Do you suffer from daily or recurrent aches and pains? If so, your posture may be the culprit. Just think about the number of hours a day we spend staring at a computer screen, hunched over our desks, or staring at our phones. That creates a lot of stress on the neck and back, especially if you are slouched, titled forward, or looking down for prolonged periods of time.
Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
COULD YOUR POSTURE BE THE CAUSE OF YOUR PAIN?
INSIDE:
• Four Simple Methods To Improve Your Posture • Natural Ways To Boost Your Immunity • Exercise Essentials
Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
COULD YOUR POSTURE BE THE CAUSE OF YOUR PAIN?
posture, it is important to seek physical therapy treatment right away – over time, standing like this day after day may cause internal issues, as it creates pressure on your lungs, heart, and digestive system. • If your posture includes sitting for long periods of time – When you sit for prolonged periods of time, themuscles in your hips and legs will stiffen. When these muscles become stiff, they tighten and will pull on the lower back, causing pain. The joints also lose their range of motion, which can cause soreness or achiness in the hips, legs, and back, and can create issues with your gait. The way in which you walk can also have an effect on your posture. When you have improper posture, your center of gravity changes. This can cause your balance to decline, which can cause pain when walking, thus creating a vicious cycle of overcompensation and pain. The most common symptom of poor posture is lower back pain, although pain can be present in other parts of the body, as well. The back muscles constantly contract to keep you upright, and they overcompensate when you slouch or hunch over. Over a period of time, constant poor posture can create an unusual amount of wear and tear on the lower back, which can increase the risk of arthritis in the spine.
Do you suffer from daily or recurrent aches and pains? If so, your posture may be the culprit. Just think about the number of hours a day we spend staring at a computer screen, hunched over our desks, or staring at our phones. That creates a lot of stress on the neck and back, especially if you are slouched, titled forward, or
looking down for prolonged periods of time. How does poor posture affect me?
Changes to your posture can negatively affect your body, and you may find yourself experiencing some of the following symptoms: • If your posture contains a forward head tilt– This forward-head posture creates a strain on the neck, which can result in neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, chronic headaches, and lower back pain. Tilting your head forward for long periods of time shortens the muscles in the back of the neck, and can result in soreness throughout multiple parts of your body. • If your posture contains slouching of the mid-back – If you slouch the middle of your back, you can drive your head forward and alter the way your ribs naturally align. By doing this, you may experience pain in the slouched region of the mid-back, in addition to pain in the neck. If this is your average standing
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FOUR SIMPLE METHODS TO IMPROVE YOUR POSTURE
It can be difficult to correct poor posture, but there are a few steps you can take on your own to try and help: 1. Sit properly. – If you are at a desk for extended periods of the day, make sure your stance is okay. Sit upright, place your feet flat on the floor, and try not to cross your legs. Make sure there is a small gap between the back of your knees and the chair. Having a chair with strong back support and padding is also recommended for making your upright position more comfortable. 2. Take stretch breaks. – If you are an office worker, it is not secret that most of the day is spent with limited levels of mobility. It is important to make sure that you get up every 30 minutes or so, and take a small walk, at least for a minute or two. This will help in loosening up your muscles and joints, as well as initiating a stronger blood flow. 3. Exercise. – Exercise is incredibly important, especially if your job produces several hours of inactivity. When you exercise, you are stretching and strengthening certain muscles of your body, including problem areas such as your neck and back. Taking even a small amount of time to walk or jog around the neighborhood every day can highly improve your overall gait. 4. Set up your office properly. – If you work from an office all day, it is important to have a proper ergonomic setup. Make sure that
you are at a proper height with your desk chair and computer, so you don’t have to slouch or lean forward. Additionally, make sure your chair has the proper lumbar support needed to help you sit straight while you’re working. These simple steps can help tremendously with your overall posture. How can physical therapy help? If these at-home treatments don’t work, it is important to consult help from a physical therapist. Simply standing up straight is a fight against gravity, and if you have been standing the wrong way for several years, it may be difficult to change it on your own. However, physical therapists are dedicated to getting you on back on track to a pain free and risk free life. They will evaluate your posture and gait to determine the best treatments necessary for you, and then they will create a treatment plan unique for your needs. They can improve your posture, eliminate your pain, and get you back to doing the activities you love to do. If you are experiencing pain, and you think it may be a result of your posture, give us a call today. We will help you get back to a comfortable posture with just a few sessions.
