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Pain in the knees from running

Many of our customers complain about knee pain while running. They often describe the pain as dull around the knee joint or as a twinge at the kneecap. Most often, the pain occurs during running or immediately following exercise. Clients often try stretching exercises or using a fascia roller to loosen the surrounding muscles and get rid of the pain that way. Unfortunately, the pain can be persistent and, in the worst cases, force them to take a longer break.

Causes of knee pain

The most common reason for knee pain is overuse of the lower leg extensor muscle quadriceps. If the muscle is used too frequently, so-called trigger points develop. These are small nodules in the muscle that have poor blood supply and cause a characteristic pain pattern. If there is overuse of the quadriceps, the pain tends to feel dull and is located around the knee. If the fascia is stuck or tight, the pain tends to be located on the sides of the knee or just below the kneecap (patellar tendinitis). In both varieties, the pain occurs during and after running.

Our holistic approach

Our strategy for this situation is first to lower the tension in the muscles by dry needling and massage. This is done by working on the fascia with a special tool to loosen it up and release any adhesions. With special tests we can determine if the connection between the nerve and the muscle is working properly. If this connection is inactive, the muscle will be overloaded or misloaded again and the discomfort will return even after the therapy is finished.

Functional Movement Screen

Once we have the local discomfort under control, we do a Functional Movement Screen and look at the patient’s overall movement amplitude. This gives us the opportunity to identify and target further faulty movement patterns. Through corrective exercises at home, discomfort and thus pain can be prevented in the future. Yours Michael Boettcher
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The cause-consequence chain

The cause-consequence chain describes a state of irritation of the tissues in the musculoskeletal system that is directly related to an injury and has an effect on surrounding structures (a kind of chain reaction).
A general distinction is made between ascending and descending chains. An ascending chain is often triggered by trauma to the lower extremities, such as supination trauma (twisting of the ankle). Thus, there is sometimes a link between an old foot injury and acute hip symptoms.

Accordingly, in sports medicine there are also descending cause-and-consequence chains, such as discomfort or dysfunction in the hip, which can lead to pain in the knee. These are usually triggered by a dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint. This is followed by a protective posture with increased stress on the unaffected structures in order to minimize pain as well as further irritation of the affected structures.

Over a longer period of time, overload symptoms can occur, which are often characterized by local pain. However, these can also manifest globally in adjacent structures. This type of chain reaction can ensure that local therapeutic measures remain unsuccessful, as the actual cause of the pain present is often not included in the treatment planning.

It is therefore even the more important to include surrounding structures such as joints, muscles or ligaments in the initial examination as well as in the treatment and to structure the therapy holistically. Over the long term, better therapy goals can therefore be achieved and the quality of life sustainably improved.

If you have any questions about the cause-effect chain or would like to make an appointment for treatment, please feel free to call us!

Your Michael Boettcher

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Reflexive Performance Reset – not only for competitive athletes

Reflexive Performance Reset, or RPR is more than just an ordinary therapy. It activates muscles that have a key function in our musculoskeletal system via certain reflex points. These key muscles give our body more support, bounce, energy and lead to more mobility in the long term. The Reflexive Performance Reset consists of different breathing exercises and the stimulation of certain nerves in the body, which help to increase the training success and prevent injuries.

When we are under constant stress and give our body little time to regenerate, it is inevitably put into stand-by mode. In this state, the body has little energy and performance is significantly reduced. Reflexive Performance Reset can help to bring the body back to its performance peak, reduce pain caused by compensating for poor posture, improve mobility and increase resistance to injury.

By activating specific reflex points that bring the body out of these damaging compensation patterns and targeted breathing exercises, the muscles can recover faster, you have more energy and are more resistant to stress. Whether you are a competitive athlete, an athlete or simply a sports enthusiast, the RPR concept is so simple and yet so promisingly designed that it can be implemented at any time. Just contact us!

