Most people have experienced or will experience muscle cramps at some point in their life. They can wake you up in the middle of the night or stop you dead in your tracks during regular activity or exercise. Also known as “charley horses”, cramps are when a muscle contracts involuntarily and does not relax. Although
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term used to describe a group of inflammatory lung diseases that obstruct airflow from the lungs. With over 16 million people in the United States diagnosed with COPD and millions more undiagnosed, it is likely that you or someone you know is affected by the disease. Many people
Childbearing is a significant milestone in a mother’s life that is often filled with happiness and excitement. However, pregnancy and delivery can be very physically demanding and put significant stress on the body. For example, the weight gain that occurs over the course of pregnancy puts increased stress on the joints and muscles. Additionally, injury
More people than ever are working from home these days. However, home office and even in-office setups may be less than ideal for your body. You may notice that after finishing a long day of work, you feel stiff or achy from decreased activity level and poor workplace ergonomics. Over time, a working environment that
Trigger points (TrP) are irritable points in your muscle that feel like knots, lumps, or bundles right underneath the skin. Common areas for trigger points are postural muscles such as muscles of the neck (like the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, and levator scapulae) and muscles of the low back such as the quadratus lumborum. The hamstrings
Physical therapists have a wide variety of therapeutic tools and technologies at their disposal to help aid in your recovery process. One that is commonly used in treatment is electrical stimulation (e-stim). There are many types of e-stim used that serve different purposes depending on the condition being treated and the intended goal of its
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of foot pain, with 10% of people experiencing the condition at some point in their life. The plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot to support the arch of the foot. When the tissue becomes inflamed due to
Have you heard of peroneal tendinopathy before? It is an ankle condition/injury that is commonly seen in athletes, but particularly in runners because of the repeated ankle motion required in the sport. Typically, peroneal tendinopathy doesn’t occur suddenly or as the result of a single event, but instead it gradually progresses over a period of
Have you ever noticed that one or both of your shoulder blades stick out away from your back, almost giving the appearance of wings? Although it may seem relatively harmless, this condition, known as scapular winging, is abnormal. The “wing” that you see is your shoulder blade which has pulled away from where it is
