Here at MoveWell we treat athletes of all ages who have big movement goals and push their bodies in different ways. These are the top 5 issues we see and how you can avoid developing them yourself!

Unfortunately as the aging process continues, breakdown of joint surfaces and gradual degenerative changes begin to occur. Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory process that thrives in a stiff environment and typically originates from an overall lack of mobility or movement. Closely related, spinal stenosis can cause narrowing of the central, lateral, or foraminal canals where neurological structures travel from the spinal cord. Both of these pathologies can lead to compression on nerves, joints, muscles, and subsequently reduce overall mobility.

Long periods of sitting or loaded rotational movements tend to be the provocative motions that irritate intervertebral discs and cause things like bulges, herniations, and sequestrations. Many people historically have described this as “throwing your back out” while lifting or moving something. Due to the altered force being placed on the disc, the annular fibers become weakened, allowing for that nuclear material to press outward in varying degrees.

While lifting or bending, excessive use or poor internal stability may cause these muscles to go into spasm which approximates the joint surfaces, setting off a chain of irritation. The facet joint becomes irritated because of excessive compression, causing the nerve to become angry, which leads to muscle guarding to protect the area.

Facet joint issues, Disc bulges, Osteoarthritis, Stenosis, Nerve Entrapments, and combinations of all the above can create both acute and chronic issues in the low back. Targeted manual therapy treatments coupled with specific active exercises have been shown to provide significant relief of symptoms.

Although manual therapy can create great initial change, research tells us that is only one part of the winning equation. PTs utilize a variety of treatments that work on different processes of the body - the neurological system, circulatory system, and musculoskeletal system. Manual therapy, coupled with specific individualized exercises can greatly reduce a variety of movement issues in the body.

Often during the examination process, your physical therapist will identify areas that may be contributing towards your primary issues in a way you may not expect.

The clicking doesn’t necessarily hurt… it’s just there. You don’t want anything to get in the way of the golf or tennis outing with your friends next weekend. Is the shoulder clicking bad and will it cause further injury?

Physical therapy integrates both the relief and strengthening aspects of coming back from this injury. Using massage or dry needling, we can alleviate tension being placed on the connection to the elbow from the muscles. Targeting strengthening with specifically dosed exercises gives a framework to work back to a stronger baseline.

Most people hear the word “concierge” or “cash-based” and think to themselves, “Yeah this option is cool, but I’ll probably just go somewhere that takes my insurance.” Many individuals may not realize their insurance plans have deductibles specific to outpatient physical therapy services, and until they’ve met that deductible, they may be charged anywhere from $160 - $200 for each visit.

Injury. It is the quickest way to stop you dead in your tracks with your fitness goals. It doesn't matter how quickly you lose weight or how many times you PR your lifts - If you get injured and lose the progress you made, it doesn't much matter what your max squat or bench press used to be. Fitness, wellness, and overall health is about longevity and sustainability. It's about being your best for as long as possible, and there are a couple ways to make this happen…

As bipedal beings, our feet are the literal foundation for our movement. They absorb ground reaction forces, vibration from impact, and give us fine-tuned perception of our surface. Our feet are absolutely vital in sensing our environment - so much so that they have 10 times the amount of sensory nerves than motor nerves! It is this sensation that is the literal gateway into navigating and functioning to our potential.

Shoulder mobility - it's a hot topic in the fitness community. If you don't have the range, you won't hit the lift. This may be true in a general sense, but the bigger question is what is causing the overhead deficit. Is it latissimus dorsi tightness? Is it poor spinal mobility? Often times yes, but a component that is often ignored is the external rotation of the shoulder.

Speed. Agility. Power. We understand their importance for sport, but those days are over, right? Wrong.

Maybe you are on the wrong side of 40, and you have no desire to move quickly. Maybe you just want to build muscle and don't see how an agility drill is going to help you reach your goals. We tend to constrain ourselves based on short term goals and what we perceive as the easiest ways to accomplish said goals. But what about long term function?