PTRC.Don't Let Back Pain Stop You!

PTRC.Don't Let Back Pain Stop You!

Physical Therapy N E W S L E T T E R

DON’T LET BACK PAIN STOP YOU! ALSO INSIDE Back Pain Prevention • No Referral Needed for Texas Residents! What Our Patients Are Saying • Healthy Recipe • Exercise Essentials

DON’T LET BACK PAIN STOP YOU! Physical Therapy Newsletter

Backpaincanhinderyourday-to-dayactivities.Leftuntreated, itcaneven lead to long-term joint, spine and nerve damage. As one of the most commonphysicalcomplaints,over80percentoftheU.S.populationwill 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? Afewthingscausebackpain.TheAmericanPhysicalTherapyAssociation covers each of these, but the following are leading causes: • Spinal and core muscle weaknesses • Bad posture • Spinal muscle and tissue damage • Improper lifting form • Limited hip, spine & thigh muscle flexibility • Bad 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 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. If you’re suffering from back pain, call your physical therapist at PTRC to schedule your appointment today!

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

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BACK PAIN PREVENTION

protect and 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!

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 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 Your body has hundreds of muscles. These muscles

Visit www.PTRC-TX.com for more information, or call your physical therapist at PTRC to schedule your appointment today!

DIRECT ACCESS IS NOW IN TEXAS! DIDYOUKNOWDIRECTACCESSISNOWAVAILABLEINTEXAS? For those who are unaware a bill was recently signed by the Governor of Texas that will change the course of physical therapy forever! Before this, Texas was (unfortunately) one of only two states in the U.S. that still required physician referrals from their primary doctors in order to gain the benefits that physical therapy offers. It is no secret that this was an issue – for many reasons. It also goes without saying that no patient wants to jump through hoops to receive the care they need. The process of getting a physician referral is a hassle – which is another big reason why patients choose to put off seeking help without direct access. In many cases, a physician visit for minor aches and pains may not even be necessary.

At Physical Therapy and Rehab Concepts, we are so happy that this is no longer the case! With the signing of House Bill 29, patients now have direct access to physical therapy whenever they need it – all without the hassle of making a trip to your physician’s office! With this bill, you will be able to walk into any physical therapy office to receive the necessary care for your condition. This, inevitably, will lead to:

Physical therapists and primary physicians are trained in different areas. In fact, a physicianmay even opt not to recommend physical therapy to their patients, solely because they do not know how much of a benefit it truly can be for a patient. Physical therapy is one of the most effective modes of pain relief, and without direct access to PT services, many patients live with their painful conditions for far too long – in many cases, until the pain becomes too much to handle. As physical therapists, we are experts in the world of movement, having gone through rigorous training to learn the very best treatment methods of pain relief, prevention, and functional improvement.

• Improved Access to Care • Better Health Outcomes • Lower Health Care Costs

So, are you living with pain or discomfort? Call or stop by our San Marcos office today! We’ll help you find relief ASAP.

Visit us online at www.PTRC-TX.com for more information.

WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING:

Have You Met Your Deductible?

“I had a great experience at PTRC over the last several months. My current rehab (for a 2014 knee replacement and a 2015 rod in my leg from a broken femur) was to help improve overall function of the knee and leg, as well as pain that kept me awake at night. I started in the pool with exercises, then moved into the gym. I was eventually able tomovemykneeenough toride thebicycle,something I hadn’t done since my knee replacement. Kirk and the rest of the staff are fun to work with– they never make you feel embarrassed about your handicap and applaud your progress. They also gave me exercises to do at home and at the San Marcos Activity Center pool. It’s a really great program.” -Kate M.

An insurance deductible is the amount of money that you pay before your insurance company pays for your medical services. Patients with family plans or those who have had major surgeries or chronic illness are especially likely to have a $0 balance remaining on their out-of-pocket expenses. If your deductible is met, your Physical Therapy may not cost you anything! If you are close to or have met your insurance deductible for the year, then now is the time for Physical Therapy! Call 512.353.4575 (San Marcos) or 512.847.9057 (Wimberley) today!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Darcy Bentley, PT, MSPT, FAAOMPT

Darcygraduated fromTexasStateUniversitywithaBachelorofScience in Biology in2007andachievedherMastersofScience inPhysicalTherapy in 2009. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual PhysicalTherapy,earningher fellowshipstatus fromTheManualTherapy Institute in2013,whereshe trainedatSportsPerformance International inAustintreatingcollegiate,semi-professional,andprofessionalathletes. Darcy is fromDripping Springs and enjoys spending time with her family

Healthy Recipe Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

intheoutdoorsandonthewater.Shehastwoyoungchildrenwhokeepherbusybutoccasionally participates inrecreationalsports.She isaclinical instructor formultiplephysicaltherapyprograms acrossthestate,aswellas fortheathletictrainingprogramatTexasState.Sheworked inoutpatient orthopedics in Dripping Springs for the first 8 years of her career and is now grateful to be able to serve her new community of Wimberley. Her personal belief in regards to physical therapy is: “millimeters matter.” So many ailments get glossed over by the untrained eye, and if a patient isn’t well educated by their therapist, they may be performing their exercise program incorrectly. She is proud to deliver expert treatment and clinical guidance, as well as an individualized exercise program to all of her patients.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp maple syrup • 1 tsp vanilla • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice • 1/2 tsp cinnamon • ¼ tsp salt

• cooking spray or coconut oil • 1 cup steel-cut oats • 2½ cups water • 1½ cups unsweetened almond milk • 1 cup pumpkin

EXERCISE ESSENTIALS Try this exercise to relieve back pain.

FOUR POINT TRUNK FLEXION & EXTENSION Start on hands and knees. Arch your back up to the ceiling as high as you comfortably can, and hold. Then, arch your back the opposite direction as low as you comfortably can, and hold. Repeat 6 times.

Directions Coat your slow cooker with cooking spray, butter or coconut oil. Add all the ingredients into slow cooker and mix well. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. If you have a programmable slow cooker, set it to cook on low for 7 hours and then switch to warm. In the morning, give the oats a good stir as the oats will settle to the bottom. Portion into a bowl to serve and top with pecans, maple syrup and almond milk.

Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you areunsure ofdoing.

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Source:https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/slow-cooker-pumpkin-pie-oatmeal