Tag Archives: ROM

Posted on

Can Foam Rolling Really Help Prevent Injury?

From a personal and professional point of view, yes!  I believe foam rolling works and can be a useful tool to reduce the risk of injury.  From a research point of view, there are studies that confirm that foam rolling can reduce muscle soreness after exercise and improve range of motion (ROM).  It may also improve recovery times by affecting how quickly a person recovers and performs one to three days post exercise session.

The actual mechanism of how and why foam rolling works is still under debate.  Foam rolling is touted as being a self-myofascial release technique.  Whether or not the fascia is actually being conclusively changed is still under investigation.  What we do know is that the foam roller has positive effects on pain modulation, nervous system control over ROM, and affects blood flow.  Foam rolling is generally not advised for anyone on blood thinning medications or with blood clotting disorders.

Foam rolling is one way to potentially improve fascial mobility.  Fascia is a form of connective tissue that is integrated throughout the body like a spider’s web and is in and around all of the tissues.  Injury, chronic poor posture, training and exercise, nutrition, health status, and even age will affect the health and mobility of the fascia.  When fascia becomes restricted, adhesions form which cause soreness, restricted movement, gait change, and potential injury or illness.

Although research has not conclusively proven exactly how foam rolling affects the fascial system, it appears to have a positive effect by decreasing muscle and joint pain while increasing circulation and improving mobility, balance, and gait mechanics.

Range of Motion

Foam rolling likely has a positive effect on arterial stiffness and can improve arterial and vascular function while also positively affecting joint range of motion (ROM).  The change in arterial and vascular function may in part be why foam rolling (after training) seems to have a positive effect in reducing muscle soreness.

Foam rolling also appears to have a beneficial effect on ROM, and more importantly, it can help improve ROM without negatively affecting performance.  In contrast, static stretching has been shown to impede performance.

Aids in Recovery

Foam rolling may promote more blood flow to the area, which allows the body to eliminate waste more efficiently while providing much needed nutrients to aid in recovery.  Improved recovery is important if you plan to participate in multiple events over multiple days such as a relay or weekend tournament.  It may also allow for more intense and frequent training while reducing injury.

It may aid training during certain cycles when the intensity or volume may be higher or during an overreaching phase of training.  Overreaching is typically a very short and deliberate phase in your training when you have a spike in training volume for a week or two followed by a return to baseline or below which can lead to improvements in performance.  Care must be taken though because overreaching can easily turn into overtraining.

How to choose a foam roller:

Choosing the right size and density of foam roller is important.  Research thus far concludes that a firmer high density foam roller has a more positive treatment effect than a softer version.

Depending on how you personally utilize the roller, the preferred length may vary.  This is also true in regards to the texture on the foam roller.  There are many styles of foam rollers to choose from which vary in texture and size.  Each size has a slightly different purpose and use.

The BLACKROLL® FLOW is one of my favorite compact textured foam rollers.  It’s the perfect size for travel or home use, and I can use it for nearly all of my favorite stretches and mobilizations.  In addition, the texture is just the right amount without being too knobby or aggressive.  I like how easily I can attach it to my work out bag for on the go use as well.

How to use the foam roller:

Foam rolling has many practical uses.  It works best when used over larger muscle groups such as the legs.  It’s my go to tool for addressing mobility issues throughout the thoracic spine.  Individuals taking blood thinning medications or with blood clotting disorders should consult his/her physician prior to using a foam roller for mobilization.

  • I typically recommend one to three minutes of body weight rolling (if it is tolerated) per extremity, and the same for the thoracic, low back, and buttock area.
  • A good rule of thumb is to roll out an area that is tender and sore, or recently worked, until it no longer feels tight and sore.
  • Again approximately one to three minutes per area although this may vary based on your size. Do not roll too quickly.  Be careful to not over do.  One to three minutes per area is typically optimal.
  • In cases of painful areas and injured areas, it’s often more effective to roll out the adjacent and associated areas near the injury area while avoiding the most painful spots.
  • Rather than constantly working directly on the area that causes pain, slowly foam roll your way away from the pain center to the connecting muscles.
  • Increased time will be needed the more developed your muscles are.
  • Be sure to roll the tissues in different positions and postures especially in more lengthened positions.

