Motion Specific Release

MANUAL THERAPY OPTIONS FOR OA Effective manual therapy techniques, such as Motion Specific Release (MSR), can play a significant role in reducing pain and increasing function in patients suffering from hip and knee osteoarthritis. The goal of manual therapy is to increase joint motion that has been lost, reduce the stress on articular cartilage, and enhance joint kinematics (kinematics is the study of the relative motion between two consecutive segments of the human body). Al

Hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) are two of the most common musculoskeletal conditions we see in our clinical practice. Considering its high prevalence in our society, it is not surprising that OA is the leading cause of disability in our aging population. Up to 40% of the population suffer from OA between the ages of 45-55, and by the time we reach the age of 75, over 80% of the population has OA. (1) On a personal level, OA of the hip is something that I have a lot experien

For a complete resolution of Plantar Fasciitis, it is important to use the correct combination of exercises. There are four important types of exercises you must include to address Plantar Fasciitis: stretching, myofascial release, strengthening, and balance. What exercises should be prescribed will vary depending on the needs of the individual. Factors such as kinetic chain involvement, muscle imbalances, and previous injuries should be considered. Because of this please con

Updated 05/07/2020

Updated 05/07/2020

Updated 05/01/2020

Updated 05/01/2020

Updated 04/30/2020

Updated 04/26/2020

Did you ever think about why our gluteal muscles, especially our gluteus maximus muscle, evolved into such a large strong muscle as compared to other animals? The answer is quite simple, and it has to do with our bipedal locomotive system. We stand on two legs! Because we walk on two legs instead of four we need strong, power gluteal muscles for optimum function. Without strong activated gluteal muscles we lose a lot of our core stability and run the risk of multiple injuries

Each case of shoulder injury should be assessed and treated as a unique dysfunction that is specific to that individual. Certain cases will only involve local structures, while other cases can involve a much larger kinetic chain. Before we get into the various aspects of treatment, let's review a few important contraindications to manual therapy. CONTRAINDICATIONS TO MANUAL THERAPY Before implementation of any manual therapy procedures, the practitioner should first make sure

THE ROTATOR CUFF MUSCLES OF THE SHOULDER Rotator cuff injuries are a common problem in both the athletic and nonathletic population. Early diagnosis is essential to identify causes, implement effective treatment, and prevent further injury. In Part 3 of “Shoulder Injuries- The Big Seventeen”, we will review the very important Rotator Cuff muscles and the impact that injury or restrictions to these structures can have when dealing with shoulder problems. We will also cover som

Part 2: Scapular Attachments of the Shoulder In Part 2 of "Shoulder Injuries - "The Big Seventeen" we are going to take a look at the various muscles and soft tissue structures that attach to the shoulder, and their impact on the kinetic chain of a shoulder injury. The scapula (shoulder blade) is often considered to be the foundation (or base of support) for the soft-tissue structures of the upper body. Seventeen important muscles attach to the scapula, and shoulder dysfuncti

You can obtain amazing results by integrating “Specific customized” fascial release procedures into any of your current techniques. To get a better understanding of why fascia is so important let us first consider the many roles of fascia. Fascia plays a critical role in communication, in maintaining a memory of our body’s history, and acting as both a tensional network and as a living matrix. 1. Communication: We all know that our nervous system is our body’s communication

In part one of "Lateral Foot Pain - Cuboid Syndrome" we discussed anatomy, biomechanics, symptoms and causes of Cuboid Syndrome. I

Cuboid Syndrome is a common cause of lateral foot pain. Unfortunately, this syndrome is not well-recognized by the majority of medical practitioners. Cuboid Syndrome also goes by several other names: subluxated cuboid, dropped cuboid, cuboid fault syndrome, and lateral plantar neuritis. Approximately 7% of the population experience Cuboid Syndrome after an ankle sprain. Within the dance community (especially ballet dancers), this syndrome is much more prevalent, rising up t

The Achilles Tendon is the strongest and largest tendon in the body. In fact, it can withstand forces of up to 1,100 pounds of stress. The Achilles Tendon serves to transmit the force generated by the calf muscles to produce the push-off (plantar flexion) that is required for walking, running, and jumping. The Achilles Tendon is named after the ancient Greek mythological hero Achilles. Legend tells us that this tendon was the only part of Achilles body that was vulnerable to

Improving joint mobility is critical if you are going to address the body's full kinetic chain. In fact, we are greatly reducing the effectiveness of any myofascial technique if we don’t address restrictions in joint mobility. Joint mobilization, or manipulation, is powerful! Its effects can be divided into two primary categories mechanical, and neurophysiological. Although each of these subjects could fill several textbooks, we will try and mention just a few key points i