What is Tennis Elbow and how is it Treated?

Tennis Elbow: What it is and how it is treated in Physical Therapy

When you picture somebody playing tennis, what do you picture? Probably a person with their knees bent, a bounce in their step, and them using one or both arms to grip a racket and swing athletically at the tennis ball. While tennis is a favorite sport of older people or those with bad knees because of the low impact it has on the lower body, tennis is a strenuous workout for the upper body. Unfortunately, many people end up experiencing what is called “tennis elbow”; however, this condition can also be developed by people who don’t play tennis. It is a very painful condition that is common among tennis players. Considering that it’s so painful, how is tennis elbow treated?

We are STAATS Physical Therapy in Brick, NJ and in this article we will discuss how to identify tennis elbow and how it can be treated.

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow is a painful condition where the tendons in your arm swell and cause a tremendous amount of pain in your elbow, forearm, and wrist. You can develop tennis elbow from engaging in any activity where you have to grip an object and twist, such as using tools, squash and tennis rackets, paint brushes, or other similar activities.

Once you have tennis elbow, you will be bothered when doing any of those activities, and might feel severe pain in your wrist, forearm, or elbow. You might also be bothered anytime you are gripping something, lifting, typing on the computer, or extending your wrist too far in an upward motion.

Can I Self-Treat My Tennis Elbow?

The answer here is an astounding yes. In many instances of tennis elbow, it will heal itself and get better on its own. If you start to experience it, don’t panic. Just be sure to ice the afflicted area, give it rest, and refrain from engaging in activities that will trigger the pain. If it persists for more than a few weeks, however, and it doesn’t seem to be treating itself, you may have a more severe case that may be more painful and long-lasting. In this case, you will want to work with a physical therapist to treat the issue before it gets worse and to relieve the pain sooner rather than later. 

Can Physical Therapy Help to Treat Tennis Elbow?

The answer here is also an astounding yes. Physical therapy can help with so many bodily pains, aches, injuries, and ailments, and tennis elbow is absolutely treatable in PT. When you work with a physical therapist, they will have a few goals concerning your symptoms:

• Stretching your arm to improve strength and flexibility

• Improving the blood flow to your tendons 

• Relieving the pain that you are currently feeling

• Educating you on ways to rest to treat it day-to-day

• Adjusting your form if your play tennis to reduce pain

PT is all about correcting what happened in the past, treating pain felt in the present, and preventing further injuries from occurring in the future. Working with a physical therapist will give your body the relief and adjustments it needs and will give your mind the knowledge it needs to keep you healthy moving forward. PT is therapeutic, education, and can even be fun with the right attitude.

Find a Physical Therapist for Your Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a painful condition, but it doesn’t have to last forever. Work with a physical therapist to treat your pain, learn how to avoid getting injured again, and even learn a new method for how you should be gripping and swinging your racket. STAATS Physical Therapy is here to help!

Schedule an appointment with us and one of our helpful representatives will reach out to you.

Do you have questions for us about our physical therapy services before scheduling your first appointment? Our team is always happy to help you out. Please feel free to call us at (732) 920-0880 to ask us your questions or to get started with a physical therapist.

Thanks for reading!

Ideas for a Healthy and Safe Memorial Day

Memorial Day Ideas: Celebrate in a Healthy and Safe Way

Each year on the last Monday of May in the United States is the celebration of Memorial Day. This federal holiday commemorates all of those who have died in our armed forces and is a day to mourn these losses, honor their memory, and celebrate the lives that they lived and the life that their sacrifice has made possible for the rest of us. 

Since Memorial Day is often regarded as the unofficial start of the summer season (although it occurs a few weeks before summer officially begins), the celebrations often include parades, outdoor activities, and warm weather gatherings. We are STAATS Physical Therapy and today we would like to discuss a few ideas for a fun, safe, and healthy Memorial Day! 

