LOWER BACK PAIN
LOWER BACK PAIN, PAIN BENDING FORWARD,HERNIATED DISC, SCIATICA
THE TOP 3 CAUSES OF LOWER BACK PAIN ARE:
- Arthritis, Stenosis, Disc Degeneration
- Herniated Disc
- Pelvis
Here, we’re going to focus on a Herniated Disc…
HERNIATED DISC
The progression of a disc problem from good to bad is as follows:
- Healthy disc
- Bulging disc
- Herniated disc
- Ruptured disc
SO WHAT IS IT?
As a disc bulges, herniates and ruptures, it puts an increasing amount of pressure on the nerves in the spine. This leads to pain and can eventually cause numbness, tingling and pain down into the legs. This is commonly called “SCIATICA” (pronounced SI-ATTIC-A) or a pinched nerve.
HOW IT WORKS.
There is a space between the bones in your back. In this space there is a disc. The disc acts as a shock absorber to help with forces in your spine. The disc is surrounded by a gel like substance. This is held together by a wall of fibers. Sometimes the fibers can break down and allow some of the disc and gel to push out and put pressure on the nerves in the lower back.
COMMON SYMPTOMS.
Most people suffering from lower back pain and sciatica from a herniated disc have pain bending forward, lifting, coughing, twisting and sitting. The pain is usually relieved with bending backwards or standing.
CAN YOU HEAL A HERNIATED DISC?
MRIs. If you took an MRI of 100 people without pain, how many would have a herniated disc or other disc problem? The answer may surprise you…it’s 80. From research and personal experience, I have worked with people who were suffering from severe back pain and sciatica AND had a positive MRI for a herniated disc. Several were experiencing weakness in their legs.
One specific instance involved a man in his thirties who had foot drop (he could not pull his foot up). He had a herniated disc on an MRI. After 4 weeks of PT, he regained the strength in his leg and was able to run 3 miles without problems.
Did he go back and get another MRI to see if the disc had healed?
Of course not! I doubt the insurance companies want to pay for an MRI on a person who is now healthy and healed
HAVING BACK PAIN? CLICK TO ATTEND OUR UPCOMING WORKSHOP CLASSES >>>
Top 3 Causes of Knee Pain
Arthritis
Meniscus Tears
Patellofemoral Dysfunction
WHAT IS A MENISCUS?
It is cartilage inside the knee that allows a cushion for the joint during walking and balancing activities. Also, the meniscus allows the knee to straighten and bend smoothly.
MENISCAL TEARS ARE MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK!
In a recent study 63% of the people WITH knee pain had a meniscal damage while 60% of the people WITHOUT knee pain also had meniscal damage.
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?
Arthritis Means “Joint Inflammation”
Common complaints of Arthritis in the Knee:
- Pain with walking
- Pain with getting out of chair
- Pain going up and down stairs.
Arthritis is a common cause of knee pain. Avoid letting arthritis win the battle with everyday activities by performing these simple exercises to strengthen the thigh muscles (quadriceps) and improve the flexibility of the hamstring. This will reduce the force through the knee joint and allow you to participate in daily activities with less pain!
Register today for a workshop!
Top 3 Causes of Shoulder Pain
Rotator Cuff
Tendonitis
Impingement
Is there hope?
Successful treatment for rotator cuff impingment and tendonitis involves a hands-on approach followed by specific exercises performed properly. The result of successful treatment is less pain, less inflammation, better motion, improved strength and prevention of the pain returning.
Do you sleep like this or on your stomach with arms overhead? You may want to change your arm position if you are getting shoulder pain. This position puts pressure on the rotator cuff!
WHAT IS A ROTATOR CUFF?
The rotator cuff is a group of 4 muscles in the shoulder. They connect to your shoulder blade and arm bone (humerus).
The muscles are important to help you reach overhead, lift, get dressed and reach behind your back.
The rotator cuff tendons often become pinched as they pass under the end of the collar bone. This may result in calcium deposits or bone spurs and eventual tearing of the tendon.
Register for our workshop class here!
Top 4 Causes of Neck Pain
Degenerative Disc Disease
Headaches
Muscle Strain
Herniated Discs
POOR POSTURE
With the head forward and shoulders rounded, you are putting unwanted stress on muscles, ligaments, and bones that are not built to withstand these forces. This is a main cause of neck pain or headaches. In addition these structures can break down quicker and cause long-term problems.
