Are You Living with Any of These 5 Conditions? If So, Consider PT!

Are You Living with Any of These 5 Conditions? If So, Consider PT! Based on 627 Reviews Missy Costello Just started coming here last week and I already feel comfortable with the staff. Maribel, Wes and the rest of the crew are all welcoming and informative. I already starting to feel some relief from my back pain which makes me feel positive I’ll be off of light duty at work sooner than planned. kassie anderson Maribel was great! This is the first physical therapist I have been to that cares, lots of different ways to treat my pain. The red light was where it was at! Hopefully my lower back pain will subside in time  Gina Ramos Torres As a therapy provider, my expectations were high & they have exceeded my expectations. Maribel & her team are wonderful & have made the process a great experience! rust nvrsleeps Dr Maribel did an awesome job…it’s still early in the treatment but I’m already feeling the results. I climbed telephone poles for 35 years and my back is killing me….After ten months of trying to get some relief Dr Maribel is the first person to make it feel better…. 5 Signs You May be in Need of Physical Therapy! Did you know that PT can be used to manage a variety of different conditions as a natural form of pain relief? Unfortunately, it is usually not only until after attempting more conventional medical approaches such as surgery and prescription painkillers that people realize physical therapy sessions are a fantastic way to relieve their chronic pain and other recurrent symptoms. If you have any of these top five most common aches and pains, you may be a good candidate for physical therapy. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. Keep reading to learn more about common conditions that can be treated with PT and some of the top natural healing recommendations from our experienced physical therapists! Do any of these sound like you? 1. Traumatic Injury After experiencing a traumatic injury, your body requires plenty of time to heal and recover. But in today’s busy world, many people must get back to work as soon as possible following an injury. Physical therapy can help your body to heal more quickly and efficiently after a traumatic injury or surgery. Physical therapy is an ideal post-surgical healing option and designed to help you reach your rehabilitation goals without the use of prescription pain medications. 2. Joint Pain Arthritis and other forms of joint pain can increase in severity as we age. However, people of all ages are at risk of developing joint pain, especially following another traumatic injury. And for those who are overweight or obese, joint pain can become a chronic health issue that prevents one from enjoying the simple things in life like taking a walk after mealtimes or getting in and out of the car with ease. Joint injuries don’t always happen because of an accident. They can also develop slowly over months or even years. You might notice that the pain also ebbs and flows depending on the time of day. Certain sports, jobs, hobbies can cause you to put excessive stress on certain joints over and over again, which could very well lead to pain. Working with a physical therapist to develop a personalized treatment plan can help to manage your joint pain and other symptoms naturally. 3. Neck Pain It’s common to experience neck pain for a variety of different reasons. You may notice neck pain spring up after an auto accident or as a result of poor posture. Neck pain is often very difficult to cope with and treat with traditional medicine. However, PT and massage can relieve the muscles in the neck, reduce swelling, and help to restore your natural mobility. Physical therapy, regardless of the root cause of pain, has been shown to help with neck pain. For those trying to prevent costly procedures or dangerous drugs, PT is a completely safe, natural, and effective mode of care. 4. Headaches Recurring headaches are no laughing matter and can make getting through the day seem nearly impossible. In many cases, frequent headaches are a sign of injury in the neck or back. Working with a physical therapist to target the cause of your recurring headaches can reduce the severity of your head pain or eventually eliminate them altogether. In fact, as stated by Choose PT, “There is effective treatment for almost every type of headache.” Working with a physical therapist can help you identify tension-reducing exercises and help you find long-term relief from headaches without the need to rely on pain medication. 5. Back Pain Back pain is one of the biggest reasons that Americans visit the doctor each year. Back pain can be the result of a wide variety of different injuries, illnesses, and chronic conditions. The World Health Organization estimates that in the United States, 149 million days of work are lost due to low back pain. You may be experiencing back pain due to an overuse injury, a degenerative disease, sports injury, or other common environmental factors. But whatever the cause, there’s a good chance that your back pain is preventing you from completing simple everyday tasks like getting out of bed or climbing the stairs without feeling pain. Physical therapy can help to address the root cause of your pain, increase mobility, reduce inflammation and much more. Contact Our Physical Therapist Today If you or a loved one are struggling with recurrent pain after injury or as a result of a degenerative condition, physical therapy is a great way to help your body to heal naturally. Are you interested in learning more about the benefits of physical therapy for pain management and healing? Please contact our knowledgeable and friendly physical therapist for more information and be sure to schedule your initial consultation today!

Are You Dependent on Opioids For Pain Relief?