Tips for a Healthy Memorial Day

Warm weather. Long weekend. Friends and family. Grills and coolers. Memorial Day weekends are fun, but there can be a lot of unhealthy foods and drinks. Here are a few tips to stay healthy:

• Drink water and stay hydrated throughout the day

• Don’t let yourself get too hungry so you aren’t tempted to binge on unhealthy foods

• Stay as active as you can to burn calories along the way

• Bring healthy food options for the grill or for desert

Tips for a Safe Memorial Day

Unfortunately, with the good often comes the bad. While celebrating life is important, it is also important to remember to do so safely and stay in control. Here are a few tips to stay safe:

• Limit your alcohol consumption so you are always in control of yourself

• Be careful in the water: monitor children and don’t swim at night

• Use sunblock and bug spray to protect your skin outdoors

• Stay focused when operating a boat, ATV, or any other vehicles or equipment

Most importantly, have fun. While your body will thank you for being mindful about staying healthy and safe during the weekend, don’t fixate on it so much that you forget to enjoy yourself.

Schedule a PT Visit before Memorial Day Weekend

If you are a current physical therapy patient, be sure to schedule an appointment with us before the holiday weekend! Physical therapy will help your body to heal and learn new, healthy habits. Going to PT before the holiday weekend will allow your body to be in better shape for all of the outdoor activities or other forms of celebratory fun.

Not a STAATS patient yet? Give us a call at (732) 920-0880 to get started with a physical therapist.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

How Physical Therapy can help with Joint Pain

If You Have Joint Pain, Here’s Why You Need Physical Therapy

There it is again. That pain in your hands, knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, feet, or spine. You have a long day ahead of you and you want to stay busy and be productive, but you’re in so much pain and discomfort that you can hardly get yourself up and out of bed. This is the reality of millions of people who suffer from joint pain. Unfortunately, our body is a machine and just like any other type of machine the mechanisms that make it up can get damaged as they age with time. Fortunately, understanding how your body works and making adjustments to the way we move along with rehabilitation to injured joints can alleviate much of the pain and make life easier to live.

This is where physical therapy comes into play. We are STAATS Physical Therapy and in this article we will discuss the benefits of physical therapy and how it can help to alleviate joint pain. 

Common Causes of Joint Pain

While it is true that as we age so do our joints, but that happens because of different activities that we engage in or events that happen in life. Here are a few of the common causes of joint pain:

• Autoimmune diseases – As we age, we might develop an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation in the joints that leads to painful swelling

• Strains and Sprains – Accidental strains and sprains in our muscles can lead to inflammation and pain in our joints, especially if it does not heal properly

• Sports Injuries – Whether it’s from stress, an active job, or a sports-related hobby, repeated activities can cause soft tissue injuries overtime that lead to joint pain

• Infections – If you contract a virus you could end up suffering an infection. Many people who contracted COVID-19, for instance, felt flare-ups of old or existing joint injuries.

• Osteoarthritis – According to the CDC, This is the most common form of arthritis and is even referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis because of the effects that it has on the body

While there are other factors that can lead to pain or discomfort in the joints, these are the most common causes of joint pain.

How Physical Therapy Helps

Knowing the common causes is helpful in order to identify the reason behind your joint pain, but knowing more about how it works is crucial.

Teaching You about Joints and Movement

One of the benefits of working with a physical therapist is that they can teach you about joint pain. Understanding how it works can help you to pinpoint the specifics of your issue, which can in turn allow the therapist to provide you with more specific and helpful treatments. Not only can they teach you how it works, but they can teach you more effective ways to move. Proper movement is an imperative part of healing your joints, not only in the moment, but for your long-term health. 

Movement Techniques and Exercises

Physical therapists will also be able to provide manual therapy techniques for your pain. These can include using ice or heat, electrotherapy, and even self-massaging that can help to break up the tissue in your joints that are causing the pain. Physical therapy also includes stretches designed to help with stiffness and range of motion and exercises designed to strengthen the muscles that surround the joint to prevent unnecessary pressure on the joints themselves.

Schedule a PT Appointment to End Your Joint Pain

Now that you know just how beneficial physical therapy can be for joint pain, why suffer any longer or wait to schedule an appointment? Give us a call today at (732) 920-0880 to make your physical therapy appointment with STAATS Physical Therapy.

You can also click here to schedule an appointment callback and someone from the STAATS team will reach out to you as soon as possible to schedule your appointment.

Ride the wave of rehabilitation with us and end your joint pain with physical therapy!

