Pregnancy & Low Back Pain: They Go Together Like Pickles & Ice Cream

09 Thursday Feb 2012

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Ask any pregnant woman if her back hurts and the majority of them will scream “YES!!!!!”  Especially those who are further along in their pregnancy.  Pregnancy and low back pain seem to go together like pickles and ice cream.

So, what causes back pain during pregnancy?

It is usually caused by strain on the back muscles.  In mid-pregnancy, an expectant mom’s center of gravity changes.  In response to that, her posture changes.  Most women begin to lean backward in the later months of pregnancy, which makes their back muscles work harder.

Pregnancy hormones may contribute to back pain as well.  A hormone relaxes the ligaments in the strong, weight-bearing joints in the pelvis.  This loosening makes the joints more flexible, but it can cause back pain if the joints become too mobile.

What can a pregnant woman do to prevent back pain during pregnancy?

To help prevent or ease back pain, be aware of how you stand, sit, and move.  Here are some tips that may help:

  • Wear low-heeled (but not flat) shoes with good arch support
  • Ask for help when lifting heavy objects
  • When standing for long periods, place one foot on a stool or box
  • If your bed is too soft, have someone help you place a board between the mattress and box spring
  • Do not bend over from the waist to pick things up – squat down, bend your knees, and keep your back straight
  • Sit in chairs with good back support, or use a small pillow behind the low part of your back
  • Try to sleep on your side with one or two pillows between your legs for support
  • Exercise – walking, light weight-lifting, and water aerobics are safe to do for most pregnant women

What can a pregnant woman do to ease back pain?

Apply heat or cold to the painful area or massage it*.  If that doesn’t work, ask your OB/GYN to refer you to a Licensed Physical Therapist who has experience with pregnant women.   An experienced Physical Therapist can help an expectant mother do exercises that can help lessen backache.  Such exercises strengthen and stretch muscles that support the back and legs and promote good posture – keeping the muscles of the back, abdomen, hips, and upper body strong.

When should a pregnant woman contact her healthcare provider about back pain?

If you have severe pain, or if pain persists for more than 2 weeks, you should contact your healthcare provider.

*Massage Therapy should NOT be performed during the first trimester.

 

Sources:

August 2011: American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists

Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2011, 8 309-320.

Keep Your Balance & Prevent Falls

29 Sunday Jan 2012

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Falls among the elderly are prevalent, dangerous, and can diminish their ability to lead an active and independent life.  About one in three seniors above age 65, and nearly one in two seniors over age 80, will fall at least once this year, many times with disastrous consequences.  Physical Therapists can help prevent falls with evaluation and development of individualized treatment plans including exercises to improve strength, mobility, and balance.

Risk factors associated with falls:

  • Conditions associated with aging
  • Muscle weakness
  • Difficulty with balance or walking
  • Vision problems
  • Pre-existing medical conditions that limit mobility, such as Parkinson disease, stroke, or diabetes
  • Conditions that cause confusion (dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc)
  • Being on more than four medications at the same time
  • Use of an assistive walking device
  • Environmental hazards (throw rugs, pets, clutter)
  • Difficulty completing activities of daily living
  • Low blood pressure

Maintaining Physical Activity

Maintaining physical activity is critical in helping to prevent falls.  Physical Therapists recommend activities of any fitness level, including gardening, line dancing, and yoga to help improve balance and movement.

Test Your Balance

Balance may be improved with exercises that strengthen the ankle, knee, and hip muscles and with exercises that improve function of the vestibular (balance) system.  A simple assessment of your current balance can be done at home.

Do not attempt to do this test alone – make sure that you have someone next to you to decrease the potential risk of falling.

