Category: Physical Therapy

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy, Sciatica

Say No to Sciatica Today with Physical Therapy!

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It extends from the lumbar spine through the buttocks area. Sciatica is pain that results from the irritation of the sciatic nerve. Generally, pain is felt in the lumbar area and behind the thigh. The pain can also radiate to the lower limbs. Sciatica can make bending and walking very difficult. The most common cause of sciatica is lumbar disc herniation, but it can be caused by a back injury and disc degeneration. Sciatica is also referred to as lumbar radiculopathy.

Diagnosing and Treating Sciatica

Sciatica is diagnosed with a medical history and physical exam. A CT scan or MRI may be performed to locate the root cause of sciatica. According to Move Forward, “Conservative care like physical therapy often results in better and faster results than surgery or pain medication.” A physical therapist�will work with you to:

  • Reduce sciatica pain.
  • Improve motion.
  • Improve flexibility.
  • Increase in strength.
  • Educate you on how to stand, bend and twist.
  • Return to normal activities.

A physical therapist may use several types of treatments to reduce pain and symptoms of sciatica. Active treatments include motions, stretches and specific exercises to accelerate healing and give pain relief. A physical therapist will teach you different motions that you can do at home for pain relief. If a physical therapist discovers any weak muscles, you will be given corrective exercises for core strengthening. The strengthening exercises in physical therapy not only focus on the lower back but the abdominal muscles, hip muscles, and glutes. All of these exercises help strengthen the spinal column, including the tendons, ligaments and supporting muscles while keeping the spine in proper alignment.

The stretching exercises in physical therapy target muscles that are inflexible and tight. Hamstring stretching is an important part of a physical therapy treatment program to alleviate sciatica. An aquatic exercise program may also be recommended by a physical therapist. You can do exercises easily with the buoyancy of water.

Passive treatments may include electric therapy, heat therapy, ultrasound or massage therapy. All of these different modalities help reduce pain, stimulate blood flow and accelerate healing. Electrotherapy uses electricity to reduce pain, strengthen muscles, ramp up circulation and improve physical function. Massage therapy helps alleviate sciatic nerve pain. It loosens tight back muscles that may be pressing on the sciatic nerve, and it increases the release of endorphins for pain relief. Heat therapy helps relax muscles and reduce inflammation.

All around, physical therapy for sciatica is a non-invasive, multifaceted treatment and an effective treatment plan that is targeted to the root cause of sciatica. A physical therapist will devise a personalized treatment just for you. The goal is to help you live a pain-free life. Say “no” to surgery and opioids with physical therapy.

You can say “no” to sciatica with physical therapy. Plus, you’ll learn how to prevent sciatica in the future by doing home-exercise motions that your physical therapist has taught you for maintenance. By practicing good posture, proper body mechanics and staying in good shape, you can also prevent sciatica from occurring again.

If you’re suffering from sciatica, be sure to give us a call�at one of our two MI physical therapy offices for a one-on-one consultation with one of our physical therapists. A comprehensive exam will be performed, and our physical therapists will get you on the road to recovery. Get back in the game with physical therapy. You’re just a phone call away from living a pain-free life.

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy

Bogged Down by Pain? Try These 5 Quick Tips for Less Pain and More Energy

If you’re hurting and need quick relief, your physical therapist can help. In a customized physical therapy program, you’ll learn some highly effective pain relief techniques that can also help boost your energy. Our physical therapy providers are experienced with all types of pain and can help you live a pain-free life at last. Get in touch now with Premier Therapy Centers�to schedule your physical therapy appointment.

1. Take Breathing Breaks

Sure, you breathe all the time, but it’s not focused breathing. As your physical therapist can tell you, focused breathing can really help relieve your pain and may even give you that little extra energy burst you need to keep going with your day. Every few hours, take a few minutes to stop, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Breathe in deeply through your nose, filling your lungs as completely as possible. Then, breathe out through your mouth, keeping lips pursed a bit to really push the air out. Focus on nothing but your breathing for a few minutes and you’ll be amazed at what a difference it can make.

