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,...
As long as I have been in the profession, clinicians have continued to search for the next best thing to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as, improve any number of clinical factors. Unfortunately, the medical literature is filled with trials showing non significant effects as many of these devices have failed to outperform proven...
Understanding Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee) Patellar tendinopathy, commonly known as jumper’s knee, is one of the most prevalent chronic knee injuries, especially among athletes who engage in jumping activities. Up to half of all jumping athletes experience this condition. In the past, patellar tendinopathy was often referred to as tendinitis, but more recent research suggests...
Symptomatic rotator cuff tears commonly occur in adults > 50 years old and can be either atraumatic or traumatic in nature. These tears become more common with age, but are often are found in shoulders without pain and often have similar MRI scan findings between symptomatic and asymptomatic sides of the body. Thus, the a...
Caffeine is a well established stimulant enjoyed by many adults, in many forms, around the world each day. Users have known about its’ performance effects since the beginning with researchers confirming its’ performance benefits over the last century. It is one of the few well established performance enhancing drugs and was previously restricted and is...
As healthcare costs and out of pocket deductibles continue to rise in our country patients have become more vigilant on treatment costs. In particular, patients are realizing the expenses associated with different entry points for their care. For muscle, joint, ligament, and tendon pain, seeing a Physical Therapist first (direct access) continues to be the...
For the vast majority of Americans, the health insurance game has changed a lot from the days of employer supported plans with low deductibles and $20 copayments. The cost of healthcare is increasingly being placed upon consumers so it may benefit you financially to consider the following factors when choosing a Physical Therapist. Out-of-network care...
Subacromial impingement syndrome is the most common diagnosis for shoulder pain in adults and remains one of the most common reasons patients seek care from physicians and Physical Therapists. Shoulder impingement may occur secondary to functional and structural changes within the shoulder joint. Individuals with these symptoms often present with weakness in their rotator cuff...
One of the key job responsibilities of a Physical Therapist is motivating a patient to exercise despite bodily pain and other signs of inflammation such as warmth and swelling. While there is certainly a short term benefit for rest in some conditions, the medical research continues to highlight the importance of early, progressive exercise in...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we routinely assess a patient’s strength, in part, to determine a muscle’s force capacity and in turn its’ requirements for strength training exercises. In most Physical Therapy educational programs students are instructed to grade a patient’s force capacity using a combination of range of motion measurements and the forces...