Are You Dependent on Opioids For Pain Relief? Based on 627 Reviews Missy Costello Just started coming here last week and I already feel comfortable with the staff. Maribel, Wes and the rest of the crew are all welcoming and informative. I already starting to feel some relief from my back pain which makes me feel positive I’ll be off of light duty at work sooner than planned. kassie anderson Maribel was great! This is the first physical therapist I have been to that cares, lots of different ways to treat my pain. The red light was where it was at! Hopefully my lower back pain will subside in time  Gina Ramos Torres As a therapy provider, my expectations were high & they have exceeded my expectations. Maribel & her team are wonderful & have made the process a great experience! rust nvrsleeps Dr Maribel did an awesome job…it’s still early in the treatment but I’m already feeling the results. I climbed telephone poles for 35 years and my back is killing me….After ten months of trying to get some relief Dr Maribel is the first person to make it feel better…. If you depend on pain medications to make it through the day because of a chronic pain condition, know that you are not alone. You should also know that even though this is a common pain relief solution for many Americans, it is not normal or healthy in the slightest. Our nation is currently experiencing what the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services refers to as an “opioid epidemic.” Thankfully, there is another option for this kind of pain management. Physical therapists can help individuals manage pain, and greater use of physical therapy could make a real impact on the tragic levels of drug abuse in this country—abuse that often begins with a prescription for pain medication. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. If you are ready to find relief without the side effects of opioids, contact our physical therapy clinic today. Why are opioids so dangerous? People often confuse over-the-counter drugs and opioids, but they’re two different things. When people turn to over-the-counter medications for pain relief, there aren’t many significant health risks. For the most part, Advil, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen are safe to use in moderation if you are trying to find immediate relief when recovering from your car accident. Excessive use can negatively affect your organs, but most people don’t need to use these pain relievers very often. When it comes to severe pain caused by a more serious injury you may have sustained, prescription-strength medications may be issued by a doctor. However, with severe pain comes severe medication and side effects as well. Opioids are the most commonly used medication for pain management across the United States. Even though they are common, there are some shocking facts about them that the general public might not even be aware of, such as: Opioids are a highly dangerous class of substances. Heroin is among the opioid category, as well as prescription pain relievers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and more. Opioids are a highly addictive substance and are the most commonly abused prescription medication. More than 2 million people in the United States become addicted to pain medication every year, many of the medications being opioids. About a quarter of heroin addicts began their addiction through prescription opioid dependency. These facts paint a bleak picture regarding the reality of prescription pain medication use across the United States. While disturbing, these statements cannot be ignored. It isn’t necessary to have a history of addiction to become dependent on opioids. In fact, many people who become addicted have never had any issues with drug dependency in the past. Fortunately, physical therapy can help provide the same pain relief in a much safer, healthier, and natural way. How physical therapy can kick an opioid addiction Physical therapy is effective for avoiding unnecessary surgery and for getting rid of a person’s dependence on opioids. This is why physical therapy is often the first point of entry in the healthcare system for pain management. The goal of physical therapy is to improve function and reduce pain. Both active and passive modalities are used in many forms of treatment. A physical therapist will educate you on the source of your pain and give you tips on how to manage your daily activities in order to reduce or eliminate pain. Pain education is an important component of physical therapy intervention! What to expect at a physical therapy appointment Chronic pain can make you curl up in bed and turn to opioids for pain relief. This solves nothing and is likely to only make your problem worse. If you’re tired of living with addiction, understand that you can say “no” to opioids with the help of physical therapy. It’s important to note that physical therapy can be implemented to treat all types of neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal pain. It can help alleviate pain due to osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathic pain, headaches, and more. A physical therapist utilizes a number of different pain management methods, such as deep tissue massage, manipulation of bones, manual therapy, cold laser therapy, microcurrent stimulation, movement therapy, and exercise. Exercise may involve walking on a treadmill or specific exercises to strengthen the muscles. Deep tissue massage enhances oxygen and nutrients to travel to the affected area. Cold laser therapy is used to lessen pain, reduce inflammation and release endorphins. Microcurrent stimulation emits alpha waves to increase dopamine and serotonin to alleviate pain naturally. Even just 30 minutes of exercise a day will help you to better manage your pain! The exercise plan that a physical therapist will devise for you will be focused on strengthening the muscles, increasing endurance, developing more flexibility in the joints and muscles, and creating stability in the joints. Physical therapy is a multi-pronged approach to lessening pain. With exercise, massage, and manipulation, the body is encouraged to produce natural pain-relieving chemicals and to heal itself. Both tissue and bone will remodel with physical therapy. A physical

Joint Pain Got You Down? Physical Therapy May Help.

Joint Pain Got You Down? Physical Therapy May Help. Based on 627 Reviews Polly Costanza On the 1st visit, Relief of some pain and more flexible than when I came in. Maribel made it easy to understand my exercise routine. Unitty Entertainment Dr Maribel is very knowledgeable. Dr Maribel and her team saw my sis in law and had great relief just first day. Very happy! Can’t wait for her full recovery! Highly recommended! Jennifer Warran I have been coming to Chesterton Physical Therapy for over 3 months after having extensive back surgery. Sarah and Wes have been very helpful in my recovery. Sara Gudino Everyone at this clinic is very welcoming, but the best part is that I instantly felt some relief in my lower back pain.Thank you for that. If you’ve been dealing with chronic joint pain for some time, then you should know you’re not alone. Chronic joint pain is typically associated with arthritis, although there are plenty of other physical ailments that can lead to joint deterioration and pain. While physical therapy is not a cure for arthritis, it can help to alleviate the pain, increase your range of motion in the affected joints and help you get control over the problem so that it doesn’t get worse. If you are not proactive when it comes to joint pain, it likely will worsen over time, especially if you’re relying on prescription medications to provide pain relief. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. If you’ve been suffering from joint pain and now you’re looking for a solution, call us to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist. Is your joint pain a sign of arthritis? Did you know that arthritis is the leading cause of disability across the United States? According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 50 million people live with arthritis. While it is possible for arthritis to develop in any joint, it most commonly affects the neck, back, hands, hips, and knees. It can also affect people of any age. There are two main types of arthritis that are the most common culprits when it comes to joint pain: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Here is a closer look at these types of arthritis and how they affect your joints: Rheumatoid Arthritis: If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will likely prescribe pharmaceutical treatments to decrease your pain and discomfort. This is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s healing systems attack the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling and inflammation of the joints. Although this condition usually begins in the hands, wrists, or feet, it can spread to the hips, knees, or shoulders, while getting progressively worse, if you aren’t proactive in fighting it. Physical therapy can be a tremendous help to those dealing with this autoimmune disease. Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis typically develops later in life and can be caused by poor body mechanics, overuse of the joint, or an injury. This is the most common type of arthritis by far. The cartilage in joints serves as a natural barrier that lubricates and distributes force during physical activity. When that cartilage breaks down and no longer provides a cushion between adjoining bones, the result is osteoarthritis. The hands, hips, knees, and spine are the most common body parts impacted by osteoarthritis. Certain ailments like gout, bursitis, lupus, or tendinitis can also contribute to joint pain. The source of your joint pain can be determined by a combination of tests that a physical therapist can perform, as well as a thorough examination. What can a physical therapist do for joint pain? Your therapist will need to know about the type of joint pain you are experiencing, the times of day when the pain is worse, and any physical activities that you engage in on a regular basis If you have a job that requires physical labour or sitting at a desk all day, tell them. If your condition has already been diagnosed by a doctor, your physical therapist should be made aware of this as well. Your therapist will likely run you through a series of simple strength tests during your first visit. These will be done to test your range of motion, balance, and posture. This information will be used to help create a customized physical therapy regimen to help you relieve the joint pain while strengthening muscles to help support the joints. Your plan of physical therapy will likely contain a combination of targeted stretches, exercises, manual therapy, and body mechanics. Manual therapy is a specialized type of therapeutic massage that your physical therapist is trained in; manual therapy can help to soften tissues and relieve pain associated with your joint condition. Body mechanics involves teaching you the proper way to move, sit, stand, lift objects, and engage in other daily activities, without causing pain to your joints. The exercises will likely be low-impact to relieve pressure on the joints while strengthening your muscles, such as water aerobics. Common symptoms of joint pain or arthritis For most people with joint pain, general discomfort is the most common complaint. But depending on what the cause of your joint pain is, you may experience a variety of different symptoms, including, but not limited to the following: Chronic pain Impaired range of motion Stiffness Redness Inflammation of the affected area Inability to grasp objects Swelling If you’re noticing any of the above symptoms, there are two things you should not do. First, don’t expect it to go away on its own. Second, don’t rely on prescription medications for temporary relief. Call a physical therapist at our office today to learn more about the causes of joint pain, and find out how you can begin keeping your own at bay. Are you ready to find relief today? You deserve a normal, healthy, active lifestyle. The goal of your physical therapy will be to help you take back control of your life by minimizing joint pain. Call our office today to schedule your first appointment with a physical therapist.