2. Get Moving

Many people underestimate the importance of moving, but it’s something you’ll learn in physical therapy. When you’re hurting it may seem more instinctive to curl up in a ball, but that’s the worst thing to do. Force yourself to get up and move around every hour or so. Even if you just take a simple walk around the room or around your office, this can help you hurt less and feel more energized. You don’t have to do a full physical therapy session to feel the benefits of movement, so practice this every day at home as well as with the help of your physical therapist.

3. Adjust Your Sitting Habits

Your sitting habits can make a big difference when it comes to pain and energy levels. Your physical therapist may recommend some simple adjustments that help. For example, a lumbar cushion can help relieve pressure from your lower back. Simply by avoiding pain, you’ll feel less sapped of energy! Your physical therapy team can offer customized tips based on your work environment.

4. Improve Your Posture

Posture improvement can make a huge difference in how you feel overall. Your physical therapy program can help you improve your posture, and it’s something that you’ll carry with you long term. Simply standing and sitting with shoulders back, chest out, and a straight spine instead of a slumped-over one is a great start. Your physical therapist can guide you towards posture habits that alleviate pain and pressure, which in turn gives you more energy to face the day.

5. Drink More Water

Did you know that you’re supposed to drink between half an ounce and one ounce of water for each pound of your body weight each day? Drinking enough water means that you’ll avoid dehydration, and this, in turn, allows you to avoid problems like muscle cramps, headaches, and overall fatigue. Water is always the healthiest option, so try to keep plenty of water close at hand as you move throughout your day. You’ll notice that you feel less pain and increased energy. The bonus is that it can help keep your appetite under control, which may, in turn, help you avoid gaining extra weight!

Physical therapy is a great way to recovery from injury or illness to feel your very best. Use the tips above to supplement your custom physical therapy program for optimal success. Call�us anytime to get help from experienced physical therapists who can help you escape the pain for good.

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy

What you can do to be Healthier, Stronger, and More Active!

The tennis shoes collecting dust. The yoga mat curled in the back of your closet. The gym membership that hasn’t seen you in, well, months. Like you need any more proof that sticking to an exercise routine is tough. Hey, whoever said New Year’s resolutions can’t be made at any time of the year?

Never fear. We’ve got a list of tips to help you grow healthier, stronger and more active — and we’re willing to bet these suggestions will provide at least a little motivation to put those stretchy pants to good use.

Conquer the Pain

By now you’ve probably heard the stats. Chronic pain can put a major cramp in an exercise routine, and yet over half the country suffers from some sort of debilitating pain. So what’s a person to do when they want to be healthier, stronger and more active? Get themselves to a physical therapist — pronto. Physical therapy can help alleviate pain better than popping a pill or sitting on the couch, and the results are often permanent.

Physical therapy can help with all types of chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic types of pain, from ongoing headaches to fibromyalgia. A physical therapist can manipulate your bones and joints to reduce discomfort. She can work with you to form an exercise and movement plan that lessens your pain and increases your mobility. A physical therapist can also help with laser therapy, massage or microcurrent stimulation — all in the name of getting you up moving and living life to the fullest.

Think Positive

All that mind over matter stuff really works. Research shows that a positive attitude can boost your immune system and increase your energy levels. Your body believes what you think, so try to focus on maintaining an attitude of gratitude and look for the positive even in the midst of turmoil. If you’re ever feeling stuck or unsure how to creep out of a negative disposition, repeat the following mantra: I have the power to create change. Because you do.

Eat Well

Don’t think for a minute we don’t love our hoagie rolls or dipped-in-milk cookies. Quite the contrary, we love to spoil ourselves with treats. Just try to balance those delicious yummies with a well-rounded, healthy diet. Here are some tips to get you going:

  • Consider Uncle Sam’s recipe for health: lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products; some lean meats or meat substitutes, beans, eggs and nuts; and minimal saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars.
  • Avoid skipping meals. Eating consistently provides your mind and body with the fuel necessary to help you get and stay active. It also helps you avoid your blood sugar dropping, which can lead to irritability, nervousness and a whole host of other problems.
  • Snack smart. It’s okay… Let’s rephrase that. It’s good�to snack. Doing so keeps you at your best so that you can sustain your energy and stay positive. Choose peanuts over pretzels.

Be Sneaky

That’s right. We give you permission to be sneaky when it comes to exercise.

