Health blog
Neck Problems Cause Difficulty Turning Our Heads
Neck problems can cause us difficulty turning our head from side to side when driving to check your blind spots, bending our neck up and down as we do when working on our computers or looking at our cell phones. Neck problems may also cause us to have trouble sleeping and may be the cause of our headaches which can affect our ability to concentrate on our work. Neck problems are becoming more common due to our sedentary lifestyles.
Read full blogSciatica Can Make Walking Difficult
Sciatica can make daily activities like simply walking and sitting difficult and painful. Sciatica is a very common condition that affects 10% of the population. However, many more people suffer with sciatica-like symptoms from low back pain to numbness in the leg.
You may have Sciatica if you are experiencing the following:
- Tenderness to the deep gluteus (buttocks) muscles
- Numbness, tingling or pain that travels broadly down the thigh
- Constant pain that may originate in the low back, but travels mainly down the back of the buttock and thigh
- Pain that feels better when lying down or walking, but worsens with sitting
Potential damage can occur to the spinal joints and nerves so it is important to see a physical therapist as soon as possible to prevent the risk of this from occurring and to determine the exact origins of your symptoms so you can get back to standing, walking and sitting comfortably as soon as possible.
Read full blogHeadaches – Poor Posture May Be To Blame
Poor posture may be causing us headaches, discomfort, and stiffness. Headaches can be debilitating and prevent us from playing with our children, having dinner with our families, and completing our daily tasks such as doing the dishes or laundry.
How is your posture? Many of us have sedentary jobs at a desk and/or use mobile technology for day-to-day communications. Think about how you sit when you do these things. It’s easy for us to slip into a poor posture when we’re mindlessly reading emails or sending texts. If our posture issues are not addressed, it can contribute to neck pain, stiffness, nagging headaches, trouble standing up and other painful issues that will prevent us from being able to make that concert with friends or a family gathering. It may even keep us home and unable to go to work and will, most likely, continue to recur.
Strong Core means Healthy Back
Poor posture from core weakness contributes to neck, back, shoulder or hip pain which can then contribute to issues and pain further down the upper or lower extremities. This can make everyday things difficult, such as:
- bending over to tie your shoes.
- sitting while working or driving.
- simply getting dressed in the morning.
A strong core means a healthy back.
When most people think of the core, they think of the abdominals and doing sit-ups and generally know that one needs to have good core strength.
Recover Faster From Surgery
My doctor is recommending surgery.
- How long will it take to recover?
- Will I be able to work during my recovery?
- If I have surgery I may be restricted from being able to walk, do laundry, take a shower, and cook along with many other everyday necessary tasks.
At some point during most of our lives, we will have to undergo some type of orthopedic surgery. It may be a joint replacement, ligament or tendon repair or even a fixation of a broken bone.
Read full blogSuffering From Knee Discomfort?
Knee discomfort and pain affects many people and it can limit you in the things you do every day. Knee discomfort and pain can make walking, standing and going up and down stairs difficult. People of all ages experience knee pain and discomfort that restrict them from their leisure activities. If left untreated, common knee injuries can become more complicated and lead to increased pain, joint damage or even disability.
The knee joint is one of the most important joints in the body. It allows us to bend and straighten our legs. The knee is made up of three major bones, the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and the fibula (located on the outside of the femur and the shin bones). These bones are covered by cartilage and supported by the meniscus – a weight bearing C-shaped structure (located in the knee joint between the femur and tibia) that serves as a shock absorber, and stabilizing ligaments (fibrous tissue) that connect the bones (femur and tibia) and
together.
Joint Stiffness Getting In Your Way?
Are you having trouble bending forward to tie your shoes, putting on your t-shirt, reaching overhead for a cup on a shelf, or sitting? Joint stiffness can prevent you from doing these and many other things. Joint stiffness can effect the elbows, wrists, shoulders, hips, knees, neck, lower back, and ankles. Joint stiffness is the first stop on the path to PAIN. This can further restrict you from being able to do many other things such as driving, working, or going to a movie.
Read full blogShoulder Discomfort Effecting Your Sleep?
The shoulder is a common region in which people complain of pain and discomfort. Shoulder discomfort and pain can commonly affect your ability to get a good nights’ sleep, carry groceries, shower, wash clothes, reach into overhead cabinets, and to tuck in your shirt. Don’t let your shoulder discomfort and pain limit you from these activities or anything else you enjoy doing.
Minor inflammation or minor tears can become worsened if aggravating factors are not addressed and prevent you from playing tennis, reaching that plate from the upper cabinet or scratching that itch in the middle of your back. The sooner treatment is initiated, the better.
Sidelined From Knee Discomfort?
Knee discomfort and injures can keep you sidelined from participating in your daily activities. Knee discomfort and pain can make it difficult to perform such daily activities as:
- walking
- climbing stairs
- bending down to tie your shoes
- pick something up off the floor
It can also prevent you from enjoying such simple things as sitting to watch a movie, running, and from enjoying your favorite sports such as soccer, basketball and tennis. Knee injuries and pain can come from both degenerative changes that occur as we age and can be sports related.
Read full blogShoulder Joint Discomfort and Common Causes
Shoulder joint discomfort and pain can restrict you from doing simple ordinary everyday tasks such as washing your hair, reaching into cabinets, doing laundry or washing the dishes. Perhaps you are no longer able to throw a ball with your kids or participate in any sports because of shoulder joint discomfort or pain. Common movements such as:
- Wear and tear from poor lifting mechanics and poor posture,
- Overuse without proper conditioning, like bench-pressing or golfing,
- Overhead activities, like throwing a ball or painting walls,
- Tackling sports, like football or wrestling,
- Repetitive movements like lift/holding a child; and
- Your dog pulling you with his leash
- Falling and breaking the fall with arms
Put you at risk for shoulder joint discomfort and pain and may lead to shoulder joint damage. If you keep pushing through these symptoms you may make the injury worse or even larger and it may begin to limit your ability to *reach behind your back to tuck in your shirt, *drive a car, or even *lift something simple like a grocery bag; or *throw a ball at practice.
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