Sciatica: One Pain, Many Causes
Anyone who has ever experienced sciatica knows the feeling: a radiating pain or numbness that runs down the buttock, leg, and even as far down as the calf and foot. So named because it is felt along the path of the sciatic nerve, sciatica is not a disorder in and of itself but rather a […]
What is the cause of Tennis Elbow?
As therapists in a clinic located inside of a large tennis club, we are seldom surprised when a number of our patients each year present with lateral epicondylitis – or, as it is more commonly known, tennis elbow. Lateral epicondylitis pain usually occurs over the outside of the elbow where many of the forearm muscles […]
Growing Good Body Mechanics in the Garden
Of all the places I like to spend time in the late spring and early summer, my garden is one of my favorites. Now that we’ve braved Chicago’s last snow (fingers crossed!), I’m ready to uncover my raised beds, turn compost, and start my seedlings. In the excitement of growing, it’s easy to forget to […]
Treating Back Pain: A Spine of the Times
You’re 34 years old with a 9-5 desk job, and now you’re wondering how treating back pain fits into your busy life. but you still regularly go to the gym and play a couple pick-up games of basketball a week. One day you wake up and have nagging, gnawing pain just to the right of […]
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Pressing Matter
If you follow the NBA you have most likely heard that Markelle Fultz, the Philadelphia 76ers’ guard, has thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). We most commonly hear of athletes from baseball developing this, but rarely in basketball – in fact, basketball player Ben Uzoh wasn’t diagnosed until he retired, even though he had previously experienced TOS […]
How to Stretch to Reduce Aches and Pains
Some of the most common advice we receive when we complain about a newly discovered ache or pain is to just “stretch it out.” But what does that even mean? How long do I hold it? When should I do it? Do I just throw my leg up on a table for a couple of […]
How to Keep Your Knees Healthy and Prevent Injury
As fall is now upon us, so too is the season of football. For a few unlucky players, however, the season is already over, with preseason injuries benching them for the rest of the season. In the NFL, an average of 23 ACL injuries occur before the first game of the season is even played, […]
What is the Postural Restoration Approach
Although the human body may look symmetrical to the naked eye, the right and left sides of our body are actually asymmetrical. For example, we have a heart on the left side of our body and a liver on the right side. Our right hemidiaphragm is larger and more domed than the one on our […]
Plantar Fasciitis: More Than Just a Footnote
Feet: so far away and often overlooked…until you wake up one morning and realize it’s impossible to place any weight through your foot. Feet are our foundation – our body’s connection with the earth – yet we place them in tight, uncomfortably angled, or worn-down shoes, and refuse to maintain them the way we do […]
How to Avoid the Risk of Injury Like the Pros Do
The 2024 Olympic Games have come and gone! As we sat in front of our television screens, watching elite athletes like shot put champion Ryan Crouser, 400-meter hurdles world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and basketball star LeBron James perform with skill, speed, and drive to win, many of us felt inspired to get out there […]