Elite PT Newsletter August 2017 – solving lower back pain, free screenings, and more…

Elite PT Newsletter August 2017 – solving lower back pain, free screenings, and more…

lower back pain

Hope you’ve been enjoying your summer!  We’ve got some great content covering lower back pain (plus a special offer) for you this month.

Here is what is in this month’s issue:

  • Solving lower back pain (this may sound familiar to a number of you)
  • Exercise tip of the month – fixing the ‘plank’
  • 6 years in business! Check out our special offer – its got something to do with back pain!

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“I Can’t Walk more than 10 Minutes!!!”

Sound familiar?

Last month we talked about one of the most common causes of lower back pain:  Spinal Stenosis.  Here is what that usually looks like:

  • 50 years and older
  • Standing and walking are limited
  • Sitting and/or lying down usually relieves symptoms

The title of this article is a direct quote from a frustrated client of ours at his initial evaluation.  He couldn’t stand or walk more than 10 minutes and it was really starting to effect his quality of life and ability to work around the house and yard.  We hear this stories like this one frequently and I’m sure there are a number of you reading this that are having this same experience.

In this case our client began having back pain with symptoms radiating into his hip and down the front of his left leg all the way to his big toe.  He wasn’t sure exactly how it started other than he was doing lots of walking that day.  By the time he came to see us he had been dealing with this pain for 6 months!  He fit the spinal stenosis category to a ‘T’:

  • over 50?  Check (70 years old)
  • limited standing and walking?  Check (10 minutes max)
  • sitting and/or lying down relieve symptoms?  Check

Our client participated in physical therapy for 8 visits over a 6 week time frame.  Treatment consisted of manual (hands on) treatment to decrease pain and relieve tone in the muscles of the lower back and hips as well as exercises to decrease his pain and improve the way he was moving and walking.

He is doing quite well now as he was able to walk around downtown Chicago a few weeks ago with only mild irritation in his leg (“not enough to stop me from having fun”).  He was also able to work outside for 4 hours the day prior to his last PT session without any pain.

Here is what he had to say: “I came in with numbness in my left leg from my groin all the way down to my foot that got worse any time I stood or walked.  I can do whatever I want now with only occasional numbness in my foot.  I thought for sure I was going to have surgery but now I’m doing my exercises to make sure this doesn’t ever come back.” – D.A. Traverse City

We’ve successfully treated numerous patients with similar symptoms over the years.  In fact we see more folks with lower back pain than any other diagnosis here at Elite PT.  Back pain can be severely debilitating but many times we can quickly decrease the pain and get you moving again with physical therapy.

Because of that, and as a way of saying “thanks” to you, our valued clients, I want to offer a free screen on August 24th to the first five former clients suffering from lower back pain.  If you fit the description above, call us now to get scheduled.  It’s only 30 minutes of your time but we’re confident we can get you started on the road to recovery.

The 24th of this month is also our 6th anniversary of being in business so I thought we’d do something fun.

Call 231 421-5805.  I guarantee this will fill up quickly so be sure to take advantage today!

PS – We’ve also been in business 6 years because of loyal clients like yourself referring family members and friends.  If you can think of someone this information might help, please share it with them!  I’d be happy to answer any questions they might have.  My email is joe@elitepttc.com or just call 231 421-5805.
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Exercise Tip of the Week

Planks are an extremely popular exercise but it is very often performed incorrectly.

front plank - hyperlordosis
Hint: your lower back shouldn’t arch that much!

I frequently ask patients and training clients where they feel like they are working the most… abs or  the lower back?

More than half the time they respond that they feel it more in their lower back!

I thought the plank was supposed to be an abdominal exercise?

Well it is when done correctly.  Watch the video below for a quick tutorial how to learn the proper positioning for the plank exercise and then how to immediately integrate that into the exercise itself for killer results.

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Coming Soon:

  • We’re bringing a new PT on staff at the end of this month and we’re super excited to have her joining our team.  I’ll have more on Ms. Allie Hoyt in the next issue.
  • September 30th will be our first ever Lower Back Pain Workshop.  I’ll have more on this next month too but start thinking of loved ones suffering with lower back pain that may benefit from this.

Enjoy the rest of your month