Southwest Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Information Headquarters

The definition of Anterior Knee Pain(ANP) is as follows: A syndrome that causes pain to be felt on the front(or anterior) of the knee on, under or around the kneecap.The pain is usually mechanical, increased by activity and decreased by rest. Sensations and symptoms vary and there is more than one tissue that can be the cause of the pain. ANP is very common in adolescents and usually begins at the beginning of a growth spurt. It can be caused by the growth spurt alone or it can be triggered by the combination of growth and sports. ANP may continue throughout the teen years and sometimes into early college.It may be chronic and it also disappears on it's own at times. Different types of injury can cause ANP such as a direct blow to the kneecap, or after a ligament injury to the knee(indirect cause).

When you become a physical therapy patient, especially if your injury involves the lower limb, you will most likely hear the term PROPRIOCEPTION.In a nutshell, proprioception is your sense of position throughout your body.But, before we explore this exceptional phenomenon further, let me explain to you the "Nervous System 101":

Low back pain caused by improper lifting is a common occurance in the work place and home enviornment. Maintaining a health back througout life can be achieved by carefully paying attention to your lifting technique and regular exercise for good phyiscal fitness and strength. Follow these 10 simple steps to help avoid pain caused by lifting.

Shoulder Impimgement syndrome is a collective term that is a result of the shoulder acquiring tendinitis, bursitis or both. It is characterized by shoulder and/or arm pain when raising the arm and causes problems with arm function. Your PT can help you relieve the pain and treat your shoulder as well as teach you how to prevent shoulder problems from returning.

"Workers Compensation" may be a term that many are familiar with but you don't truly understand everything about it until you are injured on the job. People that are injured on the job in Albuquerque, New Mexico may be familiar with their companies' workers compensation company and their assigned adjuster, but many may not know about the Workers' Compensation Association of New Mexico. This group of people makes the work of a provider and adjusters a lot easier which in turn helps any injured worker. On May 11, 2011, the association began their annual conference and for SWOPT, it was the place to be.

A sprained ankle can happen very quickly and suddenly, when the foot is twisted or turned in unexpectedly. Ankle sprains are the most common foot injury and the most common orthopaedic injury seen by doctors. A sprained ankle can occur during an athletic event or just by a missed stepping on an uneven surface.

Kinesio Tape has become very popular as a method of taping joints and sport injuries since the olympics. Kinesio® Tex Tape is an elastic therapeutic tape developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase over 35 years ago in Japan. Since then, Kinesio® Tex Tape Gold™ has become the standard for therapeutic and rehabilitative taping. 

 Friends, family, and patients all ask me what to use on their aching back. What to use on their sprained knee. What to use after surgery and for how long, and how many times per day. In this article, I hope to shed a little light on these questions.

A recent survey by Lands' End Direct Merchants found that more than 96 percent of children ages 8 to 12 will carry a backpack to school this year. Of those, nearly one-third will carry their backpack improperly. Similarly, another study found that the average child carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound backpack for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound backpack for a 132-pound woman. This significant amount of weight can cause your child to experience back, neck and shoulder pain. Keep these tips in mind as you are purchasing your child’s backpack this year.