Shoulder injuries are some of the most common injuries an adult can have. Athletes that put frequent stress on their shoulders, such as swimmers or weightlifters, can be impacted by strains or tears in the rotator cuff. But shoulder injuries aren’t exclusive to athletes. People who have jobs that frequently require an overhead motion, like stocking shelves or working in construction, can also be affected.

If you are experiencing rotator cuff pain, more likely than not, your doctor has recommended a combination of rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medicines and/or steroid injections. All of these are common treatments to help alleviate shoulder pain. But, if your injury is too great or these treatments are continually ineffective, it may be time to see if rotator cuff surgery is right for you.

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What is the Rotator Cuff?

Think of all the times you’ve raised your hand over your head. You’ve likely done it thousands upon thousands of times throughout your life—raising your hand in school, reaching for something on a shelf or doing some kind of overhead motion as you exercise.

The rotator cuff is what allows you to do this. The rotator cuff is a combination of muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder together.  It centers the upper arm bone’s head, “the golf ball” on the shoulder blade, “the tee”, and allows you to effortlessly lift your arm. It is one of the most important parts of your shoulder, if not the most important.

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

Common types of injuries include rotator cuff tendonitis or rotator cuff tear. While tendinitis can be treated with treatments such as anti-inflammatories, ice/heat and rest, a rotator cuff tear can sometimes require surgery.

If you are experiencing shoulder pain, whether gradual or sudden because of an injury, a physician will help determine what type of care is more appropriate for you. They will perform a physical assessment, checking your range of motion, before moving onto further tests. If an injury is suspected, they may order an X-ray, MRI or ultrasound to determine the damage and its severity.

More likely than not, your doctor will recommend other avenues before suggesting operating. But, if you have torn your rotator cuff, which occurs when one or more of the rotator cuff tendons are no longer attached to the appropriate bone, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Determining if Rotator Cuff Surgery is Right for You

Even if your doctor has suggested surgery, it is important to be an advocate for your own health. What to do before rotator cuff surgery? Ensure that you feel comfortable and confident going into the surgery by asking your physician the right questions.

Some good questions for you to ask your surgeon include:

• Are there any alternatives to this surgery?
• What are the risks of not performing this surgery?
• How long will recovery take?
• How many times do you do this procedure every year?
• What are the risks of this surgery? What is your complication rate?

The final two items on this list are especially important to ask. Shoulder surgeons perform rotator cuff repairs much more frequently than a general orthopedic surgeon, who may only do them occasionally. This also means that an experienced surgeon usually has a lower complication rate, which means you’ll be on the road to recovery as soon as possible.

Preparing for Rotator Cuff Surgery

If you have decided that rotator cuff surgery is right for you, then your physician will determine the type of surgery you need. There are two primary types of shoulder surgery:

• Arthroscopic Surgery: In this procedure, your surgeon will make a small incision for a camera and light and then perform the shoulder repair using miniature surgical instruments through another small incision. NOTE: This type of surgery is more common than open surgery.
• Open Surgery: In this procedure, your surgeon will make a larger incision and perform the surgery with standard surgical tools and equipment. This is a more invasive procedure and is primarily used if your injury is larger or more complicated.

Your care instructions may vary depending on what type of surgery you have, so follow the specific post-care instructions that your doctor gives you.

Before the date of your surgery, your physician will talk about what to expect and share a list of pre-surgery instructions with you. This list may vary from patient to patient, so use the one given to you by your doctor.

While preparing for rotator cuff surgery, you’ll want to consider:

• Discontinuing the use of certain medications or supplements. Medications like ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen can make blood clotting difficult.
• Checking in with your other physicians, such as those that treat your other medical conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
• Contacting someone to assist you with normal day-to-day activities after your surgery, especially if you live alone.
• Following all instructions on when to stop eating and drinking.
• Adequately adjusting your living area to make regularly handled items are in easy to reach locations.

Your doctor may also suggest discussing rehabilitation with your physical therapist before the operation as well as what to expect after the surgery is complete.

What to Expect After Rotator Cuff Surgery: Recovery From Rotator Cuff Surgery

You will feel tired for a few days after the procedure, so be sure to get plenty of rest. Your normal sleeping position may be difficult for you; if this is the case, many patients find that a semi-upright position works best for them.

If you have a recliner chair, this may be a good place for you to sleep for the first few days after your surgery. Otherwise, propping yourself up with pillows is a good solution. Whatever position you choose, it is also recommended to place a pillow behind the healing arm to provide support and prevent against a sore shoulder in the morning.

In addition to soreness, the affected shoulder will be swollen, and you may notice similar swelling in your hand and arm. This is all normal and will begin to get better within a few days. Regularly opening and closing your hand as well as moving your wrists will help with the swelling. Icing your shoulder will help as well.

Take your pain medications exactly as your doctor has prescribed them, and don’t wait for your pain to become severe. Take your medication at the first sign of pain so that it will be fully in effect before the pain intensifies.

Lastly, your arm will be in a sling to prevent it from moving around too much after surgery. You’ll likely have to wear this for several weeks, and you may need help doing daily activities for a few days, such as getting dressed or preparing meals. Make sure you make plans to have someone help you until you’ve had some time to heal.

If you have recently gone through a rotator cuff surgery, the experts at ATI have provided some helpful tips for pain management and recovery.

Physical Therapy After Rotator Cuff Surgery

Once the surgery is over and you’ve had some time to recover, there’s no doubt that you’ll be looking forward to getting back to normal. However, rotator cuff surgery recovery time can take six months or more.

There are four primary phases of this recovery period:

• Phase 1 – Passive Motion: This phase typically lasts 6 weeks. Since the muscles and tendons are unable to move on their own, a physician or physical therapist will provide support through passive motion.
  Passive motion means that the provider will methodically move your shoulder for you rather than having you try to do it on your own. Your provider will also educate you on how to properly move your shoulder without engaging your rotator cuff muscles.
• Phase 2 – Active Motion: The second phase is 6-12 weeks from the surgery date. With the guidance of your physical therapist, you will begin moving your shoulder on your own and performing home exercises. During this phase you will work towards increasing your range of motion, reducing shoulder stiffness and improving motor control.
• Phase 3 – Strengthening: Arguably the most important phase, strengthening typically occurs 12-16 weeks post-surgery. Again, your therapist will guide you through resistance band and light weight training to develop and strengthen your muscles in addition to your at-home exercises.
• Phase 4 – Full Activity: It can take four to six months to reach this final phase. Many things can impact your rotator cuff surgery recovery time including the severity of your injury, surgery outcomes and your commitment to your physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery.