Yours Michael Boettcher

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CMD – Jaw problems

What is CMD?

CMD (Craniomandibular Dysfunction) stands for a dysfunction of the skull and lower jaw and is an umbrella term for a variety of problems that can occur in the jaw joint or the chewing muscles. Symptoms include dizziness, pain in the head, jaw or neck, and even tinnitus. Stress, a faulty bite, accident-related head trauma or postural weaknesses are among the triggers of CMD. Since not only the causes but also the symptoms of CMD can be varied, it is often only recognised very late or often not at all. The patient is then plagued with pain for months or years and is limited in his or her physical and mental performance.

How can CMD be treated?

The treatment of CMD by a physiotherapist is coordinated with a dentist. The dentist prepares a functional analysis after examining the patient. The analysis forms the basis for treatment by the physiotherapist. Of course, each treatment is individual and is adapted to the respective patient and his or her complaints. However, there are basic treatment methods that the physiotherapist can use in the course of a CMD treatment. 

How can the physiotherapist help with CMD?

As part of the holistic healing concept, physiotherapy uses massage and stretching techniques to help relieve muscular tension and improve posture overall. First, the physiotherapist takes an anamnesis of the patient, in which the condition of the tissue, muscles, skin and musculoskeletal system is determined. The cervical spine in particular is examined, as problems in this area are often associated with CMD. Depending on the findings, the physiotherapeutic treatment is then adapted. Remedial techniques such as chiropractic and dry needling can also help with CMD. In this way, we restore the correct, pain-free function of the jaw in our physiotherapy practice and free you permanently from your pain.

Yours Michael Boettcher

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Slipped disc – causes and treatment options

The term “herniated disc” is often used to describe permanent stabbing pain in the lumbar region. In fact, it stands for the wear and tear of the mass consisting of cartilage and connective tissue between the vertebral bodies and the associated pain in the lower back.

Lack of exercise, poor posture, overweight or too weak abdominal and back muscles are among the most common causes of incorrect loading of the intervertebral discs. The result: increased wear and tear of the fragile outer structure of the intervertebral disc.

As a result, the outer ring of the intervertebral disc becomes brittle and tears when subjected to frequent and above all incorrect loading. The inside of the disc, a gelatinous mass, emerges and can press on the nerves in the back. This pressure in turn leads to severe pain and often to paralysis.

When pain no longer goes away, it becomes a burden. They restrict our everyday life and slow us down – at work and in our leisure time. We at American PT can work preventively on your back and trunk muscles to prevent a herniated disc or accompany you after a disc surgery with physiotherapy.

Through preventative exercises and applications in the field of physiotherapy and physiotherapy, chiropractic, dry needling or other curative practical procedures, we can restore the functionality of your body and thus give you back a piece of vitality and well-being.

Do you have questions about our services or would you like to make an appointment? Please feel free to call us!

Yours Michael Boettcher

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Medical rehabilitation training – effective and gentle on the joints

What is medical rehabilitation training?

Medical rehabilitation training is generally used after injuries and operations to restore mobility and treat diseased areas of the musculoskeletal system. Targeted training units are used to improve strength, mobility and endurance in the long term. The specially developed medical build-up training for therapeutic purposes is considered part of rehabilitation treatment and is often accompanied by a doctor.

For whom is medical rehabilitation training recommended?

In general, medical rehabilitation training is prescribed by a doctor after an injury or operation on the musculoskeletal system. However, it can also be used for persistent pain in the joints or back. The physiotherapist draws up an individual training plan tailored to the problem area and person. Medical rehabilitation training is also suitable for the prevention of painful muscle tension and resulting damage to the spine.

What is trained in medical rehabilitation training?

Depending on the type of training, medical rehabilitation training trains balance, coordination and posture, strength, flexibility, speed or endurance. The essential components of the medical rehabilitation training are: mobilisation and mobility training, strength and stabilization training, coordination training, endurance and cardiovascular training.

