FyzicalElPaso: Where Does Back Pain Come From?

Newsletter by Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers

September, 2019

THE

NEWSLETTER

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FUN!

It’s still hot but fall’s coming: Summer daysblend intofalland itsback-to-school with shopping, new classes, and of course – fall sports! As you prepare for thisseason,ourteamatFyzicalElPaso wantstomakesureyouareassafeand happy as possible. Taking a minute to consider the

anysportyouparticipate in.AtFyzicalEl Paso,wearehappytoannouncethatwe areteamingupwithour localhighschool football and soccer players to conduct baseline concussion screenings. There are two main reasons why baseline concussion screenings are an invaluable resource:

1. They allow us to identify the young athlete who has a positiveconcussionscreeningbeforetheseasonbegins. Post-concussion syndrome is a serious condition that can lastforseveralmonths,oftenwithoutposingobvious symptoms. Detection through screening allows us to provide that athlete with the necessary concussion treatment before they begin their season, so their condition improves. 2. We can use these baseline screenings as treatment tools.Theyallowusto identifybothcognitiveandmotor functions in athletes, in order to make sure they are at theproper levels.Motorfunction isoftenoverlooked,but it is just as important to identify as cognitive function. Much like the pitcher with underlying issues, we want to make sure all parts of the system are functioning in the correct ways. Ourhopewiththesebaselineconcussionscreenings isto be able to help young athletes to achieve their goals. Do you participate in a contact sport? Visit us at Fyzical El Pasotodaytoreceiveyourbaselineconcussionscreening! There’s no such thing as “too much” precaution. Turning a page: The arrival of fall changes seasons and thus new beginnings. In my family it can’t be truer. My son Boomer begins medical school this fall, and we just recentlyattendedhiswhitecoatceremonyonAugust6th. We celebrated afterwardwith a barbeque, surrounded by friendsandfamilytocommemoratetheturningofapage in this new chapter of Boomer’s life. My youngest son Mason is moving to fromNew York to Chicago following apromotionhe justreceived. Icouldn’tbeprouderofboth of my sons and their drive toward attaining their goals. They make up their mind on something and just go for it. It’sbothgratifyingandhumblingasaparenttoexperience. I amso grateful that they have both found success. After allasmomsanddads,we justwanttogiveourkidsashot right? What new beginnings is this fall bringing to you? - Luis, Fyzical El Paso

athletes complete condition: Throughout the years, I have hadmany talented young athletes come tome with issues that have developed from playing competitive or weekendsports.Onespecialstorycomestomindrelated a talented Division1 pitcher coming to us with an elbow problem. Now, to fully understand this story, I’ll mention that two years prior to our introduction, he had sustained a rotator cuff tear pitching in college. Following repair – the recovery he received for the tear was considered complete, however it was inadequate, to say the least. Stay tuned I’ll explain. Nevertheless, the athlete returned to the mound, as all dedicated athletes inevitably do, pushing through the strugglesofhis insufficientrotatorcuffrecoveryandthen it happened.That’swhen the elbowpain started to occur. He again pushed through it - until he could not. The full examinationofhiselbowrevealedthathedid indeedhave problemswith itsfunction–buthealsohadproblemswith his neck, back, shoulders, elbows, and hips. There were someextremeunderlying issueswithinthekineticchainhe usedforpitching.Thepitchingactivityexposesweakness inanynumberofways.Thiscameasrotatorcufftearthen elbow injury.Weputhimonacompletetreatmentplanto address all the complex issues he was experiencing. We were able to help him reach his full level of expectation andhegotashotatatryout inprofessionalbaseball.Iwas oozing with pride, all we want is that shot right? The moral of this story is that oftentimes, young, highly- tuned athletes require more focus on deeper, underlying issues, rather than what is occurring on the surface. At Fyzical El Paso, we understand that it is not enough to simply silo our methods of treatment to one area – it is important to be open to what’s going on in the entire system. That’s why if you find yourself in any pain or discomfort this fall, we hope you’ll come and see us. Let us help you get your shot. Takingprecautions: It is importanttotakeprecautions in

THE

September, 2019

NEWSLETTER

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. It is at risk when you drive, being one of the body parts likely to take the biggest impact in case of anaccident. It isatriskwhenyouaresafelyathomeonyourcouchorattheoffice, whereyouare likelyscrunchedoverandnotcaringonebitaboutyourposture. 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 isnowonder thatsomanypeopleexperienceback injurieseveryyear.What isa big wonder is that so many people choose to ignore their back injuries year after year!Whenyoubreakanarmorgetacutonyour leg,youare likelytodosomething about it right away. The sight of blood leaving your body or the realization that a bone isn’tsittingright issomethingthatnotmanypeoplearegoingtodealwithfor too long before seeking medical attention. Yet when pain begins in the back, it is almostnormalto ignore it.Everyonedevelopsbackpain,timetotime,right?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 begintohurt,and it issmarttohaveyourback lookedatbyaphysicianearlyonso that you know exactly what is going on with your body from the get-go. ENJOY QUALITY TIME WITHOUT PAIN INSIDE: • Get To The Bottom of Back Pain • Relieve Back Pain In Minutes • Patient Success Spotlight • Healthy Recipe

