Aquatic Therapy Can Help Your Back Pain

Are you experiencing back pain? You may have previously tried land-based exercises to treat the issue, but are you wondering if there is something more that can be done? Aquatic therapy may be your solution. Research supports that aquatic therapy is effective in the treatment of back pain. The warmth and buoyancy of the water combined with the elimination of gravity eases pressure on joints and muscles. A study at the University of Wisconsin found that aquatic therapy was a positive way to improve flexibility and sleep patterns and reduce muscle and joint pain in middle aged and older adults with a history of orthopedic limitations and discomfort.

Another study tested whether aquatic therapy was more effective in treating chronic low back pain compared to land-based exercises. Two groups of patients with chronic low back pain were compared. One group participated in pool-based exercises for a month, while the other group did exercises given by a Physical Therapist at home for a month.

While there was a “significant improvement after treatment in both groups (1),” the statistical analysis revealed that the improvement was significantly greater amongst the patients that participated in the aquatic exercise group. Continue reading “Aquatic Therapy Can Help Your Back Pain”

Pretty Heels but Not So Pretty Feet

There once was an old woman who lived in a…high heel? Okay, so that’s not exactly how the story goes, but if it did, that would be the crankiest woman in the world. It is proven that it’s four times more likely that women will suffer from foot or ankle pain issues than men, due to the shoes they wear. A shoe with just a two inch heal can actually cause a 57% increase in pressure on the forefoot. Every woman knows that sometimes beauty comes with a price, but how much are you willing to pay?

Though sometimes difficult to understand, knowledge about your own anatomy and potential issues can be very beneficial. The forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot are the three subdivisions that make up the foot. In addition to the 26 bones, the foot and ankle use tendons, muscles and over 100 ligaments to work normally. The foot is similar to a machine, so if an issue occurs with one area, it can affect the entire foot and even other leg joints. Injuries to the foot can range from purely irritating to even debilitative at times.

I am sure most of you have heard the phrase “Women are from Venus, men are from Mars.” It is weirdly true, even when it comes to feet. Everything about a woman’s foot is smaller; the metatarsals, the toes, the ball of the foot, the arch. Continue reading “Pretty Heels but Not So Pretty Feet”

Physical Therapy in The Woodlands

Motion Physical Therapy, located in The Woodlands, endeavors to restore every patient to the highest level of human performance using cutting edge science, human kinetics and technology. Physical Therapy professionals customize treatment plans for each patient in order to decrease pain, promote function, and avoid disability. Our physical therapists can also customize fitness and weight loss programs in order to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent injuries due to exercise.

The Woodlands physical therapists are highly knowledgeable, and bring over two decades of experience in treating patients in an orthopedic sports medicine setting. Our patients represent a wide range of abilities including professional athletes, weekend warriors, pediatric patients, and elderly community members. Physical therapy treatment specialties in The Woodlands include: patients with joint replacements, post-operative care of arthroscopic treatment, degenerative joint disease, sports injuries of the shoulder, knee, ankle and hip, foot biomechanics, spine disorders including scoliosis, TMJ, and head and neck disorders. Each patient receives individualized care and Motion Physical Therapy in The Woodlands offers a complete range of services, including: Continue reading “Physical Therapy in The Woodlands”