Ortho Eval Pal: Optimizing Orthopedic Evaluations and Management Skills

Send a text In Episode 127:Tibialis Posterior Muscle with Ortho Eval Pal I start with anatomy, function, common problems associated with the Tibialis Posterior Muscle, treatment pearls and much more! Tibialis Posterior Rupture Evaluation Video Tibialis Posterior strengthening exercise with a band video Tibialis Posterior Strengthening Exercise with a Ball Video Want to join the OEP community? Clic...

Send a text In Episode 126-How to Treat Sesamoiditis with Ortho Eval Pal I discuss what sesamoiditis is, causes of sesamoiditis and how to treat sesamoiditis. Want to join the OEP community? Click HERE to jump onto our email list. SUBSCRIBE at the bottom of the page. WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!! Click HERE   to check it out Are you looking for One on one Coaching? We have it! Ask me your ortho evaluati...

Send a text In Episode 125 - Evaluating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome I talk about how you can evaluate patients with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, I review anatomy, talk about the two types of TOS, Special tests I like to use, how to differentiate between the two along with some treatment suggestions. Postural Exercise Video ROOS Test Video TOS Patient Video Adson's Test Video Want to join the OEP co...

Send a text In Episode 124-Active vs Passive Treatment Approaches I talk about just that. I go on a little rant and express my opinion about proper patient progression. Want to join the OEP community? Click HERE to jump onto our email list. SUBSCRIBE at the bottom of the page. WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!! Click HERE   to check it out Are you looking for One on one Coaching? We have it! Ask me your orth...

Send a text In today's episode I talk about Snapping Scapula Syndrome, what it is, how to evaluate it and what I like to do to treat it. This is not a very common diagnosis but one you should know about when patients complain of a "noisy" or painful shoulder blade. Want to join the OEP community? Click HERE to jump onto our email list. SUBSCRIBE at the bottom of the page. WE HAVE A...

Send a text In today's Episode 122-Talking Inflammation with special guest Theresa Freeman PT, LMT, CHC we chat about natural ways to decrease inflammation, the importance of sleep and diet and Theresa gives us a "sneak peak" into her book "Sleep, Eat, Poop". Have ?'s or want to connect with Theresa? Click HERE Interested in Theresa's book: "Eat, Sleep, Poop...

Send a text In Episode 121-How to Treat Cervical Nerve Root Compression I discuss the difficulties with treating CNRC and how I changed the way I treated it once I developed more experience. The treatment for this is not black and white and I focus this episode on anatomy, movements that make cervical nerve root compression worse and better and what factors to look at when deciding to treat conser...

Send a text As you all know, scapular winging is not something you see very often but recognizing it and treating it appropriately is very important. In Episode 120-Scapular Winging: Causes, Evaluation and Treatment I will focus on all of this and give a few pearls about how I like to evaluate and treat it. Want to join the OEP community? Click HERE to jump onto our email list. SUBSCRIBE at the bo...

Send a text In Episode 119 - How to Assess Deep Tendon Reflexes Better I explain how to perform and why you perform deep tendon reflexes. This is a very important part of an evaluation but you can miss underlying issues if you don't perform these correctly. In this video I give you some simple tips to help make your deep tendon reflex testing better. UE Deep Tendon Reflex Video LE Deep Tendon...

Send a text Let's put the Subscapularis in the spotlight for today. In Episode 118- A Better Understanding of the Subscapularis Muscle I will review the origin, insertion, action and innervation along with Special tests used to help indentify Subscapularis injuries. Lift-off Test Video Belly Press Test Video Bear Hug Test Video Want to join the OEP community? Click HERE to jump onto our email...

Send a text In today's Episode 117-Parsonage Turner Syndrome:Severe arm pain? Consider this I will talk about what Parsonage Turner Syndrome is, how it presents and mention some treatment considerations. This problem can be mistaken for a cervical nerve root compression, rotator cuff tear and even a heart attack! Parsonage Turner Shoulder Evaluation Video Want to join the OEP community? Click...

Send a text The Infraspinatus and Teres Minor Muscles work very closely together and I feel very bad for both of them. Today I talk about the anatomy, innervation and function of these muscles and how to test them and how to not injure them after surgery. Here is a video of a patient with an infraspinatus tear: Want to join the OEP community? Click HERE to jump onto our email list. SUBSCRIBE at th...

