Blood Flow Restriction: How Does It Aid in Your Patients’/Clients’ Recovery, Strengthening, and Healing? Blood flow restriction (BFR) has recently been gaining popularity in outpatient physical therapy although its origins date back to the late 1960s. While the history behind this technique is fascinating, it is not the focus of this discussion. For those curious […]

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse. Although it is called “tennis elbow”, most people who develop lateral epicondylitis do not play tennis.  Several other sports and activities besides sports can also put you at risk. Tennis elbow is inflammation or, in some cases, micro tearing of the tendons […]

Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition (AMI) Persistent weakness in the quadriceps muscles and limited knee extension following knee injuries/surgeries stem from distinct changes in neural excitability; a phenomenon referred to as arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI). Comprehension of the pathophysiology underlying AMI is essential to the physical therapist as it serves as a compass for therapeutic interventions. Several […]

What is a PASTA Tear? PASTA is an acronym for partial articular supraspinatus tendon avulsion. To further explain: Partial: means the tear has not gone all the way through the tendon. Articular: There are two surfaces to the tendon, one is bursal, and the other is articular. The articular surface is the inner side of […]

Has your patient had or been recommended to have a Superior Capsule Reconstruction? What is a Superior Capsule Reconstruction (SCR)? This surgical procedure was first introduced in 2007 by Teruhisa Mihata, MD, PhD from Osaka, Japan.   SCR is an optional surgical procedure to repair severe rotator cuff tears.  SCR works by providing the glenohumeral […]

  Rotator cuff arthropathy is a sequential, progressive process of glenohumeral joint degenerative changes associated with chronic rotator cuff tears. Rotator cuff tear arthropathy represents shoulder pathology characterized by rotator cuff insufficiency, decreased acromiohumeral intervals, and arthritic changes of the glenohumeral joint. Often, in the presence of chronic rotator cuff tears, there is a superior […]

    A Baker’s cyst (also known as popliteal cyst) is a fluid-filled sac that forms in the popliteal fossa, which is located on the posterior aspect of the knee.  It was named after Dr. William Morrant Baker, the 19th century surgeon who first described it.     A Baker’s cyst can develop when there […]

Have you been diagnosed with a SLAP tear?  How can we help? What is the Shoulder Labrum? The labrum is a ring of cartilage attached to the rim of the shoulder socket. The labrum has two functions. The first is to deepen the socket so that the ball stays in place.  The second is as […]

Pre-and Post-Operative Physical Therapy Are you scheduled for surgery and have concerns about making a great recovery? At Physical Therapy Innovations, our highly skilled and experienced team of physical therapists will guide you through your entire pre-surgical and post-surgical process so that you can reach your greatest potential and benefit the most from your surgical […]

As physical therapists, we are aware of the importance of adequate amounts of ankle dorsiflexion. It is essential for proper gait mechanics, negotiating stairs, performing squats and sit to stand transfers, jumping and landing, etc. Evidence has shown that poor ankle mobility can increase risk of injury in athletes and non-athletes, leading to injuries to […]