Stress-Related Headaches Can Be Bothersome – Fortunately, PT Can Help

Stress-Related Headaches Can Be Bothersome – Fortunately, PT Can Help Based on 627 Reviews Diane Thews Dr Maribel made the pressure in my head and neck better on the first visit. Looking forward for full recovery. Excellent service 👏 Keith Landon Maribel, Phil and the crew was amazing. They are very friendly, pleasant and makes you feel very comfortable. Everyone was a delight. Thanks Lois Niksch I’ve had two sessions here and then worked all day yesterday after therapy without any pain. And I’ve had this pain since last August. This is the best I’ve felt since then! Big thank you to Maribel, Amber, and Kiana! Highly recommend! Christina Davis Mirabel was so nice and attentive! She gave me a lot of hope towards my future pain management, I’ve been having issues for almost a decade and in this single, first, appointment I’ve felt more relief than ever before! I will be coming back 🙂 Discover Relief for Your Headaches Today! Headaches are a common issue that can plague everyone from pre-teens to retirees. However, when recurrent tension or stress-related headaches make it difficult to get through your day, physical therapy may be needed to provide long-lasting pain relief. Physical therapy can help you overcome stress-related headaches. In fact, as stated by Choose PT,  “There is an effective treatment for almost every type of headache.” Working with a physical therapist can help you identify tension-reducing exercises and help you find long-term relief from headaches without the need to rely on pain medication. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. Our experienced physical therapists have the skills needed to target the root cause of your headaches. Additionally, they can create a tailored treatment plan that is safe and effective. Tired of dealing with irritating and painful headaches? Keep reading to learn how to benefit from physical therapy. Why am I experiencing headaches? The most common type of headache experienced by adolescents and adults in tension headaches—sometimes referred to as stress-related headaches. This type of headache occurs when the muscles of the scalp and neck are tensed and then contracted. Stress is the easy answer to this question, but in reality, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Stress can manifest itself in all kinds of ways; however, finding ways to deal with stress is not always an option. Stress can build from a wide range of activities, and some of those activities may be things that you really enjoy doing, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t weigh on you, creating an added level of pressure that can manifest in painful headaches. If you have tension headaches, you will most likely feel that the pain begins at the back of your neck before it rises to the top of your head and eventually causes pain and discomfort behind your eyes. It’s also common to experience tension headache pain in your cheeks, jaw, and even down your shoulders. Some common causes of a tension headache include: Anxiety and depression Fatigue Arthritis Poor posture Hair pulled back tightly Stress Other common types of headaches that may cause recurrent pain and discomfort include sinus headaches, caffeine headaches, migraine headaches, hormonal headaches, post-traumatic headaches, and cluster headaches. Stress is a common trigger for tension and migraine headaches. Rather than stressing ways you can avoid stress, it may be more helpful to think about strategies that will help ease headaches once you develop—as well as stress-reduction techniques that may prevent stress from reaching your head first. How can a physical therapist help? Physical therapy can help to reduce the pain associated with headaches while working to restore proper function and a full range of motion in the neck and shoulder areas. Typically, there are 2 different types of physical therapy treatments that are ideal for relieving chronic headaches, these include: Active Therapies Range-of-motion exercises Low-impact aerobics Pain relief exercises Muscular releases Strengthening exercises Stretching Passive Therapies Soft tissue mobilization Ultrasound Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS Ultrasound Massage therapy Alternating heat and ice therapy Depending on the severity and cause of your headaches, our physical therapist may suggest a combination of physical therapy treatment methods to provide pain relief. However, because each person responds differently to headache pain, it’s important to keep in mind that there is no “one size fits all” treatment plan. Because physical therapy targets the muscles and joints, it is an effective treatment option for those who experience tension headaches or stress-related headaches, and headache pain that radiates down into the jaw, neck, and shoulder areas. Over time, our physical therapist aims to not only reduce your pain but hopefully prevent recurring headaches altogether. The primary goal of physical therapy is to not only provide pain relief but to increase mobility, improve posture, and help strengthen the muscles that control your neck, shoulders, and upper back areas. With all physical therapy treatment plans, our patients will receive helpful educational information that will help them to complete pain relief exercises at home to supplement in-office visits. Consult with a physical therapist today! If you or your loved one have had recurrent headaches, you can find quick and effective pain relief with regular physical therapy. Are you interested in learning more about the many benefits of physical therapy for tension headaches? Call us today or visit our office in Chesterton, IN and be sure to schedule an initial consultation with one of our friendly physical therapists!