Rotator cuff surgery recovery looks different for everyone, so don’t get discouraged if it takes you a little more time to reach Phase 4. In addition, it is important to remember to not do too much during the rotator cuff surgery recovery process. Overexerting yourself to heal faster can cause more damage.

Exercises After Rotator Cuff Surgery

Physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery plays an enormous role in recovery. As was already mentioned, your muscles will weaken after your procedure, so the only sure way to get to Phase 4 is with a proper treatment plan.

Your physical therapist will be able to customize a plan specifically for your situation. They will then guide you through the proper exercises in accordance with that plan. While during the first phase, you will work strictly with your therapist. Once you have moved on to Phase 2, your therapist will likely give you a few exercises that you can do at home in between your sessions.

Here are three common exercises to help after rotator cuff surgery:

1. Assisted Shoulder Flexion

This exercise should be done either lying down or sitting in a chair with a back. Interlace your fingers together and lift your arms over your head with your elbows as straight as possible. Hold this for around ten seconds and then low your arms slowly. Repeat ten times, three times per day.

2. Walk-Up Exercise

You’ll need a wall or door frame for this. Place your hand against the wall or frame at about chest height with your elbow straight. Use your fingers to walk up the surface as far as you can, then hold for ten seconds. Repeat five to ten times, three times per day.

3. Circular Pendulum

For this exercise, the only thing you may need is a sturdy surface you can hold on to with your free hand for stability. Bend forward at the waist 90 degrees and let your recovering arm hang limply under you. Rock your body in a circular motion to move your arm.

Move it clockwise ten times, and then counterclockwise ten times, three times per day. Your arm should be as relaxed as possible throughout the exercise, with the movement happening through your shoulder joint.

Physical Therapy After Rotator Cuff Surgery is Vital

Rotator cuff repair is no small thing, and you need to have a plan before your surgery, immediately after and throughout your rehabilitation. Your physical therapist will play a key role in this, helping you from phase to phase and ensuring you’re doing the proper exercises to get back to your normal range of motion.

Let us be a part of your rotator cuff surgery recovery. Visit our website to learn more about ATI Physical Therapy and to find a physical therapist near you so you can get the rehabilitation services you need.

The post ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY RECOVERY: PREPARING YOURSELF BEFORE AND AFTER SHOULDER REPAIR appeared first on ATI.

Imagine that there’s a rubber band stretched across the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. This rubber band is a ligament called the plantar fascia, and it supports the arch of your foot.

Now imagine a stabbing pain on the bottom of your foot or a strong ache in your heel. After some testing and diagnosing, a doctor may tell you that you have plantar fasciitis. Any kind of “-itis” may sound overwhelming, but in this case, “fasciitis” simply means that the rubber band is inflamed. It also means you may need treatment to help you feel good on your feet again.

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Learn how physical therapy for plantar fasciitis can help alleviate your heel pain. Get a free screening and let us help you start the path to recovery today.

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What are the Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?

Heel pain is the most common symptom of plantar fasciitis and it becomes evident in the following settings:

• The pain starts in the morning and then progresses as the day goes on.
• You experience pain after standing for long periods.
• Your pain worsens when climbing stairs or standing on your toes.

While heel pain is the primary sign, it is still important to get a doctor’s opinion. A doctor will typically diagnose you after a short exam. If any imaging is necessary, like an X-ray, it’s usually to rule out other causes or abnormalities such as a fracture.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia supports the arch of your foot and, as a result, absorbs the impact of your steps when you walk. For many, this impact is normal. For some, this impact can become excessive, especially when paired with lots of standing, high-intensity activity like running, or pre-existing foot conditions like flat feet.

Plantar Fasciitis occurs when then the fascia is repeatedly stretched or torn and may be the result of:

• Continually standing for long periods of time on the job or at home
• Frequently wearing shoes without appropriate cushioning (e.g., flip flops, flats, high heels, etc.)
• Overuse from too much exercise, particularly running, jumping, and/or walking
• Aging
• Obesity
• Regularly walking barefoot on hard surfaces

Individuals can prevent developing plantar fasciitis by counteracting many of these risk factors.

For example, the solution can be as simple as wearing shoes with cushioned heels, maintaining your weight, or taking extra time to stretch before exercising. However, if you have already been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis know that there are several options to relieve pain.

How is Plantar Fasciitis Treated?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that will generally heal all on its own given enough time. Unfortunately, the timeline varies greatly between individuals based on the severity of the issue, ranging between several weeks to several months.

Once diagnosed, doctors may prescribe over-the-counter pain relievers to assist with inflammation, icing, rest and avoiding activities that aggravate the area. Depending on the seriousness of the condition, they might also suggest using special devices like night splints, orthotics, or a walking boot to help relieve symptoms.

More than likely, they will encourage patients to seek physical therapy for plantar fasciitis to reduce pain and treat the root cause. Physical therapy for plantar fasciitis is one of the best ways to address the underlying issues that cause the condition in the first place.

Physical Therapy Exercises for Plantar Fasciitis?

When it comes to physical therapy for plantar fasciitis, they can be broken up into two primary categories: stretching and strengthening exercises. It’s important to consider a combination of both types to maximize their effectiveness and improve the mechanics of your foot.

Top 3 Physical Therapy Exercises for Plantar Fasciitis

Calf Stretch (aka Gastroc Stretch) 

The Calf Stretch is more formally known as the Gastrocnemius Stretch, or Gastroc Stretch for short. It is one of the best stretches you do for plantar fasciitis.

Instructions

1. Stand with your hands placed against a wall. The foot affected by plantar fasciitis should be placed back with the other foot forward in a slight lunge position.
2. Push towards the wall, keeping your back calf straight and your heel against the ground.
3. Hold this position for thirty seconds and then release. Complete the stretch three times.
4. Do this stretch two to three times per day.

The Soleus Stretch

The Soleus Stretch is like the Calf Stretch with one distinct change – a slight bend in the back knee. The slight bend in the knee allows the stretch to be felt closer to the Achilles tendon. When paired with the Calf Stretch, the calf becomes more flexible and overall mechanics are improved.

