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What Everyone with Sciatica Should Know About “Centralization”

In Back Pain, Hip Pain, Uncategorized by Seth Peterson, Physical Therapist Oro Valley

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 …

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The Body System You Didn’t Know You Had

In Physical Therapy by Seth Peterson, Physical Therapist Oro Valley

Growing up, many of you most likely learned about body systems. There is the cardiovascular system, which pumps blood and delivers vital nutrients throughout the body. There is the neurological system, which in a way is like a large computer and electrical system that controls activity of various organs. There is the musculoskeletal system, which allows us to move about …

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More Frequent Physical Therapy Reaps Benefits for Spinal Stenosis

In Back Pain, Hip Pain by Seth Peterson, Physical Therapist Oro Valley

We’ve written a lot about spinal stenosis. It’s a condition that we see often and care about improving in our community. In fact, we’re currently running two ongoing research studies on spinal stenosis (send us a message below for more info).   Physical Therapy Can Help Spinal Stenosis? If you have spinal stenosis, you may be wondering how to treat it. …

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Is This Pain on My Bike Normal?

In Uncategorized by Seth Peterson, Physical Therapist Oro Valley

Is Pain Normal? Is pain normal when it comes to biking?  Is it something we should just expect and “deal with?”  The short answer is no.  There are many adjustable components on your bicycle, and proper positioning of those components can go a long way in eliminating and preventing pain while enjoying cycling.  There are well-researched ideal angles of movement and …

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What Everyone With Spinal Stenosis Needs to Know: Mike’s Story

In Uncategorized by Seth Peterson, Physical Therapist Oro Valley

What is Spinal Stenosis? “Stenosis” means “narrowing,” and basically refers to the process of certain holes in your spine getting narrower, usually as we age.  Spinal nerves, which branch and travel down your leg, have to exit from these holes in your spine.  A hole getting narrow simply means the nerve has less space to move, not that the nerve is getting …

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The Crazy Thing Research is Telling Us About Spinal Stenosis

In Back Pain, Physical Therapy by Seth Peterson, Physical Therapist Oro Valley

Lumbar Stenosis is a radiographic diagnosis.  The word “lumbar” refers to the lower back and “stenosis” means “narrowing.”  Usually, when an x-ray or MRI finds that you have stenosis, it means that the passageways for nerves in your spine are smaller.  However, it is important to keep in mind that this narrowing can happen without pain.  It is common to …