Balancing Ability and Physical Therapy

Would you consider yourself a well-balanced person? Not in the sense of work-life or other aspects, but in your actual ability to hold balance? Oftentimes, being well-balanced isn’t as easy as it seems. A loss of balance and mobility can actually be dangerous for older folks, as this can lead to falls. Making sure that your balance is stable can help you avoid this and fortunately, a physical therapist can help you to regain it.

We invite you to take a look at the role balance plays in your life and how physical therapy plays a role in balancing ability. Read more below.

The Importance of Balance

Good balance leads to good posture and good posture plays a huge role in your overall health. Having balancing issues can be a sign of other issues, while also being the cause for some. Take a look at what can cause issues with balance:

• Muscle Weakness
• Stiff Joints
• Lack of physical activity or too much sitting
• Inner Ear Problems
• Medications

These are just a few things that can lead to issues with balance. However, there are also medical conditions that can lead to impaired balance. Take a look at the following causes.

• Stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Parkinson’s

Diabetes and cognitive disorders can also lead to balance issues, fortunately, there are ways to improve balance with PT. But before physical therapy can help, it’s important to be able to recognize and diagnose balance issues.

How to Identify Balance Issues

Take note of the following symptoms:

When trying to stand up you teeter, stagger, or waver

Some people have fine balance when sitting or standing and this is referred to as static balance, however, when trying to do two things simultaneously, they lose their balance. This is referred to as dynamic balance. This is typically due to sensory issues such as vision and hearing loss.

How to Diagnose Balancing Issues

Meeting with a physical therapist allows you to get started with the diagnosing process. They’ll ask you some of the following questions:

Have you fallen in the past year, if so, how many times? How often does the room spin or make you feel off balance? Is it worse at night or in the dark? What medications do you take? Do you have trouble doing any daily activities?

And many more…

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Physical therapists are experts in how the body moves, making them a great option in getting help with your balancing issues. They may use the following physical movements to help you improve:

• Stretching
• Strengthening
• Inner Ear Training
• Visual Tracking If you believe you’re experiencing balance problems and are interested in getting evaluated, don’t hesitate to contact the caring professionals at Staats Physical Therapy. We’re here to help in any way we can. Click here to get started or give us a call at (732) 920-0880.

The Benefits of Stretching

As many often do at the beginning of the year, we are creating guides to help you start the year off right in terms of your health and wellness goals. Taking care of your body is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and by doing so, you can not only start your whole year off right, but every day will start off great too.

One of the things you should definitely be incorporating into your regular morning routine is stretching! The benefits of stretching are boundless and overall just help you feel better. Take a look at the many things you can gain from stretching and start improving your health now!!

What Does Stretching Have to Offer?

The obvious answer starts with having better flexibility. It’s important to be flexible, as having tight muscles can lead to discomfort and even injury. However, it’s important to make sure that you’re not overdoing it and have a good ramp-up plan in place.

Like with exercise, you’ll want to take it slow to start off. You’ll want to aim for 5 to 10 minutes of dynamic stretching prior to any activity. Additionally, you’ll want to add 5 to 10 minutes of static stretching after any activity. Even if you aren’t planning to exercise that day, stretching is still necessary to help you stay flexible.

What’s the Difference Between Dynamic and Static Stretches? Static stretching involves holding a stretch in a comfortable position between 10 and 30 seconds while dynamic involves active movements that cause your muscles to stretch and are not held in position. This stretching is best before exercise, as it helps you to prepare and warm your muscles up.

How Stretching Helps Your Body

We’ve spoken about how stretching is great for flexibility but there’s so much more to it. Take a look below.

1. It Increases Your Range of Motion - Having the freedom of movement in any of your joints not only feels great but allows you to have a better quality of life.
2. Improves Your Performance in Physical Activities - Getting your muscles warm before activity just feels better but it also helps reduce your risk of injury.
3. Improves Your Posture - Poor posture actually is typically connected to muscle imbalances.
4. Helps Prevent Back Pain - If you have an existing back injury, stretching can help you heal.
5. Offers Stress Relief - Stress often creates muscle tightness and discomfort. Stretching your neck and back can help relieve this.
6. Decreases Tension Headaches - If you’re frequently experiencing tension headaches, exercise, a healthy diet and stretching can offer relief.

