Knee pain is one of the most common symptoms with running and accounts for about half of running-related injuries. If you are a runner who is experiencing knee symptoms or you are a runner who wants to prevent future injuries, there are several ways you can reduce impact or load on the knee joint. One of the most common causes of movement impairment in running is lack of control or strength of the hip extensors, which can ultimately lead to knee pain.
Even with ligamentous and muscular support in place, the hip is a common area that is susceptible to pain and irritation. While there is no singular explanation for hip pain aside from direct trauma, we can point to a myriad of different causes associated with pain, such as faulty movement patterns, imbalances within the body due to underlying muscle weaknesses, or abnormal joint motion within the hip or neighboring areas of the body, such as the low back.
Habitual postures can also lead to muscle imbalances. A person may be sitting at their desk all day slouching forwards, which can lead to tight hip flexors and lengthened/weak glute muscles. Tight hip flexors can lead to a lack of hip extension range of motion, thus driving an issue at the back. Because the body likes to find ways around restrictions, this person might compensate with excessive mobility at the low back joints to make up for that lack of hip mobility. Over time, changes in these tissues structures can ultimately become a source of pain.
There are numerous Parkinson’s research groups that are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with PD. Regardless of which Parkinson’s research group that you follow, be it the LSVT BIG group, the POWER group, etc., much of the research on Parkinson’s Disease points to the same conclusion: a target-specific exercise program may be essential in delaying the progression and deterioration of function that may develop with PD. Early intervention is one of the key components to promoting a long and healthy lifestyle.
The genesis for this blog occurred after I attended a birthing preparation course taught by Ashley Brichter at Birth Smarter. This organization has virtual and in person childbirth education classes for expectant parents and professionals. Despite being 5 years removed from having children myself, I found the educational review helpful for my professional practice. It reminded me that understanding the anatomy of a vaginal childbirth can gift the expectant parent with tools to improve the birthing experience.
After returning home from the hospital and a stint in the ICU from COVID-19, this once energetic man was unable to ambulate without the aid of a walker or take 20 steps without gasping for breath. Instead of seeing patients, his days were filled with home nursing visits, nebulizer treatments and walking exercises that were not improving his overall health. As a friend and colleague I asked myself, what techniques could I, as a physical therapist, utilize to help this patient recover? As it turns out, PT’s can do a lot.
In a broad sense, I have been amazed at the continued support that the Thrive staff has provided and received since our physical closure. I find myself in regular communication with my patients, and am bolstered each time I hear from them. They have emailed me: recipes, educational websites for children, mindfulness apps, yoga flows to calm you down, yoga flows to pump you up, books for when you’re sad, books for when you’re happy, books for when you’re too tired to read hard books, podcasts, TED Talks, and no less than 50 assorted Netflix suggestions.
Many of us find ourselves at home in efforts to flatten the curve and save lives. Instead of diving head first into the next binge-worthy streaming show, there are tons of amazing books waiting to be discovered. Here are a few of our favorite reads that you may find enjoyable as you stay at home.
You may have never heard of Myofascial Decompression (MFD), but you have probably seen it. You might recall seeing Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps with bruises in perfect circles around his back and shoulders during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. Even though the art of cupping has been traced as far back as ancient Egypt, it was popularized in athletics after Michael Phelps displayed it on the world’s stage (similar to Olympic Gold medalist in Volleyball, Kerry Walsh and Kinesiotape). Oftentimes, people do not understand the difference between “Cupping” and “Myofascial Decompression” so let’s dive deeper. Cupping Myofascial Decompression Who does it? Traditionally performed by acupuncturists Traditionally performed by physical therapists and other rehab professionals Goal of Treatment Targets stagnation of blood and Qi Targets connective tissue, trigger points, fascial adhesions, mechanoreceptors, and tight muscles Background Traditional Chinese Medicine : meridians, balance between Yin and Yang, Flow of Energy (Qi) Anatomy, Physiology, Biokinesiology Tools Used Small glass cups with a flame Small plastic cups with a suction pump Treatment Usually passive in nature: patient lays on the table for a period of time with the cups on Active treatment: the patient is performing neuromuscular reeducation exercises, […]
We at Thrive are so fortune to collaborate with many types of rehabilitation, exercise, and movement specialists in the New York City area. Pilates has long been one of our staff’s preferred exercise tools, and we dearly love and appreciate the expertise of the staff at Mongoose Bodyworks, a Pilates studio that is neighbor to our clinic here in Soho. Over the years we have found our mutual clients achieve more success in movement, return to activity, and engagement in life when we collaborate, and the conversation below is an edited version of a dialogue between Mongoose Bodyworks owner Halle Clarke and Thrive PT staffer Elizabeth D’Annunzio Shah. Halle: Hi! When we decided to have a conversation, we talked about many areas of professional overlap. There’s lots of crossover between what you and I do! Elizabeth: That’s right. Ultimately, both PTs and Pilates instructors spend a fair amount of time doing movement analysis. We’re both trying to enable multi-dimensional, pain free movement. Halle: In the spirit of that crossover, I have some questions for you that I thought might relate to both of our client populations. Specifically, let’s talk about breathing. How do you think about breathing as it […]