Most people know upper back pain and stiffness all too well. At the end of the day, many office workers, parents, and others come home and begin to feel the effects of the stress from their day, especially in their upper back. Generally, the upper back is the area of the thoracic spine between the shoulder blades and might include the joints, muscles, and connective tissue of both scapula (shoulder blades) and your first 7 ribs. While some stretches, strengthening exercises, and a good night’s sleep can reduce most upper back pain, it can become a chronic issue if not treated daily. So what can you do when your upper back tightness/pain becomes chronic and begins to impact your daily activities? And which professionals should you see to get the help you need?

If you’ve ever tried to balance a book on your head while sitting down or walking around, you know how difficult it is. While other variables contribute to how long the book stays on, the main predictor is how straight you can stand up. This is, of course, directly correlated to your posture. Most people could do with some posture correction, as many of us sit hunched over at desks looking at our screens all day. But should you buy a back brace or a standing desk? What solution will work best for you?

Any baseball player knows soreness after practice or a game is typical, especially in your throwing arm. For pitchers, but also for any other player, it is vital to prevent injury and pain by increasing strength and improving mobility to keep your joints and muscles healthy and stable. But why can your arm hurt so much after throwing? How can you reduce pain but still practice as much as you need?

Headaches are common and affect a large percentage of the population. Depending on the severity, some headaches can be debilitating, making you cancel plans or call in sick to work. Headaches should not rule your daily life - finding the combination of medicine or other remedies that works for you is essential. But what do you do if you feel your headaches have progressed to a chronic state? And which professionals should you look to for help?

If you have never used CBD oil, you may be unsure what it is or does. You may automatically associate it with marijuana, and while they are derived from the same plant, they differ substantially. Research has shown some benefits of CBD oil for relieving symptoms of epileptic seizures, but many people have found success with it in other areas as well. So is it right for you? And how can you get access to it?

Baseball is a dynamic sport, combining coordination, power, strength, and speed to make it stand out among other sports. Baseball players must adopt a full-body approach to improve the skills needed to compete. An important metric for baseball pitchers is the speed of pitches; more velocity requires more power. But how do you go about training to throw harder? What are some practical things to focus on while off the field?

Knee pain is common for a large percentage of the population. Any pain in our knees can significantly impact how we move during the day, and there is a myriad of things that could cause pain in your knees, from overuse to ligament tears to arthritis. So when you experience pain, should you be worried? Will you need surgery to fix it, or are other treatment options available?

If you have never heard of blood flow restriction (BFR), the phrase may carry a frightening connotation. Why would you want to restrict blood flow anywhere in your body? When used strategically and safely, blood flow restriction can actually be a helpful technique to build strength in a shorter period of time without putting too much stress on healing tissues or joints. Physical therapists, personal and athletic trainers use BFR for clients, and it has been shown to be safe and effective. So what does it do, and should you try it to build strength?

Muscles twitch randomly all the time, but if the twitching becomes more consistent and you cannot get it to stop, that may be a muscle spasm. Muscle spasms can be painful and even prevent you from doing some of your daily activities as easily as you did before. So what can you do? What are the best treatment options?

It feels great to win a game or competition. The adrenaline rush of victory and sense of accomplishment is unmatched, and you may want it to last forever. But every dedicated athlete knows it is essential to do things outside of competition to improve your overall physical and mental health - you don’t need to go back to practice without resting, stretching, or doing whatever else is in your recovery routine. The same rings true during the off-season - you need to return to your next season prepared to win. But what should you do in the meantime? How can you get better while not playing your sport?