WAPT_HowPostureAffectsBackPain

NEWSLETTER

Yes, It’s true. I do have a collection of Stormtrooper helmets in my office. And, yes… this really is a picture of me in my custommade Stormtrooper outfit. So it all began back in 2014 when we took a family vacation to Disneyland. While in line for the Star Tours ride, a couple of cast members in full Stormtrooper gear came walking through the line of visitors. At this point, my girls said it would be really cool if I had my own authentic Stormtrooper costume. When we got home from the trip I did a little research. It turns out an authentic Stormtrooper outfit can cost up to $3000. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids, but no way! I dug a little deeper and found a company in the UK that had a set The Perfect Storm

of original molds. I contacted them and for $250 they sent me a vacuum molded set of armor pieces. I spent about 20 hours cutting out the molds and assembling the entire set of Stormtrooper armor and the helmet to movie original specs. So now anytime I want to spend 20 minutes squeezing into a complete Stormtrooper costume so that I can feel like I’m inside a plastic oven I’m all set! Rumor has it that there might be a video of a Stormtrooper dance contest that happened one night in the clinic…

NEWSLETTER

Independently owned and operated since 1997

October 2018

HowPostureAffectsBack&NeckPain WWW.WAPTREHAB.COM

slouch right away, but in time the habit is likely to catch up with you. There are certain ways that you can tell if neck or back pain may be a result of poor posture, including: • The pain in your back is worsened at certain times of day.  For example, after you’ve spent a day at the office, or after a few hours on the couch. • The pain frequently starts in your neck and moves into your upper and lower back. Pain that seems to travel from one area of the back to another is frequently an indication of posture concerns. • The pain will subside after switching positions, such as switching from sitting to standing or vice versa. • Back or neck pain that develops soon after a change in circumstances, such as starting a new job with a new desk chair, or getting a new car.

Remember back when your mother used to tell you that if you wouldn’t stop hunching your shoulders, they’d be stuck that way forever? An idle threat, one that barely anyone took seriously. Yet, fast forward a few decades and it turns out that mommight have been on to something, after all. A poor habit of bad posture can have a lasting impact on your neck and back. The worse your posture is, the more intense your back and neck pain can become. Unfortunately, once you start experiencing neck and back pain, simply squaring your shoulders isn’t likely to be much help. Working with a physical therapist can help you to train the muscles in your back, neck and shoulders so that you can improve your posture permanently, and in doing so bring relief to your chronic neck and back pain. The Posture and Pain Connection Not all back pain is caused by poor posture, and it is true that you can have poor posture for years without feeling the consequences of that

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3. If further assessment is warranted, your therapist

2. Your therapist can

1. Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist.

discuss with you why your pain is bothering you again and what you might do about it at home.

might recommend you come in for an appointment.

Howto ImproveYour Posture

Working with a physical therapist to improve your posture is a great way to overcome chronic neck and back pain. In physical therapy, you will be guided through a series of stretches and strength building exercises that can help you begin training your body to practice better posture, thereby reducing your back and neck pain. Ofcourse, thereareways thatyoucan improve yourpostureathome,aswell.Hereareseveral strategies that are typically helpful: • Try to stand tall whenever you are standing or walking. Hold your head high and square your shoulders, but more importantlyworkonbeing the tallest version of yourself. Hunching over is the leading cause of poor posture. Use support when you sit to keep your posture correct. Lumbar support in office chairs and car seats will help a bit, but for improved posture you may need to add additional cushioning that will help you keep your back straight. Be mindful of how you lift heavy objects. Keep your shoulders square and your chest forward. When lifting something • •

that is over 50 lbs it is important to take extra care. Lead with your hips and try to keep theweightclose toyourbody.Lifting something improperly can lead to injury to your neck or back, which may make proper posture uncomfortable. What can Good Posture do for You? There are a lot of benefits of having good posture.Aside fromsayinggoodbye toneckor back pain, improving your posture can provide several unexpected benefits to your lifestyle and personal well-being. Here are a few of the additional benefits of having good posture: • Proper posture creates quality exercise for your core and back • Improved respiratory health • Added protection for your organs, bones, joints and muscles • Reduced risk of arthritis If you are experiencing chronic neck and back pain, there is a good chance that it could be related to your posture. Contact your physical therapist to learnmoreabouthowyoucan take steps to start improving your posture today.

After years of practicing poor posture, your back,shoulderandneckmuscleswill likelyfind standing or sitting with straight posture to be uncomfortable.This is because your muscles havegrownaccustomed to theslouching,and standingupstraightwillrequiresomethorough stretching. That doesn’t mean that once you have bad posture you can never correct it.

SUDOKU PUZZLE

Relieve Neck Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing neck pain.

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Cervical Retraction Stand with your back against a wall. Tuck chin like you are nodding ‘yes,’ then draw your chin closer to the back of your throat. Repeat 6 times.

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PATIENT SUCCESS STORY

SPECIAL OFFER

“I would definitely recommend anyone to WAPT!”

