Nova_Life Doesn’t Have to be a Pain in The Neck

Newsletter The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

LIFE DOESN' T HAVE TO BE A PAIN IN THE NECK

INSIDE: • Life Doesn't Have to Be a Pain in the Neck • Addressing the Core Problem • See the Experts in Physical Therapy • Healthy Recipe • Exercise Essentials

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Newsletter The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

Head and neck pain is not the type of pain that you can push through and deal with for too long. For one thing, chronic pain in the head or neck is often associated with some sort of chronic health concern—one thatyouneed todealwith,not ignore. Secondly, when you are dealing with constant pain in your head or neck, it becomes difficult to concentrate. This can have a negative effect on your personal relationships, your career and more. The most common cause of neck or head pain is a muscle or joint problem. Working with a physical therapist can help you to identify the cause of the trouble and begin taking steps to correct the issue, allowing you to find relief from the pain without having to commit to long-term pain management — which often includes the use of pain medications that are potentially harmful to your health and not likely to work as well over time. Unlike pain medications that become less helpful the longer they are used, physical therapy provides long-term relief from pain by correcting the joint or muscle concern with targeted therapies like flexibility exercises, muscle strengthening techniques, and guidedstretches that targetcore jointsandmuscles. IN THE NECK Understanding the basics of what you are dealing with is the first step to achieving relief. LIFE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A PAIN

HEAD PAIN 101 There are a lot of different types of headaches that you may experience, and each can be caused by its own different reason. For example,migrainescanbecausedbyenvironmental factors, food allergies or even as a result of stress. There are headaches that can develop due to sinus pain and headaches that will develop when you are dehydrated. There are also headaches that will develop when you are exposed too long to loud noises. There is no singular fix for each of these different types of headaches, which is why attempting to treat every headache you experience with the same medication frequently doesn’t work. Oneof themostcommoncausesofheadaches that areeasily treatablewithphysical therapy is radiating headaches, which are caused by stress in the joints andmusclesof theneck.Thiscausespain to radiate from the top of the neck into the head, especially surrounding the ears. There are a lot of reasons why radiating headaches could develop, including as a result of lack of movement and stiffness in the neck. This buildup of irritation can be treated with regular physical therapy, especially through the use of massage and flexibility exercises that target the muscles in the neck.

NECK PAIN 101 In many situations, pain that develops in the neck can be associated with one of two major problems.The first is upper-back pain that begins to radiate into the neck. The second is arthritis. Physical therapy can be used to address both types of neck pain. Cervical arthritis causes frequent aches in the neck and shoulders. This pain is generally worse when there are sudden changes in weather or at the end of the day, and while over-the-counter medication may make the pain less severe, it won’t eliminate the pain entirely. The biggest problem posed by cervical arthritis is that the pain will typically cause a loss of range of motion in the neck, which actually increases your risk of injury as a result of a sudden movement and causes regulardiscomfortand frustrationasyouare not able to utilize your neck in the way you normally could. There are plenty of situations in which pain in the neck as a result of cervical arthritis grows so severe that it can cause chronic poor posture and even a reduction in height.

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ADDRESSING THE CORE PROBLEM

Keep in mind that the neck and head are sensitive areas, so attempting to treat the pain at home can be dangerous and may not be effective. Working with a physical therapist is the safe way to ensure that you are practicing positive techniques to find relief from your aches and pains. For more information about how you can overcome neck pain, contact us today at 703-723-4088.

The majority of neck and head pain can be helped with one simple strategy: strength building. It frequently happens that the absolute cause of the start of a pain in the neck or head is a result of poor posture or quickened motion, and building core strength, as well as strength in the neck, can make a huge difference in your ability to handle tasks without experiencing chronic pain.

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Healthy Recipe: Orange Cranberry Bread

Exercise Essentials Try this simple exercise if you're experiencing pain.

Relieves Neck Pain

www.simpleset.net

LEVATOR SCAPULAE STRETCH

Grasp your arm on the affected side and tilt your head downward into the armpit. Use your opposite hand to guide your head further into the stretch. Hold for10secondsand repeaton each side 3 times.

