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Danh Ngo, Author at Physical Therapy Clinic | CA | ReVITALize Rehab Club » Page 2 of 3

Physical Therapy Clinic | CA | ReVITALize Rehab Club

Author: Danh Ngo

  • Physical Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tendinitis: It’s Worth It!

    With rest, the help of a skilled physical therapist, and the right exercises, rotator cuff tendinitis most often can be treated without further intervention.

    Swimmer’s shoulder, bursitis, or impingement are just a few of the names sharing the same meaning: rotator cuff tendinitis. 

    This inflammation of your shoulder joint tendons doesn’t discriminate against age or occupation. If you are repeatedly lifting your shoulder in sports or sleeping on your shoulder too often, rotator cuff tendinitis can affect you.

    Is your shoulder stiff and causing you daily struggles in managing your pain? Do you feel a stubborn kink every way you turn? It’s not good to let these things sit stiff. You need a plan to get back into shape and physical therapy will help you get there safely.

    There are a number of ways you could have developed rotator tendinitis. Maybe you were involved in an unfortunate accident, maybe the condition was a result of a sports injury. Whatever the cause, you’re now ready to take matters into your own hands. With the help of rotator cuff specific physical therapy for tendonitis, you’ll get the good-as-new relief you’ve been waiting for.

    What Is Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?

    The rotator cuff is made up of tendons and muscles surrounding the joints of your shoulder bones. The tendons are specifically located in the socket of your shoulder where the ball of the joint and the cap meet. When the tendons are damaged, either by an injury or daily overwork, they become inflamed and cause you to lose out on your regular performance activities. 

    Luckily rotator cuff tendinitis does not require surgery. It can be treated with simple physical therapy stretches, rest, and medications to manage the inflammation. If left untreated, this condition will lead to the tendon becoming more damaged and it may start to tear.

    A first step to treating rotator cuff tendinitis is to ice the injury for about twenty to thirty minutes in 4-6 hour intervals. You will also want to avoid any further activity where you have to move your shoulder. The next step would be to take anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, to reduce swelling and manage pain.

    In most cases, you can expect to be dealing with this condition for around 2-4 weeks, but in extreme cases, it may last for months to come. Starting out with these simple steps is necessary before you venture into exercises of physical therapy. 

    Benefits of Physical Therapy

    The range of motion of your shoulder is essential to everyday life activities. Anything from getting dressed to lifting your arms can become a troublesome issue when stretching your shoulder. These little movements are taken for granted once the effects of rotator cuff tendonitis disable you from simple tasks.

    Anti-inflammatory and pain medications can help in the meantime while you find the best physical therapist to work with you. However, using medication alone will only temporarily take the pain away. Without proper therapy, you could be dealing with unwanted pain on a consistent basis. You will want to use your medication while doing daily physical therapy. These two practices are used together for the best results.

    Seeking help from a professional physical therapist is your best bet! Your therapist will work with you to test your strength and instruct you in recommended stretches that will in time relieve the aching pulls of your inflamed tendons. Depending on your movement abilities you will find that stretching with your specific exercises will hurt before you find relief, but constantly keeping to therapy routine will have you glad you made the decision to get treatment.

    What Types of Exercises Can You Expect?

    Your physical therapist will go over a number of different exercises and stretches for you to perform in the office and at home. These may seem way too easy to be effective, but the results will have you feeling back to normal sooner rather than later.

    A single 5 or 10-pound weight is used for one of the recommended exercises. In this practice, you will use the weight on the side of your affected shoulder. You will need to forward approximately at a 20-25 degree angle while rotating the weight in a small circle. Try to keep pain at a minimum by not pressuring yourself to move too quickly or at a range of motion that makes it physically unbearable. Perform this routine 1-2 times per day, circling your arm 10 times clockwise and counter-clockwise for each session.

    Before performing the explained exercise, you will need to do some stretches as a precautionary warm up. Holding the elbow of the affected arm, stretch your limb across your body and hold it steady for a 10-second count. You can repeat this process at different angles, such a holding your arm level with your chin, torso, and belly.

    These are just two simple examples of what will be participating in with physical therapy for your rotator cuff tendinitis. Your physical therapist may alter or advance exercises depending on your own capabilities, strength, and pain threshold.

