PT Specialties_Relieving Arthritic Pains

Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

NIP ARTHRITIS PAIN IN THE BUD — RELIEVING ARTHRITIC PAINS IN YOUR UPPER EXTREMITIES

Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

NIP ARTHRITIS PAIN IN THE BUD RELIEVING ARTHRITIC PAINS IN YOUR UPPER EXTREMITIES

How Physical Therapy Can Help People have found enormous success in upper extremity arthritis relief through physical therapy treatments. Before you can understand why physical therapy is so important for arthritic pain relief, you must first understand how it works. Physical therapy offers a variety of natural and conservative treatments aimed at promoting healing, relieving pain, improving range of motion, and increasing muscle strength. These treatments focus on the upper extremity as a whole, including the wrist, forearm, elbow, arm, and shoulder. Our physical therapists treat injuries and ailments that affect the upper extremity by targeting the source of your pain and working toward returning the affected area to its highest level of function.

You use your hands, elbows, and shoulders hundreds of times throughout the day for both basic and complex tasks. This can make it extremely difficult when living with arthritis, which limits your ability to move freely. If you are living with arthritis, you’re not alone. In fact, there are over 100 different types of arthritis that people are diagnosed with. Arthritis pain is directly correlated to mobility limitation in your joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The more freedom of movement in your joints, strength in your muscles, and improved circulation, the less you will be affected by arthritic inflammation and pain.

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Exercise Essentials Try these simple exercises to help keep you loose and pain-free... Share this with a friend or family member to help keep them healthy, too!

Helps keep wrists flexible. WRIST EXTENSION STRETCH Stand with good posture. Place your palms together in front of your chest right below your chin. Slowly lower your hands keeping your palms together as shown until you feel a mild to moderate stretch under your forearms. Hold for at least 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat as needed.

THUMB PUTTY Place a ball of putty in your hand and roll it in circles using your thumb. Repeat 10 circles clockwise, then counterclockwise with each thumb. Helps relieve arch pain.

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

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

If you know someone suffering from aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to Physical Therapy Specialties today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly for a Physical Therapy Consultation.

Call Today! 925.417.8005

Patient Spotlights What our patients have to say! “I am back on track with my exercises. Now I can keep up with my active family.”

“I was so grateful that PT Specialties was open during the pandemic. I have a chronically unstable sacroiliac joint and when something happens to displace that joint, my whole back spasms. I was able to get in right away and get it corrected. I am back on track with my exercises. Now I can keep up with my active family. Thank-you PT-Specialties!” - Elizabeth P.

“Ida has a wonderful team and I have enjoyed doing my PT sessions and meeting so many of the employees.” “Thank you for your email and checking in regarding future appointments! That’s certainly something I am not use to anywhere else, what great customer service! My shoulder is doing really well. If in the future I need to come back I will give PT-Specialties a call. Ida has a wonderful team and I have enjoyed doing my PT sessions and meeting so many of the employees.” - Maureen W.

Have You Seen the Pool?!

This January our pool went through some major renovations, which meant that we had to close it for a few weeks. We are happy to have it looking great and up and running again for our patients. The County of Alameda Health Dept. has allowed us to remain open during the pandemic to provide essential services. This means that everyone continues to wear a face mask (yes, even in the pool). Since we are not actually swimming, this works out fine. It also means that we have to keep the number of people in the pool at one time to four (occasionally five when another assistant is needed). If you are needing aquatic therapy, just let us know and we can reserve a spot for you.

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AVOID ACHES & PAINS IN THE GARDEN THIS SPRING

Common gardening activities, such as digging, planting, weeding, mulching, and raking can cause stress and strain on muscles and joints. Different body areas such as the shoulders, neck, back, and knees can be vulnerable to injury during gardening. These tips can help prevent injuries: • Warm up before you garden. A 10 minute brisk walk and stretches for the spine and limbs are good ways to warm up. • Change positions frequently to avoid stiffness or cramping. • Make use of a garden cart or wheelbarrow to move heavy planting materials or tools. Be sure to keep your back straight while using a wheelbarrow. • If kneeling on both knees causes discomfort in your back, try kneeling on one and keep the other foot on the ground. Use knee pads or a gardening pad when kneeling. • If kneeling or leaning down to the ground causes significant pain in your back or knees, consider using elevated planters to do your gardening

• Avoid bending your wrist upwards when pulling things or using gardening tools. Instead, keep your wrist straight and use your shoulder muscles to pull and lift. If you are experiencing arthritic aches and pains which are preventing you from gardening, Call us today at 925-417- 8005 to get the help you need!

