If your shoulder pinches when you press overhead, reach for a high hold, or roll onto it at night, there’s a good chance someone has called it impingement. It’s the most common diagnosis behind shoulder pain, and it is also one of the most treatable without surgery. The research points to a consistent plan: specific...
By Dr. Emily Fuller, PT, DPT If you’re dealing with an injury, one of the first questions you may have is: Do I have to stop CrossFit? In many cases, the answer is no. Training CrossFit while injured often comes down to modifying your workout rather than stopping altogether, and appropriately modifying your training can...
By: Lucas Glomb, PT, DPT, OCS Firefighting is one of the most physically demanding professions, requiring strength, endurance, and agility in unpredictable and high-stress environments. Due to the nature of the job, firefighters are at a heightened risk for musculoskeletal injuries that can impact their performance and long-term health. ✅ Heavy loads + overhead work...
You might have noticed that your neighbor, aunt, or even dentist is getting into the pickleball craze. This dynamic paddle sport, combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has surged in popularity recently. Played on a smaller court, pickleball is accessible and enjoyable for all ages and skill levels. Its simple rules, social nature,...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve ever tried stretching or foam rolling only to still feel stiff, limited, or “stuck,” there’s a reason. While those tools can be helpful, they often miss a key piece of the puzzle: the joint capsule. That’s where banded joint mobilizations come in. Using a thick resistance band...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS The Ironic Reality of Injury As a physical therapist, I help people move better, recover from injuries, and return to doing what they love. But despite my knowledge and training, I’ve dealt with a long history of injuries myself. It’s a humbling reminder: no one is immune to the...
It may not seem obvious, but weakness in our hips can lead directly to shoulder pain while climbing. Because climbing requires the use of all extremities simultaneously, impairments in one region of the body almost always have a direct impact on the other extremities. One of the most common, but seldom recognized, patterns is the...
In previous blogs we have written on the recent research documenting the lack of differences between sham surgery and surgery for spinal and knee conditions. For example, in the case of arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee meniscal tears the evidence does not support its’ use due to its’ inability to perform better than sham knee...
Make sure you’re incorporating shoulder strengthening into your elbow rehabilitation! The elbow is one of the most common sites for pain in rock climbers. Lateral elbow pain (tennis elbow) is a limiting condition causing pain with repetitive movements including crimping or pinching while rock climbing. This condition was previously thought to occur secondary to inflammation...
A stiff neck can turn ordinary movements into a problem: checking a blind spot, reaching for the overhead bin, even rolling over in bed. The right treatment depends on what’s driving it. A neck that seized up after an awkward night’s sleep often clears on its own in a day or two. Neck pain that...
