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Did-You-Know-Physical-Therapy-Can-Alleviate-Pain-and-Discomfort
Did You Know Physical Therapy Can Alleviate Pain and Discomfort?

When you wake up in the morning, do you feel achy? While aches and pains are common from time to time, waking up every morning with them can indicate a more serious problem.

If you wake up with painful sensations for no apparent reason, don’t hesitate to contact Dubuque Physical Therapy for help as soon as possible.

We’ll get to the source of your issue to help you find relief, so you may wake up feeling refreshed in the mornings!

Why is my pain worse in the morning?

Overuse of your joint tissues throughout the day might aggravate them without you even noticing it. When you fall asleep, you are pretty much immobile for several hours, which can cause tissue inflammation to thicken and irritate the affected area further. As a result, you feel stiff and achy when you wake up in the morning.

Most of the time, after you get up and walk around, this feeling will dissipate. This is due to the fact that movement causes the inflammation to become liquid-like, reducing pain.

Hydration is an easy way to avoid aching morning wake-up calls. Dehydration slows down your chemical processes, however, being hydrated permits your body’s tissues to work at their regular rate. This will protect your tissues from becoming excessively inflamed, which will help to relieve inflammation.

How can physical therapy help relieve aches and pains?

Your physical therapy treatment plan will be determined by your symptoms and/or diagnosis. In addition to your customized treatment plan, many physical therapists will recommend at-home remedies. On your path to wellness, your physical therapist will most likely give you the following advice:

  • Practice proper posture. Avoiding unwanted aches and pains can be as simple as maintaining proper posture. Try to get up every half hour for some light stretches if your job needs you to sit at a desk for extended periods of time or if you stay sedentary for lengthy periods of time every day. Move around and keep your circulation running to relieve joint pain. Make sure your spine is straight and your shoulders are back at your desk to avoid slouching or hunching.
  • Maintain a good sleep schedule. Getting a good night’s sleep creates an endless cycle of benefits, especially when it comes to physical therapy. Sufficient amounts of sleep will increase your ability to exercise effectively, which in turn will help you sleep better at night. Your sleep and exercise habits go hand-in-hand, and the results of one will always affect the other.
  • Eat healthy. You can lessen the recurrence of pain by watching what you eat! It’s important to eat lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. These nutritious meals are higher in antioxidants and vitamins, which help to reduce inflammation, which causes pain and irritation. A better diet also aids in improved sleep and allows your body to reap more benefits from exercise, furthering the never-ending cycle of benefits.

Common pain conditions physical therapy can help with

If your doctor has diagnosed you with a serious medical condition, or you’ve sustained a painful injury that impacts your joints and tissues, physical therapy would be the most beneficial next step.

Physical therapy is a common and effective treatment plan for chronic pain relief that most doctors will suggest. Here are some of the most common ailments that can be relieved with the guidance of a physical therapist:

  • Gout.
  • Lupus.
  • Tendinitis.
  • Chronic headaches.
  • Sprains.
  • Strains.
  • Bursitis.
  • Sports-related injury.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.

All of these conditions can cause aches, pains, and stiffness. Physical therapy treatment plans for these conditions will focus on helping you achieve a greater range of motion in your affected joints or limbs, in addition to providing pain relief. These work to improve overall function and help you get back to your normal mobility.

If you are living with constant aches and pains, it is in your best interest to consult with a physical therapist. Your physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation to determine the origin of your pain and create a treatment plan accordingly.

This treatment plan will work to relieve your pain and improve your function, with your physical therapist acting as a support system through every step along the way.

Treatment plans consist of targeted stretches and exercises to help you recover from your condition. Additional treatment methods may also be added to your treatment plan as your physical therapist deems fit.

Give our clinic a call for an appointment

You don’t have to keep saying no to doing things you love because of your fear of chronic pain. If you are living with aches and pains, contact our office today to find out how we can help! We’ll get you back to living life on your own terms without the use of medication!

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Experiencing Discomfort In Your Neck and Back? PT Could Alleviate Your Pain!

Back and neck pain can occur for a variety of causes. Back and neck pain can be mild to severe, and it may be accompanied by other symptoms. Fortunately, physical therapy can help you get rid of back and neck discomfort and get back to enjoying a pain-free life.

Muscle strains, which can arise as a result of a cervical herniated disc, cervical degenerative disc disease, or cervical osteoarthritis, are the most common causes of neck pain. Back pain can be caused by anything that causes the structure of the spine to alter, such as lumbar disc herniation, lumbar degenerative disc disease, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or osteoarthritis.

You don’t need to continue living in constant pain and discomfort, especially when there are resources available to you to help you feel better. Relieve your back and neck pain today by contacting Dubuque Physical Therapy office to schedule a consultation!

How pain in the spine is connected to your neck

We don’t typically think about it, but we use our spines for many of our daily activities. Even simple things, such as turning to grab something out of the cupboard or looking over your shoulder, requires the interaction of the entire spinal joints, muscles, and nerves.

Your spine is connected through a series of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints where movement in one region influences movements in another. As with any type of interconnected system, breakdowns can happen at any time. This is why dysfunction in one area can lead to pain in the other.

Pain in your back and/or spine can range from a mild, dull, annoying ache to persistent, severe, and disabling pain. Often the pain in your back or neck restricts mobility and interferes with normal functioning and quality of life.

When you have limited motion in your neck, your body compensates by twisting more than it usually would allow you to complete the task. Our spine requires the coordination of the entire spine; otherwise, movements can cause pain or limitations that impair your ability to complete the activity.

