Health blog
Avoid Back Pain When Shoveling this Winter
With winter here and the chance of snow right around the corner, it is important to know the proper way to shovel, in order to prevent back and shoulder injuries – ones we see frequently after a big snow. The good news though is that lower back and shoulder pain can be easily prevented by using correct body mechanics.
Try these tips to keep your back pain-free:
- Choose the Right Shovel
- An ergonomic snow shovel will help take the stress off your back and make your snow shoveling a much easier task.
Posture and Neck Pain
Our posture when sitting at a desk and/or using mobile technology for day to day communications, often has room for improvement. It’s so easy for us to slip into a poor posture when we’re mindlessly reading emails or sending texts. The problem is, that this poor posture is leading to more complaints of neck discomfort.
Neck pain is no longer an ‘adult issue. A lot of younger people are now complaining of neck discomfort, headaches, trouble standing up and other painful issues in these upper body areas.
The Effect of Concussions on Various Systems
Contrary to common belief, concussions can have an effect on multiple systems in the body. The diagram above breaks down the various systems that can be affected by a concussion. One system can drive the other and symptoms can present differently for each individual.
Here is how concussions can affect each system:
Vestibulo-ocular
- Vestibular- Common vestibular complaints include dizziness, nausea, and instability (walking or still).
Living Life to the Fullest with Physical Therapy Treatments
WebMD states, “Physical therapy is often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury. It can make you stronger and help you move and feel better.” The mission of any physical therapist is to relieve pain while also increasing function and mobility.
Physical therapy can be used for any physical goal you may have, whether it’s recovering from an injury, returning to work or a sport, or simply improving your body’s strength and function.
Read full blogHow Hip Pain Impacts Our Lives
Hip pain is a very common problem which can cause difficulty with many daily activities. A common complaint is pain localized to the hip joint and muscles surrounding the joint. Some people also experience stiffness in and around the hip and the lower back.
Impacts on Our Lives:
Hip pain causes difficulty moving the joint and generalized weakness in the affected leg. When dealing with pain or stiffness in your hip, it can create difficulty:
- Walking
- Going up or down stairs
- Squatting
- Standing up from a chair
- Prolonged sitting
- Prolonged standing
Significant stiffness in our hips, also creates difficulty with tasks such as sitting with our legs crossed, putting on shoes and socks, and getting in and out of our car.
Read full blogStrengthen, Lengthen, and Reduce Pain in Our Joints
Joint health is something that ALL ages need to be concerned about, not just older populations. The more we educate ourselves, the less likely we are to develop joint conditions like arthritis or general joint pain and stiffness. Healthy joints are key to living a pain free life. Unfortunately, nearly half of Americans over the age of 65 are dealing with arthritis somewhere in their bodies, according to the CDC.
Arthritis is a condition in which inflammation has invaded the joint space and is causing joint stiffness and/or pain.
Rotator Cuff Tears: Rehabilitation vs. Surgery
In the physical therapy business, regardless of the time of year, we see plenty of patients complaining of shoulder pain. Most shoulder pain occurs following repetitive movements. These cause wear and tear that breaks down the rotator cuff tendons. Activities such as raking leaves and shoveling are common culprits that send people to seek medical attention for shoulder pain. In addition, injuries that involve lifting can also cause increased pain in the shoulders.
What Is The Rotator Cuff?
Read full blogPain When Touching Our Toes can Indicate a Hamstring Problem
Our Hamstring Muscles are the reason behind our ability or inability, to touch our toes. The hamstring, is the muscle that runs from deep in the buttock to the back of the knee. This muscle primarily bends the knee and extends the hip backwards, and is very important with walking and running.
Some common hamstring problems include:
- Lack of flexibility
- Lack of strength
- Poor endurance
When these muscles in the back of the thigh are neglected, these deficits can cause cramping when we roll in bed and get up in the morning, can contribute to lower back problems and stiffness, and can even cause a strain or tear when playing a pick-up basketball game.
Read full blogClosed for Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 28th
Just a reminder that we will be closed Thursday, November 28th, 2019!
We will be open our normal hours, 6:30am – 5pm on Friday, November 29th.
We hope you enjoy your time with your friends and family, and all your Thanksgiving traditions!
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Read full blogGet Rid of That Creeping Back Pain
Back pain can creep up on us after simply sitting too frequently and for long periods of time, after a bad night’s sleep, after strenuous activity such as repeated lifting, or after participating in leisurely sports. This could even prevent us from standing straight, and bending over to tie our shoes or do the laundry.
Signs and symptoms:
- Muscle ache
- Shooting or stabbing pain
- Pain that radiates down your leg
- Pain that worsens with bending, lifting, standing or walking
- Pain that improves with reclining
Some common causes:
- Muscle or Ligament Strain/Sprain
- Bulging or Ruptured Disc- (compression of the intervertebral discs resulting in bulge outward (herniation) or rupture
- Radiculopathy- compression, inflammation and/or injury to a spinal nerve root
- Arthritis
- Skeletal Injuries/Deformities
Why You Should Address Back Pain Right Away:
It is important to address the cause of your back pain when it starts.
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