Is It A Muscle Strain? IDENTIFYING AMUSCLE TEAR/STRAIN ZPT GaZette The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
August 2017
Bear in mind that most back pain feels like a “true muscle strain of the low back muscles,” but likely is not. A true strain — a genuine ripping and tearing of muscle tissue — can occur only duringasignificantexertion, like lifting something you shouldn’t. But, believe it or not, even most traumaticliftingaccidentsprobably do not involve actual muscle tearing— it just seems that way. To tear any muscle, you really have to pull on it very hard! What if you just aren’t sure if your back pain involves a true muscle strain or not? Telling the difference can be
tricky for both patients and professionals.
What you should do... If you have answered yes to any of these quick questions then you have more than likely damaged your muscles with a muscle strain. The question is what to do next. In the case of a low back muscle strain, you can apply ice. Then get on the phone and call the experts at Zionsville Physical Therapy, the sooner you’re evaluated the better. Our physical therapy experts will put you on a program to get you moving freely again!
Here’s a quick checklist: • Did the pain hit you suddenly during strong stretching or a moment of athletic intensity? • Were you lifting something too heavy and/or awkward? In other words, did you have an “oh, shoot” moment? • Is there a spot in the muscle that’s extremely sensitive to poking? (It may even be a little bit deformed—is there a bump or a depression?) • Is the skin flushed and hot? Does it look puffy?
www.ZionsvillePT.com
ZPT GaZette The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
August 2017
Dear ZPTfriends,
INSIDE:
Greetings! We are in the midst of a busy end- of-summer, with back to school hitting everyone like a huge wave at the ocean! We wishyouawonderful transitional timeand plenty of great memories to hold. ELAINEMORRISON Owner
• Muscle Strain? • 6 Back Conditions You Shouldn't Ignore • Will Your Back Hurt As You Get Older? • FREE Back Pain Screening Coupon • PT Humor
If you have not done so in a while, please take a few minutes to visit our website to see our updated bios and specialties. We are so delighted to be welcoming new staff members, as we say goodbye to our college-age team members who are launching off to various parts of the country, east to Virginia and west to Arizona, south to Arkansas, Kentucky and even Evansville! Read more in our next newsletter to see where they are all studying. Wedding plans are in the air, for summer, 2018, with Katie and Seth, newly announced Marissa and Jeff, and my son, Aaron and his fiancé Genevieve (in Portland/ Vancouver). Exciting changes are occurring in these young lives, as they make commitments and create new families. Best wishes!! In late July I attended our Zionsville All-Class Reunion at Lions Park, and we were able to see folks from my class as well as every year. I love being able to catch up with band friends, student council buddies, and various teachers and students from our “formative years”. Several graduates flew in from the far reaches of the country to attend, so we were blessed with a great turnout and time together. My daughter-in-law, Jenn, will be competing in Penticton 2017 ITU Multisport, World Championships Festival, in the Duathlon. She and my son, Nate, will travel from their home in Fishers to Vancouver, Canada, and spend time in a beautiful part of our neighboring country, being inspired by the athletes and their passion for competition. Good luck, Jenn! Have a great end of summer, and please stop in to see us or attend one of our upcoming workshops! To your health!
Patient Success SPOTLIGHT
I have my life back!
"I came to a back-pain seminar (at ZPT with Elaine) as my last resort for my sciatic nerve pain. I had been in such severepainfor6months.After6weeks of seeing a chiropractor I was only 50% better and not improving. The pain controlled my life where I had to plan aroundwhatwouldmake itworse.After a week of physical therapy at ZPTwith Katie,mypainbegantogoaway. Icould see this was going to be successful in keeping me out of the back-doctor’s office. I did my homework exercises as instructed.Today after my 9th session I am so thrilled to say I have my life back! Next, I can’t wait to try to golf again.” - Kim S.
Best regards, Elaine
www.ZionsvillePT.com
WORKSHOPS
Runners and Cyclists: Take it to the Next Level without Injury featuring Jennifer Richter, Team USA Duathlete Thursday, August 10, at 7 pm
Back Pain and Sciatica: You Don't Have to Live with It by Elaine Morrison, PT Saturday, August 12, at 10 am
Both workshops are FREE, and will be held at Zionsville Physical Therapy. Seating is limited and registration IS REQUIRED. Call our office at 317.873.2033 to register.
