Discover Osteopractic Physical Therapy

Discover Osteopractic Physical Therapy Dr. Anna Staehli Wiser, DPT, FAAOMPT

Could Your Achy Legs Actually Be a Circulation Problem?When your ankles, feet, or knees hurt, it’s easy to assume the pr...
09/02/2026

Could Your Achy Legs Actually Be a Circulation Problem?

When your ankles, feet, or knees hurt, it’s easy to assume the problem is coming from the joints or muscles. But sometimes poor venous circulation and fluid buildup in the legs may be contributing to your symptoms.

Your leg muscles act like a pump. Every time you walk or move your ankles, your muscles help push blood and fluid back toward your heart. When we sit or stand in one position for long periods, that “muscle pump” isn’t working as effectively—and fluid can begin to accumulate in the lower legs.

That extra fluid can contribute to:
• Swollen ankles and feet
• Aching or heavy legs
• Ankle and knee stiffness
• Foot discomfort
• Fatigue with standing or walking

The good news? Movement helps!

Walking, ankle pumps, heel raises, and simply changing positions regularly can help activate the calf muscle pump and improve circulation.

And don’t forget about compression.

Compression socks aren’t just for people who sit or stand all day. Athletes commonly use compression garments to support circulation, limit exercise-related swelling, and reduce feelings of heaviness or fatigue during recovery.

The takeaway: Healthy movement supports healthy circulation—and healthy circulation can help your legs feel and function better.

Sometimes that nagging ache in your feet, ankles, or knees may involve more than just the muscles and joints.

**👣 Do Your Feet Hurt in Flip-Flops? It May Not Be the Shoes...**Every summer I hear it:*"My feet are killing me wheneve...
08/03/2026

**👣 Do Your Feet Hurt in Flip-Flops? It May Not Be the Shoes...**

Every summer I hear it:

*"My feet are killing me whenever I wear flip-flops!"*

While flimsy summer shoes can contribute to foot pain, the bigger issue is often that **your feet aren't strong enough to handle them.**

Just like the rest of your body, your feet have muscles that need exercise. When those muscles become weak, structures like the plantar fascia become stressed—which can lead to heel pain, arch pain, and aching feet.

Here are a few simple ways to build stronger, more resilient feet:

✅ Practice **toe splaying** to strengthen the muscles that spread your toes.
✅ Try **arch-up (short foot) exercises** to support your arch naturally.
✅ Perform **heel raises** to strengthen your calves and improve foot stability.
✅ Spend **short periods walking barefoot** on safe indoor surfaces to wake up your foot muscles.
✅ Choose shoes with a **wide toe box** and avoid shoes or socks that squeeze your toes together.
✅ Stretch your **calf muscles** regularly to improve ankle mobility and reduce stress on the bottom of your foot.

If you've been dealing with persistent plantar foot pain, don't assume you just have to "live with it." Physical therapy can help identify the underlying cause and may include strengthening, manual therapy, dry needling, foot and ankle mobilization, taping, and gait analysis to get you back to doing what you love.

**Healthy feet are trainable.** A few minutes of exercise now can help you enjoy flip-flops, hiking, beach walks, and summer adventures with a lot less pain.

Rethinking Good Posture: Why “Shoulders Back” Isn’t the AnswerMost of us have been told to “sit up straight” and pull ou...
07/03/2026

Rethinking Good Posture: Why “Shoulders Back” Isn’t the Answer

Most of us have been told to “sit up straight” and pull our shoulders back.

But here’s the problem: forcing your shoulders back can actually increase tension in the neck and upper traps — especially if you already struggle with neck or upper back pain.

A better cue?

Lift your sternum.

This small shift helps encourage better thoracic extension, improves rib cage position, and allows your head to stack more naturally over your spine.

Good posture is not about forcing your body into a rigid position. It is about creating a system where your body can stay upright comfortably and efficiently.

That usually means:

✅ Start with “sternum up” instead of “shoulders back”
✅ Restore mobility in the thoracic spine
✅ Strengthen the muscles that support posture
✅ Use lumbar support when sitting for long periods
✅ Avoid relying on willpower alone to hold yourself upright

If you have chronic neck pain, headaches, upper back tightness, or pain with prolonged sitting, your posture may be part of the picture — but the solution is not simply trying harder to sit up straight.

Physical therapy can help improve mobility, reduce muscle tension, and build the strength and endurance needed for better posture.

⚾️ Inner Elbow Pain This Baseball Season? Don’t Ignore It.Does your elbow hurt when you throw… or even with everyday tas...
05/19/2026

⚾️ Inner Elbow Pain This Baseball Season? Don’t Ignore It.

Does your elbow hurt when you throw… or even with everyday tasks?

That pain on the inside of your elbow could be coming from a few different sources:
👉 Tendon irritation (medial epicondylalgia)
👉 UCL strain (the ligament pitchers rely on)
👉 “Little League elbow” in younger athletes

💥 The common thread? Overuse and repetitive throwing

For young athletes, this often means irritation at the growth plate
➡️ Translation: they need rest, not more throwing

For older players, it may involve the tendon or ligament
➡️ Leading to pain, weakness, and decreased performance

🚨 Here’s the good news:
Surgery is NOT always the answer

In many cases, the right approach can help you recover without it:
✔️ Load management
✔️ Strength + mobility work
✔️ Dry needling
✔️ Progressive rehab

🎯 The key: address it early

The longer you throw through pain, the harder it becomes to fix.

