Robert Poliszuk
Recovering From an Accident at Home With Remote ...

The hours and days following a vehicle accident are overwhelming. The adrenaline wears off, the discomfort sets in, and what seemed like a minor bump transforms into a stiff neck, an aching low back, or a shoulder that refuses to rotate as it once did.

Recovering From an Accident at Home With Remote Auto Accident Physical Therapy That Speeds Up Healing
Robert Poliszuk
Back Pain Sufferers: Annihilate Your Fears with ...

IT’S a DAMN SHAME! I say,… The Cat-Cow is a wonderful exercise that I give many of patients with “stiff” or “stuck” low back pain because of the awesome light they shed on what is really restricted in their movement pattern. It exposes which angles are flaring up their pain sensitivities in the low back with a simple animal themed movement! Watch below…

Back Pain Sufferers: Annihilate Your Fears with Cat-Cows
Robert Poliszuk
Why Do My Joints Crack?

The question is as old as time itself: Why do my knees crack and pop? Ever since man has first squatted down to make a fire or defecate (see my last blog post to learn more), he has heard these noises and wondered what the heck those snaps and crackles were! Well, there are a few possibilities of what you COULD be hearing in your knees or [insert any joint you have heard] are making sounds and unless you are having a unique amount of excruciating pain and can weight-bear easily with no functional deficits, there is a good chance you are experiencing one of the below phenomenon. Check it out below!

Why Do My Joints Crack?

Why Do My Joints Crack?

Why Do My Joints Crack?

The question is as old as time itself: Why do my knees crack and pop? Ever since man has first squatted down to make a fire or defecate (see my last blog post to learn more), he has heard these noises and wondered what the heck those snaps and crackles were! Well, there are a few possibilities of what you COULD be hearing in your knees or [insert any joint you have heard] are making sounds and unless you are having a unique amount of excruciating pain and can weight-bear easily with no functional deficits, there is a good chance you are experiencing one of the below phenomenon. Check it out below!

Deep Squats On The Job - Make Work Productive For Your Stiff Body

Deep Squats On The Job - Make Work Productive For Your Stiff Body

Feeling stiff and achy after hours glued to the chair?

You're not alone. Desk life can leave us feeling like rusty robots, and gym sessions become uphill battles. But fret not, fellow desk warrior, for the solution lies in a simple, effective movement: the deep squat.

Think of it as your antidote to stagnation. This mighty leg hugger isn't just about building quads (although it does that well); it's about rewiring your body for effortless movement. Forget fancy equipment or lengthy stretches – all you need is your floor space and a willingness to explore your inner flexibility.

Testimonial Tuesday: Lema

Testimonial Tuesday: Lema

Lema is a patient that comes in when she has emergency situations. Every time I treat her she says I have magic hands. I can promise you I do not, but I appreciate the kind words regardless. Check out her bubbly personality and positive words below!

Lumbar Disc Herniations and Donuts: The Beautiful Connection (**UPDATE**): Written as a student. I no longer would like to perpetuate the jelly donut theory!!

Lumbar Disc Herniations and Donuts: The Beautiful Connection (**UPDATE**): Written as a student. I no longer would like to perpetuate the jelly donut theory!!

Did you know that between each and every one of your vertebrae there are donuts? These donuts are more anatomically referred to as the intervertebral discs. Each one of these discs provide mobility, support, stability and shock absorption to the spinal column. The combination of these properties allow us to perform tasks that require great amounts of mobility like bending and twisting, but also tasks that involve tons of compressive force like squatting and lifting.
 

Graded Exposure and Movement Sensitivity

Graded Exposure and Movement Sensitivity

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Why the sudden change? He started easy and grooved a pattern. His brain understood that the movement being performed was not a threat and downgraded the pain or fear response. I’m this particular case, pain was his brain’s fear to novel or previously avoided movement.
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Pretzel Stretch For Maximal Flexibility

Pretzel Stretch For Maximal Flexibility

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This combination of both spinal rotation, side bending as well as offsetting hip extension/flexion helps lock the pelvis in one position and allows for a nice anchoring point for the stretch to take hold headed up the back to the thoracic vertebrae, an oft forgotten region.

Hip extension VS Back extension

Hip extension VS Back extension

With these cues, he was able to properly activate his glutes and begin the process of decreasing the reliance on the lumbar erectors in squatting and deadlifting!

