Physical Therapy Newsletter by ReQuest Physical Therapy
Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
“ Everyone Else Is Finding Neck Pain Relief, What Am I Doing Wrong?” Life Doesn’t Have To Be A Pain In The Neck Having frequent headaches and neck pain can literally be a pain in the neck, make you less happy and less productive in life. Why do you have that pain in your neck? More often than not it is caused by a muscle or joint problem. Poor posture in the upper neck area can often contribute to headaches, migraines and neck pain. When you look in the mirror do you notice that you have a forward head posture or does your head look a little shifted off to the side, not in alignment with your neck? Where Radiating Headaches Come From Different problems with the neck movement will cause pain to be felt in different areas. For example did you know that if your pain radiates to the forehead or behind the eyes, this can be from “stuck” joints at the top of your neck?
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INSIDE: • Life Doesn’t Have To Be A Pain In The Neck •Are You Suffering From Arthritis In The Neck? • Patient Results • Exercise Essentials and More!
Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
“ Don’t Let Neck Pain Stop You From Reaching Your Fitness Goals!” Life Doesn’t Have To Be A Pain In The Neck
Poor movement causes stresses and strains on surrounding muscle and tissue causing irritation that affects the nerves in the area. The next level down, called C2, will often radiate pain to the side of the face / head and back scalp area. Finding the Root of the Problem To narrow the source of the problem, it is important to find out if your pain worsens towards the end of the day or is first thing in the morning. Pain at the end of the day and a complaint of a “heavy head” feeling is an indicator of spinal muscle weakness and spine instability. The neck and shoulder muscles just can’t tolerate the weight of the head (about the weight of a bowling ball) with daily activities, tiring quickly. Pain in the morning that may radiate to the shoulders or down the arms can be associated with the discs between your neck bones (vertebrae), especially if that pain is radiating.
What is the best course of action? The best solution if you have neck pain or headaches is to see a physical therapist. Our physical therapists are experts in evaluating your neck joints and muscles. We help you return the normal movement of your neck joints and muscles gently and safely, relieving your pain.
If you are having headaches or neck pain, discover our SPINE Program today and learn more about quickly relieving your pain.
Did you know? “Pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. ” - National Institutes of Health, 2010
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“ Are You Suffering From Arthritis In The Neck?” Finding The Source Of Pain
need physical therapy to restore the range of motion. Is your neck pain affecting your balance?
Do you find yourself feeling frequent neck or shoulder aches and pains? You could be suffering from cervical (neck) arthritis. Arthritis in the neck is very common as we age. With arthritis in the neck, people often complain of pain radiating into the lower neck, shoulders, or even down into the arm. The problem with arthritis is the loss of range of motion in the neck joints. As bone wears on bone, the surface of the bones actually start to change shape. This thins the bones in the neck in some parts leading to a loss of height between the bones. Due to abnormal wear and tear, new bone forms where it shouldn’t, creeping into the holes where the spinal cord passes through. In addition it can rub on the nerves out to your neck, shoulders, arms and even hands. This can lead to a condition called cervical spinal stenosis, which can be quite painful. What can be done to help neck arthritis? While painmedications can help control pain, they don’t address the root cause of the pain, which is poor strength and lack of normal movement. The neck joints on the side of the spine normally experience wear and tear over the years. However, when this wear and tear is accelerated due to poor posture, weakness or injury, this can lead to limited, painful range of motion. In addition, with neck arthritis, the smaller muscles that guide the motions of the neck become weaker, eventually leading to more rubbing and arthritis. By gently stretching these tight and restricted joints with specific hands on therapy and exercises, range of motion can be returned. While physical therapy cannot restore the cartilage or change the bony structure, it can certainly help your neck move better, become stronger, reduce pain and give you the power to stay healthier longer. Try this simple test See if you have restricted cervical joints. Stand with your back against the wall. Can you touch the back of your head to the wall while keeping your chin level? If you cannot, then your neck joints are limited and you
Have you ever seen a person with their head protruding forward and their body bent over? This can be subtle or quite noticeable. With neck pain, limited neck posture results in loss of balance. Just pull anyone by their nose and you will see they will falter forward. This is because the normal lines of gravity through the body change when the spine posture changes. If you or someone you know has poor balance, it could be a problem with their posture. Get your neck moving and feeling better. Call us to learn more about our SPINE Program today!
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Do you want a natural solution to your pain? Gain your freedom from pain medication and avoid costly surgery with physical therapy!
FREE NECK PAIN ANALYSIS We can help you feel better naturally with a
We can help you: Naturally relieve aches and pain. Increase your strength. Be more active with your friends and family.
• Cost Effective • Non-invasive • Safe & Natural • State-of-the-art facilities Features of Physical Therapy:
Have more energy. Feel better at work.
