If this sounds familiar, you're probably dealing with IT band syndrome, one of the most common and frustrating running injuries. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance, we see IT band issues constantly during spring running season, and we hear the same thing from nearly every runner: "I've been foam rolling and stretching my IT band for weeks, but it's not getting better."

At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance, we see this cycle every March: motivated athletes who ramp up training quickly, ignore early warning signs, and end up injured just as they're hitting their stride. The frustrating part? Most of these injuries could have been prevented if they'd recognized the signals their body was sending.

This is muscle energy technique (MET), a powerful manual therapy approach that uses your own muscle contractions to improve joint mobility, reduce pain, and restore normal movement patterns. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance, Laura Blue, PT is extensively trained in muscle energy techniques and regularly incorporates them into treatment at our South Nashville and West Nashville (Nations) locations.

If your shoulder hurts when you lift, you're not alone. Shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints we see in active adults ramping up spring training. The good news? Most shoulder pain responds well to simple modifications and targeted exercises if you catch it early.

Let's talk about why "just in case" peeing is problematic, what it does to your bladder over time, and how to retrain healthier habits.

Sit bone pain (pain in your ischial tuberosity, the bony prominence you sit on) is more common than you might think, and it can have several different causes. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance, we regularly evaluate and treat sit bone pain, and we find that the cause is often not what people expect.

You bend down to pick up something off the floor and feel it: that familiar tightness in your lower back. Or maybe your back feels stiff first thing in the morning, especially after a winter of less activity. You stretch it, roll it, maybe even get a massage. It feels better temporarily, but the stiffness keeps coming back. If this sounds familiar, you might be treating the wrong area. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance, we see this pattern constantly: people spen

Your neck hurts. Maybe it's that nagging ache at the base of your skull. Maybe it's stiffness when you turn to check your blind spot. Or maybe it's tension that creeps up by mid-afternoon and turns into a headache by evening. If this sounds familiar and you've been blaming your pillow, your posture, or the way you sleep, you're not alone. Most people assume neck pain comes from the neck itself. But here's what we see every day at Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance: t

If you've noticed your body feeling tighter, achier, or just... crankier as we head into March, you're not imagining it. Every spring, we see a wave of patients at Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance describing the same thing: "I don't know why, but everything just feels stiff." The good news? This seasonal stiffness is normal, predictable, and—with the right approach—fixable in about a week. Let's talk about why this happens and what you can do about it.

If you've noticed your body feeling tighter, achier, or just... crankier as we head into March, you're not imagining it. Every spring, we see a wave of patients at Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance describing the same thing: "I don't know why, but everything just feels stiff." The good news? This seasonal stiffness is normal, predictable, and—with the right approach—fixable in about a week. Let's talk about why this happens and what you can do about it.

You need physical therapy, but the thought of driving across town, sitting in a waiting room, and fitting appointments into your already packed schedule feels overwhelming. Or maybe you've done traditional PT before and found the experience impersonal, rushed, or ineffective. There's another option: concierge physical therapy.

When we think about self-care in February, we usually think about rest, indulgence, or taking a break. But one of the most meaningful ways to take care of your body—especially if you’re active, busy, or dealing with recurring pain—is choosing healthcare that actually prioritizes you . That’s where cash-based physical therapy comes in. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , we often meet people who say, “I didn’t realize care could feel like this.” And what they’re rea

Self-care has gotten a bit of a rebrand lately. Somewhere along the way, it became synonymous with bubble baths, candles, massages, and the occasional day off. While those things can feel great, they’re not what actually keeps your body healthy, resilient, and moving well long-term. Real self-care—the kind that supports longevity, independence, and confidence in your body—is much less glamorous. It’s built on consistent movement, strength, and maintenance , not quick fixes. A

When we talk about “loving your body,” most conversations focus on strength, cardio, or flexibility. But there’s one critical system that often gets overlooked—until something goes wrong. Your pelvic floor . Pelvic health is not just about pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or aging. It’s about how your body supports you every single day , whether you’re lifting weights, running, managing stress, or simply trying to feel confident and comfortable in your own body. At Nashville P

Knee pain has a way of sneaking into daily life. One day you’re squatting, running, hiking, or playing pickleball without thinking twice—and the next, your knee hurts going up stairs or getting out of the car. For many people, the first instinct is to seek imaging, injections, or a referral to an orthopedic specialist. But in most cases, physical therapy should be the first step , not the last. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , we regularly help active adults reso

If your knees ache, your back feels stiff, or your running stride feels “off,” there’s a good chance your hips are involved—even if they’re not where the pain shows up. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , we often tell patients: the hips are the boss . They influence how you walk, lift, run, sit, stand, and age. When hip mobility or strength starts to slip, the rest of the body quietly picks up the slack—until it can’t anymore. Understanding how to care for your hip

If you deal with frequent neck pain or headaches—especially during stressful weeks—you’re not imagining the connection. Stress, neck tension, and headaches are closely linked, and treating one without addressing the others often leads to temporary relief at best. At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance , this is a pattern we see every day: people chasing headaches with medication, massage, or posture changes, only to have symptoms keep returning. The missing piece? Unders

If your shoulders feel tight, achy, pinchy, or just done by the end of the workday, you’re not imagining it. Desk-related shoulder pain is one of the most common issues we see—especially in people who spend long hours at a computer, work on laptops, or bounce between meetings without much movement. And despite what you’ve probably been told, this isn’t just a posture problem. Your shoulders aren’t weak or damaged.They’re simply being asked to do too much, for too long, witho

Ever notice how your pain seems worse during stressful seasons of life—busy work weeks, poor sleep, emotional overload, or when you’re running on caffeine and adrenaline? That’s not a coincidence. Pain is not just about tissues. It’s deeply connected to your nervous system, stress levels, and how your body perceives safety. If you’ve been told your pain is “just stress” or, on the flip side, that it’s only a mechanical problem, the truth sits somewhere in the middle. Let’s b

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons adults reduce activity, miss work, or stop exercising altogether. In fact, nearly 80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Yet despite how common it is, back pain is often misunderstood—and frequently over treated with rest, imaging, or medication before addressing the real issue. If loving your body means taking care of it wisely, low back pain is one area where doing less medical chasing and