Low back pain (plus sciatica) is a common occurrence in the pregnant population with as many as 70% of pregnant females reporting low back pain or sciatica at some point during their pregnancy.  Studies have shown that of these women who report back pain to their health care providers, only 15-30% of them receive treatment.   This is quite an alarming statistic as often times there are simple, straightforward exercises and tips on how to perform daily activities that can significantly help if not resolve this pain.   Why Do Women Experience Back Pain with Pregnancy? The body has to adapt to weight gain in different areas during pregnancy, which changes the demands on the joints and muscles when sitting, laying, and standing  The pelvis becomes more mobile to prepare for delivery, which is often a source of discomfort in the lower back and pelvic areas As the baby grows and there is more weight in the abdomen, a woman's posture changes the curve in her low back which becomes more and more exaggerated If You are Pregnant, Tips to Decrease Pain: Sleeping If sleeping on your side, sleep with a pillow between your knees and arms.  As your belly grows, you may also want to place a small pillow or rolled up towel under your belly for support. When getting out of bed, log roll onto your side then let your legs hang off the side of the bed and push up to sitting.  This will stress your low back much less than sitting straight up.   Lifting Be sure to bend your knees and keep items close to your body when lifting. If twisting, be sure to stand up straight with the item first and then twist – NEVER lift and twist at the same time.   Holding your child Make sure you alternate and hold your child on both sides (people often hold little ones on the same side/hip and this can be a source of pain).   Low back pain and/ or sciatica can be a problem before, during, and after pregnancy, but it does not need to be a way of life!  If you have any questions regarding the above information or how to minimize low back pain, during pregnancy, please call us to schedule a free consultation, so that we may help you.   

Low back pain is a common occurrence in the pregnant population with as many as 70% of pregnant females reporting low back pain at some point during their pregnancy.  Studies have shown that of these women who report back pain to their health care providers, only 15-30% of them receive treatment.  This is quite an alarming statistic as often times there are simple, straightforward exercises and tips on how to perform daily activities that can significantly help if not resolve this pain.   Why Do Women Experience Back Pain with Pregnancy? The body has to adapt to weight gain in different areas during pregnancy, which changes the demands on the joints and muscles when sitting, laying, and standing  The pelvis becomes more mobile to prepare for delivery, which is often a source of discomfort in the lower back and pelvic areas As the baby grows and there is more weight in the abdomen, a woman's posture changes the curve in her low back which becomes more and more exaggerated If You are Pregnant, Tips to Decrease Pain: Sleeping If sleeping on your side, sleep with a pillow between your knees and arms.  As your belly grows, you may also want to place a small pillow or rolled up towel under your belly for support. When getting out of bed, log roll onto your side then let your legs hang off the side of the bed and push up to sitting.  This will stress your low back much less than sitting straight up.   Lifting Be sure to bend your knees and keep items close to your body when lifting. If twisting, be sure to stand up straight with the item first and then twist – NEVER lift and twist at the same time.   Holding your child Make sure you alternate and hold your child on both sides (people often hold little ones on the same side/hip and this can be a source of pain).   Low back pain can be a problem before, during, and after pregnancy, but it does not need to be a way of life!  If you have any questions regarding the above information or how to minimize low back pain, please call our practice (517-545-3200) and ask to speak to our Women's Health Physical Therapist, Kelly Treiber, DPT.   Kelly Treiber, DPT                                                                                                 Women's/Pelvic Health Physical Therapist                           Mid Michigan PT Clinical Team   #PregnancyLowerBackPain #PregnantLowerBackPain #HowtoAvoidBackPainDuringPregnancy #TipstoDecreaseBackPainDuringPregnancy #

Is back pain causing you to move a little slower and more cautiously? Back pain is one of the most common physical complaints that people experience, while it is reported that more than 80% of the population will experience and seek treatment for back pain at some point in their life. As many people know back pain can also limit a person's ability to simply sit, stand and walk, sleep at night and perform normal daily tasks.   Why Does Back Pain Occur?     Back pain can occur for several reasons, while the most reasons include:     ·         Weak core muscles and weak spinal muscles ·         Poor trunk posture and postural habits ·         ‘Wear and tear' on the spine, resulting in arthritic (aka spondylitic) changes ·         A bulging disc and associated nerve root involvement ·         Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, often due to muscle imbalance.     Regardless of the reason, most people do not seek treatment soon enough and continue to suffer, while often times the problem will become worse, whereby the person may also also start to experience pain, tingling and numbness into the buttock region and legs. When this occurs, many people will take medication to reduce the severity of the pain, however this just masks the problem and does nothing to address the root cause of the problem.   The Solution For Back Pain   Successfully treating back pain, starts with determining the true cause of the problem, while usually a thorough clinical exam that includes a posture assessment, flexibility and strength testing and joint mobility testing will identify the underlying reason for the person's complaints. Then, a comprehensive plan can be formulated to resolve the person's pain complaints and get them back to their normal activities. At Mid-Michigan PT Specialists, we have the training and experience to help someone with back pain and we can commonly resolve a person's pain quickly and get them back to their normal activities sooner than they expect!   If you have low back  problems and you would like to learn more, then we encourage you to schedule a Free Consultation to see if we can help you. Simply call 517-545-3200.  

