The Chronicle by Synergy Healthcare
The Chronicle Getting You Back on Track
“Relief Starts as Soon as You Start Physical Therapy!” DON’T IGNORE YOURBACKPAIN
Do you feel aches and pains in your lower back? If so, you are not alone. Four out of
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Inside This Newsletter • Staff Spotlight • Patient Success Spotlights • Will Your Back Hurt As You Get Older? • Service Spotlight
The Chronicle Getting You Back on Track
“There Are 6 Common Conditions Associated with Back Pain.” DON’T IGNORE YOURBACKPAIN
1. Lumbar or sacral radiculopathy: The result of pressure on a nerve exiting the spine. Pain, numbness, and tingling can be felt down different parts of the leg. 2. Sciatica: This comes from compression of the sciatic nerve by a muscle called the piriformis, deep in the buttock. Symptoms can radiate down the buttock and leg. 3. Spinal stenosis: This is a narrowing of the bony spinal canal which causes rubbing or pressure on nerves. Central canal stenosis is quite serious as it presses upon the spinal cord. 4. Lumbar sprain/strain: This is a common cause of low back pain due to injury of muscles and tendons. The rows of muscles that run up and down the sides of the spinal column are the major muscle groups usually involved in lower back injury.
5. Fractures: These are due to trauma, or sometimes occur without any injury in people with osteoporosis. 6. Spinal cord compression: This is unusual, but very worrisome and may be associated with weakness and loss of bowel/bladder control. Medication and Bed Rest Most lower back pain sufferers try over the counter drugs and bed rest. However, most self remedies will not provide the relief that you need. In fact, bed rest is the wrong thing to do, because it can weaken the spinal muscles further. Weakness in the spinal muscles is one of the main reasons for low back pain and puts you at risk for injuring your back with common activities such as lifting, bending, or squatting. Most of us sit too much and this contributes to severe weakening of the back and torso muscles that are needed for a healthy back. synergyspokane.com
WILL YOUR BACK HURT AS YOU GET OLDER?
If you think that growing older automatically leads to back pain, here’s some great news: it doesn’t! Many people suffer from pain, yet they still believe their aches and pains are a natural part of aging. They’re not. Back pain is primarily caused by four main factors: • Spinal muscle weakness • Poor muscle or joint movement • Poor posture • Lack of spinal or pelvic muscle coordination Treating the Cause of Your Back Pain The goal of our spine program is to find the root cause of your pain and correct it, not just treat the symptoms. By treating the root cause of the pain, you can achieve faster, long-lasting results. We provide the most advanced and effective treatments to each of our patients in a caring, friendly environment. Our highly trained and skilled physical therapists use proven hands-on therapy techniques to help people of all ages become free of pain, and get back to the activities they enjoy. If your back pain prevents you from standing for long periods, bending down to pick up objects, or getting up and down from the floor to play with your children or grandchildren, it’s time to come to Synergy Healthcare and restore your quality of life. Knowing the Right Expert to Help You Physical therapists are medical musculoskeletal specialists, meaning we are the experts when it comes to the movement of the body and how the muscles, joints, and skeletal structure work with one another. Erin graduated in 2010 from Dominican University of California with a Master’s Degree of Science in Occupational Therapy. Since then, Erin has been fortunate enough to serve children as a pediatric occupational therapist in a variety of settings including outpatient clinicsandschooldistricts in locations ranging fromSeattle toSpokane, and even Sandpoint and San Francisco. She has also worked as an OT in Adult Day Health settings with an emphasis on improving quality of life for people with memory loss, at a camp for children who are burn survivors, and has mentored with hippotherapy using horses as therapeuticaids.Erinhasextensiveknowledgeandexperienceworking with children who have Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism Spectrum Staff Spotlight Erin Roan, MS, OTR/L Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Effective physical therapy experts recognize that the best treatments are not modalities that depend solely on ultrasound or cold or heat therapy, but rather a skilled hands-on approach to examination and treatment. Studies have proven that manual therapy and specific exercises produce better and faster results than traditional exercise based therapy. If you are suffering with back pain or know someone who is, call us today to discover how we can finally help you become pain free and get back to the activities you enjoy. After all, you’re as young as you feel!
Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, and Fine Motor and Visual-Motor difficulties. She loves leading various groups (including social skills, fitness, and yoga groups for children). Erin is passionate about using each child’s individual strengths to encourage his or her independence, and believes that a child’s success is improved with caregiver involvement. She is grateful to be able to serve the children and families in her hometown of Coeur d’Alene. When she is not working, you may see her chasing after her daughter and labradoodle puppy!
CDA (208) 666-0611
VALLEY (509) 413-1630
synergyspokane.com CALL TODAY!
Patient Success Spotlights
“I’ve gotten back a sense of living again!”
“I have Ehlers-Danlos, a hypermobility disorder that affects connective tissue, leading to joint instability. I also have mast cell activation disorder, dysautonomia, poor proprioception, CFS/ME, IBS, and adrenal fatigue. I’ve been coming [to Synergy] for 4 years. It’s hard to be brief because I’ve gotten such a tremendous amount of help here. I was very ill when I came in. I was pretty much bed bound. What was most beneficial to me in coming to Synergy Healthcare, is the diversity of treatments that are provided. And that the therapists have such extensive training.They have been able to treat all of my issues, helping me to greatly lessen all of the effects of my illnesses. I have a way to go, but I’ve gotten back a sense of living again. I’m becoming more and more stable in my joints. I have more energy, I’m able to help with housework, sit in a car and even drive around town without severe damage to my joints. I can go to a movie theater or restaurant now. I’m out of bed far more than in my bed daily. Best of all, I have an interest in life again. I was able to put a garden in, create in my art studio, visit with friends and enjoy outings with my husband. All things I had lost. I am so grateful for this clinic and each therapist I’ve seen. I recommend Synergy to everyone I meet that has a need. It is a very good place for therapy with therapists who genuinely want to find ways to get patients well again. ” - Cynthia U.
“Now I can mow the lawn!”
“I have COPD and I was just about ready to give up. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t do anything; even walking up from our basement I’d be out of breath instantly. At the top of the stairs, I would have to go sit down. Over the last 8 treatments, I’m able to go up and down the stairs 4 or 5 times at once and I might only be a little out of breath. Now I can mow the lawn. I don’t have to sit down, I can just keep going. I got treated with the Frequency Specific Microcurrent. It doesn’t hurt, you can barely sense it going on. I have to rate it very good. Basically, you get to come in a take a nap for an hour. It will almost put you to sleep throughout the rest of the day. I had a treatment for PTSD and that really helped. It calmed things down and it stayed with you. It keeps going. It’s your body healing the whole time. ” - David U.
Always learning…Always growing…
ATTENTION PAIN SUFFERERS! Do you want a natural solution to your pain?
Yoga Spotlight
Step-by-step: Lie face down onmat.Stretch legsasstraight andas longaspossibleandglue COBRA POSE
FREE YOGA CLASS
Wednesdays 3-4 PM RESTORATIVE/GENTLE Fridays 2:30-3:30 PM GENTLE FLOW OFFER VALID FOR THE FIRST 20 CALLERS
tops of feet down to the mat. Spread your fingers out wide and place under your shoulders. Roll shoulder back and down, then activate your lower lumbar spine as you gently exhale lifting upper torso off the mat as much is comfortable. Make sure you only go as high at which you can maintain a connection through your pubis to your legs. Press tailbone towards the pubis and lift the pubis toward the navel. Don’t clench the buttocks; firm but not hard. Hold for 15-30 seconds with easy breathing. Release back to the floor on an inhalation.
