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Category: Blog

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Ice vs. Heat

What’s better? Icing or heating? Check out this post about the nuances of when you should ice vs heat an injury.

Navigating Headaches

Experiencing headaches? Check this blog out to learn more about causes and remedies!

Shin Splints

Experiencing pain in your lower leg on the front and inside of your shin? Check out this blog for some remedies!

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Pelvic Floor

What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy is a form of physical therapy that focuses on strengthening and coordinating the muscles that support your bladder, bowels, and reproductive organs. These muscles play a vital role in urinary and fecal continence, sexual function, and core stability. When these muscles become weak or tight, it can lead to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.  Our team of certified physical therapists specializes in creating personalized treatment plans to address a wide range of pelvic floor concerns for men and women.

Conditions We Treat:

  • Urinary incontinence (leakage of urine)
  • Fecal incontinence (leakage of stool)
  • Pelvic pain
  • Testicular and penile pain (men)
  • Painful intercourse
  • Difficulty emptying the bladder (urinary retention)
  • Constipation
  • Pelvic organ prolapse (weakening of pelvic tissues)
  • Pre and post-partum concerns
  • Sexual dysfunction

Benefits of Pelvic Floor Therapy:

  • Improved bladder and bowel control
  • Reduced pelvic pain
  • Enhanced sexual function
  • Increased core strength and stability
  • Improved posture and balance
  • Enhanced post-partum recovery
  • Increased confidence and quality of life

What to Expect During Treatment:

Your initial evaluation will involve a comprehensive discussion of your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle habits. Our physical therapist will perform a thorough physical examination (clothes on) to assess your pelvic floor muscle strength and coordination. Based on this evaluation, we will develop a personalized treatment plan that may include:

  • Kegel exercises and other pelvic floor muscle strengthening techniques
  • Soft tissue mobilization techniques to address pain and tightness
  • Lifestyle modifications, such as bladder training and dietary changes
  • Lots of education on your condition

Contact Us Today

If you are experiencing any pelvic floor symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule an appointment. We are here to help you regain control and improve your quality of life.  Click below to contact us!

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Arthritis

Arthritis isn’t a single disease, but an umbrella term for a group of conditions affecting joints. While “wear and tear” is a common misconception, arthritis can arise from various factors, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Common forms of arthritis include Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout and Psoriatic Arthritis.

Common signs and symptoms include:

  • Joint pain: Dull ache, sharp pain, or burning sensation in one or more joints.
  • Stiffness: Difficulty moving joints, especially in the mornings or after periods of inactivity.
  • Swelling: Noticeable inflammation around the affected joints.
  • Reduced range of motion: Difficulty performing everyday tasks due to limited joint movement.
  • Weakness and fatigue: Muscle weakness and overall tiredness can accompany joint pain.

Physical therapy offers a holistic approach to improve your daily life. Here’s how physical therapy can help:

  • Pain Management: Through manual therapy techniques and targeted exercises to reduce pain and stiffness.
  • Improved Mobility: Specific exercises to increase joint range of motion and flexibility for better daily function.
  • Strengthening Muscles: Exercises to support and stabilize the joints, reducing stress and pain.
  • Balance and Gait Training: Enhance balance and coordination to prevent falls, a common concern with arthritis.
  • Education and Self-Management: Learn proper movement patterns, joint protection strategies, and exercises to manage your condition effectively.
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Ankle & Foot Pain

The foot and ankle, often overlooked workhorses, are marvels of engineering. They bear the weight of your body, propel you forward, and absorb impact with every step. Your ankle joint, where your shinbone meets your foot, allows for up-and-down movement while absorbing shock. 

