By: John Crawley, PT, DPT, OCS Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain is a common and often debilitating condition that affects the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. This complex joint, responsible for essential functions like chewing, speaking, and yawning, can become a source of significant discomfort and pain that can negatively affect function. Individuals experiencing TMJ pain...
Accurately determining healthcare costs can be extremely difficult even for industry insiders and experts. The amount of players including healthcare companies, providers, patients, and suppliers adds growing complexity to an industry that already lacks price transparency. These factors prevent patients from determining what their costs will be for healthcare utilization including Physical Therapy. Outpatient Physical...
A recent question we received in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy practices was in regards to nutrition. Are there foods, diets, and supplements that could accelerate their recoveries if used concurrently with Physical Therapy interventions. An area of emerging research is on the relationship of high blood sugar levels, inflammation, cell damage,...
The vast majority of musculoskeletal conditions and diagnoses are not life threatening or time sensitive and allow for conservative treatments, including Physical Therapy, to be utilized prior to surgery. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we commonly see outcomes consistent with the current research on the utilization of Physical Therapy instead of surgery for common...
In our previous posts we have detailed the risk factors for ACL injury and the effectiveness of Physical Therapy to reduce this risk especially among adolescents. A percentage of athletes who return to sport will re injure their ACL leading to further surgeries and Physical Therapy. A delayed return to sport allows the athlete more...
Last year over 500,000 thousand arthroscopic knee surgeries (scopes) were performed in the Unites States making it one of the most common orthopedic surgical procedures. In a previous post we highlighted some of the evidence behind this surgery showing it is not superior to a sham or placebo surgery for degenerative meniscal tears. In addition,...
As healthcare costs continue to rise, all stakeholders (patients, providers, and payers) are looking for ways to reduce costs associated with common conditions. In our field, we commonly see patients given generic, one size fits all exercise programs for common conditions including low back pain. Our previous post highlights the limitations of this approach including...
A common question we receive in clinic is how many repetitions should I perform of this strengthening exercise? Clearly, enough repetitions are needed under a given load to promote beneficial changes within the tissues for improvements in both healing and performance. Ranges of repetitions range from < 5, 8-12 reps, and >15 reps depending on...
Patients have a choice for where they attend Physical Therapy even if directed to a single PT practice by their physician. Unfortunately, physician owned physical therapy practices, either on or off site, are on the rise around the country and referrals are being driven to these practices due to financial incentives. These practices often utilize...
In our fast paced, instant gratification world we want solutions to our problems the same day as their arrival. This is no different in low back pain, a common, costly condition affecting over 90% of adults. Patient’s hurting from low back pain symptoms often turn to the internet, friends, or their primary care physician for...