Living Life Without Back Pain

Living Life Without Back Pain

NEWSLETTER

Lessons From MyDog About Healthcare. to get tests or see specialists within their group. Often weeks go by and the patient has had lots of tests and doctor visits but not received any actual treatment! So What Do We Do? Take advice from Brodie. Make your concerns known. Before you go see anyone in healthcare (PT included) write down any questions you have. As soon as you get into the exam room, let them know right away you have a list of questions for your doctor. Ask specific questions: “Why do you want to run that test and what is it going to tell us?”, “What type of recovery can I expect if I decide to havetheprocedure?”, “Arethereanyothertreatmentoptionsavailable I shouldconsider?” The more specific and detailed your question the better your understanding will be of what to expect. Always Remember You Are In Charge! Nobody should ever make a decision regarding your health except for you. Nobody can force you to take a pill, have an injection, get a test done, or perform surgery without your permission. It seems that too often patients have lost sight that you are the one in charge. It is our job to listen to you, answer your questions, and do everything we can to help you get back to normal. You always have the right to choose where you receive your care. Just because someone recommends a test, particular clinic, or provider doesn’t mean you have to go there. The choice is always yours to make.

As I sat down to work on this month’s newsletter, I glanced over and saw Brodie, our family dog, lying down with his nose facing the back door. Knowing that this was his way of asking to go out, I got up and went over to open the door to let him outside. When I sat back down, I recalled a conversation I had with a couple of my patients this past week. Dogs Ask For What They Want. When Brodie wants to eat dinner, he paces back and forth in front of the coffee table wagging his tail with unusual enthusiasm. When he wants to go outside, he sits or lies down with his nose facing the back door. If he wants attention, he will literally put his head under your hand until you pet him. Why Can’t We Ask For What We Want? Two different patients expressed frustration this past week that they didn’t have time to ask questions when seeing their doctor. They also felt that their concerns weren’t being addressed. This left them feeling frustrated. The simple reality is that as larger organizations acquire smaller independent groups, the personal, or family feeling, is being lost in healthcare. Bigger is Better… Right? Believe me when I say that your doctor is probably frustrated as well. I know a lot of doctors and most would agree that they spend too little time with patients. It is an unfortunate reality of healthcare today and it is only getting worse as the large groups buy up the independent clinics. Larger organizations will often refer patients

Just remember to follow Brodie’s advice: When you want something, don’t be afraid to ask and always expect results.

NEWSLETTER

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LivingLifewithout BackPain WWW.WAPTREHAB.COM

A life free of back pain is within your grasp. For some, back pain is a daily occurrence that dictates the way you live your life. Every movement, every motion is determined by the pain in your back. Standing, sitting, laying down, driving, walking or running — the pain persists. In ages past, back pain was difficult to treat. If you experienced back pain, whether as a result of a work injury, trip-and-fall accident, or even just as a result of aging, the answer was almost always the same: head home, take a long rest, and give your back time to heal.This isn’t the way that things go anymore, and for several reasons. To start, the world isn’t as forgiving. Heading home and taking a long rest until your back is healed may work for some, but not for most. With deadlines and carpools and work schedules to keep up with, there needs to be an alternate solution to dealing with back pain that doesn’t require you to completely remove yourself from your responsibilities. What’s more, recent research indicates that resting may not actually be the ideal solution for long-term back care. Spending too much time on the couch or off your feet can cause the back muscles to

weaken and can even weaken bone strength. This could lead to more long-term issues with back pain — not fewer. Exercise, in general, is shown to increase strength and flexibility, supporting healthy muscles and bones, and therefore supporting ideal back health. Physical Therapy for Back Pain While rest and relaxation can help you overcome the immediate pain of a back injury, and may even be recommended by your physician in the early days following an injury, it is not a long-term solution. Physical therapy offers a long-term solution to back pain by using targeted exercises that focus on the cause of the pain. “WHILE REST AND RELAXATION CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME THE IMMEDIATE PAIN OF A BACK INJURY, IT IS NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. Through a combination of strength and flexibility training that focuses on muscle development and joint movement, physical therapy can address the underlying cause of the pain and significantly improve your quality of life.

Call Today: 425.820.2110

3. If further assessment is warranted, your therapist

2. Your therapist can

1. Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist.

discuss with you why your pain is bothering you again and what you might do about it at home.

might recommend you come in for an appointment.

UnderstandingtheWhyandHow

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There are a lot of different reasons that back pain can develop. Even when you break down injuries, whether from overuse or athletic pursuits, therearedifferentproblems thatcan develop.Sprainsandstrainsarecommon,but so are issues with the vertebrae, blood flow, andevenconcernsregardingthespinalnerves. Youmightbeamazed todiscover thedifferent factors that could be influencing your back health. Such as: • Your personal level of physical activity, including how often you exercise and the intensity of your typical workouts. • The typesofshoes thatyouwear, inaddition to how frequently you walk in different types of shoes, particularly shoes that lack support or those with high heels. • Prolonged engagement in sedentary 5 4 5 2 7 2 3 8 6 2 1 9 5 7 3 2 1 4 5 8 4