6 BACK CONDITIONS YOU SHOULDN'T IGNORE Doyoufeelachesandpains inyour lowerback? Ifso,youarenotalone.Four out of every five Americans will suffer from back pain at some time in their lives.Withoutproperspinemobility,stabilityandalignmentyourbackstructures weardownovertime,similartotiresthatareoutofalignment.Therearemany different back conditions, but here are a few common ones:
1. Lumbar or sacral 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 compression of the sciatic nerve by a muscle called the piriformis, deep in the buttock. Symptoms can radiate down the buttock and leg. 3.Spinalstenosis: This isanarrowingof thebonyspinalcanalwhichcauses rubbing or pressure on nerves. Central canal stenosis is quite serious as it presses upon the spinal cord. 4. Lumbar sprain/strain: This is a common cause of low back pain due to injury of muscles and tendons.The rows of muscles that run up and down the sides of 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.
Medication and Bed Rest Most lower back pain sufferers try over the counter drugs and bed rest. However, most self remedies will not provide the relief that you need. In fact, bed rest is the wrong thing to do, because it can weaken the spinal muscles further.
Weakness in thespinalmuscles isoneof themain reasons for lowbackpain and puts you at risk for injuring your back with common activities such as lifting, bending or squatting. Most of us sit too much and this contributes to severe weakening of the back and torso muscles which are needed for a healthy back. WILL YOUR BACK HURT AS YOU GET OLDER? www.ZionsvillePT.com
If you think that growing older automatically leads to back pain, here’s some greatnews; itdoesn’t!Manypeoplesufferfrompain,yet,theystillbelievetheir aches and pains are a natural part of aging. They’re not.
If your back pain prevents you from standing for long periods, bending down to pick up objects, or getting up and down from the floor to play withyourchildrenorgrandchildrenit’stimetocometoZionsvillePhysical Therapy and restore your quality of life. Knowing the Right Expert to Help You Physical Therapists are medical musculoskeletal specialists, meaning we are the experts when it comes to the movement of the body and how the muscles, joints and skeletal structure work with one another. Effectivephysicaltherapyexpertsrecognizethatthebesttreatmentsare not modalities that depend solely on ultrasound, cold or heat therapy, but rather a skilled hands-on approach to examination and treatment. Studieshaveproventhatmanualtherapyandspecificexercisesproduce better and faster results than traditional exercise based therapy. Ifyouaresufferingwithbackpainorknowsomeonewho is,callustoday todiscoverhowwecanfinallyhelpyoubecomepainfreeandgetbackto the activities you enjoy. After all, you’re as young as you feel!
Back pain is primarily caused by four main factors: • Spinal muscle weakness • Poor muscle or joint movement • Poor posture • Lack of spinal or pelvic muscle coordination
Treating the Cause of Your Back Pain ThegoalofourSPINEprogram istofindtherootcauseofyourpainandcorrect it, not just treat the symptoms. By treating the root cause of the pain, you can achieve faster, long-lasting results. We provide the most advanced and effective treatments to each of our patients in a caring, friendly environment. Ourhighlytrainedandskilledphysicaltherapistsuseprovenhands-ontherapy techniques to help people of all ages become free of pain and get back to the activities they enjoy.
CALL TODAY! 317.873.2033
www.ZionsvillePT.com
PT HUMOR
Physical Therapists Are The Mechanics Of Your Body
Think Zionsville PT FIRST Why You Need To Come Back In For A Tune- Up: � Move without pain
� Sit for long periods comfortably
� Bend and move freely � Balance confidently and securely
� Walk for long distances � Live an active and healthy lifestyle
"Review Us" on our website or on YELP! We value your feedback!
www.ZionsvillePT.com
Take care of your aches and pains. See our updated website to learn how.
Do You Have Difficulty Bending Or Reaching?
• Decrease your pain • Increase your strength • Increase your activity level We can help:
• Increase your flexibility • Improve your health • Get you back to doing what you love to do
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