Insights & education
Field notes
from the gym.
Practical, no-fluff PT insights from the team. Running, hiking, climbing, lifting, recovery, and pain. For active adults who refuse to be careful.
Latest
More from the team.
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Lifting
- Pain
- Recovery
- Running
- Training
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Recovery
Why Rest Fixes Your Pain For Two Weeks And Then It Comes Back
Why rest does not fix pain long term, and what to do instead so it does not come back every time you return to activity.
Learn moreDr. Lizzie Liese
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Running
Marathon In Six Weeks And Your Hip Started Pinching. Now What?
Hip pain during marathon training six weeks out does not have to end your race. Here is how to manage it and keep your fitness.
Learn moreDr. Ryley Nelson
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Pain
“It’s Just Wear And Tear”: What Your X-Ray Actually Does And Doesn’t Tell You
Learn what an x-ray actually shows about pain versus what it does not, and why arthritis findings rarely explain your symptoms alone.
Learn moreDr. Brady Hoffmann
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Hiking
Why Your Knee Hurts On Steep Downhills (And Why Stronger Quads Aren’t Enough)
Knee pain going downhill on hikes or runs is rarely a strength problem. Learn why it happens and how a Fort Collins PT can help.
Learn moreDr. Ryley Nelson
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Training
Getting Ready For Hunting Season With A Bad Back Or Knee
Hunting season back and knee pain often comes from a preparation gap, not an injury. Learn how Fort Collins hunters train ahead of opening day.
Learn moreDr. Nic Pare
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Pain
Why Your Back Tightens Up After Sitting All Day (Even If You Work Out)
You hit the gym before work. You feel great. Then you spend eight hours at your desk. By the time you stand up, your back feels stiff and…
Learn moreDr. Brady Hoffmann
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Uncategorized
Why Your Feet Hurt After Walking More in Fort Collins
Foot pain after a sudden increase in walking is usually caused by tissue that has not adapted to the new load, not a serious injury. Here is what is likely going on and how to keep walking without pain.
Learn moreDr. Brady Hoffmann
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Uncategorized
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a treatment where a physical therapist inserts a thin filament needle into a tight or irritated muscle to reduce pain and restore normal movement. It is used alongside manual therapy and exercise to address muscle knots, trigger points, and lingering tightness that will not release on its own.
Learn moreDr. Brady Hoffmann
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Uncategorized
The Difference Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture, Explained
Dry needling and acupuncture both use thin needles, but they come from different systems of thought and target different things. Dry needling is a Western, muscle-focused technique used by physical therapists to release trigger points, while acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and targets energy pathways.
Learn moreDr. Brady Hoffmann
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Uncategorized
Tendinopathy and Physical Therapy: Why Tendon Pain Lingers
Tendinopathy is a breakdown in tendon tissue caused by repeated overload beyond what the tendon can currently handle, and it lingers because rest alone does not rebuild tendon capacity. Physical therapy resolves it through progressive loading that rebuilds tendon strength and tolerance over time.
Learn moreDr. Brady Hoffmann
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Uncategorized
Should You Ice After an Injury?
Ice can numb pain right after an injury, but it does not speed healing and should not be your only plan. Here is what actually helps a fresh sprain, strain, or tweak heal well.
Learn moreDr. Brady Hoffmann
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Uncategorized
How To Know When You Need Physical Therapy
You need physical therapy when pain changes how you move, keeps showing up after rest, or limits an activity you care about, even if nothing looks obviously wrong on imaging. Here are the specific signals to watch for and when to stop waiting.
Learn moreDr. Brady Hoffmann
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