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Medical, Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Blog

Managing the Calm: Box Breathing

May 03, 2021
Let’s be honest—the majority of us are under a lot of stress right now. Stress comes from a multitude of sources and while a little can be useful in motivating us to get tasks done or in running away from a saber-toothed tiger; over a long time, chronic stress wreaks havoc on our bodies. When we perceive something stressful, the hypothalamus, a tiny part at the base of your brain, turns on the alarm. This alarm signals the release of adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline increases heart rate and … Read More

Morning Backaches Part 2: Is It My Bed or Is It My Body?

Apr 26, 2021
Many of our patients at our clinic experience back and/or neck pain that is much worse in the morning upon arising from bed. This is a symptom that can be related to many different contributing factors, some of these are addressed below.In order to discuss the varying factors involved in morning back or neck aches we will need to break down them down into these categories: The bed you sleep inThe position(s) you sleep inThe pillow you use Possible underlying mechanical back issues that need t… Read More

​I have a rotator cuff tear. Now what?

Apr 12, 2021
The rotator cuff is a bundle of tendons that surround the shoulder blade and attach to the shoulder. It is comprised of 4 tendons: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. These muscles stabilize the shoulder joint, rotate the shoulder and assist in elevating the arm. Common symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include: Front or lateral shoulder painDiffuse upper trapezius or thoracic pain Pain with raising arm to the side. Pain with liftingPain with reaching behind your … Read More

The Benefits of Wearing a Back Brace

Apr 06, 2021
There are some pretty grim statistics regarding back pain:It is the #1 cause of disability worldwide80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in lifeIf you are one of those 80%, you know first-hand how back pain can not only interfere with your day-to-day activities, it can affect your sleep, keep you home from work, and definitely prevent you from staying active. We are proud to announce that we are now a Medicare accredited clinic for braces. This includes but is not limited to … Read More

The Latest On Concussions

Mar 30, 2021
Photo by engin akyurt on UnsplashWe have come a long way in what we know about concussions. Concussion is no long a “brush it off and go back out there” injury, but rather referred to as a mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). A concussion is the result of an acceleration-deceleration of the head. This can be caused by a direct hit in sports or from a fall. It is also nearly synonymous with whiplash having the same symptoms and same mechanism of injury.Common Symptoms of ConcussionConfusionHeadach… Read More

How to Shovel Snow Without Injury

Mar 16, 2021
Over the weekend we got the fourth highest snowfall ever recorded in the Denver metro area. While the snow is gorgeous and means lots of great powder for skiing and snowboarding, most of us had to face the harsh reality of shoveling our driveway on Monday morning. Improper form while shoveling snow can lead to injury, with a 2011 study showing that over 50% of injuries sustained while shoveling snow were soft tissue related. Here are some tips to remember when you are out there shoveling:R… Read More

Blood Flow Restriction Training

Mar 09, 2021
What is it? This mythology has been around since the 1960’s. Initially starting in Japan and known as KAATSU training. It has progressed in specificity and has gained recognition after more positive research has been conducted. A cuff, similar to a blood pressure cuff, is place on either your arm or your leg depending on which area you are working. The cuff is then pumped up to a specific pressure with the goal of partial occlusion of the blood flow. The patient then performs specific, low-inten… Read More

​Does Cold Weather Make Chronic Pain Worse?

Mar 02, 2021
Given the frigid temperatures that we just recently experienced, I for one am grateful that temperatures sub-zero are not the norm here in the Denver metro area. And with the drop in temperature, we see a lot more people coming in with flare ups of their chronic condition, especially those that suffer from arthritis, sciatica, and fibromyalgia. Here are some reasons as to why:Decreased movement: As the temperatures drop, we tend to spend more time indoors. With this, our activity levels tend to … Read More

​Cervical Radiculopathy

Mar 01, 2021
Cervical Radiculopathy What is it? Impingement or irritation of nerves in the cervical spine causing symptoms down the arm. This can be pain, numbness/tingling or weakness. Can be due to a cervical disc injury or arthritis in the joints. Could be due to a specific injury or degeneration over time. How can physical therapy and chiropractic help? An individualized evaluation will reveal dysfunctions in mobility, motor control, strength or all of the above. Manual therapy techniques can imp… Read More

​Cervical Fusion

Mar 01, 2021
Cervical Fusion Reasons one might have a cervical fusion: Cervical radiculopathyStenosisDegenerative Disc Disease How can physical therapy help post-surgery? Manual therapy and instructed stretching will be instructed to promote healing. Frequently the surgery is performed to decompress nerves in the cervical spine. The nerve will still need healing time following the surgery. Analogy: If you hit your thumb with a hammer it will hurt for awhile even when you remove the hammer. The body… Read More