The calf muscle, formally known as the gastrocnemius muscle, is located on the back of the lower leg above the Achilles tendon. Injuries to this muscle are fairly prevalent; the most common of which is a calf tear. The calf muscle is prone to injury because it crosses two joints (the knee and ankle) and …

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Injuries to the knee joint are fairly common. According to one study published by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, there were an estimated 6.6 million knee injuries that presented to U.S. emergency departments from 1999 through 2008 - which averaged out to around 2.29 knee injuries per 1,000 population (1). Injuries of the knee …

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Rowing Machines Under $500 For Home Use A rowing machine is a piece of indoor exercise equipment that mimics the movement of rowing a boat. In a study from the English Institute of Sport, researchers found that the rowing machine engages 86 percent of the muscles in your body. There is a large misconception that …

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Geriatric Balance Exercises Do you have good balance? If you are over the age of 65 and have been to your doctor recently, you have probably been asked this question. Statistics show about one-third of older adults report difficulty with balance, with the number drastically increasing after 75 (Healthinaging.org).  It's very common to see this …

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Suspension Trainer Exercises for Runners Are you training for a marathon? A 10K? A turkey trot? Whatever your running goals are, you still should be putting in the time to train correctly. For many, this means running the miles, but you should also be adding some strength training to your routine. Strength training is not …

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Ankle Sprain Compression Sleeve Ankle injuries are very common in America and can be a result of rough sports play, benign accidental missteps, or can be a result of, ‘hands-on’ intensive labor jobs. Ankle sprains can limit one's ability to be mobile which could restrict one’s job prospects, quality of life, and lead to being …

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Scoliosis and Back Pain What is Scoliosis? You have probably heard of, or at least known someone diagnosed with, scoliosis, but what exactly is this condition? Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that involves sideways curvature of the vertebrae.1 While this condition can affect anyone from infants to adolescents, it is overwhelmingly most prevalent in those …

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Cervicogenic Headaches Many of us have experienced episodes of headaches throughout our lifetime, ranging from a mild nuisance to severe pain. There are several different kinds of headaches, depending on the origin of the pain. A cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a specific type of chronic headache that affects between 0.4 - 2.5% of the general …

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Written by: Kelsey Downing PT, DPT When we were younger our parents always told us to stand up straight. At the time it just seemed like nagging, but what if those words were really setting us up for a pain-free life? Posture plays a big role in how the body functions, and in today’s world …

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Written by: Kelsey Downing, PT, DPT The Best Standing Core Strength Exercises When you think of core exercises, you probably think of crunches and planks. Getting down on the floor and repeating the same moves repetitively to get those “six-pack abs”. However, there is a way to strengthen those abdominals without getting on the floor. …

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