Start the Year Off Right With a Physical Therapist

If you’re currently suffering from muscle tightness, back pain, or an injury, it’s important to make sure that you’re doing what you can to heal. Working with a physical therapist allows you to focus on the issue at hand, with a plan that was created by an expert.

Get started on the path to feeling better and contact us here at Staats Physical Therapy!

Rotator Cuff Injuries and Physical Therapy

Rotator Cuff Injuries and Physical Therapy

Over time, there are many repetitive movements that our bodies can make that can lead to small injuries such as damage to the rotator cuff. This is actually a very common injury, especially for baseball players. Their continued overhand throwing at high speeds causes damage to their rotator cuff and if not treated, may require surgery. Fortunately, rotator cuff injuries can be treated with physical therapy. With the amount of right time and exercises, your rotator cuff pain can cease to exist.

When it comes to your rotator cuff, there are a lot of moving parts and a lot of things to learn about this part of your body and the injury itself. Read more below to find out what a rotator cuff is and what it means for it to be injured, as well as how physical therapy plays a huge role in recovery.

What is A Rotator Cuff?

A rotator cuff is a group of tendons surrounding the shoulder joint and socket, keeping your shoulder in place and allowing it to move and rotate. Essentially, the clavicle and your humorous meet and are separated by what is called a bursa (tiny, fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between joints) and are “wrapped,” in tendons. When these tendons become damaged is when you may start to feel what is described as “pain or soreness deep in the shoulder.”

What is a Rotator Cuff Injury?

Essentially, the tendons around your shoulder become inflamed, pinched, or torn, making it hard to sleep or perform simple tasks such as brushing your hair or reaching for items above your head. It’s a very common injury and the risk increases with age. The injury can range in severity, thus ranging in treatment A patient with a rotator cuff injury may simply need physical therapy while others may need steroid injections or surgery that can vary from arthroscopic tendon repair to entire shoulder replacement.

These injuries occur earlier and more often in people who work in jobs that require them to reach overhead a lot. For these people, physical therapy is a great option for healing and pain management.

How Can Physical Therapy Heal a Rotator Cuff Injury

First, it is important to see exactly what the injury to the shoulder looks like. This is achieved by utilizing medical technology such as [x-rays, ultrasounds or MRI][1]. Once diagnosed, your physical therapist can create a therapy plan. While PT can’t necessarily heal torn tendons, it can strengthen the muscles and restore mobility and shoulder mechanics. Stronger muscles around the tendon end up compensating for torn tendons that aren’t as functional. It’s important that your physical therapist is focusing not only on the shoulder but on the scapular muscle as well.

[1]: x-rays, ultrasounds or MRI.

Choosing the Right Physical Therapist

Choosing the right physical therapist is of the utmost importance, as the right plan is what will get your shoulder working properly and pain-free once again.

Here at Staat’s Physical Therapy, you can rest assured that the therapist you’re working with is competent and caring, offering you a well-constructed PT plan to help you start on the road to recovery.

If you’re currently experiencing issues with shoulder pain or any other type of physical pain, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 732 920 0880 or click here to schedule a visit.

How to Maintain Your PT Schedule During the Holidays

Sticking to your physical therapy schedule is one of the most important aspects of progression and healing. Unfortunately, the holiday season tends to throw a wrench in your schedule, making it much harder to stay the course. Fortunately, our expert physical therapists know just what to do on this front to help you. Read more below about what you can do to ensure you’re keeping to your physical therapy schedule. 

Physical Therapy Scheduling Tips

Take a look at these tips for keeping your physical therapy schedule in line. 

1. Prioritize PT - We get it, easier said than done, however, making sure that you build a schedule that places PT ahead of everything else is how you can make sure you’re not missing any days. 

2. Schedule Your PT Sessions Out Ahead of Time - Once you’ve figured out when all of your holiday travel and festivities will be taking place, work with your physical therapists to schedule your upcoming sessions all the way through the end of the year. 

3. Establish a Home Exercise Program (HEP) that Works Anywhere - Travel is one of the biggest obstacles that stand in the way of a consistent schedule when it comes to PT, ask your physical therapist for something that you can do to help yourself wherever you travel to. 