Physical therapy often prescribes small changes to a person’s routine in order to make the adjustments manageable. Some ways that even a physical therapist would approve of include:

  • Park farther away from your destination and walk the extra distance;
  • Walk up and down the field while your children are playing sports;
  • Take the dog on walks with the whole family;
  • Exit the bus one stop early and walk the rest of the way;
  • Opt for the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator; and
  • Rake leaves, shovel snow or otherwise maintain your yard.

Whether you’re 22 or 72, whether you’re suffering from chronic pain or simply need more motivation, living life healthier, stronger and more active will improve your physical and mental health.

If you’d like to help to develop a plan or alleviating pain, contact�our office to see how physical therapy can help you get living more fully.

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy

The Connection Between Core Strength and Better Balance

Physical therapy as an industry has been talking about the link between core strength and better balance for years. When the “core” muscles around your trunk are strong, they prevent chronic lower back pain and many other injuries, but they also keep you from losing your balance and falling down. A stronger core will help to keep you upright — especially as you age and start to become more at risk of falling. If you’d like to get started on a core routine to improve your balance, contact us today to speak with a physical therapist!

How Core Strength and Balance Are Linked

There are three systems in your body that help to control your balance. One is the vestibular system; the liquid in your inner ear functions sort of like a “carpenter’s balance” to keep you level. If you’ve ever felt dizzy, it means the liquid in the vestibular system can be “off” a little bit. Another balancing system is your visual system. Your eyes send signals to your brain about your position in relation to the world around you. The final system is the proprioceptive system, which has to do with your core.

Proprioception nerves are sensory nerves situated throughout the body that make you aware of your posture and awareness of spatial things around you. To stay balanced, you have to have equilibrium in all three systems. A weak core is one element that can make you feel off-balance and cause you to fall down.

Core Muscles, Core Stability & Core Strength

Your core muscles are more than just your abs! In fact, there are two groups of core muscles: Inner core and outer core. The inner core muscles are attached to your spine; they’re the muscles that stabilize your core. The outer core muscles work in conjunction with the inner core muscles when you need to move your body from point A to point B (or to do most physical activities).

Core stability relates to your inner core muscles. These muscles stabilize your spine. Core strength relates to the outer core muscles and is developed to help you move around better. Engaging in physical therapy will help you to train both inner and outer core muscles for better balance and movement.

Core Strength & Stability Through Physical Therapy

You don’t need a bunch of expensive gym equipment to start working on your core strength. In fact, here’s a quick exercise that many physical therapists will recommend if you’re just starting out. It’s called the “drawing in maneuver,” or if you prefer the less fancy term, “sucking your gut in.”

First, stand up straight and find the proper pelvic position. This is done by rotating your hips forward and back finding the comfortable “middle” position. Then, draw your belly button in toward your spine. Don’t hold your breath — it’s not a breathing exercise. You should be able to talk, breathe and slowly walk around with your belly button drawn in. It sounds easy, but if you’re older, out of shape or recovering from an injury, the drawing in maneuver will be a little difficult at first.

You want to build up your core muscles until you can hold your belly button in for 30 seconds before moving on to more difficult core exercises. Also, if you feel any pain from this exercise, stop immediately. It shouldn’t be painful. As you build up your core, your physical therapist will recommend moving on to more strenuous exercises that are appropriate for your age and ability. This can range from planks and bridges for the more athletic, to gentler workouts like a yoga routine for older folks. Your therapist will also work with you on specific core exercises to help your balance.

If you have a weak core or you’re struggling with balance, physical therapy can help! Call one of our two MI physical therapy offices. and schedule an appointment to get started with a physical therapist today.

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy

Back & Neck Pain? Physical Therapy Can Help!

Many people have back pain and neck pain. As a matter of fact, studies reveal that 90 percent of people will experience either back pain or neck pain at least once in their lives. It’s not always easy to isolate those regions of the body that are causing back pain or neck pain. Pain can radiate to the arms, legs and even the head. Each episode of pain can progress more, last longer and travel further from its origin. If you figure out the cause, you may wind up needing pain management or even surgery.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Back Pain and Neck Pain

Physical therapy for back pain and neck pain is focused on the structures that support the spine, including ligaments, tendons, muscles, and joints. Some types of active physical therapy for neck and back pain include specific stretches, exercises, adjustments, and even aquatic exercise. The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off of the cervical and lumbar spine while you’re performing the exercises.