GOOD POSTURE
With above posture (back straight, head above shoulders, shoulders pinching back, and arms at 90 degrees) the forces are reset to the natural positions of your muscles, bones, and ligaments.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
With age and injuries, the space between the bones in our neck decreases. This is one of the reasons we shrink or get shorter in height. With the decreased space, nerves in the neck may become pinched causing pain around the shoulder blade (scapula) or down the arms.
With a healthy spine, the space between the bones in the neck (called vertebrae) is larger than those with arthritis and degenerative disc disease.
Register for our workshop class here!
COMMON CAUSES OF FALLING
POOR COORDINATION
STRENGTH DEFICITS
LIMITED NECK MOTION
INNER EAR CRYSTALS
EPIDEMIC PROBLEM
Falling and poor balance can completely ruin your life or even end your life…I’ve seen it many times…
√ It is the leading cause of traumatic death in people over 65 years old…
√ Every third American over 65 falls each year…
√ It can cause you to break a bone, have surgery and be bedbound…
WHY DON’T I FEEL STEADY?
We gradually loose strength in our 30’s if we are not exercising properly. Lack of strength causes us to not move our limbs and body
well, making us not feel sure on our feet.
In addition, neck mobility and eye-to-body coordination also diminish over time, which further puts us at risk of falling.
WHAT IS VERTIGO?
Sometimes small crystals within the fluid deep in our inner ear become out of place and send false information to our brain that make us feel dizzy.
(This is different than having water in the ear after you swim.)
FIGHT BACK!
Fight back to avoid being another number added to this growing epidemic by improving strength, neck motion, coordination and inner ear
crystal positioning, which are all areas that we can safely help you improve.
Register today for our workshop!
Joint Replacement Rehab
Total Joint Replacements are very common these days and require the assistance of manual therapy and guided therapeutic exercise.
Manual Therapy & Exercise
Manual therapy is needed to mobilize the muscles and joints so full range of motion can be achieved. The right corrective exercises bring the strength back to the muscles so full functional recovery can occur.
We Have A Plan
Your anxieties post-surgery can be reduced from the first visit where you will realize we have helped many people through a gradual process to full recovery and that we can do the same for you! Post surgery complications are also greatly reduced with post-surgical rehabilitation. Our goal is to help you reduce and eliminate the use of pain medications and get you back to your life activities as quickly as possible.
A Fun Environment
You will have a lot of support here at our clinic as you go through your rehabilitation. We know that exercise in general might not be everyone’s cup-of-tea and especially after surgery, so we have an energetic and motivated staff that will make it easier for you. We have clear and simple home exercise cards with instructions for you to follow. We take our time teaching and reteaching each part of your exercises so that you feel confident that you are doing them correctly. We even have music from every era that is guaranteed to make you feel comfortable, inspired and can help the treatment time go more smoothly.
For more information or to set up an appointment please contact us.
Arthritis – Laser Therapy
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating joint condition that affects more than 27 million individuals in the United States.1 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80% of patients with OA have some limitation of mobility, while 25% are unable to perform the activities of daily living (ADLs)2. Osteoarthritis is thought of as “wear and tear” arthritis and is caused by prolonged, abnormal stress on joints that leads to the breakdown of cartilage on joint surfaces. This is often associated with increased pain while performing daily activities.
In addition to actively addressing fitness levels, deep tissue laser therapy offers an effective passive treatment option that can help reduce arthritic pain. The pain and inflammation that occur in the majority of the body’s joints is created by inflammation of the tissue lining the joint capsule. Therapeutic laser can impact this tissue by improving the microcirculation in the tissue and impacting several anti-inflammatory mediators in the joint. Pain is normally reduced when these changes take place.
In addition to the metabolic effects laser has on inflamed tissue, it also provides a soothing warmth during treatment which also helps the body relax. Individuals will often feel a significant improvement from the first session. While each case is unique, typical treatment protocols call for 6-10 sessions for optimal results, and treatments are often short (about 5-10 minutes in length).
You can take back control of your life from the pain and discomfort of arthritis. Empower yourself to feel good again with movement, stretching, and laser therapy. While the idea of stretching and strengthening isn’t groundbreaking, combined with the unique capabilities of deep tissue laser therapy, it might just be your ticket to lasting relief.
