In our prior posts on heel pain and plantar fasciitis we described the growing evidence supporting the utilization of treatments by Physical Therapists including manual therapy and exercise. This treatment approach is supported by established clinical practice guidelines and is more effective than modalities including ultrasound and other passive interventions. Interestingly, despite the evidence only...
The achilles tendon is a strong, durable structure capable of absorbing and producing large loads as we walk, hike, and run. When the tendon is overloaded without adequate recovery periods this structure is prone to painful and limiting conditions such as achilles tendonitis and tendinopathy. One of the important risk factors for achilles injury among...
Achilles tendon ruptures mainly occurs in middle aged adults, males > females, participating in sports with high levels of jumping or high force activity. The repair and recovery time of these tendon ruptures is lengthy due to the post operative immobilization, weight bearing, and exercise restrictions. Prior research has shown only 1 in 2 athletes...
In a previous post, we detailed the latest research on the importance of ankle mobility on knee mechanics. During weight bearing the shin, tibia, must be able to move forward over the fixed ankle and foot. Without adequate ankle flexibility and shin moved over the foot to the inside placing the knee at risk of...
Foam Rolling is gaining in popularity due to its ability to accelerate recovery, treat sore and painful muscles, and improve flexibility. Within the leg, ankle stiffness or reduced flexibility is commonly found in the ankle. This loss of motion prevents the leg bones from properly moving over the foot during walking and running. These changes in...
Manual therapy or the passive movements of joints and tissues has been shown to be effective at reducing short term pain for a number of conditions including heel pain. Interventions including joint mobilization and manipulation are commonly provided to patients suffering from heel pain or plantar fasciitis (fasciosis) in order to restore normal mobility to...
Achilles Tendinopathy is a common injury to the lower leg found in runners, jumping athletes, and sedentary individuals. In our previous blog posts on Achilles Tendinopathy we have described the impact of this diagnosis on the active population. Physical Therapy remains the gold standard for conservative care focusing on restoring joint mobility and strength to...
There is currently a lack of consensus on the “ideal’ running form among running experts and researchers. There are pros and cons to many running variables including foot strike, but one area of agreement includes the reduction of forces at foot strike. Our previous blogs have described the importance of reducing vertical amplitude, peak forces,...
Ankle sprains remain one of the most common orthopedic injuries seen in both physician and Physical Therapy offices. The majority of these injuries occur when the foot and ankle roll inward under the shin. Previously, a program of P.R.I.C.E. (protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation) was prescribed but new research has shown this strategy may...
Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise due to its’ accessibility, low equipment cost, and health benefits. As running popularity continues to grow, unfortunately so do the number of runners who miss a training session or competition due to injury. These runners are not alone; as research has reported up to 90%...
