By employing the techniques of Applied Functional Science, Active Release Technique (ART) and Spinal Mobilization and Manipulation, our Physical Therapists treat whatever hurts, and fix it for good.
Plantar Fasciitis
(a.k.a. Morning Foot Pain or First Step Pain or Pain in the #!@* that actually isn’t in the #!@*) Usually worse in the morning, this “first step” pain is felt in the foot, usually along the arch or in the heel of the foot. It’s a bummer when you can’t put your foot flat on the floor when you crawl out of bed!
Illiotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) / Knee Pain
ITB pain is felt on the outside (lateral aspect) of the knee that gradually increases with running. A clicking sound may be heard, and pain is sometimes described as stabbing. It can get so bad that runners are forced to hobble with a straight leg. We see ITB pain frequently in runners who are increasing their mileage too quickly, particularly among women. (The standard we recommend is no more than a 10% increase per week, FYI.)
Patella Femoral Syndrome (PFS) / Runner’s Knee (a.k.a. GRRRRRR!)
Knee pain that is usually felt around the kneecap (patella). It often shows up out of nowhere when running. Pain worsens with running, walking down steps or sitting for a long time. Being stuck at a desk or going to the movies can be just as painful as your long run.
Shin Splints, a.k.a. Anterior Tibialis Tendonitis
Pain felt on the front (anterior) or inside (medial) part of the shin. Pain may start at the beginning of a run, then fade. Or, it may get worse while running and stick around after you stop. That’s definitely not OK. Don’t run again until you’re evaluated by a medical professional. If you’re using orthotics to mask the root cause of shin splints, please, come see us.
Piriformis / Glute Pain — quite literally, a pain in the you know where.
Indicated by tightness and pain in the gluteal region, it gets worse with standing, sitting long periods or standing on one leg. Runners? This pain often occurs when your glutes aren’t firing properly.
Stress Fractures (Foot, Pelvis, Femoral Neck, Femur, Tibia)
Tiny cracks in the bone caused by repetitive force like running or jumping, often from overuse or upping intensity too quickly. They can also develop from normal use of a bone that’s weakened by osteoporosis. If you feel pain that’s present with every step, come in ASAP. We will determine if you need imaging such as an MRI or bone scan to confirm diagnosis; stress fractures often can’t be detected by an x-ray right after the pain shows up.
Stress Reactions (Foot, Pelvis, Femoral Neck, Femur, Tibia)
The precursor to a fracture, usually indicated by soreness and stiffness in a specific area. We will do everything we can to minimize down time from activity. The sooner you get in to see us, the better.
Low Back Pain
Radiating or shooting pain in the low back can occur with any number of activities, from running to swimming to yoga to pregnancy or overdoing it during your daily routine. It can also be caused by a disc issue or scoliosis. The cause of pain may ultimately not be in the back, but only an evaluation with a physical therapist can provide clarity. Chronic low back pain can be very frustrating; we’ll find the root cause.
Neck Pain / cervical pain
Usually felt as stiffness or tingling, chronic neck pain is often caused by an elevated first rib, herniated or degenerative disc, or decreased range of motion at the shoulder. Active Release Technique (ART) is especially helpful in relieving this condition and increasing range of motion. Commonly seen in yogis and triathletes who spend a lot of time in aero position, and in basically everyone who spends too much time looking down at a screen or smartphone…
Post-Op Rehab
We manage post-op care for all types of back, shoulder, Achilles, labral, hip, foot, ACL, MCL, LCL and PCL repairs. Having a total knee replacement or total hip replacement is a very big deal, and we fully understand the physical, emotional and mental impact it will have on our athletes. We have the expertise and hands-on mastery to help you recover as quickly as possible, physically and mentally. It’s not an easy road, but we’ll be there every step of the way to restore strength and mobility so you can fully return safely to doing the things you love.
Shoulder Impingement
Usually experienced in the outer part of the shoulder, this pain comes from repetitive overhead motions like swimming and tennis.
Achilles Tendinitis
Pain, swelling or thickening of the achilles tendon. Generally painful with ambulation (walking), going up and down stairs, or calf/heel raises.
Posterior Tibialis Tendonitis
Often mistaken for an achilles problem, pain exhibits in the side or back of the lower leg. New orthotics for over-pronators and running in new shoes with less support are frequent culprits for causing this kind of pain. If you’ve taken up “barefoot” running recently or are trying out minimalist shoes, and are experiencing pain, this could be the reason.