    Finding Relief is the Most Important Result

    As physically draining as physical therapy sessions can be at first, sticking to your workouts will make the process easier. You don’t want to wait too long to start therapy, because a torn tendon will be much more excruciating. The hassle of having surgery is simple to avoid so long as you take the steps to heal rotator cuff tendinitis before it gets to that extreme. 

    Don’t sit on the fence about joining a physical therapist to improve your quality of life. There are plenty of techniques to help you. If you want to regain your strength and go on with your normal daily tasks without disabling pain, talk to your doctor. They should be able to recommend physical therapists in your area.

    If you’re still looking for the perfect treatment to suit your needs, call us today to learn more about our services and how we can help. 

    One LOVE,

    Danh Ngo PT, DPT, OCS, SCS

    Doctor of Physical Therapy

    Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic and Sports Medicine

    Mind Body Health Results Coach

    Smiling young man wearing glasses and a striped sweater over a white shirt.

  • Why Are You Thinking About Discontinuing Physical Therapy? Can We Help?

    Physical therapy can be a long, hard road. Sessions sometimes are painful, whether during the session or afterward. This can mask the good that physical therapy is doing and leave you wondering if it’s really worth it.

    Because of this, and other reasons, many people end up discontinuing physical therapy. In fact, only 35% of physical therapy patients follow through with their entire plan of care.

    When you’re right in the thick of it, sticking to your physical therapy plan can be difficult. You may feel like you’re feeling a lot of pain and not seeing much improvement to make up for it. 

    Are you thinking about discontinuing your physical therapy sessions? Let’s talk about common reasons patients have for quitting and how to address them. Maybe you need to modify your approach rather than stop altogether.

    Reasons for Discontinuing Physical Therapy

    There are several reasons why patients decide to quit coming to their therapy sessions. It hurts. It’s inconvenient. They’re not seeing progress or they feel disillusioned by slow progress. They’ve gotten too busy. 

    The reality is, often physical therapy hurts before it gets better. Depending on your injury, certain movements will be uncomfortable and downright painful. However, pushing through the pain is necessary to get back proper range of motion and help the injured area heal. 

    You also get out of physical therapy what you put into it. According to this study, as few as 35% of physical therapy patients actually stick to their home exercise routine. This can be quite detrimental to the success of your treatment plan.

    Before you discontinue going to physical therapy altogether, take a moment and review. Are you doing everything you should be to make your physical therapy sessions successful? Physical therapy has a lot of health benefits, but you might not be maximizing those benefits.

    Getting More out of Your Physical Therapy Sessions

    Your therapist is the expert. They can give you the right exercises to do and teach you how to do them well. They can encourage you along in your journey. 

    But they can’t force you to get better.

    Many patients feel they are getting nothing out of their physical therapy sessions because they really aren’t giving it a chance. A good therapist will notice this and find ways to motivate you. But it boils down to you being willing to put in the effort. 

    There are a few simple steps you can take to help motivate yourself. Your therapist may have already mentioned some of these. We encourage you to take them to heart before giving up on therapy.

    Think of PT as Education, Not Exercise

    Your therapist is your teacher, not your personal trainer. While your therapist’s office may look similar to a gym and you may be building strength, the point is not to work out. 

    You’re learning how to heal from an injury and how to prevent it from happening again. Losing sight of that can decrease the effectiveness of your sessions.

    Keep a Journal

    Many people get frustrated with physical therapy because they feel they’re not reaching their goals as they expected. However, focusing on how far you still have to go is defeating.

    Focus instead on how far you’ve come.

    Keep a journal and record everything that you can use as a marker. How you feel, pain levels, range of motion, whatever it is that you are working on during your therapy sessions. 

    Take time to compare where you are now to where you were a few weeks ago. You might be surprised by how far you’ve come and you didn’t even notice.

    Get Feedback From Your Therapist

    Even if you don’t keep a journal, or don’t know what to put in it, don’t worry. Your therapist should be keeping track of important metrics like your range of motion and other pertinent data.

    A good therapist may notice your disillusionment and show you their data to motivate you. But even if they don’t offer, don’t hesitate to ask them about your progress. 

