Leverage Physical Therapy

12/18/2025

When someone has back pain, improving the stability can be helpful. The ability to hold a neutral spine is important when lifting heavy loads or when pain is high and movement is painful.

The bird dog row and suitcase carry are 2 exercises to improve low back stability.

12/17/2025

Dry needling is thin needles inserted into the muscles and hooked up to estim to pump the muscles.

Within a few minutes this
- calms down pain
- improves blood flow
- decreases inflammation
- improves range of motion

Following up dry needling with exercise gives a long term solution to low back pain

To schedule an appointment for dry needling contact 715-204-4787 or visit Leverage-physicaltherapy.com

12/17/2025

When picking up a heavy weight it's ideal to have a stable spine.

But this doesn't mean every time you bend forward that your back should be straight.

Having the ability to bend forward and pick up light or moderate loads allows you to do things like pick up your kids, shovel, play sports, clean, yardwork, etc.

The low back is resilient and adapts to the things we do (that's why you should exercise).

12/16/2025

Low back pain affects almost everyone at some point.

Back pain is complex and often has multiple causes such as weakness of the muscles, stiffness or hyper mobility, poor sleep, diet, stress, along with tissue damage.

Sometimes there are nerve symptoms that can radiate into the hips or legs due to irritation of the nerve root.

There is also a lot of fear around back pain which can lead people to move less or avoid certain activities due to fear of causing pain.

A thorough assessment can identify the causes of low back pain
1. Tissues involved
2. Movement patterns
3. Lifestyle factors

Then a good plan addresses those deficits to calm down the pain and prevent it from returning.
1. Calm down the pain: movement, needling, hands on
2. Modify activities as needed
3. Improve strength and mobility deficits
4. Progressively increase tolerance to painful movements

12/15/2025

Falls rarely happen when you're standing still, yet so many balance exercises are just in place and balancing. There's certainly nothing wrong with standing in place on one leg trying to balance but it doesn't prepare you to have to move quickly to regain your balance after a slip or trip.

The Tidal Tank is just one tool we use to work on reactive balance. The water shifts around and forces you to stabilize to keep your balance. It may throw you off enough to have to take a step to stay upright.

Want to improve your balance?

Check out the Movement with Age classes where we work on all different types of balance exercises.

12/14/2025

Tension Headache

- the most common type of headache
- a feeling of tension around your head
- multifaceted causes: stress, hormones, muscles, diet, sleep
- headache at the base of skull on both sides, often into the upper traps

Bloodflow and strengthening typically more beneficial than stretching.

Dry needling also helpful to calm down muscle pain and tightness.

12/13/2025

Cervicogenic headaches:

Headaches caused by the upper cervical (neck).

- pain/headache on one side
- headache starts at the base of the skull and wraps to the front by the eyes
- neck stiffness and pain
- neck movements can cause headaches

How to treat:
- mobilize the upper cervical spine with exercises and hands on
- dry needling to upper neck and upper trap muscles
- strengthening deep neck muscles
- modifications to work and exercise routine as needed

Headaches often improve within 1-2 sessions

12/12/2025

Headaches can be caused by many things but the neck is a common one. Often coming from either the muscles or the upper cervical joints.

These 4 exercises are helpful to reduce headaches and prevent them from coming back.

1. Cervical SNAG
2.Chin tuck and lift
3. Banded cervical retraction
4. Farmers carry

Dry needling is also a helpful tool to calm down headaches.

12/10/2025

Shoveling frequently causes back pain for people but it isn't because shoveling is bad for your back. Pain comes when your body isn't prepared for the task.

Shoveling requires low back strength, mobility, and endurance. If you are lacking any of those things, it might not feel so good.

The good news is, you can improve your strength, mobility, and endurance through training.

12/09/2025

Your hips need to be able to rotate to stay healthy. Most people are lacking some external rotation and this elevated pigeon stretch can be helpful

Use an incline bench. Place one leg on it and lean forward. You can make it more active by going up and down to engage those muscles

12/04/2025

The lateral step down is used as both a test and a treatment.

It is a good test to assess the hip, knee, and ankle and doesn't allow compensation with the opposite leg.

It is also a good exercise to improve hip, knee, and ankle strength and stability.

12/03/2025

There are a couple spots open in the Tuesday/Thursday Movement With Age class.

If you are over 65, and you want to improve your balance, strength, mobility, and endurance, then this class is for you.

You don't need to wait until New Year's to start making change.

Text or call 715-204-4787 or visit

Join Movement With Age for tailored physical therapy and fitness classes to improve strength, balance, and health for adults 65+ in Cameron, WI.