Dyspareunia is the medical term for painful sexual intercourse. The Mayo Clinic defines this as “lasting or recurrent genital pain that occurs just before, during, or after sex”. Dyspareunia is more common in women than men, and can happen at any age. Symptoms of dyspareunia include pain with initial penetration and/or deep penetration which may include burning, aching, and throbbing sensations.

As a McKenzie certified physical therapist, I work with a lot of patients experiencing neck and back pain, often exacerbated by postures held for long periods at the computer. One of the first things we address is postural correction. Sit in a relaxed posture, then pull your head up and back and chest up so you’re in an overcorrected posture, then back off about 10%.

Posture has always been a hot topic of conversation in the physical therapy world. When I mention that I’m a PT, people often ask about their posture and what exercises will make it better. To be honest, this is a loaded question. There’s no one simple answer. If you asked 10 physical therapists, you’d probably get 10 different answers.

I wrote this blog after hosting a Zoom call with various practitioners in the Denver area. The topic of discussion was how to manage TMJ Dysfunction. By combining some of the strategies listed below, you can take significant steps towards alleviating TMJ/TMD symptoms and regaining comfort in your daily life.

Picture this: a clandestine world of pelvic pain, shrouded in secrecy and often deemed the domain of women. But wait, men also find themselves entangled in this web of discomfort. It's time to bust open the pelvic pain myth and bring pelvic floor physical therapy to the center stage! So grab your seat and get ready for a hilarious journey as we unravel the comic complexities of male pelvic pain and discover how pelvic floor PT can save the day.

I felt inspired to write this blog after re-watching a 2011 TED Talk by Lorimer Moseley on the topic of pain. I have seen this episode multiple times and it always makes me laugh. He knows how to tell a good story that merges science with comedy. He actually makes learning (about pain) fun!

There is strong evidence to support suspension based physical therapy for shoulder rehabilitation and performance. So it’s perplexing why it has taken so long to become the gold standard of care. This type of treatment intervention is common in Norway, where it originated. But here in the United States it barely exists. I guess one reason for this is that the profession of physical therapy began in this Nordic region of the world in the early 1800s. Therefore they have about a hundred more years of clinical experience than we do.

When I talk to my patients about the importance of cross training, the strength training component is typically what they are most nervous about. Understandably so, especially if it is a new type of exercise or if they are in pain. When pain is present, the last thing on our minds is picking up weights. However, strength training can actually help resolve pain, when performed under the guidance of a qualified physical therapist.

I come from a baseball family and more specifically a family of baseball pitchers. My grandfather pitched for the Braves and the Yankees in the 1930’s and 40’s. He stood a lengthy 6 foot 7 inches tall soaking wet. My dad was a 6 foot 5 inch lefty pitcher from Portland, Maine who played one season with the Kansas City A’s. I was a pitcher in high school but an injury to my elbow ended my career before it even began.

Have you ever seen someone with a patchwork of purple circles on their back and wondered what in the world happened to them? Or maybe you’ve received cupping as part of your physical therapy and have had someone gasp when they’ve seen the cup marks, which resemble bruises.