes inflamed, those first steps in the morning can produce the telltale “stabbing” pain of plantar fasciitis. If the pain decreases as you continue walking, that’s another clue that plantar fasciitis is the culprit.
Read full blogIs Your Body Functioning Optimally? 5 Signs to Look For.
The human body is a marvel of biology and genetics. It is capable of accomplishing tasks ranging from building massive structures to running a marathon. When it’s working at peak efficiency, few animals on Earth can compete with the grace and power of the human body. Unfortunately, there are times when everything just doesn’t come together. So, if you feel like your body isn’t functioning optimally, here are 5 signs to look for.
Excess Fatigue
When it comes to ensuring that your body is functioning optimally, few things are as important as receiving adequate rest.
Read full blogHow You Should Sleep to Relieve Neck or Shoulder Pain
Have you ever laid awake, tossing and turning, because of that annoying ache in your neck or shoulder? Why is it that you can be busy all day, but when you lay down to sleep, you start to feel more discomfort or pain? The reason for this is that your brain is busy handling a million other tasks during the day, not paying attention to the problem in your neck or shoulder.
When you rest in your bed, your mind becomes more aware of the body, fixating on any dull or throbbing pain.
Read full blogHow Stretching Your Calf Muscles Can Save Your Back
Do you ever wake up feeling stiff as a board in your low back? Does it take a while to get moving after sitting for a while? You are not alone, as millions of Americans suffer with back pain every day. The good news is that a lot can be done to help your back pain. In fact, improving your leg flexibility can increase the health of your low back.
It is quite common with every day tasks for your calf and hamstring muscles to become tighter.
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