Ottawa Health Group_Neck Pain and Stress

Ottawa Health Group_Neck Pain and Stress

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YOUR TEAM AT THE OTTAWA HEALTH GROUP

WWW.OTTAWAHEALTHGROUP.COM

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

INSIDE: • How Ottawa Health Group Can Help Neck Pain • Meet Our Team • Exercise Essentials

HOW RELIEVING STRESS CAN HELP YOU WALK AWAY FROM NECK PAIN NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!

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. 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. Call Ottawa Health Group today and we can help you find the source of your neck pain and guide you along the way to achieve greater health.

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: • 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

HOW OTTAWA HEALTH GROUP

CAN HELP NECK PAIN

Neck pain, fortunately, can be alleviated with chiropractic, physio and massage. 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. Ottawa Health Group’s practitioners 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 after-care 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.

Take charge of your neck pain by calling us or by visiting our website at www.ottawahealthgroup.com. We can help get your life back.

Sources: spine-health.com/blog/how-relieve-neck-pain-caused-stress everydayhealth.com/neck-pain/neck-pain-reduce-stress.aspx ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/ PMHT0027055/ medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000802.htm newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/most-neck-pain-improves-with-self-care-time/ mayoclinic. org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20375581

MEET OUR TEAM: STEPHANIE FLYNN , RMT VODDER MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE TECHNIQUE

Stephanie is a graduate of Algonquin College’s Massage Therapy Intensive program where she obtained an advanced diploma. She is a registered massage therapist in good standing with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and a member with the Registered Massage Therapists Association of Ontario. Stephanie holds a strong interest in pathology and treating those with chronicpain.Hertreatmentplans includeawidearrayoftechniqueswith a focus on manual lymph drainage (MLD) and combined decongestive therapy (CDT). Stephanie believes strongly in continuing education to ensure safe and effective treatments for her patients and has recently completed her certification in MLD and CDT with The International Vodder School in Victoria, BC. This specialization allows her to treat patients with primary or secondary lymphedemas as well as those dealing with edema post operatively or from trauma. Prior to completing her studies at Algonquin and the Dr. Vodder School, Stephanie was accepted to and attended Ryerson University’s PerformanceDanceprogram.Shetraineddaily inballet, jazzandmodern

styles. Inadditiontothis,she wasadancerfrom2007-2009 on Ryerson’s dance team. Upon suffering an injury, Stephanie went on to attend GeorgeBrownCollege.Here she graduated from their healthscienceprogramwith anadvancediploma inFitness andLifestyleManagement.At the same time she became a member with the Ontario Fitness Council for 4 years

and the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology for 7 years. These experienceshaveenabledhertogarnerastrongbackground inanatomy as well as a profound kinesthetic awareness.

YOU CAN BE FREE OF YOUR NECK PAIN! CALL TODAY OR VISIT US AT WWW.OTTAWAHEALTHGROUP.COM

THANK YOU! To all our wonderful patients who participated in this year’s Shoebox Project and Toy Mountain Drive . With your generosity, we were able to gift 132 shoeboxes and over 100 toys making our community a better place to live and work.

EXERCISE ESSENTIALS USE THIS EXERCISE TO RELIEVE NECK PAIN

SCAPULAR RETRACTION Stand tall, shoulders relaxed. Pull shoulder blades back and down. Don’t hunch your shoulders. Repeat 6 times.

Exercisescopyrightof

Always consult your physiotherapist or chiropractor before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.

ASK US ABOUT OUR NEW APP

Why do so many of us struggle to stick with NewYear’sresolutions? Insteadofmakinga New Year’s resolution, I would like to share with you one of my favorite quotes (slightly modified) from Professor John Keating (RobinWilliams)-DeadPoetSociety :thatthe powerful play of life goes on, with or without youandyoumaycontributeaverse.Whatwill your verse be? Tomorrow is the first page of a New Year and a New Decade,let us make surewewriteagoodone.Thechoice isours. Happy New Year and may your year be filled withhealth,happiness,loveandpeace.Carpe Diem, Dr. Mark.

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