Back and neck pain are two of the most common issues that American adults experience, putting a huge physical and economic burden on working Americans by being both two of the leading needs for medical intervention and two of the most common causes people have to miss work. While these may feel like two separate issues, it is somewhat common that neck pain and back pain are actually related. Core strength can have a huge impact on your overall health and wellness, and when your core is weak, it could add up to weakness in your neck and back.
Newsletter The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
GETTING TO THE CORE OF BACK & NECK PAIN
INSIDE: • Getting To The Core Of Back & Neck Pain • Core Strength & Back Pain • See The Experts In Physical Therapy • Healthy Recipe • Exercise Essentials
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Newsletter The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
GETTING TO THE CORE OF BACK & NECK PAIN
Improving Your Core Strength Can Help Your Neck and Back!
Back and neck pain are two of the most common issues that American adults experience, putting a huge physical and economic burden on working Americans by being both two of the leading needs for medical intervention and two of the most common causes people have to miss work. While these may feel like two separate issues, it is somewhat common that neck pain and back pain are actually related. Core strength can have a huge impact on your overall health and wellness, and when your core is weak, it could add up to weakness in your neck and back. NECK PAIN 101 There are a lot of reasons why neck pain may develop, including everything from sudden incidents like a car accident or a slip-and-fall injury, to more chronic issues, such as regularly hunching over a desk at work or even practicing poor posture. One of the biggest problems with neck pain is that it often triggers headaches, as the pain is so closely connected to the spine and nervous system. What is more, addressing neck pain is sometimes difficult as there is so much potential to cause more damage to the neck. This is why working with a physical therapist to address neck pain is wise. A physical therapist can help treat neck pain by improving range of motion, using targeted massage techniques,
and by improving strength as needed. For example, in many situations, neck pain can be treated by improving core strength. BACK PAIN 101 Severe back pain impacts more than half of the population, and many of those with pain in the back as a result of injury end up dealing with that pain long term. One of the biggest problems with back pain is that once it develops, it is difficult to work around it, and many people begin modifying their movements as a result, causing their back to compensate for the injury by putting pressure on other muscles that eventually just leads to more back pain. For this reason, back pain can frequently become a Catch-22 — avoiding the things that hurt your back could actually lead you to develop more pain in the future. Working with a physical therapist is the best way to cut your back pain issues in half. Physical therapy can address back pain by helping to improve your range of motion, strengthen the muscles in your back and surrounding areas, and by using targeted massage to reduce tension. In many situations, working with a physical therapist to improve core strength can significantly reduce the severity of your back pain.
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CORE STRENGTH & BACK PAIN
You may be surprised how frequently issues with the neck and back actually stem from issues with core strength. Your core refers to the muscles that make up your torso, including your abdomen. These muscles are called the core because they are at the center of your body, and they are necessary in just about every action that you engage in. Everything from walking and running and swimming to sitting and driving require you to engage your core. There are a lot of reasons to improve core strength outside of any existing neck or back pain. When you improve your core, you are likely to also improve your posture and thereby reduce your risk of developing further back pain in the future. Furthermore, the exercise that helps to improve core strength is often helpful in promoting weight loss, and for those who are overweight, this could also help reduce pain in the neck and the back. Sometimes, when your core is weak, it can cause you to experience added pressure on areas like your neck and back. There are a lot of ways that working with a physical therapist can help you improve your core strength. You may be encouraged to practice core exercises, for example, which may include abdominal crunches or leg lifts. Light weight-training activities are also frequently helpful, as are balance-based activities like yoga.
If you haven’t spent much time building core strength in the past, then working with a physical therapist is a great place to start. Your physical therapist will guide you through proper postures and movements to reduce further risk of injury. For more information about how to start improving your core, contact us today at 703-723-4088.
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Healthy Recipe: Sweet & Sour Cauliflower
Exercise Essentials Try this simple exercise if you're experiencing pain.
• Thinly Sliced Green Onions • 3/4 Cup Sugar • 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce • 1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
Strengthens Core
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CURL UP Lie on back with one leg straight. The other leg is bent with the foot flat on the ground. Position your hands underneath your lower back. Tuck your chin and lift your shoulder blades off the ground slightly. Return to the start position in a controlled manner. Do three sets of ten.