4. Wake Up Earlier - Traveling for the holidays is somewhat of a vacation so we know this one might be tough. But if you’re staying home this season and even worse, hosting an event, we know just how busy your schedule can get with errands. Waking up early and getting your physical therapy out of the way for the day will make it easier to stick to your schedule. It’s also a great way to start the day!

5. Get Consistent Sleep - This will certainly help with waking up earlier to do your physical therapy, but getting good sleep also helps heal the body and give you energy. 

Create Reminders in Your Phone - Getting everything ready for travel and the holiday season can take a toll on our mental abilities and makes it easy to forget other aspects of our life. Take a look at the next six weeks and set reminders for each of the days that you have a physical therapy session or have your home exercise plan to answer to.

Working with a Physical Therapist

One great way to make sure that you’re not skipping out on physical therapy sessions or your home exercise plan is by working with a physical therapist that truly helps you and supports your progress. This is why choosing the right physical therapist is so important and with the professionals at Staats Physical Therapy, you can rest assured that you’re getting the care and support you need to heal.

Get started with one of our physical therapists by clicking here or give us a call at (732) 920-0880 now!

World Spine Day is Upon Us

Every year on October 16th, we celebrate world spine day to help bring awareness to different spine issues and disabilities that affect people worldwide. This day brings together health professionals, rehabilitation experts, public health advocates, and schoolchildren on every continent.

What Is World Spine Day?

This holiday is one in which we recognize and celebrate the importance of spine health and the connection that a healthy spine has with your well-being. On this day, we work to promote physical activity and the importance of good posture, as well as proper lifting and responsible working conditions, all of which are things that play a major role in your spine’s health.

Why Is World Spine Day Important?

Across the planet, there are an estimated one billion people who suffer from spinal pain. It’s the single biggest cause of disability around the world and it affects the life course of each individual it plagues. World Spine Day calls attention to this and works to help people learn how to effectively manage their spine issues as well as prevent any future issues with their spine.

The Benefits of a Healthy Spine

Believe it or not, there are many benefits to having a healthy spine beyond just feeling well. One of the most important things that having a healthy spine provides is protecting the spinal cord and nerves so that it can safely relay messages to and from the brain to the rest of the body. 

• It also helps with flexibility in the lower back and neck which allows us to bend and twist. 

• Your core strength is provided by the bones joints and discs as well as the supportive muscles and connective tissue that allows you to sit up straight and stand, as well as walk and run. 

• It increases the quality of life that you have, allowing participate in more activities that you love for many years to come.

How Can Staats Physical Therapy Help You Maintain a Healthy Spine

Here at Staats Physical Therapy, we are dedicated to helping you find relief from pain in many facets of your body. We’ll help you identify where your issues lie if you’re experiencing back pain and create a plan to help your back get stronger while helping eliminate pain.

Why Choose Staats Physical Therapy

Working with a physical therapist can increase your chances of improvement, as we create a targeted plan that works for you and your injuries. It allows you to get stronger while working with a professional who will protect you from making your injury worse.

Our team of physical therapists is here to help you get the relief you need in a comprehensive and effective way.

If you’re currently suffering from a spine injury or back pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals at Staats Physical Therapy. We’re here to help give you the best treatment and find relief.

Click here to get started or call us at (732) 920-0880 and speak with someone on our team!

Did You Know September is Healthy Aging Month?

Learn More About Healthy Aging Month

What Does Healthy Aging Mean to You?

Every September, those in the health industry recognize and celebrate healthy aging to raise national awareness about the health and well-being of older adults.

But what does it mean to acknowledge healthy aging?

Simply put, it means that we need to place a focus and understanding of the needs of older folks in terms of lifestyle, exercise, and dietary needs. Whether we’re talking about brain health or physical health, celebrating this every September gives us the opportunity to learn more about how to age in the healthiest of ways.

Below, we’ll share some of our favorite tips for healthy aging and how physical therapy plays a huge role in this.

What is Healthy Aging?

According to the World Health Organization, healthy aging is a continuous process of optimizing opportunities to maintain and improve physical and mental health, independence, and quality of life throughout the life course. Currently, we are in “The Decade of Healthy Ageing,” starting in 2021 and lasting until 2030. It is a time when we’re bringing together governments and civil society, international agencies, and professionals from all around the world for ten years to take action to improve the lives of older people and the communities in which they live.

