AgeWell Physical Therapy & Wellness Newsletter
LIFE IS GOOD WITHOUT NECK PAIN
Neck pain can be a constant ache or sharp pain with movement, stopping you from enjoying life’s activities. Neck pain is very common affecting approximately two-thirds of the population at one point or another. People with neck pain suffer mainly from one of the following conditions: (Read more inside...)
I N S I D E LIFE IS GOOD WITHOUT NECK PAIN
ARE YOU HURTING YOUR NECK WHILE YOU SLEEP? EXERCISE ESSENTIALS
N E W S L E T T E R
LIFE IS GOOD WITHOUT NECK PAIN
(Continued from outside)
Degenerative Disc Disease The discs are the fluid-filled sacs between the bones of your neck. The normal aging process shrinks the discs and dries them out. Repeated stress and strain also weakens the tissues that make up a disc. When this happens, the disc loses its ability to absorb shock. In turn, this causes rubbing and changes in the shape of the joints in your neck, which can be painful. Muscle Strain When there is an injury to the neck or you overuse the shoulder and neck muscles, a strain can occur. When this happens, the neck muscles may go into spasm to help support and protect the sore area. Mechanical Neck Pain Mechanical pain usually starts from changes in the neck joints. As discs start to collapse, the space between the neck bones narrows, and the joints may become inflamed. The pain is usually chronic and is typically felt in the middle part of the neck. However, it may spread from the neck into the upper back or to the outside of the shoulder in some cases.
Radiculopathy Pressure or irritation on or around the nerves of the neck can affect the nerves’ electrical signals. The pressure or irritation can be felt as numbness on the skin, weakness in the muscles or pain along the path of the nerve. Weakness in the spine muscles can cause abnormal pressure on the nerves and increased chance of radiculopathy. If you are suffering from neck pain, our SPINE Program is ideal to quickly relieve your pain and prevent it from returning. From long-term neck pain, to recovering from a complicated surgery, we can relieve your pain quickly, returningyournatural mobilityand strength. Our treatments are designed to help ease pain and to improve flexibility, strength, posture and function. We even teach you how to protect your neck in the years ahead.
Look inside to learnmore about our SPINEProgram and say good-bye to that aching neck!
Get Moving Today with AgeWell Physical Therapy! • Call 516.488.8808 to talk with your physical therapist!
A R E Y O U H U R T I N G Y O U R N E C K WH I L E Y O U S L E E P ?
We spend one-third of our lives sleeping. Therefore, howyou sleep and the bed you sleep on can have a dramatic effect on the support ofyourbody.When you sleep you need to be aware of how your neck and spine are supported. There are many different types of beds on the market todaywhich can be very confusing for consumers. The best type of bed is the one that you try out and feel most comfortable using. Typically, a bed that is firm underneath, with a softer top helps to provide support as well as contour your body. If your mattress is old, then think about investing in a newone so that your neck and spine are supported well. The best positions to sleep in for your spine are on your back or sides.Avoid sleeping on your stomach since your spine ends up twisted, especially your neck. Over the hours of repetitive sleeping on your stomach, you can damage the joints of your spine and compress the nerves exiting your spine. Use a pillow to help support your body and take the weight of your legs off your spine. If you like to sleep on your back, place a pillow under the backs of your thighs and knees. This should place your knees in a slight, supported bend which takes pressure off your lower back. If you sleep on your side, be sure to put a pillow between your knees. This helps keep the alignment of your spine, and takes the pressure of your upper leg off the spine.
Have 1-2 pillows underyour head to keep your neck in proper alignment. If you need 2 pillows stagger them so that one pillow overlaps the other by one half. The lower half goes under the shoulders, while the upper half supports the neck. Our physical therapists at AgeWell can show you exercises, stretches and techniques to relieve your pain and prevent it from returning. If you are suffering with neck or back pain, call us today to learn more about how we can relieve your pain, returning you to a more active, pain-free life! Call AgeWell Physical Therapy at 516.488.8808 to schedule an appointment and help relieve your aching neck pain. everyone works together towards the common goal of improving the quality of life of the patients. When Grace is not at AgeWell or taking college classes, she can be found at the gym or at dance team practice. Grace is dedicated to staying in top physical shape, for both her competitive dancing and for her own health and wellness. Grace has had her share of sports injuries. In fact, years before Grace was an employee of AgeWell, she was a patient of AgeWell. Grace has rehabilitated multiple injuries of her own at AgeWell and has gained insight into the patient experience. This insight allows her to better assist the patients as they work toward achieving their own unique therapy goals.
