Wellbridge PT. Back Pain & Difficulty Walking

Wellbridge PT. Back Pain & Difficulty Walking

N E W S L E T T E R

Back Pain & DIfficulty Walking

ALSO INSIDE: FIXING YOUR STRIDE PATIENT SUCCESS EXERCISE ESSENTIALS

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N E W S L E T T E R

Back Pain & Difficulty Walking

Walking isagreat formofexercise,butmore than that, it isanecessity of life. When you can’t walk, even basic tasks become complicated. Getting out of bed in the morning, getting to and from work, moving your way around the office, and even spending time with family on the weekends all rely heavily on your ability to walk. When your back pain beginsto interferewithyourabilitytomovearoundfreely,thenyouknow it is time to start doing something about it. Conveniently, walking is more than a goal when it comes to back pain, it could be part of the solution. Working with a physical therapist to develop improved strategies and techniques with your walking could helpyoutogetbackonyourfeetevensoonerthanyouthoughtpossible. What’s more, for those who are able to walk, getting on your feet more often with targeted exercises could help you find relief from back pain even sooner than expected.

Does going for a walk sound like a big pain in the back? For those who struggle with chronic back pain, even the basic task of going for a walk can be overwhelming and painful. Back pain can strike at any time. Whether in the upper back, surrounding the neck and shoulders, or in the lower back at the lumbar or sciatica, back pain is something that no one likes to deal with for too long. Relying on pain medications to help you overcome back pain will leave you disappointed. While pain medications are frequently helpful at alleviating the discomfort of your back pain for a short period of time, they are not capable of resolving the issue that is causing your pain to develop in the first place. The only thing that can actually fix your back pain isaddressingthe issuethat iscausingyourpainheadon.Physical therapy is a great resource for addressing your back pain and can be a helpful tool in getting you back on your feet. So, whether it is following a sudden injury or a chronic issue that has developed over time, physical therapy could be the answer to helping you enjoy life free of back pain. And the secret to success is learning to approach recovery one step at a time.

Are you letting back pain hold you back? Call Wellbridge Physical Therapy at 617-965-8070 (Newton) or 617-734-6135 (Brookline) to schedule your appointment today!

Fixing Your Stride When you are experiencing regular back pain—especially if you are experiencing back pain while walking—you should consider ways that you can reduce back pain by taking small steps to support your back. There are several things that you can do at home to improve your stride, which can make a significant difference when it comes to managing back pain day-to-day. Here are several ways that you can start taking care of your back with each step you take: 1. Make sure that you are wearing the right types of shoes. While the golden rule for walking is to wear sneakers, not all sneakers are created equally. You need to wear a sneaker that is going to provide you with the arch support that meets your individual needs. This may mean upgrading from your minimal support sneaker to something more athletically designed. 2. Try a custom insert in your shoe. Of course, you can’t wear sneakers all the time. When you are at the office, professional footwear

matters. You may find it helpful to have custom orthotics made for your work shoes so that you can have more arch support around the clock. 3. Work on improving your posture. If you are slouching when you walk, then that may be impacting the way that your back feels. Take a few minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon to stretch your back, and then make a point of keeping your shoulders square and your back straight as you walk. Simply standing tall may alleviate some of your back pain. Another way that walking can help alleviate back pain is by encouraging weight loss. Being overweight puts added pressure on your back, and this can contribute to increased back pain. Working with a physical therapist to improve your walking technique can help you to overcome back pain one step at a time.

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� Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely

� Sit for long periods comfortably � Walk for long distances � Live an active & healthy life

Call us at 617-965-8070 (Newton) or 617-734-6135 (Brookline)!

This offer expires April 30, 2019.

PATI ENT SUCCESS SPOTL IGHT

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH Healthy Recipe

Ingredients • 1 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

“They will guide and motivate you back to health!” “The staff and atmosphere are amazing. The therapists and assistants are all compassionate, professional, and skilled. If you’re in recovery from an injury or surgery they will guide and motivate you back to health.” -Jennifer T.

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar • Kosher/sea salt to taste • Black pepper to taste

Directions Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Combine the melted butter and brown sugar. Coat the acorn squash halves with the brown sugar mixture and season with salt and pepper. Place the acorn squash halves cut side down on the prepared pan. Roast for 30 minutes, flip the squash over and brush with juices from the pan. Continue roasting for about 20 minutes or until tender.

Get results like these by calling your physical therapist today and scheduling your free consultation! You can read more success stories like this by visiting our website wellbridgept.com .

EXERCISE ESSENTIALS Improves Your Stride

Runner’s Step Stand in front of a box or step that is below the level of the knee. Step up onto the box and bring the opposite leg up towards your chest. Lower your leg down in a controlled manner. Repeat 6-10 times, alternating legs.

