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PRO PT PRESS
May 2021
Preventing a Common Pain Thoughts and Tips on Addressing Arthritis
One benefit of my job is that I get to see a lot of people, meaning I get more data than most people do when it comes to certain subjects. That’s how I’ve noticed that in my patients 50 years and older, the most common underlying issue they have is arthritis. In fact, most people in that age group have some kind of either early onset arthritis or just “plain old regular” arthritis. That said, there’s nothing “regular” about the daily pain of living with these conditions, common or not. And, in my experience, a lot can be done about it — without resorting to “last ditch” efforts like getting surgeries, which are sometimes billed to patients as appropriate intermediate responses to arthritis. Like anything, arthritis relief begins with prevention, and this is where our “younger” readers really need to pay attention. The choices we make when we are young will be a big factor in whether we develop arthritis later on or not — as well as the severity of the condition. People who do a lot of repetitive motions are perhaps the most at risk — manual laborers, for example, but also barbers and hairdressers, and even hands-on therapists and doctors like the ones here in our practice — an irony not lost on us, I can assure you! The next risk factor may really surprise you, and that’s having very athletic, high-impact chapters in your life when you’re young. It’s great to be in shape, but some sports are more damaging to the body than others. More to the
If we’re treating you for an injury separate from arthritis, one of the most important things to do is make sure that you heal 100% and don’t let off on your therapy efforts until you have as much mobility and range of motion as possible. Poorly healed injuries are a leading cause of arthritis! Two further risk factors in developing arthritis are obesity and smoking. Did you know that smokers heal much slower from injuries — almost half as fast in some cases — from the smallest cuts to career-ending catastrophes? Weight, of course, impacts everything we do, and putting too much stress on our joints and bones will catch up with us. All of this is well and good, but what if you already have arthritis? You can actually start with smoking and weight: If you want relief from this condition, get down to a manageable and healthy weight and quit smoking. Your body will thank you! Another great idea is to come into a clinic like ours for pain relief. As you know, we have a wide variety of ways to treat arthritis based on type, location in the body, age, etc. It’s something that many of my patients struggle with, whether that’s their primary reason for seeing us or not, and something we’ve got a lot of experience handling. One thing I don’t usually recommend for arthritis, except in specific last-resort cases, is surgery. I know that it may seem easier than therapy, but you’ll still need therapy to heal and keep your range of motion after any operation. You’d be amazed at what a few months of dedicated physical therapy can do — even in cases deemed too advanced for anything but surgical treatment. Whatever you do, don’t let arthritis go unaddressed. It’s a common pain, but it’s one that you can absolutely mitigate and relieve through smart choices, dedicated therapy, and a bit of regular hard work. I know that each and every one of you is capable of that!
point, the way you decide to approach injuries is very important. You don’t have to be a football player to break a foot; you can do that playing golf! But your next decisions matter. Will you “run it off” or treat it with the seriousness injuries deserve? You might be able to ignore it, but let it go untreated, and you’ll be at much higher risk for arthritis in the future.
–Dr. Stacey Raybuck Schatz
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PATIENT of the MONTH Karen McLaughlin AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Straighten the Slouch
3 TOOLS TO HELP YOU PERFECT YOUR POSTURE
Slumping our shoulders is a form of poor posture that often results in neck, shoulder, and back pain. It can be a hard habit to break, so sometimes people need a little more than self- correction to improve their posture. Enter posture correctors: tools specifically
designed to help correct a person’s posture. Though they should not be used regularly, they can help
“Heart disease through family genetics has struck my family for years. As my grandfather passed at the age of 37 from heart disease, so had my mother at the age of only 35. After having five children, four boys and myself as the only daughter, my mom was a very busy person, while also holding a part-time job waitressing at night. The disease took her from us one night suddenly. At the age of 19, I then was diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Later years, we realized it was genetic. One of my daughters has the gene and two of her children also have the gene. I pray research develops a cure before my daughter or grandchildren suffer from heart disease. Thank you for helping me become well again. You were all wonderful!” -Karen Karen is recovering from shoulder surgery and is making great progress. From the first day in her sling, to pushing to gain more mobility, and now finishing up the last bit of strengthening, she has always been so positive! Her dedication to get better even when life gets in the way makes her the perfect choice for Patient of the Month! As she gets down to the wire, we are very happy for her, though we will miss her wonderful personality when she graduates. Congrats, Karen! You are almost there! We at Professional Physical Therapy would be honored to donate to the charity of your choice if you become our next Patient of the Month!
remind your body of what a correct posture is and how to maintain it without support. Here are three correctors that can help you.
Truweo This supporter is for anyone who is on a small budget and looking to improve their posture. The Truweo posture corrector is used by wrapping around the shoulders — both over and under clothing — and can be adjusted for optimum comfort. It is lightweight, breathable, washable, and can be worn for all activities. Whether you are sitting at a desk, working out, or walking, Truweo will be there to offer you the extra support you need. Find it now on Amazon! Forme Wearing both a corrector and a bra can be uncomfortable, which is why Forme is perfect for anyone hoping to avoid that discomfort. The Forme sports bra offers an under-bust band for posture improvement and also includes eight functional panels to help you stay comfortable, especially during physical activity. You can find this and other health-conscious clothing items at Forme.science. Aspen If you need lower-back support, this posture corrector is a great choice. Easily fitted under or over clothes, this device can ease back pain caused by fatigued muscles, spasms, or flare-ups in addition to offering lumbar support. The Aspen Lumbar Support is completely adjustable, so you are in control of the amount of pressure applied. To learn more about this item, visit the Aspen website at AspenMP.com. Before deciding which corrector you should use, talk to your doctor. They can help you choose the best option for this journey of posture correction and overall health improvement.
