Shoulder Bursitis

What is bursitis and how did you get it?

Lets start with what a bursa is.  The bursa is a fluid filled pouch that acts as a cushion between the bones of your shoulder and arm and the tendons and soft tissues that attach to them. Bursitis is an inflammation or irritation of this pouch. Bursitis is also often associated with tendonitis.

Balance and Falls

As we age, it becomes increasingly important to have good balance to assist in fall prevention. The CDC reports that 1 in every 3 people over the age of 65 years old will fall one time each year. This statistic increases to ½  population over the age of 80 years old. Those are some pretty staggering numbers! These falls can result in minor bruises or bumps but also often result in fractures or head injuries.  To prevent injury, we suggest assessing yourself to determine if you are likely to be one of those who might be at risk of a fall. 

Yoga For Back Pain-- Part 2

Part II         Improving mobility of the lower body is also important in controlling back pain.

            Tightness in large muscles in the lower body are also very frequent causes of in low back pain. The most common culprits are the hamstrings (back of your thigh) and the hip flexor, a deep muscle in the front of your hip that attaches to the low back . The hip flexor can causes increased curve in the low back  and pulls your pelvis forward if it is tight. The hamstrings often cause a flattening of the curve in the low back and tilt the pelvis backwards when it is tight. This creates abnormal stresses upon the spine.

Yoga for Back Pain-- Part I

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out physical therapy care, and clients often ask if yoga can improve their low back symptoms. Therefore, as part of National Yoga Month this September, Tru-Care Physical Therapy would like to share some insight why yoga is often considered effective in the treatment of back pain.

Yoga has many benefits that assist in the management of low back pain that include improving posture, increasing flexibility, and stabilizing the spine by increasing core strength.

Weight lifter's Elbow??

Weight lifter's elbow? Never heard of it!  

How about Mommy's elbow? Carpenter's elbow? Typer's elbow? Salesman elbow? ..... No?

Perhaps Tennis or Golfer's elbow?   Yes I am sure that most of you have heard of these 2 issues.  But all the others are the same problem.  Any of the options above create similar stress on the elbow as does tennis or golf. Mom tries to do all her tasks one handed while keeping hold of a crying child; Joe swings a hammer or holds a drill overhead for hours at a time; Jean decides that doing 3 sets of lateral raises with increased weight should be OK; and Fred sits at his computer programming all day long with fingers flying across the keys.

All of these tasks stress the forearm muscles.  These muscles actually are responsible for motions and movements at the wrist. The common extensors are the muscles that pull your wrist up and they attach to the outside condyle (bony area) of your elbow and the common flexors attach to the inside condyle and they pull our wrist down.  They also control the movements of the fingers for opening and closing the hand. 

Why am I Taller in the Morning?

Ever notice that when you get into your car at the end of the day you need to readjust the mirrors? Somehow you are not sitting as tall as you did when you got into the car in the morning. Are you shrinking?

Well, yes, in a way you are. The discs in your back are cushions of sorts and they react to pressure. After a good nights sleep lying stretched out without compression on your spine the discs are full and plump. This makes your spine a little longer and taller. Once you are up sitting, walking and vertical all day gravity takes its effect and slowly compresses those discs. As they compress they loss a bit of fluid and and become a bit narrower bringing your vertebrae closer together. Essentially you are shorter than when you started your day!  

Over time our discs become "dehydrated" and are less plump and flexible. This is part of the reason that over our lifetime we may lose up to 2 inches or so. On average we begin shrinking at about age 40 and lose about a 1/4 inch per decade. If you are losing more height than that some other issues may be involved. You could be losing muscle bulk and decreased strength allowing for poor posture that can result in decreased height. Osteoporosis could also be a culprit as the bones lose density they can also compress. 

So don't be surprised when you need to adjust your mirrors. It's part of standing upright all day. If you feel you are losing more than the average be sure to check in with your physician or physical therapist to be sure there are no other factors involved. Try to keep yourself active, maintain your muscle tone and strength. These will keep you standing tall.

Visit Tru-Care for more information or call 401-884-9541

Take a hike, fly a kite

As we are wrapping up the final weeks of Summer , the heat wave has been keeping most of us indoors by the air conditioner or fan, or seeking respite in pools or beaches.  Although it may have been too hot to pursue many of the following this past month, the State of RI has many beautiful beaches, park lands, and bike paths great for walking, biking, swimming, hiking, canoeing or kayaking, and many outdoor endeavors to keep ourselves and families active and healthy.  The month of July has been National Recreation and Parks month which leads us into Family Fun Month in August!  Here are a few tips and opportunities to get out and enjoy the summer!!

Link to Recreation and Parks in RI:
http://www.riparks.com/
http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/what-to-do/
http://www.ri.gov/links/?tags=outdoor+recreation


Family Fun
http://www.rifamilyguide.com/index.html
http://www.southcountyri.com/what-to-do/family-fun

If you have not been able to get out and enjoy the activities available due to being limited in your general activity level due to pain or injury, please do not hesitate to contact us at www.trucarept.com