Tim Golder, PT, DPT Tim is a therapist at our Glen Mills clinic location Read his full profile here: FEATURED PT
Neck Pain 101
1. How did you decide to become a physical therapist and what motivates you to work with patients? I decided to become a physical therapist when I was in college at Penn State. During my junior year, I took a functional human anatomy class and absolutely loved it! I have always been into fitness and staying active,
and physical therapy seemed like the obvious choice. There was a time when I did consider going into business rather than going to graduate school, but I soon realized that I would not survive working a desk job! When working with patients, helping them get back to what they love to do is a huge motivator for me. As I mentioned previously, staying active has always been a focal point in my daily life. Therefore, it is easy for me to relate to patients who are limited in their ability to do the things they love – getting these patients back to those activities is my number one goal! 2. In your words, what makes Excel Physical Therapy different from other physical therapy clinics? Excel Physical Therapy’s emphasis on quality patient care and hands on, manual therapy is what makes this clinic stand out from the rest. Additionally, Excel’s model of care allows each therapist to spend the time they need to get patients better faster. 3. What was your most memorable patient experience? My most memorable patient experience is when one of my patient’s gave me two pairs of patterned socks on her discharge day! Anyone who works with me knows how much I love my socks – it was a great gift! 4. If you could be any animal, what would it be and why? If I could be any animal, it would be my dog Henry. He has the best life of anyone that I know and is literally treated like a king! 5. If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why? Perfectionist. I am extremely detail oriented in everything that I do, whether it be at work or at home. 6. What do you like to do in your off time, outside the clinic? In my off time, I love to do anything outdoors, specifically hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, and hunting. I also enjoy spending time with my family and my dog. This November, I am going to Utah with my sister for a week to hike at many of the National Parks in the area!
In many situations, pain that develops in the neck can be associated with one of two major problems. The first is upper-back pain that begins to radiate into the neck. The second is arthritis. Physical therapy can be used to address both types of neck pain. Cervical arthritis causes frequent aches in the neck and shoulders. This pain is generally worse when there are sudden changes in weather or at the end of the day, and while over-the-counter medication may make the pain less severe, it won’t eliminate the pain entirely. The biggest problem posed by cervical arthritis is that the pain will typically cause a loss of range of motion in the neck, which actually increases your risk of injury as a result of a sudden movement. Further, it can cause regular discomfort and frustration, as you are not able to utilize your neck in the way you normally could. There are plenty of situations in which pain in the neck as a result of cervical arthritis grows so severe that it can cause chronic poor posture and even a reduction in height. Addressing the Core Problem The majority of neck and head pain can be helped with one simple strategy: strength building. Often, the cause at the start of a pain in the neck or head is a result of poor posture or quickened motion, and building core strength, as well as strength in the neck, can make a huge difference in your ability to handle tasks without experiencing chronic pain. Keep in mind that the neck and head are sensitive areas, so attempting to treat the pain at home can be dangerous and may not be effective. Working with a physical therapist is the safest way to ensure that you are practicing positive techniques to find relief from your aches and pains. If you are suffering with pain and want to improve your neck and shoulder strength, call us today to learn how we can help you!
www.excelphysicaltherapy.com
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