PT Health Academy Blog

Explore my best physical therapy tips, at-home exercise ideas and other resources to keep you moving and feeling good.

How To: Hip Hinge for Low Back Pain Relief

How To: Hip Hinge for Low Back Pain Relief

If you are struggling to find some low back pain relief, determining what your painful triggers are and avoiding them can be really helpful in your recovery. It's important to stay active doing the things that don't trigger symptoms while avoiding problem activities....

Stop Twisting for Low Back Pain Relief

Stop Twisting for Low Back Pain Relief

  When you stretch for low back pain relief, do you twist from side to side? This is a common stretch recommended when searching for relief for low back pain on the internet. While your muscles really like this stretch, the joints and discs in your back do not!...

This may become your favorite stretch!

This may become your favorite stretch!

  Is it hard to get your arms fully overhead? Is standing without rounding a chore? This stretch addresses many of these and other mobility issues I often see in clients.  First, this stretch works to improve your overhead reach. Overhead reach can be limited by...

How to relieve low back pain when reaching

How to relieve low back pain when reaching

  Experiencing low back pain when reaching overhead is a common problem. Sometimes it can occur while you are reaching overhead and then quickly resolve. Other times it can cause a flare up that you have to manage for several days. This can be easy to relieve if...

Understanding knee arthritis

Understanding knee arthritis

  When you are diagnosed with knee arthritis, do you feel like you are doomed to a lifetime of knee pain? Do you start planning for your inevitable knee replacement? Believe me, there is hope! Understanding what happens when you have knee arthritis or...

How to: stretch your tight neck – Please don’t pull on your head!

How to: stretch your tight neck – Please don’t pull on your head!

  When you are experiencing pain or tightness in your neck, you will feel like you want to stretch your tight neck to alleviate the symptoms. Common information demonstrates a stretch where you pull on your head to get the stretch. Please don’t do this! It is...

How to: exercise to prevent low back pain?

How to: exercise to prevent low back pain?

  When you are struggling with low back pain, it is common to seek relief with stretching and strengthening exercises. This approach is an important part of your recovery and healing. However, your time will be better spent, especially initially, learning to...

Tips to relieve neck pain when looking down!

Tips to relieve neck pain when looking down!

  Neck pain when you are looking down can be caused by several factors. Understanding some of these factors will make it easier for you to see what will help you relieve your pain. First, think of your head as a bowling ball stacked on your neck. Your “bowling...

Strengthening exercises for your feet

Strengthening exercises for your feet

  Are you struggling with plantar fasciitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, peroneal tendonitis, shin splints, or sprained ankles? Learning great strengthening exercises for your feet, especially focusing on the smaller muscles in your feet, helps you in your recovery...

How long does physical therapy take?

How long does physical therapy take?

Understanding how long physical therapy takes to get you moving and feeling better can help you decide if PT is the best option for you. Maybe you are concerned about squeezing physical therapy visits into your tight schedule between Zoom meetings and soccer pickups....