A recent conversation about cortisone shots and back pain due to herniated discs inspired me to write this article. The person I was speaking with was quite misinformed about when cortisone shots are useful – and when they aren’t. By the way, it’s a very common misunderstanding. But since I hate seeing people undergo unnecessary injections or procedures – I’m here to educate. So let’s break it down:...
6 Tips to Protect Your Back When Shoveling Snow We’re finally getting some winter weather here on the seacoast. And although it’s beautiful – and the skiers are rejoicing – someone still has to shovel that snow and clear it out of the way. If that someone is you – then you’ll want to keep reading. Because repetitive bending and twisting of your back (the primary movement in...
5 Simple Tips for Keeping Back Pain Gone Almost half of U.S. adults (39% according to the CDC) suffer from back pain. With the prevalence increasing as we age – folks over age 65 are more likely to experience back pain than any other age group. Economically speaking – back pain accounts for roughly $50B annually – and is the number one cause of missed work days –...
It’s that time of year – when people set goals and take action to improve their health, get back in shape, and ramp up exercise routines. But what happens when your body isn’t ready for what your mind has planned? How can you tell if the soreness you feel is “good pain” – or a problem brewing? This concept is particularly confusing when it comes to leg pain....
Now is the time when people shift their focus to the New Year and start thinking about new and exciting goals for themselves. According to statista.com – the three most popular New Year’s goals are 1) doing more exercise and improving their fitness, 2) losing weight, and 3) saving money. Would you be surprised to know that if you are currently suffering from back pain – and you...
If you’re anything like me – you’ve left your Holiday wrapping to the absolute last minute. And if that’s the case – there’s a very good chance you’re going to overdo it – and aggravate any existing neck or back pain you might have. The good news? There are things you can do to significantly mitigate the chances of your neck and back pain flaring up – and...
6 Expert Tips to Protect Your Back When Raking Leaves in New England Here in Portsmouth, NH, and across New England, fall foliage is beautiful — until all those leaves end up in your yard. As a local physical therapist, I often see an increase in back pain and strain injuries this time of year from people raking leaves without realizing how much stress it puts on their...
If you’ve ever suffered from sciatica – then you don’t need me to tell you how debilitating the condition can be. From shooting and searing pain into your buttocks that can run all the way down to your foot – to numbness, tingling and loss of strength… sciatica has the ability to significantly impact your quality of life. What’s worse? It typically comes out of nowhere – making...
As a back pain expert, I talk to folks numerous times per day about the best things they can do to get rid of their back pain. The most common topic that comes up? Core Strengthening. Everyone wants to learn how to strengthen their core properly and more effectively – in hopes that it will put an end to their back pain. Unfortunately, getting rid of back pain...
Tips and Solutions for Morning Back Pain: Causes and How to Fix it One of the most common complaints from people suffering from chronic back pain is how stiff and sore their back feels first thing in the morning. For some, it seems random – almost like they’ve “thrown their back out” overnight. For others, it’s a daily struggle, waking up achy no matter how good they felt...
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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.
