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Decrease Neck Pain and Improve Your Quality of Life

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Your Neck and You

Have you been experiencing neck pain, headaches, dizziness, or stiffness? Are you using a computer or mobile device more frequently than normal? You aren’t alone. According to a literature review performed by Dr. Bart Green, approximately 67-80% of people will have neck pain at some point in their lives 1.  We’ve also seen that adolescents, who frequently spend more and more time in front of a screen are not immune to this either. Paula Hakala and associates found through research that 2-3 hours of screen time a day is enough to be a threshold for neck and shoulder pain 2.

During this time in which many people have transitioned to remote work environments somewhat abruptly, we’re seeing more issues. People may be spending significant amounts of time in a relatively fixed position, staring forward at computer screens or other monitors. Worse still is that very frequently, we find that people have poor posture and ergonomics with their positioning, resulting in increased pain or stiffness relative to if they had appropriate posture.

However, there is good news! We’ve found through research that physical therapy, including the hands-on manual therapy that our physical therapists use, has resulted in improving pain and outcomes in people with neck pain3. We’ve also found that something called scapular stabilization can help individuals struggling with chronic neck pain4. Your scapula and the muscles supporting it, commonly referred to as your shoulder blade, are important parts of your neck’s strength and stability.

Here at Excel Physical Therapy, therapists are trained in a variety of hands-on treatments to help alleviate your pain and get you feeling better. Soft tissue mobilization is a technique we use to help improve any restrictions or adhesions present in your soft tissue structures, like muscles or ligaments. Joint mobilization is another technique that your therapist may use to address any issues present in your neck. In joint mobilization, physical therapists use manual techniques to help alleviate any stiffness and improve discomfort in your cervical spine, or neck bones. Among the many others your physical therapist would be trained in, these two techniques can help address your pain or disability.

While at Excel, your therapist will be with you every step of the way, whether it’s your first visit or your last. Unlike some other physical therapy practices, we don’t employ any aides or assistants; every appointment will be with your therapist. No matter what’s going on, we’ll be there with you to help you excel in your recovery.

by: Eric Medaglia-Kurtz, PT, DPT, Assistant Clinic Director in Newtown Square

 

 

References:

1: Green B. N. (2008). A literature review of neck pain associated with computer use: public health implications. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 52(3), 161–167.

  1. Paula T. Hakala, et [al], Frequent computer-related activities increase the risk of neck–shoulder and low back pain in adolescents, European Journal of Public Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, October 2006, Pages 536–541,
  2. Hoving JL et. Al Manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care by a general practitioner for patients with neck pain. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002 May 21;136(10):713-22. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-136-10-200205210-00006. PMID: 12020139.
  3. Seo YG, Park WH, Lee CS, et al. Is Scapular Stabilization Exercise Effective for Managing Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain?: A Systematic Review. Asian Spine J. 2020;14(1):122-129. doi:10.31616/asj.2019.0055
Health, News

Don’t Delay Treatment For Your Back Pain

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Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide¹. Annual healthcare system costs in the US alone are in the billions for the treatment of back pain². Recent research shows an increasing prevalence of back pain in men and the elderly population, resulting in time away from work, hobbies, family occasions, and more¹.

While acute back pain (first 4-6 weeks after injury/onset) can be resolved in the majority of cases, individuals often delay seeking treatment, which can lead to both chronic pain and injury recurrence where symptoms often feel worse.3,4

The Benefits of Starting Physical Therapy EARLY for Acute Back Pain

Early access to Physical Therapy (PT) in the acute phase after injury/onset has been shown to reduce pain, minimize the risk of injury recurrence and decrease overall healthcare costs, including the utilization of diagnostic imaging, injections, medication, or surgery.3,5 In addition, the current American College of Physicians clinical practice guidelines suggest nonpharmacologic treatments (such as PT) are highly recommended and considered best practice in the treatment of acute back pain². These guidelines also emphasize the importance of remaining active during an acute episode of back pain, as physical activity has superior outcomes compared to rest.

Back pain can sometimes be related to other issues such as sciatica or new symptoms in the leg(s) including numbness, tingling, and burning. In a recent study, those referred to Physical Therapy by their Primary Care Provider in the acute stage of sciatica experienced less pain and disability than those who did not receive Physical Therapy6. In addition, those who received Physical Therapy continued to report better outcomes after one year.

