How does the natural progression of osteoarthritis influence the management of osteoarthritic flares?

By Damien Howell

Case Example: Over the last year, on several occasions, a patient has sought assistance for recurring flaring neck pain. Radiographs show moderate osteoarthritic (OA) changes in the cervical spine. A…

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Pain – What does it feel like? How this information can guide intervention

By Damien Howell

When describing your pain details can include location, type, severity/intensity, frequency, duration, triggers, and impact on life. When describing the location of the pain it may not be accurate. Pain…

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Orthopedic surgery is not always necessary – coper vs non-coper

By Damien Howell

A diagnostic image such as an MRI can show significant structural damage such as a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a complete tear of the rotator cuff…

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Movement-evoked pain measurement for adjustment of interventions for chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes

By Damien Howell

If chronic musculoskeletal pain syndrome is like diabetes, then what is a self-administered test to adjust interventions? A thought-provoking article by Jermey Lewis and Peter O’Sullivan suggests “Is it time…

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Hormone replacement therapy tendon repair post-menopause

By Damien Howell

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which individuals with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities. It is when we lack competence that we are most…

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Mom’s words of wisdom make sense

By Damien Howell

Mother’s Day is a fun time to review some old wives’ tales that abound in the health and wellness arena. My mom used to say, “the difference between a man…

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Deviant movement resulting in pain – Excessive Toe Out Gait

By Damien Howell

Asymmetrical movements walking or running are considered deviant or less than optimal movements. The individual in the video below is complaining of musculoskeletal pain in the left lower extremity. What…

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Understanding the Nuances of Disease, Syndrome, & Uncertainty in Musculoskeletal Pain

By Damien Howell

Disease is a particular abnormal condition that adversely affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism and is not immediately due to an external injury. Syndrome…

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Using symptoms &/or sign modification procedure to manage musculoskeletal pain syndrome

By Damien Howell

The symptom modification procedure is a clinical reasoning process and is a common practice in the Physical Therapy profession. The symptom modification procedure involves identifying the specific movement, posture, and/or…

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