Pittman: Neck Pain & Stress

Pittman: Neck Pain & Stress

The Pittman CONNECTION The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

NowAccepting NewCandidates for Dry Needling Therapy

Pittman Physical Therapy is proud to announce that Dr. Jeff Edwards has received his certification in Dry Needling from the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy and is accepting new patients. Dry Needling is the process by which a thin needling is inserted into certain areas such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, trigger points and joints. This is a treatment method that is often used to alleviate pain, reduce muscular tension, speed healing, and can help treat a variety of conditions.

Jeffrey Edwards, PT, DPT, Cert-FMT, Cert-IASTM, Cert-Dry Needling

INSIDE:

Jeff has completed the necessary requirements to receive this certification in Dry Needling, which includes 54 hours of post-graduate education in Dry Needling, a written and oral examination as well as a practical evaluation. The American Academy of Manipulative Therapy teaches evidence based, scientific principles associated with Dry Needling as well as Manipulative Therapy techniques. Dr. Jeff Edwards joins Jeremy Pittman with this certification, to offer more opportunity for treatment with Dry Needling at Pittman Physical Therapy. Jeff is able to treat patients for a variety of ailments including migraines and tension headaches, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, lower back pain, arthritic conditions and general and

• Is It Possible To Live Without Neck Pain & Headaches? • What Is Trigger Point Dry Needling? • Patient Spotlight

The Pittman CONNECTION The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

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“Is It Possible To Live Without Neck Pain & Headaches?” Here’s What You Need To Do When Your Regular Treatment Plans Don’t Work Anymore Pittman Physical Therapy Will Guide You To Pain Relief!

Do you suffer from frequent neck pain and headaches? People literally live on acetaminophen and Ibuprofen for years because they constantly have a nagging headache, induced by muscle spasms in the neck. A concern with those who have frequent headaches, is an underlying neck problem that may go untreated. The Cause of Most Headaches Headaches can range from minor nagging pains, to full-blown migraines that knock you off your feet for a day or two. Any headache, whether tremendous pain or not, should be a warning sign that the

muscles in your spine and neck may be too tight and tense. Prolonged muscle tension may cause you to feel stiff and achy. One may feel pain in the shoulders, neck, upper back and even radiating out to the upper arms. Most people who have headaches complain about having neck and shoulder pain. The most intense pain usually lies directly in the back and upper sides of the neck. The pain then radiates into the shoulder area. This is why many people who have headaches treat themselves to frequent neck and shoulder massages. Physical therapy can help you to relieve the tightness and tension in your muscles, helping you live a happy, pain-free life.

Patient Success Spotlight

“Hip pain (piriformis syndrome). It was hard to do activities I previously enjoyed, like yoga, weight lifting, etc. Physical therapy and dry needling have improved my yoga practice quite a bit. Thankful for the awesome staff at Pittman. Highly recommended.” -Sele W. “Thankful for the awesome staff!”

Relieve Your Neck Pain & Headaches

The neck can be a hidden and debilitating source of headaches. Very often neck pain and headaches go hand-in-hand, leading to a miserable time coping with every day activities. According to the National Institute of Health Statistics neck pain and headaches are the second most common form of pain experienced by Americans, with 59% reporting it affected their enjoyment of life. Headaches are often grouped under the term “cervicogenic headache” meaning that the primary source is from the neck. There are well mapped out patterns of headaches that come from the different parts of the neck, shoulder and upper back areas. The discs between your bones (vertebrae) and joints in the upper neck often contribute to headaches. Even headaches located in the forehead or behind the eyes are often referred pains stemming from problem areas in the neck and base of the skull. The joints connecting the top three levels of the neck handle almost 50% of the total motion of the entire neck. This means they absorb a lot of repetitive strain. These joints bear the

main load of the weight of the head (about that of a bowling ball). With fatigue, poor posture, injuries, disc problems, arthritis, muscular stress and even prior surgeries, the wear and tear on this critical region of your body can prove too much, resulting in pain. It is also possible that you may develop a narrowing of the spinal canal itself. Since the spinal cord runs through the spine, a narrowing of the canal or where the nerves exit, can lead to a condition named spinal stenosis. There is much that can be done to treat neck pain and headaches. Our expert physical therapists have years of experience helping people with neck pain and headaches. By finding the root cause of your neck pain and headaches we can relieve your pain quickly, reduce the need for medication and get you back to the activities you enjoy. Discover how our team of specialists at Pittman Physical Therapy Incorporated can eliminate your neck pain and headaches allowing you to live a happy, active and pain- free life. Call today for more details!

