Bracing for Lower Leg and Foot Control

Bracing for poor hip control

The SERF Strap

 

Bracing for foot and lower limb control

The Post Tib Brace

 

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Craig Smith, PT, DPT, conducts a knee exam at Smith Performance Center, demonstrating expert physical therapy techniques in knee pain assessment, rehabilitation, and injury recovery while flexing his arm in a lighthearted moment.

Knee Pain and Physical Therapy: A Structured Approach to Recovery

Knee pain and physical therapy should not start with random exercises. A better approach begins with a clear diagnosis, symptom control, and a plan to rebuild capacity. At Smith Performance Center, we use a structured knee rehab process to help people understand the problem, reduce triggers, and return to the activities that matter.

Read More »
diagram showing heel pain in Tucson caused by different structures in the foot including the plantar fascia and flexor digitorum brevis

Flexor Digitorum Brevis Pain: 7 Signs Your Heel Pain Isn’t Plantar Fasciitis

Many cases of heel pain diagnosed as plantar fasciitis may actually involve other structures in the foot, especially the flexor digitorum brevis muscle on the bottom of the foot. The article outlines seven key signs that point toward flexor digitorum brevis involvement, including cramping, pain with toe flexion, changes in walking pattern, and worsening symptoms after activity. It emphasizes that proper diagnosis matters because different tissues respond to different treatments, and persistent heel pain often requires a more detailed evaluation than simply labeling it plantar fasciitis.

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Steps To Develop A Diagnosis In Physical Therapy

“My butt hurts.” A significant proportion of my conversations start with this statement. She continued, “ I have regular active release along with dry needling. I stretch my hamstring ALL THE TIME and I still have pain.” Her frustration was palpable. “I know I have a tight hamstring and there is scar tissue.  But it’s been 8 months.” She assumes the pain must be the hamstring; we call this the pain generator.  The hamstring tendon attaches right where her pain starts. The tightness is over the hamstring muscle belly.  She describes the pain in a clear way that implicates the hamstring.   She made a convincing argument that the hamstring is the issue and the diagnosis has been repeated by multiple medical providers including a physician and two physical therapists. The location matched.  Running increased the pain. Another match. Stretching and manual therapy provided temporary relief. But 8 months into the

Read More »
Craig Smith, PT, DPT, conducts a knee exam at Smith Performance Center, demonstrating expert physical therapy techniques in knee pain assessment, rehabilitation, and injury recovery while flexing his arm in a lighthearted moment.

Knee Pain and Physical Therapy: A Structured Approach to Recovery

Knee pain and physical therapy should not start with random exercises. A better approach begins with a clear diagnosis, symptom control, and a plan to rebuild capacity. At Smith Performance Center, we use a structured knee rehab process to help people understand the problem, reduce triggers, and return to the activities that matter.

Read More »
diagram showing heel pain in Tucson caused by different structures in the foot including the plantar fascia and flexor digitorum brevis

Flexor Digitorum Brevis Pain: 7 Signs Your Heel Pain Isn’t Plantar Fasciitis

Many cases of heel pain diagnosed as plantar fasciitis may actually involve other structures in the foot, especially the flexor digitorum brevis muscle on the bottom of the foot. The article outlines seven key signs that point toward flexor digitorum brevis involvement, including cramping, pain with toe flexion, changes in walking pattern, and worsening symptoms after activity. It emphasizes that proper diagnosis matters because different tissues respond to different treatments, and persistent heel pain often requires a more detailed evaluation than simply labeling it plantar fasciitis.

Read More »

Steps To Develop A Diagnosis In Physical Therapy

“My butt hurts.” A significant proportion of my conversations start with this statement. She continued, “ I have regular active release along with dry needling. I stretch my hamstring ALL THE TIME and I still have pain.” Her frustration was palpable. “I know I have a tight hamstring and there is scar tissue.  But it’s been 8 months.” She assumes the pain must be the hamstring; we call this the pain generator.  The hamstring tendon attaches right where her pain starts. The tightness is over the hamstring muscle belly.  She describes the pain in a clear way that implicates the hamstring.   She made a convincing argument that the hamstring is the issue and the diagnosis has been repeated by multiple medical providers including a physician and two physical therapists. The location matched.  Running increased the pain. Another match. Stretching and manual therapy provided temporary relief. But 8 months into the

Read More »