Sciatica
Sciatica pain presents as tingling or numbness down the legs, often caused by piriformis syndrome, herniated or bulging discs, stenosis or degenerative disc disease. It also causes an increased range of motion of the lumbar spine, leading to instability.
Hip Impingement, a.k.a. Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
Caused by abnormal contact and wear between the ball and socket of the hip joint, which leads to friction that can damage the joint. If you feel stiffness in the groin, pain in the front of the thigh or down into your glutes, popping or clicking in the front of the hip, or a loss of full range of motion, get in here ASAP.
Labral Tear (Shoulder + Hip)
Often felt as a locking-and-catching sensation in the shoulder along with pain and instability. The labrum is a piece of rubbery fibrocartilage that helps keep the ball of the joint in place. If that cartilage tears — you wind up with a labral tear.
Bursitis
Super painful condition that affects the joints. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that act like cushions between bones, tendons, joints, and muscles. When they get angry and inflamed, it’s referred to as bursitis. Pain can onset suddenly, or build gradually. Either way, it’s not fun and needs attention.
Hip Tightness / Hip Pain / groin pain
Issues with the hip are often the result of anatomical abnormalities (is one of your legs longer than the other?), or decreased range of motion secondary to capsule or labral tightness. No bueno. If you’re experiencing tightness in the hip, come in for an evaluation before a more serious problem develops.
Tennis Elbow, a.k.a. Lateral Epicondylitis
This pain occurs with the twisting motion of racket sports as well as in those with careers involving repetitive-use like painters, assembly line workers, butchers, plumbers, etc. It’s an aggravation of the tendon insertion of the forearm muscles, which Active Release Technique (ART) is very successful in treating.
Golfers Elbow, a.k.a. Medial Epicondylitis
Often occurs when a golfer hits the ground too hard on a swing. It’s an aggravation of the tendon insertion of the forearm muscles, but to the inside of the elbow. Active Release Technique (ART) to the rescue!
PREGNANcy, a.k.k. EVERYTHING FEELS OUT OF WHACK
Pregnancy is humbling. You’re hosting another human for 40 weeks, give or take. But pain in pregnancy is not a given, and shouldn’t be chalked up to hormones. Carrying a baby causes posture changes that can lead to increased pressure in the low back and hips, and over-lengthened inner thighs and abs. It can also do wonky things to your nerves. Even if you’re feeling great, you’re at an increased risk of injury while your body is cranking out the relaxin hormone. It’s meant to loosen everything up in preparation for giving birth, but it can make you stretchier than you should be, too early on. Sometimes, that leads to PSD (pubic symphasis disorder) which can be very painful. PT can help! We can also help manage pain in the low back, hip and SI joints, as well as chronic numbness and tingling.
POSTPARTUM COMEBACKS
No matter how you brought that baby into the world, pregnancy changed your body. It’s important to have a solid understanding of exactly which muscles were over-lengthened or underused before embarking on your fitness comeback. Your body is still pumping out a lot of hormones that can make you susceptible to injury, especially if you’re nursing. We can work with you to understand the changes in your body and get you back to exercising safely.
TMJ, a.k.a. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, JAW PAIN, jaw tension
Often associated with many issues, and usually under-treated. TMJ can cause pain with chewing or yawning, clicking or locking of the jaw, as well as headaches, neck pain, ringing or stuffiness in the ears. With the use of a combination of specific hands-on manual techniques and exercises designed to alleviate the stress on the disc, joint and surrounding soft tissue structures, we can release jaw tension and relieve pain.
Peroneal Tendonitis
Occurs when the peroneal tendons become inflamed from and start to rub on the bone (ouch), usually caused by an increased load and overuse. A sudden increase in weight-bearing training activities like walking, running and jumping will do it! Symptoms include pain in the back of the ankle, swelling, or pain with turning the foot in and out. Generally, it feels better with rest but worsens with activity. We can get it under control.
Rotator Cuff Tendonitis / Inflammation
Affects the tendons and muscles that move the shoulder joint. Raising or lowering the arm causes pain, along with some stiffness and occasional clicking during arm movements. The affected arm usually loses mobility and strength.
