Physical Therapy 101

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating chronic condition that affects joints. It is one of the key conditions treated during orthopedic rehabilitation.  The main cause of osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the cartilage. Most commonly, arthritis affects weight bearing joints, such as knees and hips.  It may also affect the spine, including neck and lower back, shoulders,…

A trigger point is a knot in the center of a muscle belly.  It feels like a lump under fingertips the size of 2-10 mm.  Some trigger points are painless, while others are hyperirritable and may produce pain syndrome locally or referred to another body part.  Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain that arises from…

The Epley maneuver is a specific type of exercises that is used to treat BPPV (benign paroxysmal positive vertigo).  Its main focus is to reposition calcium crystals in order to alleviate the symptoms of dizziness,  spinning and loss of balance.   Once your therapist has introduced you to the maneuver and instructed you on its proper…

Therapeutic ultrasound technology is a treatment modality utilized in physical therapy. Therapists utilize these modalities to provide deep heating to soft tissues (e.g., ligaments, joints, tendons, and muscles) in their patients’ bodies. It is important not to confuse physical therapy’s version of ultrasound with diagnostic ultrasound. The latter is used to examine the inside of…

An ACL tear is mostly common during sports that involve a sudden change in direction or stop. Downhill skiing, soccer, football and basketball are some of these sports. Gymnasts may also accidentally twist their knees during a performance. The manner in which you twist your knee plus your speed makes it highly probable that you’ll…