Superior PT_How Posture Affects Back and Neck Pain

Superior PT_How Posture Affects Back and Neck Pain

HOW POSTURE AFFECTS NECK AND BACK PAIN

DECEMBER 2020

INSIDE: • IMPROVING YOUR POSTURE • EXERCISE ESSENTIALS • SUDOKU

HOWPOSTURE AFFECTS NECK AND BACK PAIN Remember back when your mother used to tell you that if you wouldn’t stop hunching your shoulders, they’d be stuck that way forever? An idle threat, one that barely anyone took seriously. Yet, fast forward a few decades and it turns out that mom might have been on to something, after all. • The pain in your back is worsened at certain times of day. For example, after you’ve spent a day at the office, or after a few hours on the couch.

• The pain frequently starts in your neck and moves into your upper and lower back. Pain that seems to travel from one area of the back to another is frequently an indication of posture concerns. • The pain will subside after switching positions, such as switching from sitting to standing or vice versa. • Back or neck pain that develops soon after a change in circumstances, such as starting a new job with a new desk chair, or getting a new car. After years of practicing poor posture, your back, shoulder and neck muscles will likely find standing or sitting with straight posture to be uncomfortable. This is because your muscles have grown accustomed to the slouching, and standing up straight will require some thorough stretching. That doesn’t mean that once you have bad posture you can never correct it.

A poor habit of bad posture can have a lasting impact on your neck and back. The worse your posture is, the more intense your back and neck pain can become. Unfortunately, once you start experiencing neck and back pain, simply squaring your shoulders isn’t likely to be much help. Working with a physical therapist can help you to train the muscles in your back, neck and shoulders so that you can improve your posture permanently, and in doing so bring relief to your chronic neck and back pain. The Posture and Pain Connection Not all back pain is caused by poor posture, and it is true that you can have poor posture for years without feeling the consequences of that slouch right away, but in time the habit is likely to catch up with you. There are certain ways that you can tell if neck or back pain may be a result of poor posture, including:

Do you feel the need for a natural solution to your pain? Call us or visit us at www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org

EXERCISE ESSENTIALS T RY T H I S MOV EMENT TO R E L I E V E BACK PA I N . REPEAT TRUNK FLEXION | TO FLOOR Sit in a chair with good posture. Hands on thighs. Let your trunk sag toward the floor use your arms to control the movement. Let your arms dangle to the floor. Now use your arms to push yourself up. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Merry Christmas! It seems like this past year has been full of ups and downs. Certainly, with the struggles of a global Pandemic, this is a good time to reach out in the spirit of Christmas to those in need. We at Superior Physical Therapy certainly mourn with those who have become sick or lost friends and loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers extend out to all our friends and neighbors. But, do we also have reasons to celebrate? Indeed we do! 2020 was also a time where we figured out how to reach out, even if it could not always be done face to face. We found out that a kind word can make a difference even 6 ft apart. We discovered that reaching out to those in need can be done without a handshake. Virtual hugs are a real deal. Indeed, even a warm smile can be felt underneath a mask. However, one aspect of our community continues to be underserved. It is cold outside and not enough of our homeless and hungry have enough food and shelter. We at Superior PT would like to better support our local food bank by having December be the month to give for our staff, patients, and community. Each of our clinic locations in Southeastern Idaho will be collecting canned food every day during the month. Our goal is to collect 1000 lbs of food for those in need! Weat SuperiorPT joinwithour patients and community incelebrating the goodof 2020. Somany of our patientshave regainedstrength,motion, and normal life again throughPT. Maywe all be committed to showa greater gratitude for our bounteous blessings as we give back to those in need in our food drive, continue to pray for global relief fromCoronavirus, and focus a little more time on the life of the Savior of the World. Wishing you and yours all the best in the New Year.

STAFF SPOTL IGHT

BRE T T BENNE T T, DPT

WHAT PATIENTS ARE SAYING “Everyone has been very helpful and so kind. I enjoy how organized everything and everyone is. I appreciate the teamwork and the communication between the therapists and assistants (including the awesome ladies upfront). Everyone is knowledgeable and eager to learn and very attentive to keep patients safe. Thank you for being a great team and helping me learn how I can help myself heal. I am able to do a little more with less pain due to the stretches and strength exercises. Brett and Dave are a great team! Thank you all!” - T.S. “Thank you for being a great team” Brett truly believes that his profession is more than a job - it’s his passion - but when he’s not at the clinic, he enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. He is an avid outdoorsman, hunter, hiker, and has recently takenup the hobby of paddleboarding. Brett received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions located in Provo, Utah in 2018. Prior to his doctorate degree, he received a Bachelor’s degree inExercise Sciencewhere hewas bestowed high honors four consecutive years. During his time at UVU, he loved participating in city league sports such as basketball and softball. He has always had a passion for sports and being active. Brett’s treatment approach follows the best available evidence by combiningmanual therapy and exercise to return each patient to full functionality. He has a strong interest inworkingwith sports-related injuries and lumbar musculoskeletal injuries. He is passionate about helping others to return to their lifestyles, and creates a great working environment through laughter and really taking the time to get to know each individual patient in his care.

