Your spine is a complex part of your body – it requires proper posture, flexibility, coordination, and strength, in order to do its job correctly. When one of these elements is altered, your spine can emit painful responses that can settle in other nearby parts of the body.
Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
May 2020
Are You Experiencing Lower Back Pain? CHANCES ARE, IT MAY BE CAUSED BY ANOTHER ISSUE
www.thephysiotherapycenter.com
Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
May 2020
INSIDE:
Are You Experiencing Lower Back Pain? CHANCES ARE, IT MAY BE CAUSED BY ANOTHER ISSUE
• How Can I Tell If My Neck Is Causing My Back Pain? • Your Health In Focus During COVID-19 • Relief From Neck Pain • Healthy Recipe • The Impact of the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic on Physiotherapy From COVID to ‘CO-Phys’ CALL IN! Call for your FREE ACHES & PAINS ANALYSIS Call us today to schedule your first step out of pain! (345) 943-8700
because your body isn’t used to carrying it in that way. This is also why pain in your lower back may occur as a result. Your back muscles are working in overdrive and maybe constricting to try and hold you up. If you notice neck and back pain at the same time as one another, try sitting up straighter – it should help ease some of the stress! Is your neck the culprit? Themost common combination of pain is in the neck and back. If you are experiencing both, it is most likely stemming from the neck. We don’t typically think about it, but we use our necks for a lot of our daily activities. Even simple things, such as turning to grab something out of the cupboard or looking over your shoulder when backing out of a driveway, use a lot of neck muscles. When you do simple tasks such as these, do you find yourself turning your entire body, as opposed to just your head? If so, you could experience back pain along with your neck pain. When you have limited motion in your neck, your body compensates by twistingmore than it usually would, thus over-rotating your lower back. This could cause a source of pain or general discomfort in the area, due to abnormal overuse. If you are experiencing neck pain, back pain, or a combination of both, our physiotherapists would be more than happy to meet with you for a consultation to discuss how they can help. Call us today to talk to an expert about how we can relieve your aches and pains!
Your spine is a complex part of your body – it requires proper posture, flexibility, coordination, and strength, in order to do its job correctly. When one of these elements is altered, your spine can emit painful responses that can settle in other nearby parts of the body. According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 80% of adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is actually the most commonly reported location of pain across the globe. But how often is the source actually another part of your body? Pain is usually connected: Your spine is a lengthy structure, and pain can travel along it. Let’s say you are prone to neck pain – perhaps you have a slouched posture from sitting at a desk all day and the pressure radiates in your shoulders. Or, maybe you’ve had a previous injury, such as whiplash, that still elicits painful stings every now and then. Now, let’s say you begin feeling pain in your lower back in addition to your neck pain. Why does this happen? Basically, the pains are connected to each other. Your head weighs about 10-12 pounds, which is roughly the weight of a bowling ball. When you slouch or compensate pain by realigning your body, your back muscles have to work extra hard to keep you from toppling forward. Have you ever been so tired that your head begins to bob and it jolts you awake? That’s because your head is heavy! The weight from the motion wakes you back up
www.thephysiotherapycenter.com
HOWCAN I TELL IFMYNECK IS CAUSING MY BACK PAIN? It can sometimes to be difficult to determine if your back pain is rooted in your neck. This simple, at-home test can assist you in figuring it out: 1. Stand straight in front of another person. They will be your eyes regarding the movements you make.
Refer A Friend Care enough to share how physiotherapy helped you? Who do you know that could benefit from therapy? Send them our way! They will thank you, and so will we. This test is helpful in finding out if your neck is causing (or is at risk of causing) pain in your lower back. If your movement is limited, especially sitting down, it means that the muscles in your back or upper back are tight. These constricted motions can cause pain in the lower back. How can physiotherapy help me? Physiotherapy is the leading recommendation for back pain. Physiotherapists are trained to evaluate muscle and joint movement, and they can easily assist you in finding the root of your problem. They will thoroughly evaluate you to figure out why you are experiencing pain, determining the source, and treating all affected areas. After your initial consultation, they will create a specialized 4. Ask if there were any differences in the turning movement. Did one side seem to turn further than the other? Was there a difference in standing vs. sitting? 2. Once they are watching you, turn your head as far as you comfortably can to the left. Repeat the same motion to the right. Have them take note of how far you are able to go. 3. Now, sit down in front of the same person. Repeat the same turning motions from a chair or couch. Again, have them take note of how far you are able to comfortably turn your head.
treatment plan for you, based on their diagnosis of your specific needs. A physiotherapist’s end goal is the same as yours – to get you feeling better, healthier, and more comfortable! If you are experiencing lower back pain and think it may be caused by an issue occurring in your neck, give us a call today. We’ll get you moving comfortably again in no time.
