Positive psychology is the science of what helps people live well, even when health challenges are part of the picture. It focuses on connection, gratitude, meaning, and personal strengths. For patients, these practices don’t replace medical care—but they can improve quality of life, support emotional well-being, and help you feel more like yourself, not just a diagnosis.

Knee pain can be confusing—and frustrating. You may wonder why it hurts during some activities, feels better while moving, and then aches later on. You might even ask, “Why isn’t rest fixing this?”

You’re not alone.

At The Joint Connection, we believe healing works best when you understand what’s happening in your body and feel supported by your care team. Let’s talk about patellar tendinopathy in a clear, simple way—and what you can do to move forward with confidence.

Walking into a doctor’s office can sometimes feel like stepping into a different country where everyone speaks a language you don’t know. Orthopedic physicians (bone and joint doctors) and physical therapists often use words that sound like a secret code: “range of motion,” “meniscus,” “atrophy.”

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to learn a whole new language to have a good conversation with your healthcare team. You just need a few simple tricks to make sure you understand them—and they understand you.

Here are 10 easy tips to help you “speak medical” during your appointment.

Collaborative self-management is a partnership: you and your care team pick one specific action/habit to change, decide when/where/how you’ll do it and how you will track it, and plan a check-in to see what helped and what got in the way.

After the check in, talk about any adjustments that need to be made and then start the process all over again!

What the evidence shows (quick tour): Across chronic diseases, self-management programs can show up to moderate benefits for health behaviors, quality of life, and sometimes lower utilization of interventions like medications or hospital visits.

A lateral ankle sprain happens when the ankle rolls outward, stressing the ligaments on the outside of the joint and often causing pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking. While many sprains improve with time, recovery looks different depending on severity, activity level, and how the injury is managed early on. This post breaks down what’s actually happening inside the ankle, what to expect in the days and weeks after injury, and how smart early decisions can influence long-term recovery and reinjury risk—plus practical guidance on movement, rehab, and knowing when to seek help.