Spine & Sport: Say Goodbye To Pounding Headaches

Spine & Sport: Say Goodbye To Pounding Headaches

Health & Fitness

Do you want to say good bye to pounding headaches? Hello,

You can live life without those thumping headaches by relieving stress on your neck. This month’s newsletter is about how you can relieve neck pain and how we can help. Those headaches at the end of the day can be an old tradition. We can help you find the root cause of those headaches, which is most likely undue stress on your neck muscles. Take a look at our patient spotlight to read a story of success over pain. We also have easy to do exercises you may want to try. In this issue we provide information on neck pain. Thank you for being a past or current patient of Spine & Sport! Have a great month.

Dr. Jacques L. Beauchamp PT, DPT, SCS, OCS, ATC, CSCS

www.spinesport.org

Health & Fitness

The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

How nagging neck problems can cause thumping headaches... NAGGING NECK PAIN?

AVOID NECK STRAIN FROM TEXTING. Texting or looking down at your cell phone or mobile device for any length of time puts excessive strain on your neck. Avoid neck damage from texting include raising the phone or mobile device to eye level, minimizing texting time, resting your hands and device on a pillow, and taking frequent breaks.

Doyoufind it hard toget comfortable at night because of the ache in your neck or find you just hurt when you try to move in a certain direction? Many people suffer from chronic neck pain, tightness, and frequent headaches. However, few get the needed attention to address the root cause of the problem, trying to mask the symptoms with Advil or Tylenol. The neck is very complicated in its structure requiring goodmovement, posture, and support. Most of the rotating of your head comes from the upper part of the neck. Therefore, this is a very important part of your body. It is where the thickest part of the spinal cord goes through the spinal canal to the brain. It is also an important area that determines how your body balances. Main Causes of Neck Pain Neck pain can start for a number of reasons such as poor posture with sitting, car accidents, stress, injuries, or even falls. Since the neck is where blood vessels travel through to supply your head, muscle tightness can cause spasms of the arteries around the nerves of the neck and head. This can cause headaches or even trigger migraines. People with neck

problems often experience pain, tingling, or numbness, into the arms, hands, and even fingers. This happens, because the nerves exiting the spine in your neck, supply sensations to your arms and hands. If you find these types of symptoms occurring, it is important that you see one of our expert physical therapists at Spine & Sport. There is a lot that you can do to help your neck pain. The key is preventing the neck pain from starting in the first place. However, our daily lives don’t always dictate what is good for our neck and shoulders. In today’s society we sit a lot in slouched positions which is not good for the neck, upper back, and shoulders. Our jobs, driving in the car, picking up heavy objects, and repetitive straining can hurt the neck over a period of time. Have the spine experts at Spine & Sport examine your neck alignment, posture, movement, strength, and function to zero in on the root cause of your neck pain or headaches. Then with precise treatment and expert education we teach you how to prevent it from returning. Call us today to learn more how we can relieve your “pain in the neck”!

www.spinesport.org

Whether you have back pain, neck pain, or radiating arm/leg pain, we can help. Your spine must be flexible, strong, and healthy in order for you to maintain a pain free body. We ensure that you’ll achieve the best results for your back/neck pain with the Spine & Sport spine program. Common Problems Associated With Neck Pain

UPPER NECK Pain or injury here is often responsible for headaches to the scalp and face. This area helps with overall body balance and the ability to rotate the neck. MID NECK Pain or injury here is responsible for weakness and pain to the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. LOWER NECK Pain or injury in this area often presents with limited motion and contributes to a forward head posture. As a result this increases strain on the neck causing muscle pain and tension.

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DO I NEED A PRESCRIPTION TO START PHYSICAL THERAPY? No, you don’t. Although we see many patients sent directly by their physician, in the state of Georgia, a licensed physical therapist may begin the physical therapy process by performing a full physical therapy evaluation. We will verify benefits for you so that you can get started right away. Call Today: 877.826.1509

