Howard: Fix An Aching Back & Shoulders

Howard: Fix An Aching Back & Shoulders

NEWSLETTER

FIX YOUR ACHING BACK & SHOULDERS BY IMPROVING YOUR POSTURE

Do you suffer from an aching back or painful shoulders? If so, your posture may be to blame. In order to move properly, your spine must be in good alignment, which

If your posture is poor in one or multiple areas, you may experience some of the following symptoms: • If your posture contains slouching of the mid-back – If you slouch the middle of your back, you can drive your head forward and alter the way your ribs naturally align. By doing this, you may experience pain in the slouched region of the mid-back, in addition to pain in the neck. If this is your average standing posture, it is important to seek help right away – over time, standing like this day after day may cause internal issues, as it creates pressure on your lungs, heart, and digestive system. • If your posture includes sitting for long periods of time – When you sit for prolonged periods of time, the muscles in your hips and legs will stiffen. When these muscles become stiff, they tighten and pull on the lower back, causing pain. The joints also lose their range of motion, which can cause soreness or achiness in the hips, legs, and back, which can create issues with your gait.

Roger Howard, CPO, Director

comes from having good posture. Sitting, slouching and leaning over a computer all day can place enormous stress on your spine and muscles, leading to pain. Your spine is made up of 29 segments, 24 of which have multiple joints that move in different directions. They all need to work properly in the correct alignment, in order to allow you to move in normal, pain free motion. Poor alignment in the spine can occur from weak abdominal and core muscles, arthritic changes in the joints of the spine, osteoporosis, disc problems, or injuries. When your spine is out of alignment, it affects the entire rest of your body.

IMPROVE YOUR SPINAL ALIGNMENT WITH LIGHT-WEIGHT BRACES

Improving your spinal alignment can be as simple as finding the right lumbar brace. This can help support your spine during your daily activities and assist with restoring better alignment and posture. However, typical soft off-the-shelf lumbar supports that you get at your local pharmacy don’t do much to provide the proper alignment and support. For optimum function and assistance, lumbar braces need to be custom fitted, in order to provide your spine and body with the best results. At Howard Orthotics and Prosthetics, our light-weight braces give you fantastic support, and many of our patients barely notice that they are there. This can make a big difference in enjoying daily activities. For more details on how we can help you improve your posture, relieve your pain and provide you with the support you need, call our office today. We’ll help get your posture back to where it needs to be!

www.howardrehabcenter.com

Try this simple exercise to help you feel better... Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing. EXERCISE ESSENTIALS THORACIC EXTENSION KNEELING PUSH UPS Kneel on knees with buttock touching heels. Hands and forearms on the ground in front of you. Push up to lift your chest and upper back only.

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Save these in a place where you can easily use them as needed. Watch for more exercises in our next issue. SAVE Please share these exercises with friends and family members to help them stay healthy and free from pain.

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TREATING UPPER EXTREMITY INJURIES IN THE YOUNG ATHLETE Is your child athletic? Sports require repetitive throwing and swinging motions that can lead to upper extremity injuries with time. Such injuries are common in athletes, and they can affect the hand, arm, elbow, or shoulder. Fortunately, at Howard Orthotics & Prosthetics, we can provide the necessary treatments to ensure a safe recovery. and promoting healing. Our physical therapists incorporate specialized methods into their treatment plans as needed, such as manual therapy, ice and heat therapies, or ultrasound. They also provide patients with light stretching and exercise plans, in order to improve their range of motion and overall function in the affected area.

The overall goal of physical therapy is healing and prevention. In addition to treating the injury, our physical therapists will help strengthen the affected area, in order to prevent additional injury from occurring. Our physical therapists will also provide your child with helpful warm- up and cool-down techniques for his or her sport, in order to lower their risk of sustaining another injury. If your child has developed an injury in the hand, arm, elbow, or shoulder, contact us today to schedule a consultation. We’ll help diagnose the issue and get your child started on the path toward recovery and returning to the beloved sport!

How will physical therapy help an upper extremity injury? At Howard Orthotics & Prosthetics, we’ll conduct a thorough evaluation to diagnose your child’s upper extremity injury. Afterward, one of our dedicated physical therapists will design a personalized treatment plan based on the specific needs of the diagnosis and the symptoms that your child is experiencing. We are happy to say that we also offer preventative screening and sports performance enhancement programs, designed to teach your child the techniques he or she needs in order to prevent further injury in the future. Our treatment methods are conservative and non-invasive, aimed at relieving pain Does your brace or prosthesis Need a Tune Up? • Consult with our experts • Review your problem • Receive Recommendations on relieving your pain and improving motion

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HEALTHY RECIPE GUACAMOLE WITH TORTILLA CHIPS

INGREDIENTS Chips: • 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas • Cooking spray • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder

Guacamole: • 3 tomatillos • 1/3 cup chopped onion

• 1/3 cup chopped plum tomato • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice • 3/4 teaspoon salt • 2 ripe peeled avocados

• 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped • 1 garlic clove, minced

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 375°. To prepare chips, cut each tortilla into 8 wedges; arrange tortilla wedges in a single layer on 2 baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle wedges with 1/2 teaspoon salt and chile powder; lightly coat wedges with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 12 minutes or until wedges are crisp and lightly browned. Cool 10minutes. To prepare guacamole, peel papery husk from tomatillos; wash, core, and finely chop. Combine tomatillos, onion, and remaining ingredients; stir well. Serve guacamole with chips.

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Offer good for the First 20 people who schedule.