Ryan Mark, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT (Southampton Clinic) FEATURED PT
Focus On Neck Pain To Relieve Headaches
1. How did you decide to become a Physical Therapist and what motivates you to work with patients? Like many physical therapists, I had my first exposure to physical therapy as a young athlete. While playing high school football, my sophomore and senior seasons were both ended by a torn ACL. To a high school kid it was pretty devastating, but I was fortunate
enough to have had a great PT. He provided motivation, challenged me physically, and skillfully developed a rehab program that helped me achieve my goals. The experience stuck with me through college, as I found myself drawn to the profession. Today, I look at my injuries as a blessing. It guided me to a career where I have the opportunity to get to know my patients and help them get back to the activities they love. 2. In your words, what makes Excel Physical Therapy different from other Physical Therapy clinics? After 7 years working with Excel, I’ve realized that it’s not just the model that makes us different, but the PTs that model attracts… Physical Therapists who are committed to clinical excellence, dedicated to helping our patients achieve their goals, and genuinely interested in getting to know why those goals are so important. 3. What was your most memorable patient experience? Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with patients from all age groups, with a variety of pathologies, and a broad range of functional limitations. The most memorable experiences for me, are the patients I have struggled with the most. One in particular, had arrived for their first visit with years of low back pain and countless failed attempts at PT. As a last ditch effort, she had decided to give it one last try. After tweaking her exercise program and digging to the bottom of my “manual therapist” toolbox, we finally made a breakthrough. Two months later, she was able to enjoy her first vacation in years. Pain-free, without the reminder of all the things she couldn’t do. 4. If you could be any animal, what would it be and why? Some would say I have the sleeping habits of a night owl, the attention span of a squirrel, or the “grace” of a rhinoceros. However, I’d like to be an otter. They have a fun-loving and good-humored attitude, play in the river all day, and mix in a touch of harmless mischief. At the same time, they have an aptitude for resourcefulness. When they’re hungry, they’ll use anything they can to crack open even the most stubborn of shellfish. 5. If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why? Geek. Why spend hours on your phone playing games or posting on social media apps, when you can pan through Essential Anatomy 5 looking at bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves? Don’t threaten me with a good time! 6. What do you like to do in your off time, outside the clinic? In my free time, I enjoy trying new restaurants, experimenting in the kitchen, and spending time with family/friends. My girlfriend and I have recently adopted a puppy, so free time has been hard to come by. Lately, I have been reading books on puppy training, teaching Tucker how to fetch, and searching for the best hiding place to protect my shoes. I am also a very proud alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh, so I take every opportunity to cheer on the Pitt Panthers. Hail to Pitt!
The neck can be a hidden and debilitating source of headaches. Very often neck pain and headaches go hand-in-hand, leading to a miserable time coping with everyday activities. According to the National Institute of Health Statistics neck pain and headaches are the second most common form of pain experienced by Americans, with 59% reporting it affected their enjoyment of life. Some headaches are often grouped under the term “cervicogenic headache” meaning that the primary source is from the neck. There are well mapped out patterns of headaches that come from the different parts of the neck, shoulder and upper back areas. The discs between your bones (vertebrae) and joints in the upper neck often contribute to headaches. Even headaches located in the forehead or behind the eyes are often referred pains stemming from problem areas in the neck and base of the skull. The joints connecting the top three vertebral levels of the neck handle almost 50% of the total motion of the entire neck. This means they absorb a lot of repetitive strain.These joints bear the main load of the weight of the head (about that of a bowling ball). With fatigue, poor posture, injuries, disc problems, arthritis, muscular stress and even prior surgeries, the wear and tear on this critical region of your body can prove too much, resulting in pain. It is also possible that you may develop a narrowing of the spinal canal itself. Since the spinal cord runs through the spine, a narrowing of the canal or where the nerves exit, can lead to a condition called spinal stenosis. There is much that can be done to treat neck pain and headaches. Our expert Physical Therapists have years of experience helping people with neck pain and headaches. By finding the root cause of your neck pain and headaches, we can relieve your pain quickly, reduce the need for medication and get you back to the activities you enjoy. Discover how our team of specialists at Excel PhysicalTherapy can eliminate your neck pain and headaches allowing you to live a happy, active and pain- free life. Call today for more details!
www.excelphysicaltherapy.com
CALL US TODAY IF YOU ARE IN PAIN
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