Physical Therapy Guide to Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is an irritation of the Achilles tendon. Achilles tendon pain is one of the most common types of pain felt behind the heel and up the back of the ankle when walking or running.

Physical Therapy Guide to Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition. It damages brain cells and affects how we speak, think, move, and deal with other people. It can lead to a decline in memory and the ability to perform daily activities.

Physical Therapy Guide to Ankle Impingement

Ankle impingement occurs when either soft or bony tissues are compressed within the ankle joint at the extreme end of a motion, such as pointing the foot sharply downward

Physical Therapy Guide to Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease that causes pain and stiffness in the spine, pelvis, and other joints, like the hips, knees, feet, and shoulders. Physical therapists help people with AS maintain productive lives by working with them to increase their strength, muscle flexibility, and joint mobility, and to improve their posture.

Physical Therapy Guide to Athletic Pubalgia — Core Muscle Injury

Athletic pubalgia (core muscle injury) is often misleadingly called a sports hernia. It is a condition that mainly affects athletes who play soccer, hockey, football, and rugby, and who run track. Physical therapists help people with core muscle injury improve strength and flexibility in the abdominal muscles and hips, and help them safely return to their desired sport or activities.

Physical Therapy Guide to Balance Problems

Balance problems make it difficult for people to maintain stable and upright positions when standing, walking, and even sitting. Physical therapists develop individualized physical activity plans to help improve the strength, stability, and mobility of people with balance problems.

Physical Therapy Guide to Bell's Palsy

Bell’s palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis that can affect a person’s daily function, communication with others, self-esteem, and quality of life.

Physical Therapy Guide to Benign Hypermobility Joint Syndrome

Benign hypermobility joint syndrome (BHJS) is a hereditary disorder of the connective tissues (ligaments) that results in joints becoming loose throughout the body (hypermobility). Physical therapists help those with the syndrome develop strategies to increase joint stability, reduce pain, and improve function.

Physical Therapy Guide to Biceps Tendinitis

Biceps tendinitis is a common cause of shoulder pain and impingement (compression of tissue with movement), often developing in people who perform repetitive, overhead movements.

Physical Therapy Guide to Blount’s Disease

Blount’s disease is a growth disorder affecting the shin bone, also called the tibia, and is characterized by the lower leg turning inward, causing the leg to appear bowed below the knee.

Physical Therapy Guide to Calf Strain

A calf strain is an injury to the muscles in the back of your leg, below the knee.

Physical Therapy Guide to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition of the wrist and hand that can affect the use of the whole arm. Fortunately for most people who develop CTS, physical therapist treatment can often relieve pain and numbness and restore normal use of the hand, wrist, and arm without the need for surgery.

Physical Therapy Guide to Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy is often referred to as a pinched nerve in the neck. It is characterized by radiating pain from the neck to the shoulder, shoulder blade, arm, or hand. A physical therapist can help alleviate the acute neck and arm symptoms that result from the condition, as well as improve general strength and function. Most cases of cervical radiculopathy are resolved with physical therapy and do not require surgery.

Physical Therapy Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition categorized by generalized fatigue that persists for 6 months or longer, and is more intense than would be expected based on the effort a person regularly exerts. Because fatigue, pain, and weakness are all associated with CFS, physical therapist treatment will likely focus on improving short-term endurance and strength.

Physical Therapy Guide to Chronic Pain Syndromes

Chronic pain is a condition that occurs when the brain concludes there is a threat to a person's well-being based on the many signals it receives from the body. This condition can and often does occur independently of any actual body tissue damage (due to injury or illness), and beyond normal tissue healing time. Physical therapists work together with chronic pain patients to lessen their pain, and restore their activity to the highest possible levels

Physical Therapy Guide to Compartment Syndrome

Compartment syndrome is a serious medical condition that occurs when there is increased pressure in the muscular compartment of the limbs. Physical therapy can be effective to help identify the factors that may influence the development of compartment syndrome.

Physical Therapy Guide to Concussion

Concussion is a traumatic brain injury that can cause lasting effects on brain tissue and change the chemical balance of the brain.

Physical Therapy Guide to Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common nerve compression occurring in the arm. (Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common.)

Physical Therapy Guide to De Quervain’s Tendinitis

De Quervain’s (dih-kwer-VAINS) tendinitis is a condition that causes pain and tenderness at the thumb side of the wrist, at the base of the thumb and forearm. Your physical therapist will review and evaluate how you use your hand and wrist for functional activity. Your physical therapist will try to help you identify what activities or positions that you use that may contribute to the problem

Physical Therapy Guide to Developmental Coordination Disorder

Developmental coordination disorder affects about 5% to 6% of school-aged children. More than 1 million children in the U.S. have the disorder. Children with DCD have a hard time with activities requiring movement skills and coordination, like riding a bike, playing sports, and skipping, running, or jumping. They may take longer to finish school tasks, such as handwriting or using objects like crayons. Physical therapists help children with DCD improve their muscle strength, coordination, and balance, and help them learn skills to better participate in school and childhood activities.

Physical Therapy Guide to Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin. It can also occur when the cells in the body do not react normally to insulin. With diabetes, the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood becomes too high. High blood sugar can cause many health problems. Physical therapists help people with diabetes improve or avoid related problems.

Physical Therapy Guide to Discoid Meniscus

A discoid meniscus is an abnormally shaped piece of cartilage in the knee joint. Approximately 3% to 5% of the United States population are born with a discoid meniscus. Physical therapists diagnose and treat discoid meniscus before and/or after any surgery needed.

Physical Therapy Guide to Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder in which babies are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. Physical therapists work with individuals with Down syndrome from infancy through adulthood to help them function at their maximum potential and lead healthy, productive lives.

Physical Therapy Guide to Elbow Fracture

An elbow fracture is a bone break that occurs in the middle of the arm, in the area of the elbow joint.

Physical Therapy Guide to Female Athlete Triad

Female athlete triad (triad) is a syndrome that can manifest across a broad spectrum, but involves the interrelationship between 3 measurable factors: (1) how much energy a woman has available to use for activity (energy availability), (2) the quality and strength of her bones (bone mineral density), and (3) her menstrual cycle.