behavior, including sitting at a desk for eighthoursormoreconsecutivedaysof the week, or spending free time on the couch or otherwise relaxed. Aerobicactivityandstrength trainingexercises actuallymake itpossible to reduceyour riskof injury and to improve your ability to overcome back pain by strengthening the vertebrae and improving blood flow and nutrient disbursement throughout theback.When you are inactive, blood flow can actually become impeded, and this can have a negative effect on the overall health of your back and spine. How Physical Therapy Helps Anyone who has struggled with back pain can tell you plain and simple: When your back is hurting, there is no way to pretend that it isn’t. Simply going from sedentary activity to 7 4

being active and healthy isn’t an option — at least not so easily. It takes time and effort, and when back pain is obstructing you from getting started, it requires help. Physical therapy can help you overcome back pain by giving you the knowledge and support necessary to help your back feel better, giving you the option to get off the couch and push yourself to reach new goals. Working with a licensed and experienced physical therapist ensures that you do not take on too much too quickly, but instead are guided through the process of healing with gradual steps. 7 1 6 8 4 9 1 4

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For more information about overcoming back pain, contact us.

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PATIENT SUCCESS STORY

SPECIAL OFFER

“Thank you for helping me learn and recover from shoulder pain and to get on with my active lifestyle.”

FREE Back Pain Consultation For You This coupon good for

Valid now through 08/31/18

Mention or bring in this coupon for a FREE Consultation with one of our physical therapy specialists! • Stiffness • Muscle spasms • Arthritis • Upper back pain The free consultation is ideal for people suffering with: • Lower back pain • Herniated discs • Sciatica • Spinal stenosis

Call Today 425.820.2110

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“Getting old is not always fun. The same goes for injuries, wear and tear arthritis, muscle problems, etc. Mike educates you in helping your body recover from injuries. Knowing how and why is the key in PT, and Mike is the professor! Thank you for helping me learn and recover from shoulder pain and to get on with my active lifestyle.” -Dave C.

A guilty-free snack forthat summer sweet tooth!

INGREDIENTS • 2 cups unsweetened Greek yogurt • 1 orange

• 1 cup pineapple chunks • 1-2 tsp. vanilla extract • 1 tbsp. honey

Directions Combineall ingredients inahigh-speedblenderorfoodprocessorandblend until completely smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze until solid. Try different fruit flavors or add spinach for a boost of greens. Serves 6.

Suffering from Foot or Ankle Pain? SEE THE INSERT!

Are you suffering from Foot or Ankle Pain? Do your feet get sore when standing for a long time? If ankle or foot pain is slowing down your summer fun, perhaps you need a pair of custom shoe inserts. At Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, we offer a custom solution for your pain, to get you back to normal, and back to doing the things you love to do. Our Phits system is the only FDA-approved system available in the US that uses a walking or running scan to identify and correct foot and ankle problems by custom-making 3D-printed shoe inserts. Why a Dynamic Scan? • Your foot and ankle are used not only to hold us up, but also to move us around so we can explore and enjoy the world. • So, doesn’t it make sense that a pair of shoe inserts should correct for problems when we are moving? • A walking or jogging scan gives us the information we need to see what prob- lems your feet have when you are actually using them! • A plaster cast or foam crush box only give a static impression of your foot and offer no insight into what your foot is doing when you are moving. • Dynamic Scan and 3D Printing vs. Plaster Casts and Molds. It’s like comparing a smartphone to a rotary dial phone!! (Remember Those Old Things?) Why is 3D Printing a Big Deal? • 3D Printed orthotics are extremely lightweight while being very durable due to a honeycomb pattern of printing. • The material is printed in a specific direction to allow the insert to flex in exactly the right direction to correct for walking or jogging problems identified by the scan. • This directional stiffness can correct for excessive flat foot (Pronation) or high arch (Supination) foot problems. • 3D Printing also allows us to change the density, or amount of material laid down, in 5 distinct areas of the insert. This means we can change the flexibility of the insert without changing the supporting shape of the orthotics. Only 3D printing allows this level of customization.

Learn more at www.WAPTrehab.com/phits-overview or call us at 425.820.2110

Are Orthotics for Me?

Can Orthotics Help My Knee or Back Pain? • Absolutely!! Our leg is a giant chain and any problems along that chain can create pain in a different location. • Imagine a chain hanging from the ceiling. If you shake that chain at the bottom, the ripple goes all the way to the top. • In the same way, foot and ankle problems frequently lead to pain higher up in the knee, hip, or back.

What Types of Inserts are Available? Custom Orthotics are available for the following:

• Walking • Comfort • Jogging • Field sports (Soccer, Football, Baseball) • Court Sports

• Dress Shoes • Downhill &

Cross-country Skiing

• Work Boots • Cycling

FREE GAIT ANALYSIS Offer valid for current and former patients. You may share this offer with 1 other person. Expires 9/14/18 10 Spots Available! $75 Value FREE! Special Offer For Former & Current Patients! We have set aside 10 spots for our current and former patients to get a FREE gait analysis ($75 Value). You will get the dynamic scan and gait analysis for free and receive a recommendation if a custom pair of orthotics might be helpful. Only 10 spots are available for the first 10 people who contact us. Appointments are only available until September 14th! 6725 116th Ave NE Ste 130 Kirkland, WA 98033 425.820.2110 [email protected] WWW.WAPTREHAB.COM