The demand we put on our bodies on a daily basis can have an additive effect. Typically, we ignore “aches and pains” until the complaint is bad enough to stop us in our tracks. Physical Therapy can help remedy those aches and pains before they become a more painful and expensive problem by providing hands on treatment, corrective exercises and education on avoidance of positions that may aggravate your symptoms. If any of the below scenarios describe you, Physical Therapy may be your answer to get you on the right track!
“I slept on my neck wrong last night…”
Neck pain is a common complaint, whether it be sleeping wrong on your neck, an achy neck and shoulders after working all day, or increased tension in your neck and head triggered by a stressful day. All of these complaints are common but NOT normal. Although with time the pain may subside, without fixing the root of the problem, it may rear its ugly head (or neck) again…
Physical Therapy can target stiff joints and tight muscles with hands on joint mobilizations, soft tissue mobilization and through the performance of dry needling to restore normal motion of the neck and decrease overall pain. Instruction about corrective exercises, proper body mechanics throughout the day, and sleeping positions that can help avoid repeat episodes of pain.
“I just have to work through that pinch in my shoulder…”
Pain and pinching are not normal sensations one should experience with normal joint mobility. It is your body saying “hold up, something is not right here”. The shoulder joint is especially susceptible to pain due to “impingement”. Impingement is irritation and inflammation of tendons and tissues in the shoulder due to a narrowed joint space. Impingement can happen because of muscle imbalance in the shoulder joint, shoulder injury, and bone spurring to name a few.
Physical Therapy can identify the root of the problem and provide treatment to diminish pain. If addressed early on, corrective strength exercises and hands on treatment can help restore normal balance to shoulder girdle muscles and allow for pain free shoulder motion. Early treatment can also potentially prevent further damage and injury to rotator cuff and shoulder joint.
“I threw my back out yesterday…”
Let’s save throwing for the major leagues…
A healthy spine should be able to move and function throughout the day without pain. The spine, especially the low back, can be susceptible to injury. Weakness, muscle imbalance, stiffness in the spine and poor body mechanics with daily activities or lifting can all be contributors to back pain. Back pain in some cases can cause pain to radiate down your leg due to irritation of nerves exiting the spine and can limit tolerance to standing, walking or bending.
Physical therapists can help identify the underlying cause of your back pain, and determine if physical therapy can help reduce your pain or determine if referral to physician or other healthcare provider would be warranted with each specific case. If Physical Therapy is appropriate, treatment may include hands on techniques to ensure joint and muscles are moving properly, as well as corrective exercises to maintain mobility and progress strength to reduce back pain. The earlier you seek treatment for back pain the better in order to prevent any chronic issues or further injury.
“My foot hurts when a first get up and I limp the first steps I take”
Foot pain is a common complaint, especially for those that are on their feet a lot. Tightness and pain on the bottom of your foot or heel can limit your ability to tolerate daily activities or work activities due to pain with standing or walking. Foot pain can be caused by poor footwear, weakness and imbalance of muscles in the hips, legs and core, or overuse activities to name a few.
Physical Therapy can provide you with a full assessment of mobility and strength as well as an analysis of your walking. These help identify areas that need to be addressed in order to combat foot pain. A physical therapist can provide education on proper footwear or shoe inserts. These can provide better support with standing and walking to decrease your complaint of pain. Hands on techniques including joint mobilizations, soft tissue mobilization and dry needling can help to jump start your recovery and improve your complaint of pain to get you back on your feet...pun intended. Specific exercises as prescribed by a physical therapist will ensure that you maintain the proper mobility and prevent recurrence of pain.
Take home message: PAIN IS NOT NORMAL!
Your Physical Therapist can help you nip your pain in the bud to ensure that you can perform the activities of your day without issues.
Contact us at Dynamic Physical Therapy and Wellness today to ensure that you can Perform better, Live better, and Get better.