Health Blog: Solutions & Wellness Tips

Results showed that spinal manipulation led to significant benefits for patients with acute LBP that lasted for at least six weeks. In particular, the treatment was found to be associated with reduced pain and improved function, and these improvements […]

Exercise can be helpful for treating both frailty and depression

Results showed that there were 8,023 older adults that had frailty, and of these, 38.6% were also depressed. Similarly, 2,167 older adults were found to have depression, and 40 […]

Home-exercise program leads to superior results, with most patients adhering to it

Results showed that participants in the home-exercise group experienced significant improvements in knee pain, stiffness and strength compared to the control g […]

Despite low quality of evidence, exercise is still recommended for patients with SIS

On the whole, results were supportive of both exercise therapy and manual therapy for SIS patients. For pain alone, studies showed that manual therapy was s […]

Results showed that patients who followed the physical therapist-led exercise program experienced several significant improvements when compared to the control group. Most importantly, the angle of the curvature of the spine reduced by an average of 3 […]

After one year, results showed that patients in both groups improved in their scores for pain and muscle strength, but the eccentric exercise group experienced greater overall improvements. This was based on the fact that the eccentric group reported […]

Overall, results were supportive of the effectiveness of joint mobilizations for tennis elbow. In particular, high-quality evidence was found that showed two types of joint mobilization-mobilization with movement (MWM) and Mill's manipulation-were mor […]

A total of 54 RCTs with 39 different interventions focused on the risk of falls that caused injury, and the findings from these studies showed that some of the most effective interventions for reducing this risk included exercise, vision assessment, an […]

On the whole, results from the studies reviewed showed that balance training and bracing were both effective for reducing the risk and incidence of ankle sprains. Two of the three studies that evaluated bracing found that patients who wore these brace […]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition in which cartilage that normally protects a joint gradually wears down over the course of time, which leads to pain and other symptoms when the bones begin rubbing against one another. OA can develop in any joint, bu […]

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)-sometimes referred to as runner's knee-is a painful condition that's particularly common in physically active individuals. Patients with PFPS typically experience a dull ache behind or around the kneecap that gets w […]

Five years after treatment, patients in both groups experienced positive outcomes, and the results between the two groups were found to be very similar. In particular, scores from the quadriceps strength and single-legged hop test were high and did no […]

On the whole, results were supportive of quadriceps-strengthening exercises for PFPS patients, both alone and when combined with other exercises. It was found that when they were performed alone, these exercises were more effective for reducing pain a […]

Results from the tests performed prior to the physical therapy rehabilitation program revealed that many patients had weakness in a number of their shoulder muscles as a result of pain, swelling and inflammation from the shoulder dislocation. After th […]

These findings show that even in middle-aged patients that have no signs of shoulder pain, labral tears are commonly found on MRIs. The unfortunate result of this fact is that a patient with shoulder pain can be told they have a labral tear and then g […]

In total, 170 patients (79%) completed the one-year follow-up and 123 (57%) completed the two-year-follow-up. At one year, both neck-specific groups displayed more clinically important improvements in pain, disability, and functioning than the PPA gro […]

These results show that physical therapy has the lowest Medicare costs of the three treatments analyzed for LBP and that these costs are even lower if patients begin treatment within the first 15 days of being diagnosed. In some cases, this can wind u […]

After completing the systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers found that exercise therapy reduced pain and improved the range of motion (flexibility) of patients with TMJs. The improvements in flexibility came primarily from programs that emph […]

Based on the surveys analyzed, approximately 170 million patients visited a doctor for complaints related to LBP. From these visits, 17.1 million patients were referred to physical therapy, which equated to a referral rate of 10.1%. From 1997 to 2010 […]

These findings support the use of preoperative physical therapy-or prehabilitation-in patients preparing for hip or knee replacement surgery, as it can reduce the need for patient care and its associated costs following the procedure. Individuals who […]

Results of the systematic review and meta-analysis were generally supportive of the use of physical therapy after meniscus surgery. This was based on several studies that found a positive effect of various types of physical therapy treatments utilized […]

After 12 weeks, results showed that both groups improved in all of the measurements taken. In particular, both the physical therapy and home-exercise group experienced similar improvements in grip strength and hand function, with no major differences […]

Neither added drug brings about any greater improvements than placebo

Overall, results indicated that neither the muscle relaxant nor the opioid provided any added benefit to the NSAID for LBP patients. This was based on the fact that measur […]

The results of this study identified a number of treatments that were recommended by all of the guidelines reviewed. For acute LBP (pain that has only lasted for up to six weeks), the following recommendations were found in all the guidelines: advice […]

