Strong Shoulders Relieve Neck Pain & Headaches

Physical Therapy Newsletter by Teton Therapy

The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body & Fitness “ DoYou NoticeYour Shoulders Getting Weaker?” STRONG SHOULDERS RELIEVE NECK PAIN & HEADACHES

NOW REPEAT THE TESTS: While sitting up straight and allow the spine to move, compare the difference in your shoulder motions or pain. If you suffer from neck pain, headaches or shoulder pain, don’t let it linger on and cause more damage. Call us today to speak with your physical therapist. Come in for a free consultation!

If you notice headaches and neck pain, try these 4 BASIC TESTS at the end of the day! STARTING POSITION: Sitting at your workstation, your home computer or the dinner table in your normal posture: 1. Try to raise both arms up in front and continue overhead without moving your spine. If you can’t get full shoulder motion or have pain, you probably end up slouched without realizing it. 2. Try to roll your shoulders down and back without moving your spine. If you feel this is difficult to do, your muscles are probably keeping your shoulders elevated. 3. Raise your arms up and out to the side like a “jumping jack” without moving your spine. If you have pain, you probably end up slouched without realizing it. 4. Try to clasp your hands behind your back. Now raise your arms up behind you. If you are unable to raise them very far, you have limited shoulder, spine or chest mobility.

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“ IWas Experiencing Neck Pain, So I Decided To Do Something About It! ” Helpful Exercises To Strengthen Shoulders

Lightly push forearms into the wall while sliding arms up. Make sure to keep your back flat. Raise your arms as high as you can without pain while keeping your shoulders down. Do the same when bringing them back down. This trains your body to raise the arms without substituting the neck muscles and strengthen the shoulders. Simple shoulder and neck rolls are good starting points for getting your joints moving and muscles relaxed, which can help to reduce pain. We’re Here to Help Your Neck and Shoulders! Of course, self-testing at home is an imperfect way to determine if your headaches and neck pain are coming from poor posture or other shoulder issues. Self-tests just show you where your body has limited movement, which may be causing your problems. Handling any problem sooner rather than later leads to better results and preventing long-term damage, such as arthritis. We welcome you to schedule a visit with us for a more complete evaluation. We’re offering a free shoulder and neck consultation to help get you on the road to better health and less pain. Give Teton Therapy a call today to talk with your therapist.

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Patient Results

FREE NECK PAIN CONSULTATION A thirty minute free consultation can get you on the road to recovery. Take Advantage Of Our FREE Neck Pain Consultation We want you to be free from pain Helped me to balance! “I have always used my cane for balance when I walk. The other day, I went to feed my animals outside. I carried food and liquid out to them. I thought I missed something. What I missed was my cane. I was out walking without it! And then it hit me...the exercises I’m doing at therapy have helped me to balance. Thanks for the help, I needed it.” - A.G. I can do things for myself now! “I am very happy to have been a patient at Teton Therapy because I improved greatly! I can do things for myself now that I thought I would never be able to do. They helped me physically and mentally because everyone who works here is a blast to talk to and work with. I had an opportunity to become stronger for being able to walk again alone for short distances. I can feel how strong my legs have gotten. I no longer worry about falling. I am very happy I was referred here.” - B.L. Like Us On Facebook and Share Your Story https://www.facebook.com/tetontherapypc

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Riverton (307) 857-7074

Lander (307) 332-2230

Cheyenne (307)514-9999

Sheridan (307)683-0123

Staff Spotlight

Sarah Gillett PT, DPT

Sarah is a physical therapist at our Riverton clinic. She was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. After graduating from Kelly Walsh High School, she went to LCCC in Cheyenne where she played soccer. She then went to University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota and earned her doctorate in physical therapy. She decided to move to Riverton because she enjoyed her clinical rotation with Teton Therapy, and wanted to continue her career with us. Sarah specializes in vestibular therapy, which helps patients suffering from vertigo and dizziness. She is looking forward to doing more work with dry needling. In the future, she would like to study cranial sacral therapy, which helps patients with head and neck pain. Thank you, Sarah, for all your hard work and dedication!

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WELLNESS TIP: Shoveling Snow The Safe Way

1. Don’t fuss about the rest of the snow around the car just yet. More snow will accumulate there when you clean the car, so you might as well wait until then to clean up around the perimeter of the car. 2. Hold off on snow shoveling (with any degree of thoroughness) where your driveway meets the street. As plows go by, they’ll be barricading that area with more snow. Save this area until you’re ready to pull out with your car (or until after you’ve rested up). Speaking of resting, if you can afford the luxury of clearing a driveway in stages, that’s the way to go. If the storm’s over, divide the workload into sections; if the storm’s still in progress,

make a preliminary sweep, then go back after the storm. How To Shovel To Protect Your Body From Injury. Once you step outside and start wielding your shovel, remember the following: • Bend your knees and lift with your legs • As you lift the snow, keep the shovel blade close to you, to reduce back strain • Switch off between snow shoveling right-handed and left-handed, so that you’re working different muscles • Likewise, periodically change your grip on the hand holding the bar (palm under vs. palm over) www.tetontherapypc.com

Think Teton Therapy FIRST We Are Here To Help! • Climb stairs without pain • Bend and move freely

• Balance confidently and securely • Sit for long periods comfortably • Walk for long distances • Live an active and healthy lifestyle

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TAKE CARE OF YOUR ACHES & PAINS

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