Key Guidelines for Older Adults

As part of your weekly physical activity, older adults should ensure that they’re doing a multicomponent physical activity. This should include balance training, aerobics, and muscle strengthening.

• It’s important to consider what your level of effort will be for physical activity versus your level of physical fitness. 

• If you have a chronic condition, you should understand whether or not your condition will affect your ability to engage in physical activity. 

• If you cannot complete 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity in a week, you need to consider how much physical activity your condition will allow. 

• According to the “Move Your Way Campaign,” it’s important to do strength training twice per week. 

• If you cannot complete this amount of physical activity per week, try for even just five minutes per day, as even this level of activity offers health benefits.

How Does Physical Therapy Come into Play?

Whether you have a chronic condition, an injury, or are healing from surgery, it’s important to make sure that you’re still getting your physical activity in, so long as whatever you’re experiencing allows it.

By working with a physical therapist, you can ensure that you’re staying within the guidelines of your healing or chronic illness but getting your physical activity in. Your physical therapist will not only work with you on a weekly basis but can give you a plan that allows you to heal and strengthen while in the comforts of your own home.

Why Choose Staat Physical Therapy

Our team is dedicated to providing you with a comprehensive plan that truly helps you. Upon arrival for your first appointment, we provide you with a comprehensive evaluation with a thorough treatment plan, customized to address your symptoms and reestablish ideal function.

Don’t hesitate to get started with our physical therapists and start on your path to healthy aging today!!

Shoulder Injuries

The shoulder is made up of three bones: your humerus (upper arm), your scapula (shoulder blade), and your clavicle (collarbone). As well as, a group of four muscles and their accompanying tendons, also known as the rotator cuff. Your shoulders are your most mobile joints in your body thanks to the rotator cuff stabilizing your shoulder in order to give them a wide range of motion. However, this extra mobility can lead to instability, making them more susceptible to injury.

There are many different causes for shoulder pain or decreased range of motion (ROM), but some of the most common include: tendonitis, instability, arthritis, and bone fractures. In this post, we’ll briefly touch upon some specific shoulder conditions and what causes them. For more detailed information regarding your shoulder injury, visit our facility for an initial evaluation with Dr. Dan or Dr. Gus.

Rotator Cuff Tear

A RTC tear has very similar symptoms to impingements. A RTC tear occurs when the tendons pull away from the humerus (upper arm bone) usually from overuse or injury. RTC tears can be partial, where the tendon is still attached to the bone or complete, where the tendon is completely detached from the bone leaving a hole or rip in the tendon. The best way to detect a RTC tear is through an MRI scan, or through diagnostic ultrasound, which Staats Physical Therapy offers onsite. 

Shoulder Impingement

Shoulder Impingements typically stem from Rotator Cuff (RTC) problems. Raising your arm to shoulder height causes the space between the acromion (bony tip of your shoulder blade) and the RTC to narrow, forcing the acromion to rub against or impinge the tendon. This causes irritation and pain. Poor posture or poor lifting mechanics can lead to impingement and eventually a rotator cuff tear. A skilled Doctor of Physical Therapy can evaluate you and identify any structural or habitual patterns that may be causing rotator cuff breakdown. 

Frozen Shoulder

The muscles and tendons in your shoulder form what is called a capsule around the joint which supports the shoulder’s movement. Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule around the joint is too tight which can cause pain and immobility. 

Frozen shoulder is a progressive condition that results from immobility and the resultant build-up of scar tissue around the joint following surgery or injury. Frozen shoulder can also result from a RTC tear or various other injuries. More often than not, frozen shoulder is the result of insufficient or incomplete rehabilitation of the shoulder following scar tissue build-up. If you’re experiencing any shoulder symptoms, have recently injured your shoulder, or undergone a surgical procedure, examination by a skilled physical therapist is paramount to a safe return to activities of daily living and especially to prevent the development if more secure, progressive conditions.

Pain In The Neck: How to Decrease Cervical Pain

Don’t let a pain in the neck get you down - literally and figuratively. Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and has become a serious problem in this day and age. Between sitting at a desk, looking down at a phone, and other daily activities, 20-70% of adults will experience neck pain during their lifetime.