Passive physical therapy includes different modalities, such as ice and heat therapy, massage therapy, electrotherapy, and ultrasound. Ice or heat therapy increases blood flow for healing, reduces swelling and pain and loosens up stiff muscles. Massage therapy relaxes muscles and helps reduce pain. With electrotherapy, electrical impulses are sent to the sensory nerves to alter pain signals. It’s a mildly warm sensation that reduces pain and relaxes muscles.

A Physical Therapist for Neck and Back Pain

Before treatment even begins, a physical therapist will perform an examination to determine the root cause of your back or neck pain. A goniometer may be used to measure your range of motion. A strength test will also be performed. Spinal mobility will be measured along with palpation to locate sore or tight muscles. A full medical history will be taken in addition to your symptoms. You can discuss the things that you are now not able to do. A physical therapist will also ask you to perform certain tasks in order to determine your functional mobility. In sum, a full assessment of your physical condition will be done, and a personalized treatment plan will be created to target the cause of your back or neck pain.

Why a Specific Treatment Plan Is Developed

A specific treatment plan is developed since the cause of your back or neck pain can vary. It may be due to disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, a sports injury, whiplash, osteoarthritis or poor posture. A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like material of the disc bulges or leaks out. Degenerative disc disease occurs when there is wear and tear on the discs. Osteoarthritis is wear and tear on the facet joints and can cause friction when bending, pinch a nerve root and result in sciatica. And it’s not uncommon for athletes to incur sprains and strains to the neck or back regions when engaging in sports.

The good news is that physical therapy has been proven to help with neck pain or back pain regardless of its root cause. If you’re suffering from neck pain or back pain, call our office today to see how physical therapy can help get you back in the game and live a pain-free life. Our physical therapists are certified and experienced. They’ve helped many others and can help you too.

Give us a call at one of our two MI physical therapy offices and learn how we can get you on the path to recovery. There’s no reason to suffer in pain when we have the solution.

By manish 0 Comments Back and Neck Pain, Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy

Suffering with Back Pain? Check Your Posture!

If you are like most people, you have had someone tell you to sit or stand up straight — probably during your teenage years. At the time, the demand was probably annoying and one you did your best to ignore. But it turns out that good posture is important for more than just looking confident and respectable. Sitting and standing with good spinal alignment can help prevent back pain.

One major focus of physical therapy is to teach patients how to practice good posture. Your physical therapist can help you understand the importance of posture and give you valuable training to help you achieve it, day in and day out.

Let Premier Therapy Centers help you discover the benefits of physical therapy for back pain. Please contact us today to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist!

Good Posture — What It Does to Relieve Back Pain

Your spine is designed to operate in a certain way. When you move, sit and stand in ways that disrupt the correct operation of your spine, you can create problems over time. Practicing good posture — with the help of your physical therapist — is one way that can work with your spine to minimize back pain.

When you are in physical therapy, you will learn good posture and discover several ways in which the healthy movement patterns taught by your physical therapist will minimize your back pain. These include:

Avoid Undesirable Anatomical Changes

The ways that you use your spine can actually cause changes in your anatomy. The stress caused by sitting hunched can eventually lead to damage of your spinal discs, muscles, joints and the nerves and blood vessels traveling through your spine. Many times the damage can be reversed, though, if you engage in targeted physical therapy and learn to sit and stand correctly from your physical therapist.

Promote Good Circulation

When you maintain proper spinal alignment, your veins are not constricted by the press of your vertebrae. All of the numerous components of your spine require good circulation to operate correctly and to regenerate from damage and wear and tear.

When your physical therapist guides you through the different physical therapy exercises that help with posture, you will get better at keeping the alignment required for optimal circulation.

Encourage Strength and Flexibility

If it has been a while since you have regularly had good posture, chances are that trying to maintain such posture over a long period will be difficult. It may take some time in physical therapy to gain the strength and flexibility necessary to keep the ideal posture.

Fortunately, the work you do with your physical therapist to achieve your goal will lead to greater overall fitness. The stronger and more flexible you get, the less likely you are to suffer from back pain on a regular basis.

