The back is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body. You rely on it so heavily — whether it is to shoulder your emotional stresses or to physically lift something that you need to carry with you. Your back is constantly at risk when you drive, being one of the body parts likely to take the biggest impact in case of an accident. It is at risk when you are safely at home on your couch or at the office, where you are likely scrunched over and not caring one bit about your posture. It is at risk when you run, when you play sports, and even when you find yourself sick and are coughing so heavily that your back begins to hurt.
DON’T IGNORE YOUR BACK PAIN INJURIES CAN BE
A REAL PAIN IN THE BACK
INSIDE: • Getting to the Bottom of Back Pain • 6 Back Conditions You Shouldn’t Ignore
• Patient Success Spotlight • Relieve Pain In Minutes
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N E W S L E T T E R
DON’T IGNORE YOUR BACK PAIN
INJURIES CAN BE A REAL PAIN IN THE BACK
The back is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body. You rely on it so heavily — whether it is to shoulder your emotional stresses or to physically lift something that you need to carry with you. Your back is constantly at risk when you drive, being one of the body parts likely to take the biggest impact in case of an accident. It is at risk when you are safely at home on your couch or at the office, where you are likely scrunched over and not caring one bit about your posture. It is at risk when you run, when you play sports, and even when you find yourself sick and are coughing so heavily that your back begins to hurt. It is no wonder that so many people experience back injuries every year. What is a big wonder is that so many people choose to ignore their back injuries, year after year! When you break an arm or get a cut on your leg, you are likely to do something about it right away. The sight of blood leaving your body or the realization that a bone isn’t sitting right is
something that not many people are going to deal with for too long before seeking medical attention. Yet when pain begins in the back, it is almost normal to ignore it. Everyone develops back pain from time to time, and there is no reason to stress about it or overreact, right? Absolutely wrong! Understanding Back Pain Back pain may be common, but it is absolutely not normal. There are actually a lot of serious conditions that can cause your back to begin to hurt, and it is smart to have your back looked at by a physician early on so that you know exactly what is going on with your body from the get-go. Once the cause of your back pain is determined, your physical therapist will be able to identify the best treatment options for your body’s needs. This will likely include the following: • Targeted exercises that are specialized to the region of the back that is experiencing the most pain. These exercises are designed
to help build strength and support the surrounding muscles. • Guided stretching designed to improve range of motion and flexibility. This will take into account the health and vivacity of vertebrae and any potential stretches that may support optimal back health. • Support and guidance with an exercise routine and habit formation, especially with cardiovascular activity that can stimulate improved blood circulation to the affected areas of the back, as well as strength-building activities. Attempting to undertake any of these changes on your own after you’ve experienced a back injury is both dangerous and not recommended. Workingwitha licensedandexperiencedphysical therapist can provide you with the guidance and ongoing support that you need to ensure that you do not experience any further injury as you attempt to heal the cause of your back pain.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION TODAY GET RID OF YOUR NAGGING BACK PAIN!
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Getting to the Bottom of Back Pain
There are a lot of different reasons as to why you may be experiencing back pain, and ignoring any of them is not a good idea. Some of the most common issues that cause back pain to linger include: • Muscle sprain or strain • Slipped vertebrae or disc • Tear or hyperextension to the supporting muscles or tendons • Arthritis Theseconcernscandevelopasaresultofamyriadofenvironmental issues, suchashavingpoorposture,prolongedsedentaryactivity,carcrash,sporting accident, stress, heavy lifting, and so on. When it comes to back pain, Don’t Wait! Whenyouexperiencean injurytoyourback,orrealizethatyouareexperiencing regularpainasaresultofanongoing injuryoroveruse, it is important tofind outthecauseofyourbackpainasquicklyaspossible.Backpaincanquickly becomechronic,asapotentiallysmall issuecanbecomecomplicatedwhen it is not addressed early on. Working with a physical therapist can help you to identify the difference between environmental causes and something more medically based. To get started with putting an end to your back pain, contact us today at Redondo Beach 310-376-9222 • Rancho Palos Verdes 310-544-7325
6 BACK CONDITIONS YOU SHOULDN’T IGNORE
4. Lumbar sprain/strain: This is a common cause of low back paindue to injuryofmusclesand tendons. The rows of muscles that runupanddown thesidesof the spinal column, are the major muscle groups usually involved in lower back injury. 5. Fractures: These are due to trauma, or sometimes occur without any injury in people with osteoporosis. 6. Spinal cord compression: This is unusual, but very worrisome and may be associated with weakness and loss of bowel/ bladder control. The sooner you get physical therapy help, the faster you will get relief. Our expert physical therapists help you regain proper mobilityandstabilityofyourspine, reduce pain and teach you how to take care of your spine. Talk toyourdoctororgiveusacall today to learn more about how we can help you.
Doyoufeelachesandpains inyour lowerback? Ifso,youarenotalone. FouroutofeveryfiveAmericanswill suffer frombackpainatsome time in their lives. Without proper spine mobility, stability and alignment your back structures wear down over time, similar to tires that are out of alignment. There are many different back conditions, but here are a few common ones: 1. Lumbarorsacral radiculopathy: The result of pressure on a nerve exiting the spine. Pain, numbness and tingling can be felt down in different parts of the leg. 2. Sciatica: This comes from compressionof thesciaticnerve byamusclecalled thepiriformis, deep in the buttock. Symptoms can radiate down the buttock and leg. 3. Spinal stenosis: This is a narrowing of the bony spinal canal which causes rubbing or pressure on nerves. Central canal stenosis is quite serious as it presses upon the spinal cord.
Relieve Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing back pain. Stretches Lower Back STRAIGHT LEG RAISE - SLR While lying or sitting, raise up your leg with a straight knee. Keep the opposite knee bent with the foot planted to the ground. Repeat 6 times on both sides.
Exercisescopyrightof Always consultyourphysical therapistorphysicianbefore startingexercisesyouareunsureofdoing.
PREPARE TO SWIM IN THE WATER SAFELY!
Swimming is a great recreational sport thatcanbeenjoyedbypeople ofallages.But it’s importanttoknow how to be safe while you’re in the water. These important swimming safety tips are what you should be awareofbeforeyouheadout to the pool or beach. • Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. • Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. • Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
• If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many childrenwhodrown inhomepools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time. • Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15. • Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.
FREE SCREENING We can help you: • Naturally relieve aches and pain. • Increase your strength. • Be more active with your friends and family. Do you want a natural solution to your pain? “I can feel the strength returning” “I knew I needed PT for a long time. I had serious back and shoulder problems from 30 years of sitting in front of a computer doing programming and 2 shoulder injuries. The results were surprising. My back pain disappeared and I gained an inch in height. My shoulder is almost there and I can feel the strength returning. I never wish to tolerate such pain for so long for no reason.” - C.D.
Staff Spotlight: Kris Mayer, MPT
• Have more energy. • Feel better at work.
Prior to starting college, Kris was a professional ballet dancer. She left homeat theyoungageof16 to train andperformwith theSan Francisco Ballet, then moved to Philadelphia to dance with the Pennsylvania Ballet. She was introduced to the world of physical therapy through injuries sustained while dancing. Her first couple of years out of PT school, she worked at Little Company of Mary in the acute care setting and for the last ten years worked in outpatient orthopedic settings, primarily in the South Bay area.
Redondo Beach 310-376-9222 Rancho Palos Verdes 310-544-7325 CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE SCREENING
Expires 6/28/19
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