Body Gears: The Scoliosis Issue

Body Gears: The Scoliosis Issue

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NEWSLETTER The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

THE SCOLIOSIS ISSUE

There is a misconception that Scoliosis patients that do not require surgery and/or do not experience pain are dealing with a cosmetic issue. However, scoliosis ranges in severity with spinal stability being a key factor in progressive degeneration impacting postural position as well as functional movement patterns. (continued inside)

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NEWSLETTER The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

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THE SCOLIOSIS ISSUE

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® In more advanced cases, signs and symptoms can include back pain, a pronounced S-curve in the spine, and ribs that stick out noticeably on one side. Difficulty breathing or symptoms of insufficient oxygen (such as fatigue and lightheadedness) may also occur if the ribs are pressing against one or both lungs. Physical Therapy for Scoliosis Some stereotypes surrounding scoliosis include, “the only way to fix it is surgery where they put rods in your back” or “you have to wear a brace for the rest of your life.” At Body Gears, we're breaking those stereotypes by fusing Functional Manual Therapy TM with the Schroth Method. The Schroth Method targets posture and body awareness to limit the overall progression of scoliosis, while Functional Manual Therapy™ techniques target specific tissue restrictions and re-train functional movement. Your physical therapy and exercise regimen will be developed based on our comprehensive scoliosis assessment and your goals. Our intent is to minimize the progression of your curve, improve your posture, increase your mobility and overall global strength, and reduce any pain or discomfort that you may be feeling. This combined treatment method can even benefit lung function. By addressing postural corrections, the ribcage will be able to better expand, allowing for improved lung capacity. Here are some quick facts about scoliosis: - Scoliosis refers to an abnormal curvature of the spine in any three- dimensional plane - Females are more likely than males to have scoliosis - Though scoliosis can run in families, its occurrence is multifactorial - Scoliosis often surfaces when children are just entering puberty Scoliosis Warning Signs In general, misalignment in the upper body may indicate the presence of scoliosis. Specifically, if one hip and/or one shoulder looks higher than the other, or one shoulder blade seems to be more easily discernible than the other.

It’s never too late to begin scoliosis physical therapy. Email info@ bodygears.com today to request an appointment with a Schroth trained therapist.

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Goal Setting for Scoliosis Therapy

It's important to remember that management of scoliosis can make the most impact on curve progression around the time of puberty but it's still important for adults to seek treatment too. Even if puberty is long past and you had no idea you had scoliosis this whole time, it's worth finding out which movements and postures could be exacerbating to you. A common misconception is that scoliosis is a 2-D dysfunction as it appears on X-ray. What many people don't realize is that scoliosis is a 3-D change of the spine.Therefore, single plane motions such as forward bending, side-bending, rotation, etc. can work into your curve progression. Scoliosis treatment requires specific torque and counter- torque rotation to promote stability within the spine and trunk.

There are more layers to scoliosis therapy than you might think. Four primary goals have been outlined by the scoliosis management guidelines which aim to improve quality of life, psychological well-being, and disability 1 : 1. Improve aesthetics via postural correction 2. Prevent or treat spinal pain syndromes 3. Prevent or treat respiratory dysfunction 4. Stop the curve progression at puberty (or possibly even reduce it) Throughdiscussionwithyouoryourchild'sphysical therapist, you'll establish your own order of priority for these goals and add any individual goals such as participation in a sport or leisure activity.

Curvy Girls Scoliosis is an international peer support group for girls. www.curvygirlsscoliosis.com

When you begin treatment, the first step of the Schroth method is to address pelvic position. A scoliotic pelvis is often shifted laterally, tilted, and rotated. Since the spine attaches to the pelvis via the sacrum, the pelvis acts as the foundation where misalignment is first corrected. You can then expect for treatment to focus on spinal elongation and on derotation through individually designed exercises. One of the primary Schroth tools is strengthening exercises tailored to the individual.Typically, the ultimate goal of Schroth therapy is to build independence with the exercises and focus on the integration of postural reinforcement throughout day-to-day activities.

® Whether you or your child has a scoliosis diagnosis or suspect you have yet to be diagnosed, our Schroth and Functional Manual Therapy TM trained physical therapists can help you establish and achieve your goals. Request a Free Screen on our website to find out how your goals can be within your reach. 1. Negrini, Stefano, et al. "2016 SOSORTguidelines: orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth." Scoliosis and spinal disorders 13.1 (2018): 3.

