What Is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?
Co-author: Payton Hufnagel, SPT
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) affects approximately 8% of the population, most commonly women between 20 and 50 years old. In this blog, we’ll discuss the causes and types of TOS, its presentation, and how physical therapy can help those with TOS symptoms get back to doing what they love.
Occupational Therapy At A Glance: What It Is and What It’s Not
Happy Occupational Therapy Month! Since 1980, April has been the month to celebrate occupational therapy (OT) nationally. Even though the profession started in the early 1900s, there are still misconceptions about the practice that remain to this day. Let’s explore what occupational therapy is, what it’s not, and what it could do for you!
Arm Care For Quarterbacks
Are you ready for some football? The Friday night lights are upon us and the excitement of getting back to playing is in the air. Have you ever wondered what it takes to truly keep your arm healthy as a quarterback? Well, today we are going to talk a little bit about that and things that you can do to help keep your arm in shape so that you can get through the season unscathed.
Should I Exercise If My Joints Make Noise?
Do your joints make noises when you move? Many people hear noises such as pops, creaks, or grinding in their joints, often in the knees, with activities such as going up stairs or squatting down. But it’s important to know that these noises can be normal, especially if they are not associated with any kind of pain! When joints make noise, it is commonly known as crepitus. Let’s take a closer look at what crepitus is and what you need to know in order to continue safe exercise.
Is It Safe To Workout With Shoulder Pain?
Working out in pain can generate some fear and anxiety in many people. You have heard that exercise can help with pain, but the thought of putting yourself through more pain, especially if it’s been hanging around for a long time, can be daunting. As physical therapists, we see this fear and anxiety daily, but we have the tools to help guide our patients through this process, and the results show a stark contrast from the beginning to the end of their care.
6 Warm-Up Stretches for Overhead Athletes Before a Game
“Go get your arm warmed up!” This is a phrase I hear all the time for overhead athlete sports, whether it’s the relief pitcher in baseball, the center fielder in softball, the ACE server in volleyball, or the star QB. This is solid advice; it’s never a good idea to go into aggressive overhead activity without a proper warm-up, but what makes a good warm-up? That can be a very loaded question! Fortunately, by understanding the anatomy of the shoulder and the requirement by its muscles to work optimally overhead, it can be simple to get an athlete ready for action and, more importantly, lower their risk for injury.
Most Common Pickleball Injuries
Even though pickleball was invented in 1965, it has been gaining popularity very quickly since the early 2000s. Pickleball was the fastest-growing sport from 2019-2022. Pickleball is played both indoors and outdoors and has both singles and doubles. Though it resembles tennis, pickleball is played on a much smaller court and using solid-faced paddles and the rules differ from tennis as well. As with any sport, as the popularity grows, so do the injuries. Here are some of the injuries that can occur in pickleball and ways to prevent injury:
Can Anyone Start Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy (PT) is a great treatment to address aches and pains of varying kinds. It can be utilized for general discomfort or pain associated with surgery. PT is designed to help reduce pain and improve range of motion, strength, and overall function. Whether it’s your knee that has been hurting for decades or your back you tweaked shoveling snow, often, physical therapy can help. Let’s look at injuries physical therapy can treat and who exactly should start physical therapy.