For more information on the use of a foam roller, please refer to Does Foam Rolling Help or Hurt Performance?

What has been your experience with using the foam roller?  Is it worth the effort?  Please share your comments or questions!

Join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!  If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please e-mail contact@thephysicaltherapyadvisor.com.

Posted on

Preventing Knee Pain

There isn’t a shortage of promising lotions, braces, taping techniques, exercises, and electric modalities when treating knee pain.  Many of these fancy options may or may not work to prevent and/or reduce pain.  There are many potential reasons for experiencing knee pain.  However, an often overlooked cause is the lack of a normal range of motion and tightness in the quadriceps and/or hamstrings.  Getting back to the basics can be an integral component to successfully treating knee pain or preventing further injury.

Potential Risk Factors for Knee Pain:

  • Poor quadriceps strength (particularly, the inner/medial quadriceps).
  • Poor hip abductor and/or hip external rotator strength.
  • Prior knee injury.
  • Over use.
  • Obesity.
  • Poor foot biomechanics including overpronation (when the feet excessively roll inward, which causes the knee to roll inward during each step).
  • A larger “Q-angle” which is the associated angle between the hip and knee.
  • Even anomalies in the shape of one of the bones that make up the knee joint could predispose you to knee pain.

The most obvious (yet rarely talked about) reason for experiencing knee pain directly relates to your range of motion (ROM).  In its simplest form, the knee is a hinge joint.  It bends and straightens (flexes and extends).  If your knee isn’t able to fully bend or straighten because of either excessive quadriceps tightness and/or hamstring tightness, then you’re at an elevated risk for many common knee pain diagnoses including Patellar Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) and Patellar Tendinitis.

Quadriceps Tightness

Poor range of motion in the quadriceps can be associated with a higher risk for developing knee pain.  One potential reason for this is that the quadriceps muscle blends into the quadriceps tendon.  Eventually it attaches to the patella (kneecap) before becoming the patellar tendon where it attaches to the tibial tubercle on the tibial bone (the main lower leg bone).

Excessive tightness will cause alterations in force and tracking of the patella.  This can lead to inflammation and ultimately, pain in or around the structures of the knee (including the patella, quadriceps tendon, patellar tendon, the patellar femoral joint or the infrapatellar fat pad).  The following four muscles make up the quadriceps:  vastus lateralis; vastus medialis; rectus femoris; and the vastus medialis.  The rectus femoris is most likely to be tight as it crosses two joints–both the hip joint and the knee joint.  The other muscles only cross one joint–the knee joint.

Normal range of motion in the quadriceps will vary from person to person (especially, the older you get or if you have a history of injury).  For most healthy and younger to middle aged people, normal range of motion could be defined as the ability to touch your heel to your buttocks with your hip and low back in a neutral (not flexed or extended) position (as demonstrated below).

Regular static stretching and mobilization will help you to improve your range of motion in the quadriceps and ultimately, avoid knee pain. 

Static Stretch

Static stretching is best performed post workouts.  (Static stretching prior to a work out or activity has been shown to decrease performance.)  Hold the following stretch for at least 60 seconds, and perform two to three repetitions.

Quadriceps “Tack and Floss” Mobilization

You can use a foam roller to help mobilize the quadriceps while working on your range of motion.  Position your upper thigh onto the foam roller.  Roll around until you locate a particularly tight and/or restricted area, and then very slowly bend your knee back and forth.  If this is painful, do not exceed more than a mild to moderate amount of pain.  Perform 1-2 minutes on each leg once per day.

Hamstring Tightness

Hamstring tightness can often restrict full knee extension (particularly, during functional activities).  The most common reason for poor hamstring mobility is chronic poor posture while sitting and standing.  Most of us sit for a good portion of the day.  This results in tight hamstrings and increases your risk for experiencing knee pain as well as low back pain.

Poor range of motion can also be a contributing factor to muscle imbalances.  A hamstring that is either too long (over stretched) or a hamstring that is too short and contracted will not generate as much force and strength as a hamstring within its optimal length.  The ability for a muscle to contract optimally is dependent on it being at an optimal length.  This is known as the length tension relationship.