Chronic Back Pain: Physical Therapy, Unlocking New Potentials

Physical Therapy Can Help with Chronic Back Pain! Don’t Live in Discomfort Any Longer Based on 627 Reviews Missy Costello Just started coming here last week and I already feel comfortable with the staff. Maribel, Wes and the rest of the crew are all welcoming and informative. I already starting to feel some relief from my back pain which makes me feel positive I’ll be off of light duty at work sooner than planned. kassie anderson Maribel was great! This is the first physical therapist I have been to that cares, lots of different ways to treat my pain. The red light was where it was at! Hopefully my lower back pain will subside in time  Gina Ramos Torres As a therapy provider, my expectations were high & they have exceeded my expectations. Maribel & her team are wonderful & have made the process a great experience! rust nvrsleeps Dr Maribel did an awesome job…it’s still early in the treatment but I’m already feeling the results. I climbed telephone poles for 35 years and my back is killing me….After ten months of trying to get some relief Dr Maribel is the first person to make it feel better…. Discover Relief for Your Aches and Pains Today Chronic back pain is a pain that lasts for three months and is longer. This type of pain can occur for a variety of reasons, including spinal arthritis, aging, disc problems, and myofascial pain syndrome. With spinal arthritis, the slow thinning of the cartilage inside the spine can result in pain. With a herniated or bulging disc, compression may occur around your surrounding nerves, resulting in pain. With spinal stenosis, there is a narrowing of the spine, which can lead to nerve pain. With myofascial pain syndrome, you may experience unknown muscle tenderness and pain. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. Whatever the cause of your pain, it doesn’t have to be a part of your daily life. What can physical therapy do for my chronic pain? If your back pain is caused by spinal stenosis or a bulging disc, a physical therapist may initiate a targeted movement program to reduce numbness, pain, or weakness. Progressive movement exercises such as McKenzie exercises may be included in your physical therapy program to treat a wide range of causes of back pain. Stabilization exercises to retrain deep muscles may also be included. Your physical therapist will also show you how to use the right spinal and abdominal muscles before starting any exercise to stabilize the spine. Manipulation is another technique for alleviating chronic pain where short and rapid movements are performed over the joint to reduce pain and increase mobility. Physical therapists also use multiple passive modalities to reduce back pain. Heat and cold therapy may be used to increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain. Ultrasound is another common passive modality used by physical therapists that incorporates deep heating sound waves that penetrate soft tissue. Not only does this method relieve back pain, but it also aids in the healing of the affected area. A physical therapist may order a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit. This unit helps to overcome the painful signals sent to the brain. It can be used both at home and in the long term. Deep tissue massage is another common therapy for chronic back pain. This manual method increases oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas for healing and also helps reduce muscle spasms and stiffness. According to the NCBI, “In chronic low back without serious pathology, recommended primary conservative physical treatment preferences include exercise, yoga, biofeedback, progressive relaxation, massage, manual therapy, physical therapy and interdisciplinary rehabilitation. A recent literature review with meta-analysis in patients with chronic lower back pain found moderate- to high-quality evidence that McKenzie exercises in physical therapy were superior to other rehabilitation interventions in reducing pain and disability.” What else should I know? As stated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “While acute pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself, chronic pain is different. Chronic pain persists. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years. There may have been an initial mishap — sprained back, serious infection, or there may be an ongoing cause of pain — arthritis, cancer, ear infection, but some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage. Many chronic pain conditions affect older adults. Common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain (pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself), psychogenic pain (pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system). A person may have two or more co-existing chronic pain conditions. Such conditions can include chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial cystitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and vulvodynia. It is not known whether these disorders share a common cause.” Chronic pain affects every person differently. In many cases, the pain continues long after the body is healed from the injury or surgery. The good news is that physical therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach to pain relief. Your physical therapist has many tools and techniques at their disposal to help relieve and overcome chronic pain. Chronic pain has a number of symptoms associated with it, apart from the fact that it lasted more than three months. Here are some of the symptoms commonly associated with chronic aches and pain: Decreased activity: Inactivity due to chronic pain can cause your muscles to weaken and shrink. This can have profound physical effects over time, such as impacting your sense of balance. Decreased circulation: Remaining inactive due to chronic pain reduces your circulation, which means your cells are not receiving a healthy amount of blood and oxygen. This can cause tissues to degenerate and leads to feelings of constant

Are You Battling Opioid Addiction? There’s A Better Option Available!