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Patient Success Spotlight How We Naturally Transform Patients’ Lives I would recommend Spine & Sport to anyone in pain! “I did not need surgery and I avoided prescription medication. All I needed was the folks at Spine & Sport knowing exactly what muscles were weak. They helped me gain strength and flexibility. Now I can enjoy the things I love to do. I would recommend Spine & Sport to anyone with pain!” A.S. A positive change! “After 4 weeks in the hospital I came to Spine & Sport for continued therapy. In the 4 weeks of therapy I can see and feel a positive change not only in my strength, but in my balance as well. My therapists and aids never failed to be creative or to progress my therapy to push the healing process along. Thanks!” - D.M. I can sleep again! “My pain no longer interferes with my sleep or my day to day activities. I generally just havemore energy throughout the day. I have been to two other physical therapists, and have never made the improvements I made here. Thank you!” C.O. Share Your Story on Facebook @ SpineandSport

Why Choose Spine & Sport? • Expertly trained therapists • Focused on achieving fast results • We take the time to listen to you • We spend time educating you on your problem and how to solve it • Friendly, courteous staff

• On time appointments • Doctor recommended • Experts in neck, back and orthopedic care Spine & Sport Helps You: Relieve your pain

Increase your strength Be more active again Restore your flexibility Have more energy Feel healthier Walk and move better

Call Spine & Sport if: You have headaches and neck pain evderyday You have pain radiating down to your arms and hands You have trouble turning your head from side to side

At Spine & Sport We Achieve 99% Patient Satisfaction

Is Your Smartphone Use Causing Your Neck Pain? Text Neck

Three tricks to nix text neck 1. Straighten up. Learn proper posture and neck alignment by peeking at your profile in amirror. If you’re standing correctly, you should be able to draw a vertical line from your ear to your shoulder. 2. Arch back. If your posture isn’t perfect, try doing shoulder extensions. Arch your neck and upper back backward, pulling your shoulders into alignment under your ears. This simple stretch can alleviate stress and muscle pain. 3. Look forward. Rather than tilting your chin down to read your mobile device, raise the device to eye level. The same goes for your desktop computer. Your monitor screen should be at eye level so your head isn’t perpetually dropping and causing muscle strain.

Virtually unheard of two years ago, “text neck” is a repetitive strain injury that’s becomingmore common asmore people hunch over smartphones. Aggravating muscle pain in the neck and shoulders, and sometimes lower back, is occurring even in teens and adolescents. “Typically, incidence of neck pain increases with age. But today we’re seeing and treating more patients — younger patients — who never reported neck pain before,” says Robert Bolash, MD, a pain specialist at Cleveland Clinic. A load of hurt How can using a smartphone or other mobile device cause so much hurt? It’s all in how you look at it. Literally. Looking down, dropping your head forward, changes the natural curvature of your neck. Over time, that misalignment can strain muscles and cause wear and tear on the structures of the neck. Three things happen when you drop your head: 1. Your neck moves forward. 2. Your shoulders round forward or lift up toward your ears. 3. Your neck and shoulder muscles spasm (contract). “Neck muscles, in their proper position, are designed to support the weight of your head, about 10 to 12 pounds,” says Dr. Bolash. “Research shows that for every inch you drop your head forward, you double the load on those muscles. Looking down at your smartphone, with your chin to your chest, can put about 60 pounds of force on your neck.” Besidesmuscle pain, text neck can cause a host of other health concerns. Sitting in a slumped position restricts your lungs’ ability to expand, impairing your lung capacity. Inhaling less oxygen means your heart needs to pump harder to distributemore oxygen-carrying blood through your body.

Try these exercise to help with aches and pains... Exercise Essential Helpful Movement

SCALENE STRETCH Good for those with neck pain

MEDIAN NERVE GLIDE Good stretch for those who work at a computer

Start with your arm hanging down at your side with your elbow straight and palm facing forward. Next, bend your wrist forward and back. Your other hand should be checking to make sure that your shoulder stays down and drawn back the entire time.

Place your hands overlapping on your breast bone. Next, tilt your head upwards and away from the affected side until a gentle stretch is felt along the front and side of your neck.

Who do you know that needs our help?

Refer a Friend

Do You Have Friends or Family Unable to Do The Following? 9 Move without pain 9 Bend and move freely

9 Balance confidently and securely 9 Sit for long periods comfortably 9 Walk for long distances 9 Live an active and healthy lifestyle

If you know someone suffering with aches and pains, give the gift of health. Refer them to Spine & Sport today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly for a FREE pain or injury assessment.

Cal l Today! 877.826.1509