In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice, individualized, progressive exercise is an essential part of each patient’s recovery. Teaching correct exercise technique often requires both tactile and verbal cues. Specifically in the lower body we cue to both improve the relative motions at the spine and hips to optimize movements for pain reduction, strength development, and...
Plantar heel pain or plantar fasciitis is the most common diagnosis explaining pain originating from the bottom of the foot. Previously, orthotics have been thought to improve alignment of the foot and ankle but more recent research has shown the limitations of these interventions. In our previous blog posts, we have described the inability of...
In previous blog posts, we have described the clinical and financial benefits of seeing a Physical Therapist first for treatment of neck or low back pain. Patients who choose Physical Therapy first experience accelerated recoveries with decreased pain and recurrence rates compared to other providers. In addition to the clinical benefits, this patient group is...
Some of the highest quality Physical Therapy research details the effectiveness of our profession treating patients with neck pain. Patients can expect an accelerated recovery with less short and long term pain if they see a Physical Therapist for their neck symptoms. In addition, Physical Therapy interventions including manual therapy and exercise are about 1/3...
Knee arthritis is a common and costly condition affecting many middle aged adults and is a leading cause of pain and disability in this patient group. Thankfully conservative Physical Therapy interventions such as manual therapy and exercise have been shown to be effective at reducing pain, disability, and even delaying or preventing the need for...
There are few areas of Physical Therapy practice more controversial than the SI Joint. Disagreements exist among clinicians and researchers on the diagnosis and treatment of this joint. Many commonly used clinical examination and even medical diagnostic procedures’ false positive and negative rates make accurate diagnosis difficult. Conversely, clusters of examination findings remain the clinical...
photo credit: thealpinetrainingcenter.com 1. What is your fitness background and how did it lead you to opening the Alpine Training Center? I have a Master’s in Exercise Science and I am a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist certified through NSCA. I think my fitness path really began as a high school athlete. I was...
We have written previously on the limitations of back surgery to reduce pain, disability, and improve function in patients with back pain. The mismanagement of low back pain, including unnecessary surgery, can often be traced back to a clinician practicing outside of evidence based clinical guidelines. This unwarranted practice variation leads to higher health care costs...
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (pain on the front the knee and around knee cap) is the most common source of knee pain among active individuals. Patients often complain of pain with running, stair climbing, squatting, and during prolonged sitting. The natural history of this diagnosis is not as short as once thought with 90% of patients...