InfinityPT.Neck Pain & Stress

InfinityPT.Neck Pain & Stress

STRESS CAN BE A REAL PAIN IN THE NECK! IS STRESS CAUSING YOUR NECK PAIN?

Exercise Essentials Try this exercise to relieve neck pain in minutes!

Sleep &Wellness The importance of getting enough shut-eye

Natural Remedies Ease your headache pain without painkillers

STRESS CAN BE A REAL PAIN IN THE NECK! IS STRESS CAUSING YOUR NECK PAIN?

Does your neck hurt? You might be suffering from stress-related pain — also called a tension headache. During anxiety, muscles tense up. As muscle tension tightens, the back, shoulders and neck are affected. The more pressure they cause, the more discomfort you get. Let’s take a closer look at stress-related neck pain. IS MY NECK PAIN CAUSED BY STRESS? Pain worsened by keeping your head in one place — like when you’re driving, or using a computer — is neck pain. While neck pain has a slew of symptoms, its major symptoms, reported by Mayo Clinic, are:

The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests contacting a professional if you’re experiencing neck pain. Even if it’s caused by stress, untreated neck pain might later reveal muscle spasms, arthritis, bulging discs or even narrowed spinal nerve openings. HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP MY NECK PAIN Neck pain, fortunately, can be alleviated with physical therapy. Because neck pain is often caused by activity, different activity can cure it. Sometimes, this “activity” means “no activity.” Before you contact a professional, try reducing your neck movements. Sometimes, simply letting your neck muscles relax is enough. If you don’t see relief within two weeks, contact a professional. Physical therapists can target your pain’s source by examining your symptoms. Then, they can offer exercises that stretch, flex and relax your neck muscles. In time, your neck will become more resilient — giving you the comfort you deserve. Where aftercare treatment is considered, custom-tailored neck exercises will assure your neck stays loose, limber and healthy. If you’re dealing with neck pain, you’re not alone. Call our office today, and schedule an assessment. Even if your neck pain is caused by stress, it still needs attention. We’ll work side by side with your goals, creating the proactive, effective programs you need to achieve mobility once more.

· Muscle tightness and spasms · Headaches · Decreased ability to move the head

Stress-induced neck pain isn’t rare. It also isn’t psychological. Many experts think stress-induced neck pain is caused by physical factors — low, but constant, trapezius muscle activity. If your neck pain starts at the base of your shoulders, traveling upward, it may be stress-related. CAUSES OF STRESS-RELATED NECK PAIN While stress alone can trigger neck pain, a few factors can make it worse. Office environments tend to create neck pain problems — as they confine people to chairs, bad posture and little mobility. Driving often, too, can make your chances of stress-related neck pain higher.

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SLEEP & WELLNESS

of sleep. Since older adults often have trouble sleeping this long at night, daytime naps can help fill in the gap. If you’re getting less than eight hours of sleep each night, chances are you’re sleep deprived. What’s more, you probably have no idea just how much lack of sleep is affecting you. How is it possible to be sleep deprived without knowing it? Most of the signs of sleep deprivation are much more subtle than falling face first into your dinner plate. Furthermore, if you’ve made a habit of skimping on sleep, you may not even remember what it feels like to be truly wide-awake, fully alert, and firing on all cylinders. Maybe it feels normal to get sleepy when you’re in a boring meeting, struggling through the afternoon slump, or dozing off after dinner, but the truth is that it’s only “normal” if you’re sleep deprived.

One notorious cause of headaches is sleep deprivation. There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get by on and the amount you need to function optimally. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult sleeps less than seven hours per night. In today’s fast-paced society, six or seven hours of sleep may sound pretty good. In reality, though, it’s a recipe for chronic sleep deprivation. Just because you’re able to operate on six or seven hours of sleep doesn’t mean you wouldn’t feel a lot better and get more done if you spent an extra hour or two in bed. While sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. Children and teens need even more. And despite the notion that our sleep needs decrease with age, most older people still need at least 7 hours

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F O L L OW @ L I V E I N F I N I T Y P T O N S O C I A L M E D I A for daily exercises to keep you healthy, strong, and flexible!

Cervical Retract ion Stand against a wall with a small rolled up towel in the small curve of your neck, slowly draw chin towards your chest. Slowly draw your head back so that your ears line up with your shoulders. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 3 times.

Always consult with your physical therapist before performing an exercise in order to relieve pain.

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Formore information call Infinity PT at 720.635.5552 or visit us online at liveinfinitypt.com today!

