Category Archives: Physical Therapy Clinic

Foot Pain, Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy Clinic

Foot Drop: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

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What do you understand by Foot Drop?

Foot Drop, also referred to as ‘drop foot’ is a gait abnormality, where person is unable to lift his/her forefoot and hence walking becomes challenging for such persons. Foot drop is not a disease in itself but rather a sign of underlying foot disorder that can be neurological, muscular or anatomical. Foot Drop can affect one or both the feet and as well be temporary or permanent depending upon its cause.

Under this condition, patient loses partial or total control over the foot. The toes of such patients either point towards floor when they lift up the foot from the ground or they tend to drag the foot along the ground while walking.

What conditions give rise to Foot Drop?

Generally, foot drop occurs due to the weakness or paralysis of the muscles lifting the foot. Apart from this, there may be some other causes including the following:

  • Muscular Disorders
  • Nerve injury
  • Brain or Spinal disorders
  • Injury to peroneal nerve
  • Sports injuries
  • Diabetes, hip or knee replacement surgery
  • Sitting cross-legged or squatting for sustained hours
  • Neurological conditions like; stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy
  • Muscular dystrophy, polio
  • Tear of the anterior tibialis tendon
  • Anterior compartment syndrome

What are the signs and symptoms of Foot Drop?

Foot drop is debilitating for the patients as it affects their mobility to a greater degree. The persons suffering from foot drop may exhibit the below mentioned signs and symptoms:

  • Difficulty in lifting the forefoot or toes off the floor
  • Pain, weakness & numbness in the foot
  • Slap foot on the floor while walking
  • Drag the foot while ambulating
  • Raise the leg while walking

What are the physical therapy interventions employed to treat Foot Drop?

Physical Therapy is the most effective treatment for the foot drop, as most of patients regain significant function and mobility after observing a regular physical therapy regime. Physical therapists use the following techniques to manage foot drop:

  • Strengthening exercises are practised to strengthen and stretch foot and to mobilize the ankle.
  • Stretching exercises are administered to help stretch the calf and foot muscles
  • Leg flexes and toe curls are advised and practised to stimulate the muscles
  • Treatment regime including electrical stimulations of nerve and muscle fibres’ may be advised to enhance the tone and contractility.
  • Gait training is recommended to help the patients walk more efficiently and to improve their stability
  • Use of ‘AFO’ (Ankle-Foot-Orthosis) braces may be recommended to support the ankle and foot function
  • Manual Therapeutic techniques including; soft tissue massage, deep friction massage, manual stretching and joint mobilization is employed by therapists to help patients regain range of motion
  • Neuromuscular Re-education including; movement techniques and mechanics is provided to restore stability and retain lower extremity in daily chores
  • Home program including; strengthening, stretching and stabilization exercises and instructions is designed to help patients to perform daily tasks.

Contact Alliance Physical Therapy for the efficient treatment of your neurological and muscular disorders. Our dedicated and diligent physical therapist will help you walk the road to recovery.

Back Pain, Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy Clinic

How to Avoid Back Pain during Gardening Season?

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Back Pain Physical Therapy

Back Pain Physical Therapy

Warming up of weather and occasional glimpses of yellow orb in the sky excites most of us to get out in our gardens and make preparations for the spring time. Gardening is an excellent and vigorous outdoor and therapeutic activity but it also sends many of us to the doctors and physical therapists. Back Pain is the most common symptom among the people with gardening habits.

Gardening can be compared to athletic activities which involve lot of twisting, lifting and bending. So before getting your hands into plants warm-up properly, follow these easy quick tips and get ready for the day in dirt:

  • Warm up with light movements and go for a brisk walk to increase your flexibility.
  • Do not bend repeatedly. Try to do your work by kneeling or sitting.
  • Lift the gardening tools and equipments carefully. Instead of putting pressure on your back and hips, let your arms, leg and thighs carry the load by bending properly at your knees.
  • Make use of long-handled tools for proper grip and to eliminate back strain.
  • Practice proper and good body mechanics i.e. do not work in the similar position or posture for long time.
  • Keep your back in the proper alignment to reduce unnecessary strain.
  • Use stools and upside down buckets to sit comfortably and use pad to kneel to avoid knee pain.
  • Take frequent breaks, Stand up and walk around in-between the gardening activities.
  • Never bend and twist your back at the same time.
  • Stand up like you are getting out of the chair, i.e. keeping your back straight.
  • If you feel pain in certain area, apply ice or cold pack to the affected area and do not resume the activity till the pain subsides.
  • Concentrate on your legs and core while lifting heavy bags of soil, digging with a shovel and carrying water hoses.
  • To lift heavy items like; dirt bags, garden tools or planting material, use garden cart or wheel barrel
  • Use joint friendly tools so that you can stand straighter and can easily grip the handles as well

