The Joint Ventures' Blog

Lateral elbow tendinopathy, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a common cause of elbow pain in men and women between the ages of 35 and 54. The source of pain from tennis elbow is localized degeneration of the common tendon that attaches the elbow to the muscles that extend (pull back) the wrist and hand. People with tennis elbow will most often have pain with gripping, particularly when lifting an object using a palm-down grip, and will report tenderness of the elbow. 

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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 physical 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 physical therapy.  It’s something to keep in mind, and possibly the approach that’s right for you.   

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The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) is an evidenced based organization that looks closely at the relationship between how the human body moves and the efficiency of the golf swing, termed the “Body-Swing Connection”. TPI was created in 2003 by Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips along with 52 other members of their board of professionals, all with different experiences in fields of fitness, junior level development, medicine, golf, and power. Their main testing facility is located in Oceanside, California, but the research has spread worldwide through its teaching of certified professionals.  

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One of the things that always strikes me is the number of people who accept pain without trying to find a solution for the problem!  I've had conversations that include something like, “My knees hurt because I am getting older.” Or, “I have trouble on stairs because I'm a runner.” Another favorite is, “Sometimes I have pain, but a PT is just going to tell me not to run, so I haven’t tried that.” Or, “I'm in great shape!  I run 5x a week. I'm just working on setting a new personal best – no way a PT can help me!”​ 

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Starting at a young age, all athletes, including runners, are encouraged to stretch before they begin playing a sport, participating in a practice, or just going out for a leisurely jog.  These days, the questions I receive from my clients are, “Do I really have to stretch?” and also “When am I supposed to stretch, before or after my run?” Stretching in regards to running and injury prevention is a debatable topic, but hopefully the following recommendations will provide some general guidelines when it comes to stretching and running. 

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In just over a month, many of our friends, family, and co-workers will be running in the 122nd Boston Marathon. Each year as the thousands go by, I get caught up in the courage, conviction, and dedication I see on the faces of all the runners. Each year Joint Ventures becomes more involved with the Boston Marathon, mostly through participation with Coach John Furey's runners.  For some, it will be their first marathon, while for others they're working to improve on a best time. For any runner training to run 26.2 miles, there is an overload of information on how to properly train, but here are a few basic, but important tips! 

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With spring hopefully around the corner, you’re getting in shape for running season. Or if you’re a hardy New Englander, you’re out there in any type of weather and are training for the spring races. A common running injury is called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). It is caused by an abnormality in the way the patella (kneecap) moves over the end of the femur (thigh bone).  

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One caveat before you go any further....this article is being written with the assumption that you have functional knees with no tears, loose bodies, or large cartilage defects directly affecting your knees’ function.  If you have a generally “healthy” knee and are a relatively healthy person who continues to get knee pain that doesn't seem to go away, your answer might lie above and below. 

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