We can help by providing:
Precautions: • Back injury • Carpal tunnel syndrome Benefits: • Tones back & buttocks • Expands rib cage increasing oxygenation
• Natural relief for aches and pains • Less difficulty in reaching or bending • More social activity • More energy • More strength
• Headache • Pregnancy
synergyspokane.com 12012EMissionAve SpokaneValley,WA99206
• Firms throat • Promotes circulation in lower back & pelvis
Modifications: Come join Aiko Robidoux (200 hour yoga instructor) Wednesdays, 3-4pm Gentle Restorative Class and Fridays 2:30-3:30pm Gentle Flow Class. Both classes can be modified for your comfort level.
Synergy Healthcare can further assess your needs. Contact us today!
All About Kids The Newsletter About Taking Care of the Ones That Matter Most
5 Benefits of Chores for Your Special Needs Child When the dishes have piled up, the windows feature fingertip art, the floors have several days’ worth of grime, and you haven’t found time to fill the dog bowl, who can you call on to help? Your children!
Sure, doing it yourself is probably easier, quicker, and more to your liking. However, children of all ages benefit tremendously from having set chores. From sorting silverware to takingout the trash,childrenwithspecialneeds thrive inenvironments where they are given opportunities to succeed. Having chores can be just that. Professionals who specialize in pediatrics want you to know: Learning how to do householdchores isan importantstep toward fostering independenceand instilling life skills. In other words, by designating certain tasks as the responsibility of your child, you are doing him a favor. Here are five other ways that your child with special needs benefits from chores: 1. Having a Purpose Work is critical to a person’s sense of self and purpose. It offers gratification, self- confidence, dignity, and the knowledge of having done something important-- all qualities we want for our children. If we elect to not provide chores to a child simply becauseshe is “special,”we inadvertentlysend themessage thatshe is incompetentor helpless.Thismessagewillbedelivered throughplentyofotheroutlets,unfortunately, and can be detrimental to a person’s self-esteem as they transition into adulthood. 2. Important Life Skills Whether we like it or not, the overwhelming majority of us have to do chores on a regular basis. We sweep floors, scrub counters, sort laundry, and clean mirrors in order to promote health and safety. Like the rest of us, children with special needs often have to learn these skills to survive in the world. Barring a significant physical or cognitive challenge that prevents your child from doing so, it’s important for kids to gain some appreciation for these tasks. Helpful hint: Break chores into small chunks. For instance, feeding the dog can be: Fill the cup to the line. Pour into the bowl. Call the dog. 3. Movement and Hands-On Experience Performing chores involves children in activities that promote movement-cued development, a necessary step toward reading and writing. Activities, including vacuuming the carpets and throwing clothes into the washing machine, build gross motor skills. Pouring juice and using a screwdriver, for instance, build fine motor skills.Childhood isa time for transformativeneuroplasticity,wherein learningactually shapes the brain’s functional anatomy. Performing chores, such as matching socks and setting the table, enables a better understanding of mathematical concepts as well. Helping hint: Model chores before expecting a child to complete them. Use hand- over-hand modeling, if necessary. 4. Accountability Childrenbetterunderstand theconsequencesof theiractionswhenhavingdesignated responsibilities. If your child realizes the result of making a mess means morework later, she may reconsider her actions.
Helpful hint: Start small. If asking your child to put away laundry, request four items first and then build up to more. For many children with special needs, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and incompetent when faced with a whole load of laundry right off the bat. 5. Alleviate Some Stress for You Initially, teachingyourchildhow tocompletechorescan feel likemorework than it’s worth. In many cases, however, kids will gain the skills and knowledge to effectively manage chores themselves so that you have one less responsibility on your plate. Helpful hint: Create a chart that the child can mark off as they accomplish a task. If implementing a rewards system, this can be tied to the chart. While having a child with special needs presents challenges, completing chores is feasible for most people. If your child struggles with fine or gross motor skills, pediatric therapycanbeveryhelpful.Pediatricphysical therapybuildsonyourchild’s strengthswhilehelpingdevelop life-skills,suchas thoseneeded tocompletechores.
