Can I Overtrain?

Why You Shouldn’t Overdo It… We have all heard the phrase ‘No pain, no gain’. When it comes to the human body, discomfort is acceptable, but pain is not. In fact, there is a threshold of pain tolerance that is unique to each individual. It’s important to understand and respect this limit. When the body…

Posted by Kate Mason in Healthy Advice, PT eDigest

Physical Therapy for a Pinched Nerve

What is Pinched (Compressed) Nerve Pain? Imagine holding a straw in your hand and squeezing the middle as you sip a beverage. You will notice that not much liquid is able to pass through the straw and reach your mouth. Essentially, this is what happens when you have a “pinched” nerve. A pinched nerve ensues…

Posted by Kate Mason in Healthy Advice, PT eDigest

Healing Achilles Tendinopathy: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

Updated February, 2024 You know the saying “no pain, no gain”? When it comes to Achilles tendinopathy, this phrase could be amended to “more gain, no pain.” The more strength you gain through the special exercise protocol we use for this condition, the less discomfort you’ll feel. It can be discouraging to hear that you’ll need 10 to 12 weeks of therapy…

Posted by Kate Mason in Healthy Advice, PT eDigest

Never Ignore Hip and Thigh Pain

Updated February 2024 The hip is an important weight bearing joint in the human body. Repetitive stress to the femur (thigh bone) over time can lead to the formation of cracks in the hip joint, which is the junction of the pelvis and the femur. For most individuals, simple cracks can heal over time without…

Posted by Kate Mason in PT eDigest

Putting Your Rotator Cuff Back Together

Rotator cuff tears, a common injury, send as many as 2 million Americans to their physicians’ offices every year. While many cases can be treated with conservative measures, such as physical therapy, others require rotator cuff repair surgery. One factor affecting surgery outcome is the presence of fat in place of muscle, a condition that…

Posted by STARS Admin in PT eDigest

A Casting Call for My Sprained Wrist

Updated January 2024 Many of us would breathe a sigh of relief if we heard that our wrist was only sprained instead of broken, and would look forward to a less arduous and painful treatment process. So we might be shocked to discover that we would still need to wear a cast that will immobilize…

Posted by STARS Admin in PT eDigest

Can Massage Therapy Actually Heal Muscle Pain?

Updated January 2024 Massage therapy has often been touted as the Swiss Army knife of pain reduction. Got a pulled muscle? Get a massage. The many massage locations in nearly every town will promote that message. However, does it work? Does massage therapy reduce pain and inflammation? Massage Therapy Does Work, and Here’s How Strenuous…

Posted by Kate Mason in PT eDigest

How To Treat and Heal a Fibula Fracture

Updated December 2023 Tell many friends that you have a fibula fracture, and they’ll often reply, “It’s not a problem. It’s not a weight-bearing bone.” However, your friend doesn’t have the fracture. Trust us. Trying to heal from a fracture on the fibula can be painful, long, and difficult. Just because it doesn’t bear all…

Posted by STARS Admin in Healthy Advice, PT eDigest

The Tale of the Brightly Colored Tape

Does kinesiology tape relieve pain and improve performance? You may have noticed many athletes wearing brightly colored tape on their knees, shoulders, or torsos. Fans of this tape, invented in 1979 by a Japanese chiropractor, claim it can enhance athletic performance by supporting muscles and joints from the outside. Traditional athletic taping involves applying a…

Posted by STARS Admin in PT eDigest

Mending Your Torn Meniscus

Updated August 2023 Meniscus Tear Knee Injury The menisci are cartilages in the knee that protect the joint from stresses of activity. Pivoting actions that cause the knee to twist pose a risk for meniscus tears. The injury is common among tennis players. However, it can also result from deep knee bending, squatting or lifting…

Posted by Kate Mason in PT eDigest