• 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 cup fresh cranberries • 1 teaspoon orange zest • 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted • 3/4 cup fresh orange juice • 1 egg

INGREDIENTS • 2 cups white whole wheat flour • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

INSTRUCTIONS Grease an 8×4 inch loaf pan. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, add white whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cranberries, and orange zest. Gently stir. In a separate medium-sized bowl, add coconutoil, freshorange juice,andanegg.Addwet ingredients todry ingredients.Stir to combine everything together. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy! https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/moist-orange-cranberry-bread/

You Can Be Pain-Free, Today! Call 703-723-4088

SEE THE EXPERTS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY

Vinod Mathew, PT Vinod Mathew is a Board Certified Physical TherapistandanactivememberofAmerican PhysicalTherapy Association (APTA). Vinod Mathew graduated from Fr Mullers Institute of Medical Education & Research, India in 1997. He obtained a Masters in Manual Therapy from the renowned University of Melbourne, Australia in 2001. He has over 20 years of clinical experience.

Chris Kirby Smith, PTA, BS Kinesiology

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Chris Kirby-Smith has been treating patients at NOVA Rehabilitation since January 2017. Chris received his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, the study of human movement, from the University of Maryland, College Park, School of Public Health in 2009. Chris graduated fromCarrollCommunityCollege’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in 2011.

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He is described by his patients as a highly competent and compassionate clinician. NOVA Rehabilitation was a long awaited dream of Vinod Mathew that finally became a reality in September 2011. Since then we have established exceptional quality physical therapy services in Northern VA. At NOVA Rehabilitation personalized care and treatment is what you will receive. Little to no wait time and a hands on holistic approach. Education University of Melbourne, Master’s in Manual Therapy Father Muller Medical College (Bachelor’s) Awards and Publications Certified in Inter Segmenial Dry Needling Technique MS in Manual Therapy (Australia)

Chris has helped patients at NOVA Rehabilitation reach or exceed their goals with hands-on manual techniques and personalized therapeutic exercises. Chris also utilizes IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) techniques and Kinesio taping to help patient’s return to or surpass their previous level of function. Outside of the clinic, Chris enjoys outdoor activities including playing golf, hiking, camping, surfing, snowboarding, and riding off-road trials with his wife and two dogs. Chris dedicates time to training to reach his own goals attending HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and CROSSFIT classes.

Charles Mack Jr., DPT Charles Mack Jr. (DPT) has been with NOVA Rehabilitation for more than one year. He has also worked at the facility as a student intern for 10 weeks in Spring 2017. Charles Mack Jr. graduated from Wichita StateUniversity inMay2017.WhileatWichita St, Charles co-taught “Neuromuscular Examination, Assessment and Interventions” & “Clinical Skills” as a graduate teachers

Discover HowYou Can Live Pain-Free! At NOVA Rehabilitation, you will receive hands-on therapy treatments by our friendly, caring health experts during focused and individualized sessions. It’s time to go to NOVA Rehabilitation if: • You’re tired of living in pain • You want to feel better and move better • You have been in an auto accident or injured on the job • You want to prevent injury 1. Call and talk to your therapist 2. Discover why your pain has come back 3. Get your custom recovery program

assistant. He has Basic & Performance certifications in Functional Movement Training (FMT) Taping. He is IASTM Smart tools certified. Charles is certified in Dry needling level 1 with plans of taking the level 2 course this upcoming fall. He works with patients of varying ages, concentrating his work largely in the orthopedic, neurological, and sports rehabilitation sectors of physical therapy. Charles was involved in an auto accident when he was 16 years old in which he was hit by an 18-wheeler semi-trailer truck. As a result of the accident, he had 21 surgeries, over 150 different types of medication administered to him, and experienced three separate incidences of cardiac arrest, while recovering in the hospital. Charles enjoys playing sports, going fishing, and attending church. He believes that the road life has taken him on has given him the desire to always make the most of every moment. Charles aspires to take this mindset to work with him every day, while treating his clients. He lives in our own Loudoun county with his wife.

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