Are You Battling Opioid Addiction? There’s A Better Option Available! Based on 627 Reviews William P. Schurr Maribel and her staff are awesome. My daughter referred me while out of town and they took me in right away! Treatments have been great and my knee feels a lot better now. Kymie Conners Maribel and team were terrific. I came in with horrible pain in left knee. They did ultrasound and laser on my knee. Also they taped it. I can already feel a HUGE difference with relief in my knee. Great, friendly, wonderful staff!! Definitely will recommend If you are suffering from arthritis, particularly in a weight-bearing joint like the knee or hip, taking an opioid painkiller for relief can be a powerful temptation for you. All you want is for the pain to subside so that you can get on with your day, right? Unfortunately, although opioids can temporarily relieve pain, your bones will continue to grind together, making the underlying cause of the condition even worse. Opioids don’t cure the source of your pain, they only mask it. So, rather than turning to opioids for your arthritis, consider the chemical-free alternative to arthritis pain: physical therapy! Call our office to learn more about how working with a physical therapist can relieve your arthritis or other pain symptoms so that you can stop relying on harmful medications to get through the day. How do I know if I have arthritis? Arthritis is a very common condition that many individuals of all ages suffer from. Arthritis symptoms can be managed with the help of physical therapy. Some of the most common symptoms that arthritis sufferers have to deal with include: Inflamed tissues: The pain and inflammation associated with arthritis can cause tissue swelling near the impacted joint. The area surrounding the joint might feel warm to the touch. Sensations of “grinding”: Arthritis is a result of lost cartilage, the material in the joints which acts as a cushion and lubricant between bones. The loss of cartilage can make it feel as if the patient’s bones are grinding together when they move. Decreased mobility: An arthritic joint can restrict your range of motion, to the point where you are unable to carry out daily tasks like you used to. This can make doing the simplest of things difficult and frustrating. Joint stiffness: The joints are especially stiff when you wake up for the day and may feel sensitive or painful when touched. Pain: To put it simply, arthritic joints may hurt during or after physical movement. Why are opioids so harmful? In a study published by the American Physical Therapy Association, titled “Beyond Opioids: How Physical Therapy Can Transform Pain Management and Improve Health,” the issue of opioid abuse is discussed. It identifies three important events that triggered what the medical community identifies as the “opioid epidemic:” Increases in deaths involving prescription opioids starting in 1999 Increases in deaths involving heroin starting in 2010 Increases in deaths involving synthetic opioids since 2013 Both opioid prescription rates and deaths from opioid overdoses have quadrupled in the last twenty years. Given these stark statistics, an obvious conclusion can be made: Opioid dependence has gotten out of hand, and the consequences can be literally fatal. Beyond extreme physical risk, over-reliance on prescription painkillers can have other detrimental effects on your health. Opioid use can lead to depression, which sets up a vicious cycle of self-medicating in order to feel better emotionally as well as physically. The Centers for Disease Control offers some frightening statistics from opioid overuse in 2011: Sales of prescription painkillers to pharmacies and providers had increased 300% since 1999 In 2010, 12 million people ages 12 and older reported using prescription painkillers “non-medically” More than 40 people were dying each day from overdoses involving prescription opioids You might be thinking, if these medications are harmful, what other options do we have in order to combat chronic pain? There’s an answer: physical therapy. If you have been struggling with pain or discomfort, contact us today to find out how we can resolve your issues the natural way. How can physical therapy provide better relief? If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, you can work with a physical therapist to learn strategies that will help you manage your symptoms, without having to resort to painkillers. During your first appointment, be prepared to talk about your medical history with your therapist. You will be asked to describe your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. For example, does your arthritis prevent you from taking your dog on long walks? Are you no longer able to play weekend basketball with your friends? Your therapist will likely have you do a few simple tests which will vary based on which joints are suffering from arthritis. In general, expect to be tested on your range of motion in the impacted joints, as well as your strength and balance. These tests will be used to determine how far the arthritis has advanced, and to assist the physical therapist in crafting the best possible plan of treatment for you. What techniques will a physical therapist use? Body mechanics will be another part of your arthritis treatment. Your physical therapist will teach you the proper way to carry out daily activities with minimal impact on your arthritic joints. This helps to prevent the grinding sensation and helps prevent the arthritis condition from worsening. Manual therapy will likely be a part of the treatment strategy for managing your arthritis. This specialized type of therapeutic massage not only relieves stiffness and pain in arthritic joints but can also help to loosen tissues up and extend your range of motion. All licensed physical therapists are trained in the use of manual therapy for arthritis. Depending on the location of your arthritis, your therapist might recommend aquatic exercise in a pool for joint relief (as one possible example). The goal will be to increase your strength so that muscle structures can bear your weight better, without putting undue strain on arthritic joints. Exercise

