LoudounPT_Making Moves to Understand Sciatica Back Pain

LoudounPT_Making Moves to Understand Sciatica Back Pain

HEALTH & WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health and Caring for Your Body

MAKING MOVES TO UNDERSTAND SCIATICA BACK PAIN

LOUDOUNPT.COM

HEALTH & WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health and Caring for Your Body

LOUDOUNPT.COM Leesburg: (703) 794-5581 Lansdowne: (703) 794-5587

INSIDE: A 30-Second Self-Test for Sciatica • Meet Our Team • Featured Service: Trigger Point Dry Needling • What Patients Are Saying • Direct Access

SCIATICA BACK PAIN MAKING MOVES TO UNDERSTAND

If you’ve experienced back pain, and even leg pain, you might have a deeper issue. Your minor aches and pinched nerves could be symptomatic of sciatica. While “sciatica” may sound serious, it’s entirely curable. What Is Sciatica? Sciatica is pain that radiates alongside the sciatic nerve. This nerve, which branches from your lower back — spanning across your hips, buttocks and legs — can be injured or stressed in several ways. The most common cause of sciatica-related pain is inflammation along the spine, where compressed nerves are aggravated. While sciatica pain can be intense, it is treatable. A lot of sciatica cases, in fact, can be resolved without operation — and within just a few weeks. Even if you’ve suffered severe sciatica spawned from leg weakness, bladder changes or nerve issues, there’s still hope. Visit us at loudounpt.com/newsletter- request-appointment/ to learn more about your pain and to schedule an appointment.

weakness. Ifsciatica isn’t treated, itcanhinder mobility altogether. How Physical Therapy Can Help with Sciatica If you’re experiencing sciatica, contact a physician immediately. Medical News Today asserts that over-the-counter painkillers may alleviate pain, but in-depth physical therapy is often needed. Physical therapy can reduce sciatica compression by carefully introducing exercises and relaxing treatments. These treatments, hand-picked by professionals, can completely eliminate sciatica over time. If you’re experiencing back pain, call our Leesburg (703-443-6700) and Lansdowne (703-858-9880) professionals today or visit us at loudounpt.com/newsletter-request- appointment/. Your mobility is important, and your back can be healed. Sources: webmd.com/back-pain/what-is-sciatica#1 • medicinenet.com/sciatica/article.htm • mayoclinic. org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/symptoms-causes/syc- 20377435 • medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7619.php

What Causes Sciatica? In most cases, sciatica occurs when one of the back’s discs are herniated. It can also happen if the spine narrows — an effect called spinal stenosis. As we age, our backs undergo a lot of stress. This stress takes a toll, causing inflammation in several areas. If this inflammation reaches a certain point, it may compress these nerves — resulting in pain. What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica? Sciaticabackpain isnormallynoticedasapain radiating from the lower back. Often, this pain extends to the buttock, spiraling down the leg and extending to the calf. If you’re suffering from sciatica, you might feel the discomfort anywhere along this nerve pathway. The pain itself can be dull, aching or even sharp. In some cases, the compressed nerve may feel like it burns. In other cases, the compressed nerve may simply issue a sharp jolt of pain. Some people experiencing sciatica may experience leg numbness, tingling or

A 30-SECOND SELF-TEST FOR SCIATICA Do you have back pain or leg pain with standing or walking? Do you have a shooting pain in your leg when you stand up? Do you need to sit down for a minute for the pain to go away? Take this 30-Second Self-Test to see if you might have Sciatica: 1. Sit on a chair and keep good posture. 2. Straightenoneofyour legsout in frontofyou,whilepointingyour toes to the sky. Pay attention to how high your leg can go and if you have any pain, numbness, or tingling. 3. Placeyour legbackdown torestingposition,andrepeat thesame movement with the opposite leg.

DIRECT ACCESS: YOUR CHOICE & QUICKER RECOVERY

Direct Access Puts You in Charge of Your Care and Brings Physical Therapy to You Now, When You Need It! Physical therapy is easier to get than you think. Whether you want to come in for a check-up, suffered a recent injury, or you want to improve your health, a physician referral is no longer needed for physical therapy. A licenced physical therapist may begin the process of therapy by performing a full evaluation, immediately. Patients thataresentby theirphysiciannowalsohave thepower to choosewheretoreceivephysicaltherapy.Scheduleanappointment with Loudoun Physical Therapy today by visiting our website at loudounpt.com/newsletter-request-appointment/. Come get the help you need and find relief more quickly without needing to see your physician first. Let us help you get back to living life, today. Visitourwebsiteatloudounpt.com/newsletter-request-appointment/to scheduleyourphysicaltherapyappointmentnow,orcallusatourLeesburg (703-794-5581) or Lansdowne (703-794-5587) locations.