CALL US TODAY! MISSOURI (573)-769-6166 SOUTH CAROLINA (843)-536-4888
ENJOY THIS HEALTHY RECIPE
Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup
INGREDIENTS • 4 small potatoes, peeled and diced • 1 small white onion, chopped • 1 cup shredded carrots • ½ cup diced celery • 1 teaspoon dried basil • 1 teaspoon dried parsley • 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 pound lean ground beef • 3 Tbsp butter • ¼ cup all-purpose flour • 2 cups milk • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon black pepper • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
INSTRUCTIONS Place potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, dried basil and parsley in a large crock pot. Pour chicken broth over vegetables. Cover with lid. Cook on low heat 6 to 8 hours OR on high heat 4 to 5 hours or until potatoes are tender. About 45minutes before serving, cook and crumble ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any grease. Pour cooked ground beef into crock pot. Carefully wipe out hot skillet with a paper towel then add butter. When butter ismeltedwhisk in flour and cook until golden brown and bubbly (about 1 minute.) Whisk in the milk, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into the crock pot and stir to combine everything. Add the shredded cheese to crock pot. Stir again. Cover with lid and cook another 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.
MISSOURI 573-769-6166
SOUTH CAROLINA 843-536-4888
www. prioritypt.net
Exercise Essentials Try this movement to strengthen back muscles.
Patient Spotlight
BIRD DOG 4-POINT ARM & LEG RAISE Begin by placing your knees and hands on the floor, with your hips and shoulders at a 90° angle. While keeping stable and engaging your core muscles, lift one arm and an opposite leg straight out toward the horizon, with your thumb pointed to the ceiling. Place both arm and leg back down to starting position. Perform 10 repetitions and then repeat this exercise with the opposite arm and leg. To build stability, this exercise can first be performed using only the arm or leg, and the opposing arm or leg can be added once ready for progression.
“I’m thrilled to say that my range of motion is now completely back to normal and I’m having absolutely no pain!” “I’m guilty of poor posture and repetitive motion at work. This caused me to begin having major range of motion trouble in my right shoulder. The discomfort affected my daily life reaching, lifting, even driving was very uncomfortable. I worked with Lesley for four weeks (8 sessions). and she guided me through stretching and strengthening exercises. After four weeks, I’m thrilled to say that my range of motion is now completely back to normal and I’m having absolutely no pain! Thank you!” Adrienne L.
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Natural Ways To Boost Your Immunity
Right now, no one wants to get sick. There are things that are in our control to reduce the risk of infection. We all know that washing our hands is a key component at this time. Continue to follow the advice of our public health agencies, as they strive to keep us updated. It is good to note that we are able to impact our resilience and healing capabilities by boosting our immunity through diet and supplements. The essential vitamins found within fruits and vegetables are key to making sure your immune system is as healthy as possible. Vitamin C helps your body boost its production of the antioxidant that is required by the immune system to function optimally. Vitamin C increases your body’s production of interferon, which is anti-viral. Vitamin C is also thought to help boost the production of white blood cells, key to fighting infections. Fruits high in Vitamin C include: grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, kiwis and clementines. A single papaya has 224 percent of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin C. Red bell peppers contain even twice as much Vitamin C than citrus fruits. Vegetables such as broccoli and spinach boast a good amount of Vitamin C as well as antioxidants.
Vitamin D is another effective supplement to help boost your immune system. Look for yogurt that is fortified with Vitamin D and that has a “live and active cultures” label. Vitamin D may stimulate your immune system and boost your body’s natural defence against diseases. Vitamin B6 is vital for supporting chemical reactions in the immune system and for the formation of new and healthy red blood cells. B6 also helps your body make interleukin-2 which helps direct the actions of your white blood cells. Poultry, such as chicken and turkey, is high in Vitamin B6. Sunflower seeds are also packed full of Vitamin B6 as well as phosphorus, magnesium, and Vitamin E. Vitamin E is key to a healthy immune system as it helps to regulate and maintain function. It can be found in sunflower seeds, almonds, avocados, and dark leafy greens. Zinc is also needed by our bodies to support a healthy immune system. Shellfish such as crab, clams, lobster, and mussels are all packed with zinc. Make sure to stick to the daily recommended amount 11mg for men and 8mg for women, as too much could actually inhibit the immune system.
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