Active Lifestyles and Achilles Tendinitis
Have you ever experienced pain or swelling in your Achilles heel after prolonged activity? Though the Achilles is the strongest tendon in the body, it’s still susceptible to injury. Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, which is the tendon that connects the calf muscles at the back of your lower leg to your heel bone. It is a common condition in endurance athletes and other athletes who put repetitive stress on their feet and Achilles tendon. Here are some of the common causes, symptoms, and ways to manage the pain. (more…)
Toe Walking Toddlers: Is it Normal?
Editor’s Note: Today’s post is written by Pam Lasky, PT, DPT, pediatric physical therapist and Pediatrics Program Manager.
Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs have made raising kids today a whole new ball game. We are inundated with new baby photos, “my child rolled at 2 months” Facebook statuses, and the baby genius who is walking, talking, and riding a bike by 12 months. As a physical therapist who works with a wide variety of children, I am constantly being asked what the “norms” are. I wanted to take this time to address one of the most common questions I receive as a pediatric physical therapist. (more…)
Let’s Talk Tummy Time
Editor’s Note: Today’s blog post was written by Ashley Shupe, PT, DPT, pediatric physical therapist at Athletico Oak Park.
There’s a lot to keep in mind when bringing a new infant home from the hospital and, in the early stages of development, positioning is of the utmost importance. Having an infant spend supervised time on their stomach is being recommended by both clinicians and pediatricians and is commonly referred to as “tummy time.” Tummy time has been introduced as a priority since the introduction to the Back to Sleep Campaign developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Tummy time was originally avoided in young infants secondary to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), but the importance of awake tummy time has shown to be incredibly beneficial for gross motor and cognitive development. (more…)
Beauty Before Pain: One Therapist’s Perspective on High Heel Shoes
“I had surgery 2 weeks ago. When can I wear heels?”
“I wore heels for 30 years, every day at my job. Now I can’t wear flat shoes because my ankles are too tight.”
“I have a growth in my foot that is pressing on some nerves. I just want to wear heels again.”
“Please tell my daughter not to wear 5 inch heels!”
These are a few statements, as a therapist, I hear more often than you may think! Woman LOVE their high heeled shoes! I recently went to a dancing event where a family friend showed off her dance heels to me. I asked her why she wasn’t dancing, and she told me that she couldn’t stay balanced in her dance shoes! Now I am a girl, and I like to dress up and put on heels, too. However, as a therapist who sees heel lovers suffer ankle fractures and sprains, I have to wonder: Is the thought of “beauty before pain” truly worth it? (more…)
Be Proactive…Prehab!
For most of us, undergoing surgery is a big deal. Not only do we have to consider the cost and potential risk factors, but we have personal questions about the efficacy and the outcomes we can expect. Elective surgery is a big decision because it is an invasive procedure; so we want assurances that we will be coming out of it better than we were going into it. Though there are no absolute guarantees, you will want to have some open dialogue with your physician of choice to get your questions answered. In many instances, you may even want to get a second or third opinion to not only confirm that surgery is indeed necessary but to make sure you entrust your care to someone you deem both competent and knowledgeable. (more…)
Home Safety Tips for Arthritis Sufferers
May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. Millions of Americans are affected by the symptoms of arthritis everyday. Arthritis can lead to stiff and painful joints which can often make balance and strength worse among this population. This decline in our functioning is often a leading factor of falls in the elderly. Most of these falls occur in or around the individual’s own home. Here is a list of some important safety tips to help reduce the incidence of falls in the senior population: (more…)
Athletico Employee Returns Home to Boston
*Editor’s Note: Last month, runners everywhere were affected by the tragic bombings at the Boston Marathon. Fortunately, all Athletico employees that participated in the race were unharmed. Our thoughts remain with all of those who were affected. This special entry is written by Athletico physical therapist Mike Morrow, a Boston native, who shares with us his experience returning to Boston and the site of the Boston Marathon for the first time since the bombings last month. (more…)
If My Arthritis is Not Reversible, Why Should I See a Physical Therapist?
As a physical therapist I often hear people make the statement “My knee hurts today, but it always does; I have arthritis” or “Physical therapy can’t help me because my pain is from arthritis.” Once a joint is showing arthritic changes or degeneration, it’s true that degeneration will not reverse. However, research is showing more and more how physical therapy can often make changes in the pain you experience from a joint that is diagnosed with arthritis. Isn’t that great news?! (more…)