Send a text In Episode 115-Understanding the Supraspinatus Muscle Better, I breakdown the supraspinatus and talk about anatomical key points, referral pattern, "Look-a-Likes", and treatment considerations. Speaking of "Look-a-Likes" check out these videos: C5 Nerve Root Compression Supraspinatus Tear Suprascapular Nerve Injury Want to join the OEP community? Click HERE to jump...

Send a text In Episode 114- Proprioception: What is it and why is it so important I explain the concept of proprioception and talk about the other elements that affect balance. I stress the importance of safety and how proprioception is instrumental in proper progression after an injury and surgery. Here is a video some of my favorite proprioceptive balance exercises. Want to join the OEP communit...

Send a text In Episode 113 - Facts and Myths about Osteoarthritis of the Knee I talk about some of the very common findings in the  osteoarthritic knee, the importance of obtaining full knee extension, optimizing quadriceps contractibility and much more!!  Remember this, not all patients with knee OA have to have knee arthroplasty. If they do, they will be stronger, have better mobility and have m...

Send a text We've all used terminology that in one way or another influenced our patients. Sometimes in a good way but more often times in a scary way. Today I give examples of a few words that we have classically heard and how we can decrease anxiety around the verbage patients hear. WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!! Click HERE   to check it out One on one Coaching? We have it! Ask me your ortho evalu...

Send a text In today's Episode 111- Proper Compression and Elevation for Swelling I talk about a few simple concepts to help decrease swelling, contraindications, "why" decreasing swelling is so important and much more! WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!! Click HERE   to check it out One on one Coaching? We have it! Ask me your ortho evaluation questions and I will answer them on the show: paul...

Send a text In Episode 110- Neurogenic vs Vascular Claudication I explain what "claudication" means and how it presents differently between the two. I will give you some examples of each and how to manage each. WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!! Click HERE   to check it out One on one Coaching? We have it! Ask me your ortho evaluation questions and I will answer them on the show: paul@orthoevalpal....

Send a text In Episode 109-Spondylolisthesis: Signs, Symptoms and How to Treat it! I talk about Spondylosis, Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis. I'll describe each, talk about signs and symptoms, conservative vs surgical treatment and more! WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!! Click HERE   to check it out One on one Coaching? We have it! Ask me your ortho evaluation questions and I will answer them on th...

Send a text Ever wonder why ankle dorsiflexion is so important? Today I will briefly review some foot and ankle biomechanics, talk about injuries caused by loss of dorsiflexion, maximizing dorsiflexion to increase function and performance and more! I will also talk about my favorite ways to gain ankle dorsiflexion and why. WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!! Click HERE   to check it out Ask me your ortho eval...

Send a text There are so many sources of Anterior Knee Pain and it's important that you recognize the most important ones. I'll talk about patellofemoral pain, bursitis, tendinitis, referred pain and much more! Check out a few of my patients with Anterior Knee Pain: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome video Osgood Schlatter Syndrome video Identifying Quad Shut Down Ask me your ortho evaluation...

Send a text In Episode 106- Discussing LBP with your patients I talk about how to communicate with your low back pain patients. I discuss expectations, statistics, how to deal with "scary" terminology, anxiety and confusion centered around low back pain. The low back can be complicated to evaluate and treat so in this episode I help you navigate through how to talk to patients about thei...

Send a text Probably the most controversial and asked question in the medical field...Which is best, Ice or heat? Here I explain the benefits of each, some precautions and I debunk the ice for swelling recommendation. Moving forward, I'd like to add a section to the show where I answer your questions about all things ortho. Send me your questions to: paul@orthoevalpal.com Be sure to check out...

Send a text Today we take a more in depth look at the Soleus muscle and learn that it does a lot more than just plantar flex the ankle. We will discuss the following: 1. The Origin and Insertion 2. Action and Innervation 3. Overuse of the soleus 4. How it causes "Shin Splints" 5. How to treat Soleus related problems Moving forward, I'd like to add a section to the show where I answe...

Send a text Today's interview with Orthopedic PA Scott Walton helps to give some insight into the world of a PA specializing in Orthopedics. We talk about the roles of the PA, the team approach, evaluation approach, communication and much more! What you will notice is that whatever we talk about always comes back around to optimizing patient care. Submit your question and we will answer them...