• 1 Tsp Garlic Powder • 1/2 Tsp Onion Salt • 1/4 Cup Ketchup • 1 Tbsp Cornstarch • 2 Tbsp Cold Water
INGREDIENTS • 5-6 Cups Cauliflower Florets
• 3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil • 1/3 Cup Corn Starch • 3-4 Cups Steamed Rice, For Serving
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease a baking sheet. Combine cauliflower and oil in a large ziplock bag. Seal and shake to coat cauliflower in the oil. Open the bag, add corn starch, seal bag, and toss to coat again. Transfer coated cauliflower to a greased pan. Bake for 15-20 min until cauliflower starts to brown on the bottoms. Switch oven to broil and cook on high for 3-4 minutes just until tops start to brown. While cauliflower is cooking, prepare the sauce by adding sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion salt, and ketchup in a medium sauce pan. Stir and bring to a boil. Whisk together the corn starch and cold water in a small bowl until dissolved. Add to sauce pan and stir until thickened, then reduce to low heat. Combine roasted cauliflower and sauce. Serve with steamed rice and top with sliced green onions. https://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/baked-sweet-sour-cauliflower/
You Can Be Pain-Free, Today! Call 703-723-4088
SEE THE EXPERTS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY
Vinod Mathew, PT Vinod Mathew is a Board Certified Physical TherapistandanactivememberofAmerican PhysicalTherapy Association (APTA). Vinod Mathew graduated from Fr Mullers Institute of Medical Education & Research, India in 1997. He obtained a Masters in Manual Therapy from the renowned University of Melbourne, Australia in 2001. He has over 20 years of clinical experience.
Chris Kirby Smith, PTA, BS Kinesiology
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Chris Kirby-Smith has been treating patients at NOVA Rehabilitation since January 2017. Chris received his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, the study of human movement, from the University of Maryland, College Park, School of Public Health in 2009. Chris graduated fromCarrollCommunityCollege’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in 2011.
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He is described by his patients as a highly competent and compassionate clinician. NOVA Rehabilitation was a long awaited dream of Vinod Mathew that finally became a reality in September 2011. Since then we have established exceptional quality physical therapy services in Northern VA. At NOVA Rehabilitation personalized care and treatment is what you will receive. Little to no wait time and a hands on holistic approach. Education University of Melbourne, Master’s in Manual Therapy Father Muller Medical College (Bachelor’s) Awards and Publications Certified in Inter Segmenial Dry Needling Technique MS in Manual Therapy (Australia)
Chris has helped patients at NOVA Rehabilitation reach or exceed their goals with hands-on manual techniques and personalized therapeutic exercises. Chris also utilizes IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) techniques and Kinesio taping to help patient’s return to or surpass their previous level of function. Outside of the clinic, Chris enjoys outdoor activities including playing golf, hiking, camping, surfing, snowboarding, and riding off-road trials with his wife and two dogs. Chris dedicates time to training to reach his own goals attending HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and CROSSFIT classes.
Charles Mack Jr., DPT Charles Mack Jr. (DPT) has been with NOVA Rehabilitation for more than one year. He has also worked at the facility as a student intern for 10 weeks in Spring 2017. Charles Mack Jr. graduated from Wichita StateUniversity inMay2017.WhileatWichita St, Charles co-taught “Neuromuscular Examination, Assessment and Interventions” & “Clinical Skills” as a graduate teachers
Discover HowYou Can Live Pain-Free! At NOVA Rehabilitation, you will receive hands-on therapy treatments by our friendly, caring health experts during focused and individualized sessions. It’s time to go to NOVA Rehabilitation if: • You’re tired of living in pain • You want to feel better and move better • You have been in an auto accident or injured on the job • You want to prevent injury 1. Call and talk to your therapist 2. Discover why your pain has come back 3. Get your custom recovery program
assistant. He has Basic & Performance certifications in Functional Movement Training (FMT) Taping. He is IASTM Smart tools certified. Charles is certified in Dry needling level 1 with plans of taking the level 2 course this upcoming fall. He works with patients of varying ages, concentrating his work largely in the orthopedic, neurological, and sports rehabilitation sectors of physical therapy. Charles was involved in an auto accident when he was 16 years old in which he was hit by an 18-wheeler semi-trailer truck. As a result of the accident, he had 21 surgeries, over 150 different types of medication administered to him, and experienced three separate incidences of cardiac arrest, while recovering in the hospital. Charles enjoys playing sports, going fishing, and attending church. He believes that the road life has taken him on has given him the desire to always make the most of every moment. Charles aspires to take this mindset to work with him every day, while treating his clients. He lives in our own Loudoun county with his wife.
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