2 www.proptinc.com • 508-528-6100
Relieving Pain Since 1992
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from the injury itself, but even if it is from the arthritis, an improperly or poorly healed injury is a risk factor for developing arthritis in the first place. If that injury, say a knee dislocation or a “strained” back, had been treated correctly, you’d have a better prognosis and would have little — or no — pain. Another factor in treating injuries and pain of all kinds is that one injury often leads to another. We see this with knee and back injuries the most, which is why we gave that hypothetical phrase above. Not only will that dislocated knee put you at higher risk for arthritis 20 years down the line, but not healing it correctly will also have effects a lot sooner. You may develop a limp or a slightly different way of carrying yourself because of the pain that remains — pain that would have been gone had we healed it correctly instead. That change in how you move means that you’re now using muscles that you’ve never used before to stabilize, support, and mobilize. In turn, that puts you at risk for a different injury, like a strained back. Now, you have two injuries that aren’t healing right! And again, this is especially common with knee and back injuries because those parts of your body carry the weight and are very active, meaning a change there will result in changes everywhere! So now, years later, you come in to be seen for arthritis, knee pain, or perhaps because you’ve re-injured that same knee — eventually, you’ll need medical care one way or another. And this is where the chicken and the egg come in: You’ve got arthritis, knee pain, back pain, and possibly something else as well — like a broken or sprained wrist from falling when you re-injured your knee. Technically, you’re seeking medical treatment for the broken wrist — which is an acute injury that can be fixed — but what
about the underlying things that caused the injury in the first place? If we don’t treat them, you’re likely to come back to us again, just with a new injury. The “chicken and the egg” of it all is one thing that makes our job tricky, but it’s a challenge worth overcoming. We may not be able to treat everything the way it should have been treated back when it first happened, but we can untangle the web of cause and effect a bit and start to make things better. And if you have a fresh injury, it’s high time to get it looked at and spare yourself years of related injury and chronic pain. Either way, there is no point in putting off medical treatment for these sorts of things. It’s time to break the chicken and the egg cycle for good!
Grilled Corn With Plant-Based Aioli
HowAre You Feeling?
Inspired by SimpleVeganBlog.com
INGREDIENTS
• 4 ears corn, unhusked • 1 clove garlic • 1/4 cup unsweetened soy milk • 1/2 cup sunflower oil • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar • Sea salt, to taste • 1/2 cup raw spinach
Really, we want to know. Many of us started 2021 with goals and a good feeling about the year — but by now, we may be sidetracked, totally busy, or even injured. At Professional Physical Therapy, we’re here to help you get back on track, no matter what you need to make it happen. From feet to neck, and everything in between, we have the tools to leave you ready and eager for summer to begin. It’s important to remember that pain is the body’s way of telling us “stop!” and there’s a difference between the burning that comes with regular exercise and the constant, worsening sharp pain of an injury. If your body is telling you something, do yourself a favor and schedule your next appointment by calling our office at 508-507-6100.
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot, boil corn for 30 minutes. 2. In a large blender or food processor, add garlic, soy milk, sunflower oil, vinegar, and salt. Combine until smooth by pulsing the blades. 3. Once the aioli mixture is blended, add raw spinach and blend again. 4. Drain corn and transfer to the grill for 10 minutes, rotating as necessary. 5. Taste aioli for consistency and flavor. Add more milk or oil to thicken it and add more salt to taste. 6. Top corn with aioli and serve.
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Inside This Issue
Tips on Addressing Arthritis
1
Patient of the Month The Support Your Posture Needs
2
Grilled Corn With Plant-Based Aioli
3
How Knee and Back Pain Lead to Other Problems
4
The Chicken and the Egg HOW KNEE AND BACK PAIN LEAD TO OTHER PROBLEMS
Sometimes in physical therapy, we talk about the chicken and the egg.
You’ve heard the riddle, of course — which came first, the chicken or the egg? Without the egg, you can’t grow a chicken. But without a chicken, who will lay that egg? It’s the kind of wordplay and logic teaser that’s delighted children (and adults) for centuries, and while it lacks a certain scientific approach, it works very well as a metaphor for common real- life conundrums. What the riddle really means is that often, when we’re faced with a problem, it’s hard to separate cause and effect, to see what came first and what caused what. Arthritis, which I mentioned in our cover letter, is a great example of this. Do you have arthritis because of an old injury, or is the pain actually just the arthritis itself? It’s a complicated web, which is why people in our line of work attend school and study for years just to help untangle that web and give you the right treatment the first time around.
Still, things go much easier if you come in and get seen sooner rather than later. The pain at the site of that old injury may be from the arthritis or
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Relieving Pain Since 1992
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