Southwest Rehab

Thinking of going under the knife for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS)? According to a new study, you can have equal success skipping surgery and going straight to physical therapy. "Surgery is a riskier procedure, with about a 15% complication rate, and half of those are life-threatening," said Anthony Delitto, PT, PhD, FAPTA, in a Reuters article about the study ("Physical therapy may be as good as surgery for common back problem" – April 6, 2015). "It isn't a life-risking proc

Many people with arthritis dread the cooler months. In fact, some swear blind they can even predict a drop in mercury simply by the increase in swelling and pain in their joints. But is there any truth to this notion that stiff and sore joints flare up when temperatures fall? And if so, what's causing it? While it's a topic that's been explored in a large number of scientific studies, the results have been mixed, says Deakin University pain expert Dr Michael Vagg. Some studie