The Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFO) is a common orthotic used to brace the ankle for children with impaired ankle function. AFOs are typically used for children with difficulty standing or walking due to ankle strength or positioning, or for children...
Canes are an important tool for those who use them. Using a cane is not as simple as it might look. According to MayoClinic.com, a cane can be used to help balance while walking or to compensate for a weakness or injury. Learning proper technique...
The American Physical Therapy Association has set forth guidelines for physical therapy professionals. These guidelines ensure proper patient care and communication with the doctors who have prescribed physical therapy for their patients....
Good posture helps prevent pain and injury, but it also helps your body work as efficiently as possible, explains the American Physical Therapy Association. Your body is designed to operate its best when you're using good posture, which is why...
An endurance sport, cycling's aerobic component builds your stamina and muscles. It requires you to work for extended periods of time exercising your body thoroughly. With the proper adjustments to your bike, you can increase your stamina and...
Gait is determined by the way you walk and the peculiarities that might interfere with a balanced, safe and healthy walk. According to the Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, gait includes the characteristics of your walk, such as how fast and hard...
If you sit at the computer all day, it's likely that you crane your neck. Doing this puts undue pressure and strain on your neck, causes poor posture and can lead to serious conditions like disc herniations, headaches and arthritis, according to...
Osteoporosis is a disorder that causes bones to lose density and become brittle. Osteoporosis is common among the elderly and more so in women than men. Symptoms can include back pain, loss of height and susceptibility to bone fractures, says...
According to the Sports Physical Therapy Section, a sports physical therapist is a professional who emphasizes "prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and performance-enhancement" of exercisers and athletes. Sports physical therapy is...
Pain of any kind is worthy of your attention. Pain is your nervous system informing your brain that something is wrong. If you are experiencing sharp heel pain when bending, a few issues should be considered that may help you to decipher what...
If you experience persistent lower back stiffness or pain, see your doctor. You could have an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. If you are recovering from an injury, a physical therapist can help you put together a stretching...
Shortly after birth, your baby learns to lift his head using his neck muscles. Your baby needs strong muscles and lots of practice time to keep developing his neck muscles. Judy Towne Jennings, a physical therapist with the American Physical...
Poor back posture is often the underlying cause of chronic back pain, fatigue and muscle strain. Poor posture, over time, can even affect the position of your vital organs and how they function, according to the American Physical Therapy...
A mastectomy is the surgical removal of your entire breast as the result of breast cancer. The five different types of mastectomy include simple or total mastectomy, radical, modified radical, partial and subcutaneous mastectomy. Since each...
Physical therapy techniques used in the water often involve a physical therapist or assistant. The exercises are used for treatment of physical disorders, rehabilitation and general health and wellness, according to the American Physical Therapy...
Swollen lymph nodes in your neck usually come from exposure to a virus or bacteria but can come from a blockage or even cancer. Your doctor may have prescribed physical therapy following your neck dissection, or the removal of the lymph nodes and...
Seamstresses, musicians, computer programmers, supermarket checkout clerks and throwing sport athletes have one thing in common: they all require manual endurance, dexterity and flexibility. Hand and wrist overuse or misuse may lead to chronic...
Physical therapy involves manipulating and working with the body to help relieve pain, gain strength and increase range of motion. Patients who are recovering from such procedures and conditions as chronic pain, knee and hip replacements, broken...
Good posture and a straight back are critical not only for maintaining a good self image, but also for reducing the risk of potential health problems like back pain or back injuries. Some basic exercises can help you straighten your back and...
SpineUniverse.com states that 80 percent of the population will experience an episode of low-back pain during their lifetimes. Most patients do not know what causes their back pain. Usually it can be determined that pain is caused by poor posture...
Sometimes consumers are left feeling uncertain about what to believe, especially when the media reports inaccurate or incomplete information related to public health issues. At other times, the news media plays a critical role by contributing to...
Treadmill testing is used by doctors to measure the amount of blood your heart pumps through your arteries during activity. This helps doctors determine if you have any blockages or other risk factors for heart disease. Your blood pressure and...
Surgical treatments for back pain are usually the last options chosen, and they are most common in cases with definitive diagnoses. Home remedies to treat pain symptoms and some of their causes are generally more effective at alleviating acute and...
The telltale signs of bad posture may develop from poor sitting, standing or sleeping habits, or from age or the onset of a genetic or chronic bone disease. If you believe that a change in your appearance or health is due to poor back posture,...
Poorly controlled diabetes could lead to a number of serious and potentially deadly problems including blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and foot amputations. Optimal blood sugar control requires you to adopt a combination of habits all...
A treadmill stress test is a screening tool doctors often use to assess heart health. Depending on whether the test is maximal or submaximal, a stress test can either help your doctor determine whether heart disease is present or enable her to...
Exercise band and dumbbell exercises are types of resistance workouts geared toward gains in strength and lean body mass, or the reduction of body fat. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says adults can gain substantial health...
Back pain that occurs at a continual, low level or that comes and goes at a greater intensity should be treated, even if a definitive diagnosis can't be made. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 80 percent of diagnoses of chronic pain in the back...
Chronic pain is often a sign of an underlying neck condition that is creating changes in the spinal muscles, vertebrae, discs or nerves. Recurrent neck pain may also stem from an old injury. Whatever the cause, treatments for chronic neck pain are...