A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Well, what if a picture costs you $1000’s and a lot of unnecessary pain and strife? That’s exactly what an MRI can do. MRI technology is a relatively new diagnostic tool. Most of us have had an x-ray, but never an MRI. Now that MRI’s are used to quickly take a snapshot of what may be causing something such as low back pain (LBP), an image that reveals a ‘bulge’ is often seen as not only the route cause of the LBP, but is also the trigger that justifies an immediate surgical intervention.

Tim Flynn, PT PHD, recently shared a post on his blog about the overutilization of diagnostic imaging in the management of musculoskeletal disorders. He discusses a recent post in the New England Journal of Medicine that reveals the resolution of a lumbar disc herniation without surgery.

Too often, I have seen this or read stories of patients who were scared into going under the knife when the imaging revealed this ‘abnormality’, only to later realize that not only is the pain still present, but the dissected area has been compromised and weakened, further aggravating their symptoms.

Surgery is a necessary part of physical medicine for good reason. However, so is physical therapy and manual therapy. Too often, images such as this seem to draw a bold line from symptoms to causation, prompting a surgical intervention. This recent post shows how more conservative measures of rehabilitation may reduce a herniation without the need for surgery. Read More.

Please Hold the R.I.C.E.

Please Hold the R.I.C.E. I have been in the rehabilitation field since 1992. Since the very beginning I was always told that when treating an acute injury you should follow the age old acronym of R.I.C.E. or Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. The concept was originally introduced by one of the most respected names in…

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Have a Brettzel!

Have a Brettzel! In the world of flexibility and stretching, there are a bevy of stretches that have likely been shown to you over the years. It’s hard to remember them if you don’t consistently do them and the ones you likely DO recall are the ones that are probably easiest for YOU to perform.…

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Take 5: A Stress Break

Take 5: A Stress Break I will be the first in line to inform you of the benefits of a 60 minute massage treatment. However, what if your massage is not scheduled for another week or worse, not even scheduled? Well, as a firm believer and trumpeter of self-care, here is a pretty neat trick…

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Is it a Muscle Cramp or Muscle Strain?

Is it a Muscle Cramp or Muscle Strain? Last week when my daughter walked in from cheerleading practice, I noticed her limping. When I asked her why she was limping, she went on to explain what I often hear and have seen from my athletes.  Having been fortunate to evade serious injuries until this point…

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Work From Home Hacks!

With so many of you experiencing a new work environment, you are probably starting to notice that many of the chronic aches and pains you had experienced in the past at work on a daily basis, have seemingly disappeared. In their place however, are a new set of sensations we are experiencing due to such…

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How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

Have a ‘sheety’ Valentine’s Day! Today is Valentine’s Day, otherwise known to most as a #greetingcardholiday.  As I walked out of CVS this morning, I laughed at the people who were fighting for position in the greeting card aisle.  Valentine’s Day is about showing love for someone in your life, not elbowing strangers while cursing…

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Happiness is Contagious

Happiness is Contagious Maybe mom was right. Research suggests that surrounding yourself with friends and family who are happy can actually increase your own happiness. Scientists at Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego, found that emotions, particularly happiness, have a viral effect in how they spread from one person to another. For…

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De-stressing the Commute

De-stressing the Commute Turning Road Rage into Road Sage The average American commuter spends an hour a day driving to and from work. During this stressful, stop-and-go time, it’s likely that blood pressure increases, adrenaline begins pumping, and muscles constrict and tighten. By the time you get home, you’re wiped out and grumpy, and you…

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What’s the Scoop on your Poop?

What’s the Scoop on your Poop? Being the father of two girls, I know I have my work cut out for me. I have come to accept that there are lessons that I can teach my children and there are others lessons they will simply have to learn through personal experience. One of the lessons…

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Halloween Hacked!

Halloween Hacked Check out these simple hacks! Who among us doesn’t love Halloween. If I am being honest, it used to be me!  You see, I typically found myself in trouble around this time of year when I was in grammar school.  Let’s just say that I wasn’t always motivated to do what was asked…

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