Category: Joint Stiffness and Pain

Physical Therapy Clinic in West BloomfieldBlogJoint Stiffness and Pain
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By manish 0 Comments Back Pain, Joint Stiffness and Pain, Natural Pain Relief

5 Tips For Increasing Energy and Decreasing Chronic Pain

You know how limiting pain can be if you live with it. Fortunately, you can reduce your discomfort while also raising your energy levels by making a few simple lifestyle modifications. When you combine these exercises with your physical therapy treatments, you may help yourself heal from discomfort and achieve the physical goals you’ve set for yourself.

To find out more about how we can help you increase your energy and decrease your pain, contact�Premier Therapy Center today!

How can I improve my energy levels and experience less discomfort?

1. Practice a nutritional diet.

The food you eat is what fuels you throughout the day. Certain foods can provide you with more energy, in addition to relieving the pain you feel. A few of these include:

  • Cherries. Cherries increase antioxidants, which can relieve pain and inflammation.
  • Ginger. The ginger plant has been known to relieve pain from migraines, as well as muscle aches and nausea. It is typically used as a spice and can be easily sprinkled into a meal.
  • Hot peppers. This spicy treat has been known to relieve arthritis pain. Even if you aren’t a fan of the spice, a serving as small as half a teaspoon could help bring some relief.
  • Salmon. Salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids, which help to relieve neck, back, and joint pain.

2. Relieve your stress.

While we are all aware of the psychological effects of stress, it can also increase physical pain. As a result, it’s critical to carry some stress-relieving tactics in your back pocket for when you need them.

A warm bath is an excellent technique to relieve tension while also soothing sore muscles and joints. Breathing exercises can also aid relaxation by soothing the mind and body. Taking two or three deep breaths and slowly releasing them through your nose is an easy technique.

3. Get a good night’s sleep.

Did you realize that you spend around a third of your life sleeping? As a result, it’s critical to make sure your mattress is the correct fit for you. Your sleeping mattress might have an impact on how your body feels when you’re awake. Because everyone sleeps differently, it’s best to pick a mattress that matches your sleeping style:

  • Soft mattress. Side sleepers generally benefit from a softer mattress, as it is easier on their sides.
  • Firm mattress. If you sleep on your back, a medium-to-firm mattress will help with those backaches.
  • Memory foam. If you toss and turn all night, or if you switch positions repeatedly, you may want to try out memory foam. It may help you stay in one place, as it forms to the shape of your body.

4. Boost your endorphins.

When you exercise, your body releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which act as natural pain relievers. It may seem difficult to exercise when you are experiencing aches and pains, but even light movement can provide much-needed relief.

You can also boost your endorphins by sniffing a soothing lavender scent, listening to your favorite music, or even eating chocolate. All around it’s a win/win!

5. Come in for your physical therapy treatments!

At our practice, we have several treatment methods that can help alleviate your pain and increase your energy. We will find where your pain is originating so we can address it at the root, providing you with long-lasting relief. Some common methods we employ for pain relief include:

  • Aquatic therapy. Water can stimulate nerves and provide resistance for exercise and strength training. It allows for easier movement, which can ease the stress on your body.
  • Ultrasound. Ultrasound produces sound waves that can assist in blocking pain signals to the brain.
  • Ice and heat therapies. Heat works to warm the muscles and tendons, making movement easier and less painful. Ice works to reduce inflammation, also providing soothing pain relief.
  • Massage therapy. A physical therapist is highly educated on painful areas of the body. Through massage, he or she can manipulate your painful muscles and joints, thus reducing inflammation and providing relief.

Call Premier Therapy Center today to schedule an appointment!

By implementing some of these tips into your daily life, you should notice a boost in energy, as well as a decrease in pain. If you’re living with a chronic condition, it’s a good idea to let our clinic know so that we can assist you with getting back up on your feet iwth the least amount of discomfort.

To get more help, don’t hesitate to contact our office today. We’ll help you achieve your physical goals so you can live the life you want!