Relief From Neck Pain Good stretch if you sit at a computer all day
LEVATOR SCAPULAE STRETCH Exercises copyright of
Refer a friend to our clinic and receive a FREE 1/2 Hour Therapeutic Massage .
Grasp your arm on the affected side and tilt your head down into the armpit. Use your opposite hand to guide your head further into the stretch. Hold for 15 counts and repeat as needed.
Aches & Pains? We Offer FREE Screenings Helping You Get Back To Better Again!
www.thephysiotherapycenter.com
25 Eclipse Drive, P. O. Box 10742 George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1007 Phone: (345) 943-8700
To:
From:
Cal l Today (345) 943-8700
HEALTHY RECIPE
Your Health In Focus During COVID-19
We understand these are trying times and that you may have concerns about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how to best keep you and your family, friends, and neighbors safe and healthy. Please know that our health care team is closely attuned to the quickly changing situation, well prepared to respond to our patients’ needs, and proud to serve as a vital resource for our community. While our clinic is closed, for the time being, we are now offering Telehealth Services for physiotherapy visits during this crisis. For those with other health issues unrelated to COVID-19, Telehealth allows you to continue with your treatment and avoid regression in the progress you have made so far. Check out our newsletter insert for more details about this great new service! Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. Tips to Help You Stay Healthy & Active at Home: 1. Do a set of exercises or stretches at least every other hour during the day! You can get started with the Exercise Essentials listed in this newsletter or consult with your physiotherapist for other options. 2. Maintain a healthy, nutritious diet and stay hydrated! Vegetables that are particularly rich in Vitamins C, B6, and E, include yellow bell peppers, kale, broccoli, spinach, peas, potatoes, carrots, and avocados. Quercetin (a flavonoid found in onions, grapes, capers, and black and green tea) is believed to have antiviral properties. 3. Take frequent breaks for breathing exercises. (Inhale & exhale deeply.) 4. Make sure you are getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
Spicy Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia • 4-6 tilapia fillets • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 3 tbsp butter • 1 tsp garlic minced • 1/2 tsp red chilli powder • salt to taste • 1/2 tsp black pepper freshly cracked • 1 lemon cut into thin slices • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped DIRECTIONS Wash the tilapia fillets and pat them dry. Arrange the fillets in a baking tray. Mix lemon juice, butter, garlic, red chili powder, salt and black pepper in a bowl. Pour this mixture over the tilapia. Arrange lemon slices in between the fillets. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C (350 Degrees F). Bake the fish for 15-20 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot.
Attention Back Pain Sufferers!
Do You Want To Find The Origin Of Your Pain?
• Decrease your pain • Increase your strength • Increase your activity level We can help:
• Increase your flexibility • Improve your health • Get back to living
Mention or Bring in This Coupon Today For a FREE Back Pain Consultation
Call Today: (345) 943-8700
Offer valid for the first 25 people to schedule. Expires 06-30-20.
THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS PANDEMIC ON PHYSIOTHERAPY FROM COVID TO ‘CO-PHYS’… By: Resean Reece, Registered Physiotherapist
2. Cleanliness is a state of purity and clarity: It should be standard to keep any health care facility thoroughly sanitized, but being more conscious of our surroundings can only be more helpful. Patients will have a greater sense of security when using frequently sanitized equipment or exercise stations more so amid a global pandemic. Patients are appropriately reminded of practicing personal hand and face hygiene in protecting themselves and other patients. The move by myself and colleagues to wear and manage personal protective equipment (PPEs) will reduce the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus and other harmful pathogens, which I believe we should forever sustain from this renaissance of safety and hygiene. With the significant implications of the pandemic outlined, I will downplay my bias for the private health care sector, to acknowledge our public sector counterparts; especially the physical therapists who work on the frontline such as in accident and emergency (A&E) departments, intensive care units (ICUs) and on the in-patient wards of the island’s hospitals. They have to employ a stringent screening process and set of protocols in treating patients who are either confirmed to have COVID-19, who is suspected of having it, or at least is predisposed to contracting the virus while being an in-patient in the delicate hospital setting. The doctors, nurses, and other primary health care providers are not exempt from our appreciation. How a patient is managed on the frontlines will impact their progress when release to continue treatment from private facilities. Our patient’s understanding and cooperation are vital, considering the currently eased soft-curfew restrictions by the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) and the approval of health care facilities to reopen with their own safety policies and guidelines in place. This will allow for safe practices and outcomes in the clinic as it relates to hygiene and sanitization. Most importantly, wash your hands, wear a mask, and maintain an appropriate distance from other individuals. Each physiotherapist will only be allowed to see one patient at a time for crowd control purposes. Hence, be punctual for your appointment, or at least communicate with us if you are delayed, so that the therapist can plan ahead. For more information on the compliance to anti-COVID measures for any health care facility, feel free to visit the CIG Department of Health Regulatory Services, or simply contact our facility at 345-943-8700. Please visit our Facebook ( fb.com/thephysiotherapycenterltd ) and website ( thephysiotherapycenter.com ) for more information. Most importantly and appropriately, keep safe and keep moving, as the whole world attempts to return to some semblance of normalcy and health. We look forward to assisting you in ‘Getting Back to Better Again.’
