Understanding Shoulder, Elbow & Wrist Pain

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

“Spring Back To Action Without Joint Pain! ” Understanding Shoulder, Elbow & Wrist Pain

“The annual cost for chronic pain is as high as $635 billion a year, which is more than the yearly costs for cancer, heart disease and diabetes . ” You try to get through the day, but that nagging pain in your shoulder, elbow or wrist just keeps your attention focused on it. It sure is hard to concentrate on work, your family and other activities you need to do! It is common habit to focus on the body part that hurts. It is thought that

because it hurts there, that is where the problem is coming from. However, this is often not the case as the cause of the problem stems from another area. The body part that is painful is usually the one that is excessively doing all the work, because other areas are not doing their job. Why it hurts The body is truly amazing and all the parts work together as a whole. However, when an area of your body becomes weak or stiff because of poor posture, stress or injury, other areas strain from the overwork. A common word that is used for this type of repetitive injury strain is called “tendonitis”. This is simply an inflammation of the tendons, which attach muscles to bones. The upper extremity works in 3 parts, the shoulder, elbow and wrist. They rely on each other to make the incredible movements of your arm so you can reach, grasp and do ordinary daily tasks we take for granted.

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“I Can’t Complete Simple Tasks Due To My Elbow Pain! ”

Proper movement relies on your posture to be in good order. When you slouch or do a repetitive task, like reaching across your desk, certain muscles can become too tight or strong while others become weak. Thismuscle imbalance leads to the area not working as well as it should. For example, you sit at a desk all day and you slouch your shoulders. Now,

your shoulder doesn’t work as well, but you still move your mouse around with your arm, which causes your wrist and forearm muscles to overwork. As this happens over time, you start to notice aches and pains in your wrist and elbow. If this goes on too long, it becomes severe and you need to seek out medical help. Solving the problem Typically a brace may be put on the area, but that does not solve the cause of the problem. The real reason can be because your shoulder was stiff and weak from slouching. An expert physical therapist has the right medical training to spot where your posture is not optimum and how you are compensating. With the right evaluation and treatment from the experts at Agility Physical Therapy & Sports Performance, you can relieve your shoulder, elbow or wrist pain quickly and be back to doing what you like to do. Our home programs make it easy for you to maintain your gains and stay well for the long haul. Call us today to learn more how we can relieve your pain and get you back to enjoying your activities.

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WONDERING ABOUT YOUR ACHE OR PAIN?

Contact Agility Physical Therapy & Sports Performance to get all of your joint pain questions answered. We can help your pain transform from a pressing problem, to a distant memory, allowing you to live a happy, active and pain-free life!

Eliminate Your Joint Pain For Good! 941.484.8107

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Why You Need To Come In For Another Check-Up: • Move without pain • Bend and move freely • Balance confidently and securely • Walk for long distances • Live an active and healthy lifestyle TAKE CARE OF YOUR ACHES & PAINS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! CALL TODAY! 941-484-8107 IMPROVEMYAGILITY.COM

Don’t let joint pain become a way of life Move Freely • Alleviate Pain Naturally • Have More Energy • Enjoy Activities Pain Free • Be Stronger Do you suffer with joint pain, and fear it will get worse? IT’S EASY TO GET HELP FOR JOINT PAIN

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Staff Spotlight

Keven Eichorn, MS, LAT, ATC, CSCS Athletic Trainer Keven is a state licensed and nationally certified athletic trainer as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Keven is trained in the care and prevention of athletic injuries as well as the evaluation and rehabilitation of sports injuries. Keven

has been practicing as an athletic trainer since 1994 and as a certified strength and conditioning specialist since 2000. Keven has worked with all level of athlete from the novice, to the professional. From 1999 to 2002 Keven worked with the Houston Astros organization. During his time with the Astros he worked at three different levels of the minor leagues from Rookie Ball in the Appalachian League, A Ball in the South Atlantic League and AA Ball in the Texas League. Keven left baseball in 2002 to be the program director for Agility Physical Therapy and Sports Performance overseeing the outreach athletic training program that employs 11 athletic trainers in the public high schools throughout Sarasota and Manatee County. Keven most recently had been the athletic trainer at Booker High School in Sarasota for the past 13 years. Now with the opening of AFX Sarasota, Keven is at AFX full time while continuing to oversee the athletic training program.

WHEN YOU’RE NUMB, YOU’RE DONE THE ART OF ICING

Slide the ice over the inflamed area in a slow but steady pattern. It’s important to keep moving. Continue ice massaging for 1–3 minutes, or until it is numb, whichever comes first — no more. “When you’re numb, you’re done,” is the rule of thumb for safety. Areas with thick tissue, like your shoulder, will take longer to get numb. Thin areas, like the side of the elbow, will usually go numb quickly. What does numb feel like? Just close your eyes and lightly touch the skin. If you can’t feel it at all, or if you can feel only pressure, that’s numb enough. Stop icing and let the tissue warm up. IMPROVEMYAGILITY.COM

Exercise Essentials Try this exercise to help keep you moving...

WAND SHOULDER FLEXION Lying on your back and holding a wand, palm face down on both sides, slowly raise the wand towards overhead. Repeat 3 sets of 8 reps. Helps Shoulder Pain

Exercises copyright of

www.simpleset.net

The above exercise is designed to be performed under the instruction of a licensed physical therapist.

PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT “Thank you so much for all your hard work!”

“Thank you so much for all your hard work and patience pounding me back into shape after my knee replacements. I didn’t dare hope for such a good return to my former activities (at my age) but it’s beginning to seem possible now, thanks to you!” -Anne H.

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