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By manish 0 Comments Joint Stiffness and Pain, Physical Therapy

How Physical Therapy Can Restore Mobility & Decrease Your Joint Pain!

You’ve Got Options For Joint Pain Relief.

Let’s face it, your joints just aren’t treating you the way they used to. You might be dealing with the aftermath of an injury that has made it hard for you to get around the way you’re used to. Or maybe you’re just suffering from age-related arthritis, and everything is starting to hurt! One thing is for sure, taking excessive amounts of over the counter painkillers and sitting around all day definitely isn’t doing you any favors. If you want to start enjoying your life again without being limited by joint pain, it’s time to get serious about looking for a natural solution…physical therapy.

What Makes Your Joints Hurt?

If you want to understand how physical therapy can help you with your joint pain, you need to know why those symptoms are even happening to you!

Joint stiffness and pain can be caused by a variety of problems, but take for instance, an acute sprain or strain. The joints, muscles, tendons or ligaments may be impaired, causing inflammation. This time of pain can be painful and render you totally inactive.

Soft tissue injuries don’t always happen because of an accident. They can also develop slowly over months or even years. You might notice that the pain also ebbs and flows depending on the time of day. Certain sports, jobs, hobbies can cause you to put excessive stress on certain joints over and over again, which could very well land you with a case of chronic tendinitis or bursitis!

Common Causes of Joint Pain

Can you believe that it’s possible to develop soft tissue pain from doing absolutely nothing? It’s strange, but true. Take for example, this condition called adhesive capsulitis, otherwise known as “frozen shoulder.” If you’ve had to wear a sling for a while, this is an uncomfortable condition you could end up having that can render your shoulder useless for quite some time.

Osteoarthritis, more commonly known as arthritis, is the most frequent condition that causes pain and stiffness. This condition can affect anyone at any age, but is most often found in older patients and stems from age-related deterioration of the cartilage between the bones in a joint. Osteoarthritis isn’t the only one to look out for though. Rheumatoid arthritis is another painful, damaging joint condition caused by autoimmune issues.

Types of Physical Therapy to Consider

There are so many ways to develop joint aches and pains; the list is never ending! Thankfully, there are also many different kinds of physical therapy that can address these symptoms, extend your range of motion, and ease your pain.

Our physical therapists will start by evaluating your condition carefully, examining your overall health and physical activities, as well how often you experience your symptoms. Proper examination of the joint and of your ability to move it can show your therapist exactly what the underlying problem is, and help them create a more customized treatment for you.

Certain types of physical therapy may be recommended to you. Here are a few:

  • Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy can supply beneficial exercise for people who are unable to bear all of their weight on their joints. Learning to do gentle exercises in the water allows the water to support part of your body weight. This is excellent therapy because it will allow you to move those joints and rebuild the corresponding joint tissues.
  • RICE: Nope, this isn’t a food! RICE stands for “Rest,” “Ice,” “Compression” and “Elevation.” Your physical therapist may recommend RICE to you to reduce pain and inflammation.
  • Joint mobilization techniques: Have you ever heard of a “wobble board?” They’re also known as balance boards. Working with these tools can help you improve your joint mobility, especially in your foot or ankle joints. You might also benefit from techniques that work to loosen and break up internal scar tissue, which can form over old injuries and cause chronic soreness and stiffness.
  • Stretching exercises:Did you know that injured muscles and connective tissues are capable of healing and returning to their previous length and range of motion? It’s possible with the help of stretching exercises. These exercises are also excellent for preventing arthritic joints from becoming more stiff over time. Workouts and on a bicycle or treadmill may be suggestions our physical therapists propose to you.

Make Your Appointment With One Of Our Physical Therapists

Kiss your days of dealing with joint pain goodbye. You don’t have to live this way! With the help of physical therapy, your life can drastically improve. So what are you waiting for? Contact our office today to set up your own consultation with one of our licensed physical therapists or visit us in West Bloomfield Township, MI. They’re eager to meet with you and start getting you back on the road to recovery.