Physical Therapists are experts in differentiating the cause of your
symptoms and developing the appropriate treatment plan for you, whether it is a muscle, joint, or nerve-related. Physical Therapists are highly trained in recognizing these “red flag” signs and symptoms in the rare event of a more serious condition and will refer you out to a specialist.

How Excel Physical Therapy Can Help

At Excel Physical Therapy, we offer a variety of services to address your back pain including Manual Therapy, the McKenzie Method, Graston Technique, exercise, stability training, and more. We will provide you with useful, applicable education to maximize your workplace ergonomics, athletic performance, or lifting mechanics so you can pick up your grandkids or crush a gym workout without pain. With our flexible hours including evenings and weekends, we can accommodate your busy work or family schedule. Many insurances offer Direct Access (DA) benefits where you do not need a Physician referral to see a Physical Therapist. If you don’t have DA benefits, don’t worry! Our team can help you obtain a referral and recommend a Physician if needed. We will schedule your Initial Evaluation within 24-48 hours after calling one of our clinics, ensuring you are taken care of as soon as possible.

 

By Sarah Pichini, PT, DPT
Excel PT – West Chester

News

Avoiding Shoulder Injuries in Baseball

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Shoulder and elbow injuries are common in baseball players of all ages, however, this is increasingly common as youth players become more specialized and more competitive at earlier ages. Additionally, players may not have access to the same level of training that they usually would due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shoulder and elbow injuries can occur at the beginning of a season due to inadequate preparation during pre-season training. More often, however, injuries occur later in the season simply due to too much throwing without enough rest. The most common throwing-related injuries are muscle strains,  biceps tendinopathies and labral tears of the shoulder, and ligament sprains or tears of the elbow (think Tommy John surgery).

Increased injury risk in baseball players is associated with increased throwing volume, not enough rest, increased pitching velocity, poor throwing mechanics, and poor conditioning.

You can reduce your injury risk by keeping these general guidelines in mind:

  • Participate in an off-season training regimen. This may include cardiovascular conditioning, mobility training, core strengthening, and weight/resistance training with a focus on the musculature involved in throwing.
  • Heavy weight-training should be avoided in the upper extremities, however, leaving the heavier weights for the legs.
  • Adequate time off from throwing between seasons is crucial to allow for the tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the arm to fully recover. A minimum of 4 months off from throwing per year is recommended for youth players, with 2-3 of those months being consecutive (MLB.com).
  • Monitor and limit pitch count. This becomes even more critical to a player’s health when they are playing for multiple teams as coaches may not always be on the same page. MLB.com is a great resource with detailed pitch count limits for each age group.
  • Allow for adequate warm-up prior to any bout of pitching or throwing. This may include, but is not limited to, a cardiovascular warm-up, dynamic mobility/stretching, and the use of light to moderate strength resistance bands to “prime” the musculature of the shoulder.

To summarize, the number one reason for injury is fatigue and overuse. This can be too many pitches in one game, not enough days off between throwing, or too many innings in one year.

Additionally, while much of the focus lies on the shoulder and elbow in baseball players, it is also critically important to address deficiencies throughout the rest of the body. In addition to assessing for weakness or inadequate range of motion of the shoulder, players should be assessed for adequate mobility and strength of the spine, trunk, hips, and ankles. If there are deficiencies in one or more areas of the body, they can contribute to pain, injury, and reduced performance of the throwing shoulder and arm. Working on sound throwing mechanics is essential as well, but one should use caution when attempting to drastically change a player’s throwing mechanics in-season.

Prior to the season, consulting with a physical therapist with knowledge of throwing mechanics may be beneficial. Additionally, if a player starts to feel any pain that does not go away with rest, a physical therapist may be able to help not only reduce the pain but also determine the root cause of the injury in order to prevent recurrence or a new injury in the future.

By Daniel Johnson, PT, DPT, Excel Physical Therapy Southampton

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Tips for Picking the Right Shoe for Walking or Running

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A lot of people are interested in improving their fitness by adopting a walking program, but sometimes don’t know how to start. For many of us, it can be really scary and a bit intense to think about moving more and making changes to improve our health and fitness. But, where do you start? How long do you walk? How fast? How often? There can be a lot to think about, which can be quite intimidating.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

First, talk with your PT about starting this program!

