The meniscus is two curved-shaped layers of cartilage in your knee joint. They act as shock-absorbing pads between the bones and cartilage of your thigh and lower leg. As people age, these pads may begin to wear away or tear over time. These changes are typically called degenerative meniscus tears. Meniscus tears can be painful, […]
Hip pain occurs in 1 of every 4 women over the age of 50. Pain experienced on the outside of the hip and thigh is commonly caused by irritated tendons or the bursa. The bursa is a fluid-filled sack which acts as a cushion between the bone and surrounding tendons. The gluteus medius tendon is […]
Hamstring strains occur at high rates in sports which require running and sprinting. One of every 3 injuries in soccer are hamstring strains. Other sports with high injury rates include baseball, football, and track and field. These injuries can be very frustrating for athletes because of the long rehabilitation time. Return to sport may take […]
About 80% of people will have back pain at some point in their life. These odds suggest you are probably one of them. Back pain with or without leg pain is commonly due to a herniated disc in the low back. Discs are the cushions in between each of the individual bones, or vertebrae, of […]
Painful Achilles tendon disorders are common in people who perform repetitive running and jumping activities. It is also common in less active people. Sedentary individuals with chronic disease such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes are at an increased risk. Even though it is commonly injured, the Achilles tendon is one of the largest […]
It is estimated that nearly 1 of every 4 rotator cuff repairs will re-tear within 6 months of surgery. Overly aggressive rehabilitation or inappropriate use of the involved arm can increase this risk. Based on my 15-plus years of experience as a physical therapist, this is the time when patients are tempted to progress themselves […]
Rotator cuff surgery rehabilitation is a marathon, not a sprint. You must remain patient throughout the process in order to achieve the best long-term outcome. Rotator cuff repairs involve stitching tendon back to tendon or tendon back to the bone. This requires caution for the first 3 to 6 months after surgery while the repair […]
Rotator cuff tears are present in approximately 30% of the population over the age of 60. Some rotator cuff tears can be treated conservatively with physical therapy. However, many will require arthroscopic repair of the torn tendons. Nearly 500,000 rotator cuff repair surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Postoperative physical therapy is […]
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain in both athletes and older adults. It is characterized by degenerative changes in the plantar fascia of the foot. The plantar fascia is a thick band of ligament which supports the arch of the foot. The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain […]
Shoulder impingement refers to compression of the rotator cuff tendons between the top of the shoulder blade (acromion process) and upper aspect of the arm bone (humerus). The biceps tendon and bursa (a fluid-filled sac between 2 bones) may also be involved. Shoulder impingement accounts for approximately 1/3 of all painful shoulder disorders. Pain is […]