    Be Open and Honest With Your Therapist

    Your therapist is doing the best they can to work with your body and help it to heal. But they can’t feel what you feel. They don’t know your body as well as you know it. 

    Be honest with your therapist. Tell them about the pain you feel but also your feelings about therapy.

    If you’re not doing your at-home exercises, be honest about it and tell them why. Trust us, they can tell that you’re not doing them anyway so don’t try to dodge the question or lie about it. 

    It may be that all you need is the right motivation to get back on track. But your therapist isn’t a mindreader, they need your input to know how to coach you.

    Change Therapists

    Last, but not least, you may need to change therapists. A physical therapist may be fantastic at their job, but not the right therapist for you.

    You should “click” with your therapist. You should feel comfortable telling them about what’s going on in your body and how you feel about therapy. If they seem impatient with you or if you have reservations about being open with them, you might want to try seeing a different one.

    It’s also possible that your therapist simply isn’t a good one. You can and should expect results from proper physical therapy. If you aren’t seeing those results (keep track of them, remember), it might be good to try a therapist with a little bit different approach. 

    Every person’s body is different and what works for some patients may not work for others.

    Before You Throw in the Towel…

    Don’t give up on therapy just yet. Before discontinuing physical therapy altogether, try a few of these tips. You might find that by shifting your mindset you can be more positive about your experience and get better results.

    You also might need to find a new therapist. Here at ReVITALize Rehab Club, we focus on providing highly individualized care. We encourage your feedback about how you’re feeling and make modifications to your routine based on that information.

    Physical therapy can be life-changing…if it’s done right. We can help you make sure that it’s done right. Contact us to schedule a free telephone interview today!

    One LOVE,

    Danh Ngo PT, DPT, OCS, SCS

    Doctor of Physical Therapy

    Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic and Sports Medicine

    Mind Body Health Results Coach

    Smiling young man wearing glasses and a striped sweater over a white shirt.

  • Physical Therapy for Concussion: How Does It Work?

    Concussions are a very serious brain injury that should always be treated as a serious medical condition. There are over three million concussions reported in the US every year.

    A concussion must have appropriate treatment to avoid repeat injury. Physicians recommend treatment until complete recovery to avoid complications. Some are even using physical therapy for concussion treatment. 

    A concussion occurs when you receive a blow to the head. Many concussions result from sports-related injuries or accidents. The brain will bump or move inside the skull which causes mild injury to the brain. Concussions can range in severity but result in damages to brain cells. 

    Treatments for Concussions

    When you have a concussion, the most common treatment is bed rest. Sometimes you may have to be observed in the hospital overnight. Mild pain relievers for pain and plenty of fluids are also advised. 

    The problem is that these recommendations do not treat to complete recovery. Many children and high school athletes suffer from concussions. One to two weeks of treatment does not completely treat the condition. 

    There are recent studies that have shown positive findings for using physical therapy. Physical therapy (PT) for concussion treatment is becoming an important part of a full recovery. 

    (more…)

  • How to Tell If You Have a Pulled Muscle (Plus, What to Do About It)

    Pain, stiffness, and swelling: the tell-tale signs that something isn’t right the morning after a workout. A little next-day soreness is normal after a day session of strenuous activity, but when these sensations become debilitating, they can be signs of significant damage.

    But where exactly do you draw the line? How do you know how to tell if you have pulled a muscle, or maybe if you just pushed yourself a little bit too hard?

    The line is finer than you might think, but it’s an important distinction to learn; trying to power through a pulled muscle can have disastrous consequences. So in order to prevent more severe injury, you need to know what a pulled muscle is and how to identify one.

    So What Does a “Pulled Muscle” Actually Mean?

    When talking about muscle injuries, you’ll sometime hear about “pulls”, “sprains”, or “tears”. All of them basically mean the same thing: damage done to the muscle that outpaces the body’s ability to repair it.

    You see, when you work out your muscles will form microscopic tears in their fibers. This is called “muscle hypertrophy“, and is completely normal. It’s what causes that “hurts so good” soreness the next morning and is a part of the process by which you strengthen your muscles.

    Your body repairs these damaged muscle fibers by fusing them together, making them bigger and stronger than they were before. So far so good. Where you run into trouble is when you cause damage that your body can’t easily repair.