Many people (women in particular) struggle with adequate hamstring strength in relationship to quadriceps strength.  This muscle imbalance can lead to pain and is a major risk factor in suffering an ACL tear.  Therefore, one way to insure proper hamstring strength is to insure proper hamstring length. 

Hamstring Stretch in Doorway 

Static stretching is best performed post workouts.  (Static stretching prior to a work out or activity has been shown to decrease performance.)  Find a doorway and place one leg on the frame and stretch the opposite leg through the doorway.  Try to keep your back with a neutral arch.  As your hamstring relaxes, slowly move closer to the wall or doorframe.  Hold for at least 1 minute per side, and preferably two repetitions per side. 

Hamstring Mobilization Using the Foam Roller 

Place your leg on the foam roller.  Roll your hamstring back and forth on the foam roll.  Move slowly and spend extra time on the more painful areas.  Be sure to mobilize the entire hamstring and feel free to work on other areas of the leg that feel tight or restricted.  If this is painful, do not exceed more than a mild to moderate amount of pain.  Perform for 1-2 minutes per leg.

Don’t forget the basics when it comes to self-treating knee pain.  Lack of range of motion could be the most simple and obvious reason for why you’re experiencing knee pain.  Implement my recommended exercises in order to address any tightness in the quadriceps and/or hamstrings.  Getting back to the basics can be an integral component to successfully treating your knee pain and preventing further injury.

If you’re experiencing knee pain, do you think either poor range of motion and/or tightness in your quadriceps and/or hamstrings are causing it?  Which strategy can you implement to alleviate your pain and prevent injury?  Please share below.

If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please comment below or submit your question to contact@thePhysicalTherapyAdvisor.com.  Be sure to join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!

Posted on

Cupping, Should Runners Try it Too?

mta_cupping

http://marathontrainingacademy.com/cupping

Marathon Training Academy

October 17, 2016

In this guest post for Marathon Training Academy, you will discover what cupping actually is and how to use it to massage and mobilize tissues in order to reduce pain and improve movement.

calfactivemobilizationusingacup

The 2016 Rio Olympics brought new light to an old treatment–cupping.  The world stared as athletes like Michael Phelps proudly displayed his petechia for the world to see.

Petechia is the medical term for the purplish bruise that can form with certain types of cupping techniques.

After seeing so many Olympic athletes with bruises this year, the rest of us were left wondering about this trend of using cupping as a medical treatment or sports enhancement treatment.  Does cupping really work?  Can I utilize cupping as a self-treatment method for common running related pains?  Continue Reading

Posted on

Q & A: A Holistic Approach to Managing Autoimmune Disorders (Myasthenia Gravis)

Q.  I have been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis.  It’s affecting my speech, swallowing, and general head, neck, and arm strength.  Are there certain activities that I should modify or avoid?  Which type of exercise can I perform in order to improve my function?  –Owen

A.  Thanks for your question, Owen, as it presents an opportunity to discuss a very devastating autoimmune disease, Myasthenia Gravis (MG).  Your willingness and desire to maintain your strength and physical function despite the disease is an encouragement to others who may be suffering as well.

Approximately 50 million Americans (20 percent of the population or one in five people) suffer from autoimmune diseases.  Women are more likely than men to be affected.  Some estimates state that 75 percent of those affected are women.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is one of many different types of autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys different parts of the body because it has confused itself with a foreign body or invader.  The body’s own immunogenic response against itself is a challenging and difficult problem to fix.  Although there are many different and evolving treatment methods, most (if not, all) autoimmune disorders are not curable.

manwithhishandonthroat

In the case of MG, it’s considered a neurologic autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks the nerves that control certain muscles of the body.  Symptoms of MG vary wildly and sometimes can be quite severe.  Symptoms may include:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Drooping of one or both eyelids
  • Double vision
  • Altered speech
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Problems chewing
  • Limited facial expressions
  • Weakness in your neck, arms, and legs.  (If the neck is weak, it may be hard to hold up your head.)

Proper medical management is critical in all cases of autoimmune diseases.  Those diagnosed with MG (or any other autoimmune disease) should always be medically managed by a specialist in the disease.  In most cases, management of MG will be overseen by a neurologist (preferably, with experience in treating MG and other neurologic autoimmune diseases).  