3 Reasons To Add Stretching Into Your Daily Routine!

3 Reasons To Add Stretching Into Your Daily Routine! Based on 627 Reviews William P. Schurr Maribel and her staff are awesome. My daughter referred me while out of town and they took me in right away! Treatments have been great and my knee feels a lot better now. Kymie Conners Maribel and team were terrific. I came in with horrible pain in left knee. They did ultrasound and laser on my knee. Also they taped it. I can already feel a HUGE difference with relief in my knee. Great, friendly, wonderful staff!! Definitely will recommend You might not think about it, but there are many simple physical motions you can do every day that will dramatically improve your overall health, wellness, and quality of life! Stretching happens to be one of them. These exercises are a staple of physical therapy, a natural and safe way to gain relief from chronic pain symptoms. You might be surprised to discover just how many ways stretches can help you. Some of them you may already do! Here is more information about the importance of stretching, as well as some prime reasons that a physical therapist might prescribe stretches to enhance your life at Chesterton Physical Therapy. Why it’s important to stretch daily The key to good health is to keep your body flexible. ​Many common aches and pains stem from tight muscles and poor movement. Stretching helps your circulatory, respiratory, lymphatic, and musculoskeletal systems. Normal blood and lymphatic fluids circulate the body easier, oxygenating your tissues properly when your tissues are flexible. This helps you feel energized, relieves pain, and allows you to perform daily tasks without feeling tired. It’s no surprise then that stretching is necessary for dedicated athletes, gym warriors, or anyone looking to improve their physical performance. After a workout, you may not feel the need to stretch if your muscles aren’t aching or sore. You still need to! There are several potential effects of not taking the time to stretch correctly after exercise; you could hurt yourself. You might experience stiffness if you’re not stretching adequately. Muscles and tendons that aren’t stretched properly after exercise may be more susceptible to injury. 1. Stretching is a stress reliever Stretching provides numerous benefits to help your body keep itself healthier. One of the most important of these is stress relief. Everyday life throws lots of challenges at you, and the resulting stress can be held in your muscles. You might not realize how much stress you’re carrying until you begin to stretch. Stress in your muscles leads to tightness, spasms, and chronic discomforts such as headaches and neck pain. Stress also floods your body with “fight or flight” hormones such as cortisone and adrenaline. These imbalances can suppress your immune function, making you more vulnerable to viruses and other diseases. Hypertension is yet another dangerous consequence of chronic stress. Regular stretching helps your body release all that pent-up stress. By relaxing and loosening your muscles, you can maintain better control over your blood pressure, avoid chronic muscle pain, and keep your immune system ready for anything. 2. Stretching improves tissue health Tissues that are tight, stiff, or generally unprepared for challenges may tear, resulting in a strain or sprain that puts a premature end to your participation. Stretches provide a safe, gentle way to work out the kinks and get your tissues ready for action. As you become more limber, you reduce your risk of a soft tissue injury. You’ll find those tissues more capable and responsive as you work or play. You’ve probably seen athletes go through sets of stretching exercises before a competition or training session. They’re not just stretching for the fun of it — they’re trying to optimize their athletic performance while also protecting themselves against injury! Stretching after your activity is just as beneficial; it prevents your muscles from seizing up and getting stiff once they’re no longer being exerted. 3. Stretching improves your mobility Stretching becomes even more important when you’ve become less mobile due to issues such as osteoarthritis. The less you move your joints, the greater the likelihood that your muscles and connective tissues will become shorter and more painful. It’s quite common for a physical therapist to prescribe various stretching exercises to individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions. This change obviously limits your joint motion even further and leaves you in even more pain. Stretches naturally support physical therapy recommendations such as walking, heat therapy, or massage therapy in increasing blood flow to painful joints and widening your pain-free range of motion. Chronic pain syndromes often involve tight muscles. Syndromes such as fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome cause muscle knots that limit muscle motion and trigger referred pain to other parts of the body. Regular stretching can help you “untie those” painful knots — all you have to do is consult with a physical therapist to learn more about the best kinds of stretching for your body type and condition! Ready to get started? Contact us today There’s a good reason we suggest visiting a physical therapist to learn more about stretching. There are right ways and wrong ways to stretch! For one thing, different kinds of stretches offer different benefits. Your particular situation might call for active stretches (in which you move a body part with no assistance), passive stretches (in which the body part is held or supported), or both. Our physical therapist can help you stretch safely and effectively — so contact us or visit our physical therapy center in Chesterton, IN today!

Are You Constantly In Pain? It May Be Time To Change Your Diet To reduce Inflammation

Are You Constantly In Pain? It May Be Time To Change Your Diet To reduce Inflammation Based on 627 Reviews Asha Koshy Great service from start to finish! I really appreciate Dr. Maribel and Sara my PTA and all of the front desk staff. They really make you feel like part of the family. They are knowledgeable and have a good team. Missy Costello Just started coming here last week and I already feel comfortable with the staff. Maribel, Wes and the rest of the crew are all welcoming and informative. I already starting to feel some relief from my back pain which makes me feel positive I’ll be off of light duty at work sooner than planned. Michelle Ward After weeks of dealing with vertigo my doctor sent me here. I learned a lot at the first appointment and after one week the vertigo was gone! They were very helpful and informative. It also seems like a nice work environment, the employees always seem to be enjoying themselves. William P. Schurr Maribel and her staff are awesome. My daughter referred me while out of town and they took me in right away! Treatments have been great and my knee feels a lot better now. Inflammation is a natural process the body uses to protect itself and to promote healing. During the inflammation process, your body increases its production of white blood cells. Chronic inflammation, however, can damage the body. Living with continual inflammation can cause pain, swelling, and redness in the affected areas. It can also increase your risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke. There are several ways you can improve your nutrition and decrease pain and inflammation, however. Are you ready to say goodbye once and for all to your chronic aches and pains? If you’re nodding your head yes, keep reading to learn more about how physical therapy and attention to nutrition can help! What is inflammation? Inflammation is the body’s natural response when it’s trying to heal or protect itself. This, of course, is usually a good thing! This is why some people choose to feel their pain and ride it out instead of grabbing an over the counter NSAID. However, inflammation is harmful when it becomes a chronic condition. Pain and inflammation are often connected. Your immune system can naturally respond to injury, ailment, or other harm through inflammation. If you have an infection, wound, tissue damage, or buildup of toxins in your body, the immune response is triggered to deal with it. Without inflammation, injuries wouldn’t be able to heal; however, if this process goes on for too long, Harvard Health, states that it can lead to a variety of health ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, and even some kinds of cancer. If you experience persistent pain that is keeping you from living life as you normally would, it is wise to contact a physical therapist as soon as possible, as it may mean that the inflammation has become chronic. The importance of physical therapy and nutrition Traditionally, chronic inflammation has been treated through bed rest and medication. However, a lack of exercise can make inflammation worse, as it constricts joints and causes muscles to stiffen. Although it might be hard to make yourself get up and move when you’re in pain, it’s normally the best option. Additionally, medications come with a whole slew of side effects, some of which can be dangerous and/or habit-forming. Luckily, pain and inflammation can be treated in much easier and healthier ways – such as diet and physical therapy! Why choose physical therapy? Physical therapy, combined with good nutritional habits, can greatly reduce or even eliminate your pain and inflammation. The American Physical Therapy Association states that the connection between pain and nutrition is strong enough that nutritional screening is often recommended. A physical therapist can provide nutritional guidance along with creating an exercise program that targets and reduces the pain and inflammation you’ve been experiencing. A physical therapist might even recommend activities such as swimming or simple stretching to increase joint flexibility and range of motion. Good nutrition along with a physical therapy treatment plan can help you manage or even eliminate chronic pain by increasing the strength in certain muscles and improving joint stability. How can nutrition provide pain relief? A few foods that can cause inflammation and should be avoided or limited include the following: Soda – Drinking water or tea in place of soda will not only help reduce pain and inflammation but may also help you shed a few pounds. Soda can increase levels of uric acid. This often causes an increase in inflammation and even insulin resistance. Fried foods – Eat your veggies raw, steamed, or baked for the most health benefits. Everything from fried chicken to deep-fried veggies can contribute to inflammation. Refined carbohydrates – Pasta, pastries, white bread, and white flour are all refined carbs that should be eliminated or eaten rarely. Refined carbs include grains that have had most of the fiber and nutrients taken out. Red meats – Protein builds muscle and cartilage. Red meat, especially meats that are processed, can lead to increased inflammation. Healthy, lean protein is a crucial component when creating a diet to reduce pain and inflammation. Chicken is often considered neutral, while many types of fish fight pain and inflammation in the body. Just like there are plenty of foods to avoid because they cause inflammation, there are plenty you can start to incorporate into your diet to fight or decrease inflammation! Some of them are: Berries – Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries are all good choices. Berries have an abundance of antioxidants that can eliminate inflammation. Fatty Fish – Wild-caught salmon, sardines, and mackerel are great sources of Omega-3s, which can fight inflammation. They may even limit stiffness in the joints that is sometimes associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Olive oil – Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat that tastes great on salads and in cooked meals, and it can help reduce inflammation. Make sure to select olive oil that