Cervical Radiculopathy / Cervical Radiculitis / pinched nerve
Literally, a pain in the neck! This condition happens when a nerve root in the cervical spine become inflamed and causes changes in neurological function. Symptoms include numbness, weakness, altered reflexes from the neck down the arm into the hands and fingers. Sensations of achey-ness, pins and needles or burning may occur as well.
Lumbar Radiculopathy
It’s usually caused when a herniated disk or bone spur in the spine presses on the lumbar nerve root. Pain originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg. Symptoms may also include numbness or weakness.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
This condition occurs when the spinal canal starts to narrow in the neck. Symptoms may include pain in the neck, numbness or tingling in the arm and hand, weakness in the arm and hand, balance and walking impairments, and in severe cases, bowel and bladder dysfunction.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
A condition where a narrowing of the spine occurs in the low back. Symptoms are pain in the back, numbness and tingling in the leg and foot, weakness in the leg and foot, pain or cramping in one or both legs when standing or walking for a prolonged period. Bending forward or sitting may relieve symptoms.
Gluteal Tendinopathy
If you have pain with lying on one side, standing on one leg, walking up steps or uphill, rising from sitting or while running, you could be experiencing this hip tendonitis, a common cause of Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome. This tendon injury may seem to happen suddenly, but usually, it’s the result of many tiny tears to the tendon that have happened over time (overtraining.)
Greater Trochanteric Bursitis / Hip Bursitis
If you experience pain from lying on one side or from pressing on that side (with an action like crossing your legs), feel pain on the outside of the hip, thigh or buttock, have difficulty with getting up from a low chair or out of a car, or have pain while ascending stairs, hip bursitis may be to blame. This condition can be caused by falling on or hitting the area or overuse such as running, climbing, and standing for prolonged periods.
Muscle strains
A pulled muscle occurs when it is over stretched, usually when the muscle is fatigued, overused, or improperly used. Without a proper warm up, there is poor flexibility and conditioning of the muscle that can cause pain and limit movement in the affected muscle group. Symptoms include soreness, bruising, stiffness, weakness, and spasms.
HAMSTRING strain, TIGHT HAMSTRINGS, HAMSTRING PAIN
Hammy strains occur when one or more of the hamstring muscles gets overloaded or starts to tear. While they’re fairly common, they’re never fun to deal with. They can strike all kinds of athletes who do a lot of running, jumping or sudden stopping and starting. We’ve helped football, soccer, and basketball players, runners, triathletes, dancers, yogis and hockey players learn how to strengthen and protect these muscles, and return safely to competitive play.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Symptoms develop slowly over time and occur when the cartilage that cushions bones wears down. Pain with movement, stiffness after inactivity, tenderness when pressure is applied, swelling from inflammation in the soft tissues around the joint, and a loss of flexibility along with popping or clicking in the joint are all indicative of osteoarthritis.
Ankle Sprains
When the ankle is rolled, twisted, or turned in an awkward position, it results in the ligaments that stabilize the ankle joint to be forced beyond normal range of motion. Symptoms of an ankle sprain include pain with weight bearing on that foot, tenderness to touch, swelling, limited range of motion, bruising and a sense of instability.
bunions / post-op hallux rigidus
Bunions (a.k.a. Hallux Valgus, a.k.a. that annoying bump on the inside of the forefoot) are super common and super frustrating. Bunions can become painful over time, particularly if you have a knack for stuffing your tootsies into tight fitting or pointy shoes. The majority of bunions can be treated with PT (yay) and non-invasive options. Sometimes surgery is needed for particularly stubborn or severe ones — in which case, we can manage your post-op recovery and return to sport.
Postural Stress Syndrome, Posture issues
Pain and aches felt in the low back, neck and shoulders from activities that place prolonged stress on the body. Generally, a dull ache is felt when you’re sitting, standing, lying or lifting for a prolonged period with poor body position. Pain may be relieved with change of position. If these improper postures are not addressed, they can lead to other compensatory patterns resulting in pain and limitation of other activities.
Concussions
Caused by a mild blow to the head, either with or without loss of consciousness, or a whiplash-type injury that can lead to temporary cognitive symptoms. Headache, confusion, lack of coordination, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sleepiness, excessive fatigue and trouble focusing can all be indicators of a mild traumatic brain injury. DO NOT WAIT to be evaluated by one of our Athlete Mechanics, so we can get to the root cause of your symptoms. Not all concussions are the same, and symptoms can arise from the visual system, vestibular system, etc.