    (more…)

  • Why You Get Knee Pain While Running (and How to Make It Stop!)

    When you run, forces of up to 550% of your body weight exert themselves on your joints.

    It’s no wonder that many people experience knee pain from running. Yet, there’s not just one cause that results in knee pain in runners.

    Read on to learn why you have knee pain running and what you can do about it. 

    Why Knees Hurt When Running

    Body mechanics is the first thing you should look at in order to figure out what is causing your knee pain. A sports medicine professional can work with you to correct the underlying issue causing you knee pain. Treatment could include getting an orthotic insert for your shoe or stretching and strengthening certain muscles.

    Your footwear can also be the reason you have knee pain while running. You can have issues if your shoes aren’t meant for running, have seen too many miles or aren’t right for the surfaces you typically run on.

    Another reason why knees hurt when running can be due to your training schedule. Perhaps you’ve been working on increasing your distance runs or your speed. 

    If so, you need to make sure you give your body enough recovery time. When you push yourself too hard over a short amount of time, you are more prone to injury and pain.

    Now, let’s take a closer look at the type of knee pain you’re having. Then you’ll be able to know what you need to do for proper treatment.

    Diagnosing Knee Pain

    As soon as you start to notice recurring knee pain, it’s time to take action. Often, knee pain can be managed by simple changes in habits or specific exercises. 

    Once you start treating your knee, monitor your pain. If your knee pain lasts longer than a week or so, you should make an appointment with us to help you get back to running without pain. Click on the green button for your FREE second opinion with a Board Certified Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Knee Rehab Expert.

    Green button with 'Schedule An Appointment' text and 'Click Here' prompt.

    Here is a look at some of the most common causes of knee pain and how to treat it. 

    Runner’s knee

    Runner’s knee is a common ailment. It is pain directly under your kneecap triggered by running or going up and down the stairs.

    Runner’s knee is due to the patella moving out of aliment. When this happens, the cartilage under your knee becomes irritated and causes pain.

    You can treat runner’s knee by applying ice to the area for 15 minutes several times a day. This will reduce inflammation.

    Try to cross-train with other activities that don’t aggravate your knees like using an elliptical, rowing machine or swimming. Foam rolling your quads and reducing your mileage can reduce your pain.

    You can prevent runner’s knee by adding strength training exercises to your weekly exercise routine. Focus on your lower body.

    Taking shorter strides can also take the pressure off your knees. Aim for 170-180 foot strikes per minute. 

    Patellar Tendinitis

    Do you feel pain right below your kneecaps and at the top of your shin? This is likely patellar tendinitis.

    When you run, the force on your knees can strain the patellar tendon causing knee pain.

    Again, applying ice and cross-training can reduce pain. You might also want to try wearing a patellar tendon strap. These velcro straps sit snugly under your knee cap and absorb the shock as you run. 

    Regular and concentrated strength training, as well as quad and hamstring stretching, can reduce the pain you feel when you run. Foam rolling is also helpful if you do it daily. 

    IT Band Syndrome

    If you feel pain on the outside of your knee when you run it may be a case of IT band syndrome. Pay attention to see if the pain starts a few minutes into your run and diminishes as soon as you stop running.

    Your IT band is a long piece of connective tissue that runs down the outside of your leg from the hip to the knee and shinbone. Its job is to stabilize the side of your knee while also protecting the outer thigh.

    When your IT band is tight, it can squeeze a fluid-filled sac (called the bursa) that sits next to the IT band. That pressure on the bursa causes the pain you feel when running.

    Overtraining is the most common cause of this. Insufficient warm-up or cool-down, or running on banked surfaces can also lead to IT band syndrome.

    Look at your gait while you run. Does your foot roll inward? This is called overpronation and can cause IT band syndrome. Motion-control shoes may help.

    Get into the habit of foam rolling the soft part of your outer thigh each day to stretch this tight tissue. 

    Work to strengthen your glute and core muscles to see an improvement. Short, quick strides may also help reduce this type of knee pain. 

    Meniscus Tear

    If you have knee pain running all over your knee, you could be dealing with a meniscus tear.

