GeorgialinaPT_You Can Overcome Back Pain

GeorgialinaPT_You Can Overcome Back Pain

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

YOU CAN OVERCOME BACK PAIN

GEORGIALINAPT.COM

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

GEORGIALINAPT.COM 706-993-2260

INSIDE: Back Pain Prevention • Success Stories • Fun & Games • Featured Service • Exercise Essentials • Around the Clinic • GPT in the Community

Back pain can hinder your day-to-day activities. Left untreated, it can even lead to long-term joint, spine and nerve damage. As one of the most common physical complaints, over 80 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from it at some point in their lifetime. The pain itself can hinder your ability to reach, lean, kneel, lift or bend. It can also hinder your time spent with friends and family. Direct pain aside, minor aches and cramps associated with a back pain problem can make you irritable—ruining your good time. What Causes Back Pain? A few things cause back pain. The American Physical Therapy Association covers each of these, but the following are leading causes: YOU CAN OVERCOME BACK PAIN REACH FOR RECOVERY TODAY

• Poor abdominal, pelvic and back muscle coordination Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t seek treatment when back pain arises. Before they know it, they have a big problem. They might assume nothing—except for medication—can solve their back pain. Medication might mask the pain, but it won’t cure the problem’s root cause and can lead to adverse side effects and addiction if abused. Back Pain Solutions You’re in luck: Back pain can be cured! The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke covers a number of back pain remedies. These include the use of strength exercise, physical therapy and medication. Where medication is considered, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesic medications and counter-irritants are the most popular. Before you can treat your back pain, however, you need to know why it started. Whether you’ve tweaked a muscle or have a deeper injury, a spine specialist can help. Have back pain that just won’t go away? We want to help! Call us at 706-993-2260 or visit us online at GEORGIALINAPT.COM .

• Spinal and abdominal muscle weaknesses • Bad posture and bad sleeping positions • Spinal muscle and tissue damage • Improper lifting form • Limited hip, spine and thigh muscle flexibility

A little prevention goes a long way. If you want to avoid future back pain, you can make sure you’re being good to your back. Lift Properly You pick things up constantly. Even if you’re lifting something light, make sure you’re first facing the object and standing as close as possible.Thensquatwhilekeepingyourspine straight. Lift with your leg muscles, as this willreduce thepressureplacedonyourspine. Use Good Posture When you’re standing, imagine a string is attached to the top of your head—lifting you BACK PAIN PREVENTION S I MP L E S O LU T I ON S F O R A PA I N - F R E E L I F E

deserve a pain-free life, and your back will thank you.

up. This will keep your hips, spine, shoulders andneckaligned. Ifyou’resitting,don’tslouch. Use Strength Training Your body has hundreds of muscles. These muscles protect and control your spine. By liftingweights,runningandswimming,youcan keep them strong. Train your core muscles. In doing so, you’ll easily control quick, lifting movements. It never hurts to visit a physical therapist, either. Get regular check-ups, andmake sure your body is in good condition. If you have a history of back injuries, pain or minor aches, don’t hesitate to talk to a professional. You

Take charge of your back pain by calling us at 706-993-2260 or by visiting GEORGIALINAPT.COM . We can help get your life back.

Sources: www.apta.org www.acatoday.org/Patients/Health-Wellness- Information/Back-Pain-Facts-and-Statistics www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver- Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet

SUCCESS STORIES

EXERC I SE ESSENT I ALS USE THIS TECHNIQUE FOR CORE STRENGTH Supported Bridge Lie on your back with knees bent and your feet hip distance apart. Place feet close enough so they can be touched by the finger tips. Inhale and lift the hips, and place a block or rolled up towel under the sacrum. Keep the chest open. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 10 times.

I brought my 90-year-oldmother

to Aquatic Therapy to help her manage her back pain and improve her mobility. Jennifer her therapist showed compassion and gavemymomtheconfidence she needed. Thank you GPT in your devotion to helping your patients. ”

– L. M.

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

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AQUATIC THERAPY FEATURED SERVICE

FUN & GAMES: CROSSWORD LIVE LONGER, BETTER, & HEALTHIER

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AquaticTherapy is thescientificpracticeofphysical therapy inan aquaticenvironment that includesbut isnot limited to treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, health, wellness and fitness. The uniquepropertiesoftheaquaticenvironmentenhancetreatments across the age span with musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular/pulmonary, and integumentary (skin) diseases, disorders, or conditions. AquaticTherapygivespatients theopportunity torehabilitateand develop functional muscles when land exercises are too painful or even impossible. Because of the body’s natural buoyancy, gravity’s pull on the body can be reduced while submerged. The bodybearsonlyhalfof itsweightwhensubmergedtothechestand about 90 percent when submerged to the neck. This can cushion stiff or painful joints. And yet, water has a natural resistance, forcing patients to use their muscles in gentle, slow, sweeping movements. The aim of aquatic therapy is often to create less pressure on areas such as the spine, to reduce swelling, and to decrease overall pain. To find out how Aquatic Therapy can help you, call Georgialina Physical Therapy today at 706-993-2260. We currently offer Aquatic Therapy at our North Augusta, Aiken, Fort Mill, Augusta, and Braselton locations.

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DOWN 1. The property of being bent or shaped 2. A break of a bone 3. A common injury for tendons 4. A muscle group on the back of the thigh that can bend 6. What is one reason why you might go to the physical therapist? ACROSS 5. Quality of moving freely 7 . Disruption of a joint 8. Something inside your leg that is easily sprained or broken 9. An involuntary / automatic response to a stimulus

Puzzle Courtesy: wordmint.com

AROUND THE CL I N I C

GPT I N THE COMMUN I T Y

People of Parkinson’s Walk: October 5th, 2019 Georgialina Physical Therapy recently participated in the People of Parkinson’s Walk in support of the Mission of the CSRA Parkinson Support Group. Thank you to all who joined us in honoring those we’ve lost and to raise funds and awareness to fight the disease.

706-993-2260 | GEORGIALINAPT.COM Our therapists Justin Horne, PT and Michelle Smith, PT recently attended a Dry Needling Course!