FREE Back Pain Consultation For You This coupon good for

Valid now through 10/31/18

Mention or bring in this coupon for a FREE Consultation with one of our physical therapy specialists! • Stiffness • Muscle spasms • Arthritis • Upper back pain The free consultation is ideal for people suffering with: • Lower back pain • Herniated discs • Sciatica • Spinal stenosis

Call Today 425.820.2110

Healthy Recipe Zucchini Linguine

Print sudoku http://1sudoku.com

4 “Allegra was great! I came in after having knee surgery and could barely walk. I ended therapy being able to squat, leg press, and regain full range of motion. The staff was very friendly, and I would definitely recommend anyone to WAPT.” - Andi H. 7 1 6 8

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Ingredients

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• 1 lb tomatoes, finely chopped • 1 tablespoon chopped basil • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1 small red chile, seeded & minced

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 12 ounces linguine • 3 baby zucchini, thinly sliced • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

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Directions In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes with the basil, parsley, garlic, salt, chile and oliveoil. Ina largepotofboilingsaltedwater,cookthe linguine;drainwell.Addthe linguine to thebowlalongwith theslicedzucchiniand toss.Add the1/4cupof gratedcheese, tossagainandserve inbowls,passingmorecheeseat the table.

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Get results like these by scheduling your appointment. Call 425.820.2110 and talk with your therapist today!

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http://1sudoku.com 3 2 4 1 The “Need to Know” About Concussions SEE THE INSERT! n° 222047 - Level Medium

Did You Know That A Concussion Is Really A Traumatic Brain Injury?

away, seizure, numbness or weakness anywhere in the body. If you ever suspect someone has a concussion ALWAYS seek immediate medical attention!

Fall has arrived and so have fall sports. As is inevitable every year, the topic of concussions in sports will make its way into the head- lines. As both a parent of athletes and as a physical therapist, I have a keen interest in concussions and how best to avoid and treat them. I wanted to take this opportunity to share some thoughts. What Exactly Is a Concussion? The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Basically, a concussion is an injury to the brain that disrupts the brain cells ability to send signals normally. Most concussions are the result of a blow or sudden jarring movement of the head. The brain rap- idly accelerates and then decelerates as it moves inside the skull.

What’s The Big Deal? A concussion is the ONLY sports injury that can affect a student athletes personality as well as their ability to learn in school. Since a concussion disrupts the normal functioning of the brain, it can cause significant and possibly permanent neurological prob- lems if not treated properly. Don’t People Recover In Just a Week or Two? While many concussions respond well to rest and modified activity, it is possible for concussion symptoms to last for months. A history of previous concussions is often associated with a longer recovery. It is critical that a person fully recovers from a concus- sion before resuming any sport/activity where another blow to the head can occur.

What Are The Symptoms? The symptoms of a concussion can vary and may not show up right away. Some symptoms include:

• Sleeping more/less • Sensitivity to light//noise • Nausea • Difficulty concentrating • Anxiety • Vomiting

• Headache • Trouble thinking clearly

• Blurry vision • Poor balance • Dizziness • Feeling “slow”

Want more info? Visit WWW.WAPTREHAB.COM/CONCUSSION-FACTS

Major warning signs include: loss of consciousness, slurred speech, repeated vomiting, headaches that worsen or don’t go

Washington Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation | 6725 116th Ave NE Ste 130 • Kirkland, WA 98033 P: 425.820.2110 • F: 425.820.2111 E: info@WAPTrehab.com • W: waptrehab.com

Is It Better To Have My Kid Not Play Sports? This is a frequent question that I hear all the time. And the answer may surprise you. I believe that keeping your kids from playing sports is not always the right solution. Why is that? There are several reasons: • Due to the high profile and significant concerns about concus- sions, in WA state every coach is required to complete concus- sion training. In addition, most school districts have specific and strict concussion protocols in place to detect and provide proper treatment for any suspected concussion. If an athlete is suspected of having a concussion they must be cleared by a proper medical professional to return-to-play. • Concussions occur in a variety of settings: sports, car acci- dents, playground accidents, and at home. A Canadian study showed that the second most common cause of concussions was playground accidents. When your child is playing orga- nized sports there is someone with training watching out for your child. At home, at a friend’s house, or on the playground, there is a chance a blow to the head can go unseen or ignored. In fact, I was sitting at a class about concussion diagnosis and treatment, and the physical therapist sitting next to me leaned over and admitted that she could remember at least one time her own son hit his head riding his bike. He likely had a concus- sion and she just ignored it. • In my career, I have treated more patients with concussions from car accidents, slips or falls at home, or outdoor activities than sports related concussions.

I’ve Heard About the ImPACT Test at my Kids School. What is it? ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cogni- tive Testing) is currently the most widely utilized computerized concussion program in the world. It is used by the NFL, NHL, MLB, WWE, US Special Forces, 7,400+ high schools and 1,000+ Universities throughout the country. Developed by clinical experts, ImPACT is a scientifically valid test to assist in the diagnosis of a concussion. It consists of a baseline test before the sport season. If a concussion is suspected a post-injury test is given and compared to the baseline scores. Most high school athletes in the area take the ImPACT test at school. At Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, we offer both baseline and post-injury testing. In addition, did you know that Mike is the only ImPACT trained physical therapist in the greater Seattle area? He has specialized training in the ImPACT test and post-concussion recovery and treatment. Learn More at WWW.WAPTREHAB.COM/IMPACT-TESTING Got Questions? Interested in learning more? Have a group that would like concussion education?

Please feel free to reach out to us at: 425-820-2110 or info@WAPTrehab.com

Washington Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation | 6725 116th Ave NE Ste 130 • Kirkland, WA 98033 P: 425.820.2110 • F: 425.820.2111 E: info@WAPTrehab.com • W: waptrehab.com

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