    The meniscus are two pieces of cartilage that work as shock absorbers between the femur and tibia.

    A sudden change of direction or a twisting your knee can cause a tear. Symptoms include stiffness, pain even when not running and feeling that your knee is stuck in one position.

    Treatment for meniscus tears depends on the size and location of the tear. Small tears might heal on their own. A rehab clinic will be able to assess the severity of your tear and suggest the best treatment.

    Osteoarthritis

    Osteoarthritis is a medical condition that means the cartilage lining your knee has worn out. As a result, your bone is grinding directly on bone resulting in pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee.

    You likely feel this pain even during regular activities like sitting, walking and climbing stairs.

    Don’t worry, you can treat this condition by keeping your joints well lubricated with lots of activity.

    Running on soft surfaces like a springy track can help reduce your pain and swelling. 

    Say Goodbye to Knee Pain Running

    There you have it! A detailed look at the various reasons you might be suffering from knee pain running.

    At ReVITALize Rehab Club we believe that an injury does not have to dictate your life.

    Learn who we are and what we do to help people like you get back to the activities they love.

    Do not settle for standard Physical Therapy when you can hire one of the only few Physio that has demonstrated excellence in the niche of Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

    Badge for Kresser Institute Adapt Trained Level 1 certification.

    One LOVE,

    Danh Ngo PT, DPT, OCS, SCS

    Doctor of Physical Therapy

    Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic and Sports Medicine

    Mind Body Health Results Coach

    Smiling young man wearing glasses and a striped sweater over a white shirt.

  • What is Sports Medicine; Why is it Important for Athletes?

    Are you an athlete wanting to prevent injuries or just keep your body healthy? Then seeing a sports medicine professional is a good idea for you.

    The term sports medicine is a broad one, but at its root, it means using medicine to improve the on-field performance of athletes, help athletes recover from injuries, and prevent future ailments from cropping back up.

    America is perhaps the most sport-savvy country in the world. Here, playing sports isn’t just a hobby, but an activity that can pay for college and lead to a career. 

    But no matter what level of athlete you are, a sports medicine professional can help steer you in the right direction towards your athletic goals.

    To learn more about how sports medicine can help you, check out Dr. Dold’s Sports Medicine Podcast.

    How is Sports Medicine Different From Seeing a Regular Doctor?

    The major difference between a sports medicine practitioner and, say, your regular doctor is his or her area of specialization (see the next section for more).

    If you’re an athlete that’s suffered an injury (or it happened at the gym), many regular doctors will tell you that you should stop playing that sport, rest, or pick a more low-impact activity like walking or swimming.

    But if you’re an athlete, or just enjoy going to the gym, that approach probably won’t work for you. 

    A sports medicine professional is under the assumption that you care deeply about sports, and that your number one goal is to get back on the field, court, or rink. They use the latest science, research, and rehabilitation tools to get you back to your best as quickly as possible.

    Today, athletes have pressure to perform and get back on the field quickly. Sports medicine professionals grow along with the latest ACL surgeries and performance enhancement techniques continue to evolve, ensuring you’re getting cutting edge treatment.

    On the other hand, general practitioners aren’t necessarily required to study sports science or know the research that helps an athlete get back to their best on-the-field. 

    Different Types of Sports Medicine

    An athlete goes through different types of things that some general practitioners won’t understand. Here’s a brief description of three types of sports medicine professionals, and how their area of expertise might boost performance.

    Exercise Physiologist

    Exercise physiologists understand how the human body and its systems operate at the physiological level. This means they can interpret data related to the cardiovascular system, conduct studies that pertain to force generation in your joints, and more.

    Seeing an exercise physiologist would make sense if you were looking for a specific routine, such as a warmup protocol. Based on the biofeedback they receive from the tests they run, they can give you information to help you make a decision.

    Some exercise physiologists work in a rehabilitation center or hospital, while others work in a sports performance facility. Most of them specialize in one area, so you’ll have to do some research to find the right person for your circumstances.

    Nutritionist

    Nutritionists look at what we put into our bodies and how it optimizes (or hinders) performance. A sports nutritionist may specialize in a specific area of sport (running, for example), so look for someone that knows your sport if possible.

