Stairs and Knee Pain Written by: Paul Kochoa, PT, DPT, OCS, CKTP, CGFI Today, in the New York Times health section, there was an article about knee pain and stairs. A reader wrote in and asked how to prevent their knees from hurting when they descended stairs. I read the article and some of the …
Exercise as a prescription
Exercise as a prescription Written by: Paul Kochoa, PT, DPT, OCS, CKTP, CGFI The other day, a patient mentioned this article about the movement towards doctors handing out a new type of prescription. This wasn’t for a new drug or experimental medicine, it was for exercise. The article basically says that we talk a …
Obese or not obese
Obese or not obese Written by: Paul Kochoa, PT, DPT, OCS, CKTP, CGFI “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned!” – Eric Cartman. That phrase is part of the American lexicon. Obesity is an epidemic. But many people who are obese or overweight don’t see it that way. They believe that they’re just big-boned, or a little …
Functional Training for You
Functional Training for You Written by: Paul Kochoa, PT, DPT, OCS, CKTP, CGFI Back in 1992, in the Rutgers University Busch campus gym (The Sonny Werblin Recreation Center), I worked with a exercise physiologist who only did “multi-jointed” exercises. He would educate all the staff on the difference between the traditional exercise routine at …
What’s the core?
What is the “Core”? Written by: Michelle Millner, PT, DPT, OCS Did you like to play with blocks when you were a kid? Do you remember how they needed to be balanced just right when you built a tower otherwise it would all come crashing down? Human vertebrae are kind of like those blocks. They …
Beyond Google and Wikipedia, searching online for health information
Beyond Google and Wikipedia, searching online for health information Written By: Paul Kochoa, PT, DPT, OCS, CGFI So you have a health issue. Your back hurts, or your knee starts hurting after your last run. You want to know what it might be. Or you were responsible and went to your primary care physician and …
Continue reading → “Beyond Google and Wikipedia, searching online for health information”
My Favorite Exercise
My Favorite Exercise Written by: Paul Kochoa, PT, DPT, OCS, CGFI Let me tell you about one of my favorite exercises. First of all, a good exercise should accomplish what it’s supposed to do, get a part of you stronger. Second, it should ideally include multiple joints at one time, thus creating even strengthening throughout …
Staying Injury-Free on the Pond
Staying Injury-Free on the Pond Written by: Karen Tom, MPT, CSCS As the weather cools off in New Jersey, it’s almost time to lace up the skates and head out to the pond to play some hockey! In planning ahead (while we wait for the freeze), there are a few things to keep in mind …
Small ways to stay fit and healthy during the holidays
Ah, the music, the lights, the snowmen, the lawn Santas… It must be that time of year again, the holidays are approaching. This is a season to get together with family and friends to have fun and spread the joy. Whether your holiday involves Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the alternative Festivus, you can bet that …
Continue reading → “Small ways to stay fit and healthy during the holidays”
When you go shopping, don’t buy a case of the low back blues
‘Tis the season… Or so they say, ‘tis the shopping season. When you’re hitting the malls this year, don’t let your packages weigh you down and hurt your back. Lifting a heavy gift or package can be that straw that breaks the camel’s back, so to speak. Don’t let this holiday season be a painful …
Continue reading → “When you go shopping, don’t buy a case of the low back blues”