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Joint Stiffness and Pain, Physical Therapy

4 Things To Do if You Wake Up Feeling Achy

Why are you feeling so achy and stiff in the morning? Could it be an old, ill-suited mattress? An unsupportive pillow? A poor sleeping position? Do you have an underlying health condition like osteoarthritis? What about dehydration? Maybe it’s a combination of these issues, or maybe it’s something else entirely. Whatever the reason, a.m. stiffness is no joke! To get your day started in the right direction and help yourself feel more limber and energized in the morning, check out these four top tips from our physical therapy team.

1. Drink Up

Your body loses a lot of water at night while you’re sleeping, mostly through sweat and breath. So, it’s not unusual to wake up in the morning and be super dehydrated. Unfortunately, dehydration can contribute to stiff, sore, and achy joints and muscles since our tissues will lack the water they need to feel and function at their best.
Of course, we know many people prefer a fresh cup of java before anything else. But before you reach for your cup o’ Joe, first drink one or two cold glasses of water instead. This will refresh and energize you, replenish your body’s water stores, and may help your body. Bonus: drinking more water may help you lose weight, and we know obesity is associated with chronic pain.

2. Breathe!

Deep breathing is so powerful that it’s routinely used as a way to relax the body, alleviate tension and stress, and decrease pain. We encourage you to use your breath as a tool for relieving morning tension.
There are so many breathing exercises to choose from! A popular one is called box breathing (aka square breathing or 4×4 breathing). To do, breathe in through your nose for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, exhale through your mouth for a count of 4, and hold for a count of 4 before breathing in again. Repeat for 1 to 2 minutes.

3. Get Moving

Some of us toss and turn more than others, but we all move our bodies less frequently when we’re asleep compared to when we’re awake. This may slow circulation and cause our tissues to become stiff, especially if we sleep in odd positions or have an underlying health problem like arthritis.

By the way: your achy back may not be just because of your mattress. Spinal discs become imbibed with fluid at night as we sleep horizontally (since gravity compresses our spines less in this position). While this is a normal physiological process, it can make our backs feel super stiff.

One of the best ways to stimulate circulation, increase tissue perfusion, and loosen up your connective tissues is to move! So, try to do some sort of physical activity soon after you wake up. This could be as simple as some stretches and exercises while lying or sitting on your bed, a gentle yoga flow, or even a brisk walk around your neighborhood.

Just remember to always consult with your doctor, physical therapist, or other appropriate healthcare provider before starting any new exercise routine. Speaking of which…

4. Consult With a Physical Therapist

If your morning achiness is severe enough to cause you stress or affect your daily life, it may be time to consult with a physical therapist. He or she can diagnose and manage many underlying health conditions. He or she can also offer tips on improving your sleep hygiene and posture, and prescribe interventions that will maximize your connective tissue health overall and help you feel and function better.

By manish 0 Comments Back and Neck Pain, Joint Stiffness and Pain, Physical Therapy

Addressing Chronic Back Pain: Tips to Help You Feel Better Faster

Do you periodically find yourself disabled by bouts of back pain? Do you experience ongoing back pain that never gives you a moment’s relief? Whatever form it may take, back pain can put all kinds of limits on your life — until you finally start taking the necessary steps to address it head-on. But you don’t have to schedule major surgery or allow yourself to become addicted to prescription painkillers just to keep this lurking monster at bay. Conservative strategies such as physical therapy and smart lifestyle practices can help you manage your chronic pain for life. Ask our physical therapist to evaluate your conditions and recommend specific treatments! Schedule an appointment with Premier Physical Therapy Centers today!

What Is Chronic Back Pain?

If you’ve ever injured your back in a car crash, high-impact sports injury or work-related accident, you know just how bad back pain can get. As horrendously painful as that acute back pain may be, however, at least it goes away at some point. Chronic back pain hangs on long after an acute injury or another ailment should have resolved it through healing. Technically, back pain is categorized as chronic if it continues for at least 3 months — and in many cases, chronic back pain can haunt sufferers for years. This is especially true if your back pain stems from an irreversible or progressive condition.