What equipment is used for medical rehabilitation training?

The medical rehabilitation training uses training equipment that is easy on the joints and yet highly effective, while putting optimal strain on the muscles and joints. Additionally, computer-controlled training devices such as the Power Plate or EMS allow a targeted training of the deep muscles and can be used, for example, for muscle building before an operation.

In our practice for physiotherapy we offer medical rehabilitation training for therapeutic purposes. Do you have any questions or would you like to arrange an appointment? Call us, we will be happy to assist you!

Yours Michael Boettcher

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Dry needling – treating pain with needles

In our private practice for physiotherapy, we use healing techniques to bring your body into balance in a natural way and free you from pain. Today we would like to introduce the application of Dry Needling to you.

Dry Needling is a form of trigger point therapy in which mainly myofascial points and fasciae are treated. Similar to Chinese acupuncture, Dry Needling uses sterile acupuncture needles to address trigger points in the muscle or musculoskeletal system to release tension and relieve pain. There are two forms of dry needling: intramuscular stimulation (IMS) and superficial dry needling.

In intramuscular stimulation, a sterile needle is inserted directly into the trigger point. This process initially triggers a tension reaction in the muscle, which is often perceived as beneficial. By placing the needles in the myofascial trigger point, the oxygen supply is stimulated and the blood flow in the affected muscle groups is improved. If the tense area shows inflammation or adhesions, these are inhibited by the dry needling application or disappear completely.

In the superficial treatment of pain in the musculoskeletal system, the dry needle is placed diagonally above the trigger point with a puncture depth of 3-4 mm under the skin. This is where the central nervous system comes into play. The superficial puncture triggers various mechanisms in the brain and spinal cord that contribute to pain relief and healing of the affected area.

Which Dry Needling technique is the right one for you depends on many factors, which we will clarify in advance in an anamnesis consultation.

 

Yours Michael Boettcher

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Chiropractic – Healing through adjustment

Chiropractic is an alternative medical treatment method in which joint blockages are released with special techniques. The aim is to find and eliminate functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system in order to relieve pain and restore normal mobility. A positive side effect of the treatment is that the pressure on the nerve tracts is reduced, thereby activating the body’s self-healing powers. In our practice we offer various chiropractic treatments and would like to give you a brief overview of them today.

What does chiropractic mean?

The term chiropractic is composed of the Greek words “chiero” for hand and “practice” for action. This method of treatment was invented in the 19th century by Daniel David Palmer, who argued that various illnesses were caused by a malposition of the vertebral joints and could therefore be cured by a targeted correction of the malposition.

What does the chiropractor do?

First I look at your medical history and examine you thoroughly to determine the origin of the dysfunction. I particularly pay attention to your spine. Pain and blockages are often caused by the malposition of one vertebral body in relation to the adjacent vertebrae. These malpositions can be caused by incorrect posture, lack of movement and accidents. If muscles or tendons are affected, we can stretch them specifically or make them more flexible again with massages.

What is done during a chiropractic application?

Once the medical history is complete, we can begin treatment. There are several possible applications. During the adjustment, I guide your affected joints or vertebral bodies into a certain position with special handles and without much effort. A loud cracking sound is often audible during this process. In order to free you from this pain permanently, this procedure has to be repeated in several sessions. Mobilisation improves the mobility of your joints by moving the joint parts against each other and stretching them in different directions. Through stretching exercises and relaxation techniques, we can lengthen the surrounding muscles so that they can adapt well to the new position of the joint.

What happens after the treatment?

Once the blockages have been completely released, the stability of your musculoskeletal system is affected. With joint-protective exercises from the physiotherapeutic program, we stabilize your spine and prevent future imbalances. The combination of chiropractic application and subsequent muscle building enables you to live permanently pain-free and feel fit and agile again.

Are you interested in a treatment by a qualified chiropractor? Give us a call!