Blog Archive

Osteoarthritis — dubbed the “wear-and-tear” arthritis — is the most common type of arthritis. This degenerative joint disease occurs when cartilage, a smooth material that cushions the ends of your bones and keeps your bones from rubbing against each other, wears down. As the cartilage wears away, it causes joint...

Back pain is a leading cause of disability around the world, and if you're dealing with sciatica (the inflammation of your sciatic nerve), you know how painful and frustrating this type of lower back pain can be. Unfortunately, you’re far from alone. An estimated 40% of people experience sciatica at...

Plantar fasciitis can be a frustrating condition — one that can make even your first few steps out of bed painful. Dr. Dustin Hamoy treats this condition here in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and knows firsthand how it can derail your daily activities.  Whether you’ve had it before or you just...

Nothing zaps your performance quite like a sports injury, and unfortunately, every athlete is at risk for injury whether you’re a runner, a cyclist, a boxer, or a golfer. The good news is that there are plenty of strategies to reduce your risk of injury e.g., warming up, cross-training, and...

Physical therapy is an important part of your recovery, which is why Dr. Dustin Hamoy incorporates physical therapy into pain management plans for sports injuries, joint pain, and many other pain conditions. Many different physical therapy techniques are available here at Precision Laser Joint and Spine Pain Center in Glen...

Neuropathy — a condition that happens when your nerves are damaged — can affect any of the nerves in your body, including your peripheral nerves (nerves that run outside of your spinal cord and down to your limbs) and your autonomic nerves (nerves that control involuntary bodily processes.) Depending on...

Arthritis, with all of its pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, can feel like an inevitable part of aging. If you’re dealing with arthritis and wonder if it's  truly irreversible, then you aren’t alone.  About 53.2 million Americans currently live with arthritis. Read on as Dr. Dustin Hamoy, DPT, MTC, DNC,...

Your meniscus is a piece of cartilage located in your knee joint between the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone). It helps transfer weight in your knee joint and helps keep your knee stable, but you might not think much about the menisci (the plural of meniscus) in your knees until...

Chronic shoulder pain just isn’t something you can ignore easily. Shoulder pain makes everyday tasks like getting dressed painful 一 if not impossible!  If you're dealing with chronic shoulder pain, multiwave locked system (MLS®) laser therapy could be a valuable addition to your treatment plan. Here at Precision Laser Joint...

If you’ve noticed that your neck pain is often worse in winter, you might wonder if you’re imagining it.  It isn’t just your imagination – there are scientific reasons behind this seasonal discomfort.  Read on as Dr. Dustin Hamoy, DPT, MTC, DNC, CKTP, CWCHP explains why neck pain can be...

Hand and wrist arthritis diagnoses are both on the rise. About one in seven people have wrist arthritis, and hand arthritis cases have increased by 82% since 1990.  If you have one of these types of arthritis, then you know that juggling a desk job while dealing with hand and...

Running is one of the best exercises for your physical and mental health, but when your form isn’t right, it can lead to sports injuries, such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints, Achilles tendinopathy, and more. As a dedicated rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Dustin Hamoy, DPT, MTC, DNC, CKTP, CWCHP, knows firsthand...

Plantar fasciitis is a common, painful condition that affects the heel and the bottom of your foot. If you've been dealing with the discomfort of plantar fasciitis, you're likely eager to find the quickest path to recovery.  The good news is that there are at-home strategies and in-office treatments to...

Have you ever experienced knee pain when standing up from a seated position? If so, you aren’t alone. Many people, especially as they age, encounter this discomfort. Though it might be tempting to dismiss it as a normal part of getting older, it's essential to understand that knee pain when...

Whether you're standing all day at work, running errands, or simply going about your daily tasks, your feet play a crucial role in moving you from point A to point B. You likely also know that any foot pain can make your day seem infinitely longer. Already dealing with foot pain? Dr. Dustin...

