America’s Pastime: Change Afoot in Football

Football is by definition a physically violent sport. Collisions on the field to accomplish blocking and tackling produce impact forces that inevitably lead to a sizable injury rate among the sport’s participants. Rules have been put in place over time to organize the chaos that can ensue on any given football play in order to protect the players from unnecessary …

Safe Summer Exercise

Summer is officially descending on Central Texas, and it is bringing rising temperatures. This is the time of year where cold AC is a valuable commodity as some people actively avoid the scorching temperatures outside completely. Although the temperature outside can definitely feel limiting, there are some strategies and considerations that can still make being able to participate in all …

The Balancing Act of Life

When was the last time you stopped to consider how impressive it is that you were able to accomplish your day without falling? Every day we stand, walk, get in and out of the car, and walk up and down stairs without incident – probably without giving it a second thought. Balance is one of those things that we typically …

For Musculoskeletal Pain or Injury – Get Physical Therapy First

It happened again. You lifted something too heavy, did a lot of yard work, sat in the car for too long on a road trip, or reached awkwardly for an item on the floor. Or maybe it has been there for so long that you can’t even remember the original cause. But now you have low back pain again. Sometimes …

Regional Interdependence: It’s All Connected!

What is Regional Interdependence? The term Regional Interdependence has been a buzzword in physical therapy education over the past 10 years as an examination model to account for how the body performs as a functional unit or how one region can influence another. In other words, it is the concept to explain how a patient’s low back pain can be …

How Much Should I Exercise?

If you have ever been to Physical Therapy, then you are probably aware that exercise activity and a prescription of “homework exercises” are typically going to be a component of your treatment. Our bodies are designed to move, and when our movement becomes impaired through injury, bad habits, or inactivity, we typically begin to feel those effects through pain and …

National Fall Prevention Day September 22, 2017

September 22nd 2017 is National Fall Prevention Awareness Day. So what better time to address this common concern among the aging adult population? Research shows that >30% of individuals over the age of 65 fall every year. This makes falling the number one common cause of injury and accidental death among this age population, according to the Centers for Disease …

Factors that can Enhance (or Complicate) Recovery from Injury or Illness

We all wish that we could function at our physical and emotional best all of the time. Unfortunately, as many of us are well aware, our bodies have limitations that periodically result in diminished capacity and function. From general aches and pains, traumatic injuries, stress induced headaches, and general deconditioning due to lack of exercise and to largely sedentary jobs …

Is Your Work Place Causing You Pain?

Do you have neck, shoulder, jaw, or back pain related to your job or work place environment? Many musculoskeletal disorders are due to poor biomechanics during tasks such as lifting, overhead reaching, pushing or pulling, and/or working in awkward body positions while performing repetitive tasks. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are among the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted work …