Repairing an Injured Rotator Cuff
As we get older, rotator cuff injuries become more common, a result of the natural aging process. A similar mechanism operates in the discs separating the vertebras in your lower back. These cartilaginous structures lose water over time, becoming less flexible and more brittle as the decades roll by. In the case of the shoulder, […]
Shoulder Pain – Heart Attack or Rotator Cuff Injury?
The great TV classic ER helps teach armchair physicians to become amateur diagnosticians. He’s in shock! She’s got kidney stones! Rule-out pheochromocytoma! But sometimes a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. You’ve learned somewhere – on the network news, in the Science section of The New York Times, or in a CPR class at […]
Shouldering the Load
As with much in life that we take for granted, we are not usually concerned with the mechanisms of how our bodies work and how they do what they do. Such knowledge is not required for use of these magnificent machines that have been freely given to us. But just as a wise consumer will […]
Ten Tips for Smart Stretching
1. Why stretch? Stretching lengthens muscles and improves flexibility. Also, stretching the big leg muscles – the hamstrings, calves, and quads – simultaneously loosens and lengthens the muscles of your lower back. So, when you stretch, you’re helping your back! 2. When to stretch? Recent exercise physiology studies show that static stretching is best done […]
Tennis, Anyone?
Repetitive stress injuries are typically very difficult to treat successfully. These injuries are the result of actions done repeatedly, frequently, and consistently over time. They’ve taken a long time to build up and, therefore, the healing process also requires a fair amount of time. Shin splints, iliotibial band syndrome, and rotator cuff syndrome are examples […]
The Common Core
Core strength is critical for everyday activities such as placing heavy grocery bags into the trunk of your automobile, carrying a gallon jug of milk from the refrigerator to the dining room table, and even walking to the mailbox. When your core strength is diminished, even bending over to pick up a pencil may result […]