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Our blog will feature our Healthy Lifestyle article on Ang Peryodiko Newspaper: Rehab and Exercise Tips. This will also be a guide to our Rehab and Therapy clients.
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Written by: Emilie Smale, Certified Athletic Therapist The shoulder is a very mobile joint comprised of many muscles, ligaments, and tendons. With so many different structures in a small space, impingement and pain in the shoulder is very common. Your shoulder is made up of three bones; your upper arm (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), and collarbone (clavicle). The three bones are held together with ligaments and supported by muscles. The muscles that are primarily involved in shoulder impingements are the rotator cuff muscles. A shoulder impingement is when there is decreased space between the top point of your shoulder blade (acromion) and the rotator cuff tendons. This decreased space causes rubbing/friction, resulting in pain, decreased range of motion, and often decreased strength due to pain.  Image Source: https://movementsolutions-sc.com/ his injury is common in all ages. It is seen most often in sports where the arm is overhead, such as volleyball, swimming, and baseball. Have you been remodeling your house during quarantine? It is also seen in people who frequently do activities such as painting and construction due to the overuse of overhead motions. It has also been seen in people who do a lot of computer work caused by a slouched, internally rotated shoulder position. Things to look for if you suspect a shoulder impingement injury:
This injury can be frustrating for the individual to live with as it may hinder many activities of daily living. Luckily, there is hope. Once you have been diagnosed with this injury, your treatment plan will most likely involve a combination of heat, massage, and postural corrective exercises. See below for a variety of exercises to try to rehab a shoulder impingement. These exercises will help strengthen the upper back and posterior shoulder muscles, helping to keep your shoulders pulled back and out of that impinged position. Prone I Y TLaying face down, tuck your chin in and pull your shoulder blades back. Try to keep shoulders out of a shrugged position and away from your ears.
Banded External RotationAnchor your band next to your uninjured arm. Reach across your body to grab the band with your injured arm. Keeping your elbow at a 90-degree angle, shoulders pulled back and down, and your elbow tucked into your side, pull the band across your body and slowly return to the starting position.
With your back to a wall, place your shoulder blades, bent arms, and low back flat against the wall. Slowly slide your arms up the wall, maintaining contact, as if making a snow angel. Only lift your arms to a comfortable position, then slowly slide back down to the starting position.
This injury often involves tight chest (pectoral) muscles pulling your shoulder forward into an impinged position. Try this stretch to help increase the flexibility of your pectoralis muscles.  Image Source: https://www.acefitness.org/
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Written by: Taylor Post, Certified Athletic Therapist  With gyms closed and the weather turning warmer, many people are lacing up their running shoes and hitting the streets/trails for exercise. Running, when done properly, is one of the most physically beneficial forms of exercise that we can do. It builds cardiovascular fitness and improves overall muscle strength. Just be sure to maintain proper social distance of course! Running can also however, put the body under high levels of stress, particularly the muscles and joints. This is especially true when there are drastic changes in a persons training such as increases in intensity or distances being covered. Today we will discuss six of the most common overuse injuries seen in runners and identify the common risk factors for these types of chronic injuries. In part II, we will discuss how to prevent these injuries from occurring.
2. Achilles Tendonitis Achilles Tendonitis involves painful inflammation of the Achilles tendon. This tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. Most often the pain is noticed more before and after exercise but improves while running. As tendonitis progresses, the tendon begins to degenerate (micro tears), swells, and thickens. Left untreated, the tendon may become permanently damaged or can even lead to partial tear or complete rupture. 3. IT Band Friction Syndrome The IT Band is a long structure that runs on the outside of the leg and connects muscles at the hip to the knee via a thick band of fascia. It acts as an important stabilizer during running. The tendon passes over the bone as the knee flexes, and this can lead to a large amount of friction, especially in cases of increased workload. IT Band Friction Syndrome is typically classified by a sharp or burning pain, and/or swelling on the lateral (outside) aspect of the knee.
5. Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the toes (plantar fascia). The pain typically feels like a dull ache or bruise along the arch or on the bottom of the heel. Most individuals first notice this injury when they have severe pain with their first few steps in the morning. The pain typically decreases once people are up and moving, but it might return after long periods of standing or upon standing after being seated. This condition is quite common in runners and individuals who are overweight. 6. Stress Fracture Unlike an acute fracture that happens as the result of a slip or fall, stress fractures develop as a result of cumulative strain on the bone. Stress fractures are very small cracks in bones, most often caused by overuse or repetitive movements like running. Runners most often have stress fractures in their tibias (shin), metatarsals (feet), or calcaneus (heels). At first, the pain associated with a stress fracture may be barely noticeable, but it tends to worsen with time. The tenderness usually starts at a specific spot and decreases during rest. There may be swelling around the painful area. Who’s at risk? While all these injuries have unique features and characteristics, there are many common factors that can put a person at risk for an overuse injury when running. The biggest being a sudden increase in the amount of intensity of training. Avoid doing too much too soon and start slow if you are new to running. Other important risk factors are: Wearing improper or worn out footwear.
If you or someone you know is experiencing pain while running it is best to seek a proper assessment of the injury. A Certified Athletic Therapist is a great resource for diagnosing, treating and ideally PREVENTING injuries. Send us a message, we would love to hear from you and be sure to check out Part II of this series for more information. |
AuthorTeam Insahyu: Certified Athletic Therapists. CategoriesAll Anatomy Arms Athletic Tape Athletic Therapy Back Pain Conditions Elbows Exercises Healthy Lifestyle Hips Knees Orthotics Pregnancy Rehab Tips Running Shoulders Stretching Tips Treatments Winter Wrists |
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