  • Your foot is composed of 26 bones, 33 joints, and numerous muscles and ligaments, providing stability and flexibility for balance and propulsion.
  • Common signs of dysfunction include pain, swelling, tingling/numbness, limited range of motion, and difficulty walking, standing or balancing. 
  • Deformities such as bunions, hammertoe, and flat feet also contribute to pain, but can also cause pain up the chain in the knee and hip!
  • The ankle is susceptible to sprains, strains, tendonitis and many other conditions that will limit your ability to walk and do anything that requires you being upright!
  • If you are having trouble in these areas, don’t let it linger! A free consultation can help determine the root cause of pain and help develop a plan to fix it and get you back to normal.
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Wrist & Hand Pain

Your wrists and hands are intricate marvels, allowing for incredible dexterity and control in everyday tasks. We use our hands for cooking, cleaning, using our phones, taking care of ourselves and others and many, many other things!

  • The wrist joint connects your forearm to your hand, allowing for bending and rotation. 
  • Meanwhile, the hand itself has 27 bones, numerous joints, and intricate muscle networks, enabling fine motor control.
  • Common signs of hand and wrist dysfunction include pain, swelling, stiffness, numbness, difficulty gripping objects, or clicking and popping with movement. 
  • There are a variety of problems that can occur in these areas including carpal tunnel, tendonitis, trigger finger, arthritis, among others. 
  • If you are having trouble in these areas, don’t let it linger! A free consultation can help determine the root cause of pain and help develop a plan to fix it and get you back to normal.
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Hip & Knee Pain

The hip is one of the most important joints in the human body. Sitting, standing, walking, running, lifting and many other movements depend on the hip to be functioning properly. At the same time, problems with the hip can cause issues in the knee and even further down the chain.

  • The hip is a ball and socket joint that has many degrees of freedom (movement) and many muscles that contribute to this.
  • The muscles that control the hip also influence the knee during basic movements and while playing sports or higher level activities
  • The knee is a hinge joint with only 2 basic movements, bending and extending, but is susceptible to rotation forces that come from the hip!
  • Getting to the root cause of pain in either of these joints requires a deep dive into the mechanics of your movement and looking at strength and range of motion deficits that influence your pain.
  • If you are having trouble in these areas, don’t let it linger! A free consultation can help determine the root cause of pain and help develop a plan to fix it and get you back to normal.
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Temporomandibular Dysfunction & Jaw Pain

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull and allows for essential functions like chewing, talking, and yawning. However, several factors can lead to TMJ dysfunction, causing various uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms.

  • Common signs of TMJ Dysfunction include pain in the ear, jaw or face, locking or clicking, headaches and limited ability to open your mouth and chew!
  • There are various causes for this that include:
    • Muscle imbalances or tightness
    • Joint misalignment or injury
    • Arthritis
    • Stress and teeth grinding (bruxism)
  • Physical therapy can help improve these symptoms and relate them to other areas of the body that can be contributing to this pain!
  • We will dive into the issue to find the source of pain, and employ a variety of techniques to improve the quality of movement and your overall quality of life.
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Vestibular & Balance Rehabilitation

People experience dizziness for a variety of reasons, and one of the common issues is vestibular dysfunction or problems with the inner ear. 

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Meniere’s Disease and vestibular hypofunction are common issues that can be treated by a physical therapist!
  • Common symptoms include dizziness in certain positions, reaction to certain movements (commonly head rotation), and nausea. 

Balance disorders are also wide ranging in their cause, from general deconditioning, diabetic neuropathy, post-operative changes and other neurologic disorders among many others.

  • Physical therapy has been shown to be beneficial in treating many of these causes!
  • A physical therapist will evaluate your balance, find the problem areas, and develop a treatment protocol to help address whatever impairments are present.
  • The risk of falling increases as we get older, and becomes more problematic at the same time! Improving your balance makes you more safe in the home and community and helps you stay active at the same time!
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Pre & post surgical rehabilitation

  • Surgeries are incredibly common and can be necessary for a variety of reasons! 
  • Planned joint replacements, emergency surgeries, athletic injuries or chronic issues can all necessitate surgical intervention.
  • Rehabilitation before a planned surgery (prehab) can boost outcomes after the surgery!
  • Post-op rehab is vital in almost every case to regain normal joint and muscle function, and reduce pain and swelling to get you back to normal!
  • We work directly with surgeons and their protocols to maximize your recovery.
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Elbow pain

Is elbow pain getting in the way of your work, cooking, cleaning or sports participation? You’re not alone. Many people struggle with this, but relief is possible. 