After completing the study, investigators found evidence of moderate quality that when physical therapists add booster sessions to exercise programs for osteoarthritis, adherence to the program may improve. Booster sessions are usually very similar to […]

Despite its popularity, surgery does not lead to better outcomes than physical therapy

Over the course of two years, the results primarily showed that physical therapy and surgery led to very similar outcomes for patients. In particular, the […]

Results showed that after one month, patients in the manual therapy group experienced significantly greater improvements in function, the seriousness of their symptoms and pinch grip strength than those in the surgery group. After six and 12 months, t […]

The results of these measurements showed when the patients performed the exercises at 20% above their pressure pain threshold, it increased the intensity of their pain immediately after the exercise. When the same exercise was performed at 20% below t […]

On the whole, results showed that participants who received physical therapy improved more significantly than those who underwent usual care. In particular, the frequency of their headaches was significantly reduced after 11 weeks and remained at this […]

Participants who changed their striking pattern experienced greater knee pain reductions

After the study was completed, participants in both groups reported less knee pain overall, but the reductions were much more significant and lasting in […]

The findings of this RCT showed that although all participants improved, those in the experimental group experienced more significant improvements overall. This was found to be the case in all the outcomes measured, as experimental group patients repo […]

As we mentioned above, there is one incredibly important way to avoid the traditional course of care and all the costs that can come with it: rather than going to a doctor, see us first. Instead of sending you off to have unnecessary tests and potenti […]

The results of this review found that several different interventions were effective for treating and preventing ankle sprains and CAI. There was evidence of moderate quality that exercise therapy was capable of reducing pain, swelling, and function i […]

Overall, the studies supported exercise as a beneficial treatment for MPS, but their low quality needs to be taken into consideration. The exercise was found to significantly reduce the intensity of pain in the short term when compared with minimal or […]

Overall, these findings show that using a brief intervention to advise and motivate patients with AS to become more physically active can be effective for accomplishing this task, while also leading to other positive changes. AS patients should, theref […]

On the whole, the results of this RCT favored physical therapy over steroid injections for tennis elbow. Physical therapy was found to have a greater initial cost since it was carried out over eight treatment sessions, but it was the only intervention […]

Results showed that patients who received four or more sessions of physical therapy following LTDR surgery (group 3) experienced the most significant improvements of all groups. In particular, these participants showed less functional disability, redu […]

On the whole, there was not much strong evidence to support the use of exercises as researchers had hoped to find. Nonetheless, they identified studies of moderate quality that showed how effective various exercises can be for neck disorders. In part […]

On the whole, DPP was found to be effective, as there was a 58% reduction in the rate of diabetes that developed in study participants compared to groups that received placebo or medications only. In addition, many of the patients from the initial stu […]

Researchers first pointed out that although patients were randomly assigned to have either surgery or physical therapy, they had a 3-to-1 chance of having surgery. This means that many more patients went on to have surgery versus physical therapy, and […]

Results showed that although both groups reported better overall scores in all the measurements taken, those in treatment group 2 experienced greater improvements than treatment group 1. This was based on lower levels of pain, better ankle stability a […]

Based on this, researchers said that getting 3,000-4,000 MET-minutes per week appears to be the ideal range for obtaining the most health benefits and the greatest reduction of risk for the five health conditions. More physical activity than this may […]

Results showed that the patients who received the combination of joint mobilization and stretching exercises experienced better outcomes than those who only had stretching exercises. This was seen in measurements for flexibility, pain, shoulder functi […]

Results showed that after one year, the satisfaction of all patients with their treatment improved over time, regardless of the type of treatment they received. However, the patients who received neck-specific exercises were found to improve significa […]

Results showed that after one year, no significant differences were found between patients who had surgery compared to those who had conservative treatment. This was determined based on scores for two separate measurements used for overall pain and fu […]

Results from this study showed that seeing a physical therapist instead of a general practitioner for a musculoskeletal condition was safe, as no patients experienced any negative e […]

Results showed that at 12 months, patients in the physical therapy group improved significantly more than those that received usual care. This was found to be the case d […]

Results from the meta-analysis revealed that both exercise therapy and manual therapy are effective for reducing pain and improving physical function in patients with hip osteo […]

After four weeks, it was found that stabilization exercises and manual therapy led to greater improvements in disability, pain intensity at night, neck range of motion and quality of […]

Pre-operative physical therapy led to significant improvements in patients’ muscle strength and knee-related function. These findings show that having a course of physical therapy prior to surgery for an ACL injury may be of value to these patients […]

Programs that took place in settings other than hospitals were found to lead to even greater effects than those performed in hospitals. This was also found to be the case with programs that included what's called progressive resistance training. This […]

