If you start to feel numbness or tingling in one of your extremities, you might attribute it to a temporary lack of circulation or your foot “falling asleep”. Usually, that uncomfortable “pins and needles” feeling goes away after a while, but what do you do if it stays for longer than a week? Prolonged numbness or tingling can be a sign of a more extensive problem – but how do you know for sure?

As many people get older, they start to worry about falls, and for good reason. According to the CDC, one in four people 65 & older have a fall each year, and one out of five of those falls can cause serious injury. Many older people have issues with their balance, and even some younger people with certain conditions can have problems with it. So what can you do to stay steady on your feet and decrease your fall risk?

Many people suffer from tight hamstrings, from athletes to desk workers. Hamstrings are large, powerful muscles, and when they are tight, they can significantly affect how you move. So what can you do about it? How can you stretch your hamstrings and keep them from tightening up again?

When you try anything new, whether a hair product or an exercise regimen, you may question whether it will work. Will this new thing you brought into your life have the desired effect? Usually, it takes a certain amount of time to answer that question, and the timeframe can vary. With physical therapy, it can sometimes take a while to see progress, and you may begin to question whether starting it in the first place was really worth it. Are you actually getting better, or are you wasting your time and money?

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you probably have questions about the treatments available. Your doctor might have recommendations on additional therapies to help you or your loved one stay active, including physical therapy. So how is physical therapy different for Parkinson’s patients? How can it help them move better and improve their quality of life?

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, it is easy to feel nervous for the future. You probably have many questions to ask your doctor, and you may even wonder how you will be able to continue the activities you love. While your movement may become progressively limited over time, there are still things that you or your loved one can do to help slow the progression and keep you moving.

When you have an injury and want relief, it can be challenging to narrow down your options. Many communities have a plethora of options for physical therapy, and Trussville is no exception. Just about a half-hour drive from downtown Birmingham, Trussville has become a thriving community, with many locally-owned and operated businesses. With so many choices of clinics in the area, how do you decide which one to visit for your physical therapy treatment?

Editor's note: The author would like to thank Jesse Douglas and Amanda Krumrie for their contribution to this article.

There are many different reasons someone could get a headache. But before anyone can be treated for a headache, the nature of that headache must be known. For example, stress can contribute to a headache if your reaction to stress is to tighten the muscles that support your head position. We commonly refer to these as tension headaches, but there are many other reasons you may have a headache. So how do you know you are pursuing the best treatment for your headaches?

Hardly anyone is better acquainted with bad posture than office workers. With long hours sitting at a desk, and ergonomics that are usually less than ideal, it is easy for any office worker to end their day with back pain and tired eyes. It is said that sitting is the new smoking, and that is partially true - sitting for longer periods of time during your day can cause tension in your upper back and shoulders. It can also make you more prone to health problems. But when you have to be at your desk for eight hours of the day, what can you do to help improve your posture?