Low back pain is a common condition that affects many people, and it can be caused by a variety of factors. One phenomenon that is often seen in individuals with low back pain is called “centralization.” What is Centralization? Centralization is the process by which pain and symptoms move from the periphery of the body to the central area, such …
What is a Meniscus Injury?
The meniscus is a piece of cartilaginous tissue that exists between your femur and tibia right at the joint line. There are actually two parts – the medial and lateral meniscus. Together, these pieces of cartilage help to distribute forces in the knee, stabilize the knee, and provide some information about knee position in space. There is some evidence that …
Why Won’t My Plantar Fasciitis Go Away?
Kirstin Weible, PT, ScD What is the Plantar Fascia? The Plantar Fascia is a thick band of ligamentous tissue that runs from the calcaneus, the heel bone, to the metatarsal heads, the ball of the foot.  It provides a rigid support to the bottom of the foot and is meant to provide a bit of force absorption.  It can become inflamed and …
Research Sheds Light on Early Physical Therapy for Back Pain and Sciatica
Sciatica – a Pain in the Butt! If you have had sciatica, you know how painful it can be. Sciatica is kind of a “catch-all” term used to refer to pain that refers down the leg and is caused by an irritated nerve or neural structure. Most commonly, sciatica is associated with back pain. Despite how common sciatica can be …
I Had A Hip Replacement, So Why Do I Still Have Groin Pain?
A Common Surgery, a Rare Outcome Total hip replacements are one of the most common orthopedic surgeries in the US, and will soon be approaching 500,000 performed every year. Unlike other common orthopedic surgeries, which aren’t always as successful, total hip replacement is actually one of the most successful orthopedic surgeries. Just like any surgery, however, complications can occur.  After surgery, …
Is Low Back Pain in Dancers a Major Problem?
How Common is Low Back Pain? Low back pain is the most common cause of disability worldwide, and the number of people in the United States that report having it in the past month is somewhere near 1 out of 4.  Dancing is a rigorous sport. Male dancers often have to lift females over their heads or in awkward positions, and …
Which Nerve is Causing Your Pain?
by Kirstin Weible, PT, ScD Neuropathy or Radiculopathy or Radicular Pain? Oh My! Numbness, tingling, burning, and pain in the lower legs and feet or arms and hands can be uncomfortable and interfere with a person’s daily life and activities. The culprit of these unpleasant symptoms can be difficult to determine without a few subjective answers and clinical tests. Two …
Knee OA? New study Confirms PT is Better than Shots
Shots Are Common – But Should They Be? If you have knee OA in the US, you have about 50% chance of getting an injection.1  Despite exercise being the most recommended treatment for knee OA, only about 10% of people ever get referred to a physical therapist.  In fact, the use of PT declined between 2007 and 2015.2 In my clinical practice, …
Disc Injury? Here’s What You Need to Know
by Kirstin Weible, PT, ScD, COMT What’s with my disc? Between each vertebra lies an intervertebral disc. It is made of many layers of outer tissue similar to what a ligament is made of, called the annulus fibrosus, and a softer gel-like center, called the nucleus pulposus. Behind the disc is a space called the intervertebral foramen (“foramen” means “hole” …
Knee Arthritis? Study Shows You Have a Very Good Shot at Avoiding Surgery with Physical Therapy
If you have osteoarthritis (OA), you know that learning about it and what it means for you can be confusing. Often, the x-ray is reviewed and minimal advice on how to proceed and what the outcomes mean for you are given. If you’re smart enough to ask, you might find out that about 1 in 4 people having knee replacement surgery (the …
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