Spine surgeries are almost never the first option for a person with lower back pain or radicular pain (i.e. sciatica), but when conservative treatment with PT, injections, and other treatments have failed, it may be time to discuss surgical options with your doctor. A common lumbar surgery which is less invasive than a fusion orRead More…
Improving thoracic spine mobility to address postural dysfunctionFalling into the same few postures habitually can limit mobility and over time may lead to dysfunctional movement or pain. Spending more and more time hunched over computers and smartphones is leading to postures of rounded shoulders and forward head. At the heart of this issue is theRead More…
Grading is the KeyGroin strains are prevalent injuries that occur in the active and athletic population; especially with activities that include repetitive twisting, turning, sprinting and kicking. Injury usually occurs in 3 ways: blunt trauma, repetitive injury through overuse, and forceful contraction. Groin strains, like all muscles strains, are graded by severity:Grade 1 – minimal toRead More…
Stay Injury FREE during winter activities Attention all snowboarders & skiers!! Yes exercising in general will keep you injury free and ready for the mountain. We have been getting some inquiries about what exercises may benefit snowboarding & skiing. All exercises can aid in keeping you strong and healthy for the mountains. A few things to keepRead More…
Strong scaps = stronger swimmer. Here’s how better scapular stability will help you swim faster and avoid injury.KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS HEALTH THROUGH OUT THE SEASONYou constantly are pushing your shoulders over the season. Rotating, pulling, and pushing for hours on end each day, week after week, for years on end! Believe it or not almostRead More…
Unlocking the full potential of your hips will improve your performance in & out the gym. The hips are the power house to so many athletic movements. It’s not secret that compound movements such as the deadlift, squats, etc help improve athletic performance. But we can also be putting the breaks on our performance ifRead More…
ACL Injuries is the most common injury on & off the field. Very common in collegiate and high school athletes of all sports. My personal thoughts on this issue is that many athletes are receiving poor training programs and poor feedback. This blog & video will touch upon the mechanics of jumping and landing properly. LandingRead More…
We have all been there! Our wrist start to ache and triceps are sore the day after being a front rack position in the gym. John points out the common mistakes that are made when loading the front rack position. Give these tips a try! Improve your performance in the gym today and avoid painRead More…
ACL Reconstruction: Phase 1 (early strengthening)After your first 1-2 weeks of surgery, your knee should start to feel more comfortable and you should be able to tolerate more exercise in physical therapy. During this phase you will continue to protect your recent ACL graft in PT by gradually progressing your knee flexion (bending) range ofRead More…
Train smarter, not harder to get to the finish line There are people all over the world right now logging miles to prep for the title “marathon finisher”. With all those people running all those miles, there are a lot of injuries waiting to happen. Here are a few tips to make the most ofRead More…
A bulging or herniated disc occurs when an intervertebral disc, which serves as a cushion between the vertebrae, loses its typical shape and compresses a spinal nerve. To understand what a bulging or herniated disc is, let’s dive into what a intervertebral disc is. An intervertebral disc has two main parts: an outer shell ofRead More…
To be specific with when & who should be doing plyometrics. We will be talking about the last rehab phase of ACL Reconstruction. The last phase should be focused on preparing for return to sport. Jumping and hopping should be consecutive and performed in all planes of motion. Running and sprinting should be initiated andRead More…
Tennis elbow is a classic repetitive strain injury. Repetitive strain injury a combination of chronic exhaustion and irritation in the muscles and tendons on the back of the arm and the outside of the elbow, which extend the wrist and fingers. Hotter, sharper pain right at the elbow often indicates a classic case dominated byRead More…
The Importance of Strengthening Foot and Ankle Musculature for Arch ControlPes planus is a condition characterized by a low or non-existent arch at the inside of the foot. For some individuals pes planus may be primarily structural, present from a young age and carrying through into adulthood. For others, pes planus can develop secondary toRead More…
Scapular dyskinesis refers to the abnormal mobility or function of the scapula ( Shoulder blade). The scapula fulfills many roles to facilitate optimal function of the shoulder. Commonly, scapular winging is thought of being the result of muscle weakness or imbalance, as well as poor timing of muscular contraction. It can also develop from poor overheadRead More…
We go to work hoping our days spent at the office will challenge us professionally, but in reality, living the 9-to-5 desk jockey life can be demanding on the health and wellness front, too. You can blame your desk job all you want. The real blame is how LONG you’re sitting for. The issue isRead More…
ATHLETE SPONSORSHIPAre you an athlete looking to enhance your performance? Looking for a way to recover faster, learn more about your body, and have the support of a team at your events? Iron Health Physical Therapy is now offering Sponsored Athlete opportunities to individuals who take their fitness seriously and are looking to help represent aRead More…
Let’s talk about Golfers. Most of the time coaches forget that Golfers are Power Athletes! Where does the power come from? The Hips! The sequence of power for the Golf swing is very similar to sequences we see in other throwing and rotational events. If you scroll down below we have both Mobility & StrengtheningRead More…
Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is a training method partially restricting Arterial Flow and fully restricting Venous Outflow in working muscles during exercise. BFR dates back to the 60’s, Dr. Yoshiaki Sato in Japan, where it was known as “Kaatsu Training,” meaning training with added pressure. Now Kaatsu Training is performed all over the world andRead More…
Whole Body Cryotherapy…what is it? How would I benefit from it? Alright let’s start off by translating what Cryotherapy means. Cryotherapy translates to “cold treatment.” Cryotherapy is a procedure that exposes the body to temperatures colder than -200 degrees Fahrenheit for three minutes. The smoke you see is liquid nitrogen (no it will not freeze youRead More…
Hitting a ceiling in your performance? Can’t seem to break through weight on your big lifts? Are your shoulders achy and tender? Then this article is for you! The Shoulder is a hypermobile joint. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy I see a ton of people come in with complaints of shoulder pain and usually waitRead More…
The hips are a power house of the body. Hip strength, development, and mobility are crucial to success in any athlete venture. I treat too many athletes with hip injuries that require them to miss practice time from their sport or even stop working out! The majority of hip injuries I see happen either early inRead More…
Restful Recovery – Sleep Better, Feel BetterSleep hygiene consists of a set of behaviors and environmental settings designed to promote good, restorative sleep. In a society where productivity reigns and we try to cram as many activities into our waking hours as possible, what we really need is a period of restfulness to recharge andRead More…
Gait Analysis and Modification to Prevent Overuse Injuries in RunnersWith the multitude of trends and literature out there on different styles or patterns of running, it is difficult to determine what is the best approach for enhancing performance and injury prevention. Individual running form is often a reflection of not only training and skill level,Read More…