Skype or Physitrack) have been a magical tool in encouraging ongoing communication with our patients, and in equipping us with the ability to administer exercises and supervise tasks. Live and ongoing visual and verbal feedback is exchanged between therapist and patient based on the activity being done. Education has had a vital role in our online applications, which can be done in the form of specific and safe videos, presentation/discussion, or the citing of reputable medical websites and online journals. Despite these wonders of technology, we cannot ignore how tactile our profession is. We garner quite a lot of information by palpating muscles, joints, the quality of movement, etc., and observing the target tissue or affected function in a person, is vital. Additionally, manual therapy is carried out predominantly by the clinician’s hands, and the sense of touchwe provide during a task or exercise gives guidance and assurance to the patient. For health practitioners, the needed progress and complexity of exercises must be tempered, for the sake of safety or for a client who is understandably not adequately equipped for rehab at home. 3. Delayed treatment and recovery of patients: This has occurred with the highlighted limitations of technology, and the added responsibility of stay-at-home domestic, family-related, and work tasks. Nonetheless, we have adapted to providing meaningful physiotherapy services online. Clinicians and clients have had to be more patient in their rehab to achieve functional goals. This article would not be complete without exploring the fewer positives that we have gained during the COVID-19 restrictions: 1. ‘On-the-call Physio’: The pandemic saga has encouraged us as physiotherapists to be more creative and productive. By hosting online sessions, thereby having a more comprehensive and tested option in providing treatment to patients, in the long term of the post-COVID-19 era. We must be even more conscious of how clearly and coherently we communicate the necessary information to patients, using verbal tone, facial expression, and repetition, emphasizing a particular topic. Some patients have also felt more relaxed in communicating and working out from home. It is also easier to visualize what patients go through at home with functional tasks, ergonomics, and ease of mobility that are demonstrated or observed. Remember that many physiotherapy problems originate from doing something wrong at home, or at least their domestic environment has contributed to their discomfort. A patient’s inability or unwillingness to come to the clinic, does not negate them receiving any form of intervention in this age of technology.
It is disheartening to see the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had globally touching on every stratum of life. The demand for health services is dramatically increasing and is appreciated in the more acute or emergency setting, where intervention administered has a direct effect in managing confirmed COVID-19 cases. However, one must think about the secondary health care personnel as well more falling under the umbrella of The Professions Allied to Medicine, and the relevance they have in this COVID era. Keeping the ship sailing in all areas of the health field is of vital importance. Despite having to take precautions, including quarantining and social distancing, people still have to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Pharmacists will still have to prescribe much- needed medication, medical technologists still need to do body fluid-related tests/analysis, and nutritionists will still need to do dietary planning for clients. These scenarios are no different from the current need for physiotherapists that are continuing to facilitate rehabilitation, administer exercises, and encourage healthy physical activities. New post-op patients should receive early pain management and mobilization treatment as ordered by their surgeon. Also, returning patients with chronic musculoskeletal and neurological conditions need to keep up the momentum to aide their recovery. The following points listed outlines the negative impacts of this pandemic on physiotherapy. There is no doubt that some of these points may be applied in general to other areas of the health field. 1. The decline in clientele: There has been a reduction in the number of physiotherapy patients with the social distancing campaign and closing of non-essential businesses, which started in March 2020. Many patients who have been employees or owners of such companies, such as in the tourism industry now have less disposable income, with possible reduction or delays in being paid, while still needing to cover their expenses. Similarly, private physiotherapy clinics and fitness centers have had the added burden of having to increase time spent on sanitization and prospectively operational facilities with significantly less commission or income. One has to think that this delays the growth of that facility, which would have happened via tapping into the research, expanding staff, and purchasing new equipment. Home visits and outdoor hydrotherapy sessions would also be suspended. 2.Decreasedefficacyofservice: Physiotherapists are no less important at this time; however, our workhashad tobeconfined toonline interventions. Our Physiotherapy Center Telehealth services (via WhatsApp video call, Cliniko, Medbridge, Zoom,
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6Made with FlippingBook HTML5