Health & Wellness Newsletter by Eastern Shore Physical Therapy
Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
Standing Tall: The Benefits of Standing Desks at Work
What’s the best desk for you? Using a standing desk as opposed to a traditional sitting desk has been proven to lower one’s chances of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Nevertheless, standing desks are not for everyone, especially those with joint or vascular conditions. You may be asking, “doesn’t standing all day long have its own implications?” The short answer is – yes. Anything without moderation can have its pitfalls. Standing can boost your energy levels, concentration, and even your mood, but if you have a traditional 9-5 job, chances are that level of productivity will dissipate after a while. Standing for too long can cause you to run out of energy quicker and can take a toll on your physical comfort. Many medical professionals recommend adjustable desks for workplace environments, so employees can spend a large amount of their day standing or stretching, with the opportunity to rest when they become tired. Making the most out of your workday: Studies suggest whether you choose a standing or adjustable desk for your work day, integrative support can be beneficial in easing yourself into the new setting. In fact, those who participated in some sort of integrative support program for their standing or adjustable desk stood for an average of 50 minutes longer each day than those who did not.
Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
COULD YOUR POSTURE BE THE REASON FOR YOUR ACHES & PAINS?
INSIDE:
•What Can I Do About It? • Healthy Recipe • Exercise Essential • Patient Success Spotlight
Do you suffer from daily or recurrent aches and pains? If so, your posture may be the culprit. Just think about the number of hours a day we spend staring at a computer screen, hunched over our desks, or staring at our phones. That creates a lot of stress on the neck and back, especially if you are slouched, titled forward, or looking down for prolonged periods of time. Changes to your posture can negatively affect your body, and you may find yourself experiencing some of the following symptoms: • If your posture contains a forward head tilt– This forward-head posture creates a strain on the neck, which can result in neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, chronic headaches, and lower back pain. Tilting your head forward for long periods of time shortens the muscles in the back of the neck, and can result in soreness throughout multiple parts of your body. • If your posture contains slouching of the mid-back – If you slouch the middle of your back, you can drive your head forward and alter the way
your ribs naturally align. By doing this, you may experience pain in the slouched region of the mid-back, in addition to pain in the neck. If this is your average standing posture, it is important to seek physical therapy treatment right away – over time, standing like this day after day may cause internal issues, as it creates pressure on your lungs, heart, and digestive system. • If your posture includes sitting for long periods of time – When you sit for prolonged periods of time, the muscles in your hips and legs will stiffen. When these muscles become stiff, they tighten and will pull on the lower back, causing pain. The joints also lose their range of motion, which can cause soreness or achiness in the hips, legs, and back, and can create issues with your gait. The way in which you walk can also have an effect on your posture. When you have improper posture, your center of gravity changes. This can cause your balance to decline, which can cause pain when walking, thus creating a vicious cycle of overcompensation and pain.
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WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
It can be difficult to correct poor posture, but there are a few steps you can take on your own to try and help: 1. Sit properly. – If you are at a desk for extended periods of the day, make sure your stance is okay. Sit upright, place your feet flat on the floor, and try not to cross your legs. Make sure there is a small gap between the back of your knees and the chair. Having a chair with strong back support and padding is also recommended for making your upright position more comfortable. 2. Take stretch breaks. – If you are an office worker, it is not secret that most of the day is spent with limited levels of mobility. It is important to make sure that you get up every 30 minutes or so, and take a small walk, at least for a minute or two. This will help in loosening up your muscles and joints, as well as initiating a stronger blood flow. 3. Exercise. – Exercise is incredibly important, especially if your job produces several hours of inactivity. When you exercise, you are stretching and strengthening certain muscles of your body, including problem areas such as your neck and back. Taking even a small amount of time to walk or jog around the neighborhood every day can highly improve your overall gait. 4. Set up your office properly. – If you work from an office all day, it is important to have a proper ergonomic setup. Make sure that you are at a proper height with your desk chair and computer, so you don’t have to slouch or lean forward. Additionally, make sure your chair has the proper lumbar support needed to help you sit straight while you’re working. These simple steps can help tremendously with your overall posture.
How can physical therapy help? If these at-home treatments don’t work, it is important to consult help from a physical therapist. Simply standing up straight is a fight against gravity, and if you have been standing the wrong way for several years, it may be difficult to change it on your own. However, physical therapists are dedicated to getting you on back on track to a pain free, and risk free life. They will evaluate your posture and gait to determine the best treatments necessary for you, and then they will create a treatment plan unique for your needs. They can improve your posture, eliminate your pain, and get you back to doing the activities you love to do. If you are experiencing pain, and you think it may be a result of your posture, give us a call today. We will help you get back to a comfortable posture with just a few sessions.
CONTACT US TODAY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT 410-641-2900!
Simple Grilled Salmon & Vegetables Eating Right Never Tasted So Good!
INGREDIENTS • 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise • 2 red, orange and/or yellow bell peppers, trimmed, halved and seeded • 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch wedges • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ tsp salt, divided • ½ tsp ground pepper • 1¼ pounds salmon fillet, cut into 4 portions • ¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil • 1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush zucchini, peppers and onion with oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt. Sprinkle salmon with pepper and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Place the vegetables and the salmon pieces, skin-side down, on the grill. Cook the vegetables, turning once or twice, until just tender and grill marks appear, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Cook the salmon, without turning, until it flakes when tested with a fork, 8 to 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, roughly chop the vegetables and toss together in a large bowl. Remove the skin from the salmon fillets (if desired) and serve alongside the vegetables. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon basil and serve with a lemon wedge.
CALL TODAY! 410.641.2900
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DISCOVER HOW TO LIVE PAIN-FREE
At Eastern Shore Physical Therapy, you will receive hands-on therapy treatments by our friendly, caring health experts during focused and individualized sessions. It’s time to get Eastern Shore Physical Therapy if: • You’re tired of living in pain • You want to feel better and move better • You have been in an auto accident or injured on the job • You want to prevent injury 1. Call and talk to your therapist 2. Discover why your pain has come back 3. Get your custom recovery program
Patient Success Spotlight
“I want to thank the entire staff at Eastern Shore Physical Therapy for their patience and excellent work on me. They got me back in shape after many injuries on the job I’ve received over the past 46 years in law enforcement. I highly recommend these professional people and what a great friendly group entering and leaving the building.” - Reggie M., Retired Sheriff They got me back in shape after many injuries on the job!
Take Care of Your Aches and Pains Before It’s Too Late.
Relieve Back Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing pain.
Don’twaituntil the lastminute!Spotsavailable for the first50people to respond! NEWUPCOMINGWORKSHOP FOR PATIENTS WITH ARTHRITIS PAIN
SEPTEMBER 7TH • 10AM
Stretches Back
www.simpleset.net
By request, we’re hosting a Arthritis Pain Workshop at Eastern Shore Physical Therapy
REPEAT TRUNK FLEXION | TO FLOOR Sit in a chair with good posture. Hands on thighs. Let your trunk sag toward the floor use your arms to control the movement. Let your arms dangle to the floor. Now use your arms to push yourself up.
If you’re confused about what to do and looking for answers, here’s some of what you’ll learn: Saturday, September 7th at 10AM
• How a problem in your spine can cause issues with your hip and knee… • What successful treatment and permanent relief looks like without the side effects of medications, injections or surgery.
Call To Reserve Your Spot! 410.641.2900 • The Single Biggest #1 Mistake patients with arthritis pain make which actually stops them from improvement in relief… • Asure-fireway topick the right treatment for the cause of your arthritis pain (and save you a ton of time & money).
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