Activa: Tendonitis and Sports

Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

FLIPPING THE PYRAMID!

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN/FAMILYDOCTOR

PHYSICAL THERAPY

SPECIALTYPHYSICIAN(ORTHOPEDIST, PAINMANAGEMENTSPECIALIST,ETC.)

IMAGING (X-RAY,MRI)

MEDICATIONS

SPECIALTYPHYSICIAN(ORTHOPEDIST, PAINMANAGEMENTSPECIALIST,ETC.)

IMAGING (X-RAY,MRI)

MEDICATIONS

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN/FAMILYDOCTOR

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Physical therapists have been advocating for patient direct access for more than two decades. With the profession requiring a doctoral level degree, physical therapists have ample ability to independently evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients without a physician referral or approval. A 2005 study showed that experienced physical therapists had higher levels of knowledge in managing musculoskeletal conditions than all physician specialists except for orthopedists! Direct access has reshaped and continues to morph both patients’ and physical therapists’ model of care. Prior to direct access, patients required physician approval and often a referral or prescription to a PT clinic of the doctor’s choice to gain access to PT services. For most, this was a multistep process. Those unfamiliar with the varying degrees of specialty physicians often visited their primary care provider (family physician) for guidance and a diagnosis of their issue. Unfortunately, this model often leads to referral to a specialist such as an orthopedic physician. A 2017 Merrit Hawkins study showed that the average wait time to see a specialist physician is 24 days! At this point, the specialist has multiple options for the patient

including imaging, such as MRI or x-ray, or referral to physical therapy. This process can take weeks for patients to complete as their problem continues to limit them in day-to-day life. Additionally, multiple physician visits, imaging, medication, etc. can lead to extravagant medical costs. With direct access, these middlemen are essentially cut out relieving patients from many of these issues. Direct access allows patients to seek a PT first without hassle of multiple physician visits and referrals. In addition to seeking physical therapy services for a specific issue, direct access allows for patients to seek PT for injury prevention, strength and fitness, and health promotion! Ultimately, seeking a physical therapist first can reduce the recovery time as well as the medical costs attributed tomultiple physician visits. So, before you seek out a physician for diagnosis and treatment of an injury or other musculoskeletal issue, try physical therapy! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1177956/ (2017) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7780612_A_ Description_of_Physical_Therapists'_Knowledge_in_Managing_ Musculoskeletal_Conditions (2005)

Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

“Want To Move Like A Teenager Again?” DEALINGWITH TENDINITIS

Inside:

• What Is Tendinitis?

• Healthy Recipe

• Relieve Shoulder Pain In Minutes

• Patient Success Spotlights

Athletes are naturally at an increased risk for experiencing injuries. This is not as a result of any particular health issue that athletes typically have in common. Instead, it is a simple exposure equation. The more frequently you push yourself to try new things, to engage in physical activity, or to push yourself to reach a new goal, the more you are going to increase your risk for potential injury. On more days than not, the injury won’t happen, but as every athlete knows, it only takes one bad day — one day when fatigue throws off your form just enough to cause your gait to be off, for you to feel a little distracted and not realize an obstacle is coming up, or just a fluke of a moment in which something goes wrong and you go down. What makes mattersworse is the fact thatmanyathletesattempt topushpast thepainof their initial injuries,whichoften leads to those injuriesbecomingmoresevere. Workingwithaphysical therapist isespecially important forathletes for this reason. A physical therapist can help identify potential issues with posture or form that may increase your risk for injury, help identify potential injuries as they develop, and assess the severity of and best treatment options for those injuries as soon as possible, so you always know exactly what your body needs to feel at its best.

Understanding tendinitis. While there are some sports injuries that happen after a bad day, there are others thatdevelopover time.Tendinitis isan incrediblycommon issue that causespain todevelop in the joints.Thiscan impact thehips,knees,elbows orshoulders.Paincausedby tendinitiscan impacteverydayactivities,making it exceedingly difficult to remain comfortable day to day or to remain active. Tendinitis can make simple activities such as picking up a gallon of milk or attempting to put something away on a shelf over your head incredibly painfulandchallenging.Unfortunately,whentendinitisdevelops, itoftensticks around.Thismeans thatpain thatbeginsas frustratingandseeminglyminor can quickly become chronic and incredibly painful. Working with a physical therapist is thebestway toaddress tendinitispainearlyon, to improve range of motion and reduce the severity of your pain without having to turn to pain medications. If you are suffering with tendinitis, discover our programs today and learn more about how to gain relief.

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WHAT IS TENDINITIS?

