Feb 13
Generalized “wear and tear” from enduring the stress of life for over fifty years elicits repercussions to our joints. The articular surface of joints can get scuffed after being used for manual labor, the stresses of an athletic career, or recovering from a traumatic injury. As the surface of joints wears down, they become rough …
Dec 14
“I’m not sure I should come in for my training session today. I might have lifted something the wrong way when I was bending down to prune my roses. Now, I have some tightness and pain in my lower back and right side of my hip. What do you recommend?” read one of the emails …
Nov 27
Physical pain triggered by overuse injuries, deconditioned or weak muscles, or traumatic events substantially impacts the general population’s everyday life. Normal functional activities, including running errands, conducting general home-based chores, or simply getting in and out of bed, can become significantly hindered by a chronic injury that inflicts pain on an area of the body. …
Nov 01
Humans perform upper and lower extremity actions daily without thinking too much about it. Starting from getting out of bed, the upper and lower body are involved in morning rituals as simple as walking to the kitchen to start a cup of coffee. More sophisticated and physically demanding actions requiring coordination and dexterity, including walking …
Oct 23
Imagine living without tables, desks, or work benches. Throw in the twist of removing an automobile that we sit down in to take us to our desired location in minutes. Just for fun, put yourself in a fantasy world where the revolution of cell phones never crossed the mind of the brilliant inventors who created …
Oct 09
“Are the first few minutes of getting out of bed just absolute hell?” my friend Kaus asked me while we were enjoying one of Model Bakery’s finest English muffins, which had been toasted and smothered in strawberry jam. Kaus and I take leisurely walks every few weeks, discussing our hobbies, traveling adventures, and current events. …
Oct 04
Walking, getting in and out of cars, going up and down stairs, or kneeling to pick up objects are common activities in our everyday lives that our lower extremities allow us to do. However, activities that seem simple enough that someone should be able to do it with their eyes closed can be cut short …
Sep 19
“They all put their underwear the same way,” my high school football coach proclaimed during his pre-game motivational speech. This seemingly off-topic comment, a nugget of wisdom from our leader, left my teammates and I pondering its relevance to our upcoming game against Vallejo High School. We were preparing to face a team known for …
Aug 28
“It doesn’t get much better than this,” I commented after sitting on a bench at Crane Park in St. Helena and peering out into the vineyard-laced countryside with a few of my pickleball companions. We concluded a three-hour session of playing pickleball matches, switching partners every game. For me, this was just what the doctor …
Aug 09
Enduring a full day of eight or more hours of physical activity including walking around the house after getting out of bed first thing in the morning, to performing a rigorous physical activity such as conducting manual labor at our jobs requires the ability to walk, step up, turn around, or kneel. These seemingly simple …