In order to best address any autoimmune disorder, a multifactorial approach to managing the disease should be implemented.  Although the condition may affect one specific aspect of your body, a healthy and balanced body will always function better and be more resilient to fight and thrive in spite of the condition.  In addition, it’s important that you and your loved ones learn as much about the disease as possible.

A Holistic Approach to Managing Autoimmune Disorders (Myasthenia Gravis):

  • Medical/Physician Management.  Depending on the condition and triggering events, this may include pharmacological management or surgical intervention.  In the case of MG, the trigger may be a tumor in the thymus gland.  Your physician may order a CT Scan of your chest to screen for a tumor.
  • Speech Therapy.  Often with MG or other autoimmune disorders, you may develop difficulties with swallowing.  I highly recommend that you work with a Speech Therapist (ST).  Speech therapists are highly trained medical professionals that specialize in treating disorders that affect swallowing, speech, and cognition.  They can use very specific treatment modalities from exercise to diet modification.  Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can be utilized to help the muscles responsible for swallowing improve in strength and coordination.
  • Nutritional Management.  Consume foods that promote a low inflammatory diet, including a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids and other natural herbs (like garlic and turmeric) which can naturally lower inflammation.  Consuming food that helps to support the immune system is important because the nervous system is affected by MG and other autoimmune diseases.  This includes a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids and having adequate Vitamin D3 levels.  Include foods that support the nerves and are typically high in good fats such as avocados, coconut oil, and healthier fish (such as sardines and wild caught salmon).  If you’re experiencing difficulty with swallowing, be sure that your food is prepared in such a way that you can safely eat and that it’s in accordance to advice from your speech therapist.
  • Weight Management.  It’s important to manage your weight effectively.  Excessive body weight can cause additional stress on the body.  Whenever possible, work toward optimizing your health.  This includes maintaining a healthy body weight.  Depending on the autoimmune disease and your body in particular, this may also mean maintaining enough body weight.
  • Activity Modification.  As the disease progresses, it’s important to understand how your body is functioning, and then learn how to adapt to manage the disease.  Unfortunately, certain activities and how you perform them will need to be modified or avoided.  Learn to pace yourself and take more frequent rest breaks.  Adequate night time sleep is also critical.  If any of your joints are affected, learning to limit the use and strain on them will be important.  Utilize adaptive devices (such as a cane) in order to limit the strain placed on your body during activities.  An assistive device will allow you to be mobile and will reduce your risk of falling.
  • Modalities.  This is a broad category, but there are many ancillary treatments that can be utilized to help you feel more comfortable.  The good news is that they rarely have associated side effects.  In general, the application of heat, cold, or over the counter (OTC) topical agents, such as Arnica Montana (an herbal rub) or Biofreeze, may help you to manage pain and stiffness.  Gentle massage and TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, a form of electrical stimulation performed by a physical therapist) may also be beneficial for pain relief.  TENS is different than the neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) used by speech therapy.  TENS is used for pain control only.
  • Limit Stress.  Often in cases of autoimmune disorders and in particular, MG, poor stress management will lead to worsening symptoms.  The ability to effectively manage stress will be critical in managing your symptoms.  There are many different methods to help you manage stress more effectively.  Common methods include:  meditation; journaling; deep breathing; Tai Chi; and yoga.  You may also need to reconsider certain friendships and relationships in your life.  The key to effectively managing stress is to find an enjoyable activity, and then stick with it.  This is a process–a journey (not a destination).
  • Exercise.  Implementing exercise in order to promote general health will not only help you to feel better, but it will optimize your well-being during this very difficult time.
    • Strength Training.  Strength training is encouraged, and the exercise program should be established by a professional who is familiar with managing MG.  All exercises should be performed in a slow and controlled environment within the available range of motion (ROM).  Maintaining muscle mass through strength training is critical and should be performed only one to two times per week to minimize any risk of over fatigue.
    • Endurance Training.  Endurance training is critical for general health and should be included as part of a comprehensive exercise program for individuals with MG.  Focus on less impact activities such as bicycling, rowing, and water aerobics.  Avoid excessive fatigue.
    • Flexibility Training.  Flexibility training is important for everyone as part of a healthy lifestyle.  Take every joint through a full ROM at least once a day.  I highly encourage a regular two to three times a week flexibility program in addition to a daily ROM program.  Tai Chi and yoga both also address aspects of strength and balance and are wonderful for managing stress.  Other options include:  Pilates; water aerobics; and a stretching routine.
    • Aquatic Therapy.  Water can also be very useful in pain control and help with relaxation.  Many find that performing a regular exercise program in an aquatic environment can satisfy most exercise needs, including flexibility and strength.