ABOUT ROCK STEADY BOXING QUEENS, NY
We are learning every day that there are ways in which people with Parkinson’s disease can enhance their daily quality of life and even build impressive power, strength, flexibility and speed! By exercising with coaches who know the ropes, you can fight your way out of the corner and start to feel and function better. Boxing works by moving your body in all planes of motion while continuously changing the routine as you progress through the workout. These classes have proven that anyone, at any level of Parkinson’s, can actually lessen their symptoms and lead a healthier/happier life.
One-on-One and Small Group Classes
We run Rock Steady Boxing One-on-One sessions and Small Group Classes here at The Physical Therapy Doctor clinic in Bayside, Queens, NY. We are located in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center where we have plenty of parking. Sessions are conducted by Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Coaches all trained in the Rock Steady Boxing techniques.
Covered by Medical Insurance in Our Clinic
The Rock Steady Boxing sessions are covered by medical insurance here at our clinic because we are a rehabilitation facility. Call us for an appointment today and join the fight!
LSVT BIG®: Physical Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease and Similar Conditions
Learn about LSVT BIG, who it helps, and how it differs from other physical/occupational therapies.
LSVT BIG trains people with Parkinson disease (PD) to use their body more normally. People living with PD or other neurological conditions often move differently, with gestures and actions that become smaller and slower. They may have trouble with getting around, getting dressed and with other activities of daily living. LSVT BIG effectively trains improved movements for any activity, whether “small motor” tasks like buttoning a shirt or “large motor” tasks like getting up from sofa or chair or maintaining balance while walking. The treatment improves walking, self-care and other tasks by helping people “recalibrate” how they perceive their movements with what others actually see. It also teaches them how and when to apply extra effort to produce bigger motions – more like the movements of everyone around them.
Because LSVT BIG treatment is customized to each person’s specific needs and goals, it can help regardless of the stage or severity of your condition. That said, the treatment may be most effective in early or middle stages of your condition, when you can both improve function and potentially slow further symptom progression. Beginning your work with LSVT BIG before you’ve noticed significant problems with balance, mobility or posture will often lead to the best results, but it’s never too late to start. LSVT BIG can produce significant improvements even for people facing considerable physical difficulties.
View a few examples of LSVT BIG Exercises from the LSVT BIG Homework Helper Video.
Go on a journey with Anders as he documents his experience with LSVT BIG.
Build Strong Bones with The bioDensity System
Do you have osteoporosis or osteopenia?
Are you afraid of falling and breaking a bone?
Are you doing enough to strengthen your bones if you were to fall? If you answered
“NO,” then you are not alone. Many people are not doing enough.
We recognize that many people are undershooting when it comes to strengthening
their bones.
So, we set out to find a solution, and we came across the bioDensity machine!
bioDensity is a safe and controlled approach offering the benefits of high impact activity without the risk of heavy lifting or jumping. Regular use of the bioDensity improves the structures of the body, the building blocks of movement and function for increased quality of life. It uses maximal isometric resistance, which is exercise with no movement, to stimulate bone growth in a safe and effective manner.
Studies have shown that once-weekly, bioDensity sessions can improve bone density to combat osteoporosis and osteopenia, as well as improving lipids and blood sugar (A1C) measurements in type 2 diabetics. Your initial bioDensity session will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The session can be completed in street clothes (flat soled shoes are recommended). Subsequent sessions are typically shorter in duration.
There are four main movements in using this machine. When completing the four movements in bioDensity you will be required to produce maximal force for 5 seconds. The force would be similar in nature to pushing or lifting an object of significant weight and size in four different directions: (1) forward using your hands; (2) forward using your feet; (3) upward using your knees and (4) upward using your arms and legs together.
After completing a bioDensity session you may feel like you’ve completed physical work. You will feel warm from increased blood circulation and from work completed by the muscles. Within 24 hours you may feel muscular fatigue, but you are not likely to feel soreness. Since the movements only require five (5) seconds of maximal work, your body will not produce the by-products which cause muscle soreness. Users often comment on their improved mood and confidence as a result of their documented success.
This machine allows you to apply greater force to your muscles and bones in a safe
manner that is not easily achieved with exercise bands or free weights.