Rotator cuff injuries are one of the most common reasons patients seek care for their shoulder pain. Injuries range from less severe cases of impingement and rotator cuff tendinopathy to more severe injuries such as rotator cuff tears. These tears can be either traumatic or atraumatic in nature depending on the patient’s history. Previous research...
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylalgia is a common overuse injury in the upper extremity. Initially believed to be an inflammatory process or tendinitis newer research has instead found a degenerative process consistent with cellular turnover (remodeling) in tendon where the muscles of the wrist and fingers attach into the arm. Current Physical Therapy best practice...
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...
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...
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...
During arm movements, a relative ratio of degree measurements occurs between the ball and socket of the shoulder and the shoulder blade on the rib cage. This ratio or rhythm is thought to preserve spacing in the shoulder joint and optimize the length tension relationship in the surrounding muscles. Abnormal rhythms have been associated with...
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) is a less common source of shoulder pain affecting around 3% of all adults. Its’ prevalence is significantly increased up to 40% in patients with diabetes or thyroid disorders. This condition most commonly occurs between the ages of 40 and 65 years old and affects females more than males. Adhesive Capsulitis...
Rotator cuff tears are commonly found in both painful and pain free individuals and often are found in equal prevalence between the involved and uninvolved sides of the same patient. Tears found on MRI can be secondary to trauma, including falls, or secondary to the aging process. Importantly, researchers have not found a significant correlation...
Lateral elbow pain, previously known as tennis elbow, is the most common reason for elbow pain and 2nd most common overuse injury in the arm after the shoulder. Lateral elbow pain was previously described as an inflammatory condition involving the wrist and finger extensor muscles insertion into the elbow. We now know this condition affects...
Post operatively, I am normally concerned with two presentations in patients. Patient’s with significant post operative range of motion and those with minimal to no pain have the highest risk of tearing their repaired tissues due to the lack of protection from either stiffness or post operative pain. Patients may incorrectly assume the absence of...