Do you suffer from daily or recurrent aches and pains? If so, your posture may be the culprit. Just think about the number of hours a day we spend staring at a computer screen, hunched over our desks, or staring at our phones. That creates a lot of stress on the neck and back, especially if you are slouched, titled forward, or looking down for prolonged periods of time.
Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
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Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
Staying Inside? We Want to Help You! During this difficult time, we want you to know that we're here for you. If there's anything you need, from picking up groceries to running an errand, we want to be a support to you. Call us today and let us know how we can help! Thank you for being part of our Blue Ridge Physical Therapy family.
INSIDE: Could Your Posture Be The Reason For Your Aches & Pains? What Can I Do About It? 5 Health Benefits of Spring Cleaning! Healthy Recipe My Physical Therapy Story
COULD YOUR POSTURE BE THE REASON FOR YOUR ACHES & PAINS?
Patient of the Month! Wayne Costley
Do you suffer from daily or recurrent aches and pains? If so, your posture may be the culprit. Just think about the number of hours a day we spend staring at a computer screen, hunched over our desks, or staring at our phones. That creates a lot of stress on the neck and back, especially if you are slouched, titled forward, or looking down for prolonged periods of time. HOW DOES POOR POSTURE AFFECT ME? Changes to your posture can negatively affect your body, and you may find yourself experiencing some of the following symptoms: • If your posture contains a forward head tilt– This forward- head posture creates a strain on the neck, which can result in neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, chronic headaches, and lower back pain. Tilting your head forward for long periods of time shortens the muscles in the back of the neck, and can result in soreness throughout multiple parts of your body. • If your posture contains slouching of the mid-back – If you slouch the middle of your back, you can drive your head forward and alter the way your ribs naturally align. By doing this, you may experience pain in the slouched region of the mid-back, in addition to pain in the neck. If this is your average standing posture, it is important
to seek physical therapy treatment right away – over time, standing like this day after day may cause internal issues, as it creates pressure on your lungs, heart, and digestive system. • If your posture includes sitting for long periods of time – When you sit for prolonged periods of time, the muscles in your hips and legs will stiffen. When these muscles become stiff, they tighten and will pull on the lower back, causing pain. The joints also lose their range of motion, which can cause soreness or achiness in the hips, legs, and back, and can create issues with your gait. The way in which you walk can also have an effect on your posture. When you have improper posture, your center of gravity changes. This can cause your balance to decline, which can cause pain when walking, thus creating a vicious cycle of overcompensation and pain. The most common symptom of poor posture is lower back pain, although pain can be present in other parts of the body, as well. The back muscles constantly contract to keep you upright, and they overcompensate when you slouch or hunch over. Over a period of time, constant poor posture can create an unusual amount of wear and tear on the lower back, which can increase the risk of arthritis in the spine.
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WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? It can be difficult to correct poor posture, but there are a few steps you can take on your own to try and help:
4. Set up your office properly. – If you work from an office all day, it is important to have a proper ergonomic setup. Make sure that you are at a proper height with your desk chair and computer, so you don’t have to slouch or lean forward. Additionally, make sure your chair has the proper lumbar support needed to help you sit straight while you’re working. These simple steps can help tremendously with your overall posture. HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP? If these at-home treatments don’t work, it is important to consult help from a physical therapist. Simply standing up straight is a fight against gravity, and if you have been standing the wrong way for several years, it may be difficult to change it on your own. However, physical therapists are dedicated to getting you back on track to a pain-free, and risk-free life. They will evaluate your posture and gait to determine the best treatments necessary for you, and then they will create a treatment plan unique for your needs. They can improve your posture, eliminate your pain, and get you back to doing the activities you love to do. If you are experiencing pain, and you think it may be a result of your posture, give us a call today. We will help you get back to a comfortable posture with just a few sessions.
1. Sit properly. – If you are at a desk for extended periods of the day, make sure your stance is okay. Sit upright, place your feet flat on the floor, and try not to cross your legs. Make sure there is a small gap between the back of your knees and the chair. Having a chair with strong back support and padding is also recommended for making your upright position more comfortable. 2. Take stretch breaks. – If you are an office worker, it is no secret that most of the day is spent with limited levels of mobility. It is important to make sure that you get up every 30 minutes or so, and take a small walk, at least for a minute or two. This will help in loosening up your muscles and joints, as well as initiating a stronger blood flow. 3. Exercise. – Exercise is incredibly important, especially if your job produces several hours of inactivity. When you exercise, you are stretching and strengthening certain muscles of your body, including problem areas such as your neck and back. Taking even a small amount of time to walk or jog around the neighborhood every day can highly improve your overall gait.
Relieve Pain In Minutes Try this to improve your posture.
Contest Corner
PRONE ON ELBOWS Lying face down, slowly raise up and prop yourself up on your elbows. Look forward, and hold for ten seconds. Repeat 8 times.
This is my garden, I'll plant it with care. Here are the seeds, I'll plant it in there. The sun will shine, The rain will fall , The seeds will sprout and grow up tall .
JUNE Contest: GUESS THE
MOST PLANTS CORRECTLY & WIN A PRIZE!
Exercises copyright of
5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPRING CLEANING!
SPICY LEMON GARLIC BAKED TILAPIA
1. Allergy Symptom Reduction. A thorough cleaning can greatly reduce the amount of dust in your home, which is helpful considering dust mite allergies are the number one cause of bronchial asthma in the world. About 2.3 million Canadians have been diagnosed with asthma. A 2014 study found that cleaning and decluttering your home can help you avoid allergy symptoms and make you feel more healthy. 2. Cleanliness Produces Happiness. Maybe you don’t enjoy the process of cleaning, but the end result will leave you smiling. A 2010 study found that having a clean home can improve your mood and reduce your risk of depression. Studies also show that doing housework for 20 minutes can reduce stress and anxiety by up to 20 percent. 3. Better Heart Health. If you’re l ook i ng for an easy way to support your heart health, just 30 minutes per day of light exercise (including low- intensity physical activities l ike household chores, vacuuming, mopping, and scrubbing
floors) can decrease your risk of heart disease by 24 percent. 4. Declutter and Do a Good Deed by Donating. An essential part of a successful spring cleaning is getting rid of old items that are no longer used or worn. Apply the rule of thumb that if you haven’t made use of something in a year, it’s time for it to go. Fill bags and boxes of things, then donate them to a local charity so they can still be beneficial to someone else. Giving to others is an act that is associated with greater self-esteem, lower stress levels, and overall happiness. 5. Get a Better Night’s Sleep. Do you have trouble sleeping at night? In a recent poll, it was found that people who make their beds are 19 percent more likely to sleep well on a regular basis. Clean sheets with a fresh scent impacted 75 percent of those individuals polled. See what a difference spring cleaning can make by cleaning the clutter from your room and sleeping on some fresh sheets. Sources:ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19934011 parsleyhealth. com/blog/health-benefits-spring-cleaning
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
INGREDIENTS • 4-6 Tilapia Fillets • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice • 3 tbsp Butter • 1 tsp Garlic Minced
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.
Source: soune.me/2019/05/spicy-lemon-garlic-baked-tilapia-dinner.html?m=1
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“Fantastic! Couldn’t ask for more professional staff that cares about their patients. Always looking to help better your situation. Stan was encouraging but always giving me new exercises and ideas to strengthen my back. It was a collective effort with the staff, right down to the front desk working me in, taking care of insurance, and giving me calls to remind me of appointments. I am walking out of here straighter and stronger than when I walked in and with a team behind me. Thank you, Blue Ridge Physical Therapy!” –W. C.
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