If your first few steps out of bed each morning cause intense pain, you might suspect you have plantar fasciitis. It’s a common condition that causes heel pain and can make it hard to walk from Point A to Point B. It’s typically caused by inflammation of your plantar fascia,...

Although the primary symptoms of arthritis are often associated with joint pain and stiffness, the impact of this condition extends far beyond the musculoskeletal system. In fact, arthritis can significantly affect your overall health and well-being in ways that may surprise you.  Let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known impacts...

Dealing with back pain is nothing short of frustrating. Whether it's caused by muscle tension, poor posture, an injury, or an underlying spinal condition, finding relief is essential for improving your quality of life.  Dr. Dustin Hamoy, DPT, MTC, DNC, CKTP, CWCHP offers many treatments for back pain, including guidance...

May is Arthritis Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to focus on the many types of arthritis and the impact they have on people's lives. Osteoarthritis 一 the most prevalent type of arthritis 一 affects millions of people worldwide.  Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of...

Back pain is one of the leading causes of missed work days 一 and one of the main causes of  disability 一 in America. Back pain can infiltrate every aspect of your life. It can impact your ability to work, to drive, to perform basic hygiene (such as bending down...

Created by a chiropractor in the 1970s, Kinesio tape is a therapeutic athletic tape that improves performance, reduces pain, and reduces swelling. Now, there are many different brands of kinesiology tape, all of which function the same way. Maybe you’ve seen those colorful strips of tape applied to athletes' knees,...

Neuropathy refers to nerve damage, and depending on what type of nerve is damaged, your symptoms can include tingling, numbness, burning sensations, lack of coordination, and weakness. Understandably, any of these symptoms can greatly impact your quality of life and your ability to perform daily tasks safely. Neuropathy may develop as...

Having good posture can make you appear more confident, but posture isn’t just about how you look. Good posture helps keep your spine in the proper alignment, while poor posture is a common source of headaches and neck pain. Slouching builds pressure in your neck muscles Craning your neck forward just...

Believe it or not, arthritis is a collection of over 100 different types of joint disease. Over 58 million adults have arthritis 一 although children can develop juvenile arthritis 一 and it’s listed as a leading cause of disability. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis, and...

Sports injuries are often categorized as either an acute injury (something with a sudden onset) or overuse injuries (something that becomes problematic over time). Both types of sports injuries can quickly derail your athletic aspirations. Although there are many types of treatments 一 following the RICE protocol, using cold and/or heat...

Plantar fasciitis 一 the inflammation of your plantar fascia 一 is notoriously painful and can quickly affect your ability to walk comfortably from point A to point B. Although over-the-counter anti-inflammatories can temporarily reduce your pain and inflammation, they aren't a long-term solution nor do they address the root cause of...

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important stabilizing ligament in your knee, and it’s one you may hear about frequently. Up to 200,000 people experience ACL tears in the United States each year. Because your ACL is essential for knee stability, any injury or damage to this ligament can result in...

Poor posture can affect how you look, but it can also contribute to back pain, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal discomfort. And if poor posture is left untreated, it can even increase your risk of herniated discs and misalignment in your entire body.  Unfortunately, many people with poor posture don’t even realize...

The number of people working from home has been steadily climbing in the past decade, but it’s become much more common in the past two years. With 6.1% of its workforce working remotely, Washington, DC has the highest rate of remote workers, and that includes a large percentage of Marylanders.  Although...

There’s nothing quite as jarring as taking your first few steps each morning only to be met with a searing pain in the bottom of your heel, yet for those with plantar fasciitis, that’s exactly how each day begins.  Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of your plantar fascia, a band of...

Coughing is a common physical reaction —we all do it from time to time. It’s our body’s natural way of responding to irritants in our airways, and the forceful expiration of air that happens during a cough acts to clear those irritants. Coughing is also a common asthma symptom, a...