    Why’s this important? Because the nutritional needs of a powerlifter will be much different than those of a runner, for example.

    Athletes, to an extent, are what they eat—or at least, they perform to the level of their nutrition. Working with these types of sports medicine professionals can help optimize your performance in a way no general practitioner will be able to.

    Physical Therapist

    Physical therapists restore performance after injuries, whether they are minor tweaks or full-blown surgeries. 

    A PT’s job is to get you back to one hundred percent so you can perform again.

    For fine motor skills (if you injured your hand, for example) you might see an occupational therapist instead.

    Should You See a Sports Medicine Professional?

    Each case is different, but you’d primarily want to see a sports medicine professional for a few reasons, such as:

    • If your normal healthcare provider can’t provide the type of advice you’re looking for.
    • If you’re looking to optimize performance on the field.
    • If you’re rehabbing from a surgery or injury.
    • If you’re not feeling well during sports performances and want to evaluate all possible culprits (nutrition, for example).
    • If you want a customized protocol for your sports training or fitness routine.

    The other instance where seeing a sports-specific practitioner makes sense is when you’ve tried everything else—you wouldn’t be the first athlete to go through several different general practitioners and still not get results. If you’ve been dealing with the same few injuries for years, or just don’t feel like you’re performing to your best, it might be time to try something new.

    Most professionals accept health insurance, so you’ll want to find someone that accepts yours. Otherwise, you may be paying out of pocket, which can get pricey.

    Why Sports Medicine is Important For Athletes: Wrap Up

    Seeing a sports medicine professional is an investment in your on-field performance. Whether you’re wanting to see an exercise physiologist, a nutritionist, or a physical therapist, all of these practitioners can help you feel and perform your best when it matters most.

    Learn about the services we provide here so you can decide if we’re the right solution for you.

    Smiling young man wearing glasses and a striped sweater over a white shirt.

    One LOVE,

    Danh Ngo PT, DPT, OCS, SCS

    Doctor of Physical Therapy

    Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic and Sports Medicine

    Mind Body Health Results Coach

  • Vestibular Rehab: What It Is and How You’ll Benefit

    Vestibular rehabilitation is needed more often than you think. In fact, an estimated 35.4% of adults over 40 have balance impairment. As a result, an estimated 60 million doctor visits each year are due to patients who complain about dizziness.

    However, dizziness isn’t the only reason you might need vestibular rehab. 

    While treating the symptom of dizziness is a quick fix, it’s more difficult to rehab the underlying issue if you let it drag on. Instead of waiting, it’s important to get the help you need immediately.

    Need physical therapy for vertigo or recurring dizziness? Keep reading to learn all about vestibular rehab and how it can help!

    What Is Vestibular Rehab?

    The body’s overall sense of balance depends on multiple systems working together at once. This cohesion allows the human body and vision to create stability. In order for us to maintain proper balance, our bodies need:

    • Accurate sensory information
    • Our brains to properly understand and respond to that information
    • For our muscles to respond correctly in turn

    We receive sensory information from three different systems: the visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems. 

    The visual system tells the brain about our environment, including how our body related to the horizon. This occurs whether we’re still or moving. 

    The somatosensory system, on the other hand, is sensitive to:

    • Stress
    • Vibration
    • Pressure
    • Touch to the muscles, tendons, joints, and skin

    These sensitivities help the brain understand how the body is positioned. 

    The vestibular system senses head movement while keeping our eyes focused. Organs within the inner ear also tell the brain when we move or reposition or head. 

    Together, these three systems keep the brain informed. Then, our brains use this information to control our balance, depending on the situation and position we’re in. Our bodies also use previous experiences to determine our sense of balance. 

    Once the brain understands this information, it sends messages to the eyes and other parts of the body. These messages help us move in ways that will help us maintain our balance.

    Vestibular rehab is an exercise-based program that helps improve our balance. These exercises can also help reduce issues we’re experiencing that are related to dizziness. 

    Feeling More Than “Dizzy”

    While dizziness is one reason patients sometimes need vestibular therapy, dizziness is often described in different ways. You might also feel:

    • Unsteady
    • Woozy
    • Lightheaded
    • Like you’re about to pass out
    • As if you’re moving
    • Like you’re spinning, floating, swaying, or twirling
    • Vertigo

    These sensations can occur whether you’re lying down, standing still, or moving from one position to the next. You might experience these sensations constantly or throughout the day in short episodes. 

