Despite the advances in our understanding of pain in the last sixty years in research, many manual therapists and fitness professionals are still being taught and adopting outdated ideas about pain. However, there is a small and emerging population of therapists and trainers who are gradually learning (and unlearning) about
What is muscle energy technique? Muscle energy technique is “a system of manual therapy for the treatment of movement impairments the combines the effectiveness, safety, and specificity of reeducation therapies and therapeutic exercise. The therapist localizes and controls the procedures, while the patient provides the corrective forces and energies for
Sometimes we see a post on social media about a new research finding that adds a better understanding of how our body works. And sometimes these findings may (or may not) apply to what we do with our clients or patients. So how do we know if certain research can
You may remember when you were a kid or teenager, your parents told you to sit or stand up straight or don’t slouch or you’ll hurt your back. However, this idea that hunching or having too much lordosis alone can cause back pain is not supported by current research. In
A recent study published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery challenges the existing idea that shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is caused by compression between the coracoacromial arch and the humerus during shoulder elevation above the shoulder height. Oftentimes, patients with SIS tend to have anteriorly tilted shoulders, causing the
Massage therapists can be an important entry point to access of care. With direct public access and discussion with patients about their pain and life challenges, massage therapists will often hear patients’ problems first. By Sandy Hilton and Sarah Haag A pelvic health physical therapist is trained in specific internal
Recent research reveals that specific balance exercises do not carry over to a variety of balancing skills. Based on the SAID principle (specific adaptation to impose demands), you get better at specifically what you train to do. For example, balancing on a wobble board would help you maintain better balance
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font_size=”14px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Back in my early personal training years (early to mid-2000s), I have heard that sitting on a stability ball is better than sitting on a typical office chair because it “improves posture” and keeps
“Manual therapists tend to believe that they are Batman, but they are actually more like Alfred.” ~ Dr. Cory Blickenstaff When I attended the 2015 San Diego Pain Summit, I had a hard time understanding Dr. Cory Blickenstaff’s presentation on “edge work.” Part of the reason may have been the idea
Can training your uninjured limb maintain flexibility in the injured limb? A recent study published in The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy found that foam rolling improves ankle dorsiflexion for at least 20 minutes on the limb that is rolled on and up to 10 minutes on the opposite limb that
A recent systematic review published in Manual Therapy did not find a strong association between the curvature of the thoracic spine and shoulder pain — or more specifically subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) — based on ten studies. This condition is described as a “non-traumatic shoulder pain, localised around the acromion, which worsens
Current scientific evidence reveals that tight hip flexors or psoas muscles has very little or no contribution to low back pain. For many years when I was a personal trainer, I had thought that tight iliopsoas (iliacus and psoas major/minor) is a major causation of low back pain because the