Research shows total steps are what matters most, not speed. What’s the recommended amount of steps? 8,000 steps per day! More movement equals better health. If you are active, stay active. If you need to get more active, here are some tips:

  • Start slow!  Gradually increase your activity weekly
  • Walk with a partner or in a group
  • Go at your own pace
  • Wear good shoes

Check out this video for tips for choosing the best shoe featuring Dr. Nicholas Romansky, DPM from Healthmark Foot & Ankle Associates.  Running shoes are for walking as well.  Running shoes are designed to help manage the stress of running, making them perfect for walking.

In Good Health

Fitness, Health, News, Recent Announcements

Is Your Back Pain Really Coming from Your Back?

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Have you ever had pain in the base of your spine, going into your buttock, pelvis, or leg? Everyone says it’s your back, but is it? How do you find out?

The key to resolving your symptoms is an accurate diagnosis. Let me walk you through the in-depth evaluation that you will receive at our office. We start with the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment by taking a thorough history of your pain and any other issues such as numbness, tingling, unsteadiness, and falls or trauma. We then look at your sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping posture to see if your upper body, legs, or pelvis are shifted or tilted. We next check your sensation and your reflexes. While standing, we assess your ability to bend forward, backward, rotate and side bending to each side, once and up to 10 repetitions while carefully assessing the effects on the location and level of your symptoms. Then, while lying down, we check your spine flexion and extension motion, strength, and joint mobility. We may perform a prone instability test if we suspect you have weak core muscles that are not properly stabilizing your spine.

Next, we move on to check the flexibility and strength of your hip in all 6 directions as well as your hamstring flexibility and dural tension. If your symptoms are in the sacrum, we may add sacroiliac joint testing.  We also fully assess your motion and strength in your knees, ankles and even your toes.  We will check for any tenderness in the regions where you have symptoms to determine the status of the back and hip muscles and tendons.  If you have X-rays or MRI results, we do integrate those tests into our assessment; however, our full evaluation is the key to knowing what motions cause and what motions will improve your symptoms.

We then combine your personal history with your full evaluation results, to arrive at your specific PT diagnosis and custom treatment plan. We start on the first day with hands-on treatment for soft tissue and joint mobilization, education in proper posture, and instruction in a home exercise program. Often, we find that patients that have back symptoms that peripheralize or move into the leg with the repeated motions have symptoms caused by lumbar or lumbosacral discs protruding on the nerves.

Sometimes we find that patients have a large imbalance in the strength and flexibility of hip rotator muscles, such as the piriformis muscle. A tight piriformis muscle can cause piriformis syndrome where the sciatic nerve gets compressed under a tight piriformis muscle. Other times, we see the pelvis tilted forward making it difficult to stand straight, and find that the patient has a tight iliopsoas muscle. The iliopsoas muscle is a hip muscle that originates on all the lumbar vertebrae and a tight iliopsoas can create a lot of back pain! You may have weak core muscles that are not properly stabilizing your spine and your PT might work on your transverse abdominal muscles and other core muscles to stabilize your spine. Bottom line, you may have pain originating from your lumbar spine, sacrum AND/OR your back or hip muscles.

Your personalized one-on-one evaluation at Excel will let you know what is causing YOUR pain and get you the most effective treatments such as the McKenzie method, stabilization, Graston Technique or Active Release Therapy. Our mission is to get you BACK to doing what you want to do pain-free! 

Jean Scott, PT, DPT, OCS, Cred MDT, Graston Cert, ART cert

Excel PT: Is Your Back Pain Coming From Your Back? 

Fitness, Health, News

The Impact of a Sedentary Lifestyle

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The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented healthcare crisis, as, over the past several weeks, we have witnessed an entire population being asked to remain at home and limit their social interactions. During this time, the activities of even the fittest individuals have been restricted, replaced with more opportunities for inactivity, as well as sedentary behavior.

