Headaches have a bad habit of making their appearance at the most inconvenient times. The middle of the workday, early in the evening when you have hours of responsibilities ahead of you, or even first thing in the morning when you are trying to pay attention to your morning meeting — headaches don’t care how important the work ahead of you is.
N E W S L E T T E R
A PAIN IN THE NECK DON’ T LET LIFE BECOME
INSIDE: • Don’t Let Life Become a Pain in the Neck • The Problem with Posture • Tips for Better Heart Health • Relieve Pain in Minutes • Patient Success Spotlight
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N E W S L E T T E R
NEW WORKSHOPS COMING SOON! Be on the lookout for our next FREE workshops! We will explain some of the most common causes of your pain, and share ways that you can find relief as well as how to prevent it in the future.
DON’ T LE T LIFE BECOME A
A PAIN IN THE NECK Headaches have a bad habit of making their appearance at the most inconvenient times. The middle of the workday, early in the evening when you have hours of responsibilities ahead of you, or even first thing in the morning when you are trying to pay attention to your morning meeting — headaches don’t care how important the work ahead of you is. desk chair you sit in at work can all impact your risk for experiencing regular headaches because of the intricate network of nerves and muscles in your neck.
watching TV as you fall asleep, keeping your neck at an odd angle as you rest for the evening, or maybe as a result of your posture as you type at your desk every day, hunched over at the shoulders with your neck catching the brunt of your slouch. These poor habits are common, and most of us consider them to be harmless. Sure, you know it isn’t great for you, but what is actually going to happen? It’s a lot easier to slouch as you type, and who doesn’t want to catch a few late-night laughs as they fall asleep? But the reality is that these seemingly irrelevant habits could be putting undue stress on your neck, and if you aren’t careful, this could translate to regular and uncomfortable headaches that are difficult to get rid of.
When Neck Pain Leads to Headaches The majority of the time, neck pain starts out as a seemingly small concern. A crick in your neck here or there may start to develop more frequently, and before you know it, your experience of neck pain is something you are dealing with daily. It isn’t always the result of something large. While being in a car accident or experiencing another sort of injury can definitely lead to chronic neck pain, the cause of the issue isn’t always as simple to identify. Sometimes it is a bad habit that you don’t really think twice about, like your habit of
There are all sorts of reasons why headaches may develop. From environmental factors like weather changes and exposure to certain perfumes or other scents, to stress and allergies, headaches happen to the best of us. However, there are some headaches that may be a bit more predictable than others. Factors like your posture, the type of mattress you sleep on, the pillow you use, or even the
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The Problem with Posture
Working with a physical therapist can help you to identify whether or not your headaches may be the result of neck pain or strain. One of the most common causes of headaches due to neck pain is forward head position. Forward head position means that when you are resting your head, you are continuing to hold your head slightly forward, which is a type of slouching position. How Physical Therapy Can Help Relieve Your Headaches You can identify whether or not you have a forward head position by standing straight against the wall and determining whether or not your head rests against the wall as your back does. If your head does not touch the wall when you are standing straight, then you aren’t fully standing up straight! As years go by and day after day you continue to hold your head in this forward position, you can start to experience pain as a result
of strain in the muscles of the neck. When this is an issue, working with a physical therapist may be able to help. Stretching the muscles in your neck to alleviate neck strain can reduce the severity and regularity of your headaches. Stretching the muscles that have grown tight along the back of your neck as well as those along the shoulders can help you find relief from the tension that is causing your pain. When dealing with neck pain, it is important to remember that safety has to come first. While there are many simple activities you can try at home to begin stretching your neck muscles, working with a physical therapist is the only way to ensure that you are stretching in a way that won’t potentially lead to greater injury. Give us a call today at 816-607-7180 or visit www.hillpromotionpt.com. We can help you say goodbye to your aches and pains, today!
TIPS FOR BE T TER HEART HEALTH
Relieve Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing neck pain.
1. Aim for lucky number seven. Young and middle-aged adults who sleep 7 hours a night have less calcium in their arteries (an early sign of heart disease) than those who sleep 5 hours or less or those who slept 9 hours or more. 2.Keepthepressureoff. Getyourblood pressurecheckedevery3-5years ifyou’re 18-39. Ifyou’re40orolder,or ifyouhave highbloodpressure,check iteveryyear. 3.Movemore. Tokeep itsimple,youcan aimfor30minutesaday,5daysaweek ofmoderateexercise.Evenifyouexercise for30minutesaday,beingsedentaryfor the other 23 1/2 hours is really bad for your heart. 4. Slash saturated fats. To help your heart’s arteries, cut down on saturated fats,whicharemainlyfound inmeatand full-fatdairyproducts.Chooseleanercuts and reduced-fat options.
5. Find out if you have diabetes. Over time,highbloodsugardamagesarteries and makes heart disease more likely. 6. Think beyond the scale. Ask your doctor if your weight is OK. If you have some pounds to lose, you’ll probably want to change your eating habits and be more active. 7. Ditch the cigarettes, real and electronic. Smoking and secondhand smokearebadforyourheart.E-cigarettes don’t contain the harmful chemicals in cigarettesmokebut,theystilldocontain nicotine. 8.Cleanup. Yourheartworksbestwhen it runs on clean fuel. That means lots of whole, plant-based foods (like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds) and fewer refined or processed foods (like white bread, pasta, crackers, and cookies).
Exercisescopyrightof
Stretches Your Neck LEVATOR SCAPULAE STRETCH (Overpressure) Sit in a chair with the hand on the side of the neck to be stretched beneath you. (Alternatively, you can grab under the chair.) Use your free hand to gently pull your nose down toward your armpit so as to give your neck an extra stretch. Good stretch to use if you sit at a computer all day.
Always consultyourphysical therapistorphysicianbefore startingexercisesyouareunsureofdoing.
NECK PAIN & HEADACHES, NO MORE: CALL 816-607-7180
Patient Success Spotlight
We Are Proud To Offer DEEP TISSUE LASER THERAPY
“Now, I have full range of motion, no pain and I’m back to my ‘pre-tear’ life.” “I’ve always been a big believer in physical therapy, but the folks at Hill Pro•Motion Physical Therapy really take it to another level. I had shoulder pain from a rotator cuff tear. I had surgery and got the all clear from my surgeon. Now, I have full range of motion, no pain and I’m back to my ‘pre-tear’ life. I can’t say enough good things about my main physical therapist. So patient and a great listener, Amanda knew when to push me and knew when to let me skate. GREAT PT! Now, when I came down with back spasms due to another issue, Zak and Garrett worked on me and got all of that ironed out. These people are amazing and I’m going to miss seeing them a lot.” – J. W.
SCHEDULE A LASER THERAPY CONSULTATION RELIEF FOR: Current and past patients: schedule your free laser therapy consultation today! Treatments Feel Good Depending on the laser, it can create little to no sensation or it can create a gentle, soothing warmth. Treatments Are Fast With LightForce lasers, treatments are quick, usually 5-12 minutes depending on the size, depth, and acuteness of the condition being treated. Back Pain Neck Pain Shoulder Pain Foot Pain Knee Pain Post Surgery
Who Do You Know That Needs Our Help?
Do You Have Friends Or Family That Can’t:
� Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely
� Sit for long periods � Walk for long distances � Live active and healthy
Name: Referred by:
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1321 SW Market St Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 816-607-7180
1321 SW Market St • Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 816-607-7180
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