Always consult your physical therapist or physicianbefore startingexercises youare unsureofdoing.

Exercisescopyrightof

E X P LO R E T H E B E N E F I T S O F M A S S AG E T H E R A P Y

BENEF ITS OF MASSAGE THERAPY

MEET MARYSSA, OUR MASSAGE THERAPIST

Even the most spectacularly well-trained human body has its limits. Those limitsareset, inpart,by thesoft tissues thatmobilizeyour joints and give you the strength to perform specific tasks. Your muscles are madeupofmanysmall, thin fibers thatcontractoncommand,working together to mobilize entire large muscle groups. These muscles are attached to your bones by connective tissues called tendons, enabling them to actually move your body parts. Tougher bands of connective tissuecalled ligamentsconnectbonestootherbones foraddedstability. These tissues (and other physical systems) are covered by yet another connective tissue called fascia. Any and all of these soft tissues can be damaged by stresses. Micro- tears inthetendonscan leadtopainful inflammatoryproblemssuchas tennisorgolfer’selbow.Stretched ligaments leaveyouwithdebilitating sprains.Distortionsoradhesions (areasofscartissue) inthe fasciacan severely limitmotion inother tissues.Youmaydevelop theseproblems because your soft tissues were too tight beforehand. Our massage therapist might recommend different types of massage to accompany different forms (and intents) of your physical therapy program. For instance: • Hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy using heated volcanic rocks placed along the spine to relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and promote sleep. • Sports massage is used to promote flexibility and range of motion as well as decrease muscle soreness in athletes. • A techniquecalled myofascialrelease canhelp free tissues trapped by fascial adhesions or distortions. If you’re rehabilitating an injury, therapeutic massage can help your tissuesheal,soyoucangetmoreoutofyourphysical therapyregimen.

Maryssa Caruso , LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) Maryssa’spassionhasalwaysbeenabout helping others. For many years, she has worked in the childcare field caring and shaping the minds of many young children. In 2014, Maryssa considered

pursuinganotheravenueofhelpingothersbygaininghermassage license from Cortiva Institute of Massage Therapy School. She happily concluded her education at Cortiva with over 700 hours of massage training.Maryssa’smodalities includebutarenot limited to: Swedish relaxation, Sports massage and Myofascial release. Hertreatmentsare individuallycustomizedtoeachperson’sneeds. When Maryssa is not teaching or working as a massage therapist, she enjoys spending time with her dog, family, being outdoors and traveling with friends. Maryssa is thrilled to become a part of the Wellbridge Physical Therapy Team!

S P E C I A L O F F E R !

$ 192 FOR A THREE 60-MIN MASSAGE PACKAGE A $255 value. Discounted price at $64 each. DISCOUNTED OFFER

Call us at 617-965-8070 or 617-734-3744 or visit our website at wellbridgept.com !

Schedule your appointment today by calling 617-965-8070 or 617-734-3744 ! wellbridgept.com

This offer expires April 30, 2019.

E X P LO R E T H E B E N E F I T S O F S T R E TC H I N G T H E R A P Y

MEET KERRY, OUR THERAPEUTIC STRETCHING SPECIAL IST

PASSIVE STRETCHING SESSIONS

While skilled methods of Physical Therapy address specific pain and ultimate return to function, Passive Stretching techniques focus on injury prevention and enhancement in functional and athletic performance. In other words, passive stretching sessions consist of hands-on techniques applied to a patient by our specialists to muscle groups for a period of 30-60 minutes which serve to benefit the entire body. What are the benefits? In short, improved muscle performance due to improved flexibility! After all, shortenedmuscles are inefficient muscles.Muscle inefficiency leadstodecreasedperformancepotential and possible injury. Skilled passive stretching aids in reducingmuscle and joint stiffness. As joint and muscle mobility improve, so does flexibility and effectiveness of movements. Whetherornotyouareanathlete,youcouldalsobenefit from improved flexibility. Our introductory session is free for our past or current patients, so you have nothing to lose and flexibility to gain!

Kerry Paraskevoudis , Therapeutic Stretching Specialist

KerrycompletedherBS inphysicaltherapy in Thessaloniki, Greece in 2013. She specializes in pediatric physical therapy and inneurologicaldevelopmenttreatment (NDT). Kerry moved to Massachusetts 2

yearsagoand isnowworkingasaphysical therapyaide.Sheenjoys spending time with her family and friends, biking, and traveling.

SPECIAL OFFER!

Schedule your appointment today by calling 617-965-8070 or 617-734-3744 !

FIRST 30 MIN FREE! STRETCHING SESSION $50 value. Discounted price at $37.50

wellbridgept.com

Call us at 617-965-8070 or 617-734-3744 or visit our website wellbridgept.com !

This offer expires April 30, 2019.