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Why do I feel tightness in my hamstring?

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Hamstring sprain or cramps

“For several years I have felt tightness and soreness in my right hamstring. I don’t remember hurting myself, so what could be the problem?”

Based on your description, it seems we can rule out an actual hamstring injury. There are several other possible sources of your pain and they all involve referral of pain.

A lumbar facet joint with restricted mobility can result in tightness in the hamstring.

Decreased neutral mobility of certain lumbar nerve roots, or the sciatic nerve, may result in hamstring pain.

Trigger points in certain hop muscles may refer pain to various areas of the leg.

Spine arthritic changes can result in inflammation, which then may refer pain into the leg.

This list is only a few possibilities. Consultation with a physical therapist to determine the cause of your pain would be beneficial. Techniques I often use for these problems include neural mobilization, dry needling, joint mobilization, and various stretching and strengthening exercised.

Tim Minnick, PT

Physical Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis?

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

My feet hurt. What can I do for plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury when the tough, fibrous band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes becomes inflamed. Causes of plantar fasciitis include physical activ- ity overload, occupations that require increased standing or walking, being flat footed or having high arches, and
improper shoes. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include sharp or burning pain in the heel and bottom of your foot that is worse upon waking, after long periods of standing or getting up from a seated position, and after exercise. First, try rest and ice to decrease the symptoms. If symp- toms persist, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy for exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and strengthen the ankle and foot for improved stability. Night splints help to stretch the heel while sleeping so the plantar fascia does not become contracted overnight. Once symptoms have subsided, shoe inserts, properly fitting footwear and continuing your home exercises will help to maintain flexibility in the plantar fascia.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

Whiplash

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

What causes whiplash, and can physical therapy help?

Whiplash is caused by an abrupt jerking motion of the head, either forward or backward, and often occurs as a result of a car accident or sport-related conditions such as a football tackle. Symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain and stiffness, dizziness and sleep disturbances. Symptoms can be delayed for 24 hours after the initial trauma, but typically begin within the first few days after the injury. X-rays help to rule out any more serious injury, and your doctor may prescribe pain relieving medications. A physical therapist will initiate range of motion exercises for your neck and shoulders, which has been shown more beneficial than a cervical collar to improve your symptoms. Physical therapy can also help to decrease tightness and soreness through soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, and traction as well as improve strength through a clinical and home exercise program. Other treatments include ice, heat and ultrasound to help minimize soreness and tightness in the neck and shoulders.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

How Physical Therapy can help Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

What is rotator cuff tendonitis and can physical therapy help?

Rotator cuff tendonitis is a common condition referring to the inflammation, irritation and swelling of tendons around the shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of four small, fragile muscles named supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis, which help the arm attach and move properly in the shoulder socket. When the rotator cuff is injured, such as with overuse, repetitive overhead or tensile overload (such as a sudden pull or jerk), pain results from inflammation to the muscle group. Symptoms typically include generalized pain with reaching above the level of your shoulder, during or after exercise, weakness, popping and difficulty lying on the affected shoulder. Physical therapy is commonly recommended by your physician to provide specific exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff and muscles surrounding the shoulder, reduce pain and inflammation, and help you to return to work or sports related activities.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

Back Pain During Pregnancy

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

Can physical therapy help back pain during pregnancy?

Back pain is a common complaint during pregnancy, with 50-70 percent of pregnant women experiencing it sometime during pregnancy. Several factors contribute to this, including an increase in hormones that causes joints to loosen, poor posture due to a change in your center of gravity as your baby grows, stretching of the abdominal muscles and the additional weight gained during pregnancy your back must support. To help minimize or prevent back pain, wear low-heeled shoes with good arch support and consider a maternity support belt. Sleep on your left side with a body pillow and try alternating heat and ice on the sore area. Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy to develop an individualized exercise program to support and strengthen the back and abdomen, work on postural and lifting mechanics and perform soft tissue and joint mobilization techniques depending on your symptoms to help alleviate discomfort.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

Frozen Shoulder

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

What is a frozen shoulder, and can physical therapy help?

