Do your running shoes pass the test?

You don’t need performance physical therapists like us to tell you that footwear makes a large impact on running performance. The correct running shoe can reduce your race times and lower your injury risk.

When walking into any running store in Bethesda or Chevy Chase, you will find many different shoe brands and several different models of shoes within each brand. Among this wide array of shoes, how do we determine which is best for you?

The answer is different for each person and is dependent on a multitude of different factors. However, any running shoe must meet a few requirements to be considered and these are the first things we look for when assessing any running shoe in physical therapy for runners.

The first is that it must have a firm and snug heel cup. Your heel sits at the base of the shoe, in a place called the heel cup. The heels cup should fit snugly around your heel and should not be much wider than your heel itself. This prevents your heel from sliding around within the shoe, which would negatively impact foot mechanics.

Next, the shoe must have a toe break that folds where your toes bend. Place your shoe on the ground and hold it there. Pull the front of your shoe upwards from underneath. The folding point of the shoe should be located where your toes bend. If your shoe prefers to fold at another location, your foot is being encouraged to bend somewhere else. This alters foot mechanics and can lead to breakdown within the structure of the foot itself.

Finally, you should be able to feel the entirety of both feet on the ground as you are standing still in your shoes. People are often unable to feel their arches, which results in more stress on the areas that are receiving better ground contact.

There are 26 bones and 30 joints within the human foot. This results in a large number of ways that our foot can compensate, and therefore, a large number of factors that we need to be mindful of when choosing the correct running shoe.

The 3 factors outlined above are a good place to start when choosing the right shoe, however there are many other factors that may also need to be considered.

Please contact us for help assessing your foot and determining the best running shoe for you!

3 Home Exercises to Help with Your Back Pain

Did you know that according to research, over 70% of Americans will experience back pain during their lives?

Surprisingly, this statistic remains high among active people. Sometimes their training even contributes to it!

One of the things you can do to help reverse this trend is to implement Pilates into your training. Dr. Ciara is a physical therapist and certified Pilates instructor. She has taught us how to incorporate Pilates into the treatment of physical therapy patients right here in Bethesda and Chevy Chase. These principles can also be used in performance training.

The good news is that Pilates doesn’t require you to go to a Pilates studio. Many Pilates exercises can be done from home and performed within your training regimen.

Begin with the 3 exercises below.

The goal of these activities are to teach you how to control your body using your deep abdominals and glutes. Therefore, it is essential to focus on quality of movement, rather than the quantity performed. There are no heros with these exercises!

To learn more about Pilates, check out last weeks article below!

What Actually is Pilates?

Training with back pain may only require a simple modification

Back pain is a prevalent and debilitating condition affecting a significant portion of the global population. Studies indicate that more than 70% of individuals will experience back pain at some point. The diverse ways back pain can manifest make it a complex challenge for patients and physical therapists. However, physical therapy is an effective way to alleviate and manage this common ailment without surgery.

Practitioners often encounter many symptoms and triggers when treating patients with back pain through physical therapy. One remarkable aspect of this approach is that patients, particularly physically active ones, are keenly attuned to the movements that provoke their pain. Two common movements that often exacerbate back pain are deadlifts and squats, both of which are integral to various exercise routines.

Deadlifts, which involve bending at the hips to lift objects from the ground, are notorious for triggering back pain in many individuals. This movement positions the spine horizontally relative to the ground, subjecting it to significant shearing forces. Shearing force is the mechanical stress that results from one vertebra wanting to move forward or backward relative to the one above or below it. For people with back pain, deadlifts can intensify the discomfort due to the stress placed on the spine during this movement.

Squatting is another common exercise that can exacerbate back pain, especially when performed with resistance, such as lifting weights. Unlike deadlifts, squats require a vertical orientation of the spine, leading to increased vertical compression against gravity. This added pressure can be a source of pain for many individuals suffering from back issues.

If you experience back pain, it’s essential to consider the specific movements that trigger your discomfort. Is your pain more pronounced when lifting objects from the floor or when engaging in squatting exercises with added resistance? This distinction can help guide your approach to managing and alleviating your back pain.

