Media Center Physical and Hand Therapy

In this series, we cover different Olympic events and relate them to upcoming spring sports with insight from OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine Specialists.

Tendons, thick cords that connect your muscles to bones, are more important than you might realize. For people who have had tendinitis (also called tendonitis), inflammation of the tendons causes pain and swelling, sometimes severe, and can make it difficult to do the activities you love.

In the running community, patellofemoral pain syndrome (“PFPS”), or Runner’s Knee, has a reputation for being painful and frustrating.

Follow these 10 simple stretches to ease tight hip muscles and prevent injuries.

Common questions in arm care for baseball athletes. 

Basketball requires an athlete to run, jump and cut aggressively and consistently throughout gameplay. The quick change-of-direction movements and repetitive jumping pose a unique challenge on our lower extremities.

Overuse injuries are extremely common and will happen to most people at some time or other. Recognizing the early signs of an overuse injury can help you avoid pain and excess downtime.

Achilles tendinitis/tendonitis is one of the most common running injuries that physical therapists see. It's also common in middle-aged people who play sports like tennis and basketball.

The pain and stiffness arthritis causes can make a workout seem beyond grasp, especially when the symptoms are so intense you feel more immobile than athletic.

We live in the era of Crossfit, Zumba, and P90X so it is easy to overlook the benefits of low-impact exercise. Low impact does not mean low intensity -- here's why it's important.

Balance plays an important role in preventing injuries, maintaining mobility and supporting good posture. These simple stretches and exercises will help strengthen your ankle muscles to promote balance and coordination.

Dry needling is a physical therapy technique that uses thin needles to help relieve muscle inflammation. The addition of electrical stimulation can increase blood flow for enhanced and prolonged pain relief.

Modeled from the centuries-old Chinese Gua Sha technique, the Graston Technique relies on a special stainless-steel tool and massage method to stimulate blood flow and promote healing.

Whether preventing or rehabilitating an injury or other physical condition, physical therapy plays an important part in long-term health. Physical therapists use exercise, massage, stretching and other techniques to help patients of all ages improve mobility, manage pain and restore proper function.

Although IT band injuries come on quickly, they typically result from an existing muscle imbalance as opposed to an acute injury.

We often forget to consider what to do before launching a regimented training program. It’s important to incorporate mobility exercises and proper stretching both before and after excerise to make sure your body is primed for more intense workouts.

Looking for ways to relieve tension after a long day in front of the screen or behind the wheel? Try using a foam roller. 

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body, so it’s not surprising that when it flares up, it feels intense.

Rest days give your muscles time to heal from the stress of physical activity while giving your mind an opportunity to reset.

How you prime your body for a run and how you recover afterward influence your overall performance. PTA Mary Jean McKinnon explains dynamic and static stretches to enhance your next run.

Whether you log 2 or 20 miles, changing up your running or jogging routine will keep your workouts effective, interesting and even fun.

This downloadable stretching guide targets commonly tight muscles to help encourage good posture, enhance your range of motion, reduce the overuse of certain muscle groups, relieve discomfort and support quality rest.

One of the biggest splashes in physical therapy in recent years is the evolution of aquatic therapy.

Your core muscles are muscles that you can’t ‘see’, as opposed to muscles that are visible in shape beneath your skin.

Finding yourself grabbing your neck and shoulders after a long day at work? Try these neck and shoulder stretches physical therapist-approved stretches.