Accelerate Therapy. Straighten Out Your Back Pain With PT!

Accelerate Therapy. Straighten Out Your Back Pain With PT!

Health + Fitness N E W S L E T T E R

S T R A I G H T E N O U T Y O U R B A C K P A I N W I T H P T ! A L S O I N S I D E How Successful Is Physical Therapy For Back Pain? Are You Wearing The Right Running Shoes? • Healthy Recipe

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S T R A I G H T E N O U T Y O U R B A C K P A I N W I T H P T !

Did you know that over 80% of people across the world will suffer an episode of back pain at some point in their lifetime? If you are suffering from back pain or sciatica, you know how hindering it can be. With chronic back pain, radiating leg pain, or stinging sensations across the sciatic nerve, it can be difficult to live your life to the fullest. If you find yourself in pain when bending down, standing up, or lifting objects, it’s time to see a physical therapist. At Accelerate Therapy, we are fully equipped to treat any back pain you may be experiencing. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out more about how our services can benefit you! THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BACK PAIN & SCIATICA It can be difficult sometimes to determine the differences between general back pain and sciatica. Sciatica is a specific type of back pain that is caused by a compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body – it is approximately 2 centimeters wide, extending all the way down your back, your buttocks, underneath the piriformis muscle, and to the backs of your legs and your feet. It is made up of several nerves that exit your lower back from the lumbar and sacral levels (L4-S3), transmitting sensation andmuscle control. Common culprits of sciatica development include weakness in the gluteal muscles or tightness in the piriformis muscle, as they can compress and irritate the sciatic nerve. COMMON SCIATICA SYMPTOMS: The sciatica symptoms reported from patients tend to vary. Some may experience a deep ache in the buttocks, while others experience a severe pain radiating down one of their legs. It is also possible to feel a tingling or numbness in the back of the leg, calf, or foot. If

left too long without proper treatment, irritation can become more severe and affect the strength of your leg muscles. COMMON SCIATICA TREATMENT: The safest, easiest, and most effective mode of sciatica treatment is through physical therapy. Physical therapy examines the root cause of pressure on the nerve and works to quickly alleviate that pressure. Our licensed physical therapists will analyze the movements of the muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve, in addition to the back and hip joints. They will design an individualized treatment plan based on the specific needs of each patient, in order to strengthen the affectedmuscles, improve joint flexibility, and prevent problems from occurring again in the future. TIPS FOR SCIATICA RELIEF: There are some tips you can follow to relieve your sciatica pain on your own. These can be done before coming in for treatments, or in tandem with your physical therapy treatments: • Performing gentle stretching exercises. • Avoiding prolonged sitting. Make sure to get up every 30 minutes and change positions frequently. • Putting a pillowbehind your knees when sleeping on your back or between your knees when sleeping on your side. • Using your legs to bend down when picking up objects off the floor, rather than using your back. • Alternating ice and heat on the buttock to reduce inflammation. • Asking your doctor about coming to physical therapy, or giving us a call.

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H OW S U C C E S S F U L I S P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y F O R B A C K P A I N ?

A study found in the medical journal SPINE proves both the physical and monetary benefits to treating back pain and sciatica with physical therapy. It demonstrates that when doctors refer their patients for physical therapy treatments early on in the diagnosis, their patients have shown significant improvement and lowered treatment costs. In this study, patients saved an average of $2736.36 for their low back pain treatment simply by being referred to a physical therapist in the beginning. If you are suffering with back pain or sciatica, consult with your doctor about physical therapy treatments, or contact our office to learn more about how you could benefit. At Accelerate Therapy, we aim for speedy and effective recoveries at low costs. Don’t live with back pain any longer – stand taller with physical therapy.

If you’re suffering from back pain or sciatica, your physical therapist at Accelerate can help! Schedule your consultation today by calling 704.630.9656 or visiting our website at www.accelerate-pt.com.

