National Fibromyalgia Day

May 12th is National Fibromyalgia Day. Those with this condition are no stranger to pain, as it occurs all throughout the body to affected individuals.

What Is It?

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes chronic widespread body pain. Although the exact causes of fibromyalgia are unclear, new research suggests that it is linked to the central nervous system, involving the brain and spinal cord. Recent studies also show that genetic factors may predispose an individual's susceptibility to it. People with fibromyalgia have what is known as abnormal pain perception processing, which essentially means they are more sensitive to pain.

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain + Stiffness throughout the body

• Fatigue + Tiredness

• Headaches/Migraines

• Tingling or Numbness in Hands + Feet

• Pain in the face or jaw

Who Is At Risk?

Although fibromyalgia can affect anyone, your chances of developing it increases as you age. On average, fibromyalgia affects 6-10% of the population, more typically women than men. Men and women with fibromyalgia also experience pain differently.

Triggering Factors

• Spine Problems

• Arthritis

• Injury

• Physical Stress

For more information about fibromyalgia and resources available for those affected, visit the National Fibromyalgia Associations website at https://www.fmaware.org/.

Can Physical Therapy Prevent Injury?

Is Physical Therapy a Good Way to Prevent Injury?

Oftentimes we think of physical therapy as a reactive choice to being injured so that we can slowly help our body heal while also building back strength. However, understanding how physical therapy can actually prevent injury is an important aspect to the field itself.

With Spring right around the corner, many people tend to become more active than their winter activity levels which can lead to many injuries. Physical therapy is a great way to transition from winter to spring through multiple practices. Read more below about how physical therapy can help you prevent injury when you head out to enjoy the warmer spring weather.

1. Physical Therapy Can Help Detect Muscles Imbalances

With your physical therapist, you can find where your muscles have weakened and where others have simply maintained. Ensuring that you know how to recognize these things is of the utmost importance for preventing injury.

2. PT Can Strengthen Muscles After a Period of Inactivity in a Safe Way

When it comes to getting back in shape, making sure that you slowly integrate yourself back into an active lifestyle is integral for preventing injury. With physical therapy, you can do this in a targeted, healthy and most important, safe way. It helps you strengthen muscles that have since been “dormant,” allowing you to slowly get back in the hang of things.

3. Assess Posture With Physical Therapy

Did you know that bad posture leads to a lot of injury? We think it goes without saying that it could lead to back injuries but it can affect other areas of the body as well. Ensuring that you have good posture starts with having a strong core and with that strong core you can accomplish better form when exercising, thus preventing injury from practicing bad form.

4. Prepare for Pre/Post Surgery with Physical Therapy

Before and after a surgery, your body is already in a vulnerable position. With physical therapy, you can prevent a domino effect of injury, as one weakened body part can lead to over compensation in others which can cause quite the strain. Physical therapy can help you prevent this from happening, allowing you to get back to doing the things you love.

5. Improve Gait and Balance with Physical Therapy

As you build your posture, it’s easy to build your balance, as this goes back into building to strengthen your core. This is one of the many benefits to working with physical therapists, as often what you’re doing in physical therapy tends to improve multiple facts of your body. Having improved balance along with your improved posture is one of the most important ways to prevent injury.

<h4>Find a Physical Therapist</h4>

Are you looking to run a 5k this spring? Interested in participating in anything physical activity that the Spring has to offer? Consider working with a physical therapist to help prepare your body for the extra physical efforts you’ll be putting in.

If you’re looking for a physical therapist, don’t hesitate to contact us here at Staats Physical Therapy and schedule an appointment today!

How to Prevent Lumbar Spine Pain

More than 80% of Americans will suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives, and 1 out of every 4 Americans have experienced back pain in the last 3 months. Despite these alarming numbers, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your back healthy.

Common Problems

If you are 60 years or older, the most common causes of lower back pain are Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease and Spinal Stenosis. Both of these conditions make it difficult to stand or walk for a prolonged time without pain. These patients often report being able to walk long distances when leading on the grocery cart. If this is you, you could benefit from Lumbar spine mobility exercises. Contact Staats Physical Therapy to get you started on a treatment program catered to your individual needs. 

If you are experiencing leg pain or weakness, don’t wait to seek treatment. This is serious and could lead to irreversible nerve damage. Consult your MD or a Doctor of Physical Therapy right away.

Tips to Avoid Pain

The following exercises should be avoided for those with low back pain. 

• Sit ups

• Deadlifts

• Military Press (Overhead Press)

• Cleans

• Squats

Avoid lifting objects off the floor by bending at the waist. The correct way to lift is to keep your spine straight and bend at the knees. 

Tip: If you have to do yard work, shovel, or any other strenuous activity - make sure to keep altering your technique and approach. In other words, don’t spend two hours shoveling and tossing the targeted object over your right shoulder 50x in a row. This will break down a specific spot in your spine. Instead, alter your approach. Toss 20x to the right, toss 20x to the left, push with both hands for 10x. This will distribute the load more evenly throughout your spine. 

If you have pain in the morning when first rising out of bed, your sleeping posture is most likely part of the issue. Typically, a firm mattress with good support is a better option. The softer the mattress, the more your spine will sink into a compromised position and be difficult to rise out of. Also, before standing up sit up tall on the edge of the bed with your feet on the floor for one minute, then stand up. This should make the transition out of bed easier.

3 Most Common Foot and Ankle Injuries

Frustrating Foot and Ankle Injuries interfere with our daily lives and what we love to do.

Below is a list of the 3 Most Common Foot and Ankle Injuries.

