Praxis Physical Therapy

Wishing and his team a great season of football as the school year starts! Wyatt is a prolific athlete for Lynden Christian HS and came to me for a second opinion after not getting improvement from months and months of physical therapy from a major corporate PT company in the county. So proud that my small business clinic can continue to make a difference in an athlete’s recovery, healing and being able to return to the sport they love to play. It’s always good advice to seek help elsewhere if you’re not getting the results you want.

In 3 different studies, they found out that a consistent stretching regimen done in the workplace can reduce musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) and can be a very effective way to promote workplace health!

This is the Barnes and Noble version of my Flexibility for the office worker book! It’s proudly printed in the USA. Available in Hardcover and paperback online only. Learn 28 different actionable ways to feel better while working in front of a computer.

5 chapters with photos:
✅ Neck
✅ Shoulders
✅ Back
✅ Forearm and wrist
✅ Lower Body

We advise you to MOVE! Find this copy on BN.com!

New hours of operation starting September 2024! Because of the amount of admin work that I have to do, I will no longer be seeing patients on Fridays. I will be available via text or phone call but will not be taking patients in the clinic. This can change in the months to come! Thank you all for understanding!

I love this explanation of the Latarjet Procedure from Shoulder Specialist orthopedic surgeon from Seattle Dr Grant Garcia from Proliance:

The Latarjet procedure is a surgical procedure performed to treat shoulder instability by relocating a piece of bone with an attached tendon to the shoulder joint.

Tearing of the labrum due to trauma is called a Bankart tear, which sometimes involves the breaking of bone along with the labrum. This is referred to as a bony Bankart tear. Shoulder instability can lead to pain and a feeling of giving way.

He explains: The Latarjet procedure is indicated for anterior shoulder instability that is recurrent and caused by a bony Bankart lesion. The surgery is considered when a surgical repair of the labrum does not correct the damage of the shoulder joint.

It’s a very complex procedure that takes certain skills to perform. The post operative care is just as IMPORTANT and I’ve been so fortunate with working with a few of Dr Garcia’s clients! I have been so impressed with the post operative results that I’ve seen.

This procedure is not for everyone but indicated if all else fails in SHOULDER INSTABILITY. Be sure to read about it. Consult with your surgeon or physical therapist regarding the PROS AND CONS!

Carl Bach officially graduated PT today post lumbar surgery and we wish him all the best this coming football season for his senior year at Sehome High! Wishing you all the success this year!

DRILLS TO HELP THOSE HIPS AND KNEES MOVE!

Try these fun and novel drills next week! Let me know what you think! BYE BYE STIFFNESS❤️!

AIM for 8-12 repetitions for 2 sets each. For the wall sit, try 30 full seconds to a minute!

Disclaimer: this post is for educational purposes only. If any of these bother you or make your symptoms worse, stop and consult your health care and fitness professional to see if these are right for you.

Send a message to learn more

Believe it or not, since 2006, not much as changed in our approach to shoulder instability! Take this study from Kevin Wilk, Mike Reinold and Lenny Macrina regarding NON-OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE UNSTABLE SHOULDER

Key things to consider when working with shoulder instability

✅ How did the instability occur? Was it acquired / traumatic or born loose? Born loose and sometimes traumatic when caught early responds well to physical therapy.
✅ How bad is it? Subluxated? Dislocated? The degree of instability or recurrence matters. Recently, the Latejet procedure which originated in France has been very popular in this management when there’s enough bone and bone loss is minimal. Factors like hill Sachs or Bankart all play a factor in the management.

✅ Direction: anterior, posterior or multidirectional ? Get this by really asking great questions during the evaluation process, have the athlete or patient describe the mechanism of what happened. You’ll know if they landed with the arm across the body (posterior) or they had the arm out and it was dislocated (anterior). Multidirectional responds well to PT too!

✅ Concomitant pathology: rotator cuff, SLAP tear, bankart lesion, fracture

✅ How good is the neuromuscular control? Especially at END RANGE! Neuromuscular control may be defined as the efferent, or motor, output in reaction to an afferent, or sensory input. The afferent input is the ability to detect the glenohumeral joint position and motion in space with resultant efferent response by the dynamic stabilizers as they blend with the joint capsule to assist in stabilization of the humeral head. In short - it’s the ability to detect the joint position in space!

6. Pre-injury level (?) testing is now done very well to return to sports. We use force dynamometry as an example.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITH AN UNSTABLE SHOULDER OR THOSE WITH A HISTORY OF DISLOCATION? here are some key factors to consider or ask your physical therapist. DM me if you have questions or send them this post too. I am happy to answer questions.

Praxis PT is officially in-network with Kaiser Permanente insurance in Washington state. We get questions all the time if we take Kaiser. It’s been tough for local patients to find a provider if they have this insurance. Look no further! We have bent backwards to help you feel better, stronger and do the things you love to do!

Every week, I get questions regarding products I recommend. We are introducing a more streamlined shopping for your convenience. Introducing our new Amazon Store Front. This store will continue to be updated!

➡️➡️➡️ Amazon.com/shop/praxisPT or link in our bio.