When education is added to exercise, it appears that the combination is even more likely to reduce the risk for LBP. Unfortunately, this was not found to be the case with education alone, and it seems that it needs to be combined with exercise to have […]

The meta-analysis found that exercise therapy decreased pain in patients with hip osteoarthritis in the short term for up to three months. This was found to be the case for both land-based exercise and aquatic exercise performed underwater, which is m […]

Results from this study showed that neck-specific exercises helped patients improve more than general physical activity. Both the NSE and NSEB groups experienced greater improvements than the PPA group in pain intensity and neck muscle endurance. Nec […]

The results from this systematic review showed that a few different types of physical therapy treatments were effective for addressing some of the complications from breast cancer treatment. This was seen with treatment programs that consisted of stre […]

Results showed that proximal-strengthening exercises for the hip were helpful for reducing pain and improving function in both the short- and medium-term. When these hip-strengthening exercises were combined with the quadriceps-strengthening exercises […]

Results showed that immobilization led to good outcomes for all patients, and the re-tear rate was very similar in both groups: five tears in the four-week group and four in the eight-week group. At the final follow-up, there were no differences in ra […]

Not known if combining treatments leads to greater overall effects

Neck pain is a very common disorder that occurs in about 37% of the population. Some of these patients eventually go on to develop chronic neck pain, which means it’s long […]

The meta-analysis showed that four of the six studies in the review reported a positive effect on pain relief after laser therapy. Overall, this was taken to mean that the laser therapy led to a moderate reduction in TMJ pain, which was considered sta […]

Four weeks after each program, both groups achieved highly favorable results in pain, disability, ROM and patient-reported improvement. Unfortunately, no significant differences were found between the two groups, which suggests that the focus on incre […]

Results showed that both groups improved in pain and disability to a level that would be considered worthwhile by patients.

Results from the questionnaire showed that the patient group got about the same amount of moderate physical activity compared to controls, but significantly less vigorous physical activity.

Results showed that when considering all athletes of various sports, regardless of their ankle injury history status, proprioceptive training was found to have a preventative effect on ankle sprains.

The results from this study showed that significant deficits in quadriceps strength and overall functional performance may last long after ACL reconstruction.

Patients with knee OA that were 40 or older were evaluated for inclusion, and 66 fit the criteria and were randomly assigned to one of four groups. The exercise therapy without booster sessions (group 1) followed a treatment program led by a physical […]

Patients in both groups experienced improvements in both the short and long term. This was particularly seen in physical activity and pain levels during sporting activities, as similar improvements were found in both groups.

Since the patient did not improve much, researchers devised a new program of eccentric hamstring strengthening exercises to be performed on a treadmill. While performing these exercises, the patient was instructed to provide enough resistance to repro […]

The accelerated rehab group reported better mobility, strength, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores than the standard rehab group. Improvements were noted within the first eight weeks after surgery, and were considered statist […]

Overall, the amount of time patients were followed-up for was 2.6 years. During that time, patients in the physical activity group experienced significant reductions in their mobility disability compared to the health education group.

Low back pain (LBP) affects about 80% of the population at some point, and it's associated with major economic consequences.

Falls are one of the most important issues the elderly population faces, as a fall can lead to serious injury and long-term dependency.

Shoulder pain is quite common, with one-third of adults experiencing it every year. It ranks fourth behind low back, knee, and neck pain in terms of the most prevalent painful conditions encountered.

Falls and resulting injuries are one of the most common causes of disability, reduced functioning, and lower quality of life in older adults.

Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is a general term used to describe numerous conditions that cause shoulder pain.

Lumbar radiculopathy (LR) is a condition that results from a compressed (squeezed) spinal nerve that leads to pain, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.

Neck pain, like back pain, is a common disorder that can reduce patients' quality of life. For some patients, this extends into the night and may affect sleeping habits.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a condition that involves pain in the front of the knee, and it's particularly common in people who are physically active.

Low back pain (LBP) affects 84% of adults at some point and can weigh heavily on their lives.

Low back pain (LBP) and hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), a painful condition in which the protective cartilage in joints wears away, are some of the leading causes of disability worldwide.

Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, is a painful condition in which tissues surrounding the shoulder become inflamed and stiff, making it difficult to perform activities that require shoulder rotation.

Musculoskeletal conditions affect the bones, joints and muscles and consist of a variety of issues, including low back pain and osteoarthritis.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain, which can be defined as continual pain for more than six months, or pain that extends beyond an expected period of healing in the muscles or bones, is a major concern in the healthcare industry.