Whether you have back pain or have been suffering for a long time, seeing a physical therapist at Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers can help you return to a more active and pain-free life. Give us a call today:

• NORTHEAST OFFICE: 915-755-0738 • EAST OFFICE: 915-593-4985 • WEST OFFICE: 915-313-6331 • NEW JOE BATTLE OFFICE: (915) 855-7780

Once thecauseofyourbackpain isdetermined,yourphysical therapistwill 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. •Guidedstretchingdesignedto improverangeofmotionandflexibility.This willtake intoaccountthehealthandvivacityofvertebraeandanypotential stretches that may support optimal back health. •Supportandguidancewithanexerciseroutineandhabitformation,especially withcardiovascularactivity thatcanstimulate improvedbloodcirculation 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 experiencedaback injury isbothdangerousandnotrecommended.Working with a licensed and experienced physical 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.

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GET TO THE BOTTOMOF 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 disk • Tear or hyperextension to the supporting muscles or tendons • Arthritis These concerns can develop as a result of a myriad of environmental issues, such as having poor posture, prolonged sedentary activity, car crash, sporting accident, stress, heavy lifting, and so on. When it comes to back pain, don’t wait! When you experience an injury to your back, or realize that you are experiencing regular pain as a result of an ongoing injury or overuse, it is important to find out the cause of your back pain as quickly as possible. Back pain can quickly become chronic, as a potentially small issue can become complicated when 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.

Call us today to schedule an appointment!

SIMPLE GRILLED SALMON & VEGETABLES

INGREDIENTS • 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise • 2 red, orange and/or yellow bell peppers, trimmed, halved and seeded • 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch wedges

• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • ½ tsp salt, divided • ½ tsp ground pepper • 1¼ pounds salmon fillet, cut into 4 portions

• ¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil • 1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges

DIRECTIONS Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush zucchini, peppers and onion with oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt. Sprinkle salmon with pepper and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Place the vegetables and the salmon pieces, skin-side down, on the grill. Cook the vegetables, turning onceor twice,until just tenderandgrillmarksappear,4 to6minutesperside.Cook thesalmon, without turning, until it flakes when tested with a fork, 8 to 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, roughly chop the vegetables and toss together in a large bowl. Remove the skin from the salmon fillets (if desired) and serve alongside the vegetables. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon basil and serve with a lemon wedge.

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Patient Success Spotlight

PHYSICAL THERAPY AS THE FIRST POINT OF CARE TO TREAT LOW BACK PAIN: A VARIABLES APPROACH TO ESTIMATE IMPACT ON OPIOID PRESCRIPTION, HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION, & COSTS.

“I feel privileged to have experienced the helping hands of all the PT staff!” “This physical therapy clinic glows with acceptance and encouragement towards all of its patients. The PT staff works cohesively, helping one another out as timers buzz or patients finish their “counted” exercises. Everyone remains focused on the people who are there under their care. I feel privileged to have experienced the helping hands of all the PT staff, including the office personnel who kept me coming on time, and the boss, Luis Zuniga, who, I feel, personifies everything for which Fyzical El Paso stands.” - Noel R.

OBJECTIVE: To compare differences in opioid prescription, health care utilization, and costs among patients with low back pain (LBP) who saw a physical therapist (PT) at the first point of care, at any time during the episode or not at all. DATA SOURCES: Commercial health insurance claims data, 2009- 2013. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analyses using two-stage residual inclusion instrumental variable models to estimate rates for opioid prescriptions, imaging services, emergency department visits, hospitalization, and health care costs. DATA EXTRACTION: Patients aged 18-64 years with a new primary diagnosisofLBP, living inthenorthwestUnitedStates,wereobserved over a 1-year period. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Compared topatientswhosawaPT lateror never,patientswhosawaPTfirsthad lowerprobabilityofhavingan opioid prescription (89.4 percent), any advanced imaging services (27.9 percent), and an Emergency Department visit (14.7 percent), yet 19.3 percent higher probability of hospitalization (all p < .001). These patients also had significantly lower out-of-pocket costs, and costs appeared to shift away from outpatient and pharmacy toward provider settings. CONCLUSIONS: When LBP patients saw a PTfirst, there was lower utilizationofhigh-costmedicalservicesaswellas loweropioiduse, and cost shifts reflecting the change in utilization.

Relieve Back Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing back pain.

Stretches Back

www.simpleset.net

SIDELYING TRUNK ROTATION While lying on your side with your arms out-stretched in front of your body, slowly twist your upper body to the side and rotate your spine. Your arms and head should also be rotating along with the spine as shown. Follow your hand with your eyes. Hold for 20 seconds repeat 3 times on each side.

© Health Research and EducationalTrust. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29790166

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