If you are experiencing these symptoms talk to us about how we can help

• Difficulty turning your head from side to side • Pain at the aria where the neck and the upper back meet • Poor posture • Neck or shoulder pain that interferes with your sleep • Stiff neck • Pain when reaching for objects overhead • Limited ability to exercise • Unable to work due to pain • Neck pain that radiates into your shoulders

“Common pain conditions (i.e., arthritis, back, headache, and other musculoskeletal) result in $61.2 billion in lower productivity for U.S. workers.” - Journal of the American Medical Association, 2003

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DECREASE COSTS WITH DIRECT ACCESS Research shows Direct Access patients had 86% fewer visits on average than referred patients, decreasing costs tremendously.

• Physical Therapy • Wellness and Prevention • Dry Needling • Manual Therapy • Joint Pain Treatment Our Services

CALL TODAY

Phone: 901-850-5246 • Fax: 901-850-5226

WHAT IS TRIGGER POINT DRY NEEDLING?

Trigger point dry needling utilizes a solid filaform needle. No substances are injected, therefore the technique is called ‘dry needling’. Trigger points are hyper-irritable spots in a taut band of a muscle. Trigger points may cause pain locally or refer pain to other areas and cause dysfunction of normal movement patterns. Specific evaluation, palpation, and treatment of trigger points may reduce pain and restore function. Physical therapists performing this procedure have advanced training and certification in the use of trigger point dry needling. Experience Trigger Point Dry Needling To Reduce Pain!

COMING SOON!! DRY NEEDLING WORKSHOP

“What Should I Do When My Treatment Plan For My Chronic Headaches, Doesn’t Seem To Work Anymore?”

4 Easy Tricks To Relieve A Headache

1. Regular exercise. Migraine patients are at a slightly increased riskof stroke, and lack of exercise is a risk factor for cardiovacular and cerebrovascular disease. Vigorous, regular exercise can help reduce these risks. 2. Adequate sleep. Getting enough sleep on a regular basis is part of the migraine hygiene you should practice to keep your headaches at ease.

3. Balanced diet. Eating regular meals, avoiding foods that trigger headaches, and staying hydrated will also help reduce the pain and frequency of your headaches. 4. Work on improving your posture. Hold your shoulders back and your head level, parallel to the ground, instead of hunching forward. This technique helps improve headaches most frequent during work.

On June 23, a free screening day will be held for prospective dry needling patients. Individuals will go through a screening process to see if this treatment will work for them. It’s important to note that the needles used in the process are very thin. Many times the patient won’t even feel the needle as it penetrates the skin. This method is not acupuncture but is based on Western neuroanatomy and scientific research. This free screening will take place all day. There are only 20 spots available so remember to schedule today! DRY NEEDLING WILL WORK FOR YOU

SCREENING DAY JUNE 23RD

“I canmove freely!” “After recovering from a stress fracture in my lower back, I began to feel restriction in my back muscles which caused me to be unable to complete my physical tasks without pain. As a result, my pitching began to decline. Seeing Jeremy and performing his rehab program, which included dry needling, enabled me to return to my normal mobility and even see vast improvement in my overall performance. Being able to move freely and without pain allowed me to flourish at the Perfect Game USA Tournament.” Jack D.

Healthy Eating

Basic Vegetable Smoothie Recipe Directions Eating Right Never Tasted So Good!

8 Ingredients • 6 oz water • 1 large tomato • ½ cucumber • 2 pieces celery • 2 carrots • handful of baby spinach

Wash the vegetables, throw them in the pitcher (after washing), turn blender on low, and then turn it up to high for about 30 seconds. You may need to use the tamper to get it circulating at the beginning. Other possibilities to add include olive oil, Tabasco, or herbs like basil. If you want it to look more like V8 you could leave out the spinach and add another tomato.

• lemon juice from 1 lemon (or balsamic vinegar) • 6 ice cubes

Exercise Essentials Try these exercises to help maintain a healthy body

SCAPULAR RETRACTION

CERVICAL RETRACTION (TOWEL)

Good stretch to relax your shoulders

Helps decrease neck pain

Stand with your back against a wall. Position a rolled up towel behind your neck. Tuck chin like you are nodding ‘yes’. Draw your chin closer to the back of your throat. Repeat 3 times.

Stand tall, shoulders relaxed. Pull shoulder blades back and down. Don’t hunch your shoulders.

Not all exercises are appropriate for every person. Please consult with a healthcare provider before starting.

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Who do you know that needs our help?

Refer a Friend Do You Have Friends or Family Unable to Do The Following? 9 Move without pain 9 Bend and move freely

9 Balance confidently and securely 9 Sit for long periods comfortably 9 Walk for long distances 9 Live an active and healthy lifestyle

Referral Club: Thanks to our patients for referring a friend or family member! Scott Clark, Rob Dittman, Dustin Maki, Erica Higginbotham, Candace Harris, Susan Sullivan, Lisa Ceolla, Wayne Lowrey, Angela Eubanks, Chris Williamson.

If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to Pittman Physical Therapy today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly to schedule an evaluation! You will get your name in our next newsletter and you could win a $20 gift card! WIN A $20 GIFT CARD