Right person – Choosing a healthcare provider to address chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes
When dealing with musculoskeletal pain syndrome the ageless advice is the best solution is to see the right person, for the right care. For chronic and/or recurring musculoskeletal pain syndromes the choice of the healthcare provider assumes more importance. As it is likely to be a long-lasting relationship. You can choose from several different types…
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Using a selfie video for motion analysis
A selfie video can enhance motion analysis for the diagnosis and intervention of painful musculoskeletal injury, for injury prevention, and for enhancing movement performance. A selfie video is a video recording that you take of yourself, also called a velifie A selfie video can: Provide opportunities for reflective self-learning. Provide visual data regarding comparing…
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Muscle “stretch weakness” – How does the length of a muscle affect its ability to generate force/tension?
As a muscle contracts and shortens it can generate a greater amount of force/tension. However, as the length of the muscle becomes shortened or slack or lengthened or too long the muscle loses its ability to generate tension/force. The relationship between muscle length relative to a muscle’s ability to generate tension/force follows the Goldilocks principle.…
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Pain – Movement
If pain occurs with movement, then observation and analysis of movement is required. The measurement of the symptom of pain occurs using the familiar numeric pain scale (zero to 10). In 1996 the American Pain Society lead a campaign to consider the measurement of pain as the 5th vital sign. The 5th vital sign became…
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“Deme Bones” – inter-limb deviation related to the musculoskeletal pain syndromes
“The toe bone is connected to the foot bone” is the common reframe from the old gospel song “Dem Bones.” The concept of mechanical connectedness or regional interdependence applied to musculoskeletal pain syndromes suggests that in addition to examining a patient’s local area of complaint examination of the adjacent joints above and below the primary…
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Should we discharge from Physical Therapy
Why is the terminology “discharged from Physical Therapy” used? I have not heard of anyone being “discharged from dentistry”. I have not heard of anyone being discharged from massage therapy. The meaning of “discharge” is – to relieve of a charge, load, or burden; or to release from confinement, custody, or care; or to set…
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Half Seat Lateral Wedge for Lateral Pelvic Tilt Sitting
Shoe lifts or lifts in the shoe are a common treatment for leg length discrepancy. Why are lifts not used for lateral pelvic tilt when sitting? In a previous blog article, I described lateral pelvic tilt and anatomical versus functional lateral pelvic tilt. Lateral pelvic tilt can result from individual structural variation, and defective chair or…
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What is harder than learning? Unlearning
This image from Roger von Oech’s “A whack on the side of the head” 1983 has intrigued me for years. The idea that we get rid of ideas or concepts is thought-provoking. How do we know when to reject ideas? What is the thought process we use to unlearn something? My understanding of learning new…
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How to better engage with healthcare provider using telehealth care
Telemedicine electronic medical record patient portals and email provide opportunities for improved communication between patients and healthcare professionals. As a patient: As a patient with a chronic condition rheumatoid arthritis, I have found using an email patient portal to communicate with my healthcare providers is highly effective and efficient. Prior to my scheduled appointment, I…
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