Getting Rid of Neck or Back Spasms

Neck or back spasms can be extremely painful and for some patients, spasms can be so bad that they feel like they need to go to the emergency room. The best way to treat spasms is to use a holistic approach geared towards effective treatment and future prevention. Treatment Options for Neck or...

What to Expect at a Pain Management Appointment

Pain Management Pain Management is often an underutilized medical specialty and many patients have heard about pain management, but they do not know exactly what it is. Pain management specialists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of pain conditions. Their...

3 Signs It Is Time To Have Your Knee Examined

For many with knee pain, it can be difficult to determine what are symptoms of soreness or overexertion and those symptoms that may indicate something more serious.  Below is a helpful guide to determine when it may be time to have your knee examined by one of the orthopedic specialists at Total...

How Physical Therapy Can Be Used to Stabilize the Shoulder and Prevent Injury

The shoulder is one of the most easily injured joints. To prevent shoulder injuries from occurring, becoming worse, or reoccurring, patients are encouraged to participate in a shoulder stabilizing physical therapy program.  Shoulder Anatomy  The head of the humerus (arm bone) and glenoid cavity...

3 Common Causes of a Patella Fracture – And How They Are Treated

A patella fracture is a painful and limiting injury that should be addressed immediately.  The thigh bone (femur), shin bone (tibia), and patella (knee cap) are the three knee bones. Each one has a unique structure and shape that enables the knee to support and move the lower body. The patella...

Diagnosing and Treating an Elbow Fracture

Elbow Fracture The elbow is a hinge joint made up of the distal humerus, proximal radius (not shown in Illustration 1), and olecranon of the ulna. Because the elbow has the important jobs of bending and straightening the arm and rotating the forearm, an elbow injury can limit a patient’s...

Shoulder Bursitis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Shoulder Bursitis Shoulder bursitis is a painful condition that has several causes as well treatments.  Below are the most common causes, symptoms and treatments. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint made up of the head of the humerus (arm bone) and the glenoid cavity of the scapula. Shoulder...

What’s a Baker’s Cyst and How’s It Treated?

Baker’s Cyst The knee is a modified hinge joint that’s made up of the femur, tibia and patella bones. Ligaments, soft tissues and muscles help stabilize and move the knee joint. Cartilage covered in synovial fluid coats the ends of bones so that they may glide smoothly against one another....

Knee Surgery 101: Partial Knee Replacement

Partial Knee Replacement Knee arthritis is a chronic condition that’s characterized by the wear and tear of knee cartilage and soft tissue with age, overuse and/or injury. Once diagnosed, knee arthritis is typically treated using non-surgical treatment options, such as activity modification,...

Understanding Posterior Lateral Corner Knee Injuries

PLC Injuries Posterior lateral corner (PLC) injuries aren’t as common as other knee ligament injuries. And, because they usually occur in conjunction with a more serious ACL and/or PCL tear, they aren’t talked about much.  But that doesn’t mean understanding them isn’t important. In order to...