Category Archives: Upper Body

Recovering from a Colles’ Fracture

Most people are familiar with the concept of a wrist fracture, which refers to a break in one or more bones of the wrist. You may, however, have received a specific diagnosis of a Colles’ fracture, which occurs near the end of the radius—the arm bone that forms part of the wrist joint. Colles’ fractures […]

What Is Tennis Elbow: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

Could Your Arm Pain Be Tennis Elbow? What Is Tennis Elbow? If your elbow is extremely sensitive to touch on the outside and the pain is greater when you lift or carry heavy things, you might be dealing with tennis elbow. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, can come from playing tennis, but overuse […]

Getting to the “Core” of Back Problems

According to recent studies, 70–80% of Americans will experience back pain at some time in their lives. For most people, back pain will resolve with conservative treatment. One of the treatment options available is increasing strength and flexibility in what are referred to as your “core” muscles. Lower core muscles are the muscles surrounding your […]

Pedaling Your Way to Health

You probably remember learning how to ride a bike. But most likely, your six-year-old self had no clue just how beneficial this newly acquired skill could be to your overall health and wellness. One of the most popular and enjoyable fitness activities, cycling was recently celebrated in the medical community for enhancing cardiac health, thanks […]

Back Pain and MRI Findings

Surprisingly, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results can actually interfere with proper diagnoses of orthopedic problems. Although the MRI is sensitive, it is not very specific. In fact, a tiny percentage of MRIs show zero abnormalities in an imaged body part—whether the person experiences any discomfort or not. For instance, approximately 40% of healthy patients show […]

When Back Pain Is Good

Can back pain ever be good? People suffering from backache would say, “No.” But some experts believe that back pain resulting from a process known as centralization can be a very good thing. Centralization means that pain originating in the back and traveling to the leg or the buttocks can be redirected to its actual […]

Please Do Not Be Seated

Is sitting really bad for you? In a word: Yes. An emerging body of data says that sitting, one of the most relaxed of all human activities, is actually bad for your health. How bad can it be? The medical literature reports that sitting improperly or for too long causes back damage, reduces brain functionality […]

Kyphoplasty for Vertebral Fractures: Procedure & Recovery Guide

Understanding Vertebral Compression Fractures & Kyphoplasty Recovering from a vertebral compression fracture surgery like kyphoplasty can feel daunting, but understanding the procedure and the steps to recovery can make all the difference. This article will walk you through the kyphoplasty procedure and provide essential tips for recovery, including exercises and physical therapy, to help you […]

Are Back Braces Effective?

Lower back pain is a common concern among adults, especially those whose jobs involve heavy lifting. You might see workers at your local home improvement store wearing lumbar support bands—“back support” braces. These devices are becoming increasingly popular for the rest of us, as well. But do they really work? A brace is especially helpful […]

Going in Reverse: When Your Back Impedes Driving

When backing up your car, do you find it difficult to turn around to see what’s behind? Loss of rotational ability in the back is one of the problems we develop as we age. The good news is that exercises to increase range of motion and strength can go a long way to restoring some […]