The Jackson Clinics

Whether you are the pitcher, coach, or concerned parent, the health of the athlete’s throwing arm is very important. Each year nearly 6 out of 10 young pitchers hurt their elbows. These injuries can affect pitchers later in their lives; 15% of college-level pitchers say that troubles in their current performance are based on injuries they received when they played youth baseball.

Read full article  (PDF) Perspectives for Patients – Baseball Pitching from the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy

Low back pain is very common, with 80% of people experiencing back pain at least once in their lifetimes. The good news is that a thorough physical examination can often determine the best course of management and whether you require imaging (X ray, MRI, CT scans, etc) to rule out a serious problem.

Read full article  (PDF) Perspectives for Patients – Low Back Pain from the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.

Do you ever wake up with pain in the heel of your foot first thing in the morning? If so, you may have plantar fasciitis, the most common type of heel pain. People with heel pain typically report a sharp pain under their heel that may spread into the arch of the foot. The pain is often worse when the person stands after lying down or following a period of sitting—for example, taking the first couple of steps in the morning or standing up after watching TV.

Read full article  (PDF) Perspectives for Patients – Heel Pain from the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy

Neck pain is very common and fortunately resolves quickly in most individuals. However, in certain cases neck pain can last longer and result in chronic pain, limited neck motion, and disability. In fact, chronic neck pain is the second leading cause of workers’ compensation claims in the United States. Treatments that can quickly reduce pain, increase motion, and improve the ability of the muscles to protect the neck may help decrease long-term disability associated with neck pain.

Read full article  (PDF) Perspectives for Patients – Neck Pain from the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy

11/7/2011

My experience at this clinic was great. The people are very friendly and professional. My therapist, Marianna is amazing at what she does. Her knowledge of her job is just out of this world. I really enjoyed having her as my therapist. I really like how they educate you on everything being done in each session. Thanks so much.

Tibial osteotomy is a surgical procedure that realigns the angle of the lower leg and changes the distribution of pressure within the knee. Physicians most often recommend the surgery for people 40 to 60 years of age who have osteoarthritis on only one side of the knee.

In the knee, the femur (thighbone) of the upper leg meets the tibia (shinbone) of the lower leg. Cartilage covering these bones allows them to slide smoothly when the knee is moved. In some people, unequal tibial alignment means that additional pressure is exerted on either the inner (medial) or outer (lateral) compartment of the knee. As a result, cartilage in the area of greater pressure wears away faster, leading to pain and reduced joint function. (more…)

People with ataxia lack muscle coordination when they perform voluntary movements such as walking or picking up objects. A sign of an underlying condition, ataxia can also affect speech, eye movements and the ability to swallow, and may be caused by alcohol abuse, stroke, head trauma, brain tumor, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or a defective gene.

If you are not aware of having one of these conditions that causes ataxia, make an appointment to see your physician if you lose balance; lose muscle coordination in a hand, arm or leg; have difficulty walking; slur your speech; or experience difficulty swallowing. (more…)

When the winter winds blow and snow covers the ground, it may be hard to think about your golf game. However, keeping yourself in condition during your sport’s off-months helps prevent “weekend warrior” syndrome—incurring injuries when you play overzealously at the beginning of the season. And the strategies we will create can make your game more competitive when golf season rolls around.

Three of the most important physical attributes for a golfer are strength, flexibility and balance. With these, you can create a more consistent swing that will help you hit the ball farther, straighten out a stubborn hook or slice, and lower your score. You will also have better control of your putts.

Because the golf swing involves rotational movements of so many different joints and muscle groups, you need to condition the entire body. The core muscles, especially the oblique and traverse abdominals, are crucial to this conditioning. Your swing will gain more power if you strengthen the quadriceps, gluteals and hamstrings in your lower body, and your posterior deltoids and rotator-cuff muscles in your upper body. (more…)