Category Archives for Joint Health / Pain
Take This Before You Run, Ski, Bike At Your Own Risk
“Eight?” “Yeah, usually. Eight” “And then what happens ?” “Well, I feel okay. I mean, I can ski.” “And if you don’t take it?” “Can’t
Continue readingIs This A Good Exercise for Lower Back Pain?
I received a question from a reader asking me about her back trouble and an exercise called the “triple threat”. Because the email had several things we could learn from, I’m answering
Continue readingPut a Lid on Kneecap Pain
For such a small bone, the patella (kneecap) seems to cause a lot of problems. Pain under the patella (or around it) carries many names: patellofemoral pain syndrome, retropatellar pain syndrome, runner’s
Continue readingCan You Beat Back Pain With These Five Exercises?
One day, my wife, Ellen, came home and said, “Hey I brought something home for you.” I’m thinking, “Hmmm, iPad maybe? New book? Head phones?” And she hands me a flier to a
Continue readingKnee Caps, Knee Pain and Bending the Narrative
Several years ago, a friend of mine said to me, “I’m really concerned about you.” “Yeah? Why is that? What are you concerned about?” I replied. “Because you have hair
Continue readingClocks, Clouds, and Meniscus Tears
In 1966, scientist / philosopher Karl Popper wrote an essay entitled, “Of Clouds and Clocks”. He believed that studying physical systems could be divided into two categories: clocks or clouds. Clocks
Continue readingHow to Swing Your Way to A Less Painful Hip
A reader sent me a question regarding how to apply the concept of low load, high volume repetition that we often use for knee pain to the hip. Here’s his question and my reply. “I am looking
Continue readingWhy Stretching May Be the Last Thing to Do When Your Hamstrings Feel Tight
About twenty years ago, I stumbled onto something while working with people who had lower back pain. Almost all of these folks complained of tightness in their hamstrings. Some felt tightness at rest but
Continue readingTips On Sitting And Back Pain
As an Introvert, I like stillness. Quiet. It’s energizing to me. Now, if you’re an Extrovert, stillness is about the last thing you want but there’s something good about stillness for
Continue readingThe Number One Muscle Myth of Knee Rehab
Sometimes conversations go well. Sometimes they go down the toilet faster than the 2008 stock market. A few years ago, a new surgeon had joined the practice of an orthopedist whom I had known all of my
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