Archives: Conditions

With so many sports and activities it is impossible to list all of the injuries that might occur. At Goodell PT we will do our very best to safely return you to your sport or activity of choice armed with proper instruction, strength, flexibility, and knowledge to excel at whatever level you are at. We will develop a sport specific program tailored toward your goals that will help to improve your athletic performance and decrease any pain that you may be having due to your injury.

This occurs when one vertebrae slips forward in relation to the vertebrae below it and may be asymptomatic or cause increased pain across the low back and into the buttocks and legs (including hamstring spams). This displacement of the vertebrae can press on nerves causing the pain. Spondylolisthesis is common in adolescent athletes with back pain and also in people over 65 that have experienced degeneration of their discs. Physical therapy to strengthen your back muscles and improve your stability is very important and the most common treatment technique.

Stability throughout your spine is very important for effective and safe movement and exercise especially if you have experienced an injury or have pain. Lower back stability is often referred to as core strength and is vital for all body movements. Some people have difficulty properly engaging their stabilizing muscles and at Goodell PT we can assist you in learning the proper muscles to recruit and improve your overall spinal stability and strength, which will improve your movement and decrease your pain.

Fusion of your spinal segments can occur naturally if the bones in your spine grow together and the body produces bone tissue that connects them, but more frequently the bones are fused through a surgical procedure to limit the motion at that segment and to decrease any nerve pinching and pain that is happening. The nerve pinching could be caused by a disc injury or loss of disc height, arthritis, or bone spurs at the joints. Fusion is most commonly done in the neck or low back and it is done to improve the stability at that segment. It is very important to learn how to use your muscles surrounding the area of fusion to further stabilize the spine and to limit any other damage to the segments above and below the area of surgery. At Goodell PT we can teach you safety techniques, strengthening, biomechanics, and help to decrease your pain with manual therapy and scar mobilization.

Injuries can include fracture, rotator cuff tendonitis or tears, impingement, frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis, bicep tendonitis or tears, bursitis, separations, and dislocation. Injuries can be acute due to a trauma or chronic from repetitive motions. It is common for shoulder injuries if you participate in throwing or racquet sports or have a fall directly onto your shoulder. Some injuries require surgery and PT can help both pre and post surgery. At Goodell PT we treat a wide variety of shoulder injuries and can develop an individualized program that will help you to safely return to sports and arm function.

Impingement happens at the rotator cuff tendons and is caused by an injury to the shoulder, tight muscles that attach at the shoulder blade or arm, repetitive movements or poor posture causing decreased space for the tendon to move through. The tendon gets pinched between the bones of the arm and the shoulder blade and inflammation or tendonitis can occur. It usually produces sharp pain with active arm motions such as reaching above your head but can also hurt with sleeping. The pain can also move into your neck or down to your elbow and it is very important to address all aspects of this syndrome which include: posture, strength, stability, flexibility, and decreasing muscle spasm and pain. At Goodell PT we will educate you in proper movement patterns to avoid further irritation and address all the above concerns in order to return you to all functional activites without continued impingement.

Foot and ankle injuries include sprains, twists, strains, fractures, plantar fasciitis, post surgical feet, or toe injuries to name a few. These injuries can greatly limit your function and ability to walk. It is important with a foot or ankle injury the whole lower leg is assessed and strength, proprioception, and balance reactions are all taken into consideration when developing a plan of care. Here at Goodell PT you can also get custom orthotics if needed for arch support made by casting your feet to ensure the best fit, comfort and support an orthotic can provide. The foot is the base of support for the whole body and it is very important to seek treatment if you have an injury and or pain.

Click here to see our “All About Pain” page

The therapists at Goodell offer personal training services to provide you with a comprehensive aerobic and weight training program that accommodates your schedule and helps you to achieve fitness goals of any level. We will complete an initial fitness exam and with your input develop a personal plan to achieve your goals. We offer you the most effective ways to properly and safely fatigue your muscles in order to build strength and maintain joint safety. Physical therapists are movement specialists and we have the education of anatomy, biomechanics, exercise planning, and physiology to provide you with the best training available.

Local inflammation of muscle or connective tissue that causes swelling, redness and pain. Also see fibromyalgia, or myofascial pain syndrome.

This is a chronic condition that can cause widespread pain in muscles, tendons, ligaments, soft tissue, or bone and often causes extreme fatigue and has several tender points to the touch. A physical therapist can help you develop a specific exercise program that fits your energy level and allows you to pace yourself without overdoing it. Regular appropriate exercise, stretching, good posture, and relaxation techniques have all been found to decreases symptoms of fibromyalgia. This condition can be managed and your physical therapist plays a key role to properly educate and instruct you along the way to recovery.