    So what causes these sensations?

    Often, these symptoms indicate a mechanical problem. For example, you might have an inner ear disorder. These sensations are also a side effect of certain medications and an indication of neck dysfunction. 

    However, it could also be the result of a more serious problem, such as a heart or brain issue. 

    If you’re experiencing these symptoms, make sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor to determine the underlying cause. 

    What Can a Therapist Do?

    With vestibular physical therapy, you’ll learn how well your body uses your visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems to maintain balance. If you regularly feel dizzy, off-balance, or fall often, a physical therapist will study how your body reacts.

    For example, a physical therapist will look at your problems with walking and balance. Then, they’ll conduct a fall-risk assessment. Sometimes, these issues are related to inner ear problems, such as positional vertigo.

    Then, they’ll instruct you through a series of exercises that can help address the problem.

    They’ll also tailor a treatment plan that will help you meet specific goals, such as improving your balance. Your treatment plan will address the specific problems you’re experiencing, whether it’s balance or dizziness. 

    A therapist can also complete a home safety assessment to determine the environmental challenges you face at home. 

    Through these exercises, your body will learn how to use your visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems properly. As a result, you’ll learn how to maintain your balance and keep from falling.

    With vestibular physical therapy, you’ll have a physical therapist who understands your specific needs and goals. Your physical therapist may also recommend you see a doctor for further testing if needed. 

    Who Benefits from Vestibular Rehabilitation? 

    There are a number of reasons you might require vestibular physical therapy, including:

    • Dizziness
    • Imbalance
    • Vertigo
    • Meniere’s syndrome
    • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
    • Neck-related dizziness
    • Migraines

    A doctor might also refer you for vestibular rehab if you recently had a stroke, brain injury, or fall frequently. 

    Patients who recently received a concussion can benefit from vestibular rehab as well. According to this study, vestibular rehabilitation can help reduce dizziness, improve gait, and improve balance function after a concussion.

    Undergoing vestibular rehabilitation can also help with:

    • Dizziness/blurred vision when you move your head
    • Neck stiffness, pain, or tightness
    • Imbalance when you walk
    • Headaches
    • Frequent falls
    • Vertigo/spinning

    If you experience these symptoms, speak with a doctor to determine if vestibular rehab is right for you. 

    Your First Appointment

    During your initial appointment, your physical therapist will evaluate your system. They’ll also review your medical history. During this appointment, the physical therapist may also study your:

    • Balance
    • Leg strength and flexibility
    • Gait
    • Visual mobility and stability
    • Neck and arm strength and mobility
    • Positional testing (which can include an inner ear exam)

    After these tests, your physical therapist will determine a customized treatment plan. The goal of vestibular rehabilitation is to improve any deficits they discovered during the initial exam.

    Over time, a physical therapist can help improve your quality of life. Physical therapy can help you avoid falling and improve your day-to-day functionality.

    Vestibular Rehab: What It Is and How You’ll Benefit

    Unsure if vestibular rehab is right for you? Take a look at your symptoms. Then, speak with a doctor to determine the best course of action for treatment.

    With vestibular rehabilitation, you can improve your balance, avoid dizziness, and improve your overall quality of life!

    Contact us today to schedule a free telehealth interview with our experts!

    Do not settle for standard Physical Therapy when you can hire one of the only few Physio that has demonstrated excellence in the niche of Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

    Badge for Kresser Institute Adapt Trained Level 1 certification.

    One LOVE,

    Danh Ngo PT, DPT, OCS, SCS

    Doctor of Physical Therapy

    Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic and Sports Medicine

    Expert in Dizziness and Vestibular Management

    Mind Body Health Results Coach

    Smiling young man wearing glasses and a striped sweater over a white shirt.

  • 7 Tips for Dealing with Tight Hip Flexors

    About 80 percent of the U.S. population suffers from lower back pain at some point. Tight hip flexors may be part of the problem. Your hip flexors can be tight from sitting for long periods, jogging, and cycling. 

    Don’t let tight hip flexors ruin your exercise routine or make you uncomfortable. Here are seven tips to do with tight hip flexors.

    Are Your Hips Tight?

    If you think you may have tight hips, you may have pain in your upper groin area, hamstring strains, or lower back pain. Tight hips can cause other health issues with your knees, sacroiliac joints, and low pain.

    You can evaluate your hip flex muscle flexibility with this test.:

    • Lie on the floor, bench, or another flat surface
    • Pull both knees to the chest
    • Press the right knee against the chest
    • Straighten the left leg
    • Lower the left leg as far as you can
    • Repeat on the other side

    If you cannot completely lower your leg to the surface, your hip flexors are tight. By doing targeted exercises, you can help loosen these muscles. Complete these exercises regularly and then test your flexibility again to see your progress.

    1. Butterfly Stretch

    After you workout or after sitting for a while, the butterfly stretch is a great way to loosen up your hips. Sit on the floor and put your legs straight out.

    Put the soles of your feet together. Try to move your heels as close to your body as possible. Lean forward and keep your back straight.

    Put your elbows on your thighs and push gently to get a deeper stretch. Stay in the pose for at least 30 seconds.

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  • Knowing your Sciatic nerve anatomy to help your sciatica nerve pain.

    There are numerous articles and many more videos of people showing you how to help your sciatica nerve pain. Many of these articles briefly glance over the anatomy. The problem is that anatomy and functionality is the most important part in ridding your sciatica nerve pain.

    As a Spine and Sports Medicine Specialist in Long Beach, California, we have helped 1000’s of people walk, run, lift, and resume their sport after dealing with sciatica. You can get better too.

    Do you know if you have sciatica or something that mimics sciatica?

    That is the first clinical riddle that we must answer when we first try to help a client dealing with nerve pain to their leg.

    Basic Anatomy 101: Sciatic Nerve

    Anatomical dissection showing sciatic nerve and surrounding muscles.

    Your sciatic nerve is a combination of your tibial and common fibular nerve. At this junction, the two bundle of nerves connect to your four hamstring muscles and adductor magnus muscles. Your hamstring muscles consist of your semimembranosus, semitendinosus, long head bicep femoris, and short head bicep femoris muscles.

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  • How do you heal a hamstring strain fast and completely?

    So, You have a Hamstring Strain and looking for help. If this is your third, fourth, or Xth time suffering from a hamstring string, you are not the only one.

    We wrote an article called “Everything you need to know about your hamstring anatomy, movement, and injury from a Sports Medicine Physical Therapy Specialist” that will help set the foundation for this article.

    Let us get straight to a list of reasons that your hamstring strain is not going away, even with stretching, foam rolling, and soft tissue massages.

    • You are not adding hamstring strengthening variations that emphasize eccentric-type of movements.
    • You need to train in the specific activities that translate to your goals or common trigger activity.
    • You are focusing too much on the hamstring muscles and need to help your hamstring muscles to work well with your body.
    • No one has thought to ensure your hip, knee, ankle/heel, 1st toe, and lumbar spine joint mobility are healthy and adaptable.
    • There is a Sciatic nerve involvement.
    • There is a muscle that is mimicking pain to your hamstrings.
    • You are not recovering well through inadequate sleep, nutrition, or nutrients.

    As you can see that the list is longer than you may have assumed. Do you know what that means?

    There is absolutely hope that you can stay active without fearing of a pulled hamstring muscle. You can sprint, run, jump, and do what makes your body feel happy.

    Read below and start addressing these reasons and let us know how you feel in a few weeks.

    1. You are not adding hamstring strengthening variations that emphasize eccentric-type of movements.

    Many people focus on concentric hamstring exercises. Concentric type of movements engages the muscle fibers to shorten and strong. Eccentric type of movements engages the muscle fibers in a lengthened position.

    Research has shown that chronic muscle injury happens because the muscle healed in an incomplete and unorganized manner. Eccentric-type of exercises causes micro-tears that will help restart and reorganize your muscle fibers to be parallel with each other.

    You are assuming that you might have more pain and soreness if you are trying to cause micro-tears in the muscle fibers. You are correct. So, how do you know when it is therapeutic versus harmful?

    (more…)