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, occurs when the capsule of tissue that envelops the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, causing the shoulder joint to contract and form bands of scar tissue called adhesions. These adhesions cause the shoulder to become stiff and movement painful. The cause for a frozen shoulder is not well understood and can occur without any specific injury. Symptoms include a dull, aching pain, limited shoulder movement, difficulty with overhead or behind the back activities and pain when trying to sleep on the affected shoulder. Physical therapy may be ordered by your physician to increase shoulder joint motion and to decrease the loss of muscle on the affected arm. Physical therapists can help a patient develop a stretching and strengthening exercise program while incorporating heat, ultrasound, and other modalities to help with pain control. The patient must continue to perform the exercises after working with a physical therapist as recovery time can take months.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

What can physical therapy do for trigger finger?

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

What can physical therapy do for trigger finger?

Trigger finger is a condition in which one your fingers or thumb catches in a bent position, often caused by narrowing of the sheath that surrounds the tendon in the affected finger. Symptoms often include finger stiff- ness in the morning or with inactivity, a popping sensation as you move your
finger, tenderness or a bump at the base of the affected finger, and finger locking in a bent position that suddenly pops straight. If symptoms are mild, physical therapy can help through massage, splinting and developing finger exercises to help improve mobility in the finger. You may be asked to rest and limit the repetitive or vibratory machinery that may be causing the pain in your finger. If the symptoms are severe enough, then surgery may be recommended by your doctor to prevent permanent stiff- ness, followed by physical therapy to improve strength and flexibility in the affected finger.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

Shin Splints

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

I have shin splints when I run. Can physical therapy help?

Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syn- drome, refer to pain along the shinbone caused by an overload on the shinbone and connective tissues that attach your muscles to the bone. Pain is caused by running on slanted or tilted surfaces, worn-out footwear or training too hard. Symptoms include pain and mild swelling over the inside lower half of the shin and soreness when the toes are pointed downwards. Symptoms may decrease with rest, but can eventually become continuous if not properly treated. Initial treatments include rest and ice to decrease inflammation and swelling and decreasing exercise intensity and time. A physical therapist can assess your running mechanics and recommend the appropriate running shoe for your foot as well as arch supports to cushion and disperse stress on your shinbones. They can also prescribe a stretching and strengthening program to improve endurance and flexibility in the lower leg. You may also begin cross training with activities such as swim- ming or biking that place less impact on your shins.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

Patellar Tendonitis

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

I play volleyball, so will physical therapy help the patellar tendonitis in my knee?

Patellar tendonitis is the condition that arises when the tendon and the tissues that surround it become inflamed and irritated. It is a knee injury related to jumping-type sports, such as basketball and volleyball, but is also seen in running and soccer players. A combination of factors leads to patellar tendonitis, including increasing intensity and frequency of physical activity, tight leg muscles, muscular imbalance and weak leg muscles. Pain is usually sharp directly over the patellar tendon when you are active, and will persist as a dull ache at rest. Initial treatment includes rest, performing exercises in a pain free range, and ice after activities that cause pain. Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy, which can help you adjust body mechanics to distribute the forces exerted through the knee during physical activity. They can also help to stretch tight muscles, especially the quadriceps, and strengthen the patellar tendon and surrounding muscles to limit further injury. A therapist might also administer a patellar tendon strap to help distribute force away from the tendon as you return to regular activities.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

What can I do for Plantar Fasciitis

Oklahoma Magazine -

Reader Question:

My feet hurt. What can I do for plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury when the tough, fibrous band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes becomes inflamed. Causes of plantar fasciitis include physical activ- ity overload, occupations that require increased standing or walking, being flat footed or having high arches, and
improper shoes. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include sharp or burning pain in the heel and bottom of your foot that is worse upon waking, after long periods of standing or getting up from a seated position, and after exercise. First, try rest and ice to decrease the symptoms. If symp- toms persist, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy for exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and strengthen the ankle and foot for improved stability. Night splints help to stretch the heel while sleeping so the plantar fascia does not become contracted overnight. Once symptoms have subsided, shoe inserts, properly fitting footwear, and continuing your home exercises will help to maintain flex- ibility in the plantar fascia.

Vince Frisillo, MPT
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
Excel Therapy Specialists

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