Onward Physical Therapy Blog

What is TMJ/TMD?  The temporomandibular joint, often abbreviated as the TMJ, is the joint that makes up your jaw and is a frequent area of incredible pain for many people. When this joint is painful, the condition is named temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD for short. Individuals suffering from TMJ pain often have difficulty eating, sleeping, talking, laughing, and more....

What is Runner’s Knee?  Runner’s knee is a painful condition frequently occurring in endurance athletes where the patellofemoral joint (knee-cap) becomes painful during runs. This is among the most commonly occurring running-related injuries and can range from mild knee pain that warms up during your runs to debilitating levels that prevent any training. Common Causes of Runner’s Knee There are...

One of the most common complaints barbell athletes experience is elbow or wrist pain in the front rack position. Whether this is during front squats, cleans, or jerks/pressing, the mobility requirements of this position often result in front rack wrist pain that can be hard to alleviate. In this article, we’ll discuss the most common causes of elbow & wrist...

Shoulder pain during overhead pressing can happen for different reasons. Some people will have pain in their shoulder at the top of the range of motion while others will report pain during the initiation of the movement from the front rack position. Different presentations of pain require different rehab approaches. Experiencing Shoulder Pain when Overhead Pressing? What should you do...

Baseball/softball is a sport that requires a great deal of skill, strength, and coordination.  Baseball players often train extensively to develop these abilities but even with the best training and conditioning, injuries can still occur.  One common injury location among baseball players is medial elbow, which can be debilitating and frustrating for our athletes.  What is Medial Elbow Pain? Elbow...

Tailbone pain during pregnancy is common, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal! In fact, many women experience tailbone pain during pregnancy due to the many expected changes that the female body goes through.  Tailbone pain typically occurs due to the changes the tailbone experiences as the uterus grows to make room for the baby and potential postural changes. For some,...

While not as well known as their cousin migraine headaches, tension type headaches are actually the most common type of headache suffered by humans.   Why do we know so little about such a common problem? Part of this answer undoubtedly lies in the fact that tension headaches are not as debilitating as migraines, and thus the urgency to study...

Diastasis recti (DRA) is a common condition that affects many women, especially during and after pregnancy. It is a thinning of the connective tissue between the rectus abdominis muscles (6-pack muscles), which can lead to a bulging belly and other uncomfortable symptoms. Fortunately, diastasis recti can be treated with the right exercises and lifestyle changes. In this blog post, we...

For a gymnast to have proper technique in commonly performed skills using a handstand position or going through a handspring motion; full shoulder mobility is required.  A gymnast not only needs to be able full flexibility of the shoulders overhead, but they must be able to show full strength and control in that position.  This allows for optimal technique and...