Guest Columnist: Janet Caputo, PT, DPT, OCS September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month! As a child, I was a “chubby” and I still struggle with my weight. I preferred playing indoors with Barbie dolls while my “skinny” cousins played softball and rode their bikes. My parents, remembering many nights when they went to […]
This weekend marked the beginning of high school football in NEPA! While a warm September may be a wonderful time of year to watch football from the bleachers, it often plays havoc on athletes as they suffer from severe muscle cramping. This year was not exception as many players limped off the field in […]
The summer is a great time to be outdoors in NEPA as so many activities are available such as: biking, hiking, running, walking, swimming, boating, golfing, and playing tennis to name a few. It is also a wonderful opportunity to discover your inner child, mix it up and try something new! Below are four new […]
Naysayers often say, “Exercise junkies are killing their joints!” Well, it has always been my position that those who do nothing and are overweight destroy their joints as well. And, I would rather DO SOMETHING than nothing! New research from Ottawa, Canada supports my opinion. In addition to being a risk factor for many serious […]
My wife, Esther, loves to work in the yard! As a Pennsylvania Dutch girl growing up in Lebanon, PA, caring for plants and animals was an integral part of daily life. As for me, I am her loyal assistant cutting grass, mulching, planting, landscaping etc. I too, love the outdoors but I enjoy golfing, running, […]
Recently, a patient, Pat McKenna, editor of The Times-Tribune, came to my office with a partial tear and strain to one of his hamstring muscles. He stated that he has always had hamstring tightness and has walked backward as a warm-up exercise to prevent injury. I found the concept of backward walking, (also called retrowalking) […]
Guest Columnist: Janet Caputo, PT, DPT, OCS The sport of fast-pitch softball has become one of the most popular sports for female athletes in the United States. Female pitchers might not use a hard ball, but their injuries are just as significant as their male counterparts. Their shoulders endure the same torture and torment of […]
Allergies affect 30 % of adults and 40% of children in the United States. Last week we discussed the definition, incidence, causes and treatment for allergy sufferers. However, many of those who suffer from allergies are those engaging in athletics. Avoiding the outdoors is often not an option. Not long ago, it was unthinkable that […]
Part 4 of 4 Guest columnist: Janet Caputo, PT, DPT, OCS The past three columns have demonstrated the lengthy rehabilitation process following an ACL reconstruction. The first four weeks after surgery can be a little uncomfortable and repetitive. The program focuses on controlling pain and swelling, increasing tolerance for weight bearing, restoring knee motion, and […]
Part 3 of 4 Guest Columnist: Janet Caputo, PT, DPT, OCS Even though your surgeon probably reconstructed your ACL in about 2 to 2 ½ hours, your rehabilitation phase will require a much longer period of time. Typically, regaining the motion, strength, and function of your knee following ACL reconstruction requires more than three months. […]