Instructions

1. Stand with your hands placed against a wall. The foot affected by plantar fasciitis should be placed back and the other foot is forward in a slightly bent position.
2. Push towards the wall, now with a slight bend in the back knee and your heel against the ground.
3. Hold this position for thirty seconds and then release. Complete the stretch three times.
4. Do this stretch two to three times per day.

Plantar Fascia Stretch

One of the most common physical therapy exercises for plantar fasciitis is simply called the Plantar Fascia Stretch.

Instructions

1. To do this stretch, position your foot on the edge of an elevated surface like a stair or a yoga block.
2. Let the ball of your foot bear all your weight and drop your heel to the floor. You should feel the stretch from the bottom of your foot up into the middle of your calf.
3. Hold the stretch for thirty seconds and repeat three times.
4. Do this stretch two to three times per day.

Top 3 Strengthening Exercises for Plantar Fasciitis

Single-Leg Toe Curl

For this exercise, you will need a towel.

Instructions

1. Spread the towel out on the floor and stand with your affected foot on it.
2. Begin curling your toes and slowly bunch the towel up.
3. Repeat these exercises three to five times, twice a day.

Marble Pickups 

This exercise requires marbles (or something small of comparable size) and a cup.

Instructions 

1. Spread the marbles out on the floor near the cup.
2. Use your toes to pick up the marbles and put them in the cup.

Side Lying Hip Abduction

The Side Lying Hip Abduction is a great way to strengthen your gluteus medius. This muscle group helps stabilize your pelvis, which keeps the knee from moving inward and the foot from overpronating. As a result, the gluteus medius can help absorb impact and reduce stress on your legs and feet.

Instructions

1. Lie on your side with your hips stacked upon each other. Your top leg should be straight and your bottom leg and arm bent for support underneath.
2. Lift your top leg to just beyond hip level (about eight inches) and hold for five seconds before lowering the leg.
3. Complete this exercise two sets with ten repetitions on each leg.

NOTE: When performing this exercise, be careful of allowing your hips to rotate forward or backward so that your body remains in alignment.

As mentioned above, rest is oftentimes prescribed to treat plantar fasciitis in combination with plantar fasciitis physical therapy. This “relative rest” replaces activities that might aggravate the plantar fascia for ones that align with your treatment plan. These activities may include plantar fasciitis physical therapy treatments and low-impact workouts.

Low-Impact Exercise for Heel Pain

Stretching and strengthening may not be enough for you, especially if you’re an athlete that’s used to more rigorous or intense movement and activity. It is possible to exercise with plantar fasciitis, if you are focusing on low-impact options like swimming, cycling, yoga, Pilates and weight training.

While it may be difficult to take a break from your regular workout routine, these options can help keep you moving while your body is recovering. Plus, they offer a wide range of health benefits. Swimming and cycling are great ways to improve your endurance; yoga and Pilates can help increase your flexibility; and weight training can help you continually build strength.

Whatever option you choose, it is important to remember to stretch your calves and feet before exercising. The stretches and exercises for heel pain described above are a great way to ensure the muscles are loose and ready to work. Plus, the combination of  plantar fasciitis physical therapy treatment and low-impact exercise can not only improve your plantar fasciitis but also your overall health.

Seeking Plantar Fasciitis Physical Therapy

Rest and stretching are proven treatments for plantar fasciitis. In fact, physical therapy for plantar fasciitis has been proven effective at reducing pain and alleviating symptoms. Not only that, but these exercises for heel pain are not just treatments after you’ve been diagnosed. They’re also great preventative measures to ensure your feet are as healthy as possible.

Let us be a part of your health journey! Visit our website to learn more about ATI’s PT for plantar fasciitis and to find a physical therapist near you.

The post PLANTAR FASCIITIS PHYSICAL THERAPY TO REDUCE HEEL PAIN appeared first on ATI.

• Quick starts and stops, especially in the lower body
• Sudden trauma (i.e. tackled on the field)
• Repetitive stress and overuse

Sports like basketball, soccer, ice hockey, distance running, football, and rugby are commonly associated with strain injury. According to research published in Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, “Among all sports, an adductor/groin tear was the most common injury reported, comprising 24.5% of all hip injuries.”¹

How Long Can a Pulled Groin Muscle Last?

Marcus Ohnemus, Sports Medicine Supervisor with ATI Physical Therapy, discusses this injury, and what to do for a pulled groin muscle so that athletes with symptoms of a groin strain can get back in the game.

“Groin injuries can be very complicated, and unfortunately, difficult to recover from. Normal recovery time can be anytime from 4 to 12 weeks, depending on severity and the specific muscles involved.”

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What is a Groin Muscle?

The groin muscles are located where the abdomen meets the leg, and the muscles of the inner thigh are attached to the front of the hip. A torn groin injury occurs when these adductor muscles are overstretched because of extreme force.

The groin muscles are complex and include six different muscles. Groin muscles help with movements of the hip joint. In fact, groin injuries are often misdiagnosed as hip injuries leading to continued pain and tenderness.

Symptoms of a Pulled Groin

Individuals suffering from pain in the groin area often display or describe the following:

• Hearing a “pop” in the groin following time of injury
• Sharp pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Tightness
• Leg weakness
• Limping

Individuals with a torn groin injury may feel pain in other areas of the body, including the hip, pelvis, and lower back.

Torn Groin Injury Diagnosis

To diagnose a torn groin injury, doctors will conduct a physical examination or provide a referral to a specialist, like a sports medicine professional. This physician team may request an X-ray or MRI to assist with diagnosis.

Levels of Torn Groin Injuries

Torn groin injuries are given a grade, according to the amount of damage:

Grade 1: Mild overstretching or slight tearing of muscle fibers. The muscle is painful, but has near normal strength.

Grade 2: Moderate tear of a larger amount of muscle fibers. More tenderness and pain than Grade 1, loss of strength and sometimes bruising.

Grade 3: Tear of muscle is severe, and can be a complete muscle tear. Bruising is present.

