Best treatment for back pain

 INTRODUCTION:

Back pain is one of the most common problem an individual faces in

 his/her life,8 out of 10 person during his whole life span suffers

 through back pain conditions .It is the sixth most costly condition in

 USA ,each year Americans spend $50 billion on healthcare expenses

 due to back pain. so it should not be underestimate in a casual way

 and always taken seriously whether it is mild, moderate or severe

 back pain. Approximately 29% physicians prescribe opioids for

 treatment of back pain. In this article you would gain information

 regarding back pain and its Physical therapy treatment.

You must visit a physical therapist as soon as the symptoms begin

 and should be evaluated and diagnosed by the therapist, the more late

 you come the more difficult it would be to overcome back pain and

 get instant result. One must keep patience and trust the process of

 therapist. Physical therapy is a natural form of treatment and does

 not has any side effects to your metabolism and musculoskeletal

 structure.

A therapist supervision helps you to overcome back pain (spinal

 column) to your daily lifestyle and perform better day by day. You

 will get result, once you start trusting the process of physical

 therapy, and the benefits of therapy is reducing drug

 dependence, avoiding expensive surgery, Ergonomic learning about

 posture to prevents back pain.

So let me explain you about back pain, Basically pain is divided into

 2 categories, first is Acute pain and second is Chronic pain. Acute

 pain arises when you suddenly fall down from a height or suddenly

 lift a heavy object which you have not tried before, pain which lasts

 up to 3 weeks is considered as acute pain.

However chronic pain is termed as the pain which stays after 3

 weeks up to months or year is considered as chronic pain, if pain

 persist then you should visit physical therapist for treatment.

 Why Physical therapy for Back pain ?

 In our society what happens is that if you have high

 grade fever with chills and rigor you will go through the process of

 malaria pathology lab test and physicians prescription of

 antimalarial drug prescription. 

But what if you have low back pain, first you will try some home 

remedies then if it didn't work you visit to a general physician for 

some medicine and then also if medicines doesn't work for you then 

you get annoyed and start thinking of some other form of treatment 

instead of physical therapy. So it is not the correct path of treating 

back pain condition.

So the correct form of treatment of back pain is that as soon as the

 pain arises you must visit your Physical Therapist and start the

 treatment as early as possible, don't give time to your back pain to

 move from Acute to Chronic condition, instead of that you should

 start  Physical Therapy session as early as possible.

A physical therapist will evaluate the condition and proper assesment

 will help to final diagnosis of  the condition and thereafter make a

 treatment plan accordingly to your type of back

 pain. Musculoskeletal examination, superficial and deep reflexes will

 be the part of evaluation of physical therapist. 

Dr Shailendra Chourey says that, ''when I saw a new patient

 approaches me and show their prescription reports including X-

ray, MRI and all,, but for me the most important thing is,, 'I listen to

 the patient explain their pain to me, what he/she is suffering through

 on daily basis''. I talk with patient very closely, sharply and in a

 friendly manner so that results in a positive output regarding his/her

 treatment. 

 Once the diagnosis is confirmed, therapist makes a treatment

 program accordingly followed by a rehabilitation plan. The

 overall physical therapy treatment includes:-

1. Stretching Exercises

2.  Manual Techniques

3. Range of Motion Exercises

4. Strengthening Exercises

5. Breathing Exercises

6. Electrotherapy Modalities

 Benefits if stretching the muscles is described below in a

video by Dr Shailendra Chourey and theoritical part is also

 explained in a detail version:

Back Muscles Stretching Benefits:

Releases endorphins to make you feel good and fight depression and reduce stress, also prevents heart diseases like stroke, diabetes, heart attack, osteoporosis, helps to manage weight and improves sleep. 

