Physical Activity

I’ve Returned and So Apparently Are the Neck Multifidus Muscles after Exercise!

I’ve been out for six weeks sailing the Med. It was another great trip and a much-needed break for an old guy! Today, let’s cover a new study that shows that cervical multifidus muscle atrophy can be recovered with exercise. Getting Back If you recall, we are on a four-year journey to sail the Mediterranean,…read more

Dead Lifts and Spondylolisthesis

If there is one exercise recommended by personal trainers that causes more back injuries than any other, it’s a deadlift. I have literally treated dozens of patients through the years who can track the start of a serious low back injury to this exercise. This week I saw two of these patients with one who…read more

Just Move…

Does the amount we move reduce our risk of death? That’s a simple question that many studies have ventured to answer. A recent bit of research may make you glad you got a Fitbit for Christmas. Let’s dig in. What Is All-Cause Mortality? Researchers will typically use a metric that they describe as “all-cause mortality”.…read more

My Basic Core Exercises

If you have chronic low back issues, one of the most critical ingredients for feeling better and creating a more bombproof back is your core. A patient last week asked me which core exercises I would recommend as a home program. Here’s that list of the exercises I personally use. Let’s dig in. What Is…read more

Cardio or Weight Lifting To Lose or Maintain Weight?

You’ll hear and read all sorts of advice on whether you should lift heavy weights or do cardio to lose or keep off weight. In addition, the pendulum keeps swinging back and forth on this one. Back in the 80s and 90s it was aerobics and running. Then about a decade ago it was lifting…read more

Can Obesity Turn Your Spine Ligaments Into Inflexible Bone?

We know that being overweight places us at all sorts of enhanced risks for various serious diseases. We also know that it adversely impacts your spine and joints not only because of the extra forces but also because of chemical influences. New research has a new risk for the spine: your ligaments may turn to…read more

Why Do My Shoes Wear Out More Quickly on the Outside Heel?

On this page: Foot strike: pronation vs. supination How irritated back nerves can lead to supination How to treat foot supination I wear out shoes very quickly. In fact, I’ve worn down one pair of black dress shoes about 50% more on the heel on the outside, so I no longer wear them. Do you…read more

Skiing with Knee Arthritis: Can Stem Cells Help?

Is skiing with knee arthritis possible? Severe knee arthritis is a tough problem. The cartilage is all gone and bone spurs have taken over. Can stem cells get patients back on their skis? When we first began stem cell injections for arthritis a decade ago, we figured that the severity of the knee arthritis would…read more