If you’re dealing with pain, you might be unsure whether to keep moving or rest. Rest seems like the most comfortable option in some cases, and immediately after an injury, rest is essential for optimal recovery. However, appropriate gentle movement can actually help you heal faster and remain more active during the healing process. Understanding the role of movement in managing pain is crucial for your recovery and overall well-being. A physical therapist is often an essential member of your care team when approaching pain - we love helping our clients at EW Motion Therapy move safely and pain-free, whatever that looks like for them. While our physical therapy might not suit your needs, you can still read this article as we explore why movement can either alleviate or exacerbate pain, how to determine if you should move through pain, and how physical therapy can aid in recovery and pain reduction.

IT Band Syndrome, also known as Iliotibial Band Syndrome, is a common injury that affects many athletes, especially runners. It is characterized by pain and inflammation on the outer part of the knee and/or hip, which can significantly hinder performance and daily activities. Physical therapy is often an integral part of any treatment plan for IT Band Syndrome - our team at EW Motion Therapy loves helping our clients with IT Band Syndrome to reduce pain and return to the activities they love. You may decide that our physical therapy doesn’t fit your needs, but understanding the causes, risk factors, and treatment options for IT Band Syndrome is crucial for prevention and effective management.

As we age, maintaining physical health and mobility becomes increasingly important. One effective and enjoyable way for older adults to stay active is through aquatic therapy and swimming. These activities offer a range of benefits, from improving cardiovascular health to reducing joint pain. We recommend swimming when applicable for our clients at EW Motion Therapy, especially for those who need to build strength without stressing joints. You may decide that our physical therapy doesn’t fit your needs. However, you can still read this article as we explore the advantages of aquatic therapy and swimming for older adults, compare specific options for aquatic therapy, discuss safety considerations, and explain how aquatic therapy can be integrated with physical therapy.

Choosing the right dance studio can be a pivotal decision, whether it's for you or your child. A dance studio is more than just a place to learn steps and routines; it’s a nurturing environment where passion for dance can flourish, discipline and creativity are cultivated, and lifelong friendships are formed. Dance can also be a fun, engaging exercise done recreationally. Whether you dream of a professional career or want to compete, physical therapy is essential to any dancer’s routine, improving performance and preventing injury. Our dance team at EW Motion Therapy can create a custom treatment plan for any dancer to work toward their goals and keep dancing for a lifetime. Whether you decide that our services fit your needs or not, you can still read on for some essential tips and resources to help you make an informed decision, including a list of studios in the greater Birmingham area to research.

Tendonitis, also spelled as tendinitis, is a common condition characterized by inflammation or irritation of a tendon, the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. This condition can cause pain, tenderness, and mild swelling at the nearest joint. It can occur in various parts of the body, particularly in areas where tendons are subjected to repeated stress or overuse. Whether you have acute tendonitis or long-term overuse tendinosis, physical therapy can be a valuable treatment option for the condition, no matter where it occurs in the body. Our team at EW Motion Therapy can help create an individualized treatment plan for any type of tendonitis, keeping your goals in mind and helping you return to the activities you love. Whether you choose EW for your physical therapy or not, you can still read this article as we explore the different types of tendonitis, common symptoms, risk factors, treatment options, and the role of physical therapy in managing the condition.

Baseball is a beloved sport enjoyed by millions worldwide, but like any sport, it comes with its risks. Understanding the most common baseball injuries, their causes, symptoms, and recovery times can help players stay healthy and on the field. Moreover, physical therapy plays a crucial role in preventing these injuries and aiding in recovery. We will discuss six primary injuries baseball players can incur:

Surgical interventions often come with an inevitable recovery period, whether minor or major. However, there is a proactive approach that can significantly influence surgical outcomes: prehabilitation, or prehab. Prehab involves preparing the body for surgery through a tailored exercise and health regimen, primarily physical therapy. We love helping our patients at EW Motion Therapy prepare their bodies and minds for surgery, getting clear on expectations, and assuaging their fears. You may decide that our services don’t fit your needs. However, you can still read this article as we explore the importance of prehab before surgery, the critical components of an effective prehab program, and how prehab seamlessly coordinates with rehabilitation (rehab) post-surgery to enhance overall recovery.

Golf, often considered a game of precision and patience, requires various equipment that can significantly impact your performance. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or a beginner, understanding the average prices of golf equipment and knowing when and how to invest in the best gear can help enhance your game without breaking the bank. This guide will provide insights into the costs associated with golf equipment, tips for finding better deals, and advice on choosing the right equipment for your needs.

Walking is a fundamental activity that we often take for granted. However, the speed at which we walk, known as gait speed, can provide valuable insights into your overall health. Especially as we age and fall risk becomes more of a problem, a consistent gait speed is vital to independence and healthy movement. At EW Motion Therapy, our balance specialists can create a personalized treatment plan to address your mobility concerns and help you move independently. Even if you decide that our services don’t fit your needs, you can still read on as we delve into the importance of gait speed, its correlation with health, methods to improve it at home, and the role of physical therapy in enhancing gait speed.

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a type of tendonitis that affects not just tennis players but a wide range of individuals. It is characterized by pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow, which can significantly impact one's ability to perform daily tasks or engage in sports. We consider it a privilege to help our athletes at EW Motion Therapy combat conditions like tennis elbow so they can continue to play the sport they love pain-free. Even if you decide that our physical therapy isn’t right for you, we will delve into why tennis elbow is so prevalent among tennis players in this article. We’ll also cover who else can be affected, the common causes and symptoms, its impact on a tennis player's game, and how physical therapy can be effective.