Typical Causes of Chronic Back Pain

The first step in addressing your back pain is having some understanding of its cause. Chronic back pain can be caused by many underlying issues, from an acute injury that failed to heal correctly to chronic health problems such as:

  • Degenerative disc disease, a condition in which the spinal discs bulge and flatten
  • Arthritis in the facet joints that mobilize your spinal column
  • Chronic muscle or connective strain due to stress, overuse or repetitive motion
  • Muscle knots associated with fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome and other chronic problems
  • Physical or postural imbalances that lead to chronic muscle strain and soreness
  • Congenital deformities such as scoliosis
  • Excess weight from obesity or pregnancy
  • Herniated discs that compress spinal nerve tissue

Chronic back pain doesn’t always limit itself to your back. Conditions that involve pinched nerve roots may send pain and other odd sensations into your upper or lower extremities.

How Physical Therapy Can Help You Fight Back

Don’t fall into the trap of feeling helpless against your chronic back pain. Our physical therapist can analyze your current condition to determine the exact cause of your symptoms. We can then prescribe, not just physical therapy exercises, but an entire way of living that helps you maintain optimal day-to-day comfort. Here are some tips you can incorporate into your new pain-management routine:

  • Exercise – Regular physical therapy exercises to strengthen your core muscles (including the muscles of the abdomen, pelvis and lower back) can stabilize your spine and ease muscle pain.
  • Change your ergonomics – Move things around in your workplace so that you can reach frequently-needed items with a minimum of stooping, bending or twisting.
  • Sleep differently – Switch to a different type of mattress or adjust your sleep position to minimize nighttime (and next-day) pain.
  • Pursue stress reduction – Yoga, meditation, and other stress-busting techniques can help you keep your back muscles relaxed.
  • Improve your nutrition – Emphasize anti-inflammatory foods, “nature’s medicine” for chronic pain. Our physical therapist can also prescribe exercises to help you lose weight, thus taking pressure off of your spine.

Ready to learn more about how to fight chronic back pain? Contact�Premier Physical Therapy Centers today!

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Joint Stiffness and Pain, Physical Therapy

Is Joint Pain Making Simple Activities Seem Difficult? It’s Time to Seek Help.

Do you have more trouble getting dressed or penning handwritten notes than you once did? Are you having trouble keeping up with the basic demands of your job? Do you look for excuses to withdraw from some of your favorite activities simply because it hurts to move? Joint pain can turn even the most routine tasks into dreaded chores — or make them totally impossible to perform at all. You need to address this issue before it gets so bad that you can’t do anything. Fortunately, you can get much of the help you need through physical therapy. Our physical therapist can help you optimize your mobility without drugs or surgery, so contact Premier Therapy Centers in Commerce today!

Understanding Joint Pain

If you’ve ever ruptured a joint ligament or fractured a bone in a joint, you probably experienced a lot of pain over a set, limited time period. This is known as acute joint pain. But in some ways, chronic joint pain can be much more debilitating as it haunts you for months after month, and year after year. This kind of joint pain is commonly caused or worsened by:

  • Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is a progressive, usually age-related degeneration of the cartilage that normally cushions a joint’s bone ends.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by abnormal immune system responses that attack the linings of joints, producing bouts of swelling, pain, stiffness, and joint damage.
  • Non-ergonomic working conditions – An improperly-positioned workstation or other awkward workplace arrangements can force your body into stressful, painful positions.
  • Excess weight – The heavier you are, the more pressure your weight-bearing joints must withstand. These pressures can lead to premature joint deterioration and joint tissue strain.
  • Musculoskeletal imbalances – If your muscles suffer from uneven development, you may be unable to sustain asymmetrical posture. This can create muscle spasms and trigger points that refer pain to the joints.
  • Degenerative disc disease – Age-related bulging discs, spinal stenosis, and other spinal changes can cause serious joint pain in the neck or back.

How Joint Pain Hurts Your Life

Joint pain isn’t just annoying; it can be downright disabling or even dangerous. If, for example, you can’t reliably turn your head to see traffic, you could easily end up in an auto accident. Stiff joints that affect stance and gait can increase your risk of falls. Simply buttoning your shirt, cooking a meal, or writing a check may be beyond you. Joint pain needs to be slowed, arrested, or reversed so you can continue to live the life you want.