If you are experiencing neck pain, back pain, or a combination of both, our physical therapists would be more than happy to meet with you for a consultation to discuss how they can help!

How is the cause of neck and back pain diagnosed?

Back pain and neck pain can lead to a loss of productivity, and it is a common cause for disability. Because of this, it is important to seek the assistance of a medical professional immediately if you are suffering from back or neck pain.

If you’re having back or neck pain, you should see your primary care physician immediately. They will almost certainly do a physical examination and may request x-rays or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.

Your doctor will be able to examine your soft tissues, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels clearly with an MRI, which can reveal the source of your back or neck pain. Once this has been determined, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan, which will almost certainly include physical therapy!

How will physical therapy help my back or neck pain?

Physical therapy is an effective treatment for both back and neck pain. The goals and expected outcomes of these treatments include:

  1. Prevention of further issues. By learning proper body mechanics, you can avoid future injuries and prevent pain from recurring.
  2. Decreased pain and stiffness. By using passive treatments such as manual therapy, your physical therapist will help alleviate pain in the affected area and accelerate the healing process.
  3. Increased range of motion. Your physical therapist will implement flexibility exercises into your treatment plan, which will help increase the range of motion in your back and neck.
  4. Improved quality of life. Physical therapy can help you return to your normal routine much quicker, allowing for an overall improvement in quality of life.
  5. Improved strength. Your physical therapist will create a specific exercise plan for your particular needs, which will aid in the strengthening of muscles in the affected area.

Treatment plans are made up of both passive and active methods. Passive treatments work to relieve pain, inflammation, and stiffness, while active treatments work to improve strength, flexibility, and function.

Common passive treatments for back and neck pain include ice and heat therapies, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound. Active treatments include targeted stretches and exercises that your physical therapist will prescribe. Your therapist will be the one to decide which kinds of therapies are right for your condition and your therapy treatment will be created that way.

Call our clinic to schedule your one-on-one evaluation

You deserve to live a life that is pain-free. Dealing with neck or back pain (or both!) on a daily basis shouldn’t be something that you’re forced to do. If this is your current reality, it’s time to say hello to a new one with the help of physical therapy.

Contact us today to confirm your appointment and get started on the first steps toward pain relief.

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3 Signs It’s Time To Visit a Physical Therapist For Sciatica Pain

If you have sciatica, you’re probably already skimming this article looking for answers as to when or if you need to see a physical therapist for treatment. We’ll tell you now: physical therapy can help ease your pain and speed up the recovery process.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the lower back to the legs and then down to the feet. Sciatica causes “shooting pains” down one side of the body, according to those who suffer from it. This kind of pain is super uncomfortable and can be quite debilitating when left untreated.

It can be difficult to tell if your symptoms require medical attention, however, Dubuque Physical Therapy has put together a list of the 3 most obvious signs that you should seek the care of a licensed physical therapist for treatment.

When should I make an appointment with a physical therapist?

1. You have sciatica as the result of a painful injury.

Your symptoms may worsen over time with moderate sciatica, or they may go away on their own. However, if your sciatica symptoms appear suddenly after an injury or trauma (such as a vehicle accident, sports injury, or a hard fall), you should see your doctor and physical therapist as soon as you possibly can.

Because these symptoms are the result of a powerful impact surrounding the sciatic nerve, they are likely to be severe, and it is critical to assess the extent of the injury. Physical therapy will almost always be recommended by your primary physician, regardless of the course of treatment he or she advises.

2. What you’ve been doing to relieve pain at home isn’t working anymore.

You might try these basic home remedies to help alleviate some of your sciatica pain. Using ice and heat compresses alternately, or sleeping with a pillow between your knees, for example, can help relieve discomfort and stiffness.

Sitting in a reclining chair, which redirects the strain from your lower back, can also bring some relief. Going for a stroll or doing other light exercises can also assist to keep your body moving and prevent it from becoming too stiff.

These are some of the most often utilized at-home pain management techniques, although they don’t always work. If your home therapies aren’t helping to relieve your pain and restricted motion, or if your symptoms haven’t improved after a week, or if they worsen, you should contact your primary care physician. They may refer you to physical therapy so you can get relief from your aches and pains!

3. Your pain is getting worse over time.

Depending on how compressed your sciatic nerve becomes, the intensity of your discomfort may vary. It will be more painful the more compacted it is. Severe shooting pain, paralysis or numbness on one side, or inability to move your feet are all possible symptoms. You may lose control of your bladder and/or bowel function if your sciatic nerve becomes compressed in the area that regulates those functions.

It is important to consult with both your primary doctor and your physical therapist If you experience any of these symptoms. Together you can discuss a treatment plan for easing your pain and getting you back to your normal function. Your doctor may also run a number of tests to rule out any other underlying conditions.

Give us a call today to schedule an appointment

Does sciatica pain have you feeling down in the dumps? Are your symptoms so debilitating that you’re finding yourself calling out of work more often than you’d like? You’re not alone. Physical therapy can help you find relief.

Physical therapy treatments will include targeted stretches and exercises to help strengthen the muscles around the sciatic nerve. Treatments may also focus on range of motion and postural improvement, in order to decrease stress on the sciatic nerve and prevent pain from returning in the future.

If you’re ready to get rid of your nagging sciatica pain, your search can end here. Call us today and we’ll provide you with an individualized treatment plan to help you get back to your normal life as quickly as possible!

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