ProfessionalCare: Is Back Pain Slowing You Down?

ProfessionalCare: Is Back Pain Slowing You Down?

IS BACK PAIN SLOWING YOU DOWN? BACK PAIN PREVENTION TIPS INSIDE! ALSO INSIDE BACK PAIN PREVENTION • PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT EXERCISE ESSENTIALS • STAFF SPOTLIGHT • AND MORE!

N E W S L E T T E R

IS BACK PAIN SLOWING YOU DOWN?

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 problem. Medication might mask the pain, but it won’t cure the problem’s root cause. 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.

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. 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.

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:

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

• Improper lifting form • Limited hip, spine & thigh muscle flexibility • Bad abdominal, pelvic and back muscle coordination

• Spinal and core muscle weaknesses • Bad posture • Spinal muscle and tissue damage

A R E Y O U L E T T I N G B A C K PA I N H O L D Y O U B A C K ? C A L L T O S C H E D U L E Y O U R A P P O I N T M E N T T O D AY !

BACK PA I N PREVENT I ON

OCTOBER I S NAT I ONAL PT MONTH!

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 right, make sure you’re facing the object. Squat, keeping your spine straight. Lift with your leg muscles, as this will reduce the pressure placed on your spine. • USE GOOD POSTURE When you’re standing, imagine a string is attached to the top of your head—lifting you up. This will keep your hips, spine, shoulders and neck aligned. If you’re sitting, don’t slouch. • USE STRENGTH TRAINING Yourbodyhashundredsofmuscles.Thesemusclesprotectand control your spine. By lifting weights, running and swimming, you can 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, and make 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 deserve a pain-free life, and your back will thank you!

The American Physical Therapy Association’s #ChoosePT campaign israisingawarenessaboutthedangersofprescription opioids, and encourages consumers and prescribers to choose safer alternatives like physical therapy for most chronic pain management. To read more about National Physical Therapy Month and the #MoveForward campaign, visit www.apta.org/NPTM . Also visit www.moveforwardpt.com

WE APPREC I ATE OUR PAT I ENTS!

In honor of National Physical Therapy Month, Professional Care PT & Rehabilitation would like to show our appreciation to all of our wonderful patients by hosting a “Patient Appreciation Month.” Make

sure to stop by the front desk during your next October appointment to pick up your special ProCare fall mug!

M E E T O U R T E A M ! S T A F F S P O T L I G H T

attended Sacred Heart University and graduated in 2016, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Nick interned with Champion PT and Performance in Boston, Massachusetts, as a Strength and Conditioning Coach this past summer. Today, Nick is now a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and we are happy to announce that he will be one of the main contributors to Professional Care Physical Therapy’s Strength and Performance Division. We are so grateful to have Nick with us on our team!

At Professional Care, we want all of our patients to feel completely comfortable. We even have Spanish-speaking staff!

Nick Lanzillotto Nick worked as a PT Aide in both our Patchogue and Riverhead offices. He

PAT I ENT SUCCESS STORY

ProfessionalCarePThasbeennominated forBEST OFLONG ISLAND intheHealth&WellnessCategory! Please show your support by voting for us any time from now until December 15, 2018! To Vote please follow these 5 easy steps: 1. Visit bestof.longislandpress.com 2. Choose the Health & Wellness section 3. Choose the Physical Therapist category 4. VOTE for Professional Care Physical Therapy 5. REPEAT DAILY until December 15th!

Congratulations to Mike McGovern, our recent ProCare Graduate and this month’s Patient Spotlight! Mike, a teacher at South Country School District and assistant Pastor for “The Journey” of East Patchogue, chose Professional Care Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation after his surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles Tendon. An avid runner and a participant in two marathons prior to his injury, Mike was told that he would never run again after his surgery. This news challenged Mike to push himself towards full recovery. Not only are we pleased to see Mike running again, but we are so proud to announce that he is training to enter the NYC Marathon in 2020! After months of hard work and dedication, Mike is in fantastic physical shape. So much so that he recently returned home from a journey to Rockport, TX where he participated in a mission trip to assist in the rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Harvey. We are so proud of Mikes efforts, both in and out of the PT office!

Please note, you can vote once per category per day!

Get results like these by calling 631.775.0971 (East Patchogue) or 631. 591.0838 (Riverhead) or visiting professionalcarept.com

E X E R C I S E E S S E N T I A L S TRY THIS EXERCISE TO STRENGTHEN YOUR C ORE Lie on your back with knees bent and feet hip distance apart. Place your feet close enough so they can be touched by the fingertips. Inhale and lift the hips, place a block under the sacrum. Keep the chest open. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 10 times.

Supported Bridge

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Alwaysconsultyourphysical therapistorphysicianbeforestartingexercisesyouareunsureofdoing.