Perform this test standing with a counter surface in front of you:

  1.  Stand tall, wearing flat, closed shoes, with your arms folded across your chest.  Keep your eyes open, focus on an object in front of you, raise one leg, bending the knee about 45 degrees, and start a stopwatch.
  2. Remain on one leg, stopping the watch immediately if you uncross your arms, tilt sideways more than 45 degrees, move the leg you are standing on, or the raised leg to the floor.
  3. Repeat this test with the other leg.
  4. Compare your performance to normal results for various ages
    1. 20 to 59 years old (28 to 29 seconds)
    2. 60 to 69 years old (27 seconds)
    3. 70 to 79 years old (15 seconds)
    4. 80 and older (6 seconds)

How a Physical Therapist Can Help

The Physical Therapists at Associated Physicians Group can review your medical history and complete a thorough examination.  After which, she will design an individualized program of exercises and functional activities for you.  This program may focus on strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and walking.

A referral is necessary.  Outside Physical Therapy scripts are accepted or the medical team at Associated Physicians Group may be able to write your referral.

Source: 2010 American Physical Therapy Association

Swansea Remodel Project Has Started

22 Sunday Jan 2012

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The remodel is underway.  Our Swansea facility has received new paint and the floors are next.  Check out the photos of the new paint and the “before” shots of the floors.

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Don’t Break Your Back Shoveling Snow

11 Wednesday Jan 2012

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With this impending snow storm, here a some tips from the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) on how to avoid back injury when shoveling snow.

1) Lift smaller loads of snow, rather than heavy shovelfuls

2) Be sure to bend your knees and lift with your legs rather than your back.  Keep your back as straight as possible when bending at the knee.

3) Use a shovel with a handle that lets you keep your back straight while lifting.  A short-handled shovel will cause you to bend more to lift the load.  A long-handled shovel makes the weight at the end too heavy.

4) Step in the direction in which you are throwing the snow to prevent the low back from twisting.  This will also help prevent “next-day back fatigue.”

5) Avoid excessive twisting because the spine cannot tolerate it.

6) Take frequent breaks when shoveling.  Stand up straight and walk around periodically to extend the lower back.

7) Backward bending exercises while standing will help reverse the excessive forward bending of shoveling – stand straight and tall, place your hands toward the back of your hips, and bend backwards slightly for several seconds.

Most importantly, if you or anyone you know is experiencing back pain, consult with your doctor or call the team at Associated Physicians Group for an evaluation.

Tis the Season for Secret Santa 2011

24 Monday Oct 2011

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November 1st kicks off the 10th Annual Secret Santa Fundraiser at Associated Physicians Group. Each year, Associated Physicians Group welcomes wish lists from local, underprivileged children with the help of charities such as Catholic Social Services, Lutheran Family Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services.
“It’s the most important event of the year at Associated Physicians Group.  What started out with just one local family has, over the years, reached out to over 1200 families.  Every year we sponsor as many children as we can.  Associated Physicians Group funds most of the program by donating its time, services, and money to purchase presents from each child’s wish list.  Over the years, we have been able to increase the number of children we sponsor due to assistance from the O’Fallon Township High School Interact Club, Belleville Chapter of Business Network International, Culver’s of O’Fallon, and Bel-Air Bowl.  Watson Office City also helps by donating one of their large vans to deliver the toys.  Many of the wonderful patients at Associated Physicians Group help by purchasing individual gifts from the wish lists or even sponsoring an entire list.”

Ways You Can Help?

  1. Donation Health Pass Referral:  If you have a family member, friend, or co-worker who has issues with their knees, back, elbows, neck, shoulders, hips, or headaches, they make a $20 donation to the Secret Santa Fund  or bring in a new, unwrapped toy to receive a consultation, therapy, and 2 x-rays (if needed)
  2. Come in to an office to select one gift from a child’s wish list
  3. Come in to an office and select a child’s complete wish list to sponsor

When Back Pain Attacks

28 Wednesday Sep 2011

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Lower back pain is one of the most commonly reported pain conditions and the leading cause of disability in Americans under 45 years old.  In fact, more than 26 Million Americans between the ages of 20-64 experience frequent back pain.

