Axcess PT: Life Doesn't Have to Be a Pain in the Neck

The Axcess Bulletin by Axcess Physical Therapy

The Bulletin The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

LifeDoesn't HaveToBeAPain InTheNeck

JULY 2018

INSIDE: Arthritis In The Neck Patient Success Spotlights ExerciseEssentials

Having frequent headaches and neck pain can literally be a pain in the neck, make you less happy and less productive in life. Why do you have that pain in your neck? More often than not it is caused by amuscle or joint problem. Poor posture in the upper neck area can often contribute to headaches, migraines and neck pain. (continued inside)

www.axcesspt.com

The Axcess Bulletin The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body JULY 2018

Aaron Fuerst PT, DPT, CWCE, FAAOMPT If you have pain, you shouldn’t ignore it. We can help you feel better fast!

LifeDoesn't HaveToBeAPain InTheNeck

When you look in the mirror do you notice that you have a forward head postureor does your head looka littleshiftedoff to theside, not in alignment with your neck? Where Radiating Headaches Come From. Different problems with the neck movement will cause pain to be felt in different areas. For example did you know that ifyourpain radiates to the foreheadorbehind theeyes, thiscanbe from “stuck” joints at the top of your neck? Poor movement causes stresses and strains on surrounding muscle and tissue causing irritation that affects the nerves in the area. The next level down, called C2, will often radiate pain to the side of the face / head and back scalp area. Finding the Root of the Problem. To narrow the source of the problem, it is important to find out if your pain worsens towards the end of the day or is first thing in the morning. Pain at the end of the day and a complaint of

a “heavy head” feeling is an indicator of spinal muscle weakness and spine instability.Theneckandshouldermuscles justcan’t tolerate theweightof the head (about the weight of a bowling ball) with daily activities, tiring quickly. Pain in the morning that may radiate to the shoulders or down the arms can beassociatedwith thediscsbetweenyourneckbones (vertebrae),especially if thatpain is radiating.What is thebestcourseofaction?Thebestsolution if you have neck pain or headaches is to see a physical therapist. Our physical therapists are experts in evaluating your neck joints and muscles. We help you return the normal movement of your neck joints andmuscles gently and safely, relieving your pain. If you are having headaches or neck pain, discover our programs today and learn more about quickly relieving your pain.

Quote of TheMonth: “Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” - Helen Keller

The problem with arthritis is the loss of range of motion in the neck joints. As bone wears on bone, the surface of the bones actually start to change shape. This thins the bones in the neck in some parts leading to a loss of height between the bones. Due to abnormal wear and tear, new bone forms where it shouldn’t, creeping into the holes where the spinal cord passes through. Inaddition itcan rubon thenervesout toyourneck,shoulders,arms and even hands. This can lead to a condition called cervical spinal stenosis, which can be quite painful. What can be done to help neck arthritis? While pain medications can help control pain, they don’t address the root cause of the pain, which is poor strength and lack of normal movement. The neck joints on the side of the spine normally experience wear and tear over the years. However, when this wear and tear is accelerated due to poor posture, weakness or injury, this can lead to limited, painful range of motion. In addition, with neck arthritis, the smaller muscles that guide the motions of the neck become weaker, eventually leading to more rubbing and arthritis. By gently stretching these tightand restricted jointswithspecifichandson therapyandexercises, range ofmotioncanbereturned.Whilephysical therapycannotrestore thecartilage or change the bony structure, it can certainly help your neck move better, becomestronger, reducepainandgiveyou thepower tostayhealthier longer. Try this simple test. See if you have restricted cervical joints. Stand with your back against the wall. Can you touch the back of your head to the wall while keeping your chin level? If you cannot, then your neck joints are limited and you need physical therapy to restore the range of motion. Arthritis In The Neck Virtually unheard of two years ago, “text neck” is a repetitive strain injury that’s becoming more common as more people hunch over smartphones. Aggravating muscle pain in the neck and shoulders, and sometimes lower back, is occurring even in teens and adolescents. How can using a smartphone or other mobile device cause so much hurt? It’s all in how you look at it. Literally. Looking down, dropping your head forward, changes the natural curvature of your neck. Over time, that misalignment can strain muscles and cause wear and tear on the structures of the neck. Three things happen when you drop your head: 1. Your neck moves forward. 2. Your shoulders round forward or lift up toward your ears. 3. Your neck and shoulder muscles spasm (contract). Besides muscle pain, text neck can cause a host of other health concerns. Sitting in a slumped position restricts your lungs’ ability to expand, impairing your lung capacity. Inhaling less oxygen means your heart needs to pump harder to distribute more oxygen-carrying blood through your body.