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Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing. w w w . s i m p l e s e t . n e t

YOU CAN BE FREE OF YOUR PAIN! CALL TODAY OR VISIT US AT WWW.SUPERIORPHYSICALTHERAPY.ORG

PHYSICAL THERAPY What Can Physical Therapy Do For You? • Decrease or eliminate pain • Improve balance, coordination & muscle strength • Restore normal movement for standing, walking, running • Provide an alternative to surgery & prescription drugs • Prevent injury • Improve breathing, cardiovascular function & endurance • Augment recovery from surgery, illness, or disability • Reduce swelling and inflammation • Optimize physical activity & sports performance • Strength training through blood flow restriction 8 7 4 2 4 1 3 2 9 4 1 6 2 3 7 8 6 5 4 1 2 8 8 4 3 4 9 1 http://1sudoku.com n° 35089 - Level Hard 1 3 5 2 9 5 9 6 4 8 1 2 6 3 4 5 8 7 4

Working with a physical therapist to improve your posture is a great way to overcome chronic neck and back pain. In physical therapy, you will be guided through a series of stretches and strength building exercises that can help you begin training your body to practice better posture, thereby reducing your back and neck pain. Of course, there are ways that you can improve your posture at home, as well. Here are several strategies that are typically helpful: • Try to stand tall whenever you are standing or walking. Hold your head high and square your shoulders, but more importantly work on being the tallest version of yourself. Hunching over is the leading cause of poor posture. • Use support when you sit to keep your posture correct. Lumbar support in office chairs and car seats will help a bit, but for improved posture you may need to add additional cushioning that will help you keep your back straight. • Be mindful of how you lift heavy objects. Keep your shoulders square and your chest forward. When lifting something that is over 50 lbs it is important to take extra care. Lead with your hips and try to keep the weight close to your body. Lifting something improperly can lead to injury to your neck or back, which may make proper posture uncomfortable. What can Good Posture do for You? There are a lot of benefits of having good posture. Aside from saying goodbye to neck or back pain, improving your posture can provide several unexpected benefits to your lifestyle and personal well-being. Here are a few of the additional benefits of having good posture: • Proper posture creates quality exercise for your core and back • Improved respiratory health • Added protection for your organs, bones, joints and muscles • Reduced risk of arthritis If you are experiencing chronic neck and back pain, there is a good chance that it could be related to your posture. Contact your physical therapist to learn more about how you can take steps to start improving your posture today. IMPROVING YOUR POSTURE

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Play on your mobile these puzzles and find their solutions by flashing the code n° 35089 n° 37953 n° 327735 n° 3193 The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 subgrids that compose the grid contain all of the digits from 1 to 9.

Searching for the solution? Scan the QR code to find this Sodoku solution!

Page 1/1 - Check solutions, print more free sudoku and

You can find relief from your pain. Call Today or visit us at www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org We can help you live your life again, pain-free!

www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org

DECEMBER

2020

FREE WORKSHOP: ROTATOR CUFF

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15 AT 5:00PM I DAHO FA L L S LO CAT I ON - 3 3 4 5 P O TAMA C WA Y I D A H O FA L L S , I D 8 3 4 0 4 To register, scan the QR Code or visit www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org today! We have limited spots available and space will fill up fast, so register now to avoid missing out.

FREE WORKSHOP: KNEE PAIN

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 6: 15PM PO CAT E L LO LO CAT I ON - 1 8 0 0 F L A N D RO D R . S T E 1 9 0 P O C AT E L LO , I D 8 3 2 0 2 To register, scan the QR Code or visit www.superiorphysicaltherapy.org today! We have limited spots available and space will fill up fast, so register now to avoid missing out.

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DECEMBER

2020

A DAY OF FREE SCREENS! THURSDAY, JANUARY 14TH, 2021 To celebrate the NEW YEAR we are offering FREE consults to all new or past patients on Thursday, January 14th. Call Pocatello or Idaho Falls Clinic to schedule today!

Gold’s Clinic 1800 Flandro Dr. Suite 190 Pocatello, ID 83201 (208) 233-2248

Vista Clinic 128 Vista Dr. Pocatello, ID 83201 (208) 233-2248

Campus Clinic 500 S. 11th, Suite 101 Pocatello, ID 83201 (208) 233-2248

Idaho Falls 3345 Potomoc Way Idaho Falls, ID 83404 (208) 417-0090