Muscles can be a significant source of pain in our bodies. Chronic muscular pain may be found locally over the muscle or can be felt in an area distant from the muscle known as referred pain. Multiple Physical Therapy interventions including dry needling, foam rolling, and soft tissue mobilizations can be utilized in the short...
The benefits of strength training are well established including improved bone density, metabolism, flexibility, body composition, and mental health. In addition, utilizing a strength training program 2-3 days a week on non consecutive days also slows the rate of sarcopenia or muscle loss due to aging. One of the main barriers individuals report for not...
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is characterized by diffuse pain behind or around the patella or knee cap. It occurs when the knee is loaded and bent with activities such as: running, jumping, squatting or ascending/descending stairs. The prevalence of PFP is 22.7% in both adults and adolescents, and with the inherit link between PFP and Knee...
Yoga is a popular form of individual and group exercise designed to improve flexibility, movement quality, and strength. Participants benefit from sustained position holds designed to target different body regions. As expected, the work of the stabilizing muscles increase with greater balance and weight bearing demands. A recent study examined which exercises were best for...
If you only have limited time today choose a brisk walk, but if you have additional time consider lifting something heavy. Untrained adults lose on average 3-8% of their muscle mass each decade with an accumulation of body fat. This muscle loss contributes to a lower metabolic rate and continued body composition changes and weight...
The gluteus maximus is an essential muscle for daily and recreational activities, but is often found to be weak among patients with musculoskeletal pain. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we frequently find hip weakness among patients with low back, hip, knee, and ankle pain. Improving gluteus maximus strength improves movement patterns, dynamic alignment, and tolerance...
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (pain around the knee cap) is the most frequent cause of knee pain and the most common diagnosis seen in sports medicine and physical therapy clinics. The condition is often the result of a change in the dynamic alignment of the leg and knee joint during functional activities such as squatting, stair climbing,...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice, individualized, progressive exercise is an essential part of each patient’s recovery. Teaching correct exercise technique often requires both tactile and verbal cues. Specifically in the lower body we cue to both improve the relative motions at the spine and hips to optimize movements for pain reduction, strength development, and...
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (pain on the front the knee and around knee cap) is the most common source of knee pain among active individuals. Patients often complain of pain with running, stair climbing, squatting, and during prolonged sitting. The natural history of this diagnosis is not as short as once thought with 90% of patients...
A couple of things are known when reading the research on low back pain. First, it is common with 9 out of 10 adults experiencing symptoms over their lifetime. Second, patients with low back pain are very different and require a specific, individualized treatment vs. a one size fits all approach. Medical research has identified...