Treatment of Common Physical Therapy Conditions


CERVICAL STRAIN/SPRAIN

Muscle strain’s and ligament sprains can occur anywhere in the body, including the neck and upper shoulder region. These injuries come with pain, swelling, and stiffness, which ultimately can lead to other dysfunctions.Early treatment and intervention are crucial to preventing these dysfunctions from setting in. Our conservative treatment approaches make sure to quickly heal you and get you back to living the life you want.

HERNIATED/BULGING DISCS (CERVICAL)

Herniated discs can more commonly be known as a “slipped disc” or a “pinched nerve”.  This injury occurs when the disc between two vertebrae develops a bulge which then can press on a nerve. Numbness and tingling are often experienced radiating down the arms, which can lead to muscle weakness and dysfunction if left untreated.

Here at the South Shore Wellness Center, we treat herniated discs every day, and see our patients get better, faster. The key to a speedy recovery is early intervention, and re-balancing your posture to take the pressure off that nerve while you heal.

DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE (CERVICAL)

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD or DJD for short) happens to us as we age and get older. Slouched posture’s, and weakening muscles contribute to this process, and as a result, DDD can lead to other orthopedic issues arising. Luckily it can be treated!

IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME

Impingement syndrome is one of the most common injuries we treat here at the South Shore Wellness Center, particularly with our overhead athletes and “desk jockey’s.” Impingement syndrome usually starts as a “pinch” sensation experienced in the front of the shoulder. Soon to follow is increased pain, inflammation, and often difficulty raising your arms overhead, or reaching behind your back.

Here at the South Shore Wellness Center, we effectively treat impingement syndrome and correct the muscle imbalances that led to it in the first place with a multitude of conservative treatment strategies.

HEADACHE

Headaches are in the top 3 complaints that bring people in to see us at this office. You’ve likely experienced it before. Symptoms are often described as vice-like, pressure can be felt behind the eye, on top of the head, or at the base of the skull. These pain patterns respond very well to conservative management and usually resolve in 2-3 visits.

THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) refers to pain or numbness that originates in the neck or shoulder but is felt down along the arm or hands. Symptoms are caused by compression on the nerve and/or artery as they travel from your spine to any of the 35 common entrapment sites.

Here at the South Shore Wellness Center, we identify the compression site, and develop a tailored care plan to alleviate your symptoms quickly and effectively.

ROTATOR CUFF TEAR OR STRAIN

The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles: the supraspinatusinfraspinatusteres minor, and subscapularis.  A tear or strain of these muscles and their tendon’s compromises the stability of the shoulder joint, and can be a cause of shoulder impingement syndrome.

BICEPS TENDINITIS

The biceps tendon travels up the arm and inserts into the labrum of your shoulder. Improper function of the rotator cuff and scapular muscles can lead to tissue breakdown and ultimately pain/injury to the biceps tendon. This pain can be debilitating, and often affects people reaching behind the back and overhead.

Here at the South Shore Wellness Center, treatment consists of decreasing inflammation and trauma to the injured structures while restoring the normal function of the shoulder to fully rehabilitate this condition.

LABRAL TEAR

Your a The glenohumeral joint, or shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket articulation where the round head of the humerus fits into the shallow fossa of the scapula like a golf ball on a tee.  The labrum is a piece of fibrocartilage(rubbery tissue) attached to the rim of the shoulder socket that helps keep the ball of the shoulder joint in place.  The labrum also provides a suction-cup effect that adds stability to the shoulder.  A slight tear or degeneration in the labrum is usually diagnosed with orthopedic tests and may need an MRI.

Here at the South Shore Wellness Center, we work as a team to conservatively manage this injury and fully rehabilitate the function the scapular stabilizers and rotator cuff muscles with specific exercise protocols.

LOW BACK PAIN (LBP)

Low back pain is caused by injury to muscle, ligament and/or bone tissue, and is the most common injury we see at the South Shore Wellness Center, Low back pain can be acute or chronic and common causes include poor posture, lack of regular exercise, improper lifting, traumatic injury, or arthritis. Low back pain does not discriminate and affects everyone from young to old

At the South Shore Wellness Center, we utilize a unique system of integrating multiple experts who specialize in musculoskeletal medicine to get you better, and keep you feeling good. This system of working together gives you the best care, and allows you moving and living life the way you want.

