If you’ve been dealing with nagging pain on the outside of your knee—especially when running, walking downhill, or going downstairs—you might have Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS). It’s often mislabeled as “runner’s knee” (which also describes patellofemoral pain), but true ITBS is lateral knee pain caused by load-related stress around the iliotibial band—not the front of […]
When most people think of physical therapy, they imagine a clinic visit. But for many patients, traveling to the clinic isn’t practical — or even possible. That’s where Outpatient Home Health Physical Therapy comes in. At Vertex PT Specialists, we bring the clinic to your home. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, […]
If you’ve ever stood up, twisted funny, or bent over and felt something in your back “go out”… you’re not alone. At Vertex PT Specialists, this is one of the most common things we treat across our Columbia, Cayce, and Irmo clinics. The good news? It’s usually not as bad as it feels — and […]
We’re proud to announce that Dr. Brandon Vaughn, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS — founder and CEO of Vertex PT Specialists — has officially been recertified as a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). This distinction highlights our ongoing commitment to expert-level care for patients across Columbia, Irmo, […]
Is It Just Soreness or a Stress Fracture?Shin pain is common in runners. But when does it go from normal soreness to something more serious, like a bone stress injury (BSI), also known as a stress fracture? At Vertex PT Specialists, we work with runners across Columbia, Cayce, Irmo, Lexington, and Richland County who want […]
The Most Common Mistake Runners Make If you’re a runner in Columbia, SC, training through the heat or prepping for your next race, chances are you’re doing everything you can to stay injury-free. But new research suggests that one simple training mistake dramatically increases your risk for a running-related injury—and it’s not what most people […]
Dealing with deep low back or flank pain that doesn’t respond to stretching or massage?The quadratus lumborum (QL) is a common driver of stubborn low back pain—especially pain that wraps around the flank or worsens with sitting, standing, or side bending. At Vertex PT Specialists in Columbia, SC, we offer dry needling to the QL […]
First-step pain in the morning is a hallmark sign of plantar fasciitis.If the video above hit home, you’re not alone. At Vertex PT Specialists in Columbia, SC, we use dry needling to directly address both the muscular and structural drivers of plantar fasciitis. Treatment includes not only calf needling, but also perineural needling throughout the […]
Struggling with buttock pain, sciatica, or tightness in your hip?If the video above caught your attention, you could be experiencing piriformis syndrome—when the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve. At Vertex PT Specialists in Columbia, SC, we use dry needling to release tight piriformis trigger points and reduce nerve compression. What Piriformis Dry Needling Helps […]
Struggling with TMJ pain, jaw clicking, or locking?If what you saw in the video looked familiar, dry needling may be exactly what you need. At Vertex PT Specialists, we target the overactive muscles that cause jaw pain—like the masseter and pterygoids—to relieve tension, reduce clicking and locking, and improve function. What TMJ Dry Needling Helps […]
