Superior PT | Do You Have Difficulty Walking Due to Pain

Superior Physical Therapy's Monthly Newsletter

DON’T LET YOUR BACK PAIN KEEP YOU FROM A LIFE YOU LOVE

INSIDE:

• Do You Have Difficulty Walking Due To Back Pain?

• Patient Success • Valentines Day Word Search

HEALTH & WELLNESS NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2023

Call us or visit us at www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org

Do you find it challenging to go for a walk because of back pain? Have you noticed how your walk has changed since your back pain started? You are not alone! Fortunately, physical therapists are experts in treating back pain and assessing your gait! For those who struggle with chronic back pain, even the essential task of going for a walk can be overwhelming and painful. Back pain seems like it can strike at any time. Whether in the upper back and neck or in the lower back, back pain can affect even the most basic activities like walking. The only thing that can fix your back pain is addressing the issue causing your pain head-on. Our physical therapists are an excellent resource for managing your back pain and difficulty walking. Call Superior Physical Therapy today for our comprehensive assessment of your back and your gait! We can be a helpful tool in getting you back on your feet. DO YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY WALKING DUE TO BACK PAIN?

Come back to physical therapy today! Call us or visit us at www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org

PATIENT SUCCESS:

VALENTINE’S WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE

“ALL OF THE STAFF IS AMAZING, FRIENDLY, AND GENUINELY CARES ABOUT THEIR PATIENTS. ” “I can not speak highly enough about Superior PT!! All of the staff is amazing, friendly, and genuinely cares about their patients. They are very personable and make you feel welcome. I had the pleasure of meeting a majority of them during the 10 months I was there healing from a semi accident that resulted in several cervical herniations and a torn labral in my shoulder. They listen attentively and have a gamut of different and individualized techniques to help. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who needs excellent quality care.” — Heidi C.

INGREDIENTS: • 1 tbsp white chocolate chips • 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla greek yogurt • 3/4 cup frozen raspberries

• 1 cup almond milk/milk of choice • 1/2 cup ice • Fresh raspberries for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS: In a small microwave safe bowl, heat white chocolate chips about 30 seconds and stir until smooth and melted through. Set aside to cool slightly. Add all ingredients, including melted chocolate, to a blender (or bullet, food processor, etc). Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and top with fresh berries. Enjoy! https://livelytable.com/white-chocolate-raspberry-valentines-smoothie/

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN AT PHYSICAL THERAPY 1. Standing tall whenever you are standing or walking. Work on improving your posture. If you are slouching when you walk, that may impact how your back feels. Make a point of keeping your shoulders square and your back straight as you walk. 2. Making sure that you are wearing suitable types of shoes. The golden rule for walking is to wear sneakers, specifically the ones that meet your individual needs. Our therapist can make recommendations based on your unique needs. 3. Trying a custom insert in your shoe. Orthotics, for most people, are meant to be temporary. Getting your old orthotics assessed by our therapists will be very helpful to ensure one is still necessary and/or you have the right ones for your specific situation. 4.Changing “how” you walk. Making sure you restore the coordination between your trunk and your pelvis can make all the difference in the world. Our therapist will assess you and give you specific instructions to improve how you walk. Often we change how we walk when we are hurting. Working with a physical therapist to develop improved strategies and techniques with your walking could help you get back on your feet even sooner than you thought possible. What’s more, for those who can walk, getting on your feet more often with targeted exercises could help you find relief from back pain even sooner than expected.

VALENTINES DAY WORD SEARCH

Kisses Flowers Chocolate Valentine

Candy Cupid Heart Sweet

Gift Hugs Love Arrow

YOU CAN BE FREE OF YOUR PAIN! CALL TODAY OR VISIT US AT WWW.SUPERIORPHYSICALTHERAPY.ORG

HOW BACK PAIN AFFECTS YOUR GAIT

A HOLISTIC HEALING PLAN

Whether your back pain started after a sudden injury or due to a chronic issue that has developed over time, it is common to interfere with everyday activities like walking. People with low back pain often walk slower than people without pain. In addition, the coordination of how you also walk changes. When you are in pain, you tend to walk “out-of-phase,” meaning the rotation of the pelvis and thorax are less synchronized. It is thought that you will do this out-of-phase gait to avoid significant (or fast) rotations in the back. It is also common for people in pain to have increased muscle activity on the painful side of their back. This change in muscle tension can influence your step length, step time, stride length, velocity, and cadence. At Superior Physical Therapy, our physical therapist can be the answer to helping you enjoy a life free of back pain. And the secret to success is learning to approach recovery one step at a time. HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP

Physical therapy can do wonders to relieve your herniated disc symptoms and help you ward off future bouts of pain or nerve problems. Your physical therapist will start by evaluating your condition carefully. We will discuss your medical history, any specific incident (such as a heavy-lifting mishap) that may have herniated a disc and analyze your symptoms in detail. Your personalized treatment prescription may call for a mix of physical therapy techniques. For instance, if your herniated disc has caused your back or neck muscles to seize up painfully, you may benefit from massage therapy to ease those spasms and make your muscles limber enough to exercise. Ice, heat, and laser treatments can also reduce pain and inflammation to the tissues surrounding your spine. Physical therapy exercises like core exercises help you build strength and stability in your lower back, thus reducing your pain and improving your function. Mobility exercises to help improve your range of motion and reduce your risks for future neck or back disc-related injuries. Anything you can do to keep musculoskeletal stresses and strains at a minimum will help you ward off disc issues in the future. We may recommend lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, proper nutrition, or improved workplace ergonomics to help you protect your spine. CALL TODAY Are you ready to take non-surgical action against your herniated disc symptoms? If so, contact Superior Physical Therapy today to schedule an evaluation. We can guide you through a safe, practical plan for regaining your quality of life!

When your back pain begins to interfere with your ability to move around freely, then you know it is time to start doing something about it. Physical therapists are experts at treating musculoskeletal problems like back pain and gait difficulties. Our physical therapist will look at you as a whole person rather than a single issue. We will assess your particular condition to identify the contributing factors and address all of them. We understand that trying to resolve back pain without addressing the difficulty of walking will not provide the solutions you need for long-term success. WHAT TO EXPECT AT PHYSICAL THERAPY Your physical therapist will perform a thorough physical examination and provide you with solutions that work based on the findings. Physical therapy treatments are effective at improving your pain levels and the way you walk. When you are experiencing recurring back pain—especially if you are experiencing back pain while walking—you should consider ways to reduce back pain by taking small steps to support your back. You can do several things at home to improve your stride, which can make a significant difference when it comes to managing back pain day-to-day. CALL OUR CLINIC TODAY Call Superior Physical Therapy today for a comprehensive assessment of your back pain and your gait. Working with our physical therapists to improve your walking technique can help you overcome back pain one step at a time. If you have a history of severe back pain that has changed how you walk, don’t hesitate to talk to our physical therapists. We offer the results you are looking for! Sources: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02236/full • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048239/ • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0304395995001158 • https://sites.kowsarpub.com/jamm/articles/82816.html • https:// journals.lww.com/spinejournal/abstract/1993/09010/gait_analysis_of_patients_with_low_back_pain.8.aspx

You can find relief from your pain. Call Today or visit us at www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org We can help you live your life again, pain-free!

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