Back problems
Shoulder pain
Frozen Shoulder
Wrist pain
Foot pain
Plantar Fasciitis
Ankle injuries
Poor Balance
Pre and Post surgery recovery
Back Pain:
Low back pain is single most common reason people seek care.
What is causing low back pain?
There are a number of tissues in the body that can cause low back pain: bones, discs, nerves, muscles, kidneys and other organs. That is where most therapists focus their examination and treatment, but most often an underlying dysfunction of the core is the problem and the back pain is only a symptom. When we evaluate back pain we look at the whole body from head to toe to see how the body is functioning together as a unit. You may have been diagnosed with a disc bulge ( which is only a symptom of dysfunction) , but if the disc is not the cause of the pain, as most back pain sufferers find out, treating the disc will not make the pain go away. Only after restoring function to the core muscles can they be strengthened to provide support for the low back. Fortunately this can be accomplished even after surgery.
Shoulder pain / Frozen Shoulder/ Rotator cuff:
Dysfunction of the shoulder area usually involves several components; muscles, fascia, joints, the nervous system, and underlaying trauma. All of the above components must be evaluated and treated if full function is to be restored. Tears to the rotator cuff can be healed without surgery if function is restored to the supporting muscles, and only after function has been restored can rehab begin.
Wrist pain / carpal tunnel:
Often pain to the wrist and forearm is not a problem in the carpal tunnel but rather referred pain coming from dysfunctional muscles in the upper back, shoulder, or forearm region. This is the reason carpal tunnel surgery often fails.
Foot pain / Plantar fasciitis:
If you don’t use it you lose it. As a society we do not use our feet. Our disused foot muscles become weak and shrink (atrophy), ligaments and fascia become tight to do the job of the muscles. Supports, braces, and orthotics only perpetuate or exacerbate the problem. The muscles can and must be turned back on, joints adjusted and mobilized to properly restoring full function to the feet.
Balance:
Balance problems are not a natural condition of aging! Balance or lack of balance is a functional issue. Balance starts with our connection to our core muscles. The core connects to the hips allowing stability, balance, mobility. There are three key muscles in the hips that must function for hip balance. Knee and ankle strength and function are also important factors for balance. Muscles in the upper and lower legs effecting the knee and ankle joints are often imbalanced causing disfunction and balance problems. Balance problems can be corrected by reactivating muscles and using proper balance exercises.