Source: Primary Care Referral of PatientsWith LowBack Pain to Physical Therapy: Impact on Future Health Care Utilization and Costs Fritz, Julie M. PT, PhD, ATC*; Childs, John D. PT, PhD†; Wainner, Robert S. PT, PhD‡; Flynn, Timothy W. PT, PhD§ Spine: 01 December 2012 - Volume 37 - Issue 25 - p 2114–2121

E X E R C I S E E S S E N T I A L S U S E T H I S E X E R C I S E T O R E L I E V E B A C K P A I N

E X E R C I S E E S S E N T I A L S U S E T H I S E X E R C I S E T O I MP R O V E C O R E S T R E N G T H

ANGRY CAT STRETCH With your hands and knees on the floor, draw up your spine to arch your back. Hold the position for 3-5 seconds, then return to the starting position. Repeat 3 times as needed.

BRIDGING While lying on your back, raise your buttocks off the floor, keeping your core tight and knees bent. Repeat 10 times.

Exercises copyright of

Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN PHYSICAL THERAPY OR PERSONAL TRAINING, VISIT ACCELERATE-PT.COM TODAY!

A R E Y O U WE A R I N G T H E R I G H T R U N N I N G S H O E S ? Have a Break-In Period. If you’re trying on shoes that feel heavy, stiff, clunky, or not “just right,” they likely are the wrong shoes for you. The right pair will feel comfortable as soon as you put them on: lightweight, cushioned, and balanced. support may feel like your foot is caving in and give the tipped-in feeling. The proper pair will feel balanced and level.

YOUR HEALTH IN MIND! The staff at Accelerate Therapy is focused on keeping you healthy and our equipment and facilities clean. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, we want to also encourage our patients to help prevent the spread of coronavirus by:

Wear Shoes True to Size. Running shoes should have ample toe room, but secure from the ball of the foot to the heel. Your feet will splay out over time and it’s not uncommon to go up in size. Running shoes won’t break in, so they need to feel like they fit the second you put them on.

Keep Your Feet Level. If you feel your arches “tipping in” or “pushed out”, then the support is wrong for you. Too much support will restrict your foot and give the feeling you’re tipped out. Too little

STAYING HOME IF YOU ARE SICK

AVOIDING TOUCHING FACE WITH HANDS

CLEANING HANDS OFTEN

Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist. Your therapist can discuss with you why your pain is bothering you again and what you might do about it at home. H A S Y O U R P A I N C O M E B A C K ? 1 2

H E A L T H Y R E C I P E G R I L L E D S H R I MP TA C O S W I T H S R I R A C H A S L AW

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled & deveined • 1/4 head red cabbage, shredded • 1/4 c. mayonnaise • 1 tbsp. sriracha • 4 medium tortillas

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 3 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro • Juice of 3 limes, divided • kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, cilantro, and 1/3 of the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Add shrimp to a baking dish and pour over mixture. Toss until completely coated and let marinate 20 minutes. Meanwhile, make slaw: In a large bowl, toss cabbage with mayo, remaining lime juice and sriracha. Season with salt. Heat grill to high. Skewer shrimp and grill until charred, 3 minutes per side. Grill tortillas until charred, 1 minute per side. Serve shrimp in tortillas with slaw.

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If further assessment is warranted, your therapist might recommend you come in for an appointment.

WH AT O U R P AT I E N T S A R E S AY I N G :

W H A T I S C L A S S I V L A S E R T H E R A P Y ? Cleared by the FDA in 2003, Class IV Laser laser therapy has become the standard of care for many musculoskeletal injuries. Laser therapy is the non-invasive use of laser energy that generates a photochemical response in damaged or dysfunctional tissue. Laser therapy can alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and accelerate recovery from a wide range of acute and chronic clinical conditions. It is drug-free, surgery-free and totally safe! If you’re interested in Class IV Laser Therapy, call 704.630.9656 to schedule your consultation today!

“I just recently went back to Accelerate for a “tune-up”. I had previously received therapy from ATP for a weak lower back and hip, had a fantastic experience, and met my goals–everything was “running” well. Unfortunately, over time, I did not maintain my exercise program, made some poor decisions with some of my work habits, and just got sloppy with my back and hip. Fortunately these highly skilled “mechanics” (therapists) were able to review my history, investigate my new concerns, and formulated a new and revised therapy and exercise program. I am happy to say I am “back on the road again,” and I look forward to a future of many more pain-free “miles.” Thank you, Jessica– you made it easy for me. You always listened, had loads of patience, a great sense of humor, sand were so very skilled and professional with the delivery of therapy. It was worth my drive from Lexington to Salisbury. Sincere Thanks!” - Donna W.