Pulled Groin Injury Recovery Time

Torn or pulled groin recovery time can vary based on the severity of the injury. The complexity of the injury and the individuals’ strength prior to injury can impact the  torn or pulled groin recovery time period. Typically, pulled groin recovery time can run between 4-12 weeks and estimates for each grade are below:

• Grade 1: 4-6 weeks
• Grade 2: 2-3 months
• Grade 3: 4+ months

Initial Phase: When muscle fibers are torn, they heal with a complicated matrix of tissue within the muscle called scar tissue. During this initial phase of healing, which runs 7 to 10 days, you must allow for this scar tissue formation while working on gentle range of motion without stressing the muscle.

Secondary Phase: After the healing process, the second phase of rehabilitation begins. Weeks 1 to 3 involve strength training for the groin muscles and all the muscles surrounding the hip and abdomen.

Final Phase: Once adequate strength is achieved in the injured muscle, functional rehabilitation begins. You work on sport specific skills and change of direction activities. This will take place at weeks 3 to 6. For professional athletes, this means returning to the types and levels of activity typical in their sport.

How to Heal a Pulles Groin Injury

Torn groin injuries can heal on their own given time and rest. To assist with treatment treatment for groin injury and pain management, try:

• Ice: Ice the inside of the thigh. This will reduce pain and swelling, which can speed up recovery.
• Compression: Use an elastic bandage or tape to compress the thigh.
• Painkillers: Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, to help with pain and swelling.

Groin Injury Physical Therapy

In addition, physical therapy exercises that stretch and strengthen adductor muscles can be used even after recovery to prevent reinjury. Groin physical therapy will help torn groin recovery by reducing pain, returning full motion in the leg, hip and thigh, and ultimately improving strength by utilizing appropriate exercises assigned by a physical therapist.

Groin Tear Surgery

Surgery can be needed to repair a torn groin, but this is a rare occurrence.

Physical Therapy for a Groin Injury at ATI

If you are experiencing torn groin symptoms, schedule an appointment online for a free consultation at any ATI Physical Therapy location. ATI can evaluate your injury and provide you with options for continued care. You’ll be seen by a licensed provider who will provide appropriate recommendations.

^{1. Kerbel, Y. E., Smith, C. M., Prodromo, J. P., Nzeogu, M. I., & Mulcahey, M. K. (2018). Epidemiology of Hip and Groin Injuries in Collegiate Athletes in the United States. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967118771676}

The post Pulled Groin Muscle Treatment Options and Symptoms appeared first on ATI.

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain, whether it is in your knees, back, shoulder, neck, or elsewhere, can be a persistent problem in your life. It inhibits movements, decreases motion, and generally just makes life more difficult. When you are suffering from chronic pain, all you want is for it to get better. To do so it is important to understand the causes of chronic pain, chronic pain symptoms, and what you can do about it. Starting physical therapy as soon as possible can be a crucial step toward living the life you want to live. You don’t have to know how to define chronic pain. You just have to know it doesn’t have to define you.

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Common Causes of Chronic Pain

The clearest way to split apart chronic pain vs. acute pain is to look at causes and duration. Acute pain generally has a sudden or explicable onset. Some of these causes can include:

• Accident
• Injury
• Illness
• Surgery
• Childbirth
• Broken bones
• Cuts
• Burns

Acute pain can be terrible, but it does subside and eventually go away. This sort of pain rarely lasts longer than six months. That’s where we start to get into the first key differentiator: Classically, chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than six months, but some of these timeframes are getting shorter. That is a pretty clear statement, but what is less clear is how chronic pain comes on. It can be a result of any of these, and also other overlapping conditions.

Chronic Pain Symptoms & Causes

The illness is treated. The injury is healed. By all external accounts, life should be back to normal. But it isn’t. Pain continues to impact everything you do throughout the day and trouble your sleep at night. Months have gone by, and it isn’t getting better. This is chronic pain. Chronic pain has many causes and can be split into many different categories. In 2017, the WHO approved a basic classification of the types of chronic pain.

CHronic Cancer Pain

Pain caused by both the cancer itself (such as the tumor) and the treatment. This is usually persistent background pain or recurring, intermittent pain.

Chronic Neuropathic Pain

This is caused by a disease or lesion of the somatosensory nervous system, often associated with a stroke, nerve trauma, or other unpredictable conditions

Chronic Headache Pain

These often relate to neurology, but could be impacted by musculoskeletal issues such as chronic neck pain

Chronic Visceral Pain

This deal with pain from the organs, which could be but is not always cross-referenced with cancer pain

Musculoskeletal Pain

This is pain that arises as part of a disease process — not from injury or accident.

Post-Surgical and Post-Traumatic Pain

Surgery and trauma (such as injuries) usually are accompanied by pain, but this is pain from that (with other causes, such as infection) that can be ruled out.

Chronic Primary Pain

Pain that lasts longer than three months and carries significant functional disability or emotional distress and that “cannot be explained by another chronic pain condition”. The last one, primary pain, might seem to fit for many people. There is no one cause, no one thing that you can point to that is a cause of pain. A lot of times, major sources of chronic pain are an accretion of time and activity, repetition, wear and tear, such as with rheumatoid arthritis. Other times, it is sudden and dramatic. Sometimes it is everything. That’s why it is so important to look at some of the major causes of chronic pain in vital areas that can respond well to treatment.

Common Types of Chronic Pain

There are many types of chronic pain that come from disease, injury, accident, or persistent conditions. This is far from an exhaustive list, but can help show the many different ways that chronic pain can become a part of your life.

Chronic Knee Pain

Frequent knee pain affects nearly 25% of American adults. But it is hard to take comfort in numbers when walking, running, and even standing become difficult of nearly impossible. Chronic knee pain can make nearly every aspect of life harder. It’s harder to walk, harder to exercise, harder to do simple activities, and just really make the day to day aspects of your life that much harder.

Some of the common causes of chronic  knee pain include:

• Injury (sprained or strained ligaments of muscle)
• Torn cartilage
• Accident
• Arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Infections
• Tendonitis

These aren’t the only reasons. You can suffer knee pain from an issues with your gait, from weight gain or loss, and from other lifestyle issues. The cause is important. The effect impacts every day.

Chronic Back Pain

This is the literal backbone of your life. So much of your life is impacted by back pain…pretty much everything you do standing, sitting, or lying down. Back pain often starts out slow, and then spreads, which is why it is important to pay attention to the signs and understand the causes.