A study (Krogh-Madsen et al. 2010) involving a group of healthy young males reduced their number of steps per day from a baseline of 10,000 to just 1,350 steps for a period of 2 weeks. After just 2 weeks of reduced activity, the test subjects showed a 7% decrease in
maximal oxygen uptake, an indicator of By Khushbu Dhimmer, PT, DPT cardiorespiratory fitness and also lost 3% of their lean leg mass.4 The study is a lesson that even a short-term reduction in activity levels can impact overall health. As restrictions begin to ease, many people will begin to increase their activity levels, and it is important to start slow and build up to your pre-pandemic exercise regimen. Adopting a program of stretching prior to exercise can get you moving in the right direction, but in some cases after a period of inactivity, you may encounter the onset of pain.

Pain is a protective perception of the brain; nonetheless, it is real and can limit functionality in areas such as walking, sitting, sleeping, running, and sport-specific movements. Many years of research have proven physical therapy to be an effective treatment to not only combat aches and pains but to find and fix the source of the issue. Physical therapy is not only for individuals suffering acute pain from an injury, it can also provide life-altering benefits for individuals dealing with persistent or “chronic” pain. Successful pain management with physical therapy consists of four “hallmarks” included in treatment: patient education, patient-centered goals, aerobic/strengthening exercise, and manual therapy.

Exercise can be an effective tool for pain management and improving function when utilized correctly. In a thorough examination, Excel physical therapists are able to appropriately dose (frequency, duration, intensity) physical exercise, which can significantly improve pain and related symptoms¹. Manual therapy, in conjunction with exercise, also provides therapeutic benefits to the body. It can assist with tissue healing, improve mobility and increase functional movement, which can alter pain levels to improve the quality of a patient’s life.

At Excel Physical Therapy, our one-hour, one-on-one initial evaluations allow the therapist and the patient to quickly develop a trusting and positive connection, which research studies have shown to contribute to a successful recovery². Furthermore, the option of one-on-one treatment sessions provides the patient and the physical therapist the opportunity to individualize treatment plans to achieve patient-centered goals, as well as educate the patient on the root causes behind their injury or pain. Current evidence supports the use of traditional physical therapy treatments to reduce aches and pain; however, understanding what pain is can positively amplify the impact of physical therapy treatments. At Excel, physical therapists take the time to “explain pain” to our patients, which can directly correlate to the reduction of the patient’s pain or symptoms.³

If you are experiencing pain and limitations in your function, please contact one of our many locations and schedule an appointment to begin your road to recovery today!

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1. Ambrose KR, Golightly YM. Physical exercise as non-pharmacological treatment of chronic pain: Why and when. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015;29(1):120‐130. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.022 2. Bunzli S, McEvoy S, Dankaerts
W, O’Sullivan P, O’Sullivan K. Patient Perspectives on Participation in Cognitive Functional Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain. Phys Ther. 2016;96(9):1397‐1407. doi:10.2522/ptj.20140570 3. Van Oosterwijck J, Nijs J, Meeus M, et al.
Pain neurophysiology education improves cognitions, pain thresholds, and movement performance in people with chronic whiplash: a pilot study. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2011;48(1):43‐58. doi:10.1682/jrrd.2009.12.0206 4. Krogh-Madsen,
R., Thyfault, J. P., Broholm, C., Mortensen, O. H., Olsen, R. H., Mounier, R., … Pedersen, B. K. (2010). A 2-wk reduction of ambulatory activity attenuates peripheral insulin sensitivity. Journal of Applied Physiology, 108, 1034–1040.

Fitness, Health, News

Immunity & Physical Therapy

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Manage Pain, Inflammation & Your Immune System with Physical Therapy

In this time of the pandemic, most people are aware of certain steps they can take to keep healthy, such as washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and of course, maintaining safe distances while also using a mask or face covering.

Did you know that you can also help to maintain your health by treating your pain? In order to find out how first we’ll need to
answer a few simple questions.

Is pain a bad thing? The unpleasant sensory and emotional experience of pain is a near-universally felt condition, and few would claim that their lives wouldn’t be improved without it. However, pain is not only normal, it’s actually helpful, protecting and alerting us to possible harms, such as stepping on a sharp object or suffering an injury. However, when pain lasts longer than normal, or after the normal inflammatory and healing process subsides, pain may become abnormal and no longer helpful to us.

Is inflammation a bad thing? Inflammation is a normal part of the healing process. However, just like pain, inflammation can become an abnormal response when it persists. Stress, sleep, diet, anxiety, depression and physical activity can all influence pain and inflammation, and in turn, pain and inflammation can influence stress, sleep, diet, anxiety, and depression.

