Q; My elbow has started to hurt after frequent gardening. What did I injure and what can I do to decrease pain? A; A common overuse injury occurring at the elbow is tendonitis. This is basically an inflammation of the tendons that attach to either the inside portion of the elbow [medial epicondylitis], also called golfer’s elbow, or the outside portion of the elbow [lateral epicondylitis], also referred to as…
Home Exercise Programs
Ask the PT: About Ankle Pain
I sprained my ankle last year but still have ankle pain, especially when playing sports. What can I do? Response by Karen Sullivan, PT of PT Cumberland Chronic ankle pain is a problem that can occur following single or multiple trauma events to the foot/ankle structures, most likely a ligament sprain. Anyone who has played sports or even walked on uneven terrain has probably experienced a lateral ankle sprain. Medial…
Ask the PT: About Headaches
I have had headaches for years and medication hasn’t been helping as much. Can physical therapy help with my headaches? Thomas Almeida, MSPT, President/Clinical Director Headaches (HA), unfortunately, are a prevalent condition affecting thousands and causing impairments to many activities of daily living. There are many triggers that may cause HA’s, including food, medications and environmental elements, however nearly ¼ of HA’s are classified as cervicogenic or HA’s which arise…
Ask the PT: About Knee Pain
I recently developed pain and a crackling sound in the front of my knee when gardening. It’s worse when I get up from the ground or squat down to lift things. What can I do to alleviate this? Response from Dustin Renaud,MPT of PT Cumberland The likely source of the crackling or grinding experienced in your knee is a condition called chondromalacia patella (or CMP). This condition occurs when the knee…
Ask the PT: About Improving My Balance
How do I Build Better Balance? Balance, a task we mastered early in life, seems simple enough. But as we age or encounter an injury or illness, balance may need to be relearned. Balance is controlled by a complex combination of your visual, muscular and neurological sensory systems that all work together. To build better balance, the nervous system must be challenged through regular balance training. Tips for building…
Ask The PT: About Shoulder Pain
I don’t recall injuring my arm, but I have noticed a slight ache and pain in my shoulder when I try to lift my arm or reach back behind my body. Why would this happen and what can I do to fix it? Thomas Almeida, MSPT, President/Clinical Director Often times, pain in the shoulder can be directly linked to the rotator cuff tendon being inflamed or partially torn. However, if…
Ask the PT: About Arthritis and my Balance
How has arthritis impaired my balance? One of the most common causes of falls, particularly as we age, is related to arthritis and inflammation in our joints. This happens because the small receptors in joints that are constantly talking to your brain telling you what position your joints are in can become impaired. This sophisticated balance feedback mechanism is also referred to as proprioception. As joints start to degenerate,…