⚾️ Bottom line:
Try the conservative route first—and give your body the chance to heal the right way.

Your nerves don’t start in your hand—they start in your neck.That means symptoms like:• Tingling• Numbness• Weakness• Lo...
05/11/2026

Your nerves don’t start in your hand—they start in your neck.

That means symptoms like:
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Loss of dexterity

…can actually be coming from the cervical spine, not the hand itself.

In fact, cervical spine conditions can mimic carpal tunnel syndrome or exist alongside it.

This is why a detailed exam matters.

Don’t just chase symptoms—find the source.

Hand Tingling? It’s Not Always Carpal TunnelCaption:Tingling or numbness in your hands is one of the most common symptom...
05/05/2026

Hand Tingling? It’s Not Always Carpal Tunnel

Caption:
Tingling or numbness in your hands is one of the most common symptoms I see—but it’s often misunderstood.

Many people assume it’s carpal tunnel syndrome, but the truth is that nerve irritation can happen anywhere along the pathway from your neck to your hand.

That includes:
• Neck (cervical spine)
• Shoulder region
• Elbow
• Wrist

If you only treat the wrist, you may miss the real cause.

A thorough evaluation should always look at the entire nerve pathway, not just one location.

Bottom line: If your symptoms aren’t improving, it may be time to look beyond the wrist.

Let’s talk supplements—because not all of them are created equal.Here’s what the research actually supports:🔹 Vitamin DE...
04/26/2026

Let’s talk supplements—because not all of them are created equal.

Here’s what the research actually supports:

🔹 Vitamin D
Essential for bone + muscle function (especially here in Maine ☀️)

🔹 Protein
Critical for maintaining muscle as we age

🔹 Creatine
One of the most studied supplements—helps improve strength and muscle mass

🔹 Omega-3s
May support muscle recovery and reduce inflammation

🔹 Collagen + Vitamin C
Can support tendon and ligament health when timed around exercise

Now here’s the key:
👉 Supplements SUPPORT your system… they don’t replace the work.

Without strength training, their impact is limited.

If you’re considering supplements, make sure they’re working WITH your plan—not instead of it.

If I could recommend ONE thing for healthy aging…It would be this:👉 Strength training.Research consistently shows that r...
04/12/2026

If I could recommend ONE thing for healthy aging…

It would be this:
👉 Strength training.

Research consistently shows that resistance training:
✔️ Builds muscle
✔️ Improves bone density
✔️ Strengthens tendons
✔️ Reduces fall risk
✔️ Maintains independence

No supplement comes close.

Not collagen.
Not vitamins.
Not hormones.

Those can SUPPORT your system…
But strength training DRIVES the change.

Think of it this way:
Your body adapts to what you ask of it.

If you don’t challenge it, it declines.
If you do, it rises to the occasion.

Start simple. Stay consistent. The results will follow.

Aging ≠ WeaknessAging does NOT mean getting weaker.Your muscles, tendons, and joints are incredibly adaptable—even into ...
04/01/2026

Aging ≠ Weakness

Aging does NOT mean getting weaker.

Your muscles, tendons, and joints are incredibly adaptable—even into your 50s, 60s, and beyond.

Yes, hormone levels shift.
Yes, muscle mass naturally declines.

But here’s the truth:
Your body still responds to the right stimulus.

With:
Progressive strength training
Adequate protein intake
Smart recovery strategies

You can maintain—and even build—strength as you age.

The biggest mistake I see?
People stop challenging their bodies.

Movement is medicine. Strength is protective.

If your goal is to stay active, independent, and pain-free—strength training isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Dry Needling for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)If you’ve undergone chemotherapy and are now experienc...
03/02/2026

Dry Needling for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

If you’ve undergone chemotherapy and are now experiencing numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness in your hands or feet, you are not alone.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) occurs because certain cancer treatments can irritate or damage peripheral nerves. Over time, this can affect sensation, balance, and muscle function.

While medications like gabapentin or pregabalin may help reduce pain, they don’t directly stimulate nerve recovery.

This is where dry needling and electroacupuncture may help.

When a thin, sterile needle is placed near a peripheral nerve:

-Local blood flow increases
-Inflammation may decrease
-Nerve signaling can be stimulated
-The environment around the nerve becomes more favorable for healing

Adding gentle electrical stimulation to the needles can further enhance neural activation and circulation.

Research has shown that structured treatment programs (often 1–2 times per week for several weeks) can reduce symptoms and improve function in individuals with CIPN.

The earlier neuropathy is addressed, the better the potential outcome.

If you or someone you love is struggling with persistent neuropathy after chemotherapy, there may be options beyond simply “living with it.”

Address

7 Leavitt Street
Skowhegan, ME
04976

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm
Thursday 8:30am - 6pm
Friday 8:30am - 6pm

Telephone

+12078550715

Website

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