LENAuthor: Lenny Macrina
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The Week in Research Review, etc 8-5-18
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The Week in Research Review, etc 8-5-18 we discuss a wide variety of topics including: Long-term disability if weak during adolescence Using heat during rehabilitation OKC vs CKC exercises after an ACL Live look at an Achilles rupture (with sound too!) A fun look at the different types of PT’s Congrats to all of the newly…
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The Week in Research Review, etc 7-29-18
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Last week was the 1st of my research review that summarized my social media posts from the previous week. It seemed to be well received so I figured I’d continue it. My goal is to help summarize some of the research that I found interesting and package it nicely for my readers. Each photo contains…
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The Week in Research Review, etc 7-22-18
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The Week in Research Review, etc 7-22-18 I’m trying out this new concept of publishing my social media posts into a nice package for a weekly delivery to my subscribers. Knee Case Study Contralateral ACL Strengthening Shoulder Static Stabilizers Weighted Ball Research Glute Activation This kid came to me the other day with L knee…
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The Evolution of a Physical Therapist
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I’ve been a practicing Physical Therapist since 2003. I’ve observed a lot, talked to a bunch and read a lot. By all means, I am no expert! The evolution and growth of a physical therapist can take many roads. I am always learning and listening but at times I do become complacent (that’s human nature). I’d be…
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Quadriceps Stretching after Knee Surgery: A tweak to the technique
Obtaining full knee flexion after a knee surgery or knee injury can be difficult for some. The transition from passive knee flexion in seated (my preferred) or supine (not preferred!) can be a challenge for the physical therapist, once they are starting to work on quadriceps stretching. This blog post serves to help modify the…
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Loss of extension after ACL surgery: How to assess for a cyclops lesion
Loss of extension after an ACL reconstruction can be debilitating for the patient. It’s not as common as you would think but I see it enough in the clinic from people that are months out from surgery. Usually, this loss of knee extension after an ACL reconstruction is caused by a cyclops lesion. Let’s dive deeper…
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Testing the elbow for a UCL sprain in baseball players
I have assessed hundreds if not thousands of elbows for various injuries. One of the most common ailments that I see in my practice is a UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) sprain, aka ‘Tommy John ligament’, especially in a baseball player. This post discusses the typical presentation of a UCL sprain, testing the elbow for a UCL…
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Anterior Knee Pain- A Test for Fat Pad Irritation
We as physical therapists are constantly seeing patients with anterior knee pain with a very vague history. Often times, there’s not a specific onset or mechanism of injury. With that, it seems as if the retro patellar fat pad is a common source of pain in many people and is commonly overlooked. What actually hurts in…
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Looking back at 2017 & beyond to 2018
It’s that time of year to reflect on what we’ve done and a game plan on what’s to come. I’ve taken a moment to look back at some changes I made in 2017 and share it with you. New website- LennyMacrina.com I had been thinking about building my website for a while. Being surrounded by…
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Kids and Sports Injuries: What are we doing wrong?
I recently had a conversation with a parent who reached out to me slightly concerned for her 12-year-old child. He’s stressed out, hurt again and she didn’t know if I could help. It made me think about kids and sports injuries… and how we could make a difference. Real Life Story I had seen this…
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Operative versus non-operative treatment for the management of full-thickness rotator cuff tears
Rotator cuff tears can be a functionally debilitating injury for many. Surgery is often recommended to help decrease pain and return the patient back to their baseline function. But is surgery definitely needed in someone with a known rotator cuff tear? I originally discussed this for an article at Champion’s blog here and here Photo by Piron…
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Diagnosing meniscus tears: What’s the literature telling us now?
Meniscal tears are commonly observed in an outpatient physical therapy setting. The ability of a PT to evaluate a patient’s knee and diagnose a meniscus tear can help guide the treatment plan for that patient. Having specific tests that can accurately and quickly pick up a meniscal tear are valuable. Lots of test options but stick…