Life Is Good Without Neck Pain

Life Is Good Without Neck Pain

The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

Life Is Good Without Neck Pain

Neck pain can be a constant ache or sharp pain with movement, stopping you from enjoying life’s activities. Neck pain is very common, affecting approximately two-thirds of the population at one point or another. Most neck pain is mechanical in nature or comes from the spine and/or its supporting structures. It typically occurs when there is a loss of motion in the cervical spine joints or muscles in the spine are tense or weak, creating an imbalance. Pain can occur in the neck, but can also radiate into the shoulders or upper extremities. Typical conditions include: Degenerative Disc Disease The discs are the fluid-filled sacs between the vertebrae, the bones of your neck. The normal aging process and repeated stress causes wear and tear, resulting in thinner and more fragile cartilage. When this happens, the disc loses its ability to absorb shock, which may cause rubbing and changes in the shape of the joints in your neck, which can cause stiffness and/or pain.

(continued inside)

Life Is Good Without Neck Pain (continued)

See our physical therapists for: • Recent injury • Nagging aches and pains • Jaw or TMJ Pain • Back and neck pain • Joint pain and movement problems • Walking or balance difficulties If you are suffering fromneck pain, our programs are ideal to quickly relieve your pain and prevent it from returning. From acute onset to long-term neck pain to recovering from a complicated surgery, we can relieve your neck pain quickly, restoring your natural mobility and strength. Our treatments are designed to help ease pain and to improve flexibility, strength, posture and function. We even teach you how to protect your neck in the years ahead. Look inside to learn more about our services and say good-bye to that aching neck!

Muscles Strain When there is an injury to the neck or you overuse the shoulder or neck muscles, a strain can occur. A strain is damage to the muscle or tendon, most often caused by whiplash. Radiculopathy Pressure or irritation on or around the nerves of the neck can affect the nerves’ electrical signals. The pressure or irritation can be felt as numbness on the skin, weakness in the muscles or pain along the path of the nerve. The most common causes are poor posture, herniated discs, stenosis or degenerative disc disease.

Did You Know? You Can ALWAYS choose WHERE you go for YOUR Therapy?

www.proactivecarenj.com

Patient Results

“I went to ProActiveCare for Physical Therapy and Russ Altman was the PT I worked with. I was very impressed with the professionalism and knowledge of his field that he displayed. He helped with my shoulder which I injured as a result of dance. I can now go back to dancing and competing because of his help! Thank You Dr. Russ. I recommend you to anyone in need of Physical Therapy!” - Danielle I can now go back to dancing and competing!

www.proactivecarenj.com

Do You Ignore Your Neck Pain?

Don’t let neck pain become a way of life Pinpoint the exact cause of your neck pain! 4 Pain when trying to sleep 4 Pain when driving > 30 mins 4 Radiating pain to buttocks Do you suffer with any of the following symptoms? 4 Pain while bending or reaching 4 Soreness after sitting awhile 4 Difficulty standing for > 20 mins

FREE NECK PAIN ANALYSIS

Offer valid for the first 25 people to schedule. Expires 01-30-17.

Physical Therapy After A Motor Vehicle Accident

Motor vehicle accidents can cause numerous injuries and conditions to the body, including whiplash. Whiplash is a traumatic injury to the structures of the cervical spine (the seven uppermost vertebrae). It involves muscles and ligaments and is caused by extremes in range of motion in the absence of severe bony injury such as fracture, dislocation or disc herniation. Sports injuries, physical abuse and other trauma can cause whiplash, but most often it results form rear-endmotor vehicle accidents. Symptoms can begin anywhere from a few hours to one day after an accident. Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) can be classified into five grades. Grades 3 and 4 are the most serious and require further follow-up with a physician prior to a patient starting a physical therapy program.

Grade 1 symptoms include neck pain, stiffness or tenderness; Grade 2 symptoms include neck pain with decreased range of motion and point tenderness. For these types of WAD, conservative care often is prescribed, with recommendations for “act as usual” care (no active treatment) or physical therapy. WAD can be pricey: 84.5 percent of the costs are incurred during the acute episode and can result in an absence from work of more than two months. For patients, pain reduction is the most common goal, in which case active physical therapy should be considered. For Grade 2 patients, active physical therapy should be recommended as the best option for achieving the best outcomes as far as therapy and cost.

Call Today! (908) 903-1199

www.proactivecarenj.com

Exercise Essentials Try this simple exercise to keep you moving...

Good Stretch If You Sit At A Computer All Day LEVATOR SCAPULAE STRETCH Place your hand behind your back on the painful side and tilt your head downward into the armpit. Use your opposite hand to guide your head further into the stretch. Hold for 10 seconds repeat 6 times on both sides.

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

Exercises copyright of

www.simpleset.net

Refer a Friend Who do you know that needs our help?

Do You Have Friends or Family Unable to Do The

Following? • Move without pain • Bend and move freely

If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to ProActiveCare today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly for a Free Pain Relief Consultation.

• Balance confidently and securely • Get through a day without pain • Walk for long distances • Live an active and healthy lifestyle Call Today! (908) 903-1199