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S TA F F SPOT L I GH T
This month AgeWell and LiveWell are pleased to highlight one of the youngest members of the team. For nearly two years, Grace Jakob from Floral Park has been a therapy tech and a valuable contributor to the quality care provided by AgeWell Physical Therapy and LiveWell Occupational Therapy.
Grace presently works part time as she continues to take college classes towards her ultimate career goal of pediatric nurse oncology. Grace enjoys her work at AgeWell and learning about a host of different injuries and diagnoses. She most enjoys the positive working relationship she has with her co-workers and how
AgeWell and LiveWell recognize the value Grace brings to the therapy office and feel fortunate to have her on the team. We are pleased to continue to work with Grace and wish her success as she continues to pursue her long term educational and athletic goals.
WHAT OUR PAT I ENT S AR E SAY I NG
RECEIVE THERAPY IN YOUR HOME! AgeWell PT and LiveWell OT offer in-home physical therapy and occupational therapy services. If you have difficulty traveling or leaving your home, these services are for you! These services are also covered by Medicare. I N - OF F I CE SPECIAL TEST ING SERV I CES AgeWell PT offers in-house electrodiagnostic testing and musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound testing for all of our patients. We hope our therapy patients take advantage of these tests to improve their rate of recovery and therapy outcome.
In this month’s ‘Patient of the Month’ feature, we are pleased to highlight a kind and giving person and one of our long time therapy patients. Naomi W. of Great Neck first came to AgeWell several years ago at her doctor’s recommendation. Over the years Naomi has had multiple courses of therapy following multiple surgeries and episodes of back pain. During all these episodes of care, Naomi worked hard and was dedicated to her exercises. She recovered her strength and independence and now comes to Age Well to maintain her mobility and function. For many years, and
despite undergoing multiple orthopaedic surgeries, Naomi has donated her time and expertise to The Nassau County Museum of Art where she serves as a docent. Naomi believes strongly in community service. She indicates that her post-surgical therapy at AgeWell helped her regain her strength and her current therapy is helping her remain independent. This has allowed her to continue to engage in her volunteer work which is so important to her. Naomi is a pleasure to be around and inspires the staff of AgeWell Physical Therapy to remember the importance of community service and to continue to think of others even when we are faced with our own challenges. Our office feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve Naomi over the years and we would like to thank her for the example she sets and for her years of volunteer work . Well done Naomi!
SPR I NG A SPARAGUS R I SOT TO INGREDIENTS • 4 cups (1-inch) slices asparagus
• 2 cups uncooked Arborio rice • 1/2 cup dry white wine • 1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream • 1 tsp salt & pepper
• 3 cups fat-free, less- sodium chicken broth • 1 1/2 cups water • 1 tbsp butter • 2 cups chopped onion (about 1 large)
Place 1 cup asparagus and 1 cup broth in a blender; puree until smooth. Combine puree, remaining 2 cups broth, and 1 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer (do not boil). Keep warm over low heat. Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add onion to pan; cook 8 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine; cook 2 minutes or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 cup broth mixture; cook 2 minutes or until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining puree mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of broth is absorbed before adding the next (about 30 minutes total). Stir in remaining 3 cups asparagus; cook 2 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup cheese, cream, salt, and pepper. Transfer risotto to a bowl. Serve with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
REFER A FR I END!
E X E R C I S E E S S E N T I A L S GOOD STRETCH IF YOU SIT AT A COMPUTER ALL DAY
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LEVATOR SCAPULAE STRETCH
Grasp your arm on the affected side and tilt your head downward into the armpit. Use your opposite hand to guide your head further into the stretch..
Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are
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unsure of doing. Exercisescopyrightof
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