AppalachianPT: Neck Pain & Headaches

2019

NEWSLETTER

REMAIN ACTIVE WITHOUT NECK PAIN OR HEADACHES

INSIDE: • Look For The Best Pumpkin In The Patch Without Neck Pain • Exercise Essentials • Patient Success Spotlights • Complimentary Seminar • The Problem With Posture

2019

NEWSLETTER

LOOK FOR THE BEST PUMPKIN IN THE PATCH WITHOUT NECK PAIN

Whether you have neck pain or have been suffering for a long time, seeing a physical therapist at Appalachian Physical Therapy, Inc. can help you return to a more active and pain-free life. Give us a call at: • Broadway: 540-901-9501 • Harrisonburg: 540-209-8977 • Pinehurst: 910-215-0541 isn’t always as simple to identify. Sometimes it is a bad habit that you don’t really think twice about, like your habit of watching TV as you fall asleep, keeping your neck at an odd angle as you rest for the evening, or maybe as a result of your posture as you type at your desk every day, hunched over at the shoulders with your neck catching the brunt of your slouch. These poor habits are common, and most of us consider them to be harmless. Sure, you know it isn’t great for you, but what is actually going to happen? It’s a lot easier to slouch as you type, and who doesn’t want to catch a few late-night laughs as they fall asleep? But the reality is that these seemingly irrelevant habits could be putting undue stress on your neck, and if you aren’t careful, this could translate to regular and uncomfortable headaches that are difficult to get rid of. If you are experiencing neck pain or headaches and need relief now, contact the professional therapists at Appalachian Physical Therapy, Inc. for a chance at a pain-free and active life!

Headaches have a bad habit of making their appearance at the most inconvenient times. The middle of the workday, early in the evening when you have hours of responsibilities ahead of you, or even first thing in the morning when you are trying to pay attention to your morning meeting — headaches don’t care how important the work ahead of you is. When they start, they are hard to stop. There are all sorts of reasons why headachesmay develop. Fromenvironmental factors like weather changes and exposure to certain perfumes or other scents, to stress and allergies, headaches happen to the best of us. However, there are some headaches that may be a bit more predictable than others. Factors like your posture, the type of mattress you sleep on, the pillow you use, or even the desk chair you sit in at work can all impact your risk for experiencing regular headaches because of the intricate network of nerves and muscles in your neck. When Neck Pain Leads to Headaches. The majority of the time, neck pain starts out as a seemingly small concern. A crick in your neck here or there may start to develop more frequently, and before you know it, your experience of neck pain is something you are dealing with daily. It isn’t always the result of something large. While being in a car accident or experiencing another sort of injury can definitely lead to chronic neck pain, the cause of the issue

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THE PROBLEMWITH POSTURE

“A refreshing experience for certain!” “I am impressed with my therapist’s desire to gain a deep understanding of both my past history and current issues. As a patient, I rarely focus on all my injuries and conditions at the same time. Listening to a patient is a vital part of creating a plan of care that actually gets results. A refreshing experience for certain.” - Kenyon S. Fulks Run, VA “Guides you through step-by-step!” “My experience and other members of my family over the years have had very good and long lasting results. The team sets up a recovery plan and expectations for you through your doctors, and then guides you through step-by-step. The whole team, from the first call you make to your very last therapy visit is professional, caring, and friendly. That is the reason l have asked my doctor for their help personally when needed and have recommended them over the years to my family and co-workers.” - Walton K. Broadway, VA “A very knowledgeable and professional group of people!” “There is a warm and friendly atmosphere there. Everyone helping one another and therapists really taking the time to dig deeper in working with the patient. No question is dumb and they laugh and talk to you about interesting things while still doing their job. A very knowledgeable and professional group of people. I have told several people about your facility. Keep up the great work.” - Lorri W. Laurinburg, NC “I’ve felt 100% confident of my rehabilitation!” “Great place to feel better, a professional, honest caring environment where I’ve felt 100% confident of my rehabilitation.” - Lizette D. McGaheysville, VA Working with a physical therapist can help you to identify whether or not your headaches may be the result of neck pain or strain. One of the most common causes of headaches due to neck pain is forward head position. Forward head position means that when you are resting your head, you are continuing to hold your head slightly forward, which is a type of slouching position. You can identify whether or not you have a forward head position by standing straight against the wall and determining whether or not your head rests against the wall as your back does. If your head does not touch the wall when you are standing straight, then you aren’t fully standing up straight! As years go by and day after day you continue to hold your head in this forward position, you can start to experience pain as a result of strain in the muscles of the neck. When this is an issue, working with a physical therapist may be able to help. Stretching the muscles in your neck to alleviate neck strain can reduce the severity and regularity of your headaches. Stretching the muscles that have grown tight along the back of your neck as well as those along the shoulders can help you find relief from the tension that is causing your pain. When dealing with neck pain, it is important to remember that safety has to come first. While there are many simple activities you can try at

home to begin stretching your neck muscles, working with a physical therapist is the only way to ensure that you are stretching in a way that won’t potentially lead to greater injury. For more information, contact us.

Call us today to schedule an appointment!

PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHTS

“Hard working!” “Hard working and caring staff who like a challenge.” - Kathleen W. Clinton Township, MI “Staff is extremely caring and friendly!” “Outstanding attention to detail when developing and implementing treatment plan for your specific diagnosis and problems. Staff is extremely caring and friendly to patient’s needs.” - Ryan K. Bridgewater, VA “The sessions have helped me so much!” “Everyone is very professional and friendly and caring. The sessions have helped me so much.” - Clara G. Laurinburg, NC “My problems are being heard!” “I feel my problems are being heard and are addressed each time I go. I do not have to wait. My day is not thrown off by not starting on time. Thanks.” - Mary W. Southern Pines, NC “I feel very comfortable at APT!” “Extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and friendly staff! I feel very comfortable at APT.” - Ulrike W. Broadway, VA “I have utilized other PT organizations!” “I have utilized other PT organizations without the personal attention and the progress that I have made as a client here.” - Sandra M. Wagram, NC

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You are invited to our

COMPLIMENTARY SEMINAR

LOWBACK PAIN – THE MOST COMMON INJURY IN AMERICA SEMINAR NOVEMBER 13TH • 7:00-8:30PM PINEHURST CLINIC • 910-215-0541

Ray Metzger, PT and Dr. Teri Walsh, DPT will host a Low back pain – the most common injury in America Seminar that will be held Wednesday, November 13th at our Pinehurst clinic.

If you’re confused about what to do and looking for answers, here’s some of what you’ll learn: We’ll be reviewing many ways to improve back issues through improved mobility.

Don’t delay! Register by calling, scanning the QR code below, or via email at [email protected]

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Use your smartphone to scan the QR Code to reserve a spot for the seminar advertised above!

LOW BACK PAIN SEMINAR

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HALL OF FAME WITH APPALACHIAN PT STAFF

Today’s world is very challenging for just about any privately owned entity. Yousee thediminishingoccurrenceof grocery stores, pharmacies, physician offices and even privately owned physical therapy offices. Reasons we hear are the bigger stores have the ability to undermine the cost of smaller companies. The cost are spread out over many more stores and the little guys are gradually pushed out. This is certainly true in health care but it does not have to be. It seems physicians for themost part have joined rankswithhospitals as they are tired of dealingwith all the rules and regulations regarding insurance as well as the time it takes to invest in personnel. Health care practitioners are taught to take care of people that walk in their doors, not deal with insurance, employees etc. All of this takes time away from treating patients. Pharmacies have joined ranks with larger corporations like Walgreens, Rite Aid, and the list goes on. It is no different in dealing with physical therapists. The trend for the last few years in physical therapy has seen POPS, physician owned physical therapy services strengthen. This used to be illegal under the Stark law but with wiggling from some very smart attorneys, this lawhasbeenweakenedandwehaveseensomephysician groups investing in their own enterprise to make more money. Our profession generally sees it as a conflict of interest but some of these practices have turned out OK. We now have HOPS, hospital owned physical therapy services and hospitals have always for themost part had their ownPTdepartments. Heck I rememberwhen I graduated from PT school, I talked to a hospital and convinced them they needed to hire me as their first physical therapist. A big change from today. And now we also have COPS, corporate owned physical therapy services. This is one of the fastest growing entities in health care today. Just like physicians, physical therapists are also tired of all the other duties that gowith opening an office and treating patients and have sold their souls like physicians and pharmacists as they are working very hard to do it all. Looking at this from the outside, who could blame them? I guess my question to all of the patients out there are how is it all working out for the public? How is our healthcare going? Is it getting better or worse? Do you feel like you are given the amount of time you need when you see a physician or physical therapist. Are you treated with respect and appreciationor are you treated like amonetary object? I would dare say the latter is more common and that is a shame. Who else is in a better position to run healthcare than the practitioner’s themselves?

We have had ample opportunities to sell our practice over the past 3O+ years for the same reasons as anyone else. We also get tired of dealing with insurance issues but hey, I jumped in this boat and this is something I knewwas going to have to be dealt with. I was not trained in marketing but again, knew if I was going to remain in this business, as any other business, to be successful, you better figure it out. I guess my wife and I are cut from the same cloth that we recognize relationships are worth more than anything money can buy. We value the folks that have gotten us where we are today and can not turn our backs on them when it comes to selling out to corporate companies. You see, they have their own HR people and our office manager, Vicki as well as those that have preceded her would be gone in a flash. Also folks like Robin who have been with us over 20 years would be history as she is the personwhomanages our insurance issues. I could go on and on but I hope you get the picture. Sowe have decided to hang in there for the long run and have physical therapists who share our vision with staying privately owned and also understand it is important to focus on the patients, the reason we are here in the first place. This is the reason you are reading this now as we understand it is vital tomarket our skills and get in front of asmany folks as we can. This is the reason we celebrate our hall of fame and success storieswhich help spread theword that there are still folks out here that believe treating you one on one as it should be. Sohelp us continue tohave something to celebrate. Joinour celebrated hall of fame. Get treated by a private practice entity who still focuses on the patient being treated in today’s healthcare environment. You will be glad you did.

www.aptfc.com

EXERCISE ESSENTIALS Try these exercises to keep you moving... CERVICAL CHIN TUCK AND RETRACTION - SUPINE WITH TOWEL While lying on your back with a small folded up towel under your head, tuck your chin towards your chest. Also, focus on putting pressure on the towel with the back of your head. Your head should maintain contact with the towel the entire time.

MAKE PAYMENTS ON OUR WEBSITE! Appalachian PT gives patients the option to pay online using our website. All payments are totally encrypted for security. Select the “Pay” tab at the top of the page. It’s just that easy.

Strengthens Neck

CERVICAL SIDE BEND Tilt your head towards the side, then return back to looking straight ahead. (Be sure to keep your eyes and nose pointed straight ahead the entire time.)

Stretches Neck

Exercises copyright of

www.simpleset.net

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

Why You Need To Come In For Another Check-Up:

� Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely

� Sit for long periods comfortably � Walk for long distances � Live an active & healthy lifestyle

TAKE CARE OF YOUR ACHES & PAINS BEFORE IT ’ S TOO LATE!

BROADWAY CLINIC 540-901-9501

HARRISONBURG CLINIC 540-209-8977

PINEHURST CLINIC 910-215-0541