If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably left your holiday wrapping to the very last minute. And if that’s the case, there’s a good chance you’ll overdo it — and aggravate any existing neck or back pain you’ve already been dealing with. The good news? You can avoid making your pain worse — and even prevent it altogether — with just a few simple adjustments. As a physical...
Why Your Lower Back Still Feels Tight — Even When You Stretch Every Day If you’re dealing with lower back pain in Portsmouth NH and stretching every day — but still feel tight, stiff, or sore — you’re not alone. At our physical therapy clinic in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, we see this all the time. People are consistent. They’re motivated. They stretch daily.And yet — their back still...
Struggling with Sciatica? Why What You’ve Tried Might Not Be Working If you’ve ever experienced a sharp, shooting pain that travels from your lower back down your leg, you’ve likely been told you have sciatica. And if you’re like most people, you’ve probably tried a few things – rest, stretching, physical therapy, chiropractic care, maybe even a cortisone shot – only to find the pain returns just as...
In my 23-year career, back pain is probably the one problem that frustrates people the most. It affects your sleep, your mood, your energy, and your ability to enjoy the things you love. Plus, it becomes even more frustrating after you’ve tried all the “right” things – like physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and even good old-fashioned rest. If this sounds like your story, you are not alone. I...
Whenever pain flares up – one of the most popular questions and concerns I get from clients is whether or not they need an MRI. When you have persistent pain that won’t go away, or shooting pain or numbness down your arm or leg, it’s scary. It makes sense to get a look inside with an MRI, right? Not necessarily. MRI’s are an amazing technological advancement that will...
Hamstring Pain is common – especially in active adults over 40. But what’s less commonly talked about is how often a hamstring injury is misdiagnosed. If you’ve been stretching, foam rolling, and rehabbing your “hamstring strain” for weeks or months with little to no improvement – there’s a good chance your pain isn’t coming from your hamstring at all. That’s because certain types of back problems can mimic...
One of the most important things to get right when it comes to successfully resolving knee pain is to make sure you’ve correctly identified the root cause. Sometimes, your knee pain is due to a problem within your knee joint – such as with arthritis or torn cartilage. But other times (and more often than you think) – the source of your knee pain can be coming from...
Why Your Ab Exercises Aren’t Fixing Your Back Pain If you’ve been dealing with back pain for a while, chances are good that someone – whether a well-meaning friend, fitness influencer, or even your doctor – has told you to strengthen your core. It’s one of the most common recommendations I hear from people who come into my clinic. And while core strengthening can be helpful, it’s not...
Think You’ve Got Piriformis Syndrome? It Might Actually Be Sciatica A reader of this column recently wrote to me with the following question: “I’m getting Physical Therapy for lower back pain and sciatica that is said to be from ‘piriformis syndrome’. My PT treatment has consisted of various exercises and some massage. Eight sessions in and no change at all. I’m still having pain when sitting or walking...
Whenever someone finds out I’m a physical therapist, the next question is almost always something like… “What can I do for [insert the blank] injury?” And when it comes to back pain specifically, people often ask me: “Should I be resting it?” It’s no surprise that the vast majority of folks I speak with about back pain have been told by well-meaning friends, family, or even doctors that...
Get practical, no-nonsense health and wellness tips from Portsmouth's leading physical therapist, right to your inbox every week.
Portsmouth, NH’s people-first physical therapy studio. We help active adults 40+ find the root cause of their pain and build a long-term plan to fix it, so they can get back to doing what they love most.
