Research Archives - Omaha Physical Therapy Institute : Omaha Physical Therapy Institute

Pre-Activation Circuit for Dancers

04/20/22

Here is a pre-activation circuit for dancers based off the most current research. This can be implemented before class or competitions. Research suggests performing this at least 3 days/week in order to decrease the risk of injury. Pre-Activation Circuit for Dancers WARM-UP 1. Forward jogging 2. Backward jogging 3. High knees 4. Butt kicks 5. Walking open/close gate with hip…

What Causes Muscle Cramping?

11/03/21

Many people experience muscle cramping during or after exercise which can be uncomfortable and alarming. A muscle cramp is a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle that can last for seconds or for minutes. Whether it’s a small muscle cramp or full body cramping, there isn’t an exact reason proven yet as to the cause of it. However, there are…

Staying Fit in the “Off” Season

05/31/21

With spring soccer season winding down and summer try-outs approaching, some of your coaches may give you a few weeks off. Although you may be “off” from scheduled practices and events, an athlete is never truly “off.” While it is SO IMPORTANT to take days off for your body to recover from the wear and tear of the season, it…

Dry Needling Adds No Benefit in the Treatment of Neck Pain

05/09/21

In a recent article published in The Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, researchers looked at the comparison of trigger point dry needling to sham dry needling (no puncturing of the skin) when treating neck pain. Seventy-seven adults received 7 sessions of physical therapy over a 4-week period of time. One group received trigger point dry needling, exercise, and…

Pain Threshold and Sensitivity Improved with Exercise

05/02/21

At Omaha Physical Therapy Institute, our physical therapists apply exercise and pain neuroscience education in an attempt to empower YOU, the patient, to eventually take control over your symptoms and return to the activities you love most. The beauty of exercise as a pain management tool is that once you understand what works, you can apply it yourself, and eventually…

The Benefits of Walking

04/18/21

The health benefits of walking have been well-established. Getting regular aerobic exercise promotes cardiovascular benefits such as aerobic capacity as well as improved body composition and blood pressure. In addition to these wonderful benefits to one’s physical health, improvements can also be seen with mood, pain management, and stress reduction. A research article (cited below) found online in the Journal…

4 Qualities to Look For In a Physical Therapy Clinic

04/13/21

Just because physical therapy is a distinct discipline within healthcare does not mean that all physical therapy is equally effective. When a physician, relative, or friend says “you should try physical therapy” it is not as though that is a singular destination where you will receive the exact same treatments and outcomes. Deciding what your episode of care will look…

Dry Needling Provides NO ADDED BENEFIT in Treating Chronic Neck Pain

04/04/21

Dry Needling Combined With Guideline-Based Physical Therapy Provides NO ADDED BENEFIT in the Management of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial . Here is more research on why Dry Needling is NOT effective or necessary in the treatment of back and neck pain. . ☝️In a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy in 2020,…

Load vs. Capacity

03/21/21

Musculoskeletal injury, whether sudden or from repetitive use, often boils down to the imbalance between load and capacity. Many factors play a role in an individual’s experience of pain, but when we think about musculoskeletal injury on the level of the tissue, we can just about always see that load/demand has exceeded the capacity of the injured tissue. Many patients…

What is “FAI?”

03/14/21

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, commonly known as “FAI”, is a deformity of the hip joint that limits range of motion and can cause a “pinching” sensation in and around the hip joint. There are typically three forms of impingement: Cam, Pincer, or combined. The Cam form of FAI is when the femoral head and neck (the top of the long bone…