Benefits of Dry Needling: Pain Relief & Recovery

By Ariana Maxwell Dry Needling: A Comprehensive Guide to Pain Relief and Athletic Performance Enhancement The benefits of dry needling are why so many physical therapists use it: this therapeutic technique decreases muscle tension, resets the nervous system, and reduces pain. This technique involves inserting a thin needle into the skin and muscle of the targeted area. Often, when the needle is inserted, you may feel a muscle twitch, especially if the muscle is tight—this is a sign that the needle is effectively targeting the trigger point. What to Expect After…

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The FACTS About Low Back Pain and Golf

Golf often has the reputation of being a low intensity sport which places little stress upon the body. Those who play golf will tell you that is far from the case. As an avid golfer myself and Physical Therapist, I can testify that golf is a demanding sport on the body and golf health is something that is important to address for anyone who plans to pursue the lifelong game. The most common golf-related injury is low back pain (LBP) with 15-35% of amateurs and 55% of professionals experiencing LBP…

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Powerlifting with Pain

Oftentimes when pain is felt during training we sometimes fall into the trap of “rest it and wait until it feels better”. Although this sometimes may be necessary, there are often other ways to continue to train around your pain. If you get pain with a lift, rather than immediately stop doing the lift, it can sometimes be a good idea to slightly alter the lift and then continue to address the impairment that is contributing to the pain in order to prevent regression. Examples  Low back pain while deadlifting…

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The Longest Drive

Tips for driving with low back pain By Maria Nasralla, PT, DPT, COMT Are you experiencing a recent onset of low back pain but are set to go on a very long weekend trip? You were excited to get out of town, but now dread sitting in the car? Sitting and driving is one of those activities that are hard to avoid, but depending on what is causing the back pain, can also make it so much worse. There are some adjustments that you can make proactively if you are…

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Spinal Manipulation For Back Pain

Back and neck pain are two of the most common reasons why individuals seek care from a health professional. A popular manual treatment technique at the back and neck is a thrust manipulation. Most people at some point in their life have seen a YouTube video of someone causing a loud crunching sound after manipulating someone’s back, but does it help reduce pain and improve function? Current research suggests that spinal manipulation can be an effective technique when addressing back pain. The following is a guide for those who are…

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