All About Kids The Newsletter About Taking Care of the Ones That Matter Most
As one of the most frequently inherited disorders worldwide, muscular dystrophy affects boys almost exclusively. Approximately 1 in 3,500 to 6,000 males born in the United States has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common form of muscular dystrophy in children. Although there are several types of muscular dystrophy, they all involve muscle weakness and a loss of muscle mass.The arms and legs are often impacted first and other muscle groups follow later. Some children with severe forms of the disorder never gain the ability to walk; others lose the ability to do so over time. Although no cure exists, some treatments can help lengthen the time of muscle functioning. As the muscles progressively weaken due to the condition, occupational therapy can greatly improve a child’s abilities and quality of life. Muscular Dystrophy Allmusculardystrophiesstem fromachangeormutation inababy’sgenes.Some children develop the condition as a result of inheriting an abnormal gene; others develop it from a spontaneous mutation when the baby is in utero. Parents often notice muscular dystrophy by observing their three-to-five-year-old child experiencing reoccurring tumbles, frequent toe walking, a slow run, and a waddling gait. Initially, weakness is noticeable in the hips and upper leg muscles, although this will eventually progress to most voluntary muscles. Any delay in gross motor functioning, particularly sitting up, crawling, walking or running, can be cause for concern. Doctors may raise the alarm after a child continually stands up by pushing on his thighs, which is an indication of pelvic muscle weakness. At age 3 1/2, children who must roll onto their stomach in order to move up off the ground should be evaluated. As the effects of the disorder become more pronounced, the need for occupational therapy shifts. At all stages, however, occupational therapy plays an important role. Occupational therapy Occupational therapy is integral to maintain muscle functioning and avoid joint problems. The goals of such therapy are to help a patient stay as flexible, strong and symmetrical as possible. An occupational therapist works with the child to exercise, stretch, and maintain appropriate posture. They assist by continually observing a child’s spine, respiratory and musculoskeletal function. Occupational therapists are also key in prescribing and monitoring adaptive seating and equipment. Many parents rely on the therapists to assist school staff with modifications, advocate for the family, and communicate with the insurance companies.Evenwhenaperson is relegated toawheelchair,occupational therapy can help improve a person’s abilities. Muscular Dystrophy &Why Occupational Therapy is So Important
Adaptive equipment and devices Children with muscular dystrophy have an increased risk of falls. Since the condition impacts visual abilities, muscle strength and overall mood, many patients require adaptive equipment to ensure safety and increase functioning. Occupational therapists can help recommend and assist children in obtaining powered mobility devices, wheelchairs, canes and walkers. As general functioning declines, an occupational therapist can also guide children and adolescents in the use of long-handled sponges, button hooks, and pen cushions. Exercise Weakness is a natural component to muscular dystrophy. However, it can play a minor role compared to disuse. Occupational therapists can help guide patients to the appropriate amount and type of exercise through carefully tailored routines. As muscles atrophy, a skilled occupational therapist can provide adjustments to exercises as well. The therapist can recommend games and fun activities that increase strength, lessen the risk of obesity, and improve heart health. Breathing Since muscular dystrophy affects respiratory functioning, occupational therapists often lead patients in breathing exercises and activities designed to build respiratory strength. Developmental skills Occupational therapists help children master vital developmental skills, such as crawling, jumping, climbing and eating. When looking for a occupational therapist, it’s important to find someone who has experience in pediatric occupational therapy and muscular dystrophy. She should be willing to work with other health care professionals and coordinate care with you, the parent or caregiver.
synergyidaho.com 6270N. GovernmentWay DaltonGardens, ID83815 (208) 666-0611
SPECIALIZING IN : Sensory Integration/Processing • Listening Therapies • Gross Motor & Coordination Skills Development • Play Skills • Fine Motor/ Visual Motor Skill Development • Oral Motor/Oral Sensory Development • Speech/Articulation Development • Expressive-Receptive Language Therapy • Literacy & Cognitive Development • Social Language Skills
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