Newsletter for The Physical Therapy Center - Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine
I S BACK PA I N
SLOWING YOU DOWN?
PHYSICALTHERAPYCENTER.ORG
Is Back Pain Slowing You Down?
Back pain can hinder your day-to-day activities. Left untreated, it can even lead to long-term joint, spine and nerve damage. As one of the most common physical complaints, over 80 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from it at some point in their lifetime. The pain itself can hinder your ability to reach, lean, kneel, lift or bend. It can also hinder your time spent with friends and family. Direct pain aside, minor aches and cramps associated with a back pain problem can make you irritable—ruining your good time.
What Causes Back Pain? A few things cause back pain. The American Physical Therapy Association covers each of these, but the following are leading causes:
Back Pain Solutions You’re in luck: Back pain can be cured! The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke covers a number of back pain remedies. These include the use of strength exercise, physical therapy and medication. Where medication is considered, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesic medications and counter-irritants are the most popular. Before you can treat your back pain, however, you need to know why it star ted. Whether you’ve tweaked a muscle or have a deeper injury, a spine special ist can help. Are you struggling from back pain that won’t go away? We want to help! Call us or visit physicaltherapycenter.org to schedule your consultation today!
• Spinal and core muscle weaknesses • Bad posture • Spinal muscle and tissue damage • Improper lifting form • Limited hip, spine and thigh muscle flexibility • Bad abdominal, pelvic and back muscle coordination
Unfor tunately, a lot of people don’t seek treatment when back pain ar ises. Before they know it, they have a big problem. They might assume nothing—except for medication—can solve their back pain problem. Medication might mask the pain, but it won’t cure the problem’s root cause.
A Little Prevention Goes A LongWay If you want to avoid future back pain, you can make sure you’re being good to your back. Here are a few tips to avoid some of the leading causes of back pain: Lift Properly You pick things up constantly. Even if you’re lifting something light, make sure you’re facing the object. Squat, keeping your spine straight. Lift with your leg muscles, as this will reduce the pressure placed on your spine. Use Good Posture When you’re standing, imagine a string is attached to the top of your head—lifting you up. This will keep your hips, spine, shoulders and neck aligned. If you’re sitting, don’t slouch. Use Strength Training Your body has hundreds of muscles. These muscles protect and control your spine. By lifting weights, running and swimming, you can keep them strong. Train your core muscles. In doing so, you’ll easily control quick, lifting movements. It never hurts to visit a physical therapist, either. Get regular check-ups, and make sure your body is in good condition. If you have a history of back injuries, pain or minor aches, don’t hesitate to talk to a professional. You deserve a pain-free life, and your back will thank you.
Feel Better By Eating Better! Gluten-Free Breakfast Hash
• 4 eggs • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese • salt and pepper to taste • 1/4 tsp paprika
• 5 medium-large potatoes washed and peeled • 1 large white onion chopped • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 2 green onions trimmed and finely chopped
Cut potatoes into 1/2 inch wedges. Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Cook potatoes for 25 minutes, covered, stirring every 4-5 minutes. Add chopped white onion. Cook for another 5-10 minutes, uncovered, and stirring constantly. When potatoes are crispy and golden brown, add green onions, salt, and pepper. Stir through. With your spatula, make four wells in the potatoes and crack an egg into each one. Sprinkle shredded cheddar all around. Cook until the egg whites are set, or until your liking. Cover pan with lid for poached eggs. Add more olive oil on eggs if desired. Sprinkle eggs with a pinch of paprika seasoning. Serve immediately.
Sources http://www.apta.org/
https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Health-Wellness-Information/Back-Pain-Facts-and-Statistics https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet
physicaltherapycenter.org
Get Your Life Back with PT Center Make an appointment today to start living your life again, pain-free!
(704) 847-6351 Matthews Location
(704) 843-7000 Waxhaw Location
(704) 843-7000 South End Location
(704) 283-6700 Monroe Location
WhenTo Use Ice & Heat for Pain Relief
When you’ve just sprained your ankle or pulled a muscle, all you want is some pain relief. If painkillers are handy, you probably pop a couple of them. If not, you ask for some ice... or was that heat instead? To sort out this confusion, let’s see what they really do. Both ice and heat relieve pain and help recovery. How To Use Ice Ice is useful when you want to reduce swelling. For example, your ankle balloons up after a sprain. This is because blood and fluid collect rapidly, making it both painful and stiff. At this point, an ice pack helps to close off those tiny vessels. The blood flow slows down. Small nerves become numb, so the pain reduces. The muscles also relax. The inflammatory reaction is slowed down. As a result, your ankle is less swollen and painful. Ice packs are very useful in bruises, strains and joint swellings. Use them for any acute swelling, over the first 24 to 48 hours (except back strains). Ice helps later too, while exercising the limb. Our friendly therapists can show you how to make movements less painful and
more flexible by using an ice pack just before or during exercise.
When Not To Use Heat Don’t use heat if you have a painful, red or swollen joint. This increases circulation so that fluid collects, worsening the swelling and stretching or compressing the nerves and surrounding healthy tissue. This makes it still more painful. You’d be better off icing it. When To Use Neither Heat Nor Ice Whether you use hot or cold packs, be aware that you can damage your skin and deeper tissues by careless use. Don’t use it if you have an open or infected wound. If the circulation or sensation level is poor, as in diabetes, ice and heat could cause the skin to break down, get infected and worse. But in ordinary injuries, ice and heat provide inexpensive, non- toxic pain relief. Visit us for more help with using ice or heat. We’ll speed up your recovery and get you moving more easily.
Prone on Elbows
Free Workshop - Shoulder Pain October 31, 2020 at 10:00AM
2400 South Blvd | Suite 203 - Charlotte, NC 28203
The Shoulder Pain Workshop is for people suffering with shoulder pain who are looking to feel normal again and heal naturally without medications, injections, and surgery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this workshop is limited to the first 20 people to register. Call (980) 833-1293 to reserve your spot today!
Lie on your stomach with your hands beside your shoulders. Push with your arms up on to your elbows. Hold for 10 counts then return to start position. Repeat 8 times. This exercise helps loosen your lower back.
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