Physical Therapy Helps Joint Join

Most cases of joint pain will respond to conservative, non-surgical forms of care. But not all such forms of care are equally useful. For example, you may have already noticed that pain-relieving drugs only go so far to ease your symptoms, while doing nothing to address their causes.

That’s where physical therapy shines. Our physical therapist can help your joints function more normally, improving your musculoskeletal health, with greater pain-free freedom of motion as a natural result. Physical therapy options for joint pain include:

  • Walking, swimming, or cycling exercises to keep your joints moving
  • Strength training to build up the strength in your joints’ supporting tissues
  • Stretches to increase your joint flexibility
  • Massage, heat, and ice therapy to control joint pain and inflammation without drugs
  • Lifestyle/ergonomic recommendations to help you perform daily tasks more comfortably

Want to get your everyday life back? Call our physical therapist today!

By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Joint Stiffness and Pain, Physical Therapy

Want Less Joint Pain and More Mobility? Give Physical Therapy a Try!

For whatever reason, your joints just aren’t what they used to be. Whether you’ve been struggling with a recent injury that makes motion painful or you’re simply suffering the usual effects of age-related osteoarthritis, you can’t get around without aches and pains. But gulping down painkillers and leading a sedentary life aren’t very satisfactory solutions for most people. If you want to enjoy your life as fully as possible without being limited by joint aches and stiffness, it’s time to think about an all-natural answer: physical therapy with Premier Therapy Centers.

Understanding Joint Stiffness and Pain

To understand how physical therapy can help you with your joint symptoms, first, it’s important to understand why those symptoms are happening. Joint stiffness and pain can be caused by a variety of problems. In an acute sprain or strain, for instance, the joints’ muscles, tendons or ligaments may be damaged. The resulting inflammation can be both painful and immobilizing.

But soft tissue injuries don’t have to occur in a dramatic accident — they can also develop slowly over months or years. If your chosen sport, job or hobby causes you to overstress certain joints over and over again, you may end up with chronic tendinitis or bursitis. Sometimes, you can even develop soft tissue pain from doing nothing. For instance, a condition called adhesive capsulitis, or “frozen shoulder,” can make your shoulder all but unusable if you’ve had your arm in a sling for a long time.

Perhaps the most common cause of joint pain and stiffness is osteoarthritis. Everyone gets older, after all, and this condition usually stems from age-related deterioration of the cartilage between the bones in a joint. But many people also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a painful, damaging joint condition caused by autoimmune issues.

Types of Physical Therapy to Consider

As you can see, there are many ways to develop joint aches and pains. Fortunately, there are also many forms of physical therapy that can address these symptoms, easing your pain and extending your range of motion. Our physical therapist will start by evaluating your condition carefully, from your overall health and your daily activities to how and when you experience your symptoms. Evaluation of the joint itself, and of your ability to move it, can reveal exactly what the underlying problem is. This leads us toward recommending specific kinds of physical therapy, such as:

  • RICE — RICE stands for “Rest,” “Ice,” “Compression” and “Elevation.” If you’re nursing an acute joint injury, our physical therapist may prescribe this protocol to reduce pain and swelling.
  • Stretching exercises�— Stretching exercises help injured muscles and connective tissues heal back to their former length and range of motion. These exercises are also good for keeping arthritic joints from becoming stiffer. Our physical therapist may also recommend workouts on a treadmill or stationary bicycle.
  • Joint mobilization techniques — Working with a balance board or “wobble board” can help you improve your pain-free range of motion, especially in the foot or ankle joints. You may also benefit from techniques aimed at breaking up internal scar tissue, which can form over old injuries and cause chronic stiffness.

Get a Personalized Treatment Plan From Our Physical Therapist

Our physical therapist can create a personalized physical therapy plan to suit your specific needs and goals. So don’t put up with painful joints — contact our physical therapy Commerce Township MI  and West Bloomfield Township MI offices today!