Common Causes for Neck Pain

Neck pain being as vague as it is, can be caused by a number of different factors. Your neck is made up of your vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints, and muscles that can all contribute to pain. Here’s a list of some common causes for neck pain: 

• Muscle Tension or Strain. Can stem from poor posture, awkward sleeping positions, or overuse of the neck, known as repetitive strain injury (RSI). 

• Injury. Such as a car accident, sports injury, or just simply falling. 

• Diseases. About 10% of neck pain is associated with illness - such as arthritis or cancer. 

• Degenerative Discs. Herniated or Bulging

• Surgery.

Axial Neck Pain vs. Cervical Radiculopathy vs. Cervical Myelopathy

Axial Neck Pain is pain confined to the cervical, occipital, or posterior scapular areas. Often associated with severe headaches. 

Cervical Radiculopathy typically extends distally down the upper extremity and is a result of a spinal nerve root compression. This can cause pain and numbness, muscle weakness, and impaired deep tendon reflexes. 

Cervical Myelopathy is caused by degenerative changes in the cervical spine that leads to spinal cord compression. Patients with cervical myelopathy frequently present with weakness, loss of balance, and decreased fine motor skills. These symptoms increase from extending the neck. 

Common Signs and Symptoms 

• Sharp Pain

• Soreness

• Muscle Tightness/Spasms

• Headaches

• Decreased Mobility in the Neck

• Radicular Pain

5 Exercises to Decrease Pain

1. Scapular Squeeze. Standing up tall with your shoulders back, squeeze your shoulder blades together and release.

2. Chin Tucks. Extending your lower cervical and flexing your upper cervical, bring your chin back toward your neck and then extend forward.

3. Thoracic Spine Extension. With a foam roll right below your shoulders, sit up tall and extend your upper body back.

4. Standing or Seated Row. With a band, tie a knot at the end and wedge between a closed door. Keeping your arms parallel, bring your shoulders back, retracting the shoulder blades.

5. Upper Trap Lavator Scapulae Stretch. Standing up tall, hold your head to each side (for an extra stretch, place your other hand behind your back). With your head to the side, look down toward your armpit to stretch your Lavator Scapulae.

At Staats Physical Therapy, we provide a hands-on approach to treating neck pain. From the start, we’ll perform an in-depth initial evaluation combined with special testing and review of any imaging taken before your appointment. Through these components, we have the necessary information to provide an individualized treatment program.

To schedule an appointment, visit our “Schedule A Visit” tab or call us at (732) 920-0880.

National Scoliosis Month

June is National Scoliosis Month - and to show our awareness we've compiled some information on scoliosis in children and adults.

Defining and Diagnosing

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine, typically diagnosed in childhood and early adolescence. On average, it affects six to nine million Americans. It is confirmed through a physical examination and some sort of diagnostic imaging. The curvature is measured using the Cobb Method which measures the angle of intersecting perpendicular lines from the top vertebrae to the bottom vertebrae of the spine. Curves more than 25 to 30 degrees are considered significant, but anything exceeding 45 to 50 degrees will need actionable measures such as a brace or surgery. 

Signs and Symptoms 

• Uneven or protruding shoulders 

• Uneven hips 

• Uneven rib cage

• Uneven waist

Many patients affected initially present with back pain. 

Scoliosis in Children

The primary onset age for scoliosis is 10-15 years old, but scoliosis in children can occur starting at birth and is categorized three ways: infantile (0-3), juvenile (3-10), adolescent (11+).

There are three types of scoliosis that children can be diagnosed with.

• Idiopathic Scoliosis: This is the most common type, the cause is unknown, usually it’s from genetics. 

• Congenital Scoliosis: Comes from a rare abnormality in the spine that is detected at birth. 

• Neuromuscular Scoliosis: Diagnosed from abnormalities in the muscles and nerves. Common diagnoses are cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy.

Scoliosis in Adults

Adult scoliosis typically can be from one of two things; untreated adolescent scoliosis or a later formed scoliosis known as degenerative scoliosis. In the case of adults, fixing degree curvature is secondary to decreasing pain and improving overall function. 

In adults, the main portion of concern is typically the lumbar spine as this is most susceptible to change in age or degeneration. 

Adult scoliosis is usually treated by improving posture, stretching daily, and staying active with low-impact exercises.

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