For patients who need to have surgery of any sort for one reason or another, the period of time afterwards is usually associated with reduced physical abilities and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

For patients with severe back issues that don't respond to other forms of conservative (non-surgical) treatment, deciding what to do next is difficult.

Physical therapy proven to play a key role in stroke rehabilitation

Temporomandibular disorders can be effectively treated with manual therapy and home physical therapy

Deep massage administered by physical therapists is helpful for managing heel pain.

Two recent randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), considered the gold standard for clinical trials, found that glucosamine and CS led to significant improvements in function and reductions in pain for patients with knee OA.

Though falls are common and potentially dangerous for older individuals, the good news is that they can often be prevented if certain precautionary steps are taken.

This provides evidence of the benefits of early physical therapy for LSS patients and shows it's associated with a lower rate of surgery over one year. It is therefore advisable to recommend physical therapy to LSS patients in order to improve their c […]

All of these points can heavily influence the legitimacy of health news stories, but by being careful and knowing what to look for, you can ensure clear understanding of what you're reading.

For personalized, dedicated care that's empathetic to each patient, see a physical therapist first the next time you experience any aches, pains or movement issues.

Low back pain (LBP) is defined as pain, muscle tension, or stiffness in the lower region of the back near the hips.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful condition in which protective cartilage in the knee wears away over time, causing the bones to rub against each other and resulting in pain and difficulty with walking.

Ankle sprains are the most common injuries in sports. It's estimated that they account for...

For people who work in an office setting, much of the time in any given day is spent sitting in a chair. All this time sitting is believed to possibly strain the neck, and office workers report a particularly high rate of neck pain

Good sleep is critical to your health. To make each day a safe, productive one, take steps to make sure you regularly get a good night's sleep.

When it comes to food and physical activity, what you say and do around your children can have a lasting effect. Work together as a family to make healthy habits easy and fun.

There ongoing research that helps us better understand, prevent and treat concussions. While this research continues, it's important to learn to recognize the symptoms, and make sure that people with signs of concussion stop their activities and seek […]

Patients who are diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis are often told to engage in regular physical exercise to improve activity and function within the joints; however, joint pain often makes it difficult for patients to complete these exercise regimens. […]

Studies Demonstrate The Effectiveness of At-Home Exercises in Minimizing Kinesiophobia.

We all know that healthy eating and physical activity are critical for raising happy and well-adjusted children. Learn how to make small changes that can help.

In osteoarthritis, cartilage-the hard, slippery tissue that protects the ends of bones where they meet to form a joint-wears away. The bones rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion. Over time, the joint also may lose its normal shape. […]

Many high school students today are believed to have abused prescription drugs, with some 10 percent having admitted to using Vicodin during the past year for recreational usage.

"The World Around You: Use What You Have to Stay Healthy and Fit." It offers real-life suggestions and tips covering such topics as eating better and being more physically active.

The take-home message is that if you have back pain, you don't have to sign up for yoga. Physical therapists put together range of motion and stretching routines for low back pain patients all of the time and in most cases your insurance will cover it […]

Meanwhile, researchers continue to work to develop new, more effective approaches. In one experimental rehabilitation strategy, now in clinical trials, scientists have created a "virtual reality" grocery store. It allows people with balance disorders […]

Though visits to physicians are still required in certain situations, especially those in which serious injuries or illness are involved, patients with minor-to-moderate conditions needing treatment should be aware that (in most states) they can see a […]

While some recent literature has shown debridement and arthroscopic acromioplasty to be successful, no high-quality trials have compared these outcomes to that of conservative treatment. Therefore, more high-quality research on the treatment and diagn […]

Though a few details of the current study require further analysis in the future to better understand specifics, the outcomes provided here should serve as encouragement to coaches and physicians to implement such programs for these athletes with the i […]

Results showed that of the 15 patients needing thoracolumbar orthosis, all (100%) obtained excellent results at the final follow-up, and of the 19 who didn't use it, 13 (68%) obtained excellent results, 4 (22%) obtained good results, and only 1 each (5 […]

Analysis didn't prove favorable for the therapies. One study compared ultrasound to lumbar traction and low-power laser in patients with LBP and leg pain, and found them all to lead to the same results in pain and disability. The other three RCTs foc […]

Based on this, it's clear that the potential side effects and risks of ACL reconstruction can make it a less-than desirable option for patients. Though conservative treatment doesn't guarantee a flawless recovery either, the risks are fewer and the co […]

This study should serve as a model for physical therapists and patients engaged in a rehab program after surgery, encouraging participation of the highest possible level to help bring about optimal recovery and positive overall health behaviors.

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common pains experienced in adulthood, and a recent study has released important new evidence on how it's managed, and how older people feel about the best ways to treat it.

