Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a promising treatment in regenerative medicine, leveraging the body's own healing mechanisms to address various musculoskeletal and dermatological conditions. By concentrating platelets from a patient's blood, PRP injections deliver growth factors that can accelerate tissue repair and reduce inflammation. However, the efficacy of PRP varies across different body parts and conditions.
When I was in grad school, I had to sit in front of my laptop for hours on end. Eventually, I developed a nagging pain between the shoulder blades. I tried stretching it, rolling on a ball, worked on my posture, but nothing seemed to alleviate it. It wasn’t until I graduated and no longer had to spend as much time sitting in front of the computer that it went away. Now that I'm an older, wiser physio, I know how to fix it.
Read MoreSeveral years ago, I set up a tent and table at the US open for Pickleball in Naples, FL. We saw a ton of injuries, ankles and calves, elbows, some back and some shoulders. It’s tempting to name a blog like this, “how to prevent injuries”, but that’s misleading. You can’t truly prevent injuries, however you can improve your warm-ups for the best possible outcome.
Read MorePeripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects people in a “stocking and glove” pattern, meaning the hands and feet. This can cause numbness and tingling, and/or loss of sensation. As it progresses, it can lead to balance problems as the sensation in your feet help you stay balanced. There are many things that cause this such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease, smoking, alcoholism, and certain viral infections. However, one under-appreciated cause is B12 deficiency. The good news is it’s treatable.
Read MoreChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can feel like carrying the weight of your own breath. Tasks most people take for granted such as climbing stairs, walking the dog, even getting dressed, can become daily challenges. But what if a unique breathing technique could actually help ease these struggles? That’s where isocapnic training comes into play.
Triglycerides are a type of lipid, or fat, that circulates in your bloodstream. Chemically speaking, a triglyceride is made up of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule (hence the name tri-glyceride). Your body creates them from excess calories, particularly from sugars and fats, and stores them in fat cells for later use.
Read MoreWe have four main homeostatic regulators of the body; pH, temperature, O2/CO2, and blood sugar. Insulin plays a vital role in maintaining our blood sugar. SBecause of this, staying insulin sensitive is vital to human health. Over the course of a lifetime, as your cells stop responding to insulin (from a high processed/high sugar diet) we become pre-diabetic, then progress to diabetes. All cells of the body have insulin receptors, so when they stop responding to insulin, a whole host of problems can arise. Luckily, there are lots of natural ways to improve insulin sensitivity. As it turns out, a molecule called nitric oxide (NO) is one of many ways to improve insulin sensitivity.
Read MoreIf you’ve been feeling stressed, tired, or burned out lately, you may be experiencind HPA-D (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction). This is heavily involved in the bodies stress response. Magnesium could be the missing piece to help you feel better. While we often think of magnesium as a mineral important for bone health or muscle function, it plays a crucial role in supporting your adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing the stress hormone cortisol. Let’s dive into the link between magnesium and adrenal function, and why ensuring you have enough magnesium in your diet can make all the difference.
Read MoreHRV (heart rate variability) is a hot topic, and for good reason. It’s a measure of your autonomic nervous system which is highly tied to the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is where immune responses are launched. Lymphatic drainage can help improve heart rate variability (HRV) by reducing stress, enhancing circulation, and promoting parasympathetic nervous system activity. This can have a direct effect on swelling.
Read MoreBone is a living tissue that constantly undergoes remodeling, with old bone being broken down and new bone being built. This delicate balance is regulated by various hormones, and when imbalances occur, bone loss can accelerate, leading to conditions like osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Read MoreThere are a lot of causes of dizziness. Dizziness is a vague word though, and can be used to describe a variety of symptoms. So when a patient tells me they are dizzy, I first clarify what type of dizziness because that gives me good insight to the problem at hand. There is the room-spinning dizziness that is most commonly associated with BPPV (the crystals in the ear). Then there is light-headed dizziness which may be a blood pressure issue, amongst other things. Then there is that feeling of being “off-kilter”, or a “wooziness”. This is the type of dizziness this blog will address.
Read MoreIn the world of diabetes and obesity management, GLP-1 agonists have emerged as an innovative class of medications that help improve blood sugar control and, in some cases, assist with weight loss. But what exactly are GLP-1 agonists, and how do they work in the body? In this blog, we’ll explore the science behind GLP-1 agonists, their mechanism of action, and how they’re changing the landscape of treatment for conditions like Type 2 diabetes.
Read MoreWhen we think about ways to lower blood pressure, we often imagine activities like jogging, cycling, or practicing yoga. However, there’s an underrated and often overlooked method that can help: training your grip strength. Building a stronger grip can actually contribute to lowering your blood pressure. Let’s dive into how this works and why incorporating grip strength exercises into your routine might be a game-changer for your cardiovascular health.
Read MoreAsthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects millions of people worldwide, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. While medications like bronchodilators and corticosteroids are the primary treatment options, new techniques are emerging that may help people better understand and manage their condition. One such method gaining attention is isocapnic hyperventilation, an approach that uses controlled breathing to improve lung function and reduce asthma symptoms.
Read MoreSleep apnea is a largely overlooked problem, and I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to address it. It causes all kinds of nasty stuff like blood sugar dysregulation, weight gain, stroke, heart attack, etc. if left unchecked. The loss of oxygen that occurs at night can have an impact on your blood markers. This means that your routine bloodwork can potentially pick up on an undiagnosed sleep apnea problem.
Read MoreBlood sugar can rise and fall for some individuals and can feel like a terrible roller coaster ride. Reactive hypoglycemia, also known as postprandial hypoglycemia, is when blood sugar drops after a meal. While it's not as widely known as diabetes, it can still significantly impact an individual’s daily life.
Read MoreDo you feel like you need another vacation when you get back from vacation? I certainly have, and have learned from this. In my opinion, this is a sign you’re doing it wrong.
Read MoreCreatinine is often associated with kidney function, and for good reason; it's a waste product filtered out by the kidneys. When creatinine levels rise, it typically signals that the kidneys might be struggling. However, high creatinine levels don't always indicate a serious health problem. In fact, there are several instances where elevated creatinine levels are perfectly normal or simply a reflection of factors unrelated to kidney disease.
Read MoreWhen we exercise, our body undergoes a series of remarkable physiological changes to ensure that our muscles get the oxygen and nutrients they need to perform efficiently. One of the most fascinating and lesser-known processes behind this adaptation is the “metaboreflex”. The metaboreflex is an essential cardiovascular reflex that plays a crucial role in regulating blood flow and maintaining homeostasis during physical activity.
Read MoreIf you wake up in the morning and you find your significant other sleeping in the next room, you probably have sleep apnea. Or, if like me, you think that your superpower is to be able to fall asleep instantly, you also likely have sleep apnea. That’s what is known as ‘sleep pressure’ and is a sign you are poorly rested.
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