LUMBAR STRAIN

Lumbar strains occur frequently, and can really be a nuisance whether training at the gym, working, or just sitting and relaxing at home. Often you’re on a path to a lumbar strain without knowing it, until suddenly you experience a sharp pull in your back.

Luckily, we’re adept at treating these cases. We’ll decrease your pain quickly, and return to exercising and living life pain-free in no time.

HERNIATED DISC (LUMBAR)

Herniated discs can more commonly be known as a “slipped disc” or a “pinched nerve”.  This injury occurs when the disc between two vertebrae develops a bulge which then can press on a nerve. Numbness and tingling are often experienced radiating down the arms, which can lead to muscle weakness and dysfunction if left untreated.

SCIATICA

Sciatica is a broad general term used to describe pain traveling from the spine down the leg usually to the foot. Most of us have heard of the term Sciatica, and many of us have experienced it ourselves. It’s no picnic, as it sends sharp shooting pains down the back of either leg, making it hard to sit, stand, and bend over.

FACET SYNDROME

Facet joints help connect each vertebra to the one that is above and below it. Because these joints are so small, they often become inflamed and irritated and this makes moving your spine much harder. Limited twisting and back bending are common limitations seen with facet syndrome. Pain is often also experienced down the leg in many cases.

Our team of practitioners are well-trained in assessing and diagnosing this issue. We’re even better at treating it and alleviating your pain, to allow for optimal movement and happier living.

DISC DEGENERATION

Disc degeneration (aka Degenerative Disc Disease, DDD) is a pathological process where the intervertebral discs that sit in between two vertebrae begin to break down. Pain can be both acute or chronic and is usually diagnosed with a radiograph.

This is where the South Shore Wellness Center can help manage the natural degenerative cascade by lessening and even eliminating pain with posture changes and movement control. Successful patients will be able to manage their back pain over a treatment period to ensure it doesn’t worsen.

SPONDYLOLISTHESIS

Spondylolisthesis is caused by one of the vertebrae in your spine slipping out of its normal position and onto the vertebrae below that position. They can either slip toward the vertebrae in front or behind its original location, distorting the natural shape of your spine. Spondylolisthesis can cause severe pain and often muscle weakness in your legs which worsens if left untreated.

Early treatment and intervention are crucial to preventing these dysfunctions from setting in. Our conservative treatment approaches make sure to quickly heal you and get you back to living the life you want.

MEDIAL EPICONDYLITIS (GOLFER’S ELBOW)

Golfer’s Elbow is an overuse injury that occurs to the forearm muscles/tendons that attach to the inner part of your elbow. Repetitive motions such as throwing, twisting and gripping can lead to small tears to the tendon. Overuse injury can occur due to poor form, muscular imbalances and overdoing activities such as racquet sports, throwing, weight lifting and golf.  Certain occupations are also at risk of developing golfer’s elbow. These jobs include office workers, cooks, butchers, construction workers, plumbers, and painters.

LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS (TENNIS ELBOW)

Tennis Elbow is an overuse injury that occurs to the tissues that join the muscles of the forearm to the outer Repetitive motions such as gripping, twisting and extension of the wrist can lead to tears in the tendon.  Over time, this leads to irritation and pain in the region.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the median nerve (the nerve that runs from the forearm into the palm) becomes compressed for prolonged periods inside the wrist. Sometimes thickening of the tendons and swelling can cause compression of this nerve. Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include numbness/tingling in the palm side of the hand (usually the first 3 fingers), waking up with tingling in hands, weakness in grip strength and fine motor tasks, wasting away for muscles on the thumb side of the hand and tingling in the hand during the day.

DE QUERVAIN’S SYNDROME

De Quervain’s Syndrome occurs when the tendons at the base of the thumb become irritated due to swelling and compression in the tunnel that they pass through. There is no definitive cause for De Quervain’s; however, several factors that have been identified are repetitive use (i.e. typing/texting), recent pregnancy, hormonal factors, and rheumatoid disease.

PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME

Ever experience a real pain in the butt? This could be piriformis syndrome. The piriformis muscle works to help rotate your hips, and is often overworked. Because of this it can lead to a deep, sharp pain in the butt, and could potentially compress the sciatic nerve as they run very close to each other.

HIP IMPINGEMENT (FAI)

Hip impingement, or Femoacetabular Impingement (FAI), is anterior hip pain which is caused by an imbalance of the hip and low back musculature. This imbalance creates poor joint mechanics between the femur and the pelvis and leads to a “pinching” sensation in the front of the hip. If left untreated, the impingement can lead to further structural damage of the hip joint, and can make it very difficult to perform your day to day activities.

