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Headache-Pain-Is-No-Joke
Headache Pain Is No Joke. Find Freedom Through Physical Therapy!

Have you been suffering from debilitating headaches? If so, know that you are not alone. It is no secret that headaches can cause limits to your daily life. In fact, the International Headache Society states that headaches are the third most common pain complaint of pain across the world.

Fortunately though, physical therapy can help you overcome those painful barriers.

If you are living with constant headaches and you’re looking for relief, call Dubuque Physical Therapy today to consult with one of our licensed physical therapists. We’ll help you find true and lasting relief from headache pain!

What is causing my headaches?

A “headache” is a term that refers to any form of pain that happens in the head. The trick is to figure out what kind of headache you’re having and then come up with a treatment strategy that works for you. Physical therapists are skilled at identifying various forms of headaches and developing pain-relieving treatments for stress-related headaches.

There are several different types of headaches that can be treated with physical therapy. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Exertion.
  • Migraine or sinus.
  • Stress (tension).
  • Hypertension.
  • Cluster.
  • Hormone.
  • Rebound.
  • Caffeine.
  • Post-traumatic.

Tension headaches are some of the most commonly treated headaches by a physical therapist. They occur when the neck and scalp muscles contract or become tense, and they can happen at any age.

Stress-related headaches generally start at the back of the head and progress to the top of the head and eyes, sometimes accompanied by facial pain along the jaw and cheeks. This type of discomfort has been compared to having hair pulled or wearing a very tight hat. These types of headaches can occur as a result of:

  • Neck or jaw problems.
  • Poor posture.
  • Arthritis.
  • Depression.
  • Anxiety.
  • Increased stress.
  • Fatigue.

Most headaches will resolve on their own without medical intervention; however, severe or recurrent headaches that interfere with one’s quality of life should most certainly be evaluated further.

Physical therapy techniques for pain relief

The good news is that if you’re struggling with headache pain, there is a solution to your problem. You can kiss those days and nights of pounding grief goodbye!

Your physical therapist may suggest any combination of specialized treatment services to treat your headaches. These may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Muscular releases.
  • Muscle energy techniques.
  • Cervical traction.
  • Soft tissue mobilization.
  • McKenzie-based therapies.
  • Body mobilization.
  • Ice or heat compressions.
  • Stretching exercises.
  • Strengthening exercises.

With all treatment plans, you can expect to receive education that will supplement your in-office experience. During your first appointment, your therapist will assess your condition, ask you about your symptoms, and create a customized treatment plan specifically for you.

You can also expect the following during your assessment:

  • Examination of your posture while engaged in different activities.
  • Tests of your muscle strength and sensation.
  • Manual therapy to ascertain the mobility of joints and muscles in your neck.
  • Measurements regarding the range of motion of your shoulders, neck, and other relevant parts of the body.
  • Questions regarding previous injuries to your neck, head, jaw, and/or back.
  • Inquiries about the location of the pain, in addition to any other symptoms you are experiencing.

Your treatment plan will be aimed at giving you pain relief and increasing your daily function. Your physical therapist will help you achieve this through:

  • Strength improvement. You’ll learn exercises to help strengthen the muscles that control your neck and upper back, in order to improve posture and increase your ability to stand or sit comfortably for longer periods of time.
  • Posture improvement. Your posture throughout the day greatly impacts your likelihood for pain and stress-related headaches. Your physical therapist will teach you methods of improving your posture in order to function more comfortably in your daily life.
  • Neck function improvement. Using manual therapy, your physical therapist will stretch the muscles in the back of your neck to relieve pain and increase movement.

What are you waiting for? Relief is a call away!

The sooner you see a physical therapist, the less probable it is that your headaches will become more severe.

Are your headaches interfering with your everyday activities? If this is the case, please inform us as soon as possible. To get started on the first steps of your own tailored treatment plan, call our office today!

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3-Small-Changes-To-Make-To-Your-Diet
3 Small Changes To Make To Your Diet To Relieve Inflammation

If you live with constant pain and inflammation, you are not alone. There are many chronic conditions that can lead to pain and inflammation; however, much of what you’re feeling can be managed simply through diet.

Your body is fueled by what you eat, so when you eat a nutritious diet your body is able to recover much faster. If you’re looking for advice on how to improve your diet and relieve inflammation, look no further.

Contact Dubuque Physical Therapy today to speak with one of our physical therapists and learn how you can begin to relieve your pain and inflammation!

Why does inflammation happen?

If you have an infection, wound, tissue damage, or buildup of toxins in your body, the immune response is triggered to deal with it. Your immune system can naturally respond to injury, ailment, or other harm through inflammation. If inflammation didn’t occur, injuries wouldn’t be able to heal; however, if this process goes on for too long, chronic inflammation can occur — and that is not something you want to happen!

Chronic inflammation may lead to severe health conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, or even some forms of cancer. If you experience persistent chronic pain, it is wise to contact a physical therapist as soon as possible, as it may mean that the inflammation has become chronic.

Traditionally, chronic inflammation has been managed with a combination of rest and medicine. Lack of activity, on the other hand, can exacerbate inflammation by constricting joints and stiffening muscles. Furthermore, drugs have a host of adverse effects, some of which can be harmful and/or addictive. Fortunately, pain and inflammation can be addressed in a variety of ways, including through nutrition.

How can a good diet help decrease inflammation?

Pain and inflammation can be relieved through proper nutrition, stress management, and exercise!

 Inflammation is your body’s way of trying to heal, which can be accelerated through a nutritional diet that complements the removal of toxins. Nutritionists have had patients report great success in turning around their symptoms by adopting an anti-inflammatory diet.

These 3 dieting tips can help relieve your inflammation:

1. Eat less red meat

When following an anti-inflammatory diet, it’s advisable to stay away from red meat. If this proves impossible, tiny amounts of red meat are acceptable; nevertheless, it should be a very unusual treat in your diet. Because the proteins in red meat demand more work from your kidneys to digest, eating a lot of it will slow down the healing process. Fortunately, anti-inflammatory diets can include chicken and fish.

2. Avoid dairy and carbs

In order to strengthen your body’s immune response, you’ll want to avoid simple carbs and sugars. Unfortunately, that means no donuts, no pastries, and no white bread. Dairy products should also be extremely limited, so very little cheese or milk with anything. Whole grains, such as barley, oats, brown rice, and wheat are best.

3. Load up on veggies

When it comes to maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet, raw broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage are the greatest choices. If you like, you can prepare them, although fresh vegetables are generally best for reducing inflammation. You can eat up to nine portions every day, and you can break it up by substituting fruits for a couple of those servings if it seems too excessive. Otherwise, the age-old adage “eat your vegetables” applies.

How can a physical therapist help?

Your physical therapist can also provide you with additional tips for pain relief and reduced inflammation. In addition to your nutrition plan, you should also try:

  • Increasing your levels of physical activity. Exercise will keep the muscles warm, which can alleviate pain or stiffness, and stop the inflammation from becoming worse.
  • Lowering your stress levels. If you’re feeling mentally stressed, your body can become physically stressed – causing more inflammation and a longer recovery rate. Taking time to relax can actually allow you to heal quicker!
  • Managing your weight. If you have some unwanted weight, getting down to your ideal body weight will help with your pain and inflammation.

Call our clinic today for an appointment!

Are you looking to add a new nutrition plan into your lifestyle to help manage your pain and inflammation? If you stick to the tips listed above, you should notice a decrease in pain.

Call Dubuque Physical Therapy today to consult with a physical therapist and see how you can relieve your symptoms as quickly as possible!

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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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