Disclaimer: Praxis PT receives a small commission for each purchase as part of Amazon Associates Program.

More and more evidence are emerging on the WEIGHTLIFTER’S SHOULDER: Distal Clavicle Osteolysis.

More recent studies (2023) have emerged regarding shoulder pain along the AC joint and distal clavicle. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH AC JOINT ARTHRITIS.

Key Points:
✅ Commonly seen in weightlifters, 20s, male demographic
✅ risk factor: history of traumatic injuries
✅ Dan Pope mentions most common gym exercises: bench press, dips.
✅ DCO is the painful development of bony erosions and resorptions of the distal clavicle caused by repetitive trauma to the AC joint.
✅ Think about increase Osteoclastic activity!
✅ PT first! Then consider arthroscopic or open clavicle excision if PT has not helped this.

My advice if you’re having shoulder pain is seek out a practitioner who has experience working with shoulder injuries related to lifting.

ANNOUNCING A NEW SERVICE AT PRAXIS: The SPORTS SCREEN ($80) covers a short but comprehensive assessment of acute injuries or a pre-game participation testing (not to replace pre-sports participation clearance by your primary care physician or orthopedic surgeon).

👉🏽 There are times when you just need answers after an acute injury, be triaged to the appropriate path, and need answers from a licensed health professional. We created this affordable service just for that. As an added bonus, if time allows, the athlete will be given specific exercises targeting the areas being treated as a supplement to your existing warm-up, or PT drills.

For this appointment, it is highly recommended to:

✅ Come in sports/workout attire to be able to move freely during the assessment.
✅ Bring pertinent accessories to be evaluated which may include your shoes, brace, orthosis, etc.
✅ if you have any imaging or lab results, bring them with you or email them ahead of the appointment to [email protected]
✅ Be on time. The service slot is only 30 minutes and we want you to maximize your time with the therapist.

➡️➡️➡️COACHES AND TRAINERS: If you have an existing client or athlete you’d like assessed, please send them this post or have them contact me through the information below. I am happy to get them in as quickly as possible.

This services requires you to email us at [email protected] or call us at 360.389.3156

To find out more or book a physical therapy appointment, please visit the link in our bio.

“The only way to prevent a running injury is to not run.” Doesn’t feel like the right advice, isn’t it?

At some point in our life, it happens. An accident, a sudden unexpected move, a weird turn, a sudden change in health conditions such as getting sick - and injuring yourself as you start back up, even as a extreme as a tragic unexpected car accident that causes severe loss of range of motion and spasms. And guess what, they’re NOT really that preventable! We all have been there. Myself included.

I’ve injured my neck, shoulders, back, knees, hips, ankles, wrists, and even my TMJ. I’ve had it, and I’ve risen above them. The good news is: THE BODY HEALS. Tissues heal. And PAIN does not necessarily mean HARM. Some form of pain is normal - it’s a way to protect the body from going further to the painful area! Respect it, but a little pain is okay to keep going.

These last few days reminded me of how crucial it is to know who your “go-to” people are in case your training pathway gets derailed. I am so grateful for the network of therapists, providers, doctors, and coaches I have access to.

TRAINING WHILE INJURED: Modify, regress, and divert. There are many ways to do this. If you’re unsure, and need guidance, reach out to us at praxisPT your own provider regarding these. Reach out to family and friends to ask who their “go-to” peeps are. Chances are you’ll be led to the right person who has the answers you’re seeking.

to everyone and have a safe and fantastic sunny weekend!!!

Footwear Review!

Every single day, I get questions about footwear and about different brands of shoes around for either running, walking, training/workout, or working. If you’re someone concerned about your foot wear or dealing with an injury and wanted your shoes assessed, I encourage patients to bring their workout shoes during the PT session so we can check them!

Having a medical discount has its perks with . I’ve tested two running shoes that are very popular in their line recently (the ghost max and the Hyperion max 2). Today I have the Hyperion Max 2.

✅ Fit and comfort like a glove
✅ cushioning and weightless feel is better than the ghost max - you’ll likely run faster speeds with this but does not feel like a hard surface than other Brooks lines.
✅ It would be a handy pair of shoes to use when you’re on your feet all day!
✅ I could feel the “assisted transition” during the TOE OFF cycle
✅ if you’re a hoka fan like me, it would likely be a mix of the carbon X and the Clifton and I could consider this a Neutral Shoe, not a maximalist.
✅ I was impressed with the toe box. It fits wide toes like mine but does not look as wide when you are looking at it. The mesh sides of the toes are comfy.

Tech:

✅ the drop is 6mm and weights around 8.3 oz.

If you try this out, I would love your thoughts.

We are proud to be able to help you heal from this injury Bry! Thank you for this wonderful post and testimonial! I feel that we need more representation of Filipino / Asian American businesses locally and give support to them as well! Once again, thank you!

Becoming good at something takes time, it takes years. Sometimes it takes unlearning while learning! It also DOES NOT TAKE JUST WEEKEND COURSE to be an expert either.