Tendon injuries are common injuries that often develop as a result of overuse. Running, jumping, pitching, or hitting can also lead to tendon pain. Kinesio taping can help relieve tendon pain, and chances are high, you’ve probably already seen this brightly colored tape out on the fields. There’s a reason...

It’s a common misconception that physical therapy is just specific exercises and stretches designed to help you recover after an injury or surgery. Though physical therapy does include stretching and exercises, numerous other therapies and treatments fall under the physical therapy category 一 and one of those is dry needling. ...

Laser therapy is often discussed in terms of aesthetic treatments, such as tattoo removal or hair reduction. The reality is that laser therapy isn’t just for cosmetic treatments. Light energy is a powerful tool and has many applications in the medical field 一 and that includes reducing back pain.  Dr....

Neuropathy 一 nerve damage 一 can happen as a result of an injury, infections, metabolic issues, exposure to toxins, and inherited conditions. However, diabetes is one of the leading causes of neuropathy. In these cases, neuropathy is known as diabetic neuropathy. Here at Precision Laser Joint and Spine Pain Center,...

Muscle strains are one of the most common sports injuries, and according to Johns Hopkins, you can even pull a muscle while you’re walking! Muscle strains happen when you overstretch a muscle, but if the muscle stretches too far, it can tear. This is called a grade 3 strain, and...

Plantar fasciitis 一 notorious for the heel pain it causes 一 occurs when your plantar fascia becomes inflamed. Your plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. This condition causes pain from the moment you wake up in the morning as well...

Arthritis is well-known for causing joint pain and stiffness, but it can also cause swollen joints. There are over 100 types of arthritis, but all of them are characterized by joint pain and inflammation. If you’re concerned about arthritis, we encourage you to visit us at Precision Laser Joint and...

There’s a misconception that physical therapy consists of nothing more than exercises and stretches. Although physical therapy does include stretches and exercises, there are a lot more treatments that fall under the umbrella of physical therapy. Dry needling, Kinesio Taping®, TENS therapy, and trigger point therapy are just a few...

Around 20 million Americans live with peripheral neuropathy, although the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that the true rate may actually be higher. Peripheral neuropathy is a painful and disruptive condition caused by damage to the nerves in your peripheral nervous system. Neuropathy symptoms vary significantly from mild to...

Myofascial pain syndrome is muscle pain characterized by inflammation of the soft tissues. It affects the fascia (tissue that covers the muscles) and may lead to the development of trigger points. Trigger points can cause referred pain, which makes it tricky to determine the source and exact location of your...

Whether you’re a professional athlete, an amateur, or even just a weekend warrior who loves pick-up games, sports injuries are a real possibility. Approximately 8.6 million sports injuries (including recreational injuries) are reported each year.  In this blog, Dr. Dustin Hamoy explores a few ways you can prevent sports injuries...

Injuries, illness, and surgery can contribute to weakened muscles and soft tissues. Because weakened muscles lead to reduced mobility, it can profoundly affect your ability to perform everyday tasks. Dr. Dustin Hamoy incorporates neuromuscular re-education into physical therapy programs at Precision Laser Joint and Spine Pain Center in Glen Burnie,...

You’ve probably tried massage or heat therapy for muscle pain, but have you considered dry needling? Although it might not seem like the ideal fix for muscle pain, the reality is that a growing number of individuals – including both athletes and those with chronic pain – swear by dry...

Whether you’re experiencing a sports injury, a workplace injury, or even an injury from a car accident, your main goals are likely to reduce pain and restore your range of motion. That’s because injuries, regardless of how you sustained them, often cause discomfort as well as reduced functionality. Manual therapy,...

If you struggle with chronic pain, you’re definitely not alone. Research shows that 20% of the adult US population struggles with chronic pain. Musculoskeletal problems are often a cause of this pain, but relief is possible with laser therapy.  Offered by Dustin Hamoy, MD, and the experienced team of practitioners...