FyzicalSouthwestGeorgia_Neck Pain and Headaches

FyzicalSouthwestGeorgia_Neck Pain and Headaches

HEALTH & WELLNESS

NEWSLETTER

www.fyzical.com/cordele

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NECK PAIN AND HEADACHES

Brown Butter Pumpkin Cookies Try these fall themed cookies!

National PT Month Check out our 5 reasons to choose physical therapy.

How Did We Do? Tell us how we did this past year by leaving us a Google Review!

NEWSLET TER HEALTH & WELLNESS www.fyzical.com/cordele

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NECK PAIN AND HEADACHES

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter

under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 VERSE OF THE MONTH

Headaches have a bad habit of making their appearance at the most inconvenient times. The middle of the workday, early in the eveningwhen 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 headaches may develop. From environmental 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 Themajority 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 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.

www.fyzical.com/cordele

www.fyzical.com/cordele

CORDELE & VIENNA

THE PROBLEM WITH POSTURE 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 theonlyway toensure that you are stretching in a way that won’t potentially lead to greater injury. For more information, contact us.

INGREDIENTS • 1 cup unsalted butter • 2 cups old-fashioned oats • 1 and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice* • 1 cup granulated sugar • 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 egg yolk, (at room temperature) • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract • 1 cup pumpkin puree BROWN BUTTER GLAZE • 1/4 cup unsalted butter • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar • 3 Tbsp milk • 1/4 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS In a skillet, melt and brown 1 stick of butter over medium heat for about 5-8 min. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 min. While cooling, whisk oats, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a medium bowl. Preheat oven to 350˚F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. Pour 3/4 cup of the cooled brown butter into a large bowl andwhisk in granulated sugar and brown sugar until combined. Whisk in egg yolk and vanilla extract, and then pumpkin puree until combined. Mix in dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined. Use a medium scoop to place balls of cookie dough onto the two baking sheets 3 in apart from each other. Bake for 14-15 minutes until lightly browned, then let cool for 10 minutes. For Icing: Blend remaining 1/4 cup of browned butter with the remaining ingredients until smooth, then ice cooled cookies before serving. sallysbakingaddiction.com/brown-butter-pumpkin-oatmeal-cookies/

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CORDELE & VIENNA

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH

You don’t have to rely on over-the-counter or prescription painkillers to ease those achy, stiff, swollen joints! Physical therapy modalities that have been shown to ease pain, reduce spasms, increase circulation, and promote healing include electrical stimulation, diathermy, cold laser therapy, dry needling, and therapeutic ultrasound. 3. You can learn to move without limits again. According to the Arthritis Foundation, exercise is one of the best ways to manage hip pain and knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Your physical therapist can help you get back to regular exercise in a way that is safe and effective for you, based on your current abilities, goals, and needs. This is especially helpful if you’re currently on a weight loss journey since being overweight is a major risk factor for knee and hip pain. 4. Physical therapy can uncover the underlying reasons for your pain. Many of the impairments you and your physical therapist work to correct—including weakness, poor posture, and limited range of motion—may have been caused or worsened by things you’re unknowingly doing. This includes sitting too much, using poor body mechanics, breathing improperly, and having an ineffective ergonomic set-up at work. A physical therapist can educate you about ways to move safer ways that use your energy more efficiently, reduce the risk of re-injury and enhance the overall effects of your care. 5. You’ll experience improved joint health. When you see a physical therapist for hip or knee pain, there’s a good chance they’ll use joint mobilizations or manipulations to help promote healing and attract circulation to the inner joint surfaces. These techniques have also been shown to reduce pain and improve joint alignment...and they feel good, too!

Happy October! Now that fall is here, it’s time to crack out the knives for pumpkin carving, and put out bowls of candy for trick- or-treaters! Did you know that October is also National Physical Therapy Month? It’s true! FYZICAL Cordele wants to make sure that our patients have a reliable source to learn more about the many benefits of physical therapy. Take a break from planning out your scary costume this year and read up on these 5 reasons why physical therapy is a great option for pain relief from chronic conditions and injuries. 5 reasons to choose physical therapy: There are several reasons to choose physical therapy over pricey surgeries and medications. FYZICAL Cordele has chosen 5 of the best ones for you to consider! 1. Physical therapy can help to strengthen your joints and improve your range of motion. Increasing muscle strength and mobility of the connective tissues around your joints (including the tendons, muscles, fascia, and joint capsules) will help your joints feel better and move better. This can also help you improve your functional activity tolerance, which is essential for work, leisure, and simple daily function. 2. It’s a safe, holistic method of pain management/ elimination. The sad truth is that right now, we’re experiencing an opioid epidemic. People are relying so heavily on over-the- counter medications to ease their pain, they don’t realize the long-term effects these pills have on their bodies. COME BACK TO US! As the end of the year approaches, we would love to get you started off right for 2022. Scan the QR code to tell us how we did this past year. INSTRUCTIONS : 1. Open your smart phone to the camera app 2. Center the QR code above in the frame (this will take you directly to our Google Review Page) 3.Tell us how we did!