What Your Results Mean: If the leg with pain, numbness or tingling does not go up as high as the other leg, you likely have Sciatica. Give us a call today (Leesburg: 703-443-6700, Lansdowne: 703-858-9880) orvisit loudounpt.com/newsletter-request- appointment/ to find out how we can help.

MEET OUR TEAM: SHAI STA AMBREEN, PT We are pleased to introduce Shaista Ambreen, our new Physical Therapist at our Leesburg location!

Shaista has extensive education in Pelvic Health as well as in Post-Cancer Rehabilitation. Her MedicalandWellnessSpecialties include:Bowel andBladderDysfunction,PelvicPainandSexual Dysfunction, and pain and weakness during pregnancyandpostpartum.Muchofherresearch in the field of Women’s Health Physical Therapy hasbeenpublished innationaland international journalsofOBSandGynea. InadditiontoWomen’s Health,Shaistaalsohasexperience inPediatrics, Orthopedics, Musculoskeletal, Neuromuscular Disorders and Cardiac Rehabilitation. She has good hold over four languages including: Urdu, English, Punjabi and Hindi. In her free time, she loves to cook, travel with family, spend time in the outdoors, and watch Cricket and soccer matches.

and facilitator, Shaista fosters an atmosphere that encourages talented professionals to apply theirskillsets toachievemaximumproductivity. Shaista graduated from the School of Physical Therapy inKarachi,Pakistanandcompletedher Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Riphah International University at Islamabad. Shaista has enrolled in the Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Arcadia University in Montgomery, Pennsylvania to complete her professionalcredits.Shaistahasalsocompleted an MBA in Health Management. Shaista’sresearchtopic inherdoctorateprogram was Women’s Health. She has been a Women’s Health Physical Therapist for more than 10 years and has practiced in multiple health care settings throughout the United States including in Maryland and Washington.

Shehasexperience in both clinical and administrative facets of Physical therapy with 12 yearsofexperience

in Hospital Management. She is versatile in departmentmanagementand leadership,along with teaching experience. She understands the importanceofpromotinghealthandfitnessduring the restoration and maintenance of a patient’s physical functionality.Bothastrong teambuilder

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR SCIATICA PAIN: CALL TODAY OR VISIT US AT LOUDOUNPT.COM

TRIGGER POINT DRY NEEDLING FEATURED SERVICE

OUR SERVICES • Women’s Health • Return to Work Programs • Return to Play Programs • Auto Injury Recovery • Active Range of Motion (AROM) Therapy • Ultrasound Therapy • Inflammation Reduction HAS YOUR PA I N COME BACK? Keep up with your physical therapy exercises to relieve pain and prevent further injuries. If your pain doesn’t subside, consult with your therapist about what other things might be causing pain. Call Loudoun Physical Therapy or visit our website at loudounpt.com/ newsletter-request-appointment/. We will guide you so you can get back to the activities you love. CLINIC NEWS • JOIN US IN WELCOMING SHAISTA AMBREEN TO OUR PHYSICAL THERAPY TEAM AT LEESBURG! Shaista has over 24 years of experience in both clinical & administrative areas of Physical Therapy. Call (703) 443- 6700 today to book an appointment with Shaista at our Leesburg location. • Aquatic Therapy • Sports Rehabilitation • Therapeutic Massage • Resistance & Flexibility • Trigger Point Dry Needling • Cryotherapy • Electrical Stimulation • Pelvic Health 1 2 3

Did you know that needles have the power to stimulate, repair, and heal the body? With TriggerPointDryNeedling,youcanrelievethe muscle tension and inflammation that often results from injuriesorchronicpain.Patients see incredible results from dry needling especially in conjunction with a therapeutic exercise program. Your therapist will focus oncorrectingmuscle imbalances,decreasing stress on the joints, and strengthening the areas that help to stabilize the body.

Learn more about the benefits of Trigger Point Dry Needling: Call Loudoun Physical TherapyatLeesburg(703-443-6700),Lansdowne(703-858-9880),orvisitloudounpt.com.

WHAT PATIENTS ARE SAYING

This is the second time Purvi and the team at Loudoun Physical Therapy

havesavedme fromagonizingpainandsurgery. She is the most attentive and kind person that you can encounter. She listens so patiently to the problem and comes with specific remedies and movements to fix you. I will be forever in her debt and can not thank her enough.” - F. E. Want to Share the Impact of Loudoun PT on Your Life? Simply Visit Our Website and Leave Your Review to Help Us Help Others!

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EXERC I SE ESSENT I AL S USE THIS EXERCISE TO STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE

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Brace Marching While lying on your back with your knees bent, tighten your stomach by drawing in your belly button close to your spine. Slowly raise up one foot a few inches and then set it back down, and continue as if marching for two minutes. Try not to move your pelvis or back while moving your legs. Drawing in your stomach helps to keep your spine from moving. Next, perform the same exercise with your other leg. Repeat 10 times.

Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.