Managing an autoimmune disorder, such as MG, is difficult and everyone’s journey will be different.  Your specific treatment protocol should be individualized based on your specific condition, how the symptoms are affecting you (which will vary over time), and your current health status.

Thanks, Owen, for the question.  I hope you find this information to be helpful as you manage your condition.

What has your experience with managing autoimmune disorders been like?  Are there any treatments that have or have not worked well for you?  Additional discussion can help others to manage these difficult diseases as well.  Please leave your comments below.

If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please e-mail contact@thePhysicalTherapyAdvisor.com.  Be sure to join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!

Disclaimer:  The Physical Therapy Advisor blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice.  No health care provider/patient relationship is formed.  The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at your own risk.  The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Do not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition you may have.  Please seek the assistance of your health care professionals for any such conditions.

Posted on

Exercise as Medicine

The United States health care system is set up to manage ongoing chronic disease and illness–not to promote health.  It often seems as if there isn’t any incentive to actually cure disease at all, but only to manage and extend the latent period of the disease.

Meanwhile, there is an ironic dichotomy in which the national media loves to cover the lifespan revolution.  Some believe that we are the cusp of significantly advancing the length a person can live.  Sadly, the actual average number of years a person is expected to live remains stable or in many cases, actually decreasing.  This is entirely due to poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and environmental factors.  The United States continues to not even rank in the top 25 in world health statistics.

Yet, we spend more money on healthcare per capita and per person than any other country in the world!  Health care costs in the United States continue to increase without actual positive change in health status.  It is imperative that we all take a leadership role in our own health care by continuing to be proactive.

American society today is not healthy.  We continue to live in a fast paced, stressed out, and chronically ill environment.  People continue to suffer from preventable diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart disease.  Even diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s can potentially be prevented with the right health choices.

The promise of a long life is appealing.  But is a long life really what you want if it’s lacking quality?  Increasing the number of years you live is not as important as increasing the way you can live those added years.  Spending an extra 5 or 25 years alive, but ill, is a curse not a blessing.

We all must take an active role in taking charge of our health and wellbeing.  Prevention must be the focus.  I believe that each one of us should develop our own health plan which will allow us to improve health span and lifespan.  There are very simple and scientifically proven techniques that can help you to address and prevent many of the most common chronic illnesses affecting the population in the United States and the Western World.  A new approach to health and medicine must be to understand that exercise is medicine.  When exercise is properly dosed for the individual, both lifespan and health span will improve.

Physical factors that address health span, which is the period of time during one’s life that you are generally healthy and free from disease, include strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance.  These same factors all contribute to your body’s physical resiliency and generally, your mobility.  Maintaining your mobility is critical for all body functions and is fundamental in avoiding chronic illness.

Physical factors that address health span include:

Strength

The importance of strength training cannot be overstated in helping your body prevent chronic disease and illness while maintaining resiliency and mobility.  Properly dosed strength training programs are critical in avoiding chronic illnesses such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and osteopenia.  It provides positive effects to your muscular and cardiovascular system which can reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  Strength training also plays a critical role in proper hormone regulation throughout your life which can affect almost every process occurring in the body.

ManDumbbellWeightTraining

The guiding principle for strength training is The Overload Principle.  Resistance or strength training is commonly used to produce an overload of the body’s system.  An example would be any type of pushing or pulling exercise that exerts a force on the muscle, which causes it to work harder than it would normally.

The key to all training is that the system must be properly overloaded to produce the desired effect.  Too little, and you will not receive a positive benefit.  Too much, and you risk injury.  The overload principle must guide all exercise routines if there is to be actual success and benefit from the program.  The overload principle must include a progressive linear model to adding resistance to insure ongoing stimulation of the body’s systems and to avoid injury or plateau of benefits.

Although any properly dosed/prescribed form of resistive exercise would be beneficial, the most effective exercises either activate large muscle groups and/or load the skeletal system.  Examples include squats, lunges, and dead lifts.

Balance

Balance is affected by many of the body’s systems.  Like muscle, balance can be a use it or lose it proposition and therefore, must be part of any health plan program.  Improving your balance is critical to avoiding falling as you age.  Falling continues to be a top cause of injury and debility in the older population.

A quick daily balance routine can greatly reduce your risk of falling.  Please refer to the following resources to get started:  How Do I Improve Balance? (Part I), How Do I Improve Balance? (Part II), and Improving Balance by Using a Water Noodle.

Flexibility

A range-of-motion (ROM) or flexibility program should include many components including gentle mobility exercises as well as static or dynamic stretching to insure proper body mobility.  Stretching is ideally performed 10-15 minutes at a time five days per week.  An excellent time to work on a flexibility program is after a workout.  Static stretching is an excellent method to maintain flexibility, and it’s ideal to perform during a cool down.

Tai Chi is an excellent form of exercise that positively affects your flexibility, strength, and stability while stimulating the somatosensory system.  Yoga, like Tai Chi, also addresses many of these same areas.

Foam rolling is also an excellent method to improve flexibility.  Individuals taking blood thinning medications or with blood clotting disorders should consult his/her physician prior to using a foam roller for mobilization.

For more information on flexibility, please refer to How to Maintain Healthy Joint Motion.

Endurance

The research on the effectiveness of HIT continues to grow.  Even more impressive are the findings that HIT can be safely performed at any age and with almost every medical condition.  It is now even being implemented in many progressive Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Programs, where people are recovering from all kinds of cardiac and pulmonary disorders such as COPD, heart attacks, and heart valve replacements.

Perform your cardio activity in short bursts (ranging from 30-60 seconds at a time) followed by a one to two minute recovery.  The 30-60 seconds should be at a high intensity, meaning your rate of perceived exertion (RPE) is high.  You should be breathing heavy.

Accommodations can be made for almost any type of medical condition.  For example, HIT may be performed while using a stationary bicycle, an upper body only bicycle, a rowing machine or in the pool.  You can also walk uphill at a quick pace, then stop and rest.  The point is to get your heart rate up, and then bring it back down for a full recovery prior to repeating.

The exercise as medicine concept needs to be embraced by health care consumers and healthcare practitioners alike.  The only way to truly affect your health span and age well is to take responsibility for your own body.  The key to any longevity or healthy aging program is to remain engaged in all aspects of your life (including your physical, mental, and emotional health).

When implementing your own health plan, which of the four physical factors (strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance) will you take action on in order to improve your health span and life span?  Please leave your comments below.

If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please comment below or submit your question to contact@thePhysicalTherapyAdvisor.com.  Be sure to join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!

Posted on

How to use a Foam Roller

This video on the basics of foam rolling was recorded during a seminar for CrossFitters. The seminar focused on how to use the foam roller in order to help prevent shoulder, upper back, and neck pain.

The foam roller is a wonderful tool which allows you as an independent user to manipulate the body’s soft tissues which has a potential positive effect on the fascial system, the musculotendinous system, and the circulatory system. (Individuals taking blood thinning medications or with blood clotting disorders should consult his/her physician prior to using a foam roller for mobilization.)

Possible reasons to utilize the foam roller include:

  • A method to perform self myofascial release.
  • It can be used as a mobilization tool for soft tissues even near or around boney articulations.
  • It is an excellent tool for home exercise programs.
  • It can be easily adapted for use on multiple areas of the body.
  • An effective tool which one can easily travel with.

How should I use the foam roller?

  • I typically recommend one to three minutes of body weight rolling (if it is tolerated) per extremity, and the same for the thoracic, low back, and buttock area.
  • A good rule of thumb is to roll out an area that is tender and sore (or recently worked) until it no longer feels tight and sore.
  • Again, approximately one to three minutes per area although this may vary based on your size. Increased time will be needed the more developed your muscles are.
  • Use the foam roll on tight or restricted areas prior to performance without risk of deleterious effects (unlike static stretching).
  • Use the foam roll after exercise or competition to speed up recovery times and decrease the risk of muscle soreness or restriction.
  • The foam roller can also be used as an aid to increase the intensity of a stretch during static stretching activities.

