Traction has a long history of utilization for patients with neck and back pain dating to ancient times. A more contemporary use of this modality involves using traction to relieve pressure from symptomatic spinal joints, nerves, and soft tissues. In our experience, this treatment is best utilized in patients with symptoms including radiating arm or...
Sciatica is an umbrella term used to describe leg symptoms, such as pain, numbness, or tingling, caused by spinal conditions. Irritation or entrapment of the spinal nerves as they exit the spinal canal can lead to severe symptoms and disability. The majority of these cases can be treated conservatively including Physical Therapy and possible spinal...
At Mend, we work with highly active women in Boulder County during pregnancy in our Boulder and Lafayette sports medicine and pelvic health physical therapy practice. This includes elite marathoners, CrossFit enthusiasts, triathletes, group fitness junkies and more. As pelvic health specialists we often hear concerns from these active women about “being too tight” in...
By: Ian Nay, PT, DPT, OCS At Mend Physical Therapy, we spend a lot of time working with people who are already doing many of the right things. They train regularly, they prioritize recovery, and a lot of them are getting consistent massage work. That combination matters. Good soft tissue work can absolutely help reduce...
New data shows 1 in 2 Americans report at least one chronic medical condition affecting the musculoskeletal system. This number far outpaces other chronic conditions affecting the heart, lungs, metabolic system, or cancer. Examples, include low back pain, knee pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, and post operative conditions. Thankfully, research supports treatments provided by Physical Therapists...
Rates of concussion have increased in recent years likely secondary to both an increase in sports participation and better recognition and diagnosis of symptoms. We have seen an increase in patients presenting with concussion symptoms in our Boulder Physical Therapy practice Athletes who sustain a concussion can report a variety of symptoms including headache, neck...
Chronic or persistent pain is defined by pain that extends beyond 12 weeks or the normal healing time for a given injury/diagnosis despite treatment. Our medical system does a great job treating new or acute pain, but has struggled to be as effective with patients dealing with chronic pain. It is estimated 1 in 4...
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...
Headache Background Headaches cause nearly $31 billion in indirect costs annually in the US (10). Within patients with headaches, a cervicogenic source can be found in 4% of the general population, 17.5% of those with severe headaches, and up to 53% of those with headache post whiplash injury(11). The upper cervical (C2/C3) facet joints have...
Neck Pain Background Information Neck pain affects 10-15% of the population at any one time, with a lifetime incidence of 22-70% (1). Only 6% of patients with neck pain report resolution of symptoms at one year (2). A recent systematic review demonstrated the prognosis from idiopathic neck pain is poor (3) and 50-75% of patients with neck...
