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 […]

Bone spurs are small deposits of calcium.  If these bony projections become large enough, they can become painful and result in inflammation as well as cause damage the surrounding tendons and muscles. The medical term for bone spurs is “osteophytes”. Osteophytes are commonly seen in the spine, the heel, and the shoulder. In the shoulder, […]

Hip Extension: How Important is this Motion and How Do We Measure it Functionally? The majority of us are noting a quad-dominant trend in our patients and athletes. This imbalance is partially due to the lack adequate hip extension. During a recent clinical training session for hip mobilizations, a conversation with our staff led me […]

HIP IMPINGEMENT Hip impingement is a painful dysfunction of the hip often cause by biomechanical deficiencies.  It can also be known as FAI (femoral acetabular impingement). Hip impingement is a term used to describe when there is hip pain and dysfunction caused by the ball and socket of the hip joint not working properly.   This […]

AVOIDING INJURIES IN PICKLEBALL Pickleball has become one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. While pickleball is a safe sport, there are some common injuries that can be prevented with proper preparation. The potential injuries that can occur in the legs or lower back include: Calf strains and tears Ankle sprain Flares […]

Rotator cuff tears are common shoulder injuries. They can occur during sport activities, with any strenuous upper-extremity activity, or with falls or trauma. Tears can also be degenerative, occurring over time. Partial vs Complete Tears A partial tear is when one of the muscles that makes up your rotator cuff is worn or damaged. A […]

  Plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain. Plantar fasciitis affects people of all ages, both athletes and nonathletes. Foot anatomy The foot is made up of: 26 bones 30 joints more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments These structures work together to provide support, balance, and mobility. […]

How Hyponatremia May Be a Risk for You Water is crucial to performance, but it turns out you can over do it   As we enter the start of an extremely hot summer, hydration becomes more of a priority. Rising temperatures can result in increased amounts of sweating which means you need to consume more […]

Intervertebral Discs The intervertebral discs are localized in between all the vertebrae except for the atlanto–axial and sacral vertebrae. The intervertebral discs function to allow movement of the spine, absorb shock and transmit loads through the vertebral column.    The intervertebral discs undergo wear and tear over time, no matter what we do. What is Degenerative […]

  Overtraining Syndrome is a medical condition which occurs when the athlete’s stress load (exercise) becomes excessive without allowing appropriate recovery periods. Rather than positive adaptations from training, maladaptation occurs resulting in a decline in performance. Causes of Overtraining: Inadequate recovery between training sessions High intensity training over the body’s ability to adapt and recover […]