PSOAS SYNDROME

Ever experience a “snapping” or “clicking” in the front of your hip? This could be the effects of psoas syndrome. The psoas is a muscle that attaches from the inside of your femur, crosses the front of your pelvis and attaches to the front of your lumbar spine. When there is a weakness, or imbalance of your core, this muscle can “snap” over the hip bone.

HAMSTRING STRAIN

A hamstring strain is when an injury occurs to the muscle fibers of the hamstring. Depending on how severe the injury, the fibers can be partially torn, or completely torn and ruptured. Often, this injury will occur while running and sprinting, especially if the patient did not properly warm up.

ACL SPRAIN OR TEAR

An ACL sprain/tear commonly occurs from trauma to the anterior cruciate ligament which is located deeper inside your knee. It is more common among athletes where there is cutting and/or contact involved-including soccer, football, and basketball.

Our team of Physical Therapist and Chiropractors have seen an extensive number of these injuries post-op, and get our athletes back on the field and training quickly.

MCL SPRAIN OR TEAR

An MCL sprain/tear is when damage occurs to the medial collateral ligament, which is located along the inside aspect of your knee. This ligament is often injured in conjunction with the ACL, but can also be injured by itself.

MENISCUS TEAR

The meniscus is soft-cushiony cartilaginous tissue that helps to stabilize the knee joint and protect the bones from excess wear and tear. After an acute injury, the patient often experiences pain, swelling, and stiffness to the involved knee. If left untreated, these painful symptoms can lead to dysfunctional movement, and likely will create pain and discomfort at other parts of the body.

ITB SYNDROME

ITB Syndrome, or Iliotibial Band Syndrome, is a common overuse injury experienced by runners. It occurs when the Iliotibial Band becomes overly tight, and creates excess rubbing and friction to the outside aspect of the knee. An imbalance of the hip and knee muscles are usually the culprit, and if left untreated can make walking, climbing stairs and running very difficult.

PATELLOFEMORAL SYNDROME

Patellofemoral syndrome is pain that is experienced to the front of the knee, and is often referred to as “runner’s knee.” It is one of the more common knee injuries and is usually due to overuse of the patella tendon. The patient will usually experience dull or sharp pain to the front of the knee with prolonged sitting, running, jumping and stair climbing.

OSTEOARTHRITIS (KNEE)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the breakdown and degeneration of the cartilage surface of your joints. Usually, from excess wear and tear, the protective surface of the joint gets worn down and leads to the bone rubbing on itself. This can cause significant pain, and alter your movement patterns.

ANKLE SPRAIN

An ankle sprain occurs when there is traumatic damage to one or more of the surrounding ankle ligaments. The most common sprain occurs on the outside part of the ankle. Sprains can occur during a wide variety of activities including but not limited to basketball, football, soccer and other sports that involve hard cuts.

ACHILLES SPRAIN OR TEAR

An Achilles sprain/tear is when trauma causes the band of tissue in the lower part of your calf to become damaged or even rupture. Sprains/tears can occur during sudden bursts of movement such as starting and stopping during basketball, but can even affect you just by stepping off the curb awkwardly.  Tendonitis can also occur due to overuse and microtrauma that causes swelling, pain, and weakness to the tissue.

PLANTAR FASCIITIS

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that supports the arch on the bottom of your feet. Typically, pain is felt at the bottom of the foot near the inside aspect of your heel.  This pain is often worse in the morning and can last throughout the entirety of the day.

If left untreated, this pain can become debilitating, and affect all aspects of your day which involves standing (this is a lot!) If you suspect you may have plantar fasciitis, come in for early assessment and diagnose and stop your pain in its tracks!

SHIN SPLINTS

Shin splints are an overuse injury that is commonly experienced by runners and can be very painful. This injury occurs when these muscles become overworked by repetitive activity, i.e. running, and they tighten up so much, that pain is experienced by the patient. Risk factors include having flat feet or abnormally high arches, exercising with improper/worn-out footwear.

MORTON’S NEUROMA

Moron’s Neuroma occurs when there is a thickening of tissue the surrounds the nerve between your 3rd and 4th This thickening occurs due to excessive pressure (from tight shoes, high heeled shoes, running), irritation or trauma. The patient will experience sharp pain that often makes standing and walking very difficult.


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