Foam rollers come in many different lengths and sizes. Each size has a slightly different purpose and use.  For most individuals, the three foot long by six inch diameter size will be the most versatile.  You can purchase a quality foam roller for a good price online on Amazon.

For photos and detailed descriptions of the exercises which I demonstrated in the video, opt-in to my e-mail list for instant access to My Top 8 Stretches to Eliminate Neck, Upper Back, and Shoulder Pain.

For more information on the use of a foam roller, please refer to Does Foam Rolling Help or Hurt Performance?

What has your experience been like with using the foam roller? Is it worth the effort?  Please share your comments or questions below.

Join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!  If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please e-mail contact@thephysicaltherapyadvisor.com.

Posted on

How to Maintain Healthy Joint Motion

Healthy aging could be defined as having the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual capacity to live life on your terms. Maintaining adequate health is a combination of physical strength, cardiovascular endurance, joint motion, and balance in order to perform activities of daily living (ADLs).  This includes any or all desired tasks, such as picking up your grandchildren, to playing golf or running.

The ability to move a joint through its full range of motion (ROM) is critical in maintaining the ability to perform many important functional tasks. Imagine trying to lift a box overhead with a shoulder that only has half its motion.  That makes for a very difficult task.  There are many reasons for loss of joint motion:  muscle or tendon tears; generalized muscle weakness; paralysis; and severe arthritis.

Typically, osteoarthritis (OA) will occur in a joint that has previously been injured or one that doesn’t adequately move. Movement allows the proper nutrients to be circulated through the blood and synovial fluid that coats and lubricates the joint.  There are also genetic factors that may predispose a person to developing OA, which is one of 171 different types of arthritis.

How can you best maintain joint mobility throughout the aging process? What is the minimum effective dose to help insure joint mobility as you age well? The key to maintaining mobility is to take each joint of the body through its full range of motion (ROM) at least once per day.

ShoulderPulleyExercise

A crucial component to joint health and mobility is to insure that the joint surfaces remain coated with the body’s natural lubricant known as synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is best circulated in joints through mobility.  To insure that the entire joint surface is coated, a full arc of motion needs to be performed.

By performing a full arc of motion for each joint, you also insure that the associated ligaments, tendons, and musculature can accommodate for this motion and won’t shorten over time due to lack of use. Moving each joint through a full ROM daily is the key to maintaining motion.  In order to insure optimized healthy aging, it’s best to move that joint frequently.

The latest research indicates that sitting for more than two hours at a time can significantly lessen your life span. The real headline should read, “Even if you are a regular exerciser, sitting for more than two hours a day will still lower your life span.”

Frequent movement throughout the entire day is critical for health.  This includes frequent mobility as it is important for joint health as well as critical for cardiovascular health. Ideally, you should choose movements and exercises that are functional and address multiple joints at the same time.

How to Maintain Healthy Joint Motion:

  • The Squat. The squat activates nearly all of the muscles in the lower leg. It also takes the hips and knees into end range flexion as well as the ankles into near end range dorsiflexion. The squat is particularly effective at activating the muscles in the legs referred to as the posterior chain, which includes the hamstrings, the glutes (or buttock muscles), and the hip adductors (or the groin muscles). It also activates muscles in the hips, the calves, the stabilizing muscles in the ankles, the quadriceps, and as well as the core (the abdominals and lumbar extensor muscles). These muscles are critical for all functional mobility related movements, including walking; getting up from a chair or a toilet; or picking up someone or something. For more information on squatting, please refer to 7 Reasons Why the Squat is Fundamental to Life.
  • Tai Chi and Yoga. Tai Chi, yoga, and Qigong all implement slow simple movements into a full body exercise that can help you to maintain your mobility, balance, strength, and general health as you age.
  • Stretching and Self-Mobilization. There are generally 5 Ways to Improve Range of Motion when utilizing different stretching methods or self-mobilization. Using a foam roller is an excellent method to decrease pain and improve mobility throughout the hip and pelvis. For more information on how to use a foam roller, please refer to Foam Rolling for Rehabilitation.
  • Shoulder Pulley. A simple, yet popular, method to maintain shoulder motion is through a shoulder pulley. Shoulder pulleys are an excellent way to use active assistive motion to regain motion in the shoulder post injury or surgery. I also instruct many of my clients to utilize shoulder pulleys for pain management as well as a prevention strategy for arthritis and loss of shoulder motion and function.

