Therapy
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My Aching Achilles!
Do you know how the Achilles tendon got its name? Google it, I won’t bore you with details 😉 It’s safe to say that it can be a vulnerable spot for runners. It makes up approximately 25-30% of running related injuries. Why is this? Let’s take a look… It gets loaded a LOT — Probably no surprise. There is a lot of stress that gets placed on the Achilles tendon during the push off phase of running. Hilly terrain and speed work stress it a bit more. Stiff ankle/poor mobility — This is really common with older runners (40 years and up). This can create an everting (turning out) of…
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Why Is Running Related Injury (RRI) So Common?
Let me guess, as a runner…you’ve been injured right? More than once? Probably. Statistics say that running related injury is very common. I’ve seen data ranging from 52% all the way to 90% for marathoners will get some type of RRI during a training cycle. Now clearly, there are different severities. Sometimes it’s just a matter of a rest day and boom, you’re back at it again. Other times it puts you on the shelf…for a long time. Here are three insights as to why we get injured. May this give you some guidance on how to prevent it moving forward. * I would say, 80% of the time (just…
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Is It Time?
Did you know a complete mobility and strength assessment is considered the best predictor of injury risk? If you’re starting an exercise routine or continually battling injury you may be due.
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Value…Do You Get What You Pay For?
I think more than ever folks are in-tune with “value.” But do they consider it with their health care? What is the most important part of a visit with your health care practitioner (HCP)? Are they on time? Do they spend time with you? Do they explain your treatment, give great treatment, and give you the tools to help yourself? I’m fascinated at some of the things I hear from patients about their experiences. Some include, “I waited 2 hours.” “My back hurts, but they didn’t even look at my back!” “He spent two minutes with me and never answered my questions.” “I was left in a corner in the…
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Am I In A Bad Dream?…I Can’t Move My Neck!
You wake up. Well rested. Sit up out of bed and BAM! You can barely (if at all) turn your head as a knife enters your neck. Sound familiar? It puts a damper on your Monday for sure ( or any other day of the week). You’re thinking “how am I going to drive to work. Let alone WORK!” What you are experiencing is not a bad dream…it’s what we call a “kink” in the neck. But what is it? Why now!? This condition involves a couple of things. 1). Locking or stiffness of a facet joint. The facet (pronounced “faSSet”) joints are the small joints that connect one vertebrae…
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You Don’t Know…What You Don’t Know
A common scenario I deal with as a PT specializing in runners: Said runner started feeling pain, kept running, tried new shoes, kept running. Pain got worse. Stopped running. Took Ibuprofen and iced…got a little better, started running…started hurting. Do you get the idea? The conversation goes like this: PT: “Hi Jon, what brings you in today?” Jon: “Well, the outside of my knee hurts when I run” PT: “What have you been doing for it?” Jon: “Well I’ve been foam rolling, stretching my IT band, and icing” PT: “Is it helping?” Jon: “Not really, I still can’t run well.” Probably the biggest hurdle in rehabbing a running injury is…
