SportsandOrthoPT.Where is your back pain coming from

Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

WHAT IS YOUR BACK TRYING TO TELL YOU? YOUR PAIN MAY BE CAUSED BY ANOTHER ISSUE

INSIDE: • How Can I Tell If My Neck Is Causing My Back Pain?

• Healthy Recipe • Practice News

• Patient Success Spotlight • Relieve Neck & Shoulder Pain In Minutes

Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

WHAT IS YOUR BACK TRYING TO TELL YOU? YOUR PAIN MAY BE CAUSED BY ANOTHER ISSUE

you up. If you notice neck and back pain at the same time as one another, try sitting up straighter – it should help ease some of the stress! IS YOUR NECK THE CULPRIT? Themost common combination of pain is in the neck and the back. If you are experiencing both, it is most likely stemming from the neck. We don’t typically think about it, but we use our necks for a lot of our daily activities. Even simple things, such as turning to grab something out of the cupboard or looking over your shoulder when backing out of a driveway, use a lot of neck muscles. When you do simple tasks such as these, do you find yourself turning your entire body, as opposed to just your head? If so, you could experience back pain along with your neck pain. When you have limited motion in your neck, your body compensates by twisting more than it usually would, thus over-rotating your lower back. This could cause a source of pain or general discomfort in the area, due to abnormal overuse. If you are experiencing neck pain, back pain, or a combination of both, our physical therapists would be more than happy to meet with you for a consultation to discuss how they can help. Call us today to talk to an expert about howwe can relieve your aches and pains!

Your spine is a complex part of your body – it requires proper posture, flexibility, coordination, and strength, in order to do its job correctly. When one of these elements is altered, your spine can emit painful responses that can settle in other nearby parts of the body. According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 80% of adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is actually the most commonly reported location of pain across the globe. But how often is the source actually another part of your body? PAIN IS USUALLY CONNECTED Your spine is a lengthy structure, and pain can travel along it. Let’s say you are prone to neck pain – perhaps you have a slouched posture fromsitting at a desk all day and the pressure radiates in your shoulders. Or, maybe you’ve had a previous injury, such aswhiplash, that still elicits painful stings every nowand then. Now, let’s say you begin feeling pain in your lower back in addition to your neck pain. Why does this happen? Basically, the pains are connected to each other. Your head weighs about 10-12 pounds, which is roughly the weight of a bowling ball. When you slouch, or compensate pain by realigning your body, your back muscles have to work extra hard to keep you from toppling forward. Have you ever been so tired that your head begins to bob and it jolts you awake? That’s because your head is heavy! The weight from the motion wakes you back up because your body isn’t used to carrying it in that way. This is also why pain in your lower back may occur as a result. Your back muscles are working in overdrive and may be constricting to try and hold

Are you suffering fromarthritis pain? Call your physical therapist at Sports & Ortho PT to schedule your appointment and start your pain-free life today!

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HOW CAN I TELL I F MY NECK I S CAUS ING MY BACK PAIN?

HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP ME? Physical therapy is the leading recommendation for back pain. Physical therapists are trained to evaluatemuscle and jointmovement, and they can easily assist you in finding the root of your problem. They will thoroughly evaluate you to figure out why you are experiencing pain, determining the source and treating all affected areas. After your initial consultation, they will create a specialized treatment plan for you, based on their diagnosis of your specific needs. A physical therapist’s end goal is the same as yours – to get you feeling better, healthier, and more comfortable! If you are experiencing lower back pain and think it may be caused by an issue occurring in your neck, give us a call today. We’ll get you moving comfortably again in no time.

It can sometimes to be difficult to determine if your back pain is rooted in your neck. This simple, at-home test can assist you in figuring it out: 1. Stand straight in front of another person. Theywill be your eyes regarding the movements you make. 2. Once they are watching you, turn your head as far as you comfortably can to the left. Repeat the samemotion to the right. Have them take note of how far you are able to go. 3. Now, sit down in front of the same person. Repeat the same turning motions from a chair or couch. Again, have them take note of how far you are able to comfortably turn your head. 4. Ask if therewere any differences in the turningmovement. Did one side seem to turn further than the other? Was there a difference in standing vs. sitting? This test is helpful in finding out if your neck is causing (or is at risk of causing) pain in your lower back. If your movement is limited, especially sitting down, it means that the muscles in your back or upper back are tight. These constricted motions can cause pain in the lower back.

Are you suffering fromdaily aches and pains? Call your physical therapist at Sports & Ortho PT to schedule your appointment and start your pain-free life today!

H E A LT H Y R E C I P E Farro Saladwith Herbed Balsamic Vinaigrette

PAT I E N T S U C C E S S S P O T L I G H T

DRESSING • 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar • 1/4 c. olive oil • 1/4 c. water • 2 tbsp. maple syrup • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1/4 c. fresh parsley • 1/4 c. chopped chives • 2 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves • salt and black pepper, to taste

SALAD • 1 c. pearled emmer wheat farro* • 5 oz. baby spinach leaves • 1 medium avocado, diced • 1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved • 1/2 c. quartered artichoke hearts

DIRECTIONS Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the farro and allow it to cook at a rolling boil. While the farro cooks, make the dressing. Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Taste-test and add more salt or adjust any seasonings to your liking. After the farro has boiled for about 15 minutes, remove a couple grains and test them for doneness. The farro should be tender with a bit of chewyness when done, but cook it until it’s as firm or soft as you like. The cook time should be in the range of 15 to 20 minutes. When the farro is done cooking, drain it into a strainer. Let the farro sit in the strainer for a fewminutes to cool. Place the cooked farro into a large mixing bowl, along with the spinach, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Divide onto plates and serve. Source: https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/artichoke-and-spinach-farro-salad/

Patient has happily completed physical therapy at our Lincoln Park location! We can help you, too!

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PRAC T I C E NEWS : WE A R E O P E N I NG 2 N EW L O C AT I ON S

Sports & Ortho PT is excited to announce that we are opening two new locations in 2020! These two new locations will join our five other convenient locations to better serve you! Stay tuned for more information on our grand opening!

If you have pain, come in for a free assessment at any of our five locations. Don’t wait, we can help! BRIDGEPORT 312-225-3119 EDISON PARK 773-657-3897 LINCOLN PARK 773-904-8881 BEVERLY 773-779-7970 GLENVIEW/NORTHBROOK 224-282-8133

S K I P T H E S C R I P T !

Become Stronger In Minutes Try this movement to relieve tightness in neck and shoulders.

www.simpleset.net

FOUR POINT + ARM RAISE Start on hands and knees, hips and shoulders at 90°. Lift one arm out front. Bring it back down and then repeat on opposite side. Repeat 10 times on both arms.

You don’t need a doctor’s script to come to Sports and Ortho! Call to schedule an evaluation with us at your earliest convenience.

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