Tendinitis is a common issue among athletes because it develops as a result of overuse. While the average person may engage in standard physical tasks such as walking or typing, an athlete takes that repetitive behavior to a new level. Consider a tennis player, for example. In addition to running and jumping, a skilled tennis player will spend hours every week swinging the racket, and this could result in added wear and tear on the elbows and wrists, not to mention the shoulders. Every bone in the body is connected with muscular fibers called tendons. The tendons are flexible, allowing the body to move more freely by letting bones stretch apart or move in one direction or another. Tendinitis occurs when the tendons become inflamed. Swelling in the tendons can make movement painful and difficult. Typically, when pain is caused as a result of tendinitis, the pain is isolated at the noted areas of the body. This means that a tennis player may experience tendinitis in the elbow or shoulder, whereas a runner may be more likely to experience it in the Achilles tendon. In fact, this is why tendinitis in the elbow is frequently referred to as tennis elbow, while Achilles tendinitis is sometimes referred to as runner’s ankles or runner’s heels. Treating tendinitis. The best treatment for tendinitis is time. Unfortunately, this is something that many people are unable to give to an injury. When tendinitis develops,

the best thing to do is to use ice and to relax that part of the body. Taking a few days off of practice or away from your workout may be sufficient, but in other cases, this may require a few days in a wheelchair or on crutches, with the bulk of your weight off of the affected area. Working with a physical therapist can help you identify the best treatment methods for tendinitis. Your physical therapist can also help you identify the best range of motion and strength-building activities to reduce your likelihood of developing tendinitis. For more information about preventing or treating pain from tendinitis, contact us.

VEGETARIAN CHILI

Relieve Shoulder Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing pain.

INGREDIENTS • 1 tsp garlic-herb, salt-free seasoning blend • 1 tsp ground cumin • ⅛ tsp salt • ¼ cup light sour cream • Fresh cilantro (optional) • 1 tsp canola oil • 1 cup chopped onion • 1 cup green sweet pepper • 2 cloves garlic • 1 tsp bottled minced garlic • 1 (14.5 ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes • 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans • 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables

Strengthens Shoulders & Arms

SLEEPER STRETCH Start by lying on your side with the affected arm on the bottom. Your affected arm should be bent at the elbow and forearm pointed upwards towards the ceiling as shown. Next, use your unaffected arm to gently draw your affected forearm towards the table or bed. Repeat 3 times.

www.simpleset.net

• 1 (8 ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce • 1 cup water • 4½ tsp chili powder

DIRECTIONS Lightly coat an unheated large saucepan or Dutch oven with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat over medium-high heat. Add oil; swirl to coat bottom of pan. Add onion, sweet pepper, and garlic to hot pan; cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until pepper is tender, stirring often. If necessary, reduce heat to prevent burning. Add undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, the water, the chili powder, the seasoning blend, cumin, and salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in beans and mixed vegetables. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutesmoreoruntil vegetablesare tender. Ifdesired, top individualservingswithsourcream and/ or cilantro and sprinkle with the chili powder.

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DISCOVER HOW TO LIVE PAIN-FREE

At Activa Physical Therapy, you will receive hands-on therapy treatments by our friendly, caring health experts during focused and individualized sessions. It’s time to go to Activa Physical Therapy if: • You’re tired of living in pain • You want to feel better and move better • You have been in an auto accident or injured on the job • You want to prevent injury 1. Call and talk to your therapist 2. Discover why your pain has come back 3. Get your custom recovery program

Refer A Friend

Do You Have Friends Or Family Unable To Do The Following:

Who Do You Know That Needs Our Help? � Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely � Sit for long periods comfortably � Walk for long distances � Live an active and healthy lifestyle If you know someone suffering with aches and pains, give the gift of health. Refer them to Activa Physical Therapy today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly (630) 637-9955 to schedule an appointment.

What our recent graduates had to say...

It felt like we were all working toward the same end! “My experience at Activa was certainly a good one.The staff from the entry people to therapists and therapist assistants made each of my visits well worth the time I spent. My primary therapist was Dr. Samir. He carefully chose exercises and movements to rehabilitate my left shoulder rotator cuff injury. I am able to play packable again without pain and with full motion. I so appreciate his efforts on my behalf. Walking into your facility was like walking into the home of a friend. It felt as though we were all working toward the same end.” – Lott C. I cannot say enough great things! “Before physical therapy, I had a horrid surgery experience with lack of care. I was dealing with skin infections, open stitches, stiffness, and a lot of pain walking/doing daily activities. Now, I can walk around comfortably and I have no pain with the exception of stiffness in the morning. Before PT, I wouldn’t lift my leg up or even put on a pair of tennis shoes. Now I am able to walk stairs, bend my leg, and have an easier time going to work/ school. I cannot say enough great things about this place. Everyone truly cared about my recovery, and I trusted everyone on the team. Everyone was so kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable.” – Nicole B. I have no pain and my strength is much improved! “My back injury prevented me from enjoying any work as a Mobile DJ. I spend a lot of hours on my feet. After three visits with Activa, my back is stable and pain-free. Carson and the staff at Activa allowed me to have hope and be pain-free again. Thank you so much!” – John W.