Newsletter for Garber Physical Therapy
NEWS L E T T ER
SEPTEMBER 2020
We are a VA Participating Provider DO YOU KNOWWHAT’S CAUSING YOUR SHOULDER PAIN?
INSIDE: • Common Conditions That May Be Causing Your Shoulder Pain • Being Grateful is Good For You! • Exercise Essential
HEALTH & WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health & Caring for Your Body
DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR SHOULDER PAIN?
Did you know that your shoulders are your most flexible and movable joints? Your shoulders have to move through an incredible 180 degrees of motion, while still maintaining stability and strength. The shoulder joint acts like a ball in a very shallow socket that is part of the shoulder blade. Some of the most important muscles in the rotator cuff are actually the smallest. The rotator cuff is made up of 4 muscles that are small, but vital to keeping the ball stable in the socket. When these muscles are weak or injured, the ball can jam up into the socket of the shoulder blade, causing inflammation and pain. Your shoulders are extremely complex, comprised of multiple muscles, tendons, and bones. They provide you with the mobility you need to perform many of your tasks throughout the day. If you have been living with shoulder pain, you can find natural relief with our physical therapy services. To learn more about how we can help you get back to your daily life, free of shoulder pains, contact Garber Physical Therapy today! Understanding your shoulder pain: Your shoulder is a “ball-and-socket joint,” meaning that the humerus (head of the upper arm bone) fits perfectly
in the corresponding space within the scapula (shoulder blade). Each end of the bone is protected by a thick layer of cartilage that prevents the bones from rubbing together. Your shoulders can accomplish several physical feats due to their structure - however, this also means that they are susceptible to an increased risk of injury because of their complexity. If something becomes damaged in the make- up of the shoulders, pain and discomfort can develop. This pain may range from a dull ache to shooting pains, depending on the severity of the condition. If your pain is stemming from tendon impingement, it will generally occur as you lift your arm, fading before it is raised completely skyward. If your pain is a result of shoulder degeneration, it is likely that you will feel persistent aches every time you move your arm in certain directions. Pain from an acute injury can be sudden and intense, making it difficult for you to move your shoulder at all.
Have shoulder pain that won’t go away? We want to help you! Call us at 864-583-6420 (Spartanburg) or 864-469-9936 (Greer)
Call Garber Physical Therapy to talk with your physical therapist today!
3. If further assessment is
1. Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist.
2. Your therapist will tell you the possible causes of your pain as well as precautions you can take at home.
warranted, your therapist might recommend you come in for an appointment.
Common Conditions That May Be Causing Your Shoulder Pain
• Strains and sprains. A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is stretched too far or torn. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched too far or torn. Strains and sprains can result in an ongoing shoulder pain that may make it difficult to partake in exercise or even daily tasks. If the strain or sprain is minor, it can sometimes be iced at home and healed with rest. More severe strains and sprains will often require physical therapy treatments. • Torn cartilage. When a cartilage tears, you may experience a number of painful symptoms. You may experience decreased strength and a limited range of motion in the affected shoulder. You may also experience pain when moving your arm in certain ways. If you are suffering from a torn cartilage, physical therapy can provide relief. • Dislocation. Dislocation of the shoulder occurs when the head of the humerus pops out of place. This type of injury is extremely painful and unfortunately makes you more vulnerable to recurrence after the first dislocation occurs. • Arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the shoulder joint experiences significant “wear and tear,” typically due to age or excessive overuse. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system sees the joints as a threat. The immune system attacks the membranes surrounding the shoulder joint, resulting in pain and inflammation. • Tendinitis. Tendinitis in the shoulder joint occurs when the joint is excessively overused. Symptoms include swelling and painful impingement when raising the affected arm. This typically happens due to the demands
of a sport or labor-intensive job, which can cause the tendons to experience ongoing inflammation. • Frozen shoulder. Medically referred to as “adhesive capsulitis,” frozen shoulder can occur if you have been bedridden for an extended period of time or if your arm has been in a cast or sling for a while. When you don’t have opportunities to exercise the shoulder, the tissues can stiffen up on you, thus causing this painful condition to occur. Find effective shoulder pain relief today: Two of the biggest goals of physical therapy are 1) to alleviate your pain and 2) to improve your function. Your physical therapist will work with you to make sure that both of these are achieved throughout your physical therapy sessions. Your physical therapist will design a treatment plan specifically for you, whichwill include targeted stretches and exercises. It may also include any additional methods or modalities that your physical therapist deems fit, including ice and heat therapies, manual therapy, ultrasound, aquatic therapy, or electrical nerve stimulation. There are a wide range of conditions that can be treatedwith the help of physical therapy. If you are living with shoulder pain, don’t let it limit your life any longer! Findnatural, safe, and effective relief with Garber Physical Therapy today!
