If you're losing weight with the help of a GLP-1 medication, you're already seeing results your provider is happy with. That part is working. But there's a piece of this process that often doesn't come up in a typical medical appointment, and it matters more than most people realize: not all the weight you're losing is fat. Research on rapid, medically supervised weight loss has found that as much as 25 to 40 percent of the total weight lost can come from lean mass — muscle a

If you've been dealing with jaw clicking, tension, or pain, chances are the first stop was your dentist. That makes sense — your dentist is the one who sees the wear on your teeth from clenching or grinding, and a night guard is a genuinely useful tool for protecting your teeth from that damage. But here's something most people are never told: a night guard protects your teeth. It doesn't address why your jaw muscles are clenching and overworking in the first place. For a lot

Plantar fasciitis has to be one of the most frustrating diagnoses in all of sports medicine, because the standard advice — stretch the calf, roll a golf ball under your foot, maybe try orthotics — genuinely does help. For a little while. Then it flares right back up the moment you increase your mileage, switch shoes, or just have a long day on your feet. If that cycle sounds familiar, here's why: plantar fasciitis usually isn't a single-structure problem, and it's almost neve

Tennis elbow. Golfer's elbow. Two of the most common labels in all of sports medicine — and two of the most misleading, because most people who get one of these diagnoses have never picked up a racquet or a golf club in their life. Here's what those names are actually telling you: one describes pain on the outside of your elbow (lateral epicondylalgia), and the other describes pain on the inside (medial epicondylalgia). That's it. They're location labels, not explanations. An

Overhead press starts to pinch, and the first instinct for most lifters is to assume the exercise itself is the problem. Cut it from the program, sub in something “safer,” and hope the shoulder calms down on its own. Here's the issue with that plan: the overhead press almost never is the problem. It's just the movement that happens to expose a limitation that was already there — usually one of two things, and neither one gets fixed by simply avoiding the motion. Root Cause On

You already know the routine. Neck feels tight, so you stretch it. It feels better for a bit. By the next afternoon at your desk, it's right back where it started. Maybe you've added a heating pad, a foam roller, or a massage into the rotation, and the cycle is exactly the same: temporary relief, then the tightness creeps back in. If that sounds familiar, here's what's actually happening: your neck stretches are treating a symptom, not a cause. And the cause is almost never s

If your hip has started acting up during training, you've probably noticed it doesn't feel like just one thing. Maybe it clicks when you rotate. Maybe it pinches right at the bottom of a squat. Maybe it's just a deep, nagging ache that shows up after a hard session and lingers into the next day. Here's something that surprises a lot of people: those three descriptions usually point to three different problems — and none of them are fixed by the same generic stretch routine. P

If you've been dealing with knee pain for more than a few weeks, you've probably already tried the standard advice: rest it, ice it, maybe a knee sleeve for support. And if you're like most of the active adults we see, that advice bought you a few days of relief — and then the pain came right back the moment you got back to real training. Here's the thing nobody tells you at a typical 15-minute appointment: the knee pain isn't the actual problem. It's just the joint stuck in

Someone told you squatting is bad for your knees. Maybe it was a doctor after an X-ray. Maybe it was a well-meaning trainer at the gym. Maybe it was a friend who swears they ruined their knees squatting years ago. Whoever it was, the message was clear: stop squatting, protect your knees. Here's the problem with that advice: it's wrong. And following it doesn't just fail to fix the problem — it often makes it worse. Squatting is one of the most fundamental human movement patte

Someone tells you to rest. Take time off. Let it heal. And if you're an active adult — a runner, a gym athlete, a hiker, someone who has worked hard to build a life that includes movement — that advice might as well be a gut punch. Here's what nobody tells you: unnecessary rest doesn't just cost you fitness. It costs you confidence, routine, momentum, and often months of progress that takes twice as long to rebuild. For most active adults, being told to stop is not a neutral

You've tried the stretches. You've done the exercises. You've rested, iced, and maybe even gone through a round of physical therapy — and your back still isn't right. Here's something that might change everything: what if your back isn't actually the problem? At True North Physical Therapy in Sioux Falls, one of the most common things we see is people who have been treating the wrong place for months — sometimes years. Their back hurts, so everyone focuses on the back. But th

If your hips feel stiff getting out of the car, sore after a long workday, or tight when you try to squat or run, you’re not alone. We see this regularly at our Sioux Falls physical therapy clinic — especially in active adults who spend part of their day sitting but still want to train, lift, and move well. Many people assume, “I sit too much — I must have damaged my hips.” In most cases, that’s not what’s happening. Why Sitting Isn’t Actually the Real Problem Sitting itself

If you live an active lifestyle in Sioux Falls, shoulder pain can be incredibly frustrating — especially when it shows up during everyday movements like reaching overhead, lifting weights, putting on a jacket, or grabbing something from a shelf. Many people assume this kind of pain means something is torn, worn out, or permanently damaged. In reality, most shoulder pain has a very different explanation. Why Shoulder Pain Often Feels Random Your shoulder doesn’t work alone. It

Injuries can disrupt your active lifestyle, but recovering safely and effectively is within your control. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, a busy professional, or a parent juggling multiple responsibilities, understanding the right steps to heal can help you regain strength and confidence. This guide will walk you through practical, expert-backed strategies to support your injury recovery journey. Understanding Injury Recovery: What You Need to Know Recovering from an injury

When you decide to seek professional rehabilitation services, you are taking a powerful step toward regaining control of your health and mobility. Whether you are recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, or aiming to improve your physical function, understanding what rehabilitation entails can help you approach the process with confidence and clarity. This guide will walk you through what you can expect from professional rehabilitation services, empowering you to mak

Living with pain can feel like a constant battle, especially when you have a busy life to manage. Whether it’s from an injury, chronic condition, or everyday strain, pain can slow you down and affect your quality of life. The good news is that you have the power to take control and find effective ways to manage and alleviate your pain. This guide will walk you through practical strategies that fit into your active lifestyle, helping you stay strong, move well, and feel your b

Physical therapy is often overlooked when people think about health and wellness. It’s more than just a way to recover from an injury; it is a holistic approach that addresses various aspects of life. In this blog post, we'll explore how physical therapy can enhance your overall well-being, from improving physical capabilities to contributing to mental health. What is Physical Therapy? Physical therapy, or PT, is a treatment method designed to help individuals regain movement

Take a deep breath. Now ask yourself — when’s the last time you actually noticed your breath? For most people, breathing is automatic....

Struggling with back pain or weak posture? Learn why deep core strengthening—not ab workouts—is the key to lasting strength and stability.

Feeling stiff after a day at your desk? Learn how to get pain relief from your desk job and fix neck, back, and hip pain with movement-based strategies from True North Physical Therapy.