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Exercise of theMonth Trythis movementto improve yourribcage expansion

StaffSpotlight

Dr. Garrett Petry, PT, DPT, CFMT Garrett earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Marcos, CA. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science from California Polytechnic University at Pomona. After completing continuing education courses for

three years and a week-long intensive review session, Garrett passed the rigorous Functional Manual Therapy TM examination with honors to become a Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT). Certifications and Training: •Doctor of Physical Therapy •Licensed Physical Therapist by the State of Illinois •APTA/IPTA Member •Certified Functional Manual Therapist, Institute of Physical Art (CFMT) Education: •University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Doctorate in Physical Therapy, 2013 •California Polytechnic University Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine & Exercise Science, 2008 Find Garrett at our West Loop clinic.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Diaphragmatic Breathing: Lay on your back and place one hand on your breastbone with the other on your stomach. Take a deeper than normal breath in and feel whether one hand rises more or faster than the other. Feel for this on the exhale as well. On your next breath, try to have both hands rise and fall the same amount at the same time. If the movement feels jerky or disjointed, continue practicing until your hands rise and fall together smoothly. Once you've mastered diaphragmatic breathing while laying on your back, try it in sitting and standing. Practice for a minute at a time.

Patient Success Spotlight

BodyGears News

A big welcome to our newest therapist, Dr. Nausheen Haroon, PT, DPT . She is a manually-based therapist who has studied several styles of treatment including Functional Manual Therapy™ and the Graston Technique ® . Nausheen is an avid runner who enjoys treating other runners and non-runners alike. Whether you've just been confronted with a new diagnosis (like scoliosis) or you're struggling with feeling different from others, having a toolbox for taking care of your physical and mental health will get you feeling better. Our friend and Life Coach, Carolyn Sellers, joined us for a really wonderful podcast that can be your first step to better well-being. Find us on Sound Cloud @BodyGearsPT

"I cannot say enough about Body Gears PT.They literally transformed my life and I will be forever grateful. They are smart, professional, experienced and truly care about their patients. I was diagnosed with scoliosis as an adult and developed pretty bad low back pain as a result. I am now not only pain free but also working out 5 to 6 times per week! I really cannot say enough great things about them and I highly recommend them without reservation!" - Niki C. (Body Gears Graduate) "I am now not only pain free but also working out 5 to 6 times per week!"

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Request AComplimentary Screening

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ScheduleYour Free Discovery Session www.BodyGears.com | 877-709-1090 VISITOURWEBSITEORGIVE USACALL: Whether you’re recovering from an injury, training for a competition, or you’re striving for better health, wellness and freedom of movement, Body Gears can help you achieve your optimum self. This 20-minute appointment will allow you to meet a physical therapist, share your story, and complete a mini-assessment. The purpose of this screening is to answer two questions: 1. Which techniques will help you change your story? 2. How can Body Gears help you achieve your functional goals? Our physical therapists will be able to quickly provide you the information you need to take the next step. We hope it's with us! ®

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WHAT IS A WORRY-FREE BODY WORTH TO YOU?

You can spend endless amounts of time and money while worrying if you’ll ever get better, if you’re doing more damage with every move, if you’ll need surgery, if you’ll get addicted to drugs, if you’ll ever have another PR, or worrying about worrying about this for the rest of your life! You can breathe easy (and diaphragmatically) when you have the right physical therapist on your team. At Body Gears, you can choose PT first knowing your therapist can either fix the problem or refer you to the branch of healthcare that can. We’re a one-stop-shop for full-body treatment so you can start feeling better after your very first visit, no prescription necessary in Illinois or California.

Headaches? No problem. Plantar fasciitis? Fixed it a million times. Baby on the way? We support you before AND after delivery. Pain that just came out of nowhere and won’t go away? That’s our specialty! Obviously, in an emergency, go to the emergency room! What’s less obvious is that there are a lot of things you can go to your physical therapist for first. Here’s an idea of when to see who for what: ®

See Helpful Chart On Reverse

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WHO SHOULD I GO SEE?

When Should I See My Physical Therapist ?

When Should I See My Physician ?

• Illness • • Infection • • Disease • • Skin conditions • • Unexplained weight loss or weight gain • • Sudden and severe abdominal pain • • Wound care • • Unexplained fatigue • • Concussion • • Cancer screening • • Insomnia • • Vaccinations • • Metabolic management • • Abnormal bleeding or lumps •

® • Pain in your limbs, back, or neck • • Pain with a clear or repeatable cause • (accident, movement/activity, or posture) • Tingling, numbness, or joints giving way • • Headaches and jaw pain • • Sciatica • • Scoliosis • • Pre- & postpartum • • Pelvic pain • • Chronic leaking of bladder or bowel • • Arthritis • • Dizziness and balance issues • • Sports performance enhancement • • Muscle aches/tension •

Get to know our Physical Therapy Teamand schedule an appointment with a therapist who can get you back to a worry-free body.

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