While the evidence has been clear that moderate intensity exercise is safe and beneficial in pregnancy, little has been researched on the safety of high intensity (>90% heart rate max) exercise in pregnancy. A new study in May 2023 has shed some new light on the matter and found vigorous exercise to be safe for...
As climbers, we know that finger strength and endurance are key factors in our performance on the wall. That’s why it’s essential to stay informed about the latest research on the finger pulley system—the intricate network of tendons and ligaments that support our finger joints. In this article, we will explore the findings of a...
Vaginal dilators are tools that help stretch and expand the vaginal introitus (or opening) and surrounding tissues. Dilators come in many shapes, sizes, and material types but all utilize the underlying strategy of desensitizing and stretching the tissue gradually and progressively. Most often dilators are prescribed for conditions that cause pain with vaginal penetration. Common...
One of the most common questions we hear at our physical therapy practice regards single-sided injuries. After breaking an arm or leg, for example, a patient will ask if they should be exercising the muscles on the “unaffected” side of their body. It’s certainly reasonable to worry about muscle loss on one side of the...
Low back pain is one of the most common conditions treated by physical therapists. Studies have shown that up to 90% of people without low back pain have findings on imaging like MRIs and X-rays (Brinjikji 2014). Because of this poor correlation between certain types of low back pain and imaging there can be more...
Running remains one of the most popular outdoor activities in Boulder County. Each day in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy offices we help runners return to full training and competition. Research has shown up to 90% of runners reports missing training or competition due to injury. Although most of the running injuries...
The effects of pregnancy on bone health in premenopausal women can lead to changes in bone mineral density (BMD). During early pregnancy, there is an increase in bone remodeling, which can result in a decline in BMD. The magnitude of BMD loss during pregnancy varies among studies and skeletal locations, ranging from less than 1%...
Do you have low back pain? At our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we often examine your hip mobility even though your low back is your area of complaint. Adjacent areas to the back, including the hip, can influence how we move and perform each day. A recent study investigated the relationship...
Sleep continues to gain momentum as an important component of health and sports performance. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics patients often ask us how to improve their sleep quality or quantity. Previous research has shown athletes who sleep the recommended hours per night have better recovery and decreased risk of...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy clinic we are often asked what is the most important muscle to work on with exercise if you’re training or looking to train handstands. When it comes to muscles in the shoulder, there’s one that seems to be more important than the rest for handstands. A study by Kinoshita et...