Best self management for ankle sprain

  Ankle sprains occur at the most inopportune moments! A week before he was to compete at the California State high jump track meet, my son sprained his ankle in practice.  The next 6 days were fraught with grief, anxiety, pain, grit, determination, and yet glimmers of hope. It was his senior year and he […]

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 […]

Moving beyond Kegels – how to train jumping

When it comes to treating the pelvic floor there are 2 types of female athletes I see. 1) Those who avoid plyo day altogether because they leak and 2) Those who participate in plyo day while experiencing leaking during some or most of the exercises. Both groups grow increasingly frustrated because they want to advance […]

Diastasis Recti – How it started vs How it’s going

How it started In the last 10 years of understanding more and more about Diastasis Recti, quite a shift has happened. It started with a focus on fixing the gap. Surgery can close the gap in the abdominal wall; however, focusing solely on the gap is a narrow mindset that doesn’t provide people with options. […]

How to tell the difference between pain and injury.

Recently I had a client say that she was worried that all her studying for school was setting her up for back pain in the future. We then discussed what causes injuries and how resilient the body is. This video helps give you a break down of the difference between pain and injury with some […]

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 […]

How to use the Stroop Task as an Ortho PT

Treatment for orthopedic injuries has primarily been concerned with musculoskeletal health and recovery. Range of motion, strength, posture, PNS, soft tissue healing, structure, movement patterns, and biomechanics have taken top priority. These are helpful factors in rehabilitation, however current research is calling for a much more whole systems approach to physical therapy. In my opinion, […]

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 […]