Health Blog
3 Tips For Relieving Painful, Achy Joints
It’s not uncommon for us to wake up feeling a little strange or having achy joint pain. Sometimes we wonder, “Did I sleep on my neck wrong? Do I need to replace my mattress or get a better pillow?” It’s only normal that from time to time we feel a little off upon getting our day started!
However, if you find that you’re consistently waking up in pain, whether it be in your neck, back, hips, or elsewhere, it could be time for a trip to a physical therapist.
Read full blogStrains and Sprains Are Such a Pain, But Physical Therapy Can Help!
Imagine that you are walking through the park on a beautiful summer evening, and then all of a sudden, BAM! You hit the ground. Why? Because your foot magically found a hidden hole, and down you went. Now you’re in pain, collapsed in a heap, and hoping no one saw you go down.
This is embarrassing, yes, but something similar may have happened to you before. What did you do? Did you know whether it was an injury that would go away on its own?
Read full blogYou Can Breakup With Your Pain Medications Through The Help of a Physical Therapist
If you keep up with the news, then you probably already know that right now our country is in the throes of what appears to be an epidemic regarding the use of prescription medications and opioids. It’s a heartbreaking realization to come to, but it’s the truth, and it’s caused practitioners and patients alike a world of pain and anxiety.
There is a good reason for the panic. In 2016 alone, 116 people died each day from opioid-related drug overdoses.
Read full blogOpioid Crisis
How Physical Therapy Can Fight the Opioid Crisis
What is the opioid crisis epidemic?
In the 1990’s pain killers were prescribed to patients as an incentive from the major pharmaceutical companies who claimed they were not addictive.1 Doctors were being offered “kickbacks” to prescribe these addictive medications to their patients regardless of the side effects, risks of dependency, and potential consequences. While, prescription medication may be an appropriate source of treatment for pain management- one should talk to their doctor or pharmacist about risks, term of usage, and side effects.
Read full blogDo You Know Your Movement Vital Signs?
Jul 27th 2020MOVEMENT VITAL SIGNS
Most people think of heart rate or blood pressure when they think of vital signs. It is common to use numbers to quantify health and risk of disease. The American Heart Association encourages people to “know their numbers” referring to blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood glucose, and weight. However, research is now showing the importance of moving properly for health. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers you can use to quantify your movement health:
WALKING SPEED: THE SIXTH VITAL SIGN
Walking speed has been called the “sixth vital sign” in medical literature recently.
Read full blogChronic Pain and Arizona Heat
Jul 7th 2020Did you Know?
Arizona’s summer heat can be difficult to endure, but for those who have pain, it becomes even more difficult. If you have chronic pain, you are at a higher risk for chronic dehydration. This prolonged dehydration can aggravate your symptoms and increase your pain. Find out how dehydration affects your body, and learn how to feel better!
Spine and Brain: our spine and brain contain a vital fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This fluid is responsible for providing shock absorption to the spine and acts as a cushion to the brain, protecting us from trauma. CSF also circulates nutrients while removing wastes from our spine and brain.
Read full blogOST June Newsletter
Jun 19th 2020
Is Mask Neck The New Text Neck?
Jun 15th 2020DO YOU HAVE “MASK NECK?”
Most of us have had to wear a mask at least once, if not all of time, since the COVID-19 pandemic started. If you have been wearing a mask regularly, have you noticed any changes? I, for one, have definitely noticed a few side effects from wearing a mask. I wanted to share my experiences in hopes of helping you prevent pains and injuries that may be caused by wearing a mask.
Read full blogDry Needling
Jun 8th 2020Big News! Austin got his dry needling certifiacation over the weekend!
WHAT IS DRY NEEDLING?
Growing in popularity, dry needling is a way to treat muscle pain. A physical therapist, certified in dry needling, uses an acupuncture needle to penetrate directly into the muscle being treated. The word “dry” comes from the fact that no medication or liquid can be injected into the body.
