Neck Pain
Is Neck Pain Bringing You Down? Combat It With Physical Therapy
Neck pain can make it difficult to function normally, as your neck plays an important part in everyday movement. Neck pain, especially if it extends from your neck to your shoulders, is painful and can be debilitating.
Is the pain in your neck is preventing you from doing daily tasks comfortably? Are tasks such as sitting up straight in your chair at work or tilting your head down to tie your shoes challenging? Physical therapy can help you get back to functioning and moving pain-free.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) estimates that one-third of the population will experience neck pain in any given year. It can worsen if left untreated, and in severe cases, surgery may even be required. However, there is some good news: many people find relief from neck pain with the help of physical therapy every year!
Our Windsor, CO physical therapy clinic is dedicated to helping you find relief from your neck pain. Make an appointment with Sisu Therapies today to get started on the path toward recovery!
Common Neck Pain Symptoms You May Be Experiencing
It typically runs from the base of the skull to the top of the shoulder blades and settles in the back of the neck.
The pain can vary in severity, from a constant dull ache to sharp and stabbing pains.
This pain can sometimes include these additional symptoms:
- Discomfort and pain when remaining in the same position for too long
- Headaches
- Numbness or tingling into the upper extremities
- Inability to fully stand up or sit up straight
- Difficulty sleeping due to pain and discomfort
- Weakness in your arms or shoulders
- Stiffness and muscle tightness in the upper body
Reasons Why Your Neck May Hurt?
Injuries to tissues and bone are the most common reason for neck pain, however, certain degenerative conditions can also be a factor.
Some common conditions that can give you pain in your neck include:
Muscle Strains
Even something as simple as sitting at your desk all day with your neck craned toward the computer screen can cause your neck muscles to become strained by overuse.
Injuries
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that result in neck pain. This is typically caused by an automobile accident or high-impact sports. This is known as a “strain” injury, causing the head to whip rapidly back-and-forth, thus affecting the soft tissues in the back of the neck.
Compressed Nerves
If you have a herniated disc in your neck, or a narrowing of the foramen (space where the nerves exit the spine), the nerves that branch out from your spinal cord can become compressed. In some cases, nerve pain can even extend from the neck down to the hands and fingers — a condition known as “radiculopathy.”
Degenerative Joint Conditions
Conditions such as osteoarthritis can reduce the cartilage between the vertebrae in the neck, also resulting in neck pain. Like any other joint in your body, the neck joints can deteriorate with age, causing pain.
Illnesses
Certain diseases and ailments can result in neck pain, such as rheumatoid cancer, arthritis, cervical spondylosis, spinal stenosis, and meningitis.
While there are many more reasons why this pain may occur, slow down before you go Googling! The best way to be 100% sure of why you are experiencing neck pain is to see a therapist for an appointment.
How Can A Physical Therapist Help Neck Pain?
One of the most effective treatments for this pain is physical therapy. Our physical therapists at Sisu Therapies will conduct a thorough physical examination to determine your neck’s range of motion and any limitations you may be experiencing as a result of your pain. This will help them decide which treatments are best for your specific recovery plan. You will collaborate on the goals and expectations of each step of your personalized treatment plan. The ultimate goal is to eliminate your neck pain as quickly as possible.
Our physical therapists in Windsor, CO prescribe specific exercises to help you strengthen, build, and improve the muscles and tissues in your neck. Our therapist may use manual or hands-on therapy, which consists of specific techniques aimed at reducing stiffness and increasing the range of motion in your neck.
We will also focus on improving your posture to aid in the recovery of your neck muscles and to avoid future injury. Our Windsor, CO physical therapist will even collaborate with your primary care physician if necessary!
Sisu Therapies Can Help You Live Comfortably And Free Of Neck Pain
You may be living your life around neck pain right now, but it does not have to be that way. Call us today at (970) 561-7111 to speak with one of our licensed Windsor, CO physical therapists, or fill out the form here to schedule your first appointment! Sisu Therapies will help you get started on the road toward long-term pain relief.
Back Pain
Are You Ready to Live Life Free of Back Pain? Physical Therapy Can Help!
