“Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls. Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and can increase the risk of early death. Fortunately, falls are a public health problem that is largely preventable.” – CDC http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html This is a frightening statistic, but one that we can impact positively. […]
Why Not a Longer Term Solution?
We were reading through “Diagnostic Testing and Treatment of Low Back Pain in United States Emergency Departments: A National Perspective” on MedScape and were struck by a couple items. “Diagnostic testing was performed in nearly 1 of every 2 patients with low back pain and opioids were administered to nearly two-thirds of the sample.” http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/732744_4 Most low back pain can be […]
Essentials for Sleeping Better
Do you have difficulty falling asleep? Do you wake up during the night tossing and turning? Feel tired, achy or sore in the morning? Check out the essentials for sleeping better below to get a better night’s rest. 1. Invest in a good mattress. The lifespan of most quality mattresses is about 8-10 years. But keep in mind that your […]
Does Medicare cover maintenance therapy when my condition is not going to improve?
There remains some confusion around Medicare’s coverage of maintenance physical therapy. The general idea is that if a skilled service is required to prevent decline in a person’s condition, then the service is now covered under Medicare. The following is from the Center for Medicare Advocacy website: SERVICES FOR BENEFICIARIES WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS A chronic condition requiring skilled care services […]
Lindsay Haas, DPT at our Castro Clinic featured on Knit and Tonic Blog
Lindsay Haas, DPT at our Castro Clinic is also an amateur knitter, passionate about sharing her expertise in human mobility and movement with other knitters. Interviewed here by Knit and Tonic blogger, Wendy Bernard: http://www.knitandtonic.net/knitandtonic/2013/02/and-to-think-i-thought-knitting-yoga-was-a-joke-.html
Knitting Tips from a Physical Therapist
“Just one more row.” I’ve thought it myself countless times- only to realize another 20 minutes has gone by without making any move to stop. Regardless of your level of skill, anyone who knits has probably dealt with the aches and pains associated with working on a project for too long. How can you avoid it? One of the best […]
Snowboarding, A Physical Therapist’s Perspective
An east coast transplant to California, I’ve fallen in love with the mountains. In the winter, for me that means strapping on a snowboard to play in the snow in Tahoe. As those of you who ski and snowboard know, this requires a certain level of fitness. Aside from the endurance and general strength it takes to have fun out […]
Awesome Apps for the New Year!
Below is a compilation of apps we, at San Francisco Sport and Spine Physical Therapy have used or had recommended that work well and align with what we do to get people better and help them stay that way! If you have a particular favorite, please email sturdy@sfsspt.com with your suggestion. MyFitnessPal — calorie and exercise tracker http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ The Habit […]
How to properly prepare for ski and snowboard season.
New jacket. Check. Snowboard waxed. Check. Chains on the tires. Check. You’re ready, and there is finally fresh powder on the hill. The anticipation built up over the sunny, summer months is finally about to be unleashed down the hill. And then it happens. All your preparation lost to the jump you landed wrong and your newly torn ACL. It […]
What is ‘Good’ Physical Therapy?
Do you think you know what ‘good’ physical therapy is? Is there a difference in the quality of physical therapy from clinic to clinic or is it all basically the same? Do you just go with the first place listed from a Google search? How can you tell what truly good physical therapy consists of? Would you be able to […]
The Woes of a Desk Jockey
In our years as physical therapists we’ve seen all kinds of injuries and heard all kinds of body-related complaints—some from accidents, some from surgery, and some resulting from extreme athletics. But there’s no athletic endeavor that is guaranteed to lead to injury quite like the Desk Jockey. The wear and tear on the body of a Desk Jockey is highly underestimated […]
5 Ways to Prevent Back Pain
Back pain is very common. The daily demands on your body can cause muscle weakness in the lower back. Sitting continuously all day, improper posture, and limited physical activities are some of the contributing factors. Here are some tips to help you overcome and prevent lower back pain. 1) Maintain good flexibility. Regular stretching helps keep muscles flexible. They can […]
Is Barefoot Best? The Truth About Running Techniques
In my work as a physical therapist, runners come to me all the time with questions about which running techniques are best. Usually they are struggling with injuries and they’ve heard about the latest, greatest technique on the Web or from their running buddy. They’re hoping that if they change their shoes or the way their foot strikes the ground […]