ITB Syndrome

Iliotibial Band Syndrome is pain at the outer part of the knee, thigh or hip. It is usually caused by overuse and it is often seen in runners. Other causes may be from excessive pronation of the foot, tight buttock muscles, poor running form, bowed legs or a leg length discrepancy. If you have pain at the outer part of your leg and it continues with daily activities and running, you need to consult a physical therapist.

Will Abdominal Crunches tone my Stomach?

Abdominal crunches only focus on your rectus abdominus (6-pack muscle). In addition to performing crunching exercises, you should focus on strengthening your core muscles. These muscles surround your rectus abdominus and connect to your back musculature. To truly tone your stomach muscles, you need to address more than your 6-pack.

An example of a good core strengthening exercise is to lie on your back and lift your knees to a 90/90 position. Lower one leg to tap your foot on the surface then bring the leg
back up. Alternate lowering each leg and tapping each foot on the surface.
Perform this exercise for 10 reps. Progress to 2 sets of 10, then 3 sets
of ten.
Check out the video below for a demonstration of this exercise by Dr. Amanda Macht
Lumbar Stabilization Exercise- Table Top Taps

Sitting Long Term and Stretching

Do you sit in front of the computer most of the day? Do you get tension headaches, neck pain, and sore chest muscles?

This is a result of repetitive forward head movement that can be from typing, reading and looking down to write. Excessive forward head posture puts strain on your neck and shoulder muscles. Perform the pectoralis stretch below to decrease strain to your neck and shoulder muscles.

Stand in a doorway and place your arms about 90 degrees along the sides of the door frame. Step through the door frame until you feel a stretch across your chest. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds. Alternate your foot forward with each stretch.

Pectoralis Stretch
Pectoralis Stretch

Do You Suffer From Calf Cramps?

Calf cramps come from tight muscle. The calf muscles can get tight from running, excessive walking, wearing high heels, and poor shoe support. If your calves are tight, begin a stretching program. In the following video, you will learn several ways to stretch your calves. Please note, you can hold the stretch for as little as 15 seconds for 2-3 repetitions to obtain results.

Calf Stretching Video