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.
Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
GETTING TO THE CORE of Back & Neck Pain
Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
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Misspelled Mania ENTER TO WIN Find the misspelled word in this newsletter and call (423) 262-0020 to be entered into our drawing for your chance to win! $10 GIFT CERTIFICATE • Relieve Pain In Minutes • Patient Success Spotlight • Do You Know Someone Who Could Use Our Help? • October is National Physical Therapy Month! • Have You Met Your Insurance Deductible? • Getting to the Core of Back & Neck Pain • Core Strength & Back Pain
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, Getting to the CORE of Back & Neck Pain
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. We can help you achieve a pain-free life! Call Blue Ridge Physical Therapy today at (423) 262-0020 to find out more.
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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,whenyourcore isweak, 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 at Blue Ridge Physical Therapy is a great place to start. Your physical therapist will guide you through proper postures and movements to reduce further risk of injury. Call us at (423) 262-0020 today to start your journey to increase core strength and finally say “goodbye” to your neck and back pain.
Relieve Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you have neck and back pain.
Helps Relieve Neck & Back Pain
PRONE ALTERNATE ARM & LEG LIFT Lying flat on your stomach, slowly raise your right leg and left arm off of the ground. Keep your arms and legs straight. Inhale while lifting up. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Exhale while setting down. Repeat using the opposite arm and leg. Alternate 3 times on each side.
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Patient Success Spotlight “The skilled staff not only helped me get well again, they taught me how to be more proactive and do therapy on my own.”
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• Decrease pain • Increase strength • Increase activity level • Increase flexibility • Improve health • Get back to living We can help:
Ihavebeen inseveralPTprograms inthe past.When Ibeganexperiencingpainat my new job, It became difficult to drive, sit, stand, sleep, and use the computer. I came to Blue Ridge Physical Therapy and the skilled staff not only helped me get well again, they taught me how to be more proactive and do therapy on my own. I have never experienced such attention to detail. I have gained independence, independence, self- confidence, and freedom from the pain and limitations that hindered me.” - T. L.
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HAVE YOU MET YOUR INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE?
October is National Physical Therapy Month!
2. The best thing that you can do is seek treatment as immediately following the development of your pain as possible. Muscle aches and joint pain tend to grow worse over time. The longer you let your pain go untreated, the more severe thepain is likely tobecomeand moredifficult toheal.Physical therapy can have a huge impact on alleviating pain from muscle and joint aches, but the earlier you start, the better off you will be. 3. Physical therapy is the best strategy to overcome chronic pain and is helpful at all ages. About 30% of adults over 18 struggle with chronic back pain, and that number is even higher for those who are over 65. Turning to pain medication only masks the pain without addressing the issue— meaning the pain always comes back. Your physical therapist will tailor therapy methods to your needs, helping you achieve the best results possible.
Winter is one of the most trying times of the year for those struggling with chronic pain. Add the risk of falling due to icyconditionsandcoldweather that aggravates even the mildest arthritis issue and you’ll find a huge increase of those who would benefit from pain management and support. Take this month to learn some of the most important things you need to know about the benefits and perks of physical therapy: 1. Physical therapy is most beneficial when used before an issue becomes chronic and even as a means to prevent future injury. Your physical therapist can provide you an exercise regimen to help strengthen your body and keep joints healthy, flexible, and moving properly. Exercising regularly can help you understand proper lifting mechanics and their importance in everyday life, such as moving heavy furniture or lifting items off the ground. You can also practice proper posture as a preventative to many different types of injuries.
Patients with family plans or those who have had major surgeries or have a chronic illness are especially likely to have a $0 balance remaining on their out-of-pocket expenses. This means that the cost of physical therapy could be minimal or compltely covered by the patient’s insurance plan. If you are close to or have met your insurance deductible for the year, then now is the time to come in for PhysicalTherapy! Are you feeling aches and pains? Need to work on your core? Let us help you get a head start for 2020. Have you undergone surgery recently? Call Blue Ridge Physical Therapy today at (423) 262-0020 to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists. We’ll guide you to affordable treatments that will place you one step closer to pain relief.
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