At heel strike, the plantar fascia is slack to allow the foot to accommodate uneven surfaces. As the heel lifts and forefoot dorsiflexes toward toe-off, the distal plantar fascia “winds” up and around the first MTP joint pulling the plantar fascia taut, shortening the distance between the heel and forefoot, raising the arch– creating a stiffer lever for propulsion. (10)
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome is a common condition that we treat all the time. When treating non traumatic shoulder impingement syndrome/shoulder pain, looking for the reason or areas in and around the shoulder that could be adding to the problem will help with healing the patient faster. One area that can contribute to shoulder dysfunction is the thoracic spine. Sitting in front of a computer all day can cause decreased mobility in the neck and upper back. If theses areas aren’t working correctly they can cause increased stress in other areas such as the shoulders.
In the study below the researches found improving thoracic spine mobility was beneficial in the treatment of shoulder impingement.
“It is beneficial to include treatment to increase thoracic spine mobility within shoulder impingement syndrome management.”
Meadows S, Smith G, Vaswani R. Physiotherapist survey: Increasing thoracic spine movement within the management of chronic subacromial impingement syndrome. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2020 Jan 1;24(1):93-9. Link
Forward head posture can lead to many things! Besides looking bad it can cause such things as headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain as well as TMJ problems.
Highlights from the study show:
Here’s a picture of forward head posture or a poor CVA. The picture to the left is the worse CVA. The one on the right is very good posture.
“We have identified a forward head posture is associated with abnormal autonomic nervous system function and disturbances of cervical sensorimotor control. This finding has important implications for the assessment and rehabilitation of these subjects.”
If you need help with your posture contact the office! We can help!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966636220300059?via%3Dihub
The new craze in standing at your desk has many asking if standing is for them, and how long should they stand for? Does everyone need a standing desk? Not everyone needs a standing desk. If you do have pain with sitting and you sit for your job, then a sit to stand opinion might be for you. Below are some tips to make the transition from sitting all day, to using a sit to standing desk without hurting yourself.
Determining the right pillow is a personal choice that a person will make every so often. When it comes to thinking about sleep equipment, most people solely focus on the mattress. The mattress is one of the most important sleep equipment you will buy, but when it comes to sleep quality pillows are just as important. How you lay your head when sleeping plays a huge role in determining the type of support you need. Pillows not only impact the quality of sleep but can prevent any neck discomfort.
A proper pillow will facilitate a good night’s sleep without you waking up at night or waking up with pain or a stiff neck. Having the wrong pillow over time can exacerbate unnecessary neck pain. There are a few factors that go into making a guide for yourself to determine the proper pillow for you.
Sleeping on your back might appear to be comfy, but will highlight the underlying issue of snoring if you have a pillow that allows your head to sink. As you lay your head back, gravity will push the tongue back and block your throat. A better alternative will be a pillow that offers height, neck support and keeps the throat at a comfortable level.
One of the most common positions to sleep in is on the side. You will need more support to keep the neck at a neutral angle.
Sleeping on your stomach might be comfortable for a few nights, but after a while can become taxing on your back and neck. However, having the right pillow can negate some of these issues. A firm/plump pillow will force your neck into an odd angle that might lead to some discomfort. A better alternative would be a softer option.
On average, a pillow should be replaced every 18 months. The old age rule “ you pay for what you get” applies to this transaction. A higher quality pillow will last longer than an inexpensive option. Something you can do to your pillow to see if you need a new one is, take it out of the pillowcase to see if there are any stains or fold it in half and see if the pillow stays folded. If either of these are a yes then it is time to replace your pillow.
Chiropractic can help headaches! Thru my 20 years of practice I have helped a lot of patients with headaches. It’s nice to see the research is backing up what I and many of my patients have known for years. Chiropractic can help headaches.
Here’s a nice study form Harvard showing that.
1. Researchers from Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and Palmer College of Chiropractic performed a systematic review of the effectiveness of SMT for migraine. They concluded: “We observed that spinal manipulation reduced migraine days as well as migraine pain intensity.” (5)
2. A BMJ study encompassing nearly a quarter-million LBP patients compared initial and long-term opioid use with choice of initial provider. The study concluded: “Patients who received initial treatment from chiropractors or physical therapists had decreased odds of short-term and long-term opioid use compared with those who received initial treatment from primary care physicians.” Drilling beyond the abstract, the data demonstrated that between PT’s and DC’s, chiropractic patients had significantly lower initial and long-term opioid use (0.10 vs. 0.15). (6)
Here are some educational videos to help you out! If you have any questions or need guidance please call the office. 🙂
Active rather than passive treatments are the key to recovering from “Runner’s Knee”, according to new international treatment guidelines co-authored by La Trobe University physiotherapy researcher Dr Christian Barton.
❇️ People with kneecap pain should engage in exercise-therapy, namely hip & knee strengthening
❇️ An exercise program that gradually increases activities such as running, exercise classes, sports, or walking, is the best way to prevent kneecap pain
❇️ Risk of kneecap pain can be reduced through improved leg strength, particularly the thigh muscles
❇️ Pain does not necessarily equate to knee damage
Yes, sleeping in a “bad” position can cause you to have pain. Here are some shoulder positions that could contribute to pain and also recommended solutions that could help prevent pain and help with the healing process.
Many patients have pain in the shoulder when they sleep. One of the most common complaints for patients with shoulder pain is the inability to sleep on the effected side.
There are some common positions that can contribute to shoulder pain. For example, sleeping with the arm in the overhead position. This could lead to impingement of the shoulder muscles. Another position would be sleeping with arm under the pillow while on your stomach. Both of these positions can chronically impinge the rotator cuff (shoulder muscles).
Here are some examples- minus the PJ’s- that could cause shoulder pain.
Solution: Avoid sleeping on the affected side. Consider sleeping supine(on your back) , or with the affected side up, placing a pillow or towel between the arm and body for support and to minimize the effects of traction ischemia. If you have trouble sleeping on the opposite side of the pain you could sleep with something (pillow or towel) between you and the bed. See below for examples.
Some of you might be thinking ‘I’ve slept in this position my whole life and I have no problems.’ That’s great and you might never get shoulder pain from these positions!
Like always, one size does not fit all but if you do have problems the above advice could help with healing faster.
If you’re experiencing pain in your shoulder or need help with sleeping positions please call the office and make an appointment. We can help!
Here’s another study showing that disc herniations can spontaneously resorb. The body has a amazing healing capability! We just need to give it a chance and the correct environment.
In 40 patients with lumbar disc herniation: “Based on MRI disc volume; 10% did not show any regression, 15% had a partial regression, and 75% had a complete resolution. Patients with complete resolution showed a significant improvement in the pain score and the ODI score over time.”
Kesikburun B et al. Spontaneous regression of extruded lumbar disc herniation: Correlation with clinical outcome. Pak J Med Sci. 2019 Jul-Aug;35(4):974-980. Link