Scar tissue can be an ongoing hindrance for many of us. From an obstacle when it comes to movement, to a constant stretching feeling, dealing with scar tissue is oftentimes a daily, frustrating struggle. Luckily, you don’t have to fight that battle alone, and the happy truth is that you can overcome your nemesis. In this post, we’re the exposing truth behind scar tissue, and revealing how you can say goodbye to the nagging, pulling, stiff sensations left in the wake of physical injury. ​[...]

​Neck and shoulder pain may be the most common ailment faced by most people these days. That having been said, it is often the most mysterious, too. Pinpointing the exact cause for shoulder or neck problems is particularly tricky, and the underlying cause of the pain may be due to many differing factors. In this post, we take a look at not only what causes shoulder and neck pain, but also how we can prevent and heal that pain, right now. [...]

Aches and pains… could it be that you’re just getting older, or that you’re less active, perhaps? Maybe it’s just a temporary phase in your life. You’ll grow out of it, right? The truth is, aches and pains are often associated with daily, ongoing, habitual mistakes. Take note of the word habitual – habits are key to understanding precisely why we experience certain discomforts during the day. If you’re one of the millions of people that have a desk job, and you’re also one of the millions who experience daily discomfort, it’s time to retrace your steps and reprogram your habits. [...]

​Physical therapy has always been shrouded in mystery, and the truth is many people don’t really know what it is. Some think that physical therapists only stretch muscles, or rehabilitate athletes. Others feel as though physiotherapy is an intense massage, or even just a way to avoid being stiff after a workout. As a physical therapist with many years of experience, I can honestly say that, despite all these conflicting ideas about physical therapy, one thing remains constant: most people believe we heal pain. And yes – we do heal pain, but what most people don’t understand is that physical therapy is NOT only about healing pain… it is about SO much more than that. This may sound controversial, but keep reading. [...]

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We know that for many of our patients running is a passion. The truth is, however, so many of those same patients visit us because of injuries related to their runs. Far from telling them to stop running, our main goal is to prevent debilitating knee/foot/ankle injuries BEFORE they happen, and to keep our patients as active as possible.  [...]

​The sacroiliac joints are weight-bearing joints that distribute weight from the spine to the lower extremities via the hip joints. They also act as shock absorbers. Several muscles influence the movement and stability of the sacroiliac joint, and due to the central position, hard, bony structure and strong ligaments, the joint is usually very reliable. Yet the sacroiliac joint can also be a major source of lower back pain. [...]

When medical professionals talk about a 'hernia', they are generally referring to the
protrusion of an organ beyond the cavity, which normally contains it. Such a condition can
also involve the discs in your spine. A spinal disc serves as a cushion between two
vertebrae. If the outer part of the disc degenerates, the inner portion can rupture or bulge.
This bulging is called a herniated disc.

In some cases, herniated discs can recover without any intervention or through medical
treatment. If the problem continues and the sufferer finds themselves still in pain after two
weeks, a medical professional should be contacted.

What are the most frequent causes of disc herniation?

The pain from a herniated disc can appear entirely random and sometimes arrives
completely out of the blue. However, the damage is usually the result of a gradual process.
The spinal discs in children contain a lot of water, which is why kids spines are extremely
flexible. By the time we're adults, our discs have begun to dry out. They become brittle and
vulnerable to cracks and tears from relatively mild movements.

Working in jobs that are physically demanding, lifting weights to keep fit, picking up a bag
of shopping from the floor, a misjudged swing of a golf club or even something as
mundane as turning to get in the car can cause a disc to herniate.

The people most at risk are between the ages of 35 and 50, with 50% more men suffering
from the condition as women. Other, less common causes of disc herniation are accidents
or injuries, which can put so much pressure on the lower back that a disc herniates.

What are the best non-surgical treatments for disc herniation?

For millions of sufferers all around the world, physical therapy has played a major role in
the treatment of herniated discs. The methods used do not only bring about immediate
pain relief, but they can also teach and condition the body to learn how to avoid such
injuries in the future.

Depending on the severity of the condition, the level of pain and some other important
factors, treatment for a herniated disc can include the following methods:

 Deep tissue massage
 Hot and cold therapy
 Hydrotherapy
 Microcurrent Point Stimulation
 Traction

Besides these treatments, a good physiotherapist will teach the patient exercises to
strengthen the back and to make the return of the condition far less probable. The patient
learns self-care principles to understand better how they can treat their own symptoms.
Plus, they learn the importance of continuing the exercises after the treatment has been
concluded.

If you're living with the pain of disc herniation, call us today at (281-888- 0047) for a phone
consultation or book an appointment for a discovery visit. We can help you get fast relief
from a herniated disc, and we'll work with you to ensure you're far less likely to contract the
condition in the future.

For some easy tips you can use right now to start easing your back pain, click the link to
download my free back pain guide: https://www.nextlevelpthouston.com/back-pain.html

Do you experience low back pain when you try to stand up? Do you find it difficult to walk even short distances before you have to sit down and rest because it hurts too much? If so, then you could be suffering from a condition called spinal stenosis. ​[...]