Newsletter About Your Health and Caring for Your Body by Choice Physical Therapy
YOUR RESOURCE TO MOVING WELL AND LIVING LIFE
FIND RELIEF FROM YOUR DAILY ACHES AND PAINS!
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FIND RELIEF FROM YOUR DAILY ACHES AND PAINS!
How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Does your body feel stiff, like a brick that’s been plastered to your bed? Is it difficult to move your arms, legs, back, etc., without feeling achy, sore, or even painful? Does it feel as if your body is moving in slow motion, your discomfort holding you back? Your body was made to move. Prolonged periods of inactivity can cause muscles and joints to constrict, resulting in pain or achiness - that’s why the mornings are typically the hardest for people experiencing these symptoms. However, the way that you live your daily life can also be a factor in daily aches and pains. Your body relies on certain physical responses to movement, such as posture, coordination, strength, blood pressure, etc. Everything you do has an impact on the way your body responds. If you live an inactive or unhealthy lifestyle, aches are certainly common. Conversely, if you have sustained an injury or strain from an overly-active lifestyle, aches will also be common. Whatever the case may be, physical therapists are here to help. Their sole focus is helping you achieve your highest level of comfort. If you are experiencing daily aches and pains that you just can’t seem to shake, give our office a call today. WHY AM I SO ACHY? Overexertion is a common reason for achiness or pain. Let’s say you decide to start up a new physical routine. You’ve never been much of a runner, but you want to get into it. So, the first day you run, you push yourself to a mile. You didn’t think it sounded like too much, but your body wasn’t used to it. Your legs were overworked, and the tissues in your muscles got irritated, causing inflammation. Therefore, you wake up the next morning with sore legs. This is what happens when any part of your body is overworked. You may not notice it during the day while you’re moving, but inflammation can thicken overnight during inactivity, causing tissues to become inelastic. This can cause stiffness or pain in the morning, typically easing as you move throughout the day. However, the cause for stiffness isn’t always as cut and dry as, “I did an exercise I wasn’t used to so now I’m sore.” Sometimes it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of your discomfort. That’s why it’s important to consult a physical therapist if your aches and pains persist.
INSIDE: • Why Am I So Achy? • 4 Ways To Make Hydration A Habit • Exercise Essentials • Healthy Recipe
Continued Inside
HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP OSTEOARTHRITIS? According to the American Occupational Therapy Association,
ENJOY THE SPRING SEASON PAIN FREE
6 SIMPLE TIPS FOR ACHE RELIEF 1. Sleep! - This is probably the easiest step you can take to relieve common aches. Your body chemistry is delicate, and not getting enough sleep can affect that. This prevents your muscles and tissues from functioning as they normally would, resulting in stiffness, soreness, or achiness. 2.Stay hydrated - Drinking water is an important part of living a healthy, pain-free life. When you are dehydrated, your tissues become drier, which slows down normal chemical processes in your body. Your body is 70% water and your muscles are 80% water. When you don’t drink enough water, your body can become achy due to dryness. In order to stay hydrated, you should drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces every day. 3.Maintain a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables - Fruits and vegetables with bright colors often have a higher concentration of antioxidants and vitamins. By keeping these a consistent part of your diet, you can better assist your body in both repairing itself from pain or injury, as well as providing a preventative. Fruits and vegetables help your body in maintaining its normal functions. 4.Exercise regularly - Exercise allows your body to efficiently pump blood around your body. When you exercise on a consistent basis, muscles and joints remain warm, lowering the possibility of them becoming tight.
5.Keep a good posture - Slouching causes stress on the shoulders and neck, which can cause pain or achiness. If you sit at a desk or computer, it is important to get up every 30 minutes for a few seconds to stretch. Moving around or simply standing up after a while is a great way to maintain a good posture, even if you don’t have a very active day. 6.Get a physical therapy consultation - If your aches and pains are persistent and aren’t going away despite your best efforts, it may be time to consult a physical therapist. They will help you determine the best course of action for your specific needs. How Physical Therapy Will Help A consultation with a physical therapist will allow you to address the issues that you’re facing. It is always better to figure out the cause of your pain early on, rather than waiting until it gets worse. The earlier you make an appointment, the easier the treatment will be. Your physical therapist will give you a muscle and joint evaluation to discover problem areas and determine exactly what may be causing your aches and pains. From there, they will create a personalized treatment plan for you that will help alleviate your aches. They are dedicated to your progress and genuinely want to see you feel better - so why wait? Say goodbye to your daily aches and pains with physical therapy today!
EXERCISE ESSENTIALS
TRY THIS EXERCISE TO STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE
CORE KICKOUTS Start by lying on your back with your knees bent to 90-degrees and your feet on the floor. Slowly kick one leg straight out and then bring it back in. Repeat on the other side. Make sure to keep your abdominals braced. Repeat 3 sets, 10 reps each.
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4 WAYS TO MAKE HYDRATION A HABIT
If you’re an elderly adult, it’s especially important to pay attention to hydration. Aging impairs the body’s natural thirst mechanisms, which makes it easier to become dehydrated. These tips should make hydration a habit in your life. Remember to always keep a water bottle as a physical reminder to drink even if you’re not thirsty.
Many people are so busy that they barely have time to eat, let alone pause for a water break, and you may find that you often go hours and hours without quenching your thirst. But staying hydrated has real advantages, including helping you maintain your energy and focus. It’s important to give your drinking habits the attention they deserve. Here are some simple ways to stay hydrated this summer. 1. Always carry a water bottle. If you have a bottle within arm’s reach, it’s very likely that you’ll mindlessly sip from it throughout the day, without having to make a conscious effort. 2. When you’re feeling frazzled, grab a glass of cold water. Studies show that people instantly feel more alert after drinking H2O. 3. Sip on a mug of herbal tea every evening. If you make this a habit, you’ll add an extra cup of fluid to your body every single day. 4. Eat a diet rich in whole foods. By eating foods like vegetables, fruits, and yogurt, you’ll automatically up your fluid intake.
HEALTHY RECIPE
Spring Vegetable Tart
lengthwise with a mandoline • 1 1/2 c goat cheese • Extra virgin olive oil
• 2 sheets puff pastry • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 5 oz vegetable dip
• Balsamic vinegar glaze • Mixed herbs, to serve
• 6 baby zucchini, halved lengthwise • 3-4 yellow squash, thinly sliced with a mandoline • 1 bunch asparagus, thinly sliced
Preheat oven to 395°F. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. To make tart case, place pastry sheets side by side on the lined tray. Brush egg wash along the long edge of one sheet, then overlap with the other by 1” to create a large single sheet. Fold and pinch all four sides to make a 1” border, pushing down to seal. Brush border with egg wash. Using a fork, prick the base of the tart all over. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes, until golden. Remove from oven and spread base of pastry with dip. Meanwhile, place vegetables in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over vegetables, steep for 1 min to blanch, then drain and pat dry with paper towel. Scatter vegetables over tart and crumble over goat’s cheese. Drizzle with oil and vinegar glaze. Serve with mixed herbs.
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