Chronic Pain Controlling Your Life? It’s Time For a Solution

Chronic Pain Controlling Your Life? It’s Time For a Solution Based on 627 Reviews Asha Koshy Great service from start to finish! I really appreciate Dr. Maribel and Sara my PTA and all of the front desk staff. They really make you feel like part of the family. They are knowledgeable and have a good team. Missy Costello Just started coming here last week and I already feel comfortable with the staff. Maribel, Wes and the rest of the crew are all welcoming and informative. I already starting to feel some relief from my back pain which makes me feel positive I’ll be off of light duty at work sooner than planned. Michelle Ward After weeks of dealing with vertigo my doctor sent me here. I learned a lot at the first appointment and after one week the vertigo was gone! They were very helpful and informative. It also seems like a nice work environment, the employees always seem to be enjoying themselves. William P. Schurr Maribel and her staff are awesome. My daughter referred me while out of town and they took me in right away! Treatments have been great and my knee feels a lot better now. Did You Know PT Can Help Even the Most Persistent Pain? Did you know that approximately 80 percent of Americans have experienced (or will experience) chronic back pain? That’s a depressing statistic, especially if you’re already one of those sufferers. Chronic back pain can prevent you from performing the countless daily tasks you need or want to perform. Even when you’re not engaged in activity, your back pain may be keeping you miserable 24/7. But don’t assume that drugs can provide more than temporary relief, or that surgery won’t create more problems than it solves. Instead, go with the healthy, natural way to kiss your back pain goodbye — through physical therapy. What is chronic pain? Chronic back pain refers to pain that lasts more than three months. It is a progressive pain that gradually worsens with time and basic daily activities. Furthermore, the specific cause of back pain may remain unknown. A person simply may not know what caused it or pinpoint a point of origin. However, most people can recover from back pain by understanding its causes, especially those that do not derive from an incident, such as a car accident. Chronic back pain Chronic back pain may arise from two issues, including a sudden, traumatic injury or repetitive stress on the vertebrae. Pain includes sensations, such as a prick, burn, tingle, sting, sharp pain and aches. Acute pain is typically an expected bodily response to a severe injury. However, the repeated use of joints after an inflammatory response may lead to the worsening of symptoms and disease progression, explains the NINDS. In addition, those with poor posture, bulging or herniated discs, arthritis, skeletal irregularities and osteoporosis may suffer from chronic back pain more often than their peers, says the Mayo Clinic. Other facts, such as age, weight, poor lifting practices and even mental health conditions, may increase risk for back pain, and it only takes one injury for a condition to persist into the realm of long-term problems. PT and chronic back pain – how it can help Instead of numbing yourself with drugs or risking major surgery, give physical therapy a chance to relieve your chronic back pain the safe, natural way. Our physical therapist will first take the time to examine your back, analyze your symptoms, evaluate your medical history, and talk to you about your pain management goals. This information enables the physical therapist to devise a comprehensive physical therapy plan just for you. Here are some ways you can benefit from such a plan: Mindfulness practices and other techniques can help you reduce anxiety and other reactions to pain that might make the pain worse, helping you control your pain responses for the better. Our physical therapist can recommend specific lifestyle modifications to help you ease stress on your back and avoid future back problems. Laser therapy, massage therapy, and heat or cold treatments can reduce chronic inflammation and relax painful muscle spasms in your back. Strengthening exercises can give weak back muscles the reinforcement they need to hold your back straighter and with less fatigue. Stretching exercises can help you increase your range of motion, allowing you to do more with less back pain. PT and chronic back pain – how it can help Instead of numbing yourself with drugs or risking major surgery, give physical therapy a chance to relieve your chronic back pain the safe, natural way. Our physical therapist will first take the time to examine your back, analyze your symptoms, evaluate your medical history, and talk to you about your pain management goals. This information enables the physical therapist to devise a comprehensive physical therapy plan just for you. Here are some ways you can benefit from such a plan: Mindfulness practices and other techniques can help you reduce anxiety and other reactions to pain that might make the pain worse, helping you control your pain responses for the better. Our physical therapist can recommend specific lifestyle modifications to help you ease stress on your back and avoid future back problems. Laser therapy, massage therapy, and heat or cold treatments can reduce chronic inflammation and relax painful muscle spasms in your back. Strengthening exercises can give weak back muscles the reinforcement they need to hold your back straighter and with less fatigue. Stretching exercises can help you increase your range of motion, allowing you to do more with less back pain. Considering physical therapy before drugs or surgery Back pain can be either acute or chronic in nature. Acute back pain often occurs as the direct result of torn muscles or other sudden, intense damage. But as agonizing as cute back pain may be, at least you have the comfort of knowing that your pain will probably subside as the injury heals. Chronic back offers no such comfort. By definition,

4 Reasons Hip and Knee Pain Doesn’t Have to Control Your Life

4 Reasons Hip and Knee Pain Doesn’t Have to Control Your Life Based on 627 Reviews Sandy Michaels Dr Maribel, Sara, Klaudia and Chesterton team are doing a great job, helping me recover for my hip! I love those place! Highly recommend! 🥰🤩 Ann Moodie My first experience at this facility was with Maribel She was so welcoming and professional. She started immediately assessing my pain in my foot.and hip She did laser, e stim, heat and massage. Since then the pain has resolved and I can walk 30 min a day without pain which was my goalEveryone here is wonderful and professional Thank you William P. Schurr Maribel and her staff are awesome. My daughter referred me while out of town and they took me in right away! Treatments have been great and my knee feels a lot better now. Kymie Conners Maribel and team were terrific. I came in with horrible pain in left knee. They did ultrasound and laser on my knee. Also they taped it. I can already feel a HUGE difference with relief in my knee. Great, friendly, wonderful staff!! Definitely will recommend If you have been struggling with hip and knee pain for a while, it may feel like your pain is here to stay. You might even feel like nothing in the world can offer you lasting joint pain relief! Good news is on the horizon though — physical therapy is one of the best ways to achieve freedom from hip and knee pain. With the right physical therapy treatments, you can lessen the pain you experience in your hips and knees – and possibly even eliminate it altogether. Call our office today to learn more. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. What is hip and knee pain? Hip and knee pain can be caused by a variety of medical conditions as well as from certain injuries. It often occurs when inflamed tendons from over-exertion or an athletic injury. Tendinitis, dislocation, sprains, and pinched nerves can all contribute to or be the cause of hip pain. Hip pain may also result from repetitive injuries or poor posture. Fractures, tendinitis, and knee bursitis are all common knee injuries. Injuries that include torn cartilage or damaged ligaments can cause knee pain. Medical conditions such as arthritis or gout can cause mild to severe knee pain. You may be experiencing stiffness or swelling in one or both knees, and it might be difficult to stand, walk, or fully straighten your knee. Sometimes knees will make popping or crunching noises. If you’re experiencing hip or knee pain, don’t assume it will just dissipate over time! Chances are that you do need to see a physical therapist for help. What benefits does physical therapy offer? Hip and knee pain can be debilitating – it seems like no matter what you have on your schedule for the day, if you move around too much, you’re going to experience pain. Thankfully there are ways to reduce your pain over the long term. It may take some time and effort on your part, but physical therapy has proven time and again to help reduce hip and knee pain for patients of all ages and backgrounds. You might be wondering, “How does the pain relief I can get from physical therapy last for so long? Well, there are a few reasons! We’ve compiled some of the most obvious ones in a list for you below. Physical therapy will prevent future injuries. One of the big frustrations with joint pain is that it never seems to fully go away. Even if you rest for a while and feel better, when you go out and start moving again the injury can flare up all over again. But with physical therapy exercises, you get much stronger than you were before. The added strength allows your muscles to better support your joints, so you are less likely to experience additional irritation in the joint. A physical therapist can teach you how to move in the proper ways. Many times the pain you are experiencing in your hip and knee is related to unhealthy movement patterns. They may have been learned over time or in response to an initial injury. Those unhealthy movements cause added strain on your joints and lead to further pain and injuries. Your physical therapist will help identify unhealthy movement patterns and provide you with education that will allow you to replace those patterns with ones that will protect your joints from further injury. Physical therapy can help you live a healthy and active life. Chronic hip and knee pain can be significantly improved or eliminated through regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Of course, you have to be able to move without significant pain to exercise – something that is made much easier by physical therapy. Your physical therapist can help you improve your hip and knee pain and teach you ways to exercise so that you avoid injuring your joints. Through physical therapy, you can regain strength and mobility so that you can lead a more active lifestyle. It will stop your pain problem at the source. If you just treat the symptoms of a hip and/or knee issue, you are almost guaranteed to see the problem pop up again later on. However, if you can determine the true source of the pain problem, you can actually treat what is causing the pain. Physical therapists have a process to identify the causes of hip and knee pain so that they can give you targeted treatments designed to get to the bottom of what is causing your pain. Common causes of hip and knee pain A great number of problems can cause hip and knee pain. Some of these are related to musculoskeletal misalignment, poor posture, and/or excess weight gain; others occur as the result of natural aging or unhealthy sports/work habits. Your hip or knee pain may stem from: Osteoarthritis Tendinitis Bursitis Traumatic injuries, such as dislocation of the joint Postural/alignment