So where should you turn for relief?  A Massage Therapist?  Chiropractor? Physical Therapist?  Pain Specialist?  What if all were available in a single location?  That concept is called a “Multi-Modal” approach and it’s available at Associated Physicians Group.

“We use a proven, multi-modal approach to pain management.  This unique combination of care blends the expertise of an Interventional Pain Management Specialist with Physical Therapists, Chiropractic medicine, and advanced, high-tech rehabilitation equipment,” says William Thom, M.D., Board Certified, Fellowship Trained Pain Management Specialist.

The National Institutes of Health has found evidence “that multi-modal therapy is the most successful approach to back pain management” and “…the multi-modal program of therapy for chronic low back pain improves the outcome significantly more than conventional therapy.”

To see if the multi-modal team at Associated Physicians Group can help you, contact them at 1-888-363-8333

Does Exercise Make Your Joints Hurt Worse?

26 Monday Sep 2011

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In the Saturday, September 24th edition of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, columnist Dr. Donohue printed the following:

Dear Dr. Donohue,

I am a 49-year-old female.  I weigh 250 pounds and am 5 feet 3 inches tall.  I work five days a week in health care.  My doctor tells me I have arthritis in my hips, knees, feet, and back.  I take Aleve.  I walk two miles.  It takes me an hour.  By then my joint pain is 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.  I am considering having lap band surgery.  If I do, do you think the weight loss will help much with my joint pain?  I cannot lose weight because of my joint pain.  I have tried many ways to treat it.  All I ever get is short-term results.                                                —  Anonymous

an exercept from Dr. Donohue’s answer:  I can almost guarantee you that your joint pain will greatly DECREASE if you lose weight.

At Associated Physicians Group, we hear this complaint alot.  Doctors advise exerise for joint pain and it is good advice because exercising has so many health benefits, but how can you exercise when it HURTS?  It’s a vicious cycle – arthritis starts, you exercise, exericse hurts, stop exercising, gain weight, arthritis gets worse.  We have a program that can help even those who can’t exercise because it hurts too much.

Upcoming Free Knee Pain Seminars

30 Tuesday Aug 2011

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We are hosting free knee pain seminars in september.
September 13th, 2011 at 8:30AM at Our Lady of the Snows (442 S. De Mazenod Dr., Belleville, IL). Breakfast is provided.
September 14th, 2011 at 5:00PM at Caffe Avanti (217 E. Vandalia, Edwardsville). Dinner is provided.
RSVP at www.AssociatedPhysicians.com or by calling 1-866-915-9022

Announcing the addition of two new doctors to our team

23 Tuesday Aug 2011

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We are happy to announce the addition of two new doctors to our team of MD’s, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Physical Therapists, and Chiropractic Physicians.

Dr. Blake Randles is a licensed Chiropractic Physician; however, his specialty is diagnostic imaging.  He received his Bachelor’s degree in Radiologic Science with an emphasis in diagnostic ultrasound from SIU-Carbondale.  He has ultrasound experience from multiple medical settings and has delivered abdominal, surgical, OB, gynecological, neonatal brain, vascular, and musculoskeletal ultrasounds.  At Associated Physicians, Dr. Randles will be performing diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasounds and providing ultrasound guidance for injections done by the MD, Nurse Practitioner, and Physician Assistant.

Jaime Lorusso is a Doctor of Physical Therapy.  She received her Doctorate in Physical
Therapy from SLU where she also earned a Bacherlor’s in Exercise Science and in Psychology.  Jaime has gained experience in treating patients with a wide variety of muscle and joint impairments from Scott Air Force Base, Alton Memorial Hospital, Hobbs Orthopedic & Sports Therapy in New Mexico, and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville.  At Associated Physicians, she will primarily be caring for patients in the O’Fallon and Swansea clinics.

We are also happy to announce that Physical Therapist, Alicia Courtois, graduated with her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy in May.  Alicia has been with Associated Physicians for two and a half years.  She mainly cares for patients in the O’Fallon
clinic where she was promoted to Practice Manager in 2010.

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