If deadlifting worsens your back pain, temporarily replace this exercise with squatting variations in your training program. While this isn’t a permanent solution, it can help you find relief from pain while addressing the underlying causes of your discomfort. Physical therapy can be instrumental in guiding you through these modifications and ensuring you perform the exercises correctly and safely.

Conversely, if your pain intensifies during squatting exercises with resistance, consider switching to single-leg squat variations as an alternative to traditional double-leg squats. Again, this approach is not meant to be a permanent solution but can provide temporary relief while targeting the root cause of your pain.

Consider contacting a qualified physical therapist for comprehensive support in addressing the root causes of your back pain. These professionals have the knowledge and expertise to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific condition and needs. With the guidance of a physical therapist, you can work towards a long-term solution to your back pain, improving your overall quality of life and well-being.

Back pain is a common and multifaceted issue that affects many individuals. Physical therapy offers valuable solutions for managing and alleviating back pain by addressing the specific movements that trigger discomfort. Whether it’s deadlifts or squats, modifying your exercise routine with the guidance of a physical therapist can help you find relief while tackling the root causes of your pain. Don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance in your journey towards a pain-free and healthier back. Contact us for help with your back pain today!

Physical therapy for back pain often requires only 1 simple modification

Back pain remains as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and according to research, over 70% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives and likely require back pain physical therapy.

When back pain is measured among such a large number of people, it is impossible for each person to specify the different ways in which their back pain presents.

When treating physical therapy patients with back pain, we see this pain present in many different ways. Since we treat such active people, our patients are very aware of the different movements that elicit their symptoms.

Many times, picking objects off the floor, aka deadlifts, produce their back pain. During these movements, the body bends over by folding at the hips. This moves the spine into a position that is horizontal relative to the ground, resulting in more shearing forces within the spine. Shearing force is the force of one vertebra wanting to move forward or backward relative to the one above or below it.

For many others, squatting movements are problematic, specifically when squatting with resistance (such as when lifting weights). When squatting the spine is vertically oriented (compared to a deadlift) resulting in more vertical compression against gravity.

Do you have back pain? If so, is it worse when picking things up off the ground or when squatting with resistance?

If it is worse when picking things up off the floor, aka deadlifting, you may want to consider replacing deadlift exercises with squatting variations within your performance training program. While this should not be a permanent solution, it can help you get out of pain while addressing the root causes of the issue in physical therapy.

If your pain worsens when squatting with resistance, you may want to consider switching to more single leg squatting variations in place of double leg squats. Once again, this should not be a permanent solution (although single leg exercises are awesome!), however it can help you get out of pain while addressing the root cause of your pain.

For help addressing the root cause of your pain, contact us!

Home exercises to kickstart your training routine

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I found myself feeling stressed and anxious. To make matters worse, old aches and pains started to resurface.

I had stopped prioritizing my fitness routine, which led to a more sedentary lifestyle than usual. The combination of stress and reduced physical activity caused my old college back injury to flare up slightly.

This experience was a powerful reminder of the importance of self-care.

Now, I make sure to prioritize my morning routine, which includes meditation, journaling, and—most importantly, for me—exercise.

While I do enjoy an intense workout, many days I simply opt for a long walk followed by 10-15 minutes of light, continuous movement using just my body weight.

My back feels great, and most importantly, I’m experiencing the physical and mental health benefits that come from regular exercise.

However, I recognize that what works for me might not work for everyone. Your self-care routine should be tailored to you. What activities help you feel and function at your best?

Even though our routines may differ, a variation of physical activity is often beneficial. I won’t dive into the science here, but if you’re interested, I’d be happy to share more!

Here are three exercises you can try at home. They’re great for anyone dealing with a cranky lower back, looking to feel better, or wanting to improve their fitness:

– Heels Elevated Goblet Squat (no weights at home? No problem! Just use a backpack filled with books or a jug of water): start with 3 sets of 8-10 reps

– Bear Position Hold: 3 sets of 5 breathing cycles

– Goblet Split Squat (use a weight or the same tool from exercise #1): start with 3 sets of 8-10 reps per side