Should We Use Pain Scores? Let’s Change the Narrative.

Typically, a numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) is a tool to help us evaluate and assess a patient’s given symptoms. The NPRS is also helpful to gauge a patient’s response to certain interventions throughout the course of the episode of … Continue reading

What is the best treatment we can do for our patients? Listen.

We always strive to provide the best care to our patients. We do this through many avenues, including locating the best available evidence, utilize our clinical expertise, and understand the individual’s personal expectations and values.  This is true evidence-informed practice, … Continue reading

What Does the Evidence Say About Foam Rolling?

Foam rolling is a helpful way to improve range of motion, flexibility, and functional mobility.  Foam rollers are widely accessible in therapy gym, fitness centers, and for personal use.  Using a foam roller has many benefits to help individuals’ reach … Continue reading

Manual Muscle Testing (MMT). Subjective or Objective?

What is MMT? MMT is something that is studied during our educational experiences during school.  MMT are included within the objective measures section of the physical examination. MMT is performed to assess the strength and function of various muscles.  Strength … Continue reading

Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs): Do the Scores Matter?

Patients generally will fill out outcome measurement tools to help score their respective pain, disability, and functional limitations.  These forms are important tools to help clinicians understand what patients are currently experiencing.  However, we must not look at these scores … Continue reading

Can We Do More with TheraPutty? Puttycise Tools May Be the Answer.

TheraPutty is a commonly used product to help address a patient’s impairments and functional limitations. TheraPutty is helpful to improve strength, flexibility, range of motion, dexterity, and much more! There are other products that might compliment TheraPutty to enhance overall … Continue reading

Balance Pads Improve More Than Just Balance

Patients may present to physical therapy to work on their balance. Deficits in balance can be a result of decreased, strength, flexibility, and many other contributing factors. Balance training is prescribed to help improve those specific impairments and functional limitations. … Continue reading

Person-Centered or Person-Focused Care?

Providing care to patients should focus on individual clinical presentations, impairments, and functional limitations. Clinicians should treat the patients as an individual. We need to be able to recognize patient belief systems, values, and expectations. Contextual factors can play a … Continue reading

Static vs. Dynamic Stretching. Which One Is the Best?

What type of stretching is the best? This is a common question when incorporating stretching into your self-management program. Before we can answer these questions, we may need to understand the differences between static and dynamic stretching. What is static … Continue reading

3 Tips for Postural Syndrome

Postural Syndrome refers to individuals in prolonged postured for a long period of time that can result in musculoskeletal impairments including tendons, muscles, and joints.  This can be a result of increased sitting during the workday.  It becomes imperative to … Continue reading