Why Your Back Pain Keeps Coming Back – And the Daily Habits That Cause It Most people don’t wake up one morning with back pain for no reason – even if it seems that way. Back problems tend to creep in gradually, under the radar, until one day they suddenly get your attention. Maybe you notice you’re stiffer getting out of the car after your morning commute. Your...
When it comes to pain and physical therapy, ironically, one of the most common things I hear from patients is, “I’m just going to wait until the pain and inflammation calm down before I come back.” On the surface, that might sound perfectly reasonable. If something hurts, resting it seems like the smartest thing to do, right? And sometimes… it is. But many people are surprised to learn...
Ten years ago, you could play 18 holes on Saturday, mow the lawn on Sunday, and barely think about it. Now your back tightens up halfway through a round. Your elbow aches for two days afterward. Maybe your knee complains every time you walk a hilly course, or your shoulder feels stiff before you’ve even reached the back nine. The frustrating part is that it often feels like...
How to Keep Yard Work from Throwing Out Your Back Every spring, it happens like clockwork. You finally get a stretch of nice weather, head outside with good intentions, and start tackling everything that’s been waiting all winter—yard cleanup, spreading mulch, pulling weeds, maybe even reorganizing the garage. And here in Portsmouth, Hampton, and across the Seacoast, that urgency feels real after a long New England winter. It...
Before You Consider Knee Surgery – Read This Arthroscopic knee surgery is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures in the United States, and total knee replacement isn’t far behind. Both procedures are frequently recommended for people suffering from knee pain, especially when imaging shows arthritis, meniscus tears, or other degenerative changes inside the joint. But here’s what many people don’t realize – the presence of those...
If you live in New England, you already know — this winter has arrived with a vengeance. After several mild seasons, we’re finally seeing the kind of snowstorms that turn everyday homeowners into part-time weightlifters overnight. Shovels come out. Snowblowers get dragged from garages. Driveways, walkways, decks, cars, and mailboxes all need to be cleared — often quickly and in freezing temperatures. In other words, snow removal involves...
If you’ve ever told someone you’re dealing with tight hips, tight hamstrings, tight calves, or a tight neck, chances are the next thought was: “I just need to stretch more.” As a physical therapist, this is one of the most common assumptions I hear — and one of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to muscle tightness. Stretching is not always the solution.And in many cases, it’s not...
Back Surgery Is Rarely the Answer — Here’s What to Know First The number of times this week I’ve heard people talk excitedly about their upcoming back surgery has genuinely left me disheartened. Not because surgery never has a place — but because it highlights just how misunderstood non-surgical healing for back pain still is. No matter how much education I share, or how much research exists showing...
A Physical Therapy Expert’s Guide to Enjoying Fall Activities Pain-Free Fall is my favorite season-and I know it is for many of you too. Crisp air, colorful leaves, pumpkin patches, and cozy outdoor gatherings are some things that come to mind. But there’s also raking leaves, picking apples, chopping wood, and moving heavy things like hay bales or pumpkins. Any of these activities can produce unwelcome strain on...
A meniscus tear is one of the most commonly diagnosed knee injuries – and also one of the most misunderstood. If you’ve recently been told you have a torn meniscus and that surgery is your only option – I want you to take a deep breath and pause for a moment… Because in most cases – especially if you’re over 40 – there’s a very good chance you...
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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.