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, back pain is the most commonly reported pain in the United States. In fact, one out of every four Americans has experienced back pain in the last three months! That makes Physical Therapy important as it can get you safe and long-term back pain relief.
There could be many causes for your back pain. Perhaps you slept wrong or injured your back picking up something that was too heavy. Maybe you have suffered a sports injury that resulted in back pain. Whatever is causing the discomfort in your upper, middle, or lower back, Sisu Therapies can help.
Reasons Why You May Have Back Pain
There are numerous reasons why you may be experiencing back pain, and seeing a physical therapist is the best way to find out for sure!
“Back pain” is a very broad term that can be caused by different injuries or conditions. For example, you may be experiencing back pain due to having poor posture, a motor vehicle accident, or an injury sustained while lifting something heavy. The majority of the time, general back pain is brought on by an injury. This could be the result of repeated strains, such as picking up a toddler several times throughout the day, or a more serious, sudden trauma, such as a car accident.
Herniated discs, as well as other underlying conditions, can cause severe back pain and radiculopathy in your thigh, leg, or foot. A herniated disc can lead to sciatica and can be very uncomfortable.
Degenerative disc disease is also a common cause of back pain that occurs as we get older. Those living with this condition typically experience dull, aching pain in their lower back, as well as difficulty standing or walking for long periods of time.
What Can Physical Therapy Treatments Do For My Back Pain?
If you have back pain, do not rely on medications to help you mask your pain. Our Windsor, CO physical therapists at Sisu Therapies will get to the bottom of your pain so you can have long-term back pain relief. In many cases, our treatments may even eliminate the need for potentially harmful painkillers such as opioids, as well as invasive surgical procedures.
The treatment plan that our physical therapist sets up for you will depend on how you developed the back pain, in addition to its exact location and your past medical history. A personalized treatment plan will be designed for you to relieve your back pain and help get you back to enjoying life again. Our physical therapist will also show you how to use ergonomic techniques to protect your spine while doing everyday tasks like sitting at a desk or driving.
Get Started On A Treatment Plan For Back Pain Relief Today
Back pain can come and go, but treating it as soon as you notice it is a wise decision! Our Windsor, CO physical therapists are eager to help you get back on your feet! To schedule an appointment, please call us at (970) 561-7111 or click here.
Sciatica
Physical Therapy Can Help Relieve Sciatica!
Sciatica is medically known as “lumbar radiculopathy.” The majority of people who develop this condition are between the ages of 30 and 50. Sciatica can be caused by a variety of sciatic nerve injuries, including arthritis, bone spurs, herniated discs, or other nerve injuries.
People with sciatica experience pain along the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in your body. The sciatic nerve begins at your lower back and then splits at the base of your spine to extend further down through your buttocks, legs, and finally ends at the bottom of each foot.
Sciatica can cause pain in your back, buttocks, hamstrings, legs, and feet, sometimes all at the same time. This is usually due to tightness in the hip and gluteal muscles. As a result, the sciatic nerve can become compressed as it passes through these tissues. When the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or irritated, you may experience a “shooting,” “stinging,” or “burning” sensation in your lower back, buttocks, legs, or feet.
If you need relief for your sciatica pain, seeing a Windsor, CO physical therapist at Sisu Therapies is the best thing you can do. We have successfully treated many people with sciatica and we know we can provide relief to you as well. If you are ready to get started, click here to request an appointment.
How Can Physical Therapy Relieve My Sciatica?
The good news is that while sciatica is an unpleasant and painful condition, it can be effectively treated with physical therapy. Based on your diagnosis, our Windsor, CO physical therapists will create a personalized treatment plan for you that will relieve your sciatica and help get you back to enjoying life again.
The goal of your physical therapy treatment plan for sciatica will be to provide immediate pain relief. Our physical therapists may perform manual therapy, recommend specific leg stretches to help loosen the sciatic nerve, and prescribe strengthening exercises as part of your sciatica treatment plan. This restores the nerve’s natural health quickly and helps to relieve your symptoms.
Get Started On A Sciatica Relief Plan Today
Sciatica can literally be a pain in the butt. You do not need to suffer any longer! Sisu Therapies is here to help rid you of your sciatica forever. To schedule an appointment at our Windsor, CO clinic, please call us at (970) 561-7111 or click here.