1. Decrease current discomfort. It may seem obvious, but if you’re experiencing radiating pain along your sciatica nerve, stretching the muscles the nerve runs through can help minimize and ease that pain,
2. Prevent future pain. “If you are regularly stretching the muscles surrounding the nerve, it can help decrease the frequency of flare ups,”  So, if you know you’re prone to back pain or sciatica, prevent further injury and proactively stretch with the above stretches.
3. Improve performance. If you sit at a desk all day (guilty!), you may begin to experience lower back discomfort and sciatica pain. To help combat this sedentary lifestyle, stretching the surrounding area at least three to five times a week can reduce the ache and improve your performance in your workouts.
4. Boost strength. If you experience sciatica and lower back pain, research shows you may have a weak core and/or glutes. When you stretch the surrounding muscles, you can improve your ability to move efficiently leading to better strength gains.

     5. stretching the gluteal and hamstring muscle can reduce sciatica and prevent the surrounding muscles from irritating the sciatic nerve,

• Also read about  Bertolotti's Syndrome Physical Therapy in 2023 https://www.shailendrachourey.com/2023/10/bertolottis-syndrome-physical-therapy.html

Conclusion:

 Being a physical therapist my aim is to treat patient according to the

 condition and educate him/her in a proper way so that  he/she

  should not be hesitated to deal with any kind of musculoskeletal

problem  in future. Myself  Dr Shailendra Chourey in practice of

 physical therapy since 2010 comes to a conclusion that you should

 not ignore any type of back pain whether it is acute or chronic and

 must visit a physical therapist for correct treatment.

Who would benefit from chest physiotherapy?

 Introduction: 

Chest Physiotherapy or Physical therapy is a manual technique

 performed by the therapist in which mucus is drained from the lungs

 (breathing) passage and thereby improving the breathing pattern,

this

 technique includes Percussion, Vibration, Deep Breathing, and

 Huffing or Coughing. Quick instant results were obtained in

 respiratory problems such as COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonary

 disease) Pulmonary effusion, lung abscess, bronchiectasis, and many

 more

Indication ( when given chest PT)  (Who needs chest PT)

It is given for those patients in whom cough is insufficient to clear

 thick, tenacious, or localized secretions, some examples are as follows

1. Pneumonia

2. Cystic fibrosis

3. COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

4. Atelectasis

5. Bronchiectasis

6. Lung abscess

7. Decreased lung volume

8. Tracheotomy 

Aims of Physiotherapy or Physical therapy:

The aim of physical therapy for respiratory dysfunction in the ICU is

 to maintain lung volume, improve oxygenation and ventilation, clear

 airway secretions, reduce the work of breathing, enhance inspiratory

 muscle function in order to prevent respiratory complications in

 both intubated and spontaneously patients. Other aims include

 maximizing musculoskeletal function, reducing the duration of

 mechanical ventilation, facilitating the return of independent upon

 ICU discharge, improving long term quality of life and reducing  the

 length of stay in ICU as well as the hospital in order to reduce the

 cost care. The goal of physical therapy is targeted towards 4 key

 categories:

1. Airway secretion clearance

2. Recruitment of lung volume

3. Improvement of oxygenation

4. Maintain inspiratory muscle strength  

Type of Techniques in Chest PT:

There are some techniques applied in Chest PT by therapist and they are 

→ Percussion 

→ Vibration 

→ Postural Drainage 

→ Forced expiratory technique or Huffing 

→ Assisted Coughing

All theses techniques are applied by therapist to dislodge and move

 the mucus to the larger airways where it can be coughed or huffed

 out of the body for clear respiratory breathing.

 
How long does Chest PT Take? 

Generally, each treatment session can last between 20 to 40

 minutes. Chest PT is best done before meals or one-and-a-

half hours after eating, to decrease the chance of

 vomiting. Early morning or bedtimes are usually

 recommended. The length of chest PT and the number of

 times a day it is done may need to be increased if the person

 is more congested or getting sick. Your therapist can

 recommend what positions, how often and how long chest PT

 should be done.

How chest PT is performed is shown in the figure, Percussion technique is applied by therapist.

Summary

Chest PT is a technique that people can use to clear excess

 mucus that has built up in the lungs. It is typically helpful for

 those with respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis,

 bronchiectasis, or COPD.

There are various Chest PT techniques to try, either aided by

 someone else or self-administered.