• Injury (see doctor first)
• Accident
• Obesity
• Muscle Strain
• Scoliosis
• Herniated Disc
• Osteoporosis
• Wear and tear

Of course, sometimes there is no one reason. It can be repetitive use, stress, or just the normal result of aging. But just because back pain comes from living your life doesn’t mean you have to live with it.

Chronic Shoulder Pain

Lifting. Exercising. Picking things up. Even just putting on a shirt can be an exercise in discomfort when suffering shoulder pain. We don’t think very much about our shoulders, but they are crucial joints, and their health can be impacted in a lot of common ways.

• Swimmer’s Shoulder (tendon rubbing on shoulder blade)
• Rotator cuff tear
• Adhesive camsultities
• Arthritis
• Shoulder instability
• Pinched nerve
• Stiffness (frozen shoulder)
• Injury or accident
• Repetitive stress injuries

These aren’t the only reasons. You can suffer shoulder pain from an issues with your reach, your job, from playing sports, or even just picking up the kids or grandkids.

Chronic Neck Pain

It’s impossible to overstate the compounding effects of neck pain. Everything from turning your head to sleeping is impacted, and it can damage your spine, your nerves, and more, leading to even more pain. Some of the common causes of sudden or chronic neck pain include:

• Injury (see doctor first)
• Muscle strain
• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated disc
• Spinal stenosis
• Age-related wear and tear (spondylosis)
• Accident

These aren’t the only reasons. You can suffer neck pain from poor posture, constant stress, disease, and work-related issues. Neck pain is a very serious issue. It can cause pain throughout your entire body and deeply impact the comfort with which you live your life.

All these types of pain make every day harder. And they can impact your body far outside of the physical realm.

The Effects of Chronic Pain

There’s a strange thing about chronic pain: it tends to be invisible. You aren’t walking around on crutches; you aren’t laid up in a hospital bed. And because of that, it can be hard to explain. It can be hard to understand, even for you. People who suffer from chronic pain often feel like their own bodies have betrayed them. This is made worse by the narrowing of possibilities in life. Many people are unable to see friends and family, go on picnics, exercise, go to their favorite places, travel, and in many cases even work. This has serious social and economic consequences, and these can create even more emotional issues.

Some of these can include:

• Anger
• Depression
• Demoralization
• Anxiety
• Fear of reinjury (leading to further isolation)
• Feeling misunderstood

Physical Therapy for Chronic Pain

If chronic pain could be treated by taking over the counter medications or prescription drugs, it wouldn’t be chronic. Instead, what is often the best course of action for chronic pain is comprehensive physical therapy. Most people suffering from chronic pain don’t understand that they can start physical therapy first…before they see a doctor. And that makes sense. We often think that we have to check with a physician before doing, well, anything.

But that’s not always the case with therapy. Many therapy centers start with an assessment. They figure out what is causing this chronic pain, how bad it is, and what can be done. They may refer you to a physician, or may start with a regime of personalized physical therapy right away. You can also come in following a visit to a therapist who may prescribe PT as a way to overcome your pain. If this is the case, it’s important not to hesitate to start. The sooner you get started, the quicker it is to see results.

What to Expect During Chronic Pain Physical Therapy

Your therapist will set up a personalized treatment plan, designed to help treat your specific pain, provide longer-term pain relief, and reach your unique goals. You may want to put on a shirt again without pain, or you may want to hike the Appalachian Trail. Discovering what you want to accomplish, and the possibilities of therapy, will create the regimen for how therapy will go. From there, you work. And it can be hard work, up to three days a week for 4-6 weeks. But while it may be hard, the point is to get rid of chronic pain. It’s to set yourself up to live your best life for years to come. It’s to alleviate what has been keeping you from being the person you want to be.

Chronic pain is different for everyone. Treatment is different for everyone. But the one universal is that no one suffering from chronic pain needs to be alone. No one needs to feel abandoned. Help is here, and the sooner you get started, the sooner you can define your own possibilities.

The post Chronic Pain Management: How to Understand and Treat Your Chronic Pain appeared first on ATI.

Fran Kosinski, SVP of Health Services

If you are thinking about selling your physical therapy practice, seeking growth opportunities for you and your team, or just wondering what your options are, I know where you’re coming from. In fact, I’ve been in your shoes.

The Early Years

When I graduated physical therapy school in the 1990s, HMOs were prevalent and there was a surplus of PTs in the market. My goal was always to own my own private practice, but I knew I needed experience — clinically and professionally — to be successful.

My first position was with a growing corporate PT company that had a strong clinical focus. I was very happy with my career and the care we were providing to our patients as I grew with that company for several years. But when the focus shifted from clinical care to profit, I decided to leave my management role to pursue opening my own clinic.

I started my PT practice with a partner, and we grew quickly by hiring excellent team members with solid core values. I always looked at growth as the opportunity to touch more patients’ lives by elevating the care in the communities where we practiced.

Despite our success, it became apparent that if we couldn’t offer our team growth opportunities within our company, they would probably seek those opportunities elsewhere. We started looking for a strategic partner that aligned with our culture and saw patient care the same way we did. That led us to ATI.

Choosing ATI

Providing our team a pathway for growth and opportunities in their own careers was paramount in our decision. ATI had clinical leaders who understood what it’s like to be a clinician and provided us growth opportunities within the company.

My quality of life improved as I was able to spend more time with my family rather than managing all aspects of a business. Instead of “wearing all the hats” of a business owner, it was great to have the resources and support within ATI so I could focus on patient care and clinical operations.

Over the years, it has been a blessing to see so many members of my team remain at ATI and grow as clinicians and business leaders within the organization. Our values have not changed — we still focus on providing great patient care with best-in-class outcomes and exceptional customer service.

We will continue to look ahead at the ever-changing healthcare market to make ATI the national leader in musculoskeletal care. Our people, execution, vision and strategy continue to shape our success.

Growing Nationally

Though we have nearly 900 clinics today, we’re still in the infancy stage as a company. We offer other health service lines such as sports medicine, employer solutions, home health and other programs that complement our MSK health vision.

What Do You Want Your Future to Look Like?

If you are an owner who plans on retiring and seeking an exit strategy or you’re just looking for a better quality of life, opportunity for growth, and support, ATI may be for you. In connection with our acquisitions we have a defined process for diligence, execution and integration, and we will always keep our conversations confidential.

