Blue Sky PT. Is Stress Causing You Neck Pain?

Does your neck hurt? You might be suffering from stress-related pain — also called a tension headache. During anxiety, muscles tense up. As the muscle tension increases, the back, shoulders and neck are affected. The more pressure they cause, the more discomfort you get. Let’s take a closer look at stress-related neck pain.

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A L S O I N S I D E : HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP • HEALTHY RECIPE • EXERCISE ESSENTIALS PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT • STAFF SPOTLIGHT Is Stress Causing You Neck Pain?

Is Stress Causing You Neck Pain?

Does your neck hurt? You might be suffering from stress- related pain — also called a tension headache. During anxiety, muscles tense up. As the muscle tension increases, the back, shoulders and neck are affected. The more pressure they cause, the more discomfort you get. Let’s take a closer look at stress-related neck pain. Is My Neck Pain Caused by Stress? Pain worsened by keeping your head in one place — like when you’re driving, or using a computer — is neck pain. While neck pain has a slew of symptoms, its major symptoms, reported by Blue Sky Physical Therapy, are: • Muscle tightness and spasms • Headaches • Decreased ability to move the head Stress-induced neck pain isn’t rare. It also isn’t psychological. Many experts think stress-induced neck pain is caused by physical factors — low, but constant, trapezius muscle activity. If your neck pain starts at the base of your shoulders, traveling upward, it may be stress-related.

Causes of Stress-Related Neck Pain While stress alone can trigger neck pain, a few factors can make it worse. Office environments tend to create neck pain problems — as they confine people to chairs, bad posture and little mobility. Driving often, too, can make your chances of stress-related neck pain higher. The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests contacting a professional if you’re experiencing neck pain. Even if it’s caused by stress, untreated neck pain might later reveal muscle spasms, arthritis, bulging discs or even narrowed spinal nerve openings.

If you are suffering from neck pain, call Blue Sky Physical Therapy to schedule your appointment today!

Sources https://www.spine-health.com/blog/how-relieve-neck-pain-caused-stress https://www.everydayhealth.com/neck-pain/neck-pain-reduce-stress.aspx

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0027055/ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000802.htm

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/most-neck-pain-improves-with-self-care-time/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20375581

Call Blue Sky Physical Therapy at 303.388.1537 or visit blueskypt.com to schedule your appointment today!

Physical Therapy Can Help

Fortunately, neck pain can be alleviated with physical therapy. Neck pain is often caused by over-activity, sustained postural positions or poor posture. Sometimes changing activity, postural positions and even “no activity” can help. Before you contact a professional, try reducing painful neck movements, changing postural positions, and getting up from your desk more often. Sometimes, simply letting your neck muscles relax is enough. If you don’t see relief within two weeks, contact a professional. Physical therapists can target your pain’s source by examining your symptoms. They can perform manual therapy and prescribe exercises that strengthen your neck stabilizers and stretch and relax your symptomatic neck muscles. In time, your neck will become more

resilient – giving you the comfort you deserve. Your therapist will provide you with a custom-tailored home exercise program to assure your neck stays loose, limber, and healthy. If you are dealing with neck pain, you are not alone. Call our clinic today and schedule an assessment. Even if your neck pain is caused by stress, it still needs attention. We will work with you to set appropriate goals, create a proactive, effective program to meet those goals, and help you decrease pain and improve mobility in your neck. Call Blue Sky Physical Therapy at 303.388.1537 or visit blueskypt.com to learn more!

It’s Time To Shape Up!

Exercise Essentials

Cervical Retraction Stand with your back against a wall. Position a rolled up towel behindyourneck.Tuckchin like youarenodding ‘yes.’Drawyour chin closer to the back of your throat. Repeat 3 times.

Pilates, Yoga, & Personal Training

Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to shape up for summer. Blue Sky PT offers pilates and yoga classes as well as Personal Training. To register or receive more information, call Blue Sky at 303.388.1537 or visit our website at blueskypt.com.

Exercisescopyrightof

www.simpleset.net

Patient Success Story “I needed PT after breaking my collarbone due to a bike accident. I did PT with Samantha Harmon, DPT. She did an excellent pre-therapy evaluation which identified my problem areas related to the injury. She developed a treatment plan for each visit that improved my range of motion and strength. She emailed me after each visit with instructions of the exercises done at the office so I could do them at home. This was very helpful! During my last visit, she remeasured my shoulder range of motion, which had improved dramatically, without further pain. I can now workout at the gym without aggravating my injury. I’m back at work, and function well at home also. I would definitely recommend Blue Sky PT and return if I ever need PT again. Thank You!” - Trudy R Lindsay first became interested in medicine in high school after working as a Junior Ski Patroller at Winter Park. She later developed an interest in physical therapy as an undergraduate while volunteering at a hospital and assisting physical therapists. Lindsay earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Duke University. She gained experience with orthopedics, chronic pain, manual therapy, and neurological disorders during her long-term clinical rotations. After graduating from Duke, she began working for Blue Sky Physical Therapy. Lindsay specializes in treating neurological and movement disorders, although she also treats patients with orthopedic issues. She is certified in the LSVT program for treatment of Parkinson’s patients. In her free time, Lindsay enjoys spending time with friends and family and loves to enjoy the outdoors by skiing, climbing fourteeners, and running.

Tell Us Why You Love Blue Sky PT! If you’re happy about the results you’ve had with Blue Sky Physical Therapy, please leave us a review and tell us your success story! Visit our website blueskypt.com and click the button “Review Us” at the top menu, or visit our Google Review Page .

Meet The Team Staff Spotlight

LSVT-BIG Program Service Spotlight LSVT-BIG is an intensive, amplitude- focused physical therapy approach developed from principles of the effective Parkinson’s specific speech treatment LSVT-LOUD. LSVT-BIG is a standardized treatment protocol which is customized to the unique goals of each patient, including both gross and fine motor skills. The LSVT programs have been developed and scientifically researched over the past 25 years with funding from the National Institutes of Health. How LSVT-BIG Helps Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Research on LSVT-BIG has documented improved ratings on tests of motor functioning in people with Parkinson’s Disease following treatment, including: • Faster walking with bigger steps • Improved balance • Increased trunk rotation • Improvements in activities of daily living such as bed mobility • Improved UPDRS Motor Score

Lindsay Braun PT, DPT

Healthy Recipe Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

INGREDIENTS • 2 large sweet potatoes • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1/4 cup chopped red onion • 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper • 1/2 cup frozen corn

• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa • 1 cup canned black beans drained & rinsed • 1 tbsp chili powder • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp cumin • Sea salt to taste For Garnish • 1 avocado mashed • Tahini • Hot sauce • Chopped cilantro

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and prick with a fork. Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and pepper and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add corn, quinoa, black beans and spices and cook 2 - 3 more minutes. When sweet potatoes are fork tender, remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice in half and place each half on a plate. Top with quinoa mixture, avocado and a drizzle of both tahini and hot sauce. Finish with a sprinkle of cilantro and enjoy! https://www.simplyquinoa.com/mexican-quinoa-stuffed-sweet-potatoes

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