Improved Posture in all Activities

Most people think of posture in static positions, like sitting at a desk or standing for a period of time. But good posture is important in everything that we do.

In physical therapy, your physical therapist can instruct you on how to maintain good posture during all of your favorite activities, such as running, playing sports, and walking. The improved posture you adopt in each activity will lessen the wear and tear you put on your spine, which minimizes the risk of developing back pain from these activities.

Prevent Back Pain Caused by Improper Lifting

Good posture is a vital component of lifting objects without injury. When you lift and fail to use good posture, there is a much greater chance that you will wind up hurting your back.

Ask your physical therapist about proper lifting posture. He or she can show you how to lift correctly and guide you through some exercises to clarify the right posture.

Help With Your Back Pain

If you are suffering from back pain, please call one of our two MI physical therapy offices. Our physical therapy team can help you get the relief you deserve!

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy, Shoulder Pain

Try Physical Therapy for These 5 Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Physical therapy is a safe, effective and non-invasive treatment option that is designed to relieve pain resulting from a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, workplace injuries and more. Regular appointments with a physical therapist are ideal for people of all ages. Patients typically see a physical therapist to help manage chronic pain symptoms and prevent future injury. One of the biggest reasons new patients visit our physical therapist each day is to address chronic shoulder pain. Shoulder pain can be caused by a number of different factors and make completing daily tasks nearly impossible without treatment. If you or a loved one is experiencing shoulder pain, Premier Therapy Centers can help!

Top 5 Most Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

The average person probably doesn’t give much thought to their shoulders as they go about their day. But your shoulders actually do quite a lot of work to help you complete everyday tasks, and if they become strained or injured, you could be left experience severe shoulder pain. Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain include:

Tendinitis

This is a common condition that causes inflammation in the shoulder area and has been known to send many people straight to the physical therapist for relief. The condition typically affects those who are very physically active or people who work at a job that requires them to complete lots of repetitive motions. For example, if you’re an athlete who plays tennis a lot or you work as a professional painter, you could be at risk of developing tendinitis in your shoulder. If you are at a high risk for tendinitis, it is very important to remember that along with physical therapy, resting your shoulders regularly can help to prevent chronic pain.

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder typically occurs after an injury or alongside another shoulder condition. Most physical therapists recommend that patients with frozen shoulder get plenty of rest in between physical therapy appointments to avoid developing scar tissue in the shoulder. If scar tissue does develop, the muscles surrounding the shoulder can eventually freeze up as well, restricting your full range of motion and resulting in chronic pain.

Bursitis

The shoulder is a complicated joint that is made up of an intricate network of many moving parts. One of the key components that make up the shoulder is called bursa. The bursa contains tiny sacs of fluid that work to keep the shoulder joint lubricated. If the bursa becomes irritated or inflamed, you can develop bursitis and will need to schedule a physical therapy appointment as soon as possible.

Tendon Tears

The tendons in your shoulder can tear as the result of an acute injury or certain degenerative conditions. Overuse, the natural aging process and sudden injuries often cause the tendons to split or tear. Whether a patient is experiencing partial or a full tendon tear, the pain can be very intense and require regular appointments with our skilled physical therapist.

Impingement

Shoulder impingement can occur when the top part of the shoulder blade puts a great amount of pressure on the underlying soft tissues in the arm each time that it is lifted away from the body. As the arm lifts, the shoulder blade rubs against the tendons and bursa. If left untreated, impingement in the shoulder can result in bursitis and/or tendinitis.

Physical Therapy Can Provide Fast Relief for Shoulder Pain

If you or a loved one have been experiencing recurrent or prolonged shoulder pain, it is important to speak with a physical therapist as soon as possible. Physical therapy is a safe, non-invasive and holistic treatment option that can help patients of all ages and activity levels. Call one of our two MI physical therapy offices today to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy and begin your journey toward living a pain-free life!

By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy, Therapeutic Massage

5 Benefits of Therapeutic Massage for Athletes

As an athlete, you already know that you’ve got to maintain optimal health if you want to keep playing the sport you love. Physical therapy with an experienced physical therapist is a big part of that, especially when you’re recovering from an injury. One of the main parts of a good physical therapy regimen after an injury involves therapeutic massage. Below, you’ll learn five of the best benefits of therapeutic massage for athletes. Call Premier Therapy Centers now to learn more about how massage can help you live pain-free.