Did you want to specialize on the shoulder? ACL rehabilitation? Or create a niche in the hip and knee replacement industry? There’s a way to do it. Chances are, they’ve been done before. And you do not have to reinvent the wheel.

My primary interest was the shoulder complex when I was suffering from my own shoulder issues. It allowed me to deep dive into the expertise of others and through practice and repetition, I was able to get better and now create my own programming around the shoulder rehabilitation realm.

The new official shirts are here! It highlights the reason why I called my clinic Praxis, how thought reinforced with action turns into practice. That’s the reason why this business is in existence. The goal is to ALWAYS be MOVING FORWARD!

Shirts are in limited quantities since it’s the initial batch. The shirts are super comfy to wear! Only available in unisex adult: M, L and XL at this time. They’re athletic fit.

DM me if you would like one and I’ll reserve for you. The cost is $25 each. Only until supplies last!

Thank you everyone for the support since clinic opening and it’s been amazing to actually live your truth and give quality care the way I envisioned it.

Shoulder, Spine and Knee Injury Specialty in Bellingham, WA.

Praxis PT - Physical Therapist Bellingham | United States Physical Therapist, Praxis Physical Therapy, Bellingham, Sports Injuries, Low Back pain, Neck pain, Shoulder pain, knee pain, hip pain, thoracic pain, rib pain, spine adjustments, headaches, migraines

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

WOW! Mark is incredible. I have had back pain for about 15 years and he was able to help relieve about 70% of it in just one session with manual manipulation and myofascial release. He also educated me on the cause and effect of my pain and gave me tools to try and help prevent the pain from happening again.

- Jordyn

The PRAXIS PT Vinyl Stickers are here and they are 🔥. vinyl material will withstand any kind of weather, will hang on through the dishwasher, and are UV protected so they will stay shiny and vibrant! Get one FREE when you visit the clinic or hit me up and I’ll give you one! Good while supplies last!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

“I have seen a significant number of P/T and chiro practitioners, and Mark is HANDS DOWN the best I have ever experienced.

He is amazing at actually finding out the real issue, then treating it, then setting me up for long-term maintenance and things to avoid or look out for.

Can’t say enough good things about his work and he is a great guy overall.”

- David

Last Saturday we hosted a free shoulder clinic at and it was a blast! We had a great turnout with everyone being very open to participate. We hope that everyone learned some new things to implement for your shoulder health! A very special thanks to .sfer for these captured moments.

PLEASE READ THAT AGAIN. I get questions like this regularly regarding timeline, healing times and post surgery expectations post-ACL.

🛑 STOP 🛑 believing in instagram posts regarding FAST tracking ACL rehab. It does NOT exist.

✅💙 Healing time matters. Proper progression from Range of motion, to quad activation in the early phases post ACL repair MUST be followed and needs to be of paramount importance. Then weaning off the brace and crutches follows!

✅ Influencer PTs who promise quick ACL rehab and healing are BS. Stick with the plan, eventually transition the patient to a strength coach who’s worked with ACL repairs post rehab, and continue to check in with PTs at the late stage rehab (6-9 months).

✅ It takes 1-2 years for that ACL to truly be able to stay resilient and less risks of re-injury. I kid you not. Even the return to play testing does not do that justice. Someone may pass those “hop” tests and still re-injure the ACL.

🫰🏾 PTs should continue to educate PARENTS regarding this timeline! I’ve seen some patients who have missed milestones and delayed the healing process because parents truly didn’t know what to do or where to go.

👊🏽 PTs need to ask for the post operative notes. So important. We need to see what exactly was done, what type of graft used, and will therefore dictate your plan of care.

Best of Luck to those getting ACL rehab! Remember to ask question! Get educated, and share the knowledge!

Thank you to the crew of in Fairhaven for giving me a chance to do a pop-up for them! We came, we danced and we enjoyed meeting some of the other vendors. Thank you to and for the super cool opportunity to do this!

Have any aches and pains? We are at Lululemon in Fairhaven today until 2pm to provide free injury evaluations and some quick treatments. No appointments needed.

FOR CLINICIANS: Article review: 2022 study

Not really very surprising that strengthening continues to be the gold standard for the shoulder! However, TAKE NOTE OF THE SHOULDER EXAMS THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS REVIEW!

Diagnosis, prevention and treatment of common shoulder injuries in sport: grading the evidence – a statement paper commissioned by the Danish Society of Sports Physical Therapy (DSSF)

What is already known

✅ Shoulder injuries are very common in overhead athletes.
✅ The quality of evidence related to diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the most common shoulder injuries has not been investigated.

What are the new findings

✅ High diagnostic accuracy was observed for 10 tests covering anterior instability (apprehension test (+relocation)), SLAP injuries (Biceps Load II), biceps-complex injuries (three-pack and Yergason), and rupture of the subscapularis (internal rotation lag).
✅ Shoulder injury prevention programmes showed a moderate to large effect size in reducing the risk of shoulder injuries compared with no intervention.
✅ Choosing an active rehabilitation programme seems to be beneficial compared with passive modalities in reducing pain and disability.
✅Most outcomes were graded as very low to moderate quality of evidence, indicating that future high-quality research may alter our findings.