Maintaining adequate joint mobility and range of motion is an important component in healthy aging and can be a critical strategy in order to avoid many orthopaedic or arthritic conditions. Be proactive now, so you can save yourself from experiencing pain and debility in the future. It’s never too early or too late to implement strategies to help you age well!

Which strategy do you use to maintain your joint range of motion and mobility? It could be as simple as using the foam roller or a shoulder pulley.  Please leave your comments below.

Looking for that exercise or book I mentioned in a post?  Forgot the name of a product or supplement that you’re interested in?  It’s all listed in the Resource Guide. Check it out today!

If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please comment below or submit your question to contact@thePhysicalTherapyAdvisor.com. Be sure to join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!

Posted on

Q & A: Running Injuries

MTA_RunningInjuries

http://marathontrainingacademy.com/running-injuries

Marathon Training Academy

February 11, 2016

Do you want to meet your fitness goals? Avoiding injury is critical! In this podcast interview with Marathon Training Academy, I discuss common running injuries and self-treatment strategies.

RunningInjuryOnCalfRunning injuries! In this episode we invite Dr. Ben Shatto on the podcast and fire away with injury related questions sent in by Academy members.

You will learn when to self-treat an injury versus visiting a physical therapist, how to pick a PT, and great questions and answers about glutes, hamstrings, and muscle imbalances. Lots to love!  Listen to the podcast

Disclaimer: This blog post and podcast are not meant to replace the advice of your doctor/health care provider, or speak to the condition of one particular person but rather give general advice.

Posted on

How to Properly Perform Pendulum Exercises

In this video, I demonstrate the proper technique for performing shoulder pendulum exercises. Shoulder pendulum exercises are frequently utilized early in the rehabilitation process to help maintain a basic amount of shoulder motion as well as to promote blood flow to aid in the healing process.  When performed correctly, these important exercises provide very little stress to the recovering structures.  Pendulum exercises help to maintain a baseline amount of motion which is critical in promoting blood flow for proper tissue healing, for pain management, and in order to avoid frozen shoulder syndrome (adhesive capsulitis).  Shoulder pendulum exercises are typically one of the first exercises allowed post-surgery or shoulder injury in conjunction with elbow, hand, and wrist exercises (depending on the injury).

In this video, I explain the basics of how to properly perform pendulum exercises. Although these exercises are basic, they are typically performed incorrectly by utilizing active motion instead of a passive motion.  Pendulum exercises are commonly utilized after rotator cuff repair, sub acromial decompression surgery, collarbone fracture and/or surgery, total shoulder replacement/total shoulder arthroplasty, and frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).

Have you performed shoulder pendulum exercises before? If so, did you make these common mistakes?  Please leave your comments below.

If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please comment below or submit your question to contact@thePhysicalTherapyAdvisor.com. Be sure to join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!

Posted on

How to Use Shoulder Pulleys to Regain Shoulder Motion

In this video, I demonstrate how to utilize over-the-door shoulder pulleys.  Shoulder pulleys are an excellent way to use active assistive motion to regain motion in the shoulder post injury or surgery.  In this video, I explain the basics of how the shoulder pulley works.  They are frequently utilized early in the rehabilitation process to not only help regain motion, but to also promote blood flow which aids in the healing process.

Shoulder pulleys are commonly utilized after rotator cuff repair, sub acromial decompression surgery, collarbone fracture and/or surgery, total shoulder replacement/total shoulder arthroplasty, and frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).  I also instruct many of my clients to utilize shoulder pulleys for pain management as well as a prevention strategy for arthritis and loss of shoulder motion and function.

Have you used shoulder pulleys before? If so, what was your favorite way to utilize them?  Please leave your comments below.

If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please comment below or submit your question to contact@thePhysicalTherapyAdvisor.com. Be sure to join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!