1. Improved Circulation

Regular massage during your physical therapy program can improve circulation considerably. Better circulation means that your muscles get the blood supply needed to prevent stiffness and tension. Your muscles will work and feel better after therapeutic massage.

2. Improved Immune System

Sickness can be extra hard on athletes. Just one bad cold or flu can keep you out of the game you love for weeks — and you might feel less than your best for quite a while after that, too. Fortunately, massage helps boost your immune system’s natural defenses. During the massage, your body is prompted to power up its natural cytotoxic capacity, which basically means that you’ll be better able to fight off germs, bacteria and illness more effectively.

3. Less Scar Tissue

When you’re injured, your body forms adhesions — bands of tough scar tissue — around the injury. These adhesions can restrict your movement, cause serious pain, and can delay your recovery for a very long time if they’re not treated. Your physical therapy massage can deal with those adhesions very efficiently. Your physical therapist can use specifically targeted techniques that break up the adhesions, which unbinds your muscles. This is a very important component of your physical therapy program because being adhesion-free is important for both pain relief and for your range of motion.

4. Muscle Relaxation

While muscle relaxation is the best-known benefit of massage, it takes on whole new importance for an athlete. Muscle soreness, tightness, and pain are all things that you expect as an athlete — but the good news is that you can greatly decrease these issues with regular therapeutic massage. Even after you’ve completed a physical therapy program following an injury, you might benefit from regular massages with your physical therapist.

5. Improved Posture

Massage, when coupled with other kinds of physical therapy, can do a lot of good for your posture. Massage helps bring your body into an optimal place of alignment, which can naturally improve your posture. Better posture has multiple benefits for athletes. When you’ve got good posture, your body can move at its peak, all the time — and this means that you’re playing your sport with a bit of a natural advantage built-in.   As an athlete, your body needs to be in the best condition at all times. This means that after an injury, you’ve got to recover with the help of a physical therapy program designed by an expert physical therapist. It also means that you need to recognize the importance of health maintenance. Something as simple as a therapeutic massage once or twice a month can help you feel you’re very best, and this means that you’ll be able to be at your peak for every game.   If you’re looking for noninvasive solutions for pain and injury or if you just want to be the best athlete you can be, call one of our two MI physical therapy teams now to get started with an expert physical therapist.

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy, Sports Injury

Don’t Let Pain Stop You From Getting Back in the Game!

Get rid of the pain by partnering up with a physical therapist. Give Premier Therapy Centers a call today to learn more about how our physical therapists can get you on the path to a pain-free life.

Physical Therapy for Pain Relief

According to WebMD, “Physical therapy is often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury. It can make you stronger and help you move and feel better.” The goal of physical therapy is to reduce and eliminate pain while improving mobility and function.

During a physical therapy session, you may engage in low-impact aerobic training, strengthening exercises, pain-relief exercises and stretching. Low-impact exercises go easy on the joints and pump up your heart rate. You might be asked to use a stationary bike or to walk fast. You’ll likely be given exercises to work on your core muscles. Using your own body weight with pushups and lunges may be part of the treatment plan. Pain relief exercises designed to target the areas where you have pain will also be done. And with stretching exercises, you’ll be relaxing those muscles.

Physical therapists also use other modalities to achieve pain relief for the patient. Heat packs or ice packs may be applied to the affected area to reduce pain and inflammation. Massage therapy is a gentle therapy that helps reduce muscle spasms and helps your body to relax. Soft-tissue mobilization is used to increase mobility by addressing fibrous areas of muscle tissue. Direct manipulation of the joints can be done to improve functioning and maintain proper alignment. Electric stimulation therapy sends an electric current to the affected area to reduce pain. Ultrasound therapy sends sound waves to the affected area and blocks pain messages that are sent to the brain.

In addition, a physical therapist can educate you about sensory re-education for chronic pain. Even after an injury has healed, the nervous system may still send pain signals. Sensory re-education helps desensitize the nervous system and decrease sensitivity to the affected area.

All around, physical therapy is a noninvasive and holistic approach to pain management. You can avoid having to go under the knife or getting addicted to those pain meds with physical therapy. A physical therapist will do a comprehensive evaluation to determine the root cause of your pain and develop an individualized treatment plan that targets the root cause.