Doing It All Over

More than a decade after joining ATI, I’ve been in both clinic operations and growth roles. I’m proud to say that all these years later, ATI remains true to our vision and continues to grow while facing the headwinds of healthcare.

Joining ATI was one of the best decisions I ever made for myself, my family and for so many employees. I hope you will consider doing the same.

Fran’s Professional Journey

Join Us in Leading the PT Industry

If you are interested in talking about the current physical therapy market and potentially joining ATI Physical Therapy, we would love to connect. Please fill out the form linked below and our team will promptly reach out.

CONTACT US TODAY

Fran Kosinski is ATI’s Senior Vice President of Health Services, leading sports medicine, employer solutions and home health.

The post Growing Physical Therapy Practices appeared first on ATI.

We all might have heard of the signs and symptoms; facial numbness, arm weakness, slurring of speech. These are all symptoms one might experience while having a stroke. But what exactly is a stroke? What should you or your family member expect after this happens?

What is a Stroke?

According to the National Stroke Association, a stroke is a “brain attack” and happens to nearly 800,000 individuals each year. In fact, it is currently the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. A stroke occurs when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, depriving the brain cells of oxygen which causes cell death. This can be caused by a clot traveling into the arteries that supply the brain in what is called an ischemic stroke, or when a hemorrhagic event occurs such as a fall or a blow to the head. When the brain cells die, the abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory, speech, motor control, sensation, vision and coordination are impaired.

Common Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

The symptoms of the stroke are dependent on the areas damaged, which is why a person with a minor stroke may only have temporary arm weakness or leg weakness, and others may have a more permanent paralyzing condition leaving them with the inability to speak or the inability to move one side of their body (hemiparesis). If someone you know has a stroke, the American Stroke Association recommends seeking medical attention with three hours. Immediate treatment has shown to dramatically reduce the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

How Does Therapy Work For a Stroke?

While the treatment for stroke is a collaborative effort between disciplines, the research is consistent in recommending early intervention for stroke rehabilitation as being most effective for recovery. Rehabilitation starts when the person is still in the hospital. From the hospital setting, a person who has suffered a stroke may go to a rehabilitation hospital or skilled nursing facility, if the impairments are such that the person cannot return home yet safely. After discharge, the patient will typically enter therapy in home health or outpatient physical therapy.

Long-Term Effects of a Stroke

As a provider in the outpatient setting treating persons who have had a stroke, our interventions are focused on retraining the brain with the principles of neuroplasticity. While research continues, it is our current understanding that our brains are in fact not hardwired, but they are constantly evolving to the functional and environmental demand placed on it. Because of this, when one area of the brain is damaged, the cells surrounding this area change their function to take on the jobs of the damaged cells. This process is most active and effective early on in recovery, but can occur up to years following a stroke allowing for continued improvement in a person’s function.

Recovering Neuroplasticity After a Stroke

The keys to training using neuroplasticity are based on ten principles:

1. Use It or Lose It: Failure to drive specific brain functions can lead to functional degradation. In other words, we must work to activate areas of the brain or risk losing that function.
2. Use It and Improve It: Training that drives a specific brain function can lead to an enhancement of that function.
3. Specificity: The nature of the training dictates the nature of the plasticity. If the patient wants to improve on walking, then they must practice that specific activity.
4. Repetition Matters: Sufficient repetition is required for plasticity. There is no magic number of repetitions required, but it is agreed upon that it is a lot of repetition.
5. Intensity Matters: The intensity must be enough to produce a lasting change. In other words, your therapist shouldn’t be “taking it easy” on you. Recovery requires hard work.
6. Time Matters: The training must occur over a length of time.
7. Salience Matters: This taps into motivation, the training must be salient enough to effect change. If it is not an activity the client performs or is unimportant, it is likely this activity won’t produce change.
8. Age Matters: Younger brains are more plastic.
9. Transference: Plasticity produced by one type of training experience can lead to the acquisition of other behaviors.
10. Interference: Plasticity in response to one experience can interfere with the acquisition of other behaviors.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Stroke Patients

Keeping these principles in mind, the emphasis is always on function for rehabilitation after a stroke. Typically, when a client comes for therapy following a stroke, recovering their ability to walk normally is an important goal for the client. While this is typically an area focus of therapy, PT after stroke is so much more than that! Your therapist will work on bed mobility, transfers, balance, coordination, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, floor transfers, stair climbing, fall recovery, return to work/vocation and other functional activities to help achieve your goals. They will also advise on any modifications, equipment or prosthetic/orthotics such as braces that may be appropriate to aid in your recovery.  Lastly, they can help to address other issues like pain, joint stiffness, spasticity and sensation deficits. Working with a provider, like ATI, that is experienced in caring for individuals with neurologic disorders or injuries will help to address the specific issues related to the diagnosis of stroke.

Stop by your nearest ATI Physical Therapy clinic for a complimentary screening and get back to doing you. Our experts will listen to your concerns, evaluate your injury and create a safe and effective plan to help you reach your goals and live a healthy, active lifestyle.

The post The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Stroke Patients appeared first on ATI.

The function of the core is to stabilize the spine from potentially harmful forces and to create and transfer forces through the body. Think of your core like the foundation of a house. A nice strong foundation lets you build a stable house. A nice strong core lets you absorb and create forces for meaningful movement. Poor core strength can contribute to injuries ranging from your ankle all the way up to your hips, back, shoulders, and neck.

Signs of a Weak Core
These common symptoms can be signs that you have a weak core:

• Lower Back Pain – Since the core is incorporated in almost every movement of the human body, muscular weakness can be a sign of a weak core.
• Poor Posture – The core muscles hold your spine and pelvis in place. If these muscles are weak, your body will be unstable, causing an inability to stand up straight or sit properly.
• Bad Balance – Since your core muscles stabilize your entire body, a weak core will affect your ability to balance.
• General Weakness – Since the core is incorporated in almost every movement of the human body, muscular weakness can be a sign of a weak core.
• Inability to Hollow Your Stomach – The inability to hollow your stomach is another potential sign of core weakness. Can you do it? Take a natural breath and pully your bellybutton toward your spine. Hold this position for a count of 10 and then release. If you were unable to hold this position for the full count, you may have a weak core.