Staff Spotlight Monica Aguilera, PT Tech
Monica is part of the staff at Garber Physical Therapy since May 11, 2016. Went to Palm Beach State and Virginia College for a degree in Medical Billing and Coding where she learned all necessary to perform her job well and perfected at Garber. Prior to this, she worked as a CNA at Glades Health Care Center in Florida where she could care, show compassion and love for elder, as this is one of her passions. Monica is also bilingual, fluent in Spanish-English. Monica’s favorite hubbies are singing, reading, and spending quality time with her 3 kids and husband. Socializing, hardworking and caring for others are her greatest strengths. Garber Physical Therapy have been a life changing for her in every aspect and will always be in her heart.
Find out more about our awesome team by visiting garberphysicaltherapy.com
Being Grateful is Good For You!
Exercise Essential
Gratitude and health Feeling thankful can improve your health in both direct and indirect ways. Some research shows that the experience of gratitude can induce a sense of relaxation, improve the immune system, and decrease blood pressure. But grateful people also tend to cultivate better health habits, like eating more nutritious food, exercising, and
ignore these small moments of positivity in our day as we rush from one activity to another, but stopping to appreciate them makes them more powerful. Gratitude and resilience Practicing gratitude can also make you better equipped to handle the difficulties of life that inevitably
arise. In fact, according to Emmons, it’s an essential part of the process of healing fromtrauma. Even despair can be mitigated by the experience of appreciation for the good, however slight it might be. Many survivors of the Holocaust, when asked to tell their stories,
avoiding risky behaviors. In addition, the optimism that stems from gratitude can create a healing attitude: research shows that people with optimistic attitudes have better outcomes after
FOUR POINT + ARM RAISE
medical procedures. Gratitude and joy
remember most strongly the feelings of gratitude for food, shelter, or clothing that was offered to them. This sense of thankfulness for the small blessings helped them maintain their humanity despite experiencing a horrific tragedy. Many people with life-threatening illnesses also report decreased distress and increased positive emotions when they practice gratitude. Recent MRI studies have mapped the gratitude circuitry in the brain, which activates a sense of reward, fairness, and decision-making—all aspects that help facilitate survival and post- traumatic growth.
Did You Know? We Can Also Treat: • Arthritis • Auto Accidents • Back Pain • Chronic Pain • Personnel Injuries • Post-Surgical Rehab Start on hands and knees, hips and shoulders at 90°. Lift one arm out front. Bring it back down and then repeat on opposite side. 8-10 times on both arms. This helps with tightness in the neck and shoulders.
Robert Emmons, an internationally renowned scientific expert on gratitude, has found that acknowledging the good in life has a tendency to amplify positive emotions, such as joy and contentment, because it helps us slow down. “I think gratitude allows us to participate more in life,” he says. “We notice the positives more, and that magnifies the pleasures you get from life.” Consider the last time you had a good cup of coffee—did you pay attention to the warmth of the cup on your hands, or the feeling of pleasure as you took the first sip? It’s easy to
• Hand Pain • Headaches • Neck Pain
• Sports Injuries • Vestibular Pain • Work Injuries
Garber Physical Therapy Is Still Serving You
To do your part to prevent the spread of this contagious disease, we ask patients that if you or your family are demonstrating symptoms of coronavirus— coughing, sneezing or fever—please stay home. Additionally, if you or your family has been exposed to someone who has a confirmed case of the virus, please notify us immediately, so we can take necessary steps. Your cooperation in this tough time is what makes us able to continue to provide valuable services to you and your family. We appreciate your ongoing support.
physical therapists as “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, Garber Physical Therapy will remain open and seeing patients during this time, while taking the necessary precautions to make sure everything is sanitary, and everyone is safe. Before and after every session, we are asking our clients and staff to wash or sanitize their hands. Additionally, we have increased the number of times per day that we sanitize our equipment and facility.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been causing numerous health care facilities to shut down, we as medical professionals are diligently trying to serve our patients in the best ways possible without risking the spread of this disease. The sedentary lifestyle that I’m sure many people have experienced since being quarantined to their homes can actually lead to more aches, pains, and discomfort than one may think. Fortunately, we have you covered. As some may know, the Department of Homeland Security has deemed
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