How to Protect and Strengthen the Knee (and Foot)
Knee and foot injuries are common for people of all ages. They tend to occur during day-to-day activities such as walking, climbing stairs and running. In most cases, people tend to ignore the pain and just ‘carry on’, leading to more injury and pain. Rest and medication help reduce pain. However, the residual effects of knee and foot injuries (loss of strength and mobility) are best treated with physical therapy.
The knee joint is a complex, weight-bearing structure and the ankle, in particular, is protected by ligaments on the inside, outside and the front.
Read full blogHow to Prevent Wrist Fractures
A wrist fracture has the potential to impact daily life for an extended period of time. Wrist fractures result from falls, sports activities and improper lifting. Owing to the complex architecture of the bones, muscles and ligaments in the wrist and hand, healing can take a while.
The wrist itself is not a bone, but a joint connecting the hand and the forearm. The type of treatment will depend upon the nature and the extent of injury to the bones, muscles and ligaments.
Read full blogTaking Care of our Children
Millions of children suffer from a condition called Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Often referred to as clumsy child syndrome, it’s a serious and chronic neurological disorder that occurs when the brain is unable to relay messages to the body. The condition affects multiple areas of development and coordination. In fact, it can continue into adulthood.
Children afflicted with DCD may trip over their own feet and drop things. They may walk with an unsteady gait and run into other children unintentionally.
Read full blogThe 43 Muscles in the Face
Did you know the face has 43 muscles? These are tiny muscles that control facial expressions like smiling, smirking and frowning. In fact, there is a condition called Bell’s palsy that affects facial muscles, as a direct result of nerve damage.
The dysfunction affects a primary cranial nerve that controls facial muscles, resulting in temporary paralysis for some, but others experience lingering effects that can last several years.
Causes include a brain tumor, stroke or Lyme disease.
Read full blogImproving Connections Between Nerves and Muscles
Most people have heard about multiple sclerosis (MS), but don’t know much about this autoimmune disease. It’s a debilitating and progressive condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Normally, nerves are encased in a thin and protective insulating coating called myelin. Multiple sclerosis causes the immune system to ‘turn on itself’ and eat away at the myelin. In the early stages, MS is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms may come and go over a period of time.
Read full blogWhy You Shouldn’t Overdo It…
We have all heard the phrase ‘No pain, no gain’. When it comes to the human body, discomfort is acceptable, but pain is not. In fact, there is a threshold of pain tolerance that is unique to each individual.
It’s important to understand and respect this limit. When the body is pushed past this ‘breaking point’, injuries and long-term damage can occur. On the other hand, the right approach towards exercise, nutrition and rest can actually increase this limit at any age.
Read full blogPain in the Pelvic Region? No Problem!
Have you ever had a nagging pain in the region of the pelvis or hip? Pain or discomfort in the pelvic region and the hip may be related. Since the hip is a weight bearing joint, pain and discomfort in the hip can cause problems with sitting, standing and walking.
The bones of the hip and pelvic region act as protection for internal organs such as the bladder. Depending on the severity of the injury, a hip fracture can result in internal bleeding, difficulty urinating and abdominal pain.
Read full blogYes! Physical Therapy Can Help Urinary Incontinence
Incontinence is an embarrassing condition that affects men, women and children of all ages. A common symptom is the loss of bladder control when coughing, sneezing, lifting and laughing.
Incontinence can be temporary or persistent. Temporary loss of bladder control is related to diet, alcohol, caffeine and prescription medications. Underlying medical conditions such as urinary tract infections and chronic constipation also play a role.
Persistent loss of bladder control may be related to pregnancy, age-related changes in the bladder, menopause and enlarged prostate.
Read full blogWhy Space Matters.. In your Spine
You may know that physical therapy helps in the treatment of low back pain but did you also know that physical therapy can help treat conditions such as spinal stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the space surrounding the spinal cord is reduced, leading to increased pressure on the spinal cord and its network of nerves.
Early signs of spinal stenosis often appear on an x-ray, even though no other symptoms are present.
Read full blogNever Ignore Hip and Thigh Pain (Here’s Why)
The hip is an important weight bearing joint in the human body. Repetitive stress to the femur (thigh bone) over time can lead to the formation of cracks in the hip joint, which is the junction of the pelvis and the femur. For most individuals, simple cracks can heal over time without the need for surgical intervention. For others, it may escalate into a fracture.
A fracture can occur in one of three possible locations – at the top near where the femur joins the pelvis, in the middle of the thigh bone, or the bottom near the knee joint.
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