  • The elbow is composed of 3 bones that have a complex series of movements in bending and rotating. 
  • Pain in the elbow can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including your shoulder!
  • Common conditions include golfers and tennis elbow, ligament damage, nerve entrapment, and tendon ruptures.

There are a variety of symptoms associated with these problems:

  • Difficulty gripping common objects
  • Burning pain in the elbow at rest
  • Tingling/numbness that radiates into the hand
  • Clicking/popping or loss of movement in any direction the elbow is supposed to move

Physical therapy is beneficial for treating all of these issues! A thorough exam from the neck to the hand will uncover the root cause of your limitation and develop a plan to address it! Don’t let elbow pain get in the way of doing what you love! Call us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your pain and our plan to get lasting results

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Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain can cripple your throws, limit your daily tasks, and leave you feeling frustrated. Injuries to the shoulder can be sport, work or daily activity related! 

  • The shoulder is composed of 3 individual bones, the rib cage, 4 distinct joints, and 12 different muscles that all interact with each other to make the arm move.
  • Shoulder pain can be related to muscular imbalances, joint dysfunction, or even nerve issues, which can also be neck related! 
  • Common injuries include impingement syndrome, rotator cuff injury, arthritis and radicular pain with symptoms such as
    • Pain with lifting anything overhead, carrying heavy objects or pushing a door open or closed
    • Pinching in the front or back of the shoulder with normal everyday activities
    • Radiating pain down into the forearm/hand
    • Stiffness and loss of range of motion
  • Physical therapy will help get to the root of the problem, be it your posture, muscle weakness, poor shoulder stability, etc.
  • Don’t let shoulder pain get in the way of doing what you love! Call us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your pain and our plan to get lasting results
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Neck Pain & Headaches

Studies show that neck pain and headaches are very common; up to 77% of people experience neck pain in their life, and associated headaches as much as 52% of the time! 

Here at Health Motion we focus on:

  • Muscle imbalances, joint dysfunction, and trigger points, all of which are contributing factors to the development of neck pain and headaches
    • Facet joint inflammation
    • Muscle spasms
    • Postural dysfunction
    • Shoulder weakness/tightness
  • Common symptoms include:
    • Pain, muscle tightness, burning at the base of the head
    • Headaches can manifest themselves in many locations, including the temples, top/back of the head, jaw, among others.
  • Targeted physical therapy can reduce the frequency of neck pain and headaches by finding the source of the problem, whether it is in your neck, shoulder, mid back, etc, and helps to reduce the severity of pain for lasting relief

Stovner LJ, Hagen K, Linde M, Steiner TJ. The global prevalence of headache: an update, with analysis of the influences of methodological factors on prevalence estimates. J Headache Pain. 2022 Apr 12;23(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s10194-022-01402-2. PMID: 35410119; PMCID: PMC9004186.

Al-Khazali HM, Younis S, Al-Sayegh Z, Ashina S, Ashina M, Schytz HW. Prevalence of neck pain in migraine: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cephalalgia. 2022 Jun;42(7):663-673. doi: 10.1177/03331024211068073. Epub 2022 Feb 15. PMID: 35166137.

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Lower Back Pain & Sciatica

National Institute of Health data shows that 80% of Americans experience low back pain or sciatica in their lifetime, and treating this costs billions of dollars each year.

Don’t settle for generic back pain solutions:

  • There are 17 joints and 33 muscles in your back: Your back is complex, and so is your pain. We don’t offer cookie-cutter fixes.
  • Root cause matters: the source of pain can have many different origins
    • Facet joint inflammation
    • Bulging, herniated, & compressed discs
    • Muscle spasms
    • Piriformis syndrome
  • Common symptoms include burning, aching, radiating pain, tingling and muscle weakness.

Physical therapy is a powerful tool in getting to the root of the problem. Often the location of pain is not the source of the problem, and we look from the ground up to see where the limitations are! Don’t let pain get in the way of your life, talk to a physical therapist today!

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