Physical Therapy Roswell – Questions Your Need to Ask
7 Critical Questions to Ask Your Physical Therapist to Obtain a Better Quality of Life!
If you’re looking for Physical Therapy Roswell… then you’ve come to the right place.
So often injuries are the direct result of bad technique, whether from improper lifting, hitting a tennis ball incorrectly, running unprepared, or just simply exhibiting poor posture.
One of the many benefits of receiving physical Therapy is learning preventive maintenance. Certain exercises and strategies will help prevent injuries and conditions from occurring in the first place, if followed as a part of a regular exercise routine.
1. How can I properly warm up for exercise?
Pre-exercise preparation is helpful in preparing for a particular activity or sport and in the prevention of injury. It has been proven that a warm-up of the body which would raise the body’s core temperature by 1 degree is sufficient enough. This would generally be equivalent to a warm-up which would make a person sweat.
Such a warm-up should generally involve stretching of the major muscle groups to be used in the muscles specific to the sport of specialized activity.
One’s core temperature can also be raised enough by warming up and doing the specific activity they are engaging in or simply jogging prior to the activity.
Physical therapists are specialists in the preparation of activity for individuals seeking optimal performance at a specific activity. They also are experts in the prevention of injury in a specific activity, thus allowing people to continue their much loved activities.
2. How can I better my posture while standing?
Doing What It Takes to Stay in the Game!
So often, the spinal conditions physical therapy treats clinically are caused by prolonged and/or repetitive spinal postures which remove the spine from its three natural curvatures.
The lumbar spine or base controls most of the alignment in the remaining structures leading upward to the head. Therefore, one must concern ones self with keeping this area in its most neutral curved position during the day.
Standing posture is similar in nature to sitting in that the lumbar positioning is critical to allowing the remaining vertical trunk to attain a positioning of extension, especially in the thoracic area.
Forward shoulder positioning is a sure indicator that the neutral lumbar curve has been sacrificed and the upper back has become rounded as a result.
Regaining the neutral lumbar curve will allow an easier maintenance of the shoulders being held back for a more upright posturing and relief of unnecessary stress to surrounding tissues.
Education is essential to learning posture reinforced by exercises for the spine and its supporting structures which stabilize the core of the body.
Physical therapists are uniquely equipped to teach and reinforce these behaviors to treat those conditions which plague our everyday activities and also to prevent them.
3. How can I help my posture while driving?
Proven Methods that Speed Rehabilitation
Driving posture is similar to sitting. However, it is complicated by the forward arm positioning to steer. In this case, one should bring the seat position forward to allow knees to be level with the hips in using foot pedals, while utilizing any ergonomic feature of the seat (if available) to assist the neutral position of the lumbar spine.
Economical lumbar pillows can be used in cases where the auto does not come equipped with ergonomic support.
Adjustment of the rear view mirror should be such that a straightening of the neck is necessary to see to the rear which will ensure removal of prolonged forward posturing of the head and neck while driving.
4. How can I help my posture while sitting?
For sitting activities, physical therapy teaches what’s called the “bar stool test” in finding our clients neutral lumbar position. Simply put, we have the client slump by losing the lumbar neutral position, followed by an overcorrection of the lost curve, followed by coming forward by about 10%.
This, in most cases, brings the spinal/trunk position into neutral territory. This can be checked by looking from the side for a four-point plumb line positioning of the ear, outside shoulder, elbow and outside hip on that side.
5. What kind of chair is best for my back?
Helping You Regain Function with Personalized Treatment
People very commonly mistake their everyday chair as being OK as long as they are comfortable. The mistake made is the assumption that comfort equals appropriate support for good posture.
Deep and cushiony chairs and sofas may feel extremely comfortable; however, they are most likely placing the spine in its most vulnerable position for cumulative trauma. This type of seating will not allow for maintenance of the curvature neutrality of the spine and will place excessive stress on the bony and soft tissue structures of the spine.
Soft and cushiony allows the spine to assume a banana curved shape immediately upon sitting which is in conflict with the neutral spine curvature most desired for spinal health. Therefore, seating with some structure which does not allow for a sinking feeling is the best.
6. What is the right technique for lifting?
The safest and most efficient technique for lifting is one which keeps the spine in its most neutral position.
The spine contains 3 natural curves which balance the trunk positioning for movement in and around the spine and keeps those spinal structures healthy.
Getting Back Into the Swing!
Most concern surrounds lifting from the floor in which one must concern himself with using strong legs to produce most of the power for the lift and not the back. This is accomplished by starting with a wide base of the feet while lowering toward the floor with an erect trunk and maintaining a neutral curve in the lower back.
A modified lift can be utilized by kneeling to one knee and weight shifting forward on the opposite leg while keeping the trunk erect.
A reverse weight shift while pushing upward with the stronger leg and erect trunk can be helpful with extremely small objects or those low to the ground.
All clients who encounter the need to lift in their daily activities can benefit from instruction to reduce the stress on the spine by first thinking the lift through and then carrying out the safer strategy.
7. At what age should I allow my kids to lift weights?
It was previously believed that lifting weights should not be allowed for the pre-pubescent individuals because of the harm it may cause to immature structures. Further investigation provided for newer attitudes clinically for the use of weights in the younger age groups.
In fact, the pre-pubescent group can utilize weight training as long as there is prevention of the max lift mentality during exercise.
The open growth plates at the end of long bones are vulnerable to excessive traction forces typical with the use of excessive weights in this age group.
A good measuring stick can be the use of weight the individual can perform for 10-12 repetitions. This should allow a measure of safety until skeletal maturity nears and the individual can then increase the amount and intensity of resistance with qualified supervision.
So… these questions and answers are really critical to your physical health. People should be asking these questions of their Physical Therapist… but seldom ever do. My hope is that you will find this information valuable in achieving a better quality of life!
Should you have a need for Physical Therapy Roswell; I hope you will give us a call and make an appointment for a Free Consultation. My staff and I will help you stop the pain and move you towards a speedy recovery.
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