Talk with your therapist about the different options to choose

 which one is best for you

Conclusion:

My motto is to help people feel better, move better, and perform

 better. I want to help you to do the same--- Dr Shailendra Chourey 

Plantar Fasciitis Physical Therapy: Everything about plantar fasciitis in 2024

 Introduction:

Plantar Fasciitis a common condition characterized by stabbing pain

 in the heel and bottom of the foot, can be debilitating. This pain is

 often the result of damage to the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that

 connects the heel to the toes.

The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that 10% of

 the U.S. population will experience plantar fasciitis at some

 point. Many of them opt for physical therapy as part of their plantar

 fasciitis treatment.

Plantar fasciitis can lead to a person experiencing “decreased

 strength and tolerance for weight-bearing movement due to weeks

 or months of having to limit their activity,”  “Working with a

 physical therapist to help rebuild strength and activity tolerance in a

 gradual, structured way can make a big difference.

In addition to connecting your heel to your toes, the plantar fascia

 also supports the foot arch. Plantar fascia supports activities like

 walking and running. However, excessive strain can cause small

 tears that usually occur close to where the plantar fascia attaches to

 the heel bone. These tears lead to inflammation and pain at the

 bottom of the foot near the heel and cause discomfort that’s most

 pronounced after a period of rest, such as after sitting for a

 prolonged period of time.

Physical therapy is an effective treatment for many people with

 plantar fasciitis. A physical therapist can suggest exercises to safely

 stretch tight plantar fascia and calf muscles, which can be a risk

 factor of developing plantar fasciitis. They can also provide

 information about biomechanics, which refers to mechanical

 principles applied to biological systems. An example of

 biomechanics is the way in which body parts, such as bones,

 ligaments and muscles, interact to achieve motion.

“Sometimes, dealing with pain for a long time can also change the

 way you move, so assessing those movement patterns and coming

 up with strategies to help restore normal movement is another big

 part of physical Therapy.

Research supports the role of physical therapy in plantar fasciitis

 management. A 2017 review in the Journal of Orthopaedic and

 Sports Physical Therapy found that people diagnosed with

 plantar fasciitis had a lower cost of care and faster recovery time

 when physical therapy was part of their treatment.

stretching and strengthening exercises taught by a physical therapist

 resulted in less pain and improved gait for participants with plantar

 fasciitis. Gait improvements include reductions in limping and

 optimizing factors such as speed and stride length.

Benefits Of Physical Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Benefits of physical therapy for plantar fasciitis include “symptom-

relieving treatment from exercises like soft tissue mobilizations, joint

 mobilizations, stretching, strengthening and movement retraining.

A physical therapist also has the clinical experience to assess a

 client’s treatment progress. “Keeping track of changes in activity

 tolerance and pain levels over time is key for knowing whether

we’re making progress in we may keep track of how long you can

 walk without exacerbating symptoms. Often in [physical therapy],

 we also use measures of strength, balance or range of motion to help

 quantify improvements over the course of treatment.

 Plantar fasciitis physical therapy typically begins with an evaluation

 of your condition and potential contributing factors. Your physical

 therapist will ask questions and conduct various assessments, such

 as flexibility and range of motion tests, which may extend beyond

 the foot and ankle to surrounding areas like the knees and hips,

 “They will also look at your gait (walking mechanics) and posture to

 identify any other contributing issues.”

Having the initial evaluation is one of the most important parts of the

 physical therapy journey. This [assessment] allows both the therapist

 and the patient to discuss how the injury happened and what their

 goals are for therapy,

From here, the therapist can create a physical therapy program

 uniquely designed for their patient to not only help [them]

 with their symptoms but also achieve their functional goals.”