Injury Prevention
John Duncombe, PT, DPT, OCS, CIMT, CSCS, GCS, gives us some tips to help prevent core weakness and injury:

• Warm Up – Perform at least 5 minutes of cardiovascular activity or dynamic total body warm up activity prior to initiating core exercises. Dynamic total body warm up activities may include jumping rope, jumping jacks, dynamic squats and lunges, inchworms, walking knees to chest, hip rotations, and gluteal kicks. See a trained ATI clinician for assistance with these exercises if needed.
• Stay Tall – Make sure to try to keep your chest up, shoulders stacked on top of your hips, and stomach muscles turned ‘On’ as often as possible. No matter the activity, sitting/standing/walking, this position helps to alleviate unneeded stress to your spine and specifically your lower back.
• Isometrics – Stronger muscles provide greater stability to the spine to help establish and maintain proper body mechanics during prolonged activities and lifting. Common examples include various plank positions, the Pallof Press, and abdominal bracing.
• Active Range of Motion – Maintaining good flexibility in your hips (primarily your hamstrings, hip flexors, and piriformis) as well as your lower back will allow for your pelvis and lumbar spine to move freely during your day.

Rehabilitation
John Duncombe, PT, DPT, OCS, CIMT, CSCS, GCS, also gives us some tips to help rehabilitate the core:

• A Strong Trunk Leads to a Healthy Spine – Work on strengthening both the local and global muscles (see above for which ones these are) to help maintain proper body positions as you move throughout your day.
• Be Balanced – Work on dynamic flexibility exercises for your Hips and Shoulders. Lacking mobility in your extremities will put more stress on your trunk to complete dynamic movements and lifts while at home or work.
• Suck in the Gut – Sitting/standing tall and slightly sucking in your lower abdominals (just below your belt or waistline) towards your spine will activate not only your inner core, but all necessary trunk muscles for optimal functional movements.
• Check your Chair – Many of us sit for the majority of our day. In our car to/from work, while at work, relaxing at home, etc. Make sure your spine is upright and you have good support for your back. Consider a small pillow or rolled up towel in the small of your back to remind you to not slouch and stress your lower back.

When weighing your treatment options for injury rehabilitation, consider physical therapy. Physical therapy offers a wide variety of treatment options including strengthening, stretching, and sustainable home exercise programs. Stop in or call any ATI location for a complimentary injury screen or to learn more about how physical therapy can help you overcome your pain.

Work with ATI to get to the core of your issues!

The post Featured Body Part: Core appeared first on ATI.

With hundreds of experts deployed across our national footprint, every day our clinicians see patients experiencing pain. For years, patients have trusted our care to relieve pain and move toward a healthier future.

Taking a look at the data

More than half of adults in America experience some type of pain on a daily basis. And the current opioid crisis has prompted the need for alternative therapies to treat chronic pain.

Unfortunately for some, pain has been medically managed for years. More physicians recommend exploring other ways to find relief, often prescribing medication as an alternative. This sudden change can bring panic, stress and depression as patients struggle to find the care they need.

Managing your pain with ATI

Through the guidance of the experts at ATI Physical Therapy, you will have step-by-step assistance in relieving the pain. ATI’s physical therapists can help you through a series of exercises, specified to meet your needs, that are designed to improve your strength and mobility. But there is another tool available to you when exercise programs may not be enough.

Pain Management Techniques

Within the roles our team members play in the patient journey, chronic pain physical therapists offer patients the ability to experience relaxation and calmness during their sessions. This leads to reduced pain and eventually eliminates it as therapy progresses. Following the completion of therapy in the clinic, patients are provided with a means to carry out this treatment in their home exercise program.

Mind-Body Techniques

Mind-body techniques have been consistent sources of therapeutic interventions for years. From yoga to tai chi to music therapy, alternative treatments to pain continue to be searched, practiced and instituted into physical therapy services. The techniques used at ATI are specifically targeted to incorporate breathing exercises to help restore a sense of control over the body and turn down the “fight-or-flight” response. These practices of mindfulness focus on bringing you to a relaxed state-of-mind to lessen chronic muscle tension and pain.

While treating pain seems unconventional without some type of medication, it’s important to understand where pain begins. The brain is the main manager of pain. It constantly monitors the body and networks to regulate pain. These networks include emotional, sensory and cognitive pathways.

Mindfulness engages a variety of pathways to regulate the experience of pain. In a recent study, patients described becoming aware through mindfulness of how their fear of pain was processed mentally. This made the pain worse, limiting their experience and consequently being able to let go of the fear. Increased awareness of muscle tension contributed to pain as well as the release of tension through mindfulness and meditation, ultimately leading to a decrease in pain intensity. Let the experts at ATI help empower you to better understand pain processing so you can take back control of your life and live pain-free again.

Are you looking for a safer alternative to treating chronic pain?

If simple home interventions are not helping to lessen aches, pains and discomfort, it’s time to see a physical therapist. Stop by your nearest ATI Physical Therapy clinic for a complimentary screening and get back to being you.

The post Pain Management Techniques Without Medication appeared first on ATI.

Have you ever felt like the world was moving around you, or turned too quickly and had a wave of dizziness come over you? You are not alone. Vestibular dysfunction is a common feeling that approximately 69 million Americans have experienced at some point in their lives. Many patients are often dismissed or told they have dizziness or vertigo and that it would go away. Statistics show that vestibular dysfunction results in more than six million physician visits each year and that 80 percent of older adults in outpatient settings show symptoms. It also increases the risk of falls, which are the leading cause of hospital admissions and accidental deaths in older adults.

What are the Symptoms of a Vestibular Disorder?

A majority of adults living with vestibular disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated, resulting in a diminished quality of life and inability to perform the normal activities of daily living. Patients suffering from vestibular disorders often experience:

• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Positional or persistent vertigo
• Nausea
• Impaired postural control

Effects of Vestibular Dysfunction

The main symptoms (vertigo, dizziness and imbalance) frequently lead to physical, emotional and cognitive consequences. The physical disabilities and complications are more commonly referenced and discussed between patients and physicians. The emotional and mental distress that patients endure has only recently become a larger part of the conversation.

Half of patients suffering from vestibular dysfunction find themselves battling with some form of psychological illness, like depression or extreme anxiety, causing a diminished quality of life and increased difficulty performing activities of daily living. Frequently, other symptoms progress and develop, affecting the patient’s cognitive abilities: diminishing memory, word-recall, concentration, reading skills and mental stamina.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Dizziness

Dizziness is not an issue to be taken lightly. But where does physical therapy come in? There are more than 30 different causes of dizziness. It can be vestibular (inner ear, balance organ), cardiovascular or even medication side effects. A physical therapist that specializes in vestibular disorders can help determine your cause of dizziness and the appropriate treatment plan.

