Total Performance PT. Neck Pain & Stress

The Newsletter About Caring for Your Health

A L S O I N S I D E : HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP •EXERCISE ESSENTIALS • PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT STAFF SPOTLIGHT • HEALTHY RECIPE Is Stress Causing Your Neck Pain?

Is Stress Causing Your Neck Pain?

Does your neck hurt? You might be suffering from stress- related pain — also called a tension headache. During anxiety, muscles tense up. As the muscle tension increases, the back, shoulders and neck are affected. The more pressure they cause, the more discomfort you get. Let’s take a closer look at stress-related neck pain. Is My Neck Pain Caused by Stress? Pain worsened by keeping your head in one place — like when you’re driving, or using a computer — is neck pain. While neck pain has a slew of symptoms, its major symptoms, reported by Total Performance Physical Therapy, are: • Muscle tightness and spasms • Headaches • Decreased ability to move the head Stress-induced neck pain isn’t rare. It also isn’t psychological. Many experts think stress-induced neck pain is caused by physical factors — low, but constant, trapezius muscle activity. If your neck pain starts at the base of your shoulders, traveling upward, it may be stress-related.

Causes of Stress-Related Neck Pain While stress alone can trigger neck pain, a few factors can make it worse. Office environments tend to create neck pain problems — as they confine people to chairs, bad posture and little mobility. Driving often, too, can make your chances of stress-related neck pain higher. The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests contacting a professional if you’re experiencing neck pain. Even if it’s caused by stress, untreated neck pain might later reveal muscle spasms, arthritis, bulging discs or even narrowed spinal nerve openings.

Call 215.997.9898 or visit totalperformancept.com to schedule your appointment today!

PHYSICALTHERAPY PERFORMANCE

Stronger. Faster.Better. OTAL

PHYSICALTHERAPY PERFORMANCE

Stronger.Faster.Better. OTAL

Sources https://www.spine-health.com/blog/how-relieve-neck-pain-caused-stress https://www.everydayhealth.com/neck-pain/neck-pain-reduce-stress.aspx

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0027055/ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000802.htm

Call Total Performance Physical Therapy at 215.997.9898 or visit totalperformancept.com to schedule your appointment today!

How Physical Therapy Can Help Fortunately, neck pain can be alleviated with physical therapy. Neck pain is often caused by over-activity, sustained postural positions or poor posture. Sometimes changing activity, postural positions and even “no activity” can help. Before you contact a professional, try reducing painful neck movements, changing postural positions, and getting up from your desk more often. Sometimes, simply letting your neck muscles relax is enough.

resilient – giving you the comfort you deserve. Your therapist will provide you with a custom-tailored home exercise program to assure your neck stays loose, limber, and healthy. If you are dealing with neck pain, you are not alone. Call our clinic today and schedule an assessment. Even if your neck pain is caused by stress, it still needs attention. We will work with you to set appropriate goals, create a proactive, effective program to meet those goals, and help you decrease pain and improve mobility in your neck.

If you don’t see relief within two weeks, contact a professional. Physical therapists can target your pain’s source by examining your symptoms. They can perform manual therapy and prescribe exercises that strengthen your neck stabilizers and stretch and relax your symptomatic neck muscles. In time, your neck will become more

Call Total Performance at 215.997.9898 or visit totalperformancept.com to learn more!

PHYSICALTHERAPY PERFORMANCE

Stronger. Faster.Better. OTAL

PHYSICALTHERAPY PERFORMANCE

Stronger.Faster.Better. OTAL

Is Your Pain Holding You Back?

Exercise Essentials

Experience the most effective natural solution to pain relief and recovery without the use of harmful opioids or costly surgeries. Call Total Performance PT at 215.997.9898 or email [email protected] to schedule your appointment today!

Cervical Retraction Stand with your back against a wall. Position a rolled up towel behindyourneck.Tuckchin like youarenodding ‘yes.’Drawyour chin closer to the back of your throat. Repeat 3 times.

Exercisescopyrightof

PHYSICAL THERAPY PERFORMANCE

Stronger. Faster.Better. OTAL

www.simpleset.net

Patient Success Spotlight “I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Dan at the North Wales location. He has a very warm and engaging personality and developed a customized treatment plan for my specific problem (knee issue related to running). Dr. Dan helped me to implement the plan and guided me through each step along the way. Most importantly, he helped me develop an exercise routine to help prevent future injuries from occurring. Thanks to Dr. Dan and the team! I am back to running again pain-free! I highly recommend Dr. Dan and the entire team at Total Performance Physical Therapy!” - Charles G.

We’ve Been Featured In:

Meet The Team Staff Spotlight

Service Spotlight

Dr. Dan Murphy Clinic Director, North Wales Location Dr. Murphy has wanted to become a Physical Therapist since he was a young athlete receiving intermittent treatments from a neighbor who was a Physical Therapist. These treatments allowed Dr. Murphy to compete without pain and worked to inspire him, as he really admired the expertise and selflessness exhibited by his neighbor. As a senior in High School, he was fortunate enough to then shadow this same neighbor. This served as a precursor to an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology (Temple University, class of ’13) followed by Dr. Murphy’s

Looking for new treatment options? Total Performance has certified specialists in Cupping and Graston Technique . These treatments are ideal for loosening muscles, encouraging bloodflow, and even reducing stress and anxiety. Interested? Feel free to call Total Performance PT at 215.997.9898 to learn more! We Have Certified Specialists! Active Release Techniques (ART) is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue movement-based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Every ART® session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. After evaluating the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements. Source www.activerelease.com

DPT degree via the University of Saint Augustine. Coinciding with his strong background in manual therapy, he incorporates a comprehensive approach that accounts for regional interdependence – a concept that details how pain in one area of the body can be the result of a less-obvious impairment elsewhere in the body. Dr. Murphy has recently finished a course in Active Release Techniques Dr. Murphy continues to stay very active in sports, participating in intramural basketball and flag football leagues. He is a diehard Philadelphia sports fan – especially the Eagles – and enjoys discussing the city’s teams. Dr. Murphy is also passionate about fitness, nutrition, and furthering his knowledge as a clinician. Healthy Recipe Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients • 2 large sweet potatoes • 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp chili powder • 1 tsp cumin • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika • Sea salt to taste For Garnish • 1 avocado mashed • Tahini • Hot sauce • Chopped cilantro

• 1/4 cup chopped red onion • 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper • 1/2 cup frozen corn • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa • 1 cup canned black beans drained & rinsed

Directions Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and prick with a fork. Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and pepper and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add corn, quinoa, black beans and spices and cook 2 - 3 more minutes. When sweet potatoes are fork tender, remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice in half and place each half on a plate. Top with quinoa mixture, avocado and a drizzle of both tahini and hot sauce. Finish with a sprinkle of cilantro and enjoy!