Another common location for pain during pregnancy is the ribs! It's of course more common in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, and like other types of pain during pregnancy, it's not something you just need to live with! What causes rib pain during pregnancy? Growing baby - as the uterus and baby grow, they take up more real estate in the abdomen. This can put more stretch and pressure on the ribs, which can hurt. Growing breast tissue - the increase in size and weight can also tug

Leg cramps are extremely common, with up to around 60% of pregnant women experiencing them, especially in the third trimester. Most commonly reported at night, they can disrupt sleep, make your leg sore, and they really hurt! If you are dealing with leg cramps or leg pain during your pregnancy - this guide will be helpful! What causes leg cramps? In general, a lack of hydration and electrolyte imbalances are the most likely cause of cramps. For cramps related specifically to

The pubic bone is a common site of pain during pregnancy. This bone is in the front of our pelvis, and you actually have two of them! They come together at the pubic symphysis. Often pain in this area is called Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction, and more so recently the blanket term of “Pelvic Girdle Pain.” The main symptom is significant pain in the pubic bone area, often with these activities: Walking (especially fast or for long distances) Climbing stairs (often worse going up o

Meralgia paresthetica is a condition where the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) is compressed, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and burning on the outer side of the front of the thigh. We learn in PT school about this as a condition that happens a lot to people who wear heavy belts - like a contractor or police officer. The pressure from the belt compresses on the nerve as it passes over the top of the pelvis. Meralgia paresthetica can also happen in pregnancy! How do

Back and pelvic pain during pregnancy is wildly common - some research has found up to 80% of people will experience back pain during pregnancy at some point. While it is super common, it doesn’t have to be your experience. Back pain in pregnancy can impact sleep, daily life, and even lead to taking time off work. In this blog I will outline some of the most common questions I hear from patients dealing with back and pelvis pain during pregnancy. There is technically a differ

In last month’s post, we talked about how pain can sometimes seem to “come out of nowhere.” That mysterious ache in your shoulder, the low back stiffness that showed up after a normal week — these are often labeled as “insidious onset.” We explored how this type of discomfort isn’t usually random, but rather the product of accumulated stressors that our body hasn’t had a chance to fully recover from. Don't let stress erode your stillness. This month, we’ll dive into what you

I commonly get this question from my patients their first visit - did I get hurt because I'm getting older? I get it from patients of all ages, from college kids in their early 20s, to my patients in their late 80s. When their pain starts seemingly out of nowhere, I often find they will justify this mysterious onset with, “Maybe I’m just getting old.” The most common onset of injury we see at MTS is… Unknown. That’s right — you read that correctly. When beginning a plan of ca

Working as a physical therapist and in the sports world, I hear of athletes focusing on their sport with hopes and dreams of getting a...

High insertional hamstring tendinitis—pain near the sit bone where the hamstring tendons attach—is a frustrating injury that affects...

If you've ever sprinted too hard, stretched too far, or even just moved the wrong way during a workout, you might know the sudden, sharp...

Should I put ice on an acute injury? I am constantly asked this question in the clinic and when working with athletes on the field or track. I always like to give advice based on actual research plus meeting the person where they are at, so lets dive in! What is RICE? RICE : R est, I ce, C ompression, E levation. The age old saying that every parent, doctor, and coach told you after you rolled your ankle…but is that the most effective way to treat it? Is RICE the best advice?

Did you know in many states (including CT) physical therapist can do wound care? We spend a decent amount of time in school learning the ins and outs of very complicated treatments for things like burns, pressure ulcers, and infected cuts. While none of us ended up pursuing a career in wound care, we did have the education and luckily things like turf burn are much less complicated than a pressure ulcer! Me diving onto what is thankfully regular grass. I always loved playing

As we move forward with our exploration of the lower leg, it's time to focus on the Achilles tendon itself — a structure that, much like...

Most people have heard of Achilles — the legendary Greek demigod from The Iliad . If it’s been a while since high school English class,...

Part of the cure for constipation is knowing the cause, which we discussed in our last blog. Generally speaking the cause for each...

What causes constipation? What are the symptoms? What symptoms can constipation cause? Most folks I work with think of the first question...

The postpartum period is full of questions, and sometimes an easy answer isn't available. I frequently get asked "how do you know when...

As a PT and a track and field coach, I am often seeing patients and athletes that aren't happy with their return to running plan. They...

As tennis season approaches, there is a natural urge (and opportunity) to increase playing time, intensity, and frequency. But before...

Low back pain is a major issue for golf, and we have found with our patients the key to a long lasting solution is figuring out the root...