Like clockwork, every time I bent over or sat too long, my hamstring muscle talked to me. What started as tightness that ran down the center of my right thigh soon became a nervy pain I could not ignore. I would fidget and squirm my way through car rides, desperately changing positions to ease the …
Physical therapists pride themselves on staying fit, and our PT staff is no exception. That’s why I was shocked when, at a recent in-service, we looked more closely at our own limitations. Our colleague, Lori, asked for a subject to demonstrate a technique for opening up the front of the chest, and Russ volunteered by raising …
Do you abhor abdominal exercise but yearn for a stronger core? Want to be in nature, but worry about walking on uneven trails? Are you trying to lose weight? Do you want a stronger upper body? All these things are within reach if you grab two little walking poles! Here’s why: Walking poles keep you …
We talk about the gluteal muscles a lot. Why? Because if you are walking or running and your glutes are not working, it isn’t pretty. And it doesn’t feel good either. Getting those muscles firing is sometimes a matter of paying attention and sometimes a matter of strengthening. Either way, without gluteal muscles working, your hip …
It’s depressing… how could a little fender bender wreak such havoc? Though it’s been months since her accident, Julia still feels dizzy. And she’s exhausted. The focus required in her nursing job wears her out, especially when she’s on the computer. She usually leaves work with a headache, and dragging herself to the gym is hard …
Dee In her 70 years, Dee’s back had never bothered her, until one morning as she got out of bed she noticed a pull in her right lower spine. She tried stretching, but the pain just worsened. When it did not stop for several days, she made an appointment with an orthopedist. He took X-rays, but …
Old beliefs die hard. I still see folks throwing a leg on their car bumper and leaning over for a good yank on their hamstring. A cursory stretch should do it, right? Then they head up the trail for a run. They probably haven’t hurt themselves, but really, why bother? (If you need a refresher …
You can’t even look over your shoulder to check traffic before you change lanes. You grip the wheel a little tighter, tense your shoulders, and yank your head around. Ouch. Or, you just take a chance and change lanes anyway. Double ouch. You can’t move because you have limited neck motion. Or do you? Try …
When should I exercise? The best answer is: whenever you are most likely to do it. But there’s some science behind when to exercise to get specific benefits. Daniel Pink’s new book: When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, explains. Exercise in the morning if you want to: Lose weight: You can burn 20 percent more fat …
Many people swear by yoga postures, or “asanas,” as a way to improve flexibility. But isn’t yoga just another form of passive stretching? Well actually… no. In fact, yoga rarely incorporates passive stretches. Instead, asanas use concepts of reciprocal inhibition, eccentric lengthening, and strengthening through the full range of available motion to safely lengthen muscles. …