You stub your toe… Ouch, it hurts! No one likes to be in pain. We must be willing to accept pain if we are the cause (you probably should not have jumped off that ___), but random pains are confusing and frustrating. This brings up the idea of referred pain. Have you heard of…
Back
Sciatica: The BACKstory
I’ve heard of the Sciatic Nerve, but what is it exactly? The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the human body. Basically, its job is to connect the spinal cord to the skin and muscles in thighs, lower legs, and feet. It serves dual purposes, as both a motor nerve (transmits information…
Posture – The Key to a Healthy Back and Neck
Stand up straight! Why do you always slouch so much! You’re sticking your tummy out! Blah, blah, blah! How many times have we all heard this? Way too many times! But what is the solution? How do we improve our posture? Duct tape a 2 x 4 to our backs? The fact is, most of…
Tips for Traveling with an Injury
We’ve had a family vacation planned for over a year. The airplane tickets are purchased with no insurance because I’m sure nothing will go wrong! The hotel is booked, and we are stoked because it has a pool (the kids love to swim). I’ve even been going to the tanning bed so I don’t burn…
Low Back Pain – Do I Need Physical Therapy?
Want to hear something CRAZY?!?! It’s recorded that 8 out of 10 Americans suffer from low back and/or neck pain at some point in their lives (APTA). That’s a little discouraging, right? Well, the good news is 100% of Physical Therapists know how to prevent and treat it. Don’t worry, we have your back (pun…
Video: Thoracic Mobility
Thoracic mobility is important for many things, including: proper posture, efficient upper limb movement, and safely rotating the trunk without straining the low back. Watch this video then attempt these simple exercises if you are suffering from poor upper back (thoracic) mobility.
Video: Correct Posture with Upper Back Strength
Look around.. I bet you will see more people with slouched backs and forward shoulders than people who are in a tall, open chested and upright position. Am I right? Poor posture is very common, and it leads to many injuries, including: Chronic Back Pain Subluxations (Slipped Discs) Kyphosis (Hump Back) Sciatica Neck Pain Shoulder…