Weak or tight knee? Challenge it!

Weak or tight knee? Challenge it!

A lot of the times my patients want to take it easy on the count of their knees or joints being a bit “inflamed,” weak or tight. There are a myriad of reason you may have a knee that feels this way and I would highly suggest that you see a qualified physical therapist before making any sudden decisions regarding that knee.

Before I move on though and in relation to the point above, there is one thing most people forget:

We are meant to move.

Do Push-Ups for Shoulder Health: Why Having Your Shoulder Blades Free to Move Is So Important

Do Push-Ups for Shoulder Health: Why Having Your Shoulder Blades Free to Move Is So Important

Miami's fitness scene can be hard on your shoulders. Whether you're crushing waves on South Beach or tackling weight racks at Elev8tion Fitness, aches and pains can sideline your workout goals. But what if the key to relief isn't just in your shoulders, but in the silent partners holding them up - your scapulae (those winged things on your back)?

Testimonial Tuesdays: Yadila's Neck Pain

Testimonial Tuesdays: Yadila's Neck Pain

Yadila came in with a quick burst of neck pain that was unrelenting. Being the manager of a boxing gym, she needed to be able to move around to assist in the clean up, intake and other duties associated with running a 200+ member club. After a only a few brief contacts, Yadila recovered greatly. She started in agony and finished like sshe never had an issue at all. It was a pleasure working with her from day one and I hope she continues her incredible progress.

What’s the Best Way to Mobilize Your Post-surgical Scars?

What’s the Best Way to Mobilize Your Post-surgical Scars?

…both of these techniques are effective ways to mobilize skin tissue surrounding a “sticky” or adhered scar. Invoking them early and often (as long as your wound is closed in the areas you are treating) can help aid in range of motion and decreased appearance of these fugly incision marks!

Will Lifting Weights Make Women Look Masculine?

Will Lifting Weights Make Women Look Masculine?

Women are capable of performing any fitness routine a man can do. That’s obvious. But, sometimes personal trainers and fitness media outlets like to frame females as if they are incapable of doing, or should not be doing, the same types of exercises a man should. Now, I understand that women and men, on the whole, tend to have different goals, but I don’t think it’s really necessary to completely overhaul the tenants of what effective training is to achieve these goals. 

Pain in the Front of Your Shoulder RIGHT THERE? Try this!

Pain in the Front of Your Shoulder RIGHT THERE? Try this!

Think of the rotator cuff as the dynamic core of your shoulder, providing intricate control and movement. But just like a strong core relies on balanced supporting muscles, the rotator cuff needs its own "wingman." Enter the serratus anterior, often dubbed the "forgotten muscle" of the shoulder.

Prolonged Rounded Spine (Desk Work Posture) CORRECTOR 🙆🏽‍♂️

Prolonged Rounded Spine (Desk Work Posture) CORRECTOR 🙆🏽‍♂️

Try these prone exercises during your lunch break, or even every couple of hours of continued desk work, 🙇🏽‍♂️ in order to reverse that painful and leverage annihilating posture you can develop with your desk job!
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Incline Curls: Using Angles to Bias Different Heads of Your Biceps (YouTube Video)

Incline Curls: Using Angles to Bias Different Heads of Your Biceps (YouTube Video)

Neglecting the long head is a common pitfall. The long head of your bicep is a huge stabilizer of the shoulder joint in general (see photo below to check out how it is right up in there with the rotator cuff tendons). This can lead to shoulder imbalances and potential injuries. By incorporating different arm positions, you ensure both heads contribute equally, promoting well-rounded bicep development and shoulder stability.

What is a Stinger? NFL Injury Breakdown

What is a Stinger? NFL Injury Breakdown

Playing linebacker in high school and a little bit in college, these were common occurrences. Stuffing a running back in the hole (something I did much more in high school 😄) or getting your arm caught up and a scrum would often lead to burning, tingling or even a dead arm.

Cupping

Cupping

It’s great for when people have restrictions across planes of movement: A lot of people benefit from cupping because the therapist can place them across an area of restriction and have the patient do active and passive movements which can free up some of the areas of perceived tightness across tissue planes that wouldn’t typically have that otherwise⠀⠀