As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, many runners are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to return to their favorite outdoor activity. However, after a long winter of reduced activity, it’s important to approach the return to running in the spring with caution. Here are my top tips for safely and successfully returning …
The vestibular system plays a crucial role in maintaining our sense of spatial orientation and equilibrium, and damage or dysfunction in this system can lead to symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, a sense of feeling “off”, and nausea. Many patients who experience a vestibular crisis, or episode, can feel very anxious and significantly limited …
One of the newest health trends for athletes is Blood Flow Restriction training or BFR. This technique has also been useful for more than just that, it is for physical therapy and healing as well. Former NFL Player Jimmie Jones, and Virginia Spine Institute Physical Therapist Justin Geisler, discuss Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training and …
“There’s no bad weather, just bad gear”. I paraphrase but this is a common Scandinavian saying. As we get deeper into the winter, the common complaint that patients tell me is that they don’t go outside because it’s cold. Aside from slipping on an icy day, cold weather shouldn’t prevent you from going outside. Unless you …
As with any activity, if you haven’t prepared your body to perform the task you are at a greater chance for injury. The same is true even for the smallest of tasks, like snow shoveling. What may seem like easy work, it can really put a strain on your entire body if not done properly. …
Patients need a doctor’s referral for physical therapy. MYTH– Direct Access gives a PT 60 days to treat without a prescription. At VTFC, we treat all body parts from head to toe. We have the training to refer out to MD if a patient presents with any red flags (i.e. suspicion of cancer or fracture) …
WHY ARE MY MUSCLES TIGHT? Do you feel like your muscles are always tight? Do you wish your muscles would relax so you could enjoy some rest? Muscle tightness is quite common, and it may come as a surprise how simple and effective treatments can be in resolving muscle tightness. WHAT IS MUSCLE TIGHTNESS? The …
Many people have experienced some degree of pain from working out or from an injury/trauma. The saying, “No pain, no gain” has been used in fitness and athletic circles for years. There is some truth to some discomfort from exercise being “good pain.” But, knowing when to listen to your body and knowing when to …
Whether you have recently had an injury to your lower back, knee, or ankle or you are a weekend warrior that puts a brace on to allow you to participate in a weekend sport or activity, a brace can help you function better and help you get back on your path to a full recovery. …
When I say that I’m an Athletic Trainer, I usually get asked, “What exactly is that?” My quick reply, “you know when you’re watching a football game and someone gets hurt? The first person to run onto the field to tend to the injured athlete is the Athletic Trainer.” It’s my job to evaluate the …
Are you hoping to participate or even compete in a marathon, triathlon, 5K, or other athletic competitions this year? Hopefully, you’ve taken the past few months to let your body recover from last year’s training and are ready to start increasing your training volume once more. What most people don’t know is that what you …
By now you’re probably well absorbed in the latest happenings of the Summer Olympics. Did you catch Jack Sock and Bethanie Mattek-Sands taking gold in Mixed Doubles?! Tennis has a rich history in the Olympics and is an extremely popular sport around the world. One common injury cited among tennis players is tennis elbow, or lateral …
The knee is a complicated structure with tons of muscles and ligaments that can become injured and cause pain. Many of our patients come to us after experiencing persistent knee pain desperate to find the underlying cause of the discomfort. If you are experiencing pain in your knee, specifically under your kneecap, one common cause …
March Madness is upon us! With the mania of pursuing the college basketball crown, many teams are plagued by injuries throughout the season and especially during the NCAA Tournament to reach the Championship game. Ankle sprains are among the highest injuries facing basketball players and many of the athletes we see at VTFC. WHAT IS …
Osteoporosis is a disease affecting many aging women and men in the US and around the world. It is characterized by deterioration of bone tissue leading to weak and fragile bones that are at an increased risk for fractures. Although many believe osteoporosis is an unavoidable consequence of aging, it can actually be prevented {and …
Arthritis affects 53 million adults and over 300,00 children in the United States alone. With over 100 forms of arthritis, each disease is diagnosed and treated differently. Here are some facts regarding Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis WHAT IT IS: Long-term autoimmune disease causing antibodies to develop from an altered immune response May initially …
Muscle and joint inflammation and pain is caused by a myriad of things. One such thing that has been proven to have a detrimental impact on the overall health of our muscles and joints is an over consumption of sugar. Simple dietary changes can help to reduce this inflammation and pain. Diet away your pain! REDUCE …
Americans eat a lot of sugar! According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average American consumes roughly 47 pounds of cane sugar and 35 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup per year. We all know sugar is the main ingredient in the obvious villains such as candy, ice cream and other desserts, but there …
Pencils Down! How Much do you Know about Stretching? In the past, you may have complained of back pain and heard the tried and true saying “stretch it out.” This leads you to bending and straightening joints in an effort to pin point the tight muscles that need to be pulled and manipulated in order to “stretch” …
We have treated patients with acute low back pain. We have treated patients with chronic low back pain. We have treated patients that have had years of physical therapy, personal training, taken yoga and Pilates classes, seen surgeons and pain doctors, etc. You have to wonder why individuals progress from patients to chronic, long term patients and opt for surgery, …
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain presenting to the outpatient clinic and is most common with the middle age population. The plantar fascia is a flat thickening of connective tissue on the bottom of your foot that spans from your heel to your toes and primarily supports the arch of your …
How does a low back muscle strain occur and how is it treated? When force exceeds a muscle’s threshold for strength production, injury can occur. Regarding the lumbar spine musculature, lifting from a position of flexion and rotation is the most common mechanism of injury, often creating forces greater than eight times a person’s body weight. The …