Poor Ergonomics Can Cause You Pain A new problem has emerged — the ergonomic impacts of the pandemic. Hunched over kitchen tables, sprawled out on floors, and propped up on beds – working from home can be, quite literally, a pain in the neck.

Talk to the experts! • Caitlin Cooper, PT • Jennifer Freitas, PT • Stephen George, PT • Ida Hirst, PT • Michael Petrak, PT • Shahrin Ahmad, PT • Shabeeba Shafi, PT • Dina Stepanek, PT • Ankita Shah, PT • Catherine Noel, PTA Email us: [email protected] CALL TODAY! 925.417.8005

Doctors in orthopedics and physical therapy have noticed an anomaly. There has been a rise in patients coming in complaining of sore necks and backs and don’t know what could have caused this pain. These people are working from home and most do not have ergonomic desks they can use. They may be cramped in less-than- ideal workspaces, so are needing help to improve their posture and ergonomics. Thepandemic has delayed surgeries, stopped athletic games, and closed the gyms. Physical therapists have been seeing less athletic injuries but have noticed this new trend in children and adults suffering with trouble in their back and necks caused by poor ergonomics at home.

One of our patients said, “If I sit too long, I get numbness in my feet”. His physical therapist recommended a stand-up desk and a few exercises and stretches. He is now on his way to feeling back to normal. We typically don’t see many kids for neck or back pain, but it’s starting to manifest. The pains fromworking from home or schooling from home could be alleviatedwithmore activity and the proper exercise. So, don’t let the COVID restriction’s stop you from receiving the help you need. We continue to work with patients on a one-to-one basis. Virtual physical therapy is available too!

Hand Therapy for Arthritis Relief A physical therapist typically uses manual techniques to manipulate the affected arthritic area, in order to release tension, swelling, and pain. Through the use of massage and hands-on treatments, patients can find significant improvement - sometimes after just one session! In some cases, additional techniques, such as ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation may also be used as part of your treatment plan, in order to manage your pain and keep symptoms at bay.

Perhaps one of the biggest roles of a physical therapist, however, is prescribing targeted stretches and exercises. These will be dependent upon the type and severity of your arthritis, and will focus on improving the range of motion, strength, and overall function of your affected upper extremities, so you can safely and comfortably perform your daily activities once again. A large part of hand therapy is helping patients regain their independence in day-to-day tasks and improving their quality of life. On Your Own: Your therapist will provide you with the necessary stretches and exercises needed to keep up with the progress you made during your sessions. It is important to make sure you complete these stretches and exercises on your own, so your arthritis doesn’t worsen. For upper extremity arthritis, there is a quick exercise you can do every day to instantly relieve your pain. This technique assists the natural flow of lymphatic fluid out of your hands and arms: 1. Bring your affected arm out to the side slightly. Open and close your hand, feeling for any stiffness or discomfort in the finger or wrist joints. 2. With your other hand, gently place your open palm on your rib cage, high up into the underarm area. 3. Gently press into the skin and move your hand in clockwise circles, moving the skin on the rib cage underneath. You should feel no discomfort while you do this. If you do, then you are pressing too hard. 4. Perform this motion for 2-3 minutes. 5. Test your hand again by opening and closing it. It should feel lighter and with less discomfort. 6. Repeat this procedure multiple times a day for best results.

Contact PT-Specialties! At PT-Specialties, we are equipped in providing specialized treatments and therapies for any pain or discomfort your arthritis may be causing you. To learn more about how our physical therapy services can benefit you, and specifically how we can relieve your upper extremity arthritis, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Our team will work closely with you to determine which course of treatment will be best for your specific needs. Get back to living your life comfortably by calling us today!

Come Back In For A Consultation Whether you want to come in for a check-up, suffered a recent injury or you want to improve your health, a doctor referral is not needed. In the state of California, you have direct access to physical therapy!

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See our physical therapists for: • Recent injury • Nagging aches and pains • Back and neck pain • Joint pain and movement problems • Walking or balance difficulties Improve your health naturally CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT 925.417.8005 Save money