*Headaches and PT

HEADACHE

Approximately one in six people experience headaches; one in nine people experience migraines. Some episodes are severe enough to cause lost work or a visit to the physician or hospital for treatment. Children may even be affected by severe headaches or migraines that affect their schoolwork and recreational activities.  Physical therapy is best suited for headaches related to problems with the neck joints or muscle tension.  Here is a slideshow on some common headache triggers and treatments.

Conservative Physical Therapy Management of headaches may include:

• Modalities: such as heat and ice
• Manual Therapy:  “hands on” treatment to improve pain and restore function and movement. 
• Mobilization and Manipulation:  movement of a joint to improve pain and restore functional movement.
• Therapeutic Exercise:  specific exercise to improve pain and restore functional movement. 
• Functional Movement Training:  exercises to improve posture and movement.
• Biofeedback:  a way of using a computer or other device to “see” and improve body functions such as muscle activity or indicators of stress.   
• Electrical Stimulation or TENS:  used to help improve pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, muscle function, and circulation.

Physical Therapists are specialists in restoring movement and function related to muscle, bone, or joint dysfunction.  They often work to improve pain and disability.  To learn more about PT or find one in your area, check out a consumer oriented site on PT here   or the main site of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) here.

*Links are given to provide a general overview of a topic and not intended to suggest complete or authoritative information on a particular subject.  The information provided is always subject to change.*



*Thoracic Pain and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) and PT

THORACIC PAIN and  THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME (TOS)

Pain felt in the middle spine, rib or chest area associated with the spine or ribs (NOT including chest pain associated with the heart which is a medical emergency).

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome:  compression of the nerves and blood vessels in the thoracic outlet between the neck and the arm.  TOS may be caused by posture, trauma, or muscle tightness.

Conservative Physical Therapy Management of thoracic pain may include: 

• Modalities: such as heat and ice
• Manual Therapy:  “hands on” treatment to improve pain and restore function and movement. 
• Mobilization and Manipulation:  movement of a joint to improve pain and restore functional movement.
• Therapeutic Exercise:  specific exercise to improve pain and restore functional movement. 
• Functional Movement Training:  exercises to improve posture and movement.
• Biofeedback:  a way of using a computer or other device to “see” and improve body functions such as muscle activity or indicators of stress.   
• Electrical Stimulation or TENS:  used to help improve pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, muscle function, and circulation.

Physical Therapists are specialists in restoring movement and function related to muscle, bone, or joint dysfunction.  They often work to improve pain and disability.  To learn more about PT or find one in your area, check out a consumer oriented site on PT here   or the main site of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) here.

*Links are given to provide a general overview of a topic and not intended to suggest complete or authoritative information on a particular subject.  The information provided is always subject to change.*



*Neck Pain and PT

NECK PAIN

Neck pain is a common problem experienced by many people.  It can occur with or without headaches and causes a lot of pain and loss of function.  Daily activities and housework can become difficult.  Often habits such as poor posture, work environment, or stress can contribute to problems and make neck pain worse.  Sufferers may also have headaches or jaw and face pain as well. 

Types of neck pain that may benefit from conservative physical therapy treatment:

• Whiplash: neck pain associated commonly with trauma such as a car accident or fall.
• Cervical Radiculopathy:  neck pain with dysfunction caused by pressure on a nerve. 
• Herniated or Bulging Disc : tear or bulge in the shock absorbing disc between the vertebral bones in the spine causing neck and arm pain and possible weakness.
• Spondylosis or Stenosis:  pain and symptoms caused by degeneration of the cervical spine.
• Repetitive strain injury, Posture, and Stress:   neck pain resulting from poor posture or positioning, repetitive tasks such as computer use or driving, or increased muscle tension from stress.

Conservative Physical Therapy Management of neck pain may include:

• Modalities: such as heat and ice
• Manual Therapy:  “hands on” treatment to improve pain and restore function and movement. 
• Mobilization and Manipulation:  movement of a joint to improve pain and restore functional movement.
• Therapeutic Exercise:  specific exercise to improve pain and restore functional movement. 
• Functional Movement Training:  exercises to improve posture and movement.
• Biofeedback:  a way of using a computer or other device to “see” and improve body functions such as muscle activity or indicators of stress.   
• Electrical Stimulation or TENS:  used to help improve pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, muscle function, and circulation.

Here is an article on PT for neck pain.

Physical Therapists are specialists in restoring movement and function related to muscle, bone, or joint dysfunction.  They often work to improve pain and disability.  To learn more about PT or find one in your area, check out a consumer oriented site on PT here   or the main site of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) here.

