Whole Body Health: How Posture Affects Back and Neck Pain

Whole Body Health Physical Therapy

Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

OUR VERY OWN KARA SCHUFT WAS FEATURED IN NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MAGAZINE PT IN MOTION

Kara Schuft, PT, DPT will be featured in the October Edition of PT in Motion for her contribution to the field of physical therapy in the area of healthy sleep habits. Kara has worked for years on teaching clients ways to both improve length and quality of their sleep. Kara believes that sleep is an extremely important time not only for physical health but emotional wellbeing. "I've seen the difference in my clients when their sleep issues have

been identified and addressed. Everything comes together. Their movement patterns are better. They're playing close attention and remembering to do their exercises. All of these things that were barriers fall away." PT in Motion is produced by the American Physical Therapy Association and is a national magazine published in all 50 states.

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Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

INSIDE: • What can Good Posture do for You? • Think PT First • Exercise Essentials • Look What We Have Done For This Patient YOUR BACK AND NECK PAIN How Posture Can Affect Remember back when your mother used to tell you that if you wouldn’t stop hunching your shoulders, they’d be stuck that way forever? An idle threat, one that barely anyone took seriously. Yet, fast forward a few decades and it turns out that mom might have been on to something, after all. A poor habit of bad posture can have a lasting impact on your neck and back.The worse your posture is, the more intense your back and neck pain can become. Unfortunately, once you start experiencing neck and back pain, simply squaring your shoulders isn’t likely to be much help. Working with a physical therapist can help you to train the muscles in your back, neck and shoulders so that you can improve your posture permanently, and in doing so bring relief to your chronic neck and back pain. The Posture and Pain Connection Not all back pain is caused by poor posture, and it is true that you can have poor posture for years without feeling the consequences of that slouch right away, but in time the habit is likely to catch up with you. There are certain ways that you can tell if neck or back pain may be a result of poor posture, including: • The pain in your back is worsened at certain times of day.  For example, after you’ve spent a day at the office, or after a few hours on the couch.

Make Movement Matter.

• The pain frequently starts in your neck and moves into your upper and lower back. Pain that seems to travel from one area of the back to another is frequently an indication of posture concerns. • The pain will subside after switching positions, such as switching from sitting to standing or vice versa. • Back or neck pain that develops soon after a change in circumstances, such as starting a new job with a new desk chair, or getting a new car. After years of practicing poor posture, your back, shoulder and neck muscles will likely find standing or sitting with straight posture to be uncomfortable. This is because your muscles have grown accustomed to the slouching, and standing up straight will require some thorough stretching. That doesn’t mean that once you have bad posture you can never correct it. Working with a physical therapist to improve your posture is a great way to overcome chronic neck and back pain. In physical therapy, you will be guided through a series of stretches and strength building exercises that can help you begin training your body to practice better posture, thereby reducing your back and neck pain.

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WHAT CAN GOOD POSTURE DO FOR YOU?

Of course, there are ways that you can improve your posture at home, as well. Here are several strategies that are typically helpful: • Try to stand tall whenever you are standing or walking. Hold your head high and square your shoulders, but more importantly work on being the tallest version of yourself. Hunching over is the leading cause of poor posture. • Use support when you sit to keep your posture correct. Lumbar support in office chairs and car seats will help a bit, but for improved posture you may need to add additional cushioning that will help you keep your back straight. • Be mindful of how you lift heavy objects. Keep your shoulders square and your chest forward. When lifting something that is over 50 lbs it is important to take extra care. Lead with your hips and try to keep the weight close to your body. Lifting something improperly can lead to injury to your neck or back, which may make proper posture uncomfortable. There are a lot of benefits of having good posture. Aside from saying goodbye to neck or back pain, improving your posture can provide several unexpected benefits to your lifestyle and personal well-being. Here are a few of the additional benefits of having good posture: • Proper posture creates quality exercise for your core and back • Improved respiratory health • Added protection for your organs, bones, joints and muscles • Reduced risk of arthritis

If you are experiencing chronic neck and back pain, there is a good chance that it could be related to your posture. Contact your physical therapist to learn more about how you can take steps to start improving your posture today.

Exercise Essentials Try this movement if you are experiencing poor posture.

Think PT First

Helps Posture

www.simpleset.net

Physical Therapists Are The Mechanics Of Your Body

While lying face down, slowly raise your chest upwards and off the ground. Then lower slowly back to the ground. Repeat 10 times.

Why You Need To Come Back In For A Tune- Up: � Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently and securely � Sit for long periods comfortably � Walk for long distances � Live an active & healthy lifestyle

CALL A CLINIC NEAREST YOU TODAY!

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Whole Body Health News

LOOK WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THIS PATIENT!

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH!

...I've made leaps and bounds in my recovery thanks to her. “I've had to get a bit of physical therapy inmy life from various injuries from sports. I've always felt pretty, "meh" about the services. Then I went to Whole Body Health and for the first time I felt like it was somebody that actually cared about me getting better and would take the time to explain to me what was going on.The first time I went I was with Justine and she helped me through a pretty traumatic knee injury, and now that knee is stronger than the other one. I planned on never needing PT again but then I dislocated my ankle and met with Kara. I'm still going but I feel that I've made leaps and bounds in my recovery thanks to her. Fingers crossed that I never need it, but if I ever need to go again I will definitely be back to Whole Body Health Physical Therapy." – Dirk T.

Let us do the same for you now that we are in Tigard! Check out more reviews on Google by searching “Whole Body Health Physical Therapy”.

That's right! We get a whole month to highlight the role that physical therapy plays in healthcare. Physical therapy is one of the best-researched healthcare professions in showing that receiving physical therapy immediately after an injury drastically lowers future medical bills, saving you money. Best of all, physical therapy doesn't try to use medications to mask pain. Instead, physical therapists use their clinical expertise to identify the root of where the pain is coming from and provide interventions to address solving the issue. If you haven't tried physical therapy for an injury that doesn't seem to be getting any better, give us a call. It's what we do all day!

No Doctor Referral Necessary Whether you want to come in for a check-up, suffered a recent injury or you want to improve your health, a doctor referral is not needed. In the state of Oregon you have direct access to physical therapy!

Save time

Improve your health naturally

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Make Movement Matter.

See our physical therapists for: • Recent injury • Nagging aches and pains • Back and neck pain • Joint pain and movement problems • Walking or balance difficulties

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