Achilles Tendinitis or Tear

The Achilles tendon is the  largest in the body and connects the two calf muscles to the heel. This tendon is particularly susceptible to inflammation because of overuse and can cause a great deal of pain and difficulty walking. This condition is called Achilles tendinitis.  Achilles tendinitis is usually an overuse injury and most cases of Achilles tendinitis can be treated without surgery — all you need is to take a break from physical activity, and start physical therapy along with stretching exercises in order for your Achilles tendon to recover and heal properly. But, if tension and pain near the tendon persist, surgery might be a necessity.

Those suffering from Achilles tendinitis are also more prone to an Achilles tear or full rupture after repetitive inflammation and damage have been built up over time. However, this injury can also occur because of sudden trauma. If a patient hears a popping noise or sensation and experiences heel pain after landing a jump, the Achilles tendon may have ruptured.  

Ultrasound Imaging can be useful in determining if your Achilles pain is from Tendinitis or an Achilles Tendon tear.  At Staats PT, we can perform this imaging to help determine the condition of your Achilles tendon. 

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain and can affect the running athlete, the weekend warrior, and even the sedentary individual. Two million patients are treated for this problem each year. It occurs when the Fascia band of tissue in the arch of the foot becomes inflamed, causing sharp pain in the heel of the foot. With so much weight pressure being applied to your heels on a daily basis, the plantar fascia (or strand of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes) can become weak and irritated. This can make it very difficult to perform everyday activities like walking, running, or even standing.

Most patients suffering from this condition complain of pain with the first few steps they take after waking up or after resting for a prolonged period of time. Once the band has time to stretch, the pain will often subside significantly but will continue to flare up again after each time that it is rested.

Plantar fasciitis can be caused by a number of factors like overpronation, being overweight (which puts an incredible amount of stress on your feet and ankles), having high arches or flat feet, or wearing restrictive, ill-fitting footwear like high heels.

A thorough evaluation of your foot mechanics is essential in order to determine the cause of plantar fasciitis. This combined with an Ultrasound image can help determine your plan of care. At Staats physical Therapy we can measure the thickness of your plantar with the latest Ultrasound technology and determine if plantar fasciitis is the cause of the pain and even determine if a bone spur is present.  

Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprains are perhaps the most common and most treatable of sports injuries. Rolling your ankle in an athletic competition, or tripping and falling while at work can both lead to ligament sprains of the ankle.  Ligaments are bands of connective tissue that provide stability and strength to joints by connecting bones to other bones. When sprains happen, ligaments have been stretched or torn.

While most sprains are minor and will heal with rest and ice, if swelling and pain persist, it is important to seek the help of a physical therapist. In fact, moderate and severe sprains that are left untreated can weaken the ankle over time and even cause repeated sprains or lead to other ankle injuries. Ultimately, repeated ankle sprains can cause arthritis.

More often than not, ankle sprains are of the inversion variety, meaning that the foot rolls inward, pushing the ankle outward and causing a sprain (chances are that you’ve had this type of sprain before). In other rare cases, eversion sprains push the foot outward, which can cause serious foot and leg injuries.  

The first step in treating an ankle sprain is usually rest and to protect the ankle to reduce swelling and pain. You may need crutches in the short term and/or even an ankle brace. Next, have your physical therapist provide stretching exercises to restore your ankle’s range of motion. Your physical therapist will put you back on track by gradually increasing the length and intensity of your activities, being careful to not aggravate the injury. At Staats Physical Therapy we use hand on treatments, like joint mobilization and soft tissue massage to restore the ankle joints natural motion.

For more information, visit our social pages below where we will be posting throughout the month about foot and ankle injuries and how we treat them at Staats Physical Therapy.

How to Get the Most Out of Physical Therapy

Starting physical therapy means you have a unique opportunity to change your health, however, it’s important to make sure you’re choosing the right physical therapist and at Staats Physical therapy, you can rest assured know that you’re in the right hands. This, among other priorities is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting the most out of your PT experience.

Read more below on how to make sure you’re getting what you need from your physical therapy visits.

1. Make Sure Your Physical Therapist is Experienced With Your Condition - Different therapists offer different levels of experience and working with the right one is important for your recovery. 

2. Be Prepared for Your Appointments - Physical therapy requires a lot of movement. It’s important that you’re wearing the right type of clothes for reasons of both comfort and mobility. In addition to dressing properly, you should also prepare by bringing a list of what is bothering you, what pains your feeling and where they’re coming from. This can help your physical therapist not only help you improve, but make sure that you’re not exacerbating your injury.

3. Engage in Your Appointments - Your physical therapy is all about you and while your physical therapist is there to show you the way, it’s important to make sure that you’re vocalizing your experience, while also listening and taking in everything they have to show you. Additionally, it’s equally important to make sure you’re asking questions. Engaging and communicating with your physical therapist will create a better relationship and overall experience.

4. Put in the Work - Physical therapy doesn’t end at your appointment. In fact, making sure that you’re doing the homework that your physical therapist gives you is of the utmost importance. Furthermore, it’s important that you’re doing the exercises as your PT has shown you, as not doing so can cause further injury. 

5. Arrive to All Appointments as Recommended by Your Physical Therapist - Arriving at your scheduled appointments consistently is important to your recovery. Consider this: every missed appointment is furthering your improvement. 

Getting the most out of your experience with physical therapy is quite easy when you think about it, especially when you’re working with the right physical therapist. Following these steps will not only improve your experience, but it will improve your health by healing whatever ails you.

If you’re looking for a great physical therapist to help you get on track to recovery, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Staats Physical Therapy and set up an appointment with us today!

Click here or call us at (732)920-0880

The Thomas Test

See how we use the Thomas Test to treat back, hip, and knee pain.

A-A Manipulation

Cervicogenic headaches can be treated with a technique called A-A manipulation. It's a non-invasive technique that manipulates the cervical spine. See Dr. Dan Staats perform the technique on a patient suffering from cervicogenic headaches.