Some Stats on the Efficacy of Physical Therapy for Pain

According to the APTA, “Studies have established the efficacy of physical therapy in treating and reducing pain as well as preventing chronic pain.

  • Low back pain: A review of more than 60 randomized controlled trials evaluating exercise therapy for adults with low back pain found that such treatment can decrease pain, improve function and help people return to work. The American College of Physicians states that “non-pharmacologic interventions are considered first-line options in patients with chronic low back pain because fewer harms are associated with these types of therapies than with pharmacologic options.”
  • Before and after surgery: A review of 35 randomized controlled studies with a total of nearly 3,000 patients found that in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, preoperative exercise and education led to significant reductions in pain, shorter lengths of stay postoperatively and improvements in function.
  • Arthritis: Studies have shown that therapeutic exercise programs can reduce pain and improve physical function among individuals with hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Are you in pain? Be sure to call one of our two MI offices and discover how our physical therapists can help.

By manish 0 Comments Back and Neck Pain, Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy

Did You Know That a Herniated Disc Can Cause You Serious Back Pain?

One of the most common reasons people visit our physical therapist each day is to get relief from chronic back pain. While back pain can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, in many cases, it is the result of a herniated disc. Herniated discs can occur anywhere along the spine but typically affect the lower back area. Physical therapy patients may also be familiar with other terms used to describe a herniated disc including a ruptured disc, bulging disc, or protruding disc, but the treatment for the condition is the same. It is estimated that about 60 to 80 percent of people will experience some level of lower back pain in their lives, and many may experience the issue due to a herniated disc. While they can be very painful, with the help of our experienced physical therapists at Premier Therapy Centers, patients of all ages can find fast relief and learn to manage their pain with regular physical therapy appointments.

Ask Our Physical Therapist: What Causes a Herniated Disc to Develop?

Spinal discs are soft and rubbery pads, designed to work as shock absorbers, located between the bony vertebrae that help make up the spinal column. Made of a thick outer ring of cartilage and an inner gel-like substance, spinal discs work to allow the back to bend with ease. Additionally, your spinal column helps protect delicate nerves and your spinal cord. If the cartilage in your spinal disc somehow tears or develops a defect, the gel-like substance or nucleus can breakthrough. This bulging or herniation can then put pressure on the nerves, resulting in intense pain. In fact, even small amounts of pressure on your spinal nerves can cause weakness, numbness, and pain.

Herniated discs in the lower back can be particularly painful because they put pressure on the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica. The sciatic nerve is actually made up of several spinal nerve branches that travel from the spine and down into the leg. If the sciatic nerve becomes pinched, pain can radiate from the buttocks area, down throughout the back of the leg, and into the shin and foot. Luckily, physical therapy can work to reduce the pain caused by the condition.

When you are young, your spinal discs have a high water content level, made up of almost 80 percent water. However, as you age, the water content in your spinal discs lowers. This causes the discs to become less pliable and increases the risk of tears or other defects. Some of the other common causes of herniated discs include:

  • Excessive body weight or obesity
  • Traumatic injury
  • High-impact sports
  • Repetitive twisting movements (workplace injuries)
  • Heavy or incorrect lifting

Common Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

Symptoms associated with a herniated disc may vary depending on where the injured disc is located. Some of the most common symptoms you may experience include:

  • Pain when bending or twisting
  • Burning, numbness, or tingling in the back, buttock, legs, and/or feet.
  • Weakness in the legs
  • Pain that intensifies when sitting, coughing, sneezing, or bending

If you think you may have a herniated disc or other back pain issues, physical therapy can help. We recommend scheduling a consultation with our physical therapist as soon as possible.

How Can Physical Therapy Help Lower Back Pain?

Physical therapy is a safe and non-invasive pain treatment option designed to help patients of all ages heal from the inside out. By using targeted physical therapy treatments, our skilled physical therapist can work to relieve back pain and reduce inflammation, stimulate blood flow, and restore your range of motion.

Call our physical therapy Commerce Township MI or West Bloomfield Township MI offices today to learn more and schedule an appointment with our knowledgeable and highly skilled physical therapist.