Physical Therapy Treatment Session Includes:

• → Stretching
• → Massage
• → Ultrasound
• → Strengthening exercises
• → Gait coaching

Home Exercises For Plantar Fasciitis:

• Rolling with a frozen water bottle: While standing or
•  seated, roll a frozen water bottle back and forth under the
•  arch of each foot for a few minutes once or twice per day.
• 
  
• Calf and tibialis anterior massage: While seated,
•  massage your calf from just below your knee down to
•  your ankle for several minutes twice daily. Do the same
•  for your anterior tibialis, the muscle next to your shin
•  bone.
• 
  
• Heel raises: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
•  Lift each heel off the ground while shifting your weight
•  forward to the balls of your feet. Keep your feet straight
•  and ensure they don’t turn in or out. Perform two sets of
•  10 repetitions twice daily.
• Arch stretches: While seated, assume a “figure four”
•  position with your knee out to the side and ankle across
•  your opposite thigh. Prevent your foot from turning in or
•  out. Hold your big toe and pull it up toward the top of
•  your foot so that you feel the stretch in your foot arch.
•  Hold for 20 to 30 seconds on each foot twice a day.
• 
  
• Calf stretches: Place both hands on a wall and one foot
•  in front of the other with your front knee bent. Lean into
•  the wall while keeping your back foot flat on the floor so
•  you feel a stretch in your calf. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds
•  on each foot twice a day.
• 
  
• Towel crunches: While seated, place your bare feet on a
• 
  
•  flat towel and use your toes to scrunch and release the
• 
  
•  towel. Perform two sets of 10 repetitions twice daily.

I hope this Article Information may help you to overcome condition like plantar fasciitis.   

How to lower Blood Pressure without medication ?

Introduction: 

Looking at 270 Studies With 15827 participants between 1990 and 2023,researchers discovered that the Most Significant Change in Blood Pressure readings came from those engaging in Isometric Exercises.

What is Normal Blood Pressure ?

The normal blood pressure range for most adults is typically around 120/80 mmHg . However, what’s considered optimal may vary depending on factors such as age, gender, and underlying health conditions. It’s important to check your blood pressure regularly and discuss with your physical therapist and  what range is best for you. If your blood pressure consistently falls outside the recommended range, you may need to take steps to manage it through lifestyle changes or medication.

Americans affected by Hypertension

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of adults in the United States have hypertension, which is defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg or are taking medication for hypertension. This amounts to 119.9 million men and women.

In 2021, hypertension was a primary or contributing cause of 691,095 deaths in the United States.

However, only 1 in 4 adults with hypertension have their hypertension under control. This amounts to 27.0 million men and women.

WHAT IS ISOMETRIC EXERCISES ?

Isometric Exercise involve Poses that held the body static, engaging muscles but neither lengthening nor Contracting them. They look deceptively easy and are often associated with Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation from Injury, but they are challenging moves that build Strength and Endurance. Just you think of wall sits, calf raises, Planks, low squats, all held for a certain period of time.

And now, it seems they might also be the most effective moves for Lowering Blood Pressure. 

After all the Research and hard work it came to a conclusion that those engaged in Isometric Exercise regime for two or more weeks had the Biggest Improvement in blood pressure readings, with an average of 8.24/4mm Hg, as opposed to other workouts including cardio/aerobic activities(4.50/2.5mmHg).

The Data Covered Systolic Blood Pressure, which measures the Arterial pressure when the heart beats, the diastolic blood pressure, which assesses arterial pressure between beats.

When they looked at systolic blood pressure ( most associated with health risks such as Stroke and Heart Attack) 98% of participants showed improvements after there isometric regimens, ahead of combined cardio and weights training(76%), dynamic resistance training(46%), aerobic exercise training(40%) and high intensity interval training (HIIT) (39%).

Further analysis revealed that wall sits were most effective for reducing Systolic blood pressure. while running fared best for improving diastolic blood pressure, overall isometric came out ahead.

While the researchers admit the data analysis of this many wide ranging studies has limitations, it does shine a light on an area of physical activity that has the potential for significant health benefits.

what's more, the low impact, targeted nature of isometric exercise makes this form of activity more widely accessible across age and physical capability. It's also cost and space effective, most often using bodyweight and gravity, and has a low risk of injury.

Related article- How do you know when you need physical therapy?

These finding provides a comprehensive data driven framework to support the development of new exercise guideline recommendations for the prevention and treatment of arterial Hypertension,'' the study noted.

conclusion:

Being a Physical therapist my motto is to help people feel better, move better and perform better. I want to help you learn to do the same.