Thoracic spine pain can make sitting, working, exercising and even taking a deep breath uncomfortable. You may feel a dull ache between your shoulder blades, a sharp pain when you twist or a tight spot that never seems to relax. Your thoracic spine is the middle and upper part of your back. It begins below your neck and extends to the bottom of your rib cage. This area includes 12 vertebrae, along with muscles, joints, discs, nerves and the places where your ribs connect to y

When pain keeps coming back, you may wonder whether a muscle imbalance is part of the problem. Maybe one side of your body feels stronger than the other. Perhaps certain muscles always feel tight, or you notice that your body moves differently on one side. A muscle imbalance can affect the way you move and how your body handles stress. Not every imbalance causes pain or an injury. Some differences between muscles or sides of your body are normal. The complex relationship betw

Good balance helps you do much more than stay on your feet. You rely on balance when you walk across a room, step off a curb, get out of a chair and reach for something on a shelf. Balance exercises for seniors can help you improve stability, strengthen muscles and reduce your risk of falling. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults 65 and older include balance activities along with aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise. You do not need comp

Hip or leg pain can make everyday activities harder. You may feel discomfort while sitting, walking, climbing stairs or exercising. If the pain starts around your buttock and travels into your leg, you may wonder whether piriformis syndrome could be the cause. Piriformis syndrome happens when the piriformis muscle in your buttock irritates or puts pressure on your sciatic nerve. This can cause pain, tingling or numbness around your buttock, hip and leg. Because several other

If you have pain in your lower back, buttock or pelvis, you may wonder whether your sacroiliac (“SI”) joint is involved. SI joint pain can develop for several reasons, including injury, arthritis, pregnancy-related changes and differences in how your body moves. Your SI joints connect your sacrum at the bottom of your spine to the two sides of your pelvis. These joints help transfer forces between your upper body and legs. When an SI joint becomes irritated or inflamed, you

If you’re interested in finding aquatic therapy nearby, you’re likely looking for a gentler way to move after an injury. Aquatic therapy uses guided exercise in a pool to help reduce stress on sore joints, muscles and healing tissue while you rebuild strength and confidence. Water-based care is not the right fit for every injury. A physical therapist can evaluate your movement, pain, strength, balance and medical history before recommending it. If you have open wounds, certa

Chronic pain is common. CDC data from 2023 found that 24.3% of U.S. adults had chronic pain, while 8.5% had high-impact chronic pain that often limited life or work activities. Living with chronic pain syndrome can affect how you move, sleep and plan your day. Pain that lingers can also feel frustrating because it may not follow a simple pattern. But there are pain management techniques that a physical therapist can use that may help reduce the severity and frequency of your

Neurological rehabilitation in physical therapy can help people work toward safer movement, better balance and more confidence after a condition that affects the brain, spinal cord or nerves. Neurological symptoms can look different from person to person. Some people notice weakness, stiffness, dizziness, balance problems, reduced coordination or changes in walking. Others may be recovering after a stroke, concussion, multiple sclerosis flare or nerve injury. Physical therap

A muscle strain in your chest can feel scary, especially because chest pain can come from many different causes. If your symptoms seem linked to movement, lifting, coughing or exercise, a chest wall muscle strain may be one possible reason. Before you treat chest pain like a muscle strain, it’s important to know when to get medical care. Call 911 or seek emergency help for new, severe or unexplained chest pain, chest pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, nausea

When pain, stiffness or limited movement starts affecting your day, it can be hard to know what kind of care may help. Manual therapy techniques are hands-on methods used by physical therapists that may help improve how your joints, muscles and nerves move when they’re used as part of a personalized treatment plan. Manual therapy isn’t one single treatment. It’s a group of skilled techniques a physical therapist may use to help you move with more confidence. Pain by itself i

At first, you may feel mild soreness after a workout, shift at work or long walk. Later, the pain may start during the activity, last longer or make daily tasks harder. Treatment of overuse injuries often works best when it addresses both your pain and the reason it started. A physical therapist at KC Rehab may help you understand what is stressing your body, build strength and return to activity with less pain. What are overuse injuries? Overuse injuries happen when muscles,

A hamstring injury can make everyday movement harder. You may feel pain in the back of your thigh when you walk, bend, climb stairs or try to exercise. If you are active, you may also feel unsure about when it is safe to return to running, sports or your normal workout routine. One of the most common questions people ask is, “What is the typical hamstring injury recovery time?” The answer depends on the severity of the injury and how your body responds to care. A mild hamstri

Does your knee hurt when you jump, squat or run? Is the pain triggered by movements that should be easy, like standing up after sitting? If your pain is just below the kneecap, patellar tendinitis may be part of the issue. Patellar tendinitis, also spelled “tendonitis,” can happen when the patellar tendon is placed under more stress than it is ready to handle. This tendon connects your kneecap to your shinbone and helps your leg straighten when you walk, run, climb stairs or

A calf strain can happen fast. You may feel a sharp pull while running, climbing stairs, stepping off a curb or pushing off during a sport. Afterward, your lower leg may feel sore, tight or weak. If this has happened to you, you may be wondering about calf strain recovery time. The timeframe may depend on the injury’s severity, your activity level and how soon you get care. Physical therapy at KC Rehab may help guide your recovery. It may help you rebuild strength, improve mo

Hip bursitis can make daily movement feel harder than it should. Walking, climbing stairs, getting out of a chair or lying on your side may cause pain on the outside of your hip. You may notice stiffness, tenderness, weakness or pain that travels down the outside of your thigh. If these symptoms are limiting your routine, physical therapy may help. KC Rehab’s physical therapists offer treatment. Hip bursitis treatment often focuses on easing irritation, improving movement and

Iliotibial band (IT band) syndrome treatments can make a meaningful difference when persistent outer knee or thigh pain starts interfering with the activities you enjoy the most. Whether you're an athlete working through discomfort or someone who's simply struggling with everyday movement, physical therapy may help support a safer, more comfortable recovery process. A physical therapist can help you identify the movement patterns and muscle imbalances that may be contributing

If you live with chronic headaches, you know how much they can affect your daily life. Head pain can make it harder to work, sleep, exercise or simply enjoy time with your family and friends. While medication can help some people manage their symptoms, it might not target the underlying physical issues that can contribute to recurring headaches. For some individuals, going to physical therapy for headaches may be part of a broader treatment plan to address key muscle and join

A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury that can happen after a bump, blow or jolt to the head or body. Symptoms can show up right away or develop hours to days later, and some people notice that they simply feel “off” rather than obviously injured. If you’re not sure what to expect, learning how concussion recovery typically progresses can be a helpful starting point. At KC Rehab, we guide patients toward a gradual return to activity through personalized, respo

Living with fibromyalgia pain can be frustrating — not just because of how it feels, but because of how unpredictable it can be. One day, you might feel relatively steady. The next, even simple movements may seem overwhelming. If you’re looking for fibromyalgia pain relief, you may have heard that physical therapy is an option. While it's not a cure, this type of treatment can be a powerful tool. In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the ways physical therapy might

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, can gradually change how your body feels and moves throughout the day. Simple activities like reaching into a cabinet, putting on a jacket or even resting your arm comfortably may become increasingly challenging. This condition is different from general soreness after activity, and a diagnosis is typically associated with both pain and reduced range of motion. If the stiffness and discomfort persist or worsen, a physical thera