Tendon(itis) – rest isn’t always best
Tendon issues are tricky. The progress can be slow and frustrating. In athletes, the most common tendinopathies occur at the Achilles tendon, and Patella tendon, but it can occur in the hips, elbows, and shoulders as well. The self management advice has generally been toward rest and conservative care. However, the latest evidence in […]
The truth about low back pain
Low back pain is the leading cause of global disability. It therefore requires more thoughtful consideration of scientific evidence in comparison to the stories we’ve been sold. Back pain is complex and no one persons back pain is the same as the other. Therefore blanket statements like, “do xyz to cure your back pain” are […]
When chronic back pain loses its power
“Pain is both physical and emotional 100% of the time.” –Dr Rachel Zoffness Is it possible to gain control over pain? How does chronic pain lose it’s power? Why does giving less attention to it weaken pain? Pain is complex. Telling someone to stop thinking about pain is dismissive. However, when clients see their potential […]
Persistent pain and returning to what you love
Return to what you love? Even with pain? Yes, go for it! It may sound either intimidating or exhilarating but, returning to what you love is absolutely possible. Pain Pain interrupts how you experience yourself in your own environment. Quite often it limits your possibilities. As pain persists your world feels smaller and smaller […]
When stress increases your symptoms & pain makes you stressed
Stress and pain are collective experiences. One of my favorite quotes on pain is from Dr. Adriaan Louw, “Pain isn’t a protocol. Pain is a human lived experience.” As a physical therapist it is common to hear a patient speak on how their pain increases during stressful moments or experiences. Increased pain can lead to […]
3 ways to land softer and run better
Why is returning to running so darn difficult? For an activity that seems so simple, there sure are a lot of variables. 3 common complaints I hear from my running patients: 1) I can’t run without leaking 2) I can’t run due to hip/knee pain 3) I haven’t been able to run since I injured […]
How to reduce muscle tension at work
The creeping, nagging muscle tension that occurs while sitting at the computer affects us all. So we change our posture, change from sitting to standing, add lumbar supports, try foam rolls, and use postural support contraptions. Sometimes these tools help but often it doesn’t. What else is there? This video offers a different perspective in […]
Breathe Better, Move Better: 4 ways breathing changes your life.
The breath – movement connection Breathing and moving are two constant components of life. People seek help when there’s an interruption to their movement and physical therapists are experts in human movement. As a PT, I teach people how to move so they can reduce pain, improve function, and excel at their activity of choice. […]
Key factors in back pain resilience
“A paradigm shift from a tissue- and disease-based approach towards individually tailored multimodal lifestyle interventions should lead to improved outcomes and decrease the psychological and socioeconomic burden of chronic pain.” –Joe Nijs Lifestyle factors play a vital role in back pain recovery. Too often education surrounding back pain is about the negative factors affecting […]
