Back pain can hinder your day-to-day activities. Left untreated, it can even lead to long-term joint, spine and nerve damage. As one of the most common physical complaints, over 80 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from it at some point in their lifetime. The pain itself can hinder your ability to reach, lean, kneel, lift or bend. It can also hinder your time spent with friends and family. Direct pain aside, minor aches and cramps associated with a back pain problem can make you irritable—ruining your good time.
Physical Therapy & Wellness
June 2020
Is Back Pain Slowing You Down?
What Causes Back Pain?
A L S O I N S I D E : A Letter From Our Practice • Exercise Essentials • Patient Spotlight • Healthy Recipe • Tips For Staying Healthy
June 2020
We Are Reopening!
Dear old and new friends, The year 2020 started off with hope and a fresh outlook for the future. Plans were made and expectations were set. Then we heard about the Corona Virus. Based on our experiences, most of us believed this would be a minor inconvenience. We now realize this outbreak is different. It surprised us, spread rapidly worldwide and in a sense connected us all. The virus knows no boundaries, no language, no race, no class distinctions. We are all equal. All have been forced to pause, adjust, and readjust our lives as needed. It is in a time like this that I switched from “clients” or “patients” to “dear friends”. The word “friends” describes a higher level of connection. Friendship denotes mutual care, concern, and requires trust. When you enter Functional Physical Therapy we see you as friends. Ensuring your optimal health is our primary concern. The staff here are committed to using the most up to date health science to get you back on your feet. Those who come to us for assistance: child, youth, or adult, worker, athlete or retiree, will receive themost professional compassionate care available. We chose a career in physical therapy out of passion, and our love for helping makes us who we are. Over the past twenty years you have trusted us and sent us your friends and family. We are grateful for your trust. During this difficult time we must trust each other and take responsibility for each other’s safety very seriously. I know the guidelines for Covid-19 seem to be changing constantly. We follow the news of the world closely to be able to provide the safest environment possible. We are opening slowly, allowing us to get comfortable with all of the precautions that must be met to provide a safe environment and flow of clients throughout the day.
Some of you are aware that Akant and I, as a safety measure, are working opposite days to keep patient flow low to allow for more patient distancing. We will be wearing masks in the facility to protect you and ask that you do the same to protect us. We will be creative in administering exercises that can be done wearing amask. During this time of change and adaptation, communication is everything. While we were closed for almost two months we worked with a group of knowledgeable professionals to advise us how to better communicate and stay connected to you. We will text our clients and use “whats app” to stay connected. We will also share our cell phone numbers (something we were taught undermined professional distancing). We will still be professional, but the “distance” thing will get a different meaning. While we may need to keep more physical distance, we can shorten the emotional distance. So while we are caregivers/clients/patients we carry the responsibility of friendship. As a final note. We will be using a new logo during this period of pandemic. The new logo utilizes color, as color is the opposite of darkness. There is a lot of darkness around us all now, but it will not last forever. We need to concentrate on light and hope and the color of recovery. Thank you for your continued trust in us, Akant and Eric
Call Functional Physical Therapy at 248-673-6980 or visit functionalpt.com to schedule your appointment today!
Is Back Pain Slowing You Down?
Back pain can hinder your day-to-day activities. Left untreated, it can even lead to long-term joint, spine and nerve damage. As one of themost common physical complaints, over 80 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from it at some point in their lifetime. The pain itself can hinder your ability to reach, lean, kneel, lift or bend. It can also hinder your time spent with friends and family. Direct pain aside, minor aches and cramps associated with a back pain problem can make you irritable—ruining your good time. What Causes Back Pain? A few things cause back pain. The American Physical Therapy Association covers each of these, but the following are leading causes: • Spinal and core muscle weaknesses • Bad posture • Spinal muscle and tissue damage • Improper lifting form • Limited hip, spine and thigh muscle flexibility • Bad abdominal, pelvic and back muscle coordination Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t seek treatment when back pain arises. Before they know it, they have a big problem. They might assume nothing— except for medication—can solve their back pain problem. Medication might mask the pain, but it won’t cure the problem’s root cause. Back Pain Solutions You’re in luck: Back pain can be cured! The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke covers a number of back pain remedies. These include the use of strength exercise, physical therapy and medication.