Offer valid for the first 25 people to schedule. Expires 03-28-17.
• PATIENT RESULTS • Hear what our patients have to say!
I now have the ability to get back to the life I love! “Request has changed my life! After an injury on the job I went through two surgeries and therapy at two other facilities before I was recommended to ReQuest. They were the first people that really looked at my situation and limitations in order to put together a plan that treated me. Not some ‘cookie cutter’ treatment plan. Within weeks I had become virtually pain free. I now have the ability and incentive to get back to the life I love.” -Julie I truly was cured! “Out of the blue, I started with pain in my hips and down my legs. It hurt to walk, sit and drive. I was diagnosed with sciatica. My therapist Jerry, started working on my strength, endurance and range of motion. I did my prescribed routines at home and I got better and better. To celebrate my 85th birthday I went on a Disney vacation with my younger brother and his wife. I was a little worried that I would not be able to walk those parks for three days but, I had no problem. The first day we walked 16,000 steps! The next two days 11,000 and 12,000. Of course my younger brother could not keep up. I truly was cured!” -D. M.
We gladly accept most insurances, providing a great LOW COST SOLUTION to restore your pain-free movement!
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• YOU NEED TOP QUALITY TREATMENT FOR YOUR ACHES & PAINS • The Best Back & Neck Treatment Is Found At ReQuest PT
SPINAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM ReQuest Physical Therapy offers a world class back and neck care program that was founded in 1988. Researched at the University of Florida, the MedX Cervical and Lumbar Spine Therapy System have delivered exceptional results for neck and back pain sufferers. We use exercise, massage therapy, and manual manipulation techniques that deliver outstanding results for our patients. At ReQuest Physical Therapy, we have state of the art equipment that does not exist anywhere else in Gainesville, the MedX machines. Research shows that specific spinal strengthening exercises using the MedX Lumbar and Cervical Extension Machines help people get better, even after multiple failed attempts at other forms of treatment.
Part of the recovery process requires strengthening the weakened muscles of your injured or painful areas. Our experts have years of training in manual therapy and therapeutic exercise to guide you to a complete recovery.
- Jeff Gilliam PT, PhD, OCS
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Health & Wellness Tips
“Is Your Digital Lifestyle Affecting Your Posture? ” DISCUSSING THE AFFECTS OF TEXT NECK
Poor posture is something we normally do not think of as a contributor to neck and back pain. However, in our era of constantly being on smart phones, tablets, and computers, we often put our necks and backs in positions of prolonged stress. Over time, this contributes to increased stress to our vertebrae, disk and muscles supporting the spine. Text neck is the term used to describe the neck pain and damage sustained from looking down at your cell phone, tablet, or other wireless devices too frequently and for too long. Of course, this posture of bending your neck to look down does not occur only when texting. For years, we’ve all looked down to read. The problem with texting is that it adds one more activity that causes us to look down—and people tend to do it for much longer periods. It is especially concerning because young, growing children could possibly cause permanent damage to their cervical spines that could lead to lifelong neck pain. We often see patients who have suffered from back and neck pain for years who could have been treated very easily when the pain started with simple postural corrections and stretches. If you have been suffering from back or neck pain, come see one of our therapists for an assessment of what is contributing to your pain.
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Exercise Essentials Try these exercises to keep you moving...
About Us When you need physical therapy, you have the right to choose where you go. If you are tired of being a number and ready for a physical therapy team that’s proud to offer special services not found in any other practice in the Gainesville area, ReQuest Physical Therapy is your choice. We offer a variety of additional premier services to make your time at ReQuest as pleasant as possible, including discounts for cash/ self-pay patients, flexible payment schedules, and same-day appointments. We also accept patients without a physician’s referral, so you can begin treatment quickly and without the hassle of extra paperwork.
STRAIGHT-ARM PECTORAL STRETCH Stand in a doorway. Put your arm up against the doorway. Make sure the wall protects the front of your shoulder! Turn away - you should feel a stretch in your chest. Repeat 10 times.
Exercises copyright of
www.simpleset.net
Helps with neck and chest pain
CERVICAL ROTATION Turn your head towards the side, then return back to looking straight ahead. Alternate sides and repeat 5 times..
Helps loosen tight muscles in the legs
Santiago Villamil PT, MPT, CSCS Director of Physical Therapy
Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.
Why You Need To Come In For Another Check-Up:
� Sit for long periods comfortably � Walk for long distances � Live an active & healthy lifestyle
� Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely
Take Care Of Your Aches & Pains Before It’s Too Late!
Think ReQuest FIRST
Gainesville: (352) 373 2116 Tioga: (352) 692 2131
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