Neck pain can be more than an inconvenience. It may also contribute to headaches, shoulder discomfort, and other upper-body problems. Poor sleeping posture, muscle tension, and minor strains can all leave the neck feeling stiff and sore. The following stretches may help loosen tight muscles and provide temporary relief. For the first stretch, sit upright […]
People who regularly stay up late may face a greater risk of certain health concerns, even when they get the same number of hours of sleep as people who wake up earlier. A study involving more than 1,600 adults between the ages of 47 and 59 examined the possible connection between sleep patterns and overall […]
Swimming can be an effective form of exercise for older adults who want to improve balance and lower their risk of falling. A study involving nearly 1,700 men age 70 and older compared different types of physical activity with the likelihood of falling over a four-year period. Researchers recorded more than 2,500 falls during the […]
If you are preparing for a total hip or knee replacement, physical therapy may be helpful even before surgery takes place. This type of care is often called preoperative physical therapy or prehab, and it can help patients better understand what to expect during recovery. A study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint […]
Tennis elbow is a common overuse condition that causes pain on the outside of the elbow. Although the name makes it sound like a problem reserved for tennis players, most cases are not caused by tennis at all. In fact, tennis elbow is often related to work tasks, home projects, sports, hobbies, and other activities […]
A daily walk may be one of the simplest ways to support better knee health, especially for people with knee osteoarthritis or those at risk of developing it. Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of functional limitations in older adults, often making everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and getting around the home more difficult. […]
Fibromyalgia is a common chronic condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in specific areas of the body. For many people, the condition can also affect sleep, mood, energy levels, and daily function. Exercise therapy has long been recognized as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia and may provide benefits comparable to certain medication-based […]
Preventing falls does not always require a gym, special equipment, or a complicated exercise routine. Sometimes, the most effective strategy is learning how to build strength and balance into the activities people already do every day. Researchers from the University of Sydney studied this approach in a program called Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise, or LiFE. The […]
Physical therapy can play an important role in helping patients recover after lumbar microdiscectomy, a common type of back surgery used to treat painful herniated discs. A recent study found that patients who received physical therapist-guided exercise, along with education about caring for their back after surgery, experienced less pain, better physical function, and an […]
As people move beyond age 40, a gradual loss of neck flexibility is common, but it’s not unavoidable. Research published in Spine sheds light on how aging affects neck function and what that means for maintaining mobility and comfort over time. Physical therapists have long observed that reduced neck range of motion is associated with […]