Common Causes of Dizziness

A common result for experiencing symptoms of dizziness is a result from an underlying vestibular issue. So, what exactly is the vestibular system? It is a collection of structures in your inner ear that provides a sense of balance and spatial orientation. With aging, there is a decline in vestibular system function that can leave an underlying feeling of dizziness.

Migraine-ASsociated Dizziness

However, that isn’t the only cause! Did you know that there is also migraine-associated dizziness? Research shows that those that suffer from migraines are at a predisposition for vestibular dysfunction. Just like sinus or ear infections, a viral infection can attack the nerve to the inner ear that can result in dizziness and occasional hearing loss. This leaves a feeling of intense dizziness and often nausea for hours or even days.

Vertigo Dizziness

Last, but not least, the “crystals” in the inner ear can get loose and lead to vertigo, better known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This is the most common cause of dizziness and perhaps the easiest to treat. These crystals, formally known as “otoconia,” are naturally found in the inner ear, in the utricle. Occasionally, they will dislodge and find their way into one of the three semicircular canals in the inner ear. It is at this time that certain head movements or positions will cause them to move and leave an intense, but brief feeling of vertigo, formally defined as the illusion of movement.

Physical Therapy for Vestibular Disorders at ATI

If you’re experiencing symptoms of vertigo, dizziness or imbalance, an ATI physical therapist — through Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) — has the training to find the underlying causes and develop the most appropriate treatment plan based on your individual needs. VRT may help control symptoms, reduce functional disabilities and improve overall quality of life.

Don’t waste another minute suffering from dizziness. ATI vestibular specialists are here to help and can direct you to your nearest ATI Physical Therapy clinic for a complimentary screening to determine if vestibular rehabilitation is right for you.

The post Vestibular Disorders and Dizziness: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments appeared first on ATI.

Common Causes
While there are certain diseases such as gum disease that can cause jaw pain, there are a number of other things that can cause pain as well.

• Injury – Experiencing facial trauma or injury to your jaw, the joint, or the muscles of your head and neck can lead to TMD or a broken or dislocated jaw.
• Teeth Grinding/Clenching – Whether caused by stress or something else, tightening your facial and jaw muscles or grinding/clenching your teeth puts a lot of pressure on the joint.
• Arthritis – Pain and stiffness may be caused by arthritis in the joint.
• Cushion/Disc Movement – Movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint can cause pain in the jaw.

Common Conditions
Jaw pain can be caused by any of the following common conditions:

• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder – When the jaw and the muscles in the face are facing problems and immense amounts of pain, these are known as temporomandibular disorders. A common symptom of TJD is a dislocated jaw.
• Dislocated Jaw – A dislocated or broken jaw is an injury to the joints that are connected in the mandible. These joints can break, crack or become “unhinged.” This unhinging is known as dislocation.
• Teeth Grinding – Most people have probably grinded or clenched their teeth before and do it from time to time. The medical term for teeth grinding is bruxism. Teeth grinding that occurs occasionally is not harmful; however, when it occurs on a regular basis it can cause the teeth to become damaged.
• Jaw Fracture – Mandibular fracture, also known as fractures of the jaw, are breaks through the mandibular bone. This is common in many athletes and usually requires that the jaw be wired shut until it heals.

Injury Prevention
John Duncombe, PT, DPT, OCS, CIMT, CSCS, GCS, a Clinical Operations Project Manager, gives us some tips to help prevent and rehabilitate jaw injuries:

• Stay Tall – Make sure to try to keep your chest up, shoulders back, and head in ‘neutral’ as often as possible. No matter the activity, sitting/standing/walking, this position helps to alleviate unneeded stress to your neck muscles, which in turn affect how your jaw functions.
• Keep Your Teeth Slightly Apart as Often as You Can – This will relieve pressure on your jaw. Put your tongue between your teeth to control clenching or grinding during the day. As you go off to sleep, try to consciously relax your jaw and don’t clench your teeth shut. Your dentist may discuss the use of a bite guard while sleeping.
• Eat a ‘Soft Diet’ and Avoid Chewing Gum – According to the TMJ Association, people suffering from TMD should:
  • Increase anti-inflammatory foods, such as fish which are high in Omega-3, whole grains, dark leafy greens and soy
  • Increase foods that contribute to joint health, including foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium and selenium
  • A ‘Soft Diet’ consists of well-cooked fruits and veggies, eggs, smoothies, soups and yogurt. Make sure your diet includes healthy portions of protein and vegetables
• Breathe to Release Tension – Stress can cause you to clench your jaw, which can in turn aggravate TMD. Practice breathing in slowly through your nose for five seconds, while releasing the tension in your jaw completely. When you breathe out, also for five seconds, try to relax your jaw even further, really concentrating on slackening each muscle you use to chew.

Rehabilitation
If you have pain in your jaw that isn’t going away, rehabilitation is a great step to take to improve your functionality. During rehabilitation:

• Rocabado 6×6 – Devised by Mariano Rocabado, DPT, this program aims to help restore normal joint mobility in your jaw. The exercises deal with the relationship of your head to neck, neck to shoulders and lower jaw to upper jaw.
• Tuck Your Chin/Set your Ears – Sitting tall and slightly tucking your chin towards your chest as you place your ears on top of your shoulders, will keep your head from falling forward, which contributes to poor jaw alignment and inefficient jaw muscle activation.
• Massage or Gentle Self-Stretching of the Jaw and Neck Muscles – A physical therapist can recommend appropriate stretches or teach massage techniques based on your specific needs.
• Ice Pack and NSAIDs –These may help to temporarily reduce jaw pain, but may not address the underlying cause of the inflammation.

When weighing your treatment options for jaw pain and injuries, consider physical therapy. Physical therapy offers a wide variety of treatment options including strengthening, stretching, and sustainable home exercise programs. Stop in or call any ATI location for a complimentary injury screen or to learn more about how physical therapy can help you overcome your pain.

ATI…we’ll be that jaw-dropping moment!

The post Featured Body Part: Jaw appeared first on ATI.