The false perception that pain […]

Clearly, these findings point out a definitively beneficial role of exercise for improving the mental wellbeing of older people. The authors of the review go on to suggest a minimum of two, 45-min. sessions per week of light-to-moderate intensity […]

In the future, better criteria with clearer definitions on safe a successful returns to sports are needed, as are more evidence-based studies to determine these important timetables. More valid evaluation instruments tailored for different sports and […]

Outcomes show that those with knee osteoarthritis who undergo surgery generally experience more falls than others, and may also be more likely to have a higher risk of falling due to deficits in strength and proprioception as well as a greater fear of […]

In the elderly population (adults aged 65 and older), engaging in habitual moderate-intensity physical activity is considered one of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle. Its benefits are multifold: it enhances quality of life and pro […]

Based on these findings, it appears there is no proven association between knuckle cracking and hand OA. None of the analyses showed any sort of connection between the two, and the control group reported knuckle cracking at a similar frequency

...compliance and commitment to a rehab program will spell the best possible functional improvement and quickest return to a healthy lifestyle.

Therapeutic exercise administered through physical therapists is a proven treatment with evidence to support it, but just over...

Bottom line, if you hurt your back, try to see a physical therapist as fast as you can. Physical therapy treatment is all natural, affordable, effective, and has little to no side effects.

These findings make it clear that contemporary TKA in conjunction with pain management protocols and intense rehab improves pain and function, and can reduce the amount of time needed to return to driving to as low as four weeks.

Recommended methods to reduce injury risk for obese young athletes center on weight loss, improved physical fitness and improved postural stability. Due to the negative impact of impaired postural control on obese children, balance training is conside […]

If you are having an acute episode of low back pain, the message is to keep moving and if your symptoms persist there are options to get you back doing what you love.

Family History an Excellent Indicator

It was then deduced from the information noted above that subjects with a family history would be 26 times more likely than those without one who often wore high heels to develop hallux valgus.

In regards to a preventative strategy, despite the lack of direct evidence, maintaining hydration and adequate electrolyte levels is strongly suggested. Monitoring an athlete's body weight is an easy method of ensuring adequate fluid replacement and I […]

Recently, I spend about 45 minutes scanning the summaries (abstracts) of popular journals. Within that short time frame, I found three articles that people with chronic low back pain, knee pain, and shoulder pain should be aware of.

A common question that comes up when physical therapists treat patients is, "Are there any foods that can help me out?" Read more about a food that may be great for your health.

...this is the first study of its kind and now plans to seek funding to test these findings on a much larger group of runners to further confirm that hip-strengthening exercises can have a major impact on alleviating knee pain.

You might feel like we report on this too much but considering that 90 billion dollars is spent annually, and even with the Internet's ability to share information rapidly, doctors, policy makers and even our patients are slow to adopt new health care […]

What may be most notable about this investigation is that anxiety reduction isn't the primary purpose of exercise, but another one of its numerous benefits. Authors of the study stress the importance of patients adhering to recommended exercise progra […]

One thing, however, is for certain: the potential downsides of taking vitamin C are limited, and negative side effects usually occur only when daily dosage exceeds 1,000 mg or with patients on dialysis. Therefore, a specific dosage of 500 mg of vitami […]

By further developing the understanding of injury's impact on youths and treating the whole individual, the intent is that young athletes will return to sports and continue to be physically active.

Visit www.exerciseismedicine.org and get moving. We are here to help. If you have any questions, give us a call. Before you start any exercise program ask your physical therapist or contact your doctor.

Recent study reveals that leg bone breaks are often due to parents going down a playground slide with the infant on their lap.

A recent review, by medical doctors, of several clinical research studies on corticosteroid injections for knee osteoarthritis, concluded that while you may experience some relief, it is likely to only last for about a week.

For non-specific low back pain, MRI very, very rarely provides any information that would could help your doctor decide if you are appropriate for surgery. In other words, MRIs just aren't the right test to order for non-specific low back pain.

The take home message is that both men and women are likely to decrease the risk of developing knee pain, stiffness and loss of function if they keep their thigh muscles strong.

The American Physical Therapy Association recently held a rally regarding the need for physical therapists to participate in the debate on health care change.

Many patients are looking for ways to avoid having a knee replacement surgery, but are not given other options if medications fail to control their symptoms. This study shows that by implementing preoperative total knee replacement rehabilitation, many […]

Manual physical therapy in combination with exercise is the exception. Make it your first choice for conservative care of your neck pain.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS)recommend physical therapy and NSAIDs for lower back pain before considering surgery.

If you've ever been to the doctor because of neck pain, you may have received a pamphlet about your problem.