Stress, lack of sleep, and poor dietary habits can lead to a chronic inflammatory state and can ultimately reduce our ability to fight infection or recover from an injury. In fact, just pain itself can cause a number of immunosuppressive effects, meaning that appropriate pain management is a vital part of health and well-being.

What can you do about this and how does this relate to physical therapy? Physical therapy can help you recover from pain and inflammation. Techniques such as cognitive functional therapy, manual therapy, and most importantly, physical activity and exercise can help your body return back to normal by reducing pain and inflammation. These efforts can also help to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

The relationship between pain, inflammation, and your immune system has never been so critical. With the world fighting against COVID-19, it is essential that we keep our immune systems strong and healthy. If pain is making it harder for you or someone that you love to fight infection, you can improve your immune system and reduce your pain with the help of your Excel physical therapist. Together, we can do our part to keep you healthy and pain-free! Visit us to get control over your pain and your life!

By Matthew Will, PT, DPT

 

Our full  May 2020 newsletter! https://online.flippingbook.com/view/242067/

News

Pain Relief Without Pain Medication

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Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical treatment and is something we have all dealt with or will deal with at some point in our lives. National surveys have found that chronic pain—which is most commonly defined as pain lasting longer than 3 months—is a major health issue that affects approximately 100 million American adults and costs around $635 billion a year.

Dealing with chronic pain can make us feel frustrated, depressed, and just plain “broken” and the obvious thing we all want the most is to get rid of the pain as fast as possible. However, with so many options out there in the medical world, and the cost of healthcare only increasing, the question becomes which By Timothy Brown, PT, DPT method is the most effective and provides the greatest value? For many, medication is the first option to which people turn, whether it be something that can be picked up at a local pharmacy or something that is prescribed by a doctor.

Why? It provides fast pain relief and is readily available. However, in most instances, the pain relief is only temporary and the source of the pain is never really addressed but only masked for a short period of time. Aside from offering only temporary relief, the risks and side-effects associated with pain medications can be just as bad, if not worse, than the symptoms they are meant to alleviate, with chronic use increasing the risk of secondary problems such as GI distress, internal organ stress, and addiction or dependency issues.

This isn’t to say that pain medication doesn’t have its uses, but limiting our exposure to this kind of temporary pain relief and seeking out alternative methods of treatment that have less risk and more permanent results may be an effective and, ultimately, more optimal solution. Physical Therapy is largely regarded as one of the top alternatives for pain relief, being recognized in 2016 by the CDC as an alternative form of pain relief over prescription painkillers³.

The physical therapists at Excel Physical Therapy are experts in human movement, with their expertise resulting from their exposure to extensive education through accredited doctoral programs, challenging clinical experience, and use of the latest research-based medical literature. They are able to combine all of this to thoroughly assess and treat people of all ages and abilities in order to provide long term pain relief to their patients while restoring their functional movement and quality of life. This includes, but is not limited to, a wide variety of orthopedic ailments including low back pain, neck pain, knee pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and shoulder pain.

Excel Physical Therapy also offers treatment options with PT’s specializing in Pelvic Health and Vestibular/Post-Concussion Therapy to create a wide pallet of treatment options for all sorts of different needs. Excel Physical Therapy takes a patient-centered approach that is designed around a heavy focus on hands-on techniques and direct interaction between the patient and the PT, with no interference from aides or Physical Therapy Assistants.

If you are a person who feels limited by pain and is looking for a longer-lasting and healthier form of pain relief, please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at one of our many clinics located for a one-on-one evaluation.

Visit us to get control over your pain and your life!

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Fitness, Health, News

Overcome Your Neck Pain with Physical Therapy

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It’s the end of the day and your neck is stiff and painful. You may even start to feel a headache coming on. Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders experienced by the general population second only to low back pain.

A recent study in the United States indicated that 15.1% of adults have reported an occurrence of neck pain within the previous three months. A second study determined that 3%-11% of workers experiencing neck pain were affected by it enough to cause lost time at work.