Contact Alliance Physical Therapy for the expert diagnosis and state of art treatment of your pain and injuries. Our diligent team of physical therapists use patient-proven techniques and state-of-art technologies to make you as healthy and fit as before.

Physical Therapy Clinic

Anterior Knee Pain

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Chondromalacia Patellae: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

 

Chondromalacia Patellae

Chondromalacia Patellae, also known as ‘runner’s knee’ is the most common cause of chronic knee pain. It often affects the young athletics, but may also happen to-older people with arthritis and females as well, as they have less muscle mass than males.

What do we mean by Chondromalacia Patellae?

Chondromalacia Patellae is a condition, where the cartilage under your patella or knee cap softens and wears away or deteriorates. Poor alignment or overuse of knee cap or patella wears down the cartilage and as a result, knee cap begins to rub against the thigh bone which further leads to grinding sensations and chronic pain in the front of the knee.

What are factors leading to Chondromalacia Patellae?

When you bend your knee; the backside of your knee cap slides over the femur (thigh bone). But when the knee cap does not move properly it begins to rub with the thigh bone leading to swelling and pain. Many factors including the following lead to the improper movement of knee cap which ultimately results in Chondromalacia Patellae:

  • Weak hamstrings and quadriceps (back and front thigh muscles)
  • Imbalance between the adductors and abductors (the muscles on the outside and inside of your thigh)
  • Improper tracking of knee cap
  • Trauma to knee cap like; Dislocation or Fracture
  •  Repetitive stress on knee joint due to activities like; running, jumping, twisting, skiing and playing soccer
  •  Over-weight
  •  Knock-knees or Flat foot
  •   Unusual or improper shaped patella under surface
  •   Arthritis

What are the signs and symptoms associated with Chondromalacia Patellae?

  • Chondromalacia Patellae generally leads to a vague discomfort in the front of the knee, generally known as patellofemoral pain. This pain worsens with the activities like; sitting, bending, standing for longer periods and exercising
  • Feeling of tightness in the knee area
  •  Reduction in thigh muscle mass
  • Minor swelling in the knee area
  • Loss of thigh muscle strength
  • Grinding or cracking sensation when knee is extended
  • Pain increases with kneeling down and squatting
  • You may feel trouble moving your knee joint past a certain point

What are the treatment options available to treat Chondromalacia Patellae?

Non-surgical treatment techniques are generally adopted to treat Chondromalacia Patellae. The most effective treatment technique is to adhere to a well-organised Physical Therapy treatment program. A Physical Therapy treatment program comprises of a complete rehabilitation program improving your muscle function and flexibility while relieving you from pain and swelling. Following treatment techniques are adopted under a complete Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Program:

Initially for the management of pain and swelling, physical therapists may recommend:

  • Resting your knee
  • Avoiding activities that irritate your knee cap
  • Icing your knee
  • Knee braces or arch supports to protect your knee joint  and to improve the alignment as well
  • Special shoes inserts and support devices (orthotics) for flat feet

Once the pain and swelling subsides below mentioned treatment techniques are employed by the Physical Therapists to help the patients to regain pain-free functioning and activity:

  • Selective strengthening exercises are recommended to strengthen the inner portion of thigh muscles
  • Stationary bicycling, pool running or swimming are advised to maintain cardiovascular conditioning
  •  Isometric exercises involving the tightening and releasing of muscles are recommended to maintain muscle mass
  • Taping of knee is recommended to reduce pain and as well to enhance the exercising ability
  • Specific exercises to correct the misalignment and muscle imbalance are recommended

Contact Alliance Physical Therapy

Contact Alliance Physical Therapy for the efficient and state-of-art treatment and quick relieve from any of your musculoskeletal pains. Our compassionate physical therapists make use of minimum invasive diagnostic and treatment techniques to save you from further pain and suffering and assist you to lead an active and healthy life.