Where medication is considered, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesic medications and counter-irritants are the most popular. Before you can treat your back pain, however, you need to know why it started. Whether you’ve tweaked a muscle or have a deeper injury, a spine specialist can help. Back Pain Prevention A little prevention goes a long way. If you want to avoid future back pain, you can make sure you’re being good to your back. • Lift Properly: You pick things up constantly. Even if you’re lifting something light, make sure you’re facing the object. Squat, keeping your spine straight. Lift with your leg muscles, as this will reduce the pressure placed on your spine. • Use Good Posture: When you’re standing, imagine a string is attached to the top of your head—lifting you up. This will keep your hips, spine, shoulders and neck aligned. If you’re sitting, don’t slouch. • Use Strength Training: Your body has hundreds of muscles. Thesemuscles protect and control your spine. By lifting weights, running and swimming, you can keep them strong. Train your core muscles. In doing so, you’ll easily control quick, lifting movements. It never hurts to visit a physical therapist, either. Get regular check-ups, andmake sure your body is in good condition. If you have a history of back injuries, pain or minor aches, don’t hesitate to talk to a professional. You deserve a pain-free life, and your back will thank you.
Exercise Essentials
Healthy Recipe Avocado Brownies
• 1/2 cup almond flour • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips • 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder • 1 avocado, mashed • 2 eggs • 2 tsp vanilla extract • Pinch of salt
Instructions Melt chocolate over boiler or in microwave taking breaks not to burn. Mix all ingredients in bowl, use blender tomix. Line ingredients in brownie pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Brownies will stay moist because of the avocado.
Forward Bend — Long Sitting Sit on top of a block with your legs straight and out. Put the strap on the bottom of your feet. Roll your shoulder blades back and downwhile pulling the strap. Keep your back as tall as you can as you lean forward. Hold it 10 to 15 seconds, repeat 3 to 5 times.
HOW CAN I KNOW I’M SAFE IN YOUR CLINIC?
Patient Spotlight
We understand that there is a lot of fear and uncertainty during this time. However, we can assure you that we care about taking the necessary steps to make sure our patients are as safe as possible while they are being treated at our clinic. For starters, we will only be allowing 10 patients in our clinic at a time, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. This will limit the amount of people congregating in
the same area at once and greatly decrease the risk of anyone passing any contagions to fellow patients. Additionally, we have a policy that patients as well as staff have to wear protective face masks. The clinic will be wiped down every half hour with a hospital grade disinfectant. For more information about our health practices for reopening, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Nina Ratulowski Physical Therapy Aide
Nina started Physical Therapy as a freshman for knee pain. Throughout her rehab at FPT, we found out that the cause of her knee pain was a fracture in her low back. Her rehab was adjusted and her pain was greatly reduced and her ADL function improved drastically. She was able to resume her workouts at the gym and endure prolonged sitting at school. Nina feels that her own P.T. rehab process treated her physical wellness and in addition took away mental barriers, which allowed her to trust her body again. Her rehab was tailored to her needs and consisted of P.T. three times a week at the clinic. Later on, Pool Therapy was added. She felt that Aqua Therapy definitely challenged her endurance and for sure benefitted her wellness, and she loved the fact that it was age appropriate.
HANDY TIPS FOR AVOIDING ILLNESS!
CLEAN YOUR HANDS OFTEN
AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE
SNEEZE & COUGH INTO TISSUES
AVOID HUGS & SHAKING HANDS
USE GLOVES WHEN NECESSARY
DISPOSE OF USED TISSUES QUICKLY
KEEP DISTANCE FROM THOSE INFECTED
AVOID BUSY PLACES & EVENTS
New At Functional Physical Therapy
Find Us On Social Media!
• Telehealth. • Complimentary Screening. • Functional Connect. • Cooking At Functional. • Fit At Any Age. • Cardio Drumming.
Interested in any of the programs listed above? Call us today at (248) 673-6980 for more information!
www.functionalpt.com
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