Traditionally, these types of symptoms have been addressed by training the muscles that make up our deep neck flexors, performing manual therapy, and using other non-surgical interventions. However, like most musculoskeletal issues we experience, the solution may not only be to focus on the area of discomfort, but also on nearby structures as well. Studies have shown that the majority of people reporting neck pain also experience shoulder pain or demonstrate poor shoulder movement.

There are several reasons to explain the correlation between neck and shoulder issues. First, the bones and muscles of the cervical spine and shoulders are connected to each other. Therefore, a continuous load on the shoulders can eventually increase the load on the entire cervical region, possibly leading to neck pain. Second, the nerves that act on your arm and shoulder all originate in your neck. If there is damage along this pathway then altered shoulder movements can lead to neck pain.

Several muscles are responsible for proper movement of the shoulder blade including the serratus anterior and the upper and lower trapezius. If these muscles are weak or not working together properly, it can alter the orientation and movement pattern of the shoulder blade and lead to discomfort in the neck. Research has shown that by providing proper support to the arm and shoulder, patients suffering from neck pain reported pain reduction and also demonstrated an improved range of motion in the neck. By strengthening the serratus anterior and trapezius muscles, patients can provide the proper support of their shoulder to help improve any neck pain.

If you currently experience neck pain or headaches, a physical therapist can assist in performing a comprehensive initial evaluation. They will assess the strength and range of motion of your neck and shoulders, as well as your movement patterns, and can provide education as to the causes of your symptoms. During scheduled visits, they can provide you with ways to change your work activities to best reduce your pain, and develop a plan of care to help you return to being pain-free!

Understanding the importance of regular physical activity is paramount in preventing chronic diseases. Contact us today to get started with overcoming your neck pain, so that you can enjoy the active lifestyle your body deserves!

David Girardot, PT, DPT

 

Sources: Lee, Y, et al Effects of shoulder stabilization exercise on pain and function in patients with neck pain, J Phys. Ther Sci 27: 3619-3622, 2015 Im, B, et al, Effects of scapular stabilization exercises on neck posture and muscle activation in individuals with neck pain and forward head posture, J. Phys Ther Sci 28: 951-955, 2016

Learn methods to relieve neck and shoulder pain in our February 2020 Newsletter!

 

Fitness, Health, News

The Core of Neck and Back Pain

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All of us have probably met someone in our lives who suffers from chronic (or long-term) back or neck pain. It could be a friend, a family member, or it may even be yourself. Think about that individual for a moment. Imagine the struggle they experience while seeking a remedy, or the attempts made at solving the mystery of their discomfort.

These are the types of patients that physical therapists, such as me, are working to help every day. These are also the patients who frequently ask us what it is we can do to properly address their condition. The answer is fairly simple and somewhat surprising: it’s education!

When a physical therapist is performing an evaluation, they are working on getting to the CORE of your problem.  For the low back (or lumbar spine), that problem may indeed be the stabilizing musculature that we commonly refer to as the “core.” While a physical therapist will not be able to give you abs like Vin Diesel, we can show you how to activate the abdominal muscles which help to stabilize and protect your back. Once you have a basic understanding, we begin to educate patients on how important those muscles are to perform everyday activities, along with how they relate to your posture and function.

In the neck (or cervical spine), the importance of posture is immeasurable. Neck pain, migraines, stenosis, disc pathologies, and even shoulder and lower arm soreness, can all be corrected with postural education. An example of how one can benefit is by adjusting how you are positioned while looking down at your smartphone. We may not call the neck stabilizers the “core” but it operates in the same manner. By activating the specific musculature that supports the neck and head we can improve the positioning of the cervical spine and put you on the right path to pain relief.

Once we’ve identified the root cause of your pain and communicated some education, then the real fun begins! A skilled physical therapist will utilize “hands-on” or manual therapy to help achieve your recovery goal. These types of techniques help to relax tight muscles, open up space in the joints, improve range of motion and make you feel good! Therapy in conjunction with education will not only get you on the right path towards success but also provide you with the skills to avoid further problems.

So let’s relate this back to the person I asked you to think about earlier. As it turns out, their pain may not be as mysterious as once thought. All you need is a skilled physical therapist working to get to the CORE of your back and neck pain.

By Nicholas Drago, PT, DPT, Clinic Director of Excel Physical Therapy – Ardmore

Learn more about the causes and treatment for neck and back pain in our November 2019 monthly newsletter!

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