MDM_Relieving Low Back Hip Knee Arthritis Pain

MDM_Relieving Low Back Hip Knee Arthritis Pain

M D M P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y . C O M

Relieving Low Back, Hip, & Knee Arthritis Pain

I N S I D E Arthritis and Physical Therapy Have You Met Your Insurance Deductible? Exercise Essentials

Relieving Low Back, Hip, & Knee Arthritis Pain

If you’re constantly facing lower back, hip or knee pain—you might be feeling arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 54.4 million U.S. adults are diagnosed with some form of arthritis per year. As we age, the cartilage in our joints wears down, causing painful bone on bone rubbing, inflammation, stiffness, and pain. While there is no cure for replacing cartilage yet, it is possible to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, by improving your joint movement, muscle strength, balance, and coordination. It’s even possible to eliminate symptoms entirely, depending on the amount of arthritis you have. If you have regular aches and pains, keep reading. We have a solution. What Is Arthritis, Exactly? Before knowing how to relieve arthritic pain, you’ll need to understand it. Arthritis—or the painful stiffness, or inflammation, of joints—isn’t a single disease. The term “arthritis” is an informal explanation of joint pain and disease in general. Over 100 types of arthritis exist, according to the Arthritis Foundation. People of all ages, races and sex can get it. It’s also the leading cause of ongoing disability in America. The most prevalent form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is caused by either injury or normal wear and tear.

What Causes Lower Back, Hip and Knee Arthritis? Because arthritis is a catch-all term, pinpointingwhat causes arthritis may be difficult. In most cases, arthritis is caused by overuse, wear and tear, or injuries. Arthritis can also be caused by: • Infections, such as Lyme disease • An immune system dysfunction - rheumatoid arthritis • The inheritance of osteoarthritis • An abnormal metabolism, which leads to gout For arthritis suffers, even simply walking can cause pain in the lower back, hip or knee. Often, arthritis is a downward spiral of progress pain, limiting movement and strength, which in turn causes more inactivity and pain. However, by improving joint movement, muscle strength, balance and coordination, this cycle can be broken, reducing pain and inflammation. Discover how our team of specialists at MDM Physical Therapy can get you moving pain-free again!

Call MDM Physical Therapy to talk with your physical therapist today!

3. If further assessment is warranted, your therapist

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

2. Your therapist will tell you the possible causes of your pain as well as precautions you can take at home.

might recommend you come in for an appointment.

Staff Spotlight Marissa Roberts | DPT

Regardless of the cause of arthritis, physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of arthritis symptoms and should be tried first, before more aggressive procedures such as surgery. While maintaining a healthy weight, exercise and a good diet help, surgical intervention may eventually be needed. However, physical therapy has been shown to be an excellent way to prepare and recover after a total knee or hip replacement. It is very common for the muscles that support the knee, hip, and low back to become weakened from inactivity. Through targeted easy to do exercises, we help your muscles regain their strength, providing greater support to the joints, and reducing inflammation. Furthermore, by improving balance and coordination, especially to the knee and hip joints, the abnormal strain on the joints is relieved, and safety is improved to reduce risk of further injury. If you or a loved one suffers from arthritis, you have options. The first step is to contact one of our therapists today, and ask about ongoing physical therapy treatment to restore mobility, comfort and quality of life. See how we can help your joints feel better and move better! Go online or call us to schedule an appointment today. Arthritis and Physical Therapy

We are excited to introduce a new Physical Therapist to our MDM team, Marissa Roberts. Marissa was born and raised in Iowa and relocated from the midwest to the southwest a little over a year ago. Her training for the physical therapy profession began at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology as well as her minor in Biology. She continued on at Clarke,

ultimately earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. The desire to help others enjoy active and pain-free lives was Marissa’s motivation to become a PT. Her compassion, sincerity, and empathy, along with excellent professional skills create an ideal situation for her patients to progress and heal. A fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Marissa also loves to hike and kayak. In addition, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends….and especially her fiancée. Yes, a wedding is coming up next spring! We already appreciate working with Marissa and are looking forward to our patients to meeting her as well! Have You Met Your Insurance Deductible?

“I came to MDM following my wife’s advice. My lower back had been hurting for a couple of years and was getting worse. I was starting to bend over at the waist and couldn’t stand up straight anymore. I’m a barber and had to sit most of the time to cut hair. Main problems was walking. Could only go about 50 ft before having to sit and could only stand for a few minutes at a time. My back is getting looser and standing is improving. Mark is the only person who has explained what is causing my problems.” — Tex E. Success Spotlight

Do you have a family insurance plan? Have you had surgery this year? Have you used your insurance more than usual? If you answered yes, you are more likely to have a $0 balance remaining on your out-of-pocket expenses. Th s mea s the cost could b minimal or completely covered by your insurance plan. Let us help you get a head start going into 2021, before your deductible renews again!

Exercise Essentials

For most of us, our daily habits are largely invisible. Many behaviors are automatic by nature and occur without conscious thought. We don’t really think about the mechanics of backing our car out of the driveway. We don’t have to remember the steps of tying our shoelaces. When we do things over and over our automatic programming takes the wheel so we don’t have to waste brainpower on tedious tasks. Just as our own behaviors can be invisible to us, other influences on our health can be invisible as well, and the more we can become mindful and intentional about the automatic aspects of our lives, the more power we have over our health. Here are few good ideas to get you started: 1. Remove unhealthy food from your home. This won’t eliminate your urge to snack, but if a pack of cookies is not within easy reach, you give yourself extra time to make a healthier choice instead. 2. Take the TV out of your bedroom. Screens have become ubiquitous in all areas of our lives, and they are ruining our sleep. If you have a TV in your bedroom, you are more likely to watch it late into the night, and the blue light in addition to the mental stimulation can disrupt your circadian rhythm. 3. Cover the basics of optimizing your home. Changing air filters and checking the batteries in your smoke detectors might sound like obvious tasks, but too many people overlook these simple choices. Cleaner air is better for your immune system, and basic safety precautions are always a worthwhile choice for you and your family. While you’re at it, roll up the blinds to let in more sunlight. 4. Reflect on the people surrounding you. We often think of our surroundings as physical things, but the people we talk to on a daily basis influence us as well. Is that Facebook group message good for your mental wellbeing? Is that friend who encourages you to have a few extra drinks looking out for your best interests? These might not be simple answers, but you should take the time to be more aware of how the people around you bring you up or bring you down. You might not be able to transform your home and your social circle overnight, but you do have the power to start making small changes today. Those small choices matter, and they can come together to create big wins for your health goals. (adapted from Habits of Health by Dr. Wayne Anderson) MDM Health Coach Corner Create an Environment of Health

Knee Extension Stretch While sitting, tighten your top thigh muscle to press the back of your knee downward towards the ground.

Exercises copyright of www.simpleset.net

Free Consult &15Minute Hypervolt Percussion/Vibration Therapy Trial

ONLY 25 SPOTS AVAILABLE

To our Valued Clients: 2020 has been a challenge! Let us help with this special offer just for you! One free consult & 15 Minute Hypervolt Percussion/ Vibration Therapy Trial will be available to a limited number of our past patients - or their friends & family. How can I benefit from percussion therapy? • Helps to relievemuscle pain, stiffness, and soreness • Increases range of motion • Increases circulation and blood flow

Scan the QR code or visit www.mdmphysicaltherapy.com

to learn more about Percussion Therapy!