By: Ian Nay, PT, DPT, OCS Increasing the ability to move through a full range of motion in the thoracic spine is extremely important for many types of people that we treat at MEND including overhead athletes, CrossFitters/weightlifters, climbers, cyclists, golfers, and those who spend a good amount of time on the computer. The thoracic...
Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose) is a foundational yoga posture found frequently during many yoga classes. However, many practitioners experience shoulder pain when performing this pose. If you find yourself wincing every time you lower down, you’re not alone. Here’s why Chaturanga might be causing discomfort, how to modify it to reduce pain, and exercises...
Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek care from their primary care physician and Physical Therapist. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy offices we successfully treat many shoulder conditions including rotator cuff tears, shoulder impingement, and tendinitis/tendinopathy. Half of all shoulder conditions involve the tendons of the rotator...
Exercise remains one of healthcare’s most powerful interventions for improving a participant’s mental, emotional, and physical health. Research also supports active participant’s have significantly lower risks of future diseases including heart disease and cancer compared to their sedentary peers. National and international guidelines are well established on the minimum durations of activity needed each week...
By: Ian Nay, PT, DPT, OCS I have been a recreational and competitive CrossFit athlete for 5 years now. One of the primary unfounded claims about CrossFit that I hear way too commonly is that it is an injury waiting to happen. I have heard many physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons say things such as...
Exercise remains the best tool to improve your mental, emotional, and physical health. When done correctly, and most importantly, consistently these health benefits improve both a participant’s quality and quantity of life. All other pills, supplements, medications, and online remedies pale in comparison to exercise. While we certainly cannot control all the variables (disease, injury)...
Flexibility or mobility work can be a large part of any injured patient’s recovery at our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics. In contrast, in a healthy population flexibility training should be one of the last things you spend time on each week because of its’ limited impact on injury prevention, health, or...
By: Dr. Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) is a powerful backbend that strengthens the spine and opens the chest. However, for many practitioners, this pose can cause discomfort or even pain in the lower back. If you’ve ever felt strain in your lumbar spine while practicing this asana, you’re...
ACL injuries remain one of the most common sports injuries rehabilitated by Physical Therapists. Athletes returning from ACL injury, treated either conservatively or surgically, face a difficult recovery period due to reduced agility, balance, power, mobility, and strength. Blood flow restriction (BFR) is a commonly used modality combined with exercise to improve muscle strength and...
Exercise provides numerous positive effects to the participant. The majority of the mental, physical, and emotional benefits are provided to the consistent participant who meets national exercise guidelines each week. In addition, there are many short term benefits that are provided to even single bouts of exercise. For example, the mental health benefits of taking...