Sciatica can be a painful and debilitating problem that commonly interferes with walking, standing, sitting, and sleeping. In some cases, it is difficult to find any comfortable position at all. Along with pain, symptoms such as throbbing, numbness, weakness, and “pins-and-needles” can also be present.
Continue reading “Understanding Sciatica” »
When a patient is dealing with low back pain with or without radiating symptoms, it’s important to figure out which movements/activities are aggravating and which ones provide relief. Most commonly, bending forward and sitting tends to make the pain worse and walking or standing will make things better.
Continue reading “Add Extension for Low Back Pain” »
When a patient presents with low back pain we also need to understand the relationship that the lumbar spine has with the other joints in the body, particularly the hip. The hip is unique in that is it designed to be a mobile joint but also depends on muscles to provide stability and movement. The faulty hip movement will require the spine to move more than normal in an effort to compensate. Excessive stress on the spinal joints can result in low back pain, but the problem at the hip may the underlying cause.
Continue reading “Hip Extension and Low Back Pain” »
For those suffering from shoulder pain your sleep position is extremely important. Although sleeping is rarely the cause of your pain, it should be a focus as it definitely can aggravate and slow its rehab progress. Here are a few things to consider:
Continue reading “Shoulder Pain and Sleep Position” »
If the upright row is one of your go-to exercises at the gym, it may be time to find a new one or modify how you perform this lift. The reason for this is that the upright row puts the shoulder at a mechanical disadvantage and puts a lot of stress and strain on the shoulder joint, especially in the front. Remember impingement syndrome?
Continue reading “The Problem With Upright Rows” »
Over the years there’s been a rise in desk work-related jobs along with more time spent on cell phones and other mobile devices. Sitting for long periods at a time or frequently looking down at our cell phones can lead to issues in the shoulder, neck, and back as time goes on. One example of this is Tech Neck, which I’m sure you’ve heard of! Most often these issues arise from repetitive postures and positions we develop over months to years rather than something that may have happened yesterday or two days ago.
Continue reading “Thoracic Mobility To Prevent Shoulder Pain” »