Joint Protection for Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Marisol Monasterio, OTR, CHT

Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints of your body. Deformity will occur if stress is placed on these joints, especially over a prolonged period of time. Therefore, it is very important to understand that damage can be done to your joints when the disease is in its active and inactive phase. You can prevent unnecessary joint damage and minimize pain due to unnecessary stress by assessing your daily activities and modifying your habits, as well as following a number of exercises that will help you increase joint motion and flexibility.

Continue reading →

Shoulder Impingement and Rotator Cuff Injuries
Joseph Mathews, DPT, CSCS

“He who treats the site of the pain is lost.”- Carel Lewitt, M.D.

This is very true especially of the shoulder. Most people complain of pain in front and tip of the shoulder. However this pain might be arising due to faulty mechanics of the shoulder blade, muscle imbalances, and/or tightness of the shoulder capsule (joint). This is further complicated by the fact that the “ball and socket” joint of the shoulder is more of a “golf ball on a tee”. Maintaining the head of the humerus (ball) in the center of the glenoid (socket) requires flexibility and muscle balance between opposing muscles of the shoulder. In addition to this decreased upper thoracic (back) mobility, weakness of the hips and trunk can add to shoulder problems. Consider the following

Continue reading →