Written by Carol on February 15, 2017 |
Usually we are thinking and talking about backpacks at the beginning of the school year. But, now that we are mid way into the school year, our kids may be complaining about the weight of their backpacks. Of course they need to use their back pack everyday and generally they are good at distributing the heavy load across their strong back and shoulder muscles. But we should be also be aware that overly stressing the back with a heavy backpack could strain the back, neck, or shoulders and cause back pain in our children. A heavy weight carried in backpacks can:
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Written by Carol on February 1, 2017 |
It is proven exercise prevents back-pain recurrence. This article is taken from the BottomLine Personal on November 1, 2016:
Supervised exercise reduced the chance of a repeat episode of back pain by 45% over a one year period. Shoe orthotics and back belts we almost useless. And the type of exercise did not matter – some programs focused on back muscles, while others combined aerobics with strength and balance training. Patients generally did two to three supervised exercise sessions per week. But the protective effects wore off after a year – probably because many people stopped exercising when they were no longer being closely supervised. Troubling: About 75% of people who have an episode of debilitating lower-back pain will have another within one year.
Statistical analysis of more than 6,000 studies involving back-pain prevention led by researchers at The George Institute for Global Health. The University of Sydney, Australia, published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
ProActive Physical Therapy can offer you rehabilitation for back pain and then give you the opportunity to enjoy the Beyond Rehabilitation program offered by Activ8 Athleticism in Carlsbad. For those of you with back pain, please consider this and call us for an appointment.
Written by Tiffany on November 15, 2016 |
The age-old question: Heat or ice? While ice is ideal for certain injuries, heat also can provide symptom relief for a variety types of health conditions. In this article, I will focus on thermotherapy, or superficial heat modalities, which affect underlying tissue to a depth of 1-2 centimeters. These can include heat/hot packs, fluidotherapy, and paraffin baths.
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Written by Tiffany on November 1, 2016 |
Which is better, heat or ice? Patients ask me that all the time. And my answer is: it depends. Both are good, but good for different things. In this article, I will focus on cryotherapy or “cold”/ice therapy. This can include ice packs, whirlpools, cooling sprays, or the ever popular frozen peas.
First of all, what does ice do to your body? In general, The metabolic activity of the tissue decreases, and nerve conduction becomes slower. It can reduce muscle spasms and guarding (when your muscles are tense from having pain). Basically, everything becomes slower with ice. How can that help someone with an injury?
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Written by Tiffany on July 30, 2016 |
While best known for its imaging, ultrasound has many applica
tions in medicine. It can diagnose or treat, depending on its parameters (frequency, duty cycle, intensity). In therapy, ultrasound is commonly used to treat soft tissue injuries. It can facilitate the healing process, speed recovery, and decrease pain if utilized correctly.
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Written by Dana on May 18, 2016 |
The female body goes through many physical changes during pregnancy and after childbirth. We all know about added body weight during and after pregnancy. Lesser known changes include weakness of the upper and lower abdominal muscles, lumbar and sacral pain and dysfunction, bladder dysfunction and foot problems.
Getting back into shape after childbirth can be a challenge. Physically, the mother has recently experienced a grueling workout, also known as labor. Episiotomies or Caesarian sections complicate the recovery process. Time and energy used for working out suddenly become directed towards child care and nurturing. Sleep deprivation from nighttime feedings and diaper changes also interrupts the energy and time for exercise.
There are therapists at Proactive for Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine who specialize in women’s health issues. Back pain, muscle weakness, and returning to good health are the areas physical therapy can help. Gone are the days when a new mother was expected to suffer through this challenging, joyful and sometimes painful time.
Written by Dana on May 11, 2016 |
Like me, you were probably reminded by your parents to stop slouching and to sit up straight. At Proactive For Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, we encourage our clients to sit and stand up straight. We then show our clients how to accomplish this and instruct them why this is important. In addition to aesthetic reasons, there are also anatomical reasons for proper postural alignment.
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Written by Dana on May 4, 2016 |
The physical therapists at Proactive for Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine have been seeing a growing trend of computer operators developing pain. The public is generally familiar itch carpal tunnel syndrome developing as a result of excessive computer use. Less well known are a variety of overuse syndromes affecting the arms, shoulders, head and neck and back pain from continuous computer use.
The common factors that physical therapists see in their clients with overuse syndromes are:
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