If you had to guess, what’s the one thing that almost all new patients have in common when they first arrive to clinic to be evaluated? Pain. Whether it is a new onset of symptoms that started after moving a big beautiful sofa or an unreliable low back that just started hurting with no recollection of injury, the primary motivating factor that brings most patients into the clinic is PAIN.
Many surgeons, especially neurosurgeons, urge patients to stop smoking before spinal procedures, particularly, spinal fusions.
An extensive amount of research has found that smoking cigarettes prolongs the healing process and causes complications. Below is a list of problems that can arise:
In the world of physical therapy a very common goal is to increase strength. Some patients love the hands on approach with a skilled therapist while others choose to hit the gym. So if you are one of those individuals that would like to try it on your own there is a very important training tool to keep in mind. The FITT Principle:
Physical therapists are defined by the APTA as “experts in movement and function” but are very often associated with an environment in which they deal with patients who are ill or have undergone surgery. A large part of a physical therapist’s program is directed at preventing injury, loss of movement, and even surgery.
Most of the time when one is experiencing back pain, they often stay sedentary all day, because they think being active or stretching will hurt them more rather than elevate their back pain. Here are some great stretches and exercises that will increase core strength to support a healthy back.
Dustin Johnson is cool under pressure! Despite falling five shots behind Jordan Spieth after five holes Sunday in the Northern Trust, Johnson never panicked.
The seemingly insurmountable deficit was wiped clean in five holes, with Johnson making two birdies and Spieth finding water on the sixth hole for a double-bogey. Spieth, then making another bogey on the ninth. From the 11th on, Johnson out-dueled Spieth and won the opener of the FedExCup Playoffs with two great performances on the final hole.
On the 72nd hole, Johnson, facing a make-or-break situation, buried an 18-footer for par to force a playoff, and then claimed the hardware on the first extra hole, when he unleashed the longest drive on the 18th all week — a 341-yarder that easily cleared the lake — and then struck a 60-degree wedge to 3 feet and made the putt to win.
A competitive edge is a highly sought attribute for any serious athlete. As young, healthy athletes slowly begin to add years of experience to his/her playing card, there are added stressors and strains that inevitably accumulate. Very often I see an aging adult that has the follow through and motivation of a champion but an uncooperative physique. So the question then becomes, how can the imminent become less inhibiting?
Let’s discuss some of the limiting factors and how we might be able to address these items through a strengthening and flexibility regime that could potentially be the difference between double bogey and par. Primary areas of focus will include hip range of motion, low back musculature, and biomechanics of your golf swing.
A new year is a time of new beginnings and it is never too late to improve your habits when it comes to proper posture. Fostering good posture habits will pay dividends for years to come.
Many of us will make resolutions of all types for 2017. We would like you to make some resolutions for the health of your back and neck. Here are some tips that you can adopt to improve your spine health in the coming year.
While watching the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio last summer, you may have felt inspired to pursue your own athletic goals while watching the Olympic athletes pursue theirs. If you’re currently experiencing back pain, or have dealt with back pain in the past, it can be intimidating to jump into a sport or exercise routine. You worry about putting too much pressure on your already compromised spine, or tweaking your back just enough to send any recovery progress you’ve made into a tailspin. If you want to incorporate more activity into your life, but want to be easy on your back at the same time, the below sports may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.