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

Dealing With Stress-Related Headaches? Physical Therapy Can Help.

Dealing With Stress- related Headaches? Physical Therapy Can Help. 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. Have you ever seen someone at work or in a difficult situation holding their head? What was your first initial thought? Most of us would assume either that they’re under extreme stress, or that they have a headache. In fact, you may be right on both counts. Both physical and emotional stress can cause tension headaches. They can also trigger cervicogenic and migraine headaches, both of which can leave you effectively disabled for the remainder of your day. You may struggle with chronic or recurring headache pain yourself, and if you do, you’re probably tired of taking pain-relieving medication all the time just to be able to do things you want to do. Maybe it’s time you found a better answer by consulting with a licensed physical therapist about your pain. Physical therapy can ease your headache symptoms by treating their underlying causes, giving you a safer, more sustainable headache management strategy. How does stress cause headaches? Emotional stress and physical stress go hand in hand, with either capable of causing or aggravating the other. Being in stressful situations can cause muscles to tighten up as the body goes into “fight or flight” mode. When tightness affects the small muscles at the base of the skull (such as the RCPM muscle in the neck) those muscles may pull on a pain-sensitive membrane in the head called the dura mater. The dura mater responds by sending out waves of pain, giving you a classic tension headache. Headaches that begin in the neck are referred to as “cervicogenic headaches.” These headaches are often caused by imbalances or alignment problems in the cervical spine. These imbalances place the neck muscles under physical stress, producing both headaches and neck pain. Emotional stress can also play a role in cervicogenic headaches, since the muscle tightness they create can help to pull the neck out of alignment. Migraines are the most dreaded of headaches, and knowing that someone has one is sure to make you wince if you’ve ever experienced one yourself. In fact, a migraine attack may go far beyond the crushing headache it is notorious for producing, causing symptoms such as: Sound and/or light sensitivity Faintness Nausea and vomiting Visual distortions known as “auras” While it’s hard to pin down the underlying causes behind migraines, many of the triggers are well known. Stress, various foods, bright lights, loud sounds, weather changes, and hormonal swings can cause migraines, as well as physical overexertion or emotional strain. How physical therapy can relieve stress-related headaches While pain-relieving drugs such as NSAIDs (Aleve, Tylenol, ibuprofen) can relieve the occasional headache, what they can’t do is address the stresses that lead to chronic headache problems. For that level of relief, you need to see a physical therapist. Our physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation that includes an examination of your neck and cervical spine, discussion of your symptoms, and analysis of lifestyle factors that may be sources of stress. This background allows us to create a headache management program largely rooted in the management of stress and its effects. Your physical therapy treatment program may include: Chiropractic adjustments to correct cervical spinal alignment Ergonomic adjustments such as changing your computer monitor height (to prevent constant neck droop) Mindfulness exercises such as yoga to help you add more serenity to your daily life Suggestions for changing or sleep position or trying a different kind of pillow Dry needling to ease stress-induced tension and pain Massage therapy to relax tight neck muscles Exercises to limber up your neck or strengthen your neck muscles Other causes of stress-related headaches There may be a physical cause behind your stress-related headaches. An accident or injury to the neck or back can contribute to headaches. Poor posture and arthritis are two other potential causes. Depression and anxiety are similar emotions to stress that can also lead to headaches. In general, you can expect stretching and strength training to be part of your treatment. The treatment of your stress-related headaches will depend in part on the diagnosis. For example, one course of treatment that would work for correcting your posture and strengthening the neck muscles might not be appropriate if your headaches are the result of a past injury. Other options that your physical therapist might employ can include: McKenzie therapies Cervical traction Body mobilization Hot and cold compressions Soft tissue mobilization Besides the treatment you will receive during your physical therapy sessions at the clinic, your therapist will also recommend exercises, stretches, and lifestyle changes that you can make at home, which will all contribute to eliminating your headaches. Contact our clinic to schedule a consultation with a physical therapist If you can conquer your stress, you may just conquer your chronic headaches as well! To learn more about this natural, drug-free method for headache relief,

5 Ways To Know You Need Physical Therapy

5 Ways To Know You Need Physical Therapy 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. Physical therapy isn’t just for rehabilitation or athletes in training. There are many reasons why a person might need the assistance of a physical therapist, including injuries, illnesses, and chronic pain conditions. We put together a list of five basic indicators that you need to visit a physical therapist. If any of these apply to you, be sure to connect  Chesterton Physical Therapy today and set up an appointment with one of our therapists! We’ll have you back up and on your feet, feeling your best in no time. 1. You’re finding that you’re no longer able to do many of the things you used to enjoy doing. There may not be any specific injury or pain you’re currently experiencing, but you’ve noticed it’s more difficult to do the things you enjoy. This can be one of the most obvious factors when it comes to needing therapy. Whether it’s due to a chronic condition such as arthritis or general wear and tear on your joints and muscles, physical therapy can help you get back to the activities you love. 2. You’ve been getting hurt more than usual. Have you noticed you’ve got a lot of aches and pains, or even bruises, from random instances where you’ve been hurt? If you’re pulling muscles often or falling more frequently you would likely benefit from working with a physical therapist. You may need to learn new ways of warming up or cooling down after your favorite activities to reduce the chance of pulling a muscle or tendon. A trained physical therapist can teach you exercises that can improve your balance and increase overall stability. 3. You’ve gotten a repetitive use injury. You may be one of millions of individuals that sit in the same position, doing the same type of work for hours at a time. This might not seem like an obvious reason to need physical therapy, but when you’re less active, your muscles and joints take the biggest hit. It doesn’t matter if you’re standing or moving around, moving your body in the same way (such as always lifting or pulling items off of shelves) can result in a repetitive injury. Carpal tunnel or tennis elbow are common injuries that are often caused by repetitive movements. A physical therapist can teach you simple exercises to treat the condition. A therapist can also show you how to perform repetitive tasks in ways that will prevent future injuries from occurring. 4. You’ve undergone surgery or are about to undergo surgery Physical therapy is especially important if you have or will spend a significant amount of time lying in a hospital bed. It’s necessary to keep muscles and joints as flexible as possible during the healing process. After even minor surgery, your body is struggling to heal and recover to its normal state. No matter what type of surgery you’ve just had or have scheduled on the books, physical therapy can help you more quickly regain strength and flexibility. A physical therapist can also design a program to reduce the amount of scar tissue that forms after surgery. Physical therapy can help you return to your regular routine as quickly as possible. 5. Random sharp pains have been bothering you Reducing and eliminating any type of ongoing pain will enable you to more fully participate and enjoy your daily activities.Sharp pain, especially if it’s ongoing, may be a sign of a serious injury. It could be a pulled muscle or possibly a stress fracture. The sooner an injury is treated the more likely it will heal quickly. There is also the chance that an injury will get worse if it is not treated in a timely manner. A physical therapist can do an evaluation and get you started on a treatment program to treat the root cause of your pain. What benefits does physical therapy offer? According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapy can help not only with overall wellness, but also injury prevention. A physical therapist is a movement specialist, educated in analyzing mobility issues with walking, running, jumping, bending, stretching, and almost every other form of physical activity. Our physical therapist can pinpoint problem areas and create a customized treatment plan aimed at improving those areas. The purpose of physical therapy remains the same regardless of why you find yourself calling our office! Perhaps you are still suffering from the lingering pain of an injury. Perhaps you are recovering from a surgery and trying to get your range of motion back. Maybe you’ve noticed it’s just not as easy for you to navigate as it used to be. Whatever the case may be, physical therapists are dedicated to relieving your pain and getting you back to your peak level of physical health. Through in-office sessions and at-home exercises, patients strengthen their muscles and joints, improve