AT HOME HYDROTHERAPY Soaking in Epsom Salt can be very helpful for the release of muscle aches and pain. It is important to remember the actual name of Epsom Salt is magnesium sulfate. Among magnesium’s many functions is it will reduce the rate of calcium binding after a muscle contracts as it competes for the same binding sites as calcium, which contracts a muscle. Simply put, this relieves tightness and soreness in the muscles. Something as simple as an Epsom Salt bath can be of great benefit in relaxing a tight muscle. It is easily done by: 1. Adding 2 cups of Epsom Salt to a warm bath full of water. 2. Soak your neck in the bath for 15 - 20minutes, allowing themagnesium to be absorbed through your skin. Put Down The Pain Medication NATURAL HEADACHE RELIEF When you find that you are suffering with headaches or neck tension, come in for physical therapy. A few sessions can go a long way to helping you feel your best and learning what you can do to prevent your headaches from returning. Put down the Ibuprofen or Tylenol and pick up the phone to speak with one of our experts today! No time for a bath? No problem! You can still achieve pain relief without resorting to painkillers. Try these tried and true methods next time you are suffering from a headache. 1. Use ice. Try placing a cold pack wrapped in a tea towel on your forehead or back of your neck for 15 minutes, then remove. If the pain is still lingering, wait 15 minutes and then replace the cold pack for another 15 minutes. 2. Dim the lights. Bright overhead light or even light from computer screens have been known to trigger headaches in some people. If you think this may be a trigger for you, try adding anti-glare screens to your monitors or wearing anti-glare glasses. Switch your light fixtures to use daylight-spectrum bulbs. 3. Brew some ginger tea. Ginger is thought to help ease headache pain by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, which is responsible for inflammation. To brew ginger tea, gently simmer three quarter-sized slices of fresh ginger root in 2 cups of water, covered, for 30 minutes.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF PETS

3. CHILDHOOD RESPONSIBILITY. Having a pet in the home is a great way for children to learn valuable life lessons in a fun, rewarding way. From the daily responsibility of feeding, exercising and caring for the animal to understanding more about illness and loss, it can equip your children (or grandchildren) with the emotions to cope better with important life events as they grow up. 4. COMPANIONSHIP. The sheer presence of a pet in the home can boost your mood, especially after a hectic day at the office or even following a difficult conversation. The stresses of life can melt away as soon as you walk through the front door and see your beloved pet, desperate for your affection. Said animal will also be your go-to companion of choice to watch a movie with or cuddle up to read a book with on a cold winter’s day. What’s better than a furry hot water bottle who listens to every word you say and doesn’t answer back? 5. MENTAL HEALTH. Not only do pets provide companionship and help improve your physical health, they can also provide therapeutic and emotional benefits. According to Ingrid Collins, a consultant psychologist at the London Medical Centre, “A pet is better than Prozac. Animals have a completely different agenda to humans, and bring things back to basics. They want comfort, feeding and love. In return, they give huge affection.”

For some people, the idea of welcoming a dog or cat into their home seems like an influx of responsibility and obligation they would rather avoid. But for devoted pet owners, their furry friends are beloved members of the family with whom they share a mutually beneficial relationship. From the emotional and social impact of their presence to the physical and mental benefits, having Fido the dog or Garfield the cat around the house might just be the boost you didn’t even know you needed. 1. FITNESS. Pets need regular activity and, if a dog becomes your pet of choice, you’ll also be signing up for brisk daily walks to help your furry friend keep in shape. In turn, you’ll also feel the benefit of regular, low-impact exercise. According to a recent survey, 36 percent of pet owners said that having a pet has helped them lose weight. Who needs a personal trainer? 2. SOCIAL. Believe it or not, having an animal can even have an impact on your social life… in a good way. Walking the dog around the local park or taking it to obedience lessons are just two settings where you’ll have the opportunity to meet new faces and interact with people you might not otherwise have come into contact with. And don’t be surprised if you’re stopped by strangers in the street who are eager to pat your furry friend and find out more about her.

H E A L T H Y R E C I P E

SPICY LEMON GARLIC BAKED TILAPIA

INGREDIENTS • 4-6 tilapia fillets • 1 tbsp lemon juice

• Salt, to taste • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1 lemon, sliced thinly • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

• 3 tbsp butter, melted • 1 tsp garlic, minced • 1/2 tsp red chili powder

INSTRUCTIONS Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Wash the tilapia fillets and pat them dry. Arrange the fillets in a baking tray. Mix lemon juice, butter, garlic, red chili powder, salt and black pepper in a bowl. Pour mixture over the tilapia. Arrange lemon slices in between the fillets. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve!