Most people with poor posture have poor breathing habits. Many people don’t realize that a slouched sitting posture can wreak havoc on the function of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large dome shaped muscle at the base of the lungs, responsible for expanding the lungs so we can take in air to get oxygen. When this muscle isn’t working as well as it should, other muscles in the upper back and neck area can take over by expanding the rib cage and helping to fill the lungs. However, this compensation pattern can lead to more chronic back or neck pain. So if you find yourself sitting in a chair most of the day, or if you’re rehabbing from a neck, back or rib injury, you could probably benefit from some diaphragmatic breathing practice to wake up this underutilized muscle.
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Joint Ventures' Blog
Poor Posture and the Diaphragm
Overuse Injuries in Children
Osgood-Schatter disease and Sever's disease are common overuse injuries in children. They occur when a muscle repeatedly exerts high levels of tension on its attachment point. This often occurs during a growth-spurt, when the bones grow faster than muscles and tendons do, resulting in increased muscle tension and pulling on attachment points. It can also be the result of faulty body mechanics, when one muscle group isn't working as hard as it should, and another group takes over and becomes overused and tight. These conditions occur frequently in children who participate heavily in running and jumping sports such as volleyball and gymnastics.
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How is your sitting posture at work?
Poor posture, incorrect body mechanics, and faulty desk set up are all major factors in workplace related injuries and health problems. Static positioning with these faulty mechanics can lead to injuries such as neck/back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and shoulder and wrist tendonitis. Below are some good tips to adjust your desk arrangement to prevent these injuries.
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Do I apply ice or heat to an injury?
I hear this question frequently from my patients, so I thought I’d write some general guidelines to consider when choosing to ice, to heat, or when to do both.
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What or Where is the Neutral Spine?
Statistics show that around 85% of people will suffer from some type of low back pain over the course of their lifetime. That is a HUGE number! The fact that many jobs require people to be sitting for hours on end, causing imbalanced muscle tension as well as inactive core muscles, is a major contributing factor to that number. As a result, many of the patients who walk through the doors of our physical therapy office present with low back pain at one time or another.
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Girls on the Run!
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Aquatic Therapy, What's all the splashing about?
I can’t emphasize enough to my patients that they need be proactive with their health. Step up to the plate, ask lots of questions, get second opinions, and be curious about all your options. If you are referred to physical therapy, and you are not successful on land (in the office setting), ask your therapist about aquatic physical therapy. If you want to try it from the beginning of your physical therapy, bring it to your doctor’s attention or on the first day you start PT. It’s something to keep in mind, and possibly the approach that’s right for you.
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Power Up For Lifelong Fitness
A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to compete in and win a powerlifting competition in the New England area. For those of you who aren't familiar with powerlifting, it is the sport of performing three movements — squat, bench press, and deadlift — with the heaviest weight possible, while maintaining very strict form.
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Weekend Warriors Hitting the Slopes
For those of you that engage in snowy activities like skiing and snowboarding, it can be an exciting time to plan the weekend getaway to a private chalet at the base of the mountain. However, it can also be dangerous to your health and body if you are not prepared. These season-specific snow sports have their limitations, and most of us put the skis on for the first time in several months without any training or practice in the pre-season. Our bodies have to be conditioned before the first day of making tracks.
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