Head and neck pain is not the type of pain that you can push through and deal with for too long. For one thing, chronic pain in the head or neck is often associated with some sort of chronic health concern — one that you need to deal with, not ignore. Secondly, when you are dealing with constant pain in your head or neck, it becomes difficult to concentrate. This can have a negative effect on your personal relationships, your career and more.
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N E W S L E T T E R TELEHEALTH SERVING PATIENTS IN THESE TROUBLING TIMES
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been causing numerous health care facilities to shut down, we as medical professionals are diligently trying to serve our patients in the best ways possible without risking the spread of this disease. Because of this, telehealth services are the best possible option for us at this time. By providing care for our patients virtually, as opposed to in person, we are able to keep both our patients and PT providers safe. For more information on our telehealth services and how they may benefit you, feel free to call us today, schedule a telehealth appointment with our website chatbot, OR go to our telehealth appointment page link to schedule your virtual appointment! What is telehealth? You may be wondering what exactly telehealth is. Essentially, it is a way for us to make sure that our patients are still receiving the highest possible quality of care they need from a remote location. Medicare and most commercial insurance companies now pay for outpatient therapy telehealth services. Telehealth services can be accessed via your smartphone or computer, and you will INSIDE : • Life Doesn’t Have to Be a Pain in the Neck • Relieve Pain In Minutes
be able to perform your PT treatments from the comfort of your own home during this quarantine. You will also be able to track your progress and see how you are improving throughout your treatments – without coming directly to our clinic. At Carlson Therapy Network, our telehealth services offer live consultation where you can meet and chat with your physical therapist about your treatment plan. Additionally, through our PT Wired app, you can view the exercises and stretches that you are expected to complete each day and log your advancement through your treatment plan. You can also use this app to access ongoing helpful tools and tips, such as our blogs – you can even use it to send these tips to a friend or family member who may also need help!
• Telehealth: Serving Patients in These Troubling Times
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Life Doesn’t Have to Be a Pain in the Neck Head and neck pain is not the type of pain that you can push through and deal with for too long. For one thing, chronic pain in the head or neck is often associated with some sort of chronic health concern — one that you need to deal with, not ignore. Secondly, when you are dealing with constant pain in your head or neck, it becomes difficult to concentrate. This can have a negative effect on your personal relationships, your career and more. will develop when you are exposed too long to loud noises. There is no singular fix for each of these different types of headaches, which is why attempting to treat every headache you experience with the same medication frequently doesn’t work.
pain medications that become less helpful the longer they are used, physical therapy provides long-term rel ief from pain by correcting the joint or muscle concern with targeted therapies like flexibility exercises, muscle strengthening techniques, and guided stretches that target core joints and muscles. Of course, not all neck or head pain is the same, so understanding the basics of what you are dealing with is the first step to achieving relief. HEAD PAIN 101: There are a lot of different types of headaches that you may experience, and each can be caused by its own different reason. For example, migraines can be caused by environmental factors, food allergies or even as a result of stress. There are headaches that can develop due to sinus pain and headaches that will develop when you are dehydrated. There are also headaches that
One of the most common causes of headaches that are easily treatable with physical therapy is radiating headaches, which are caused by stress in the joints and muscles of the neck. This causes pain to radiate from the top of the neck into the head, especially surrounding the ears. There are a lot of reasons why radiating headaches could develop, including as a result of lack of movement and stiffness in the neck. This buildup of irritation can be treated with regular physical therapy, especially through the use of massage and flexibility exercises that target the muscles in the neck. (continued inside)
The most common cause of neck or head pain is a muscle or joint problem. Working with a physical therapist can help you to identify the cause of the trouble and begin taking steps to correct the issue, allowing you to find relief from the pain without having to commit to long-term pain management — which often includes the use of pain medications that are potentially harmful to your health and not likely to work as well over time. Unlike
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CARLSON THERAPY NETWORK P h y s i c a l T h e r a p y a n d W e l l n e s s
Neck Pain 101
In many situations, pain that develops in the neck can be associated with one of two major problems. The first is upper-back pain that begins to radiate into the neck. The second is arthritis. Physical therapy can be used to address both types of neck pain. Cervical arthritis causes frequent aches in the neck and shoulders. This pain is generally worse when there are sudden changes in weather or at the end of the day, and while over-the- counter medication may make the pain less severe, it won’t eliminate the pain entirely. The biggest problem posed by cervical arthritis is that the pain will typically cause a loss of range of motion in the neck, which actually increases your risk of injury as a result of a sudden movement and causes regular discomfort and frustration as you are not able to utilize your neck in the way you normally could. There are plenty of situations in which pain in the neck
as a result of cervical arthritis grows so severe that it can cause chronic poor posture and even a reduction in height. Addressing the Core Problem The majority of neck and head pain can be helped with one simple strategy: strength bui lding. It frequently happens that the absolute cause of the start of a pain in the neck or head is a result of poor posture or quickened motion, and building core strength, as well as strength in the neck, can make a huge difference in your ability to handle tasks without experiencing chronic pain. Keep in mind that the neck and head are sensitive areas, so attempting to treat the pain at home can be dangerous and may not be effective. Working with a physical therapist is the safe way to ensure that you are practicing positive techniques to find relief from your aches and pains.
