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25 Mar

Posted at 11:01h in Uncategorized

We interviewed two of the leading orthopedic surgeons in the country, Dr. Nikhil Verma and Dr. Jorge Chahla of Midwest Orthopedics at Rush to discuss biologics. Biologics like PRP, stem cells, corticosteroid injections, and hyaluronic acid are all the rage in medicine right now - and for good reason. Instead of having to reconstruct or repair damaged or torn tissues in the body through surgery, what if we could help relieve pain and improve function with a minimal invasion biologic injection? That is the promise of biologic injections. While significantly more research needs to be done to better understand how to best deliver biologics and what patients they may benefit the most, the future is very promising. As physical therapists, we will always be advocates of more conservative measures like physical therapy or biologic injections prior to more invasive options like surgery when warranted to potentially give our patients the upper hand in their rehab. Keep reading for this beast of a guest-article by Dr. Jorge Chahla!

18 Mar

Posted at 20:20h in Head/Neck
Neck pain is one of the most significant health problems worldwide, it is estimated that 22-70% of the population have neck pain at some time in their lives. It has also been suggested that the incidence of neck pain is increasing! It is ranked as the fourth leading cause of years lived with disability. Rates of reoccurrence and chronicity are reported to be high, which calls for preventive measures, or [P]Rehab! There is evidence suggesting you may reduce the risk of neck discomfort by approximately half with an exercise program. This article is a guide to improving mobility, control, and strength of your neck with the end goal of keeping your neck healthy and supple!

03 Mar

Posted at 20:51h in Elbow

Tennis elbow, which in the medical world is referred to as Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy (LET) or lateral epicondylalgia, is one of the most common elbow injuries. As common as lateral elbow pain may be, it can be an absolute nuisance to treat and live with. It doesn't just affect and cause pain with a tennis backhand but also shaking hands, grabbing dishes, typing, gripping, writing, and you name it. In this article, you'll learn what tennis elbow is, how to treat it, what you should try first, and tennis elbow prehab exercises to try and avoid this injury in the future.

21 Feb

Posted at 03:48h in Knee

Orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists work hand in hand to deliver the best possible care to their patients. We both work in the field of orthopedic and sports and one of the most prevalent injuries we see are injuries to the meniscus. For that reason, we teamed up with a fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Nima Mehran (@drnimamehran), to give you the most straightforward answers to all of your burning questions about the meniscus. What is it? Do I have a tear? Do I need surgery? What is rehab like? We answer all of that and more in this multi-disciplinary and collaborative interview and article!

18 Feb

Posted at 09:55h in Shoulder

The shoulder is a complicated body part. It is an extremely mobile joint that is able to move within many different planes of movement; however, as a result of its ability to move excessively, its stability may sometimes become comprimised. In addition, there are other parts of our body that are required to move efficiently in sync with the shoulder in order for healthy shoulder mobility to occur. Because the shoulder is quite complex, proximal body parts are often overlooked when creating various shoulder exercise programs. The glenohumeral joint (shoulder ball-and-socket joint) sits on the scapula (shoulder blade), which moves in accord with the thoracic spine (Mid-Back). A shoulder exercise program is not comprehensive unless all components of the shoulder are addressed. This article will help you understand the various motions that must occur at the shoulder, the spine, and upper extremity as an entire unit, as well as show you excellent exercises that will guide you in how to bulletproof your shoulders!

11 Feb

Posted at 17:45h in Foot/ankle, Hip, Knee

So you want to change running form? It is not uncommon for runners to explore changing how they run. Whether it's exploring different training methods, switching shoes, or adjusting how their foot contacts the ground - some runners will try anything to improve performance and minimize pain and injury risk. In this article, you will learn common running forms, running specific exercises, when shoes matter, and how to change running form safely.

03 Feb

Posted at 22:40h in Hip

Chronic groin pain can literally be a pain in the butt. The groin area is home to a multitude of different muscles, tendons, ligaments, and most importantly your private areas! Therefore, many times it's hard to pinpoint the exact area of pain and thus when it comes groin rehab, I often times take the approach ofย strengthening everything and building tissue resiliency of all the muscles in that region. You can never go wrong with a strong and bullet-proof groin complex. Much like the sacroiliac joint which relies on all the muscles surrounding it to provide stability, a concept known as force closure, I treat the groin region similarly. The adductors, hamstrings, hip flexors, glutes, and most importantly the lower abdominals must all work in unison to provide stability to the groin complex. In this article, I will help you understand how to manage groin pain by taking you through a rehab program I use with patients in the clinic to bullet-proof every muscle in this anatomical region!

27 Jan

Posted at 19:35h in Hip, Knee
Why do some athletes jump higher, sprint faster, and cut quicker than others? It is because of Power! A common misconception is that training for strength by loading large amounts of weight directly increases athleticism; however the transfer to your athletic endeavors are not made by simply lifting heavy loads. Power=Work/Time, meaning there is a velocity or speed component when training for power. This article will demonstrate 5 exercises that you can perform with just a Kettlebell to increase your rate of force production and level up your Power!ย 

20 Jan

Posted at 20:41h in Knee

Knee surgery prehab exercises that include range of motion and strengthening exercises have been shown to improve strength and function prior to surgery, improve strength and function after surgery, can potentially decrease hospital stay times, and improve long term function and quality of life! We have put together some of our favorite knee prehab exercises to jumpstart your road to recovery, better yet it may even spare you from surgery for the time being. Continue reading!

13 Jan

Posted at 15:00h in Hip, Knee

The split stance position is hands down one of the most underutilized positions when it comes to leg day workouts and lower extremity rehab. The split stance position can and should be utilized as a transitionary stance between double leg and single leg positions. Double legย support positions like in the squat and deadlift are great for developing strength and power; however, they can hide asymmetries from side to side and don't truly test the body's ability to coordinate complex movement patterns. This is why single leg exercises are a staple in many strength and conditioning and rehabilitation programs alike. However, many people struggle with single leg exercises like single leg Romanian deadlifts, step downs, and single leg hopping due to a lack of coordination, balance, strength, or all of the above. This is where the split stance position shines and can be utilized to "bridge the gap" to single leg exercises. Learning to own the split stance position will elevate your gym games and [P]Rehab your legs alike!