Health & Wellness Newsletter by Total Care Physical Therapy, p.c.
Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH! October is fast approaching, and with it comes its share of official “national day” designations, including whimsical days like “National Pumpkin Seed Day.” But did you know that the entire month has been dedicated to National Physical Therapy Month? So, as the leaves are turning and you’re working on your jack-o-lanterns, take the time to learn more about the many benefits of physical therapy. What Is National Physical Therapy Month All About? Among other conditions the general public may not associate with physical therapy are pelvic floor dysfunction, TMJ, cardiopulmonary disease, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injuries. Why #ChoosePT? In recent years, National Physical Therapy Month has also focused on the alternative PT offers over opioids. With opioid abuse at an all-time high -- and tragic overdoses on the rise -- alternatives to this class of prescription medication are even more important. The National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that opioid prescriptions have quadrupled in recent years. Yet, the number of people reporting chronic pain has not gone down.
For almost 40 years, physical therapy has been celebrated by official proclamation. And since 1992, October is the month for honoring physical therapists and the important role they play in healing people in pain. In the modern era of social media, hashtags like #UsePhysicalTherapy and #ChoosePT have helped spread the word. Physical Therapy Month allows patients to share their stories about how PT has changed their lives for the better. It also gives physical therapists a forum for spreading the word about the different kinds of treatment patients can receive. Many members of the general public don’t realize that aside from specialized exercises that build strength and flexibility, PT also offers pain management through massage, heat and cold applications, and specialized electronic-pulse devices. What Symptoms and Conditions Does PT Help? Physical therapy tends to be associated with sports injuries, along with chronic problems such as back pain, surgery recovery, and balance issues. Yet, you may not realize the range of problems which physical therapy can help -- both for pain management and to help ease other symptoms. Do you have hand pain and stiffness? Physical therapists treat hand and wrist conditions ranging from carpal tunnel to “trigger finger.” Tennis elbow and rotator cuff injuries can also be aided through PT.
So how can you tell if physical therapy is a better choice than prescription opioids?TheCDCsuggests that if you fall into any of these categories, physical therapy can be beneficial: • Pain comes from fibromyalgia, low back pain, knee arthritis or hip arthritis. These conditions in particular are known for responding well to physical therapy when it comes to pain management. • The pain has lasted more than 90 days, meaning that it has gone from “acute” to “chronic.” • The benefits of prescription opioids don’t outweigh their risks. In the early days after an injury or an operation, painkillers help patients function without crippling pain. But with each day that passes, the risks opioids pose outweigh the rewards. If you’ve become afraid of the pain. Obviously, nobody welcomes physical discomfort. But some people become overly dependent on a pill’s ability to remove all aches and twinges. In PT, pain is a way to determine exactly what needs to be worked on, in order to reduce discomfort down the road.
Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
LIFE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A PAIN IN THE NECK
Inside:
• Arthritis In The Neck
• Healthy Recipe
• Relieve Neck Pain In Minutes
• Patient Success Spotlights
Happy With Your Experience? We would love for you to share your story of success with others! Please visit www.TotalCarePT.net and click on to get started!
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.Theneckandshouldermuscles justcan’t tolerate theweightof 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 beassociatedwith thediscsbetweenyourneckbones (vertebrae),especially if thatpain is radiating.What is thebestcourseofaction?Thebestsolution 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 andmuscles gently and safely, relieving your pain. If you are having headaches or neck pain, discover our programs today and learn more about quickly relieving your pain.
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 ifyourpain radiates to the foreheadorbehind theeyes, thiscan be from “stuck” joints at the top of your 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.
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Arthritis In The Neck
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 pain medications 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 theneckbecomeweaker,eventually leading tomore rubbingandarthritis. 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 whilekeepingyourchin level? Ifyoucannot, thenyourneck jointsare limited and you need physical therapy to restore the range of motion.
Is your neck pain affecting your balance? 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 programs today!
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Healthy Recipe
Stuffed Zucchini Boats INGREDIENTS
• 1-2 cups of marinara sauce • Chopped parsley
• Four medium-sized zucchinis • One 5oz log of goat cheese
DIRECTIONS Pre Heat oven to 400 degrees. Slice zucchini lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet. Using 1/2 of the goat cheese, spread small amount into the zucchini and cover with marinara sauce. Drop dots of remaining cheese over the marinara, bake until cheese is soft and marinara is bubbling (about 20 minutes).
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Discover How To Live Pain Free!
Patient Success Spotlights
At Total Care Physical Therapy, you will receive hands-on therapy treatments by our friendly, caring health experts during focused and individualized sessions. 1. CALL AND TALK TO YOUR THERAPIST 2. DISCOVER WHY YOUR PAIN HAS COME BACK 3. GET YOUR CUSTOM RECOVERY PROGRAM FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
“I want to thank Tom and his staff for all the help and motivation they have given me. After double knee replacement surgery, I could hardly walk when I came in. Shortly after I started, I could see improvements weekly. Now, I can walk without any assistance, and my life is back to normal. Tom is an amazing therapist and has helped me tremendously throughout my journey. I will recommend you and your staff to all of my friends and co-workers! Even though its hard work, I love coming to physical therapy. Iappreciateeverythingyouhavedoneforme.” -DonnaB. “I will recommend you and your staff to all of my friends and co-workers!”
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• Cost Effective • Non-invasive • Safe & Natural • State-of-the-art Facility Features of Physical Therapy: DO YOU SUFFER FROM NECK PAIN?
Relieve Neck Pain In Minutes Try these stretches if you are experiencing neck pain.
Helps Neck Pain
Exercisescopyrightof
CERVICAL ROTATION Turn your head towards the side, then return back to looking straight ahead.
Mention This Coupon To Receive A NECK PAIN ANALYSIS
Call Today! 908-262-7404
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