In our Western culture and media, we are very focused on image and outward appearance. Even in the wellness industry that claims to promote health, there is a stereotyped image and the implicit message that obtaining this look is what it means to be “healthy” (i.e., low body fat, blemish-free skin, muscle definition etc.). However,…
An Honest Look At PATIENT-CENTERED Care
I went to the dentist the other day for a routine exam and cleaning and it reminded me what being a patient is all about. In a physical therapy clinic, just like in any work environment, it is easy to become habituated to your setting and think that it is perfectly normal to… Use terms…
CHECKLISTS for PHYSICAL THERAPISTS! Re-visited…
I’ve written about the usefulness of checklists before, so I won’t rehash what I’ve already said (spoiler alert: they can really UP YOUR GAME as a new physical therapist or physical therapy student!): “Performance Hacks for Physical Therapy Evaluations: The Power of The Checklist” However, I wanted to revisit this idea and share the…
What is “Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome”? …And how should we treat it?
I have been hearing more and more people referring to lateral hip pain with the diagnostic label of “Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome” (GTPS). This got me curious about when this was first described as a “syndrome” and what the diagnosis of GTPS is all about. I am not sure who first used this label, but…
Leda’s Interview with Dr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT
I was so honored to chat with physical therapist and podcast host, Dr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT on a recent episode of her podcast Healthy, Wealthy, & Smart (episode #446)! Check out the episode here: Healthy Wealthy & Smart: Episode 446: Dr. Leda McDaniel: Holistic Approach to CRPS Thanks Karen for the opportunity to share…
Tips for Treating Lower Extremity Tendinopathies: Part 3: INDIVIDUALIZING TREATMENT (CASE EXAMPLES)
Welcome to Part 3 of my blog series on lower extremity tendinopathies. If you missed Parts 1 and 2 on assessment and treatment principles that set the foundation for these cases, check those out: Part 1: ASSESSMENT Part 2: EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION In this post, I want to discuss treatment progressions for two hypothetical patient cases…
Tips for Treating Lower Extremity Tendinopathies: Part 2: EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
Welcome to Part 2: Exercise Prescription for Lower Extremity Tendinopathy. If you missed Part 1 on Assessment check that out! Also, Part 3 on Individualizing Treatment to Patient Cases Tendons, just like all the tissues in our body, feel different mechanical forces depending upon what movements we engage in (or not). In response to these…
Tips for Treating Lower Extremity Tendinopathies: Part 1: ASSESSMENT
Over the last year or so, I have really delved into the research literature on tendinopathy assessment and treatment. This was motivated in part thanks to an excellent continuing education course that I took from tendinopathy expert Dr. Peter Malliaras, PT, PhD called: “Mastering Lower Limb Tendinopathy 2nd Edition.”1 I have also been interested in…
Conversation with The Level UP Initiative: Emotional Components of Treating Pain
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Zak Gabor, DPT, CSCS and founder of The Level UP Initiative regarding chronic pain and how to best serve this patient population. Give our conversation a listen and please feel free to share your thoughts/experiences/insights regarding working with those in pain and what you’ve found helpful…
The Art of Pain Science Education
If you are a physical therapist, doctor, nurse—really any healthcare professional, you will agree with me that pain is EVERYWHERE! It is part of the human experience to feel pain and pain is one of the main reasons that patients come to physical therapy1. If pain is so common and if pretty much all the…
Do The Thing You Are Asking Your Patients To Do
As a student physical therapist, I am tasked with learning many hands-on techniques for evaluating and treating future patients. Part of the learning process entails not only practicing these techniques (with the oversight of clinical and classroom instructors) on other students, but also having people perform these techniques on me as part of classroom “lab”…
Top 5 Things I Learned From Battling Chronic Pain
1- Everybody Needs Help at Some Time in Their Life Seek help early: lose the “get tough” mentality: It is okay to speak up about pain and hardship and will actually be more helpful than if you keep it to yourself. This also makes it more likely that you’ll get the help and support you…