Is your neck pain affecting your balance? Have you ever seen a person with their head protruding forward and their body bent over? This can be subtle or quite noticeable. With neck pain, limited neck posture results in loss of balance. Just pull anyone by their nose and you will see they will falter forward. This is because the normal lines of gravity through the body change when the spine posture changes. If you or someone you know has poor balance, it could be a problem with their posture. Get your neck moving and feeling better. Call us to learn more about our programs today!

Is Your Smartphone Causing Your Neck Pain?

Three tricks to nix text neck 1. Straighten up. Learn proper posture and neck alignment by peeking at your profile in a mirror. If you’re standing correctly, you should be able to draw a vertical line from your ear to your shoulder. 2. Arch back. If your posture isn’t perfect, try doing shoulder extensions. Arch your neck and upper back backward, pulling your shoulders into alignment under your ears. This simple stretch can alleviate stress and muscle pain. 3. Look forward. Rather than tilting your chin down to read your mobile device, raise the device to eye level. The same goes for your desktop computer. Your monitor screen should be at eye level so your head isn’t perpetually dropping and causing muscle strain.

4

6

2

1 6

Fun & Games

http://1sudoku.com Patient Success Spotlights

n° 318548 - LevelHard

http://1sudoku.com

n° 310547 - LevelHard

We can help with more than just neck pain. Check out some of our other patient success stories!

3 8

4

3 1

9 7

1 4 6 2

5 3 2 9 6 5 7 3 2 1 5 8 9

5 3 8 1 7

6

9

5 6 3 7 2

8 3 4 8 1 3 5 6 1

3 7 5 4

2 3

1 2

4 1

8

http://1sudoku.com

n° 36953 - LevelHard

http://1sudoku.com

n° 315994 - LevelHard

“Before I received treatment for my achilles tendonitis I was experiencing pain and stiffness throughout the day. After receiving physical therapy I am now able to perform my daily activities pain free.” - Christina A. “I am now able to performmy daily activities pain free.”

n° 315994 Berry Oatmeal Smoothie Healthy Recipe

Play on your mobile these puzzles and find their solutions by flashing the codes below : n°318548 n° 310547 n° 36953

• ⅓ cup quick-cooking rolled oats • ½ cup light almond milk • ¾ cup fresh strawberries • ½ cup fresh dark sweet cherries

• 1-2 tbsp almond butter • 1 tbsp honey • ½ cup small ice cubes

Page 1/1 - Check solutions, print more free sudoku and play online : http://1sudoku.com

In a medium bowl combine water and oats. Microwave 1 minute. Stir in ¼ cup of the milk. Microwave 30 to 50 seconds more or until oats are very tender. Cool 5 minutes. In a blender combine oat mixture, the remaining ¼ cup milk, and the next four ingredients (through honey). Cover and blend until smooth, scraping container as needed. Add ice cubes; cover and blend until smooth. If desired, top each serving with additional fruit.

Exercise Essential

Helps Improve Neck Pain

Exercisescopyrightof

“My situation was different in that I was not experiencing pain in my knee when I came but I feared doing certain things not wanting to cause pain. After going through therapy I was willing to try things again. I definitely saw a change in my knee strength and stability. I feel better about engaging in running and kneeling.” - Gary H. “I feel better about engaging in running and kneeling.”

www.simpleset.net

CERVICAL ROTATION Turn your head towards the side, then return back to looking straight ahead.

www.axcesspt.com

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

www.axcesspt.com

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker