Photo Credit: Scott, A. CMAJ. 2011. Mead, M. Transl Sports Med. 2018. Tendon injuries have previously been diagnosed as tendonitis and were believed to be marked by an inflammatory process in the tissue. Our current knowledge on these injuries has been improved by a better understanding of the disease process behind tendon pain. Current research...
Adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder is a painful shoulder condition hallmarked by acute pain and a progressive loss of shoulder range of motion. This diagnosis can have a lengthy recovery requiring up to 24 months in some patients. The medical evidence highlights the importance of early diagnosis (acute pain, loss of motion especially external rotation),...
The knee is a vulnerable joint at times due to its’ location adjacent to the two long levers of our thigh and leg bones. The length of the levers allows the ankle and hip to exert a high amount of forces across the knee. The importance of treating these adjacent joints in patients with knee...
Plantar fasciitis (fasciosis) is a painful diagnosis limiting a patient’s ability to stand, walk, or run. The -itis of the name is a misnomer because very few cases of plantar heel pain involve an inflammatory process. Instead, a breakdown of soft tissue fibers and cells is noted in the plantar fascia reflecting the sequential stages...
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...
The least injured and best performing runners training programs include both strength and sprint training. These complementary training programs reduce injury risk and improve running performance among trained distance runners. These programs target a different energy system in the body and have been shown to improve time to exhaustion, running time, and running efficiency compared...
When I first started seeing athletes in the early 2000s we often placed athletes in cold baths in an attempt to both reduce post workout soreness and facilitate recovery. Since this time we have moved toward more active recovery strategies including aerobic exercise, corrective exercise, static stretching, and foam rolling. A new study examined the...
Dry needling is a commonly utilized Physical Therapy intervention which targets taught, tender bands of muscle tissue. This effective treatment has been previously shown to reduce muscle pain and improve muscle performance and function. In our Boulder Physical Therapy clinic we commonly see an immediate improvement in muscle length and mobility following the dry needling...
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,...
Performing traditional strength training movements with an added component of instability has long been know to change the recruitment of muscles. The unstable nature of the exercise enhances position sense (proprioception), balance, and joint stabilization during each repetition. Previous research recommends using stable surfaces and exercises when the goal is optimal strength and power development. ...