*Links are given to provide a general overview of a topic and not intended to suggest complete or authoritative information on a particular subject.  The information provided is always subject to change.*

*Back Pain and PT

BACK PAIN

Back pain or lumbago  is very common.  It is estimated that 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their life.  Some of the common symptoms include:

• Chronic Back Pain
• Leg Pain
• Sacroiliac Pain
• Tailbone Pain
• Muscle Pain
• Nerve Pain
• Difficulty Functioning
• Difficulty Working

Types of back pain that may benefit from conservative physical therapy treatment:

• Sciatica: Low back, buttock, and leg/ foot pain from compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve.
• Herniated or Bulging Disc : tear or bulge in the shock absorbing disc between the vertebral bones in the spine causing back and leg pain and possible weakness.  More serious situations involve bowel or bladder symptoms which are an immediate medical emergency situation.  
• Piriformis Syndrome:  buttock and leg pain from compression on the sciatic nerve from the piriformis muscle.  
• Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction:  back , buttock and leg pain resulting from problems in the joint between the sacrum (part above the tailbone) and the illium (pelvic bone).
• Muscle Spasm or Strain
• Spondylolisthesis: a shift of one vertebral bone over another leading to back pain.
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: narrowing of the spinal canal which compresses the nerve possibly resulting in back pain.  
• Scoliosis:  a condition in which the spine is curved side to side leading to possible pain and muscular imbalance. 
• Ankylosing Spondylitis: a joint disease found more often in young men, resulting in pain and stiffness of the spine.
• Cocygodynia or Tailbone pain:  Pain in the coccyx or tailbone worsened by sitting that may be related to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

Conservative Physical Therapy Management of back pain may include:

• Modalities: such as heat and ice
• Manual Therapy:  “hands on” treatment to improve pain and restore function and movement. 
• Mobilization and Manipulation:  movement of a joint to improve pain and restore functional movement.
• Therapeutic Exercise:  specific exercise to improve pain and restore functional movement. 
• Functional Movement Training:  exercises to improve posture and movement.
• Biofeedback:  a way of using a computer or other device to “see” and improve body functions such as muscle activity or indicators of stress.   
• Electrical Stimulation or TENS:  used to help improve pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, muscle function, and circulation.

Physical Therapists are specialists in restoring movement and function related to muscle, bone, or joint dysfunction.  They often work to improve pain and disability.  To learn more about PT or find one in your area, check out a consumer oriented site on PT here   or the main site of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) here.

*Links are given to provide a general overview of a topic and not intended to suggest complete or authoritative information on a particular subject.  The information provided is always subject to change.*

*Constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and PT

CONSTIPATION AND IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

Constipation can be a very uncomfortable and painful condition in which the bowels move  less than 2 times a week and you have hard stools, straining, and incomplete emptying of feces at least 25% of the time.  There may significant straining to evacuate stool which causes risk of other problems such as organ prolapse (dropping of pelvic organs such as the bladder), pain, or pelvic floor dysfunction and continence issues.  Irritable Bowel Syndrome leads to abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel movements varying between constipation and diarrhea.  Here is a slideshow on IBS symptoms, tests, and tretaments.

Both constipation and IBS are treated medically with medication and diet.  Physical Therapy may help improve pain and issues related to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

Conservative Physical Therapy Management of constipation and IBS due to pelvic floor dysfunction may include: 

• modalities such as heat and ice
• Manual Therapy:  “hands on” treatment to improve pain and restore function and movement. 
• Mobilization and Manipulation:  movement of a joint to improve pain and restore functional movement.
• Therapeutic exercise:  specific exercise to improve pain and restore functional movement.  
• Functional Movement Training:  exercises to improve posture and movement
• Kegel exercises or pelvic floor retraining:  exercise to correct pelvic floor muscle.  dysfunction.   It is important to get proper training in doing this exercise correctly to avoid problems. 
• Biofeedback:  a way of using a computer or other device to “see” and improve body functions such as muscle activity or indicators of stress.  Also used to “see” the function of the pelvic floor muscle to improve therapeutic exercise or breathing patterns.   
• Electrical Stimulation or TENS:  used to help improve pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, muscle function, and circulation.

Not all physical therapists work with the pelvic floor.  There are women's health physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor rehabilitation.  They work with conditions that may include incontinence, pelvic pain, pregnancy, and osteoporosis.  You can get more information on this specialty area of physical therapy or locate a PT who works with these conditions at the website for the Section on Women's Health of the American Physical Therapy Association here.

*Links are given to provide a general overview of a topic and not intended to suggest complete or authoritative information on a particular subject.  The information provided is always subject to change.*