Low back pain is a common human experience affecting up to 90% of individuals at some point in their lifetimes. It is one of the most common diagnoses treated in our Boulder Physical Therapy practice and the majority of patients find the greatest long term relief with regaining lost strength in their core and lower...
Our immune system is one of the amazing cellular networks in our body. This system has come into direct focus as we face the COVID pandemic and try to improve our immunity to this virus through vaccinations. In addition to avoiding exposure through social distancing individuals often search for ways to boost their immune response....
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a relatively common condition affecting older adults. Narrowing of the bony canals surrounding the spinal nerves due to arthritis and/or loss vertebral disc height increases the probability of nerve compression. Patient’s often describe leg pain greater than back pain, as well as, associated numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in their...
Up until the COVID pandemic, cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death for both men and women in our country. Exercise, both aerobic and strength training, is an essential component of care for both the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Its’ beneficial effects on our body weight, cholesterol levels, heart rate, blood pressure...
Authors estimate 1 in 10 Americans over age 60 report symptomatic, not to be confused with those who are pain free but have arthritis on x ray, knee osteoarthritis. Knee arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability due to its’ impact on functional activities such as getting out of chair, walking, standing, and...
Americans who are overweight are at a higher risk of many diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. Thankfully many of these risk factors improve as an individual returns to a healthy weight through changes in their nutrition and exercise habits. Patients often ask if weight loss is the key factor in this...
Boulder is one of our country’s hubs for endurance athletes including those training for one of the race distances in triathlon. In our Physical Therapy practice we frequently evaluate and treat triathletes’ injuries allowing them to return to the high volume of training required in their sport. The vast majority of these injured athletes are...
The CDC reports over 2/3 of Americans are either overweight or obese with less than 1/3 reaching the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week (21 minutes per day). Weight loss is a complicated, multifactorial process but many researchers recommend the combination of diet and exercise to reduce body mass. Diet has the greatest impact...
It is hard to walk through any health food aisle in the grocery store without coming across another food, drink, or supplement claiming to provide anti oxidants. These products’ effects claim to target free radicals or the naturally occurring unstable molecules, due to changes in electrons, which are created through our body’s cellular metabolism. If...
The CDC estimates 10% of Americans have diabetes with close to 95% being diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Type II diabetes is differentiated from Type I, in part, by the body’s reduced sensitivity to the insulin it produces leading to higher levels of blood sugar (glucose). Diabetes can have serious health consequences including vision loss,...