Has a surgeon recommended knee arthroscopy as a treatment for your arthritis? Confused? Read this commentary for clarification. [Read more…] about Knee OA: To Scope or Not To Scope?
Sports Medicine
16 y/o After Labral Repair
10 months after falling on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) his shoulder pain had become so severe and chronic, it required surgery to repair a piece of cartilage. He later found another, relatively rare problem with the other shoulder. [Read more…] about 16 y/o After Labral Repair
Steve Kerr: What We Know…or Don’t
Steve Kerr’s situation has been the talk of the basketball and orthopedic world. How much do we really know? What can we learn from his situation? [Read more…] about Steve Kerr: What We Know…or Don’t
18 y/o Athlete – Wrist Pain
I got a call from his mother telling me that he had some pain in his wrist while lifting weights. He finished the sports season before coming in, though. She asked me to take a look at him, and give any advice I might have on what might be the problem and what he could do about it. He came to the clinic with his dad, with limited wrist movement in all directions, pain along the thumb side (radial side) of the wrist, and no swelling, redness, numbness or tingling. [Read more…] about 18 y/o Athlete – Wrist Pain
Don’t I Need an MRI?
Patients will hear me say over and over “MRI is really only for surgical planning. If you’re ready for surgery, then you need an MRI.” It doesn’t tell you “what’s wrong” or tell us if you need surgery or not. I ran into a research study today that demonstrates my point. [Read more…] about Don’t I Need an MRI?
22 y/o College Athlete, Chronic Knee Pain
She suffered a season-ending knee injury injury in March, and started her rehabilitation elsewhere. Her recovery was very slow, and eventually came to a halt. She graduated, started her career, and came to us to attempt to complete her recovery. [Read more…] about 22 y/o College Athlete, Chronic Knee Pain
Old School Ancient New Age Combo
Athletic tape, acupuncture needles, and a TheraBand Flexbar. What do they have in common? Combining old school, ancient and new age treatments can save money and provide better patient satisfaction. [Read more…] about Old School Ancient New Age Combo
Chasing “The Latest Thing”
I recently received a voicemail message from a former patient (whose son I had also treated) asking if I practice a specific proprietary, trademarked, and well-publicized technique. I responded via email, and then realized that this response could have been written a dozen or so times over my previous 17 years as a therapist, so I ought to just make a generic letter regarding all such techniques: [Read more…] about Chasing “The Latest Thing”
Relationship Between Hip Strength and Knee Function
Anecdotal evidence over several years has been augmented recently by research evidence quantifying the relationship between strength of the hip girdle musculature and knee function. [Read more…] about Relationship Between Hip Strength and Knee Function
Behind Most Painful Knees There’s a Knee Flexion Contracture
A recent article in the North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy addresses a problem that many orthopedic physical therapists have been talking about for years – the prevalence of knee flexion contractures in painful knees. Irrespective of the type of anatomic problem that afflicts the knee, the end result is something this article refers to as deconditioned knee syndrome. [Read more…] about Behind Most Painful Knees There’s a Knee Flexion Contracture