Fritz_Are You Experiencing Lower Back Pain?

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

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING LOWER BACK PAIN?

Let’s say you begin feeling pain in your lower back in addition to your neck pain. Why does this happen? 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 compensate pain by realigning your body, your back muscles have to work extra 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! Is your neck the 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. When you have limited motion in your neck, your body compensates by twisting more than it usually would, thus over- rotating your lower back. This could cause a source of pain or general discomfort in the area, due to abnormal overuse. If you are experiencing neck pain, back pain, or a combination of both, our physical therapists would be more than happy to meet with you for a consultation to discuss how they can help. Call us today to talk to an expert about how we can relieve your aches and pains! www.fritzphysicaltherapy.com

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. Stand straight in front of another person. They will be your eyes regarding the movements you make. 2. Once they are watching you, turn your head as far as you comfortably can to the left. Repeat the same motion to the right. Have them take note of how far you are able to go. 3. Now, sit down in front of the same person. Repeat the same turning motions from a chair or couch. Again, have them take note of how far you are able 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 is helpful in finding out if your neck is causing (or is at risk of causing) pain in your lower back. If your movement is limited, especially sitting down, it means that the muscles in your back or upper back are tight. These constricted motions can cause pain in the lower back. How can Physical Therapy helpme? Physical therapy is the leading recommendation for back pain. Physical therapists are trained to evaluate muscle and joint movement, and can easily assist you in finding the root of your problem. We will thoroughly evaluate you to figure out why you are experiencing pain, determining the source and treating all affected areas. After your initial consultation, we will create a specialized treatment plan for you, based on their diagnosis of your specific needs. Our 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. Source: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low- Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet

Allergy Symptom Reduction. A thorough cleaning can greatly reduce the amount of dust in your home, which is helpful considering about 20 million North Americans are allergic to dust mites according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Studies have found that cleaning and decluttering your home can help you avoid allergy symptoms and make you feel more healthy. Cleanliness Produces Happiness. Maybe you don’t enjoy the process of cleaning, but the end result will leave you smiling. Studies also show that doing housework for 20 minutes can reduce stress and anxiety by up to 20 percent. Better Heart Health. If you’re looking for an easy way to support your heart health, just 30 minutes per day of light exercise (including low-intensity physical activities like household chores, vacuuming, mopping, and scrubbing floors) can decrease your risk of heart disease by 24 percent. Declutter and Do a Good Deed by Donating. An essential part of a successful spring cleaning is getting rid of old items that are no longer used or worn. Apply the rule of thumb that if you haven’t made use of something in a year, it’s time for it to go. Fill bags and boxes of things, then donate them to a local charity so they can still be beneficial to someone else. Giving to others is an act that is associated with greater self-esteem, lower stress levels, and overall happiness. Get a Better Night’s Sleep. Do you have trouble sleeping at night? A recent poll that people who make their beds are 19 percent more likely to sleep well on a regular basis. Clean sheets with a fresh scent impacted 75 percent of those individuals polled. See what a difference spring cleaning can make by cleaning the clutter from your room and sleeping on some fresh sheets. 5 Health Benefits of Spring Cleaning!

Sources: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19934011 parsleyhealth.com/blog/ health-benefits-spring-cleaning

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How can manual therapy help me?

well as bending over, without back pain and stiffness. You may also find that your neck or shoulders “freeze” and give you pain when you pursue everyday actions such as reaching for items or driving. In fact, debilitating pain and stiffness in muscles and joints can happen virtually anywhere on your body. Contact us to get relief with manual therapy.

If you are experiencing increased pain and stiffening in any of your joints and muscles, manual therapy is often helpful. Patients seek out this type of physical therapy for a variety of mobility issues. For example, you may be finding it difficult to get up from a sitting or lying position, as

HEALTHY RECIPE: CARROT, GINGER, LIME RAW SOUP

INGREDIENTS • 1 cup fresh carrot juice • Juice of 1 lime • 1-inch chunk ginger root, juiced • 1/2 large avocado • 1/2 ear of fresh organic, • non-GMO raw corn

DIRECTIONS Pour the carrot, lime, ginger juice in a blender and add the avocado. Blend until smooth. Pour in a bowl and top the soup with fresh raw corn, shaved off the cob.

Exercise Essentials Try this simple exercise to help you feel better...

PRAYER STRETCH While in a crawl position, slowly lower your buttocks towards your feet until a stretch is felt along your back and/or buttocks. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 4 times a day.

Exercises copyright of

The above exercise is designed to be performed under the instruction of a licensed physical therapist.

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No Doctor Referral Necessary 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 Pennsylvania you have direct access to chiropractic care and physical therapy!

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