Relieve Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing neck pain.
Relieve Neck Pain LEVATOR SCAPULAE STRETCH
The staff at Carlson Therapy is focused on keeping our equipment and facilities clean for you. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we want to also encourage our patients to help prevent the spread of coronavirus by: YOUR HEALTH IN MIND!
Sit on your hand on the side to be stretched. Alternatively, you can grab under a chair. Bring your nose into the armpit. Use your opposite hand to guide your head further into the stretch. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat as needed.
Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing. CARLSON THER P h y s i c a l T h e r a p CALL US TODAY IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING HEAD OR NECK PAIN AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE WITH UNWASHED HANDS STAYING HOME IF YOU ARE SICK CARLSON THERAPY NETWORK P h y s i c a l T h e r a p y a n d W e l l n e s s
CLEANING HANDS OFTEN
If you are feeling sick, we ask that you stay home and contact us to reschedule your appointment. Thank you!
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How to Select Proper Casual or Work Footwear
Patients often have difficulty finding supportive, comfortable shoes for work and casual wear. Sneakers are the best in terms of support and comfort, but are not always a realistic option. Shoe stores are full of nice looking dress and casual shoes, but how do you know which ones are going to support your feet and not cause you pain? Get measured. Many people are wearing the wrong
Do the twist test. Grab the front and rear of the shoe and try to twist it. A little give is ok, but a supportive shoe should not twist like a sponge. Do the fold test. Grab the front and rear of the shoe and try to fold it in half. If you can touch the toe area to the heel area, it is not a supportive shoe. Don’t forget arch support. The arch support of the footbed should match the height of your arch. The best shoes have removable inserts, which allow you to customize the support to your feet. Many shoe stores sell orthotics that are made for dress or casual shoes and come in varying arch heights. We recommend going to a reputable local shoe store to have your feet properly measured. Your therapist at Carlson Therapy Network can also assess your shoes and recommend which properly support your feet.
Who Do You Know That Needs Our Help? � Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely � Sit for long periods � Walk for long distances � Live active and healthy
size shoe (often too small). Go to a
local shoe store and have them measure your feet. The best time of day to shop for shoes is the afternoon,
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because your feet swell as the day goes on. Getting measured will also tell you if you need a wide or narrow shoe. No heels. High heels put stress on every joint from your spine to your feet. High heels are not good for your body and can cause real damage to your joints and soft tissue. Wedges or platforms are not better than pumps - it is all about the angle of the foot in the shoe. Our therapists recommend a maximum of 1” heel height.
COMPLIMENTARY NECK PAIN CONSULT CARLSON THERAPY NETWORK P h y s i c a l T h e r a p y a n d W e l l n e s s
RAPY NETWORK p y a n d W e l l n e s s FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Call to schedule. Expires 06-29-20 CALL US TODAY! WE OFFER 6 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS Providing the best care since 1983 CARLSON THERAPY NETWORK P h y s i c a l T h e r a p y a n d W e l l n e s s
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