Axcess PT. Where Is Your Back Pain Coming From?

Axcess PT. Where Is Your Back Pain Coming From?

The Bulletin The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

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Are You Experiencing Lower Back Pain? Chances Are, it May be Caused by Another Issue

Your spine is a complex part of your body – it requires proper posture, flexibility, coordination, and strength, in order to do its job correctly. When one of these elements is altered, your spine can emit painful responses that can settle in other nearby parts of the body. (continued inside)

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The Axcess Bulletin The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

Aaron Fuerst PT, DPT, CWCE, FAAOMPT If you have pain, you shouldn’t ignore it. We can help you feel better fast!

Are You Experiencing Lower Back Pain? Chances Are, it May be Caused by Another Issue

Basically, the pains are connected to each other. Your head weighs about 10- 12 pounds, which is roughly the weight of a bowling ball. When you slouch, or compensatepainby realigningyourbody,yourbackmuscleshave toworkextra hard to keep you from toppling forward. Have you ever been so tired that your head begins to bob and it jolts you awake? That’s because your head is heavy! The weight from the motion wakes you back up because your body isn’t used to carrying it in that way. This is also why pain in your lower back may occur as a result. Your back muscles are working in overdrive and may be constricting to try and hold you up. If you notice neck and back pain at the same time as one another, try sitting up straighter – it should help ease some of the stress!

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According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 80% of adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is actually the mostcommonly reported locationofpainacross theglobe.Buthowoften is the source actually another part of your body? Pain is usually connected Your spine is a lengthy structure, and pain can travel along it. Let’s say you are prone to neck pain – perhaps you have a slouched posture from sitting at a desk all day and the pressure radiates in your shoulders. Or, maybe you’ve had a previous injury, such as whiplash, that still elicits painful stings every now and then. Now, let’s say you begin feeling pain in your lower back in addition to your neck pain. Why does this happen?

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “A goal should scare you a little and excite you a lot!” - Joe Vitale

Back Pain: Is Your Neck The Real Culprit?

The most common combination of pain is in the neck and the back. If you are experiencing both, it is most likely stemming from the neck. We don’t typically think about it, but we use our necks for a lot of our daily activities. Even simple things, such as turning to grab something out of the cupboard or looking over your shoulder when backing out of a driveway, use a lot of neck muscles. When you do simple tasks such as these, do you find yourself turningyourentirebody,asopposed to justyourhead? Ifso,youcould experience back pain along with your neck pain. Whenyouhave limitedmotion inyourneck,yourbodycompensatesby twisting more than itusuallywould, thusover-rotatingyour lowerback.Thiscouldcause a source of pain or general discomfort in the area, due to abnormal overuse. If youareexperiencingneckpain,backpain,oracombinationofboth,ourphysical therapists would be more than happy to meet with you for a consultation to discusshow theycanhelp.Callus today to talk toanexpertabouthowwecan relieve your aches and pains! How can I tell if my neck is causing my back pain? It can sometimes to be difficult to determine if your back pain is rooted in your neck. This simple, at-home test can assist you in figuring it out: 1. Standstraight in frontofanotherperson.Theywillbeyoureyes regarding the movements you make. 2. Once theyarewatchingyou, turnyourheadas farasyoucomfortablycan to the left. Repeat the same motion to the right. Have them take note of how far you are able to go.

3. Now,sitdown infrontofthesameperson.Repeatthesameturningmotions fromachairorcouch.Again,have them takenoteofhow faryouareable to comfortably turn your head. 4. Ask if there were any differences in the turning movement. Did one side seem to turn further than the other? Was there a difference in standing vs. sitting? This test ishelpful infindingout ifyourneck iscausing (or isat riskofcausing) pain in your lower back. If your movement is limited, especially sitting down, it means that themuscles inyourbackorupperbackare tight.Theseconstricted motions can cause pain in the lower back. How can physical therapy help me? Physicaltherapy isthe leadingrecommendationforbackpain.Physicaltherapists are trained to evaluate muscle and joint movement, and they can easily assist you in finding the root of your problem. They will thoroughly evaluate you to figure out why you are experiencing pain, determining the source and treating all affected areas. After your initial consultation, they will create a specialized treatment plan for you, based on their diagnosis of your specific needs. A physical therapist’s end goal is the same as yours – to get you feeling better, healthier, and more comfortable! If you are experiencing lower back pain and think it may be caused by an issue occurring in your neck, give us a call today. We’ll get you moving comfortably again in no time. Get back to moving and feeling better! Call Axcess Physical Therapy at 815.614.2100 or visit www.axcesspt.com to learn more about our programs today!

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Exercise Essentials

Fun & Games!

Relieves Back Pain

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2 9 FOUR POINT TRUNK FLEXION & EXTENSION Start on hands and knees. Arch your back up to the ceiling as high as you comfortably can, and hold.Then, arch your back the opposite direction as low as you comfortably can, and hold. Repeat 6 times. 7 2 6 8 4

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n° 315825 - Level Hard

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6 Instructions: Fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear exactlyonce ineach row,columnand3x3box,and thesumof thenumbers in each area is equal to the clue in the area’s top-left corner. 4 7 7 9 3

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Special Announcement

Patient Success Spotlight

We can help with more than just low back pain. Check out one of our other patient success stories!

FREE SCREENING DAY! The perfect opportunity to check up on your health before going on summer vacation!

“I can walk a lot better now!” “My therapists Dana and Jack were very polite, patient, and understanding. I came to Axcess because I was having pain in my shoulder and had surgery. Therapy helped me with my shoulder movement. I still do the exercises Dana and Jack gave me at home. I had a good experience here, so when I had back and hip problems I came back to Jack and Dana. I can walk a lot better now. I would recommend others to come see the therapist here at Axcess. I’ve been other places, but I get more one on one attention here.“ - Nancy K.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4 9 am to 5 pm at Axcess Physical Therapy

RSVP to this event by calling 815-614-2100 or emailing Roshanda at [email protected] . Spaces are limited so sign up today.

Whether you want to come in for a check-up, suffered a recent injury or you want to improve your health, a doctor referral is not needed! In the state of Illinois, you have WHAT IS DIRECT ACCESS?

Blackened Chicken with Avocado Sauce Healthy Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp lemon juice • ½ tsp garlic powder • ⅛ tsp salt • 2 tbsp green onions, thinly sliced

• 4 (4 oz) chicken breasts • 2 tbsp blackened seasoning • ½ cup plain, Greek yogurt • ½ avocado

DIRECTIONS

Place the chicken breasts and blackened seasoning in a large resealable bag. Seal and shake a few times to evenly coat the chicken. Lightly coat a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until cooked through, 4-6 minutes per side. Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the yogurt, avocado, lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt and pulse until smooth and creamy.To serve, top each chicken breast with 2 tablespoons of the creamy avocado sauce and garnish with ½ tablespoon green onions.

Direct Access to physical therapy! Call 815.614.2100 today!