A bursa is a tiny, fluid filled sac which provides lubrication between bones and the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that slide over the bone when a joint moves.  When a bursa gets irritated, it can become swollen causing a condition known as bursitis.   Joints affected by bursitis will feel achy and stiff.  Movement is often very painful and the joint is tender to the touch.  The joint may also be swollen and red.     Due to their large range of movement and numerous muscle and ligament attachments, the two joints most commonly affected by bursitis are the hip and shoulder.   There are many potential causes of bursitis.  Repetitive motions such as reaching over head, lifting, throwing, running up and down hills or stairs can irritate the bursa.  Abnormal motions like limping due to arthritis, knee, or back pain can also lead to the development of bursitis.  Trauma to the joint from a fall or direct blow to the area is another common cause.  Bursitis can also develop after surgery or due to bone spurs, muscle weakness and/or tightness and poor posture.   While bursitis can go away with rest alone, a physical therapist can help you recover faster in several ways.  A skilled physical therapist can also help to identify and address the specific causes so that bursitis will be less likely to reoccur in the future.   The first step is to reduce pain and swelling in the joint using a variety of modalities such as ice, ultrasound, electric stimulation, stretching, and massage.  The physical therapist will then help to restore normal joint motion by improving strength, flexibility and joint mobility in the affected region.     Instruction in techniques for performing activities that will reduce stress on the bursae including postural correction, lifting mechanics and gait training are also often   necessary.  In addition, a home exercise program is also developed specific to the individual's needs. to help speed recovery and prevent a future recurrence.   If you believe that you are struggling with bursitis, call us today to schedule a free consultation to determine how we can help you.   

A bursa is a tiny, fluid filled sac which provides lubrication between bones and the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that slide over the bone when a joint moves.  When a bursa gets irritated, it can become swollen causing a condition known as bursitis.  Joints affected by bursitis will feel achy and stiff.  Movement is often very painful and the joint is tender to the touch.  The joint may also be swollen and red.  Due to their large range of movement and numerous muscle and ligament attachments, the two joints most commonly affected by bursitis are the hip and shoulder.   There are many potential causes of bursitis.  Repetitive motions such as reaching over head, lifting, throwing, running up and down hills or stairs can irritate the bursa.  Abnormal motions like limping due to arthritis, knee, or back pain can also lead to the development of bursitis.  Trauma to the joint from a fall or direct blow to the area is another common cause.  Bursitis can also develop after surgery or due to bone spurs, muscle weakness and/or tightness and poor posture.   While bursitis can go away with rest alone, a physical therapist can help you recover faster in several ways.  A skilled physical therapist can also help to identify and address the specific causes so that bursitis will be less likely to reoccur in the future. The first step is to reduce pain and swelling in the joint using a variety of modalities such as ice, ultrasound, electric stimulation, stretching, and massage.  The physical therapist will then help to restore normal joint motion by improving strength, flexibility and joint mobility in the affected region.  Instruction in techniques for performing activities that will reduce stress on the bursae including postural correction, lifting mechanics and gait training will be utilized as necessary.  To help speed recovery and prevent recurrence, a home exercise program would also be developed specific to the individual's needs.   Steven Shutt, DPT Sports Physical Therapist Mid Michigan PT Clinical Team   #CauseofHipandShoulderPain #IrritatedBursa #CausesofBursitis #PhysicalTherapyHelpsBurstis  

1. See your family physician and/or physical therapist   There are several reasons that a person may experience pain in the low back region, while pain due to a lumbar disc bulge (characterized by increased pain with movement, leg pain and possibly numbness, tingling and weakness) can be a serious problem, in some cases necessitating surgery. So step 1, if you suspect you have a lumbar disc bulge, don't wait for the pain to go away on its own because it probably will not resolve without some form of treatment! Instead, make an appointment to see your physician or a physical therapist so they can correctly evaluate your complaints and prescribe an appropriate management plan.    2. Take appropriate medication   NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and Aspirin can help relieve pain and inflammation in the area surrounding the disc. Only take these as recommended by your physician.   3. Avoid the activities that are causing pain   Often, pain from a bulging disc increases with certain movements especially heavy lifting, bending forward or twisting your back, as well as prolonged sitting.  Avoid these movements to allow the disc to begin to heal! It can be compared to having a cut on your knuckle. The more you bend your finger and pull on the cut, the longer it will take to heal.    4. Sit with support   Sitting is often a position that increases pain from a disc bulge, however, sitting with a towel rolled up and placed at your belt line can be helpful in tolerating those times when you need to sit (especially at work or when riding in a car). This helps you sit up straight and keeps the natural curve in your low back which adds support to the injured disc.    5. Avoid low chairs    Sitting in a low chair or a soft piece of furniture will likely lead to "slouched" sitting. This places excessive stress on the bulging disc, will cause pain, and lengthen the recovery time.   6. Exercise   It is helpful to perform gentle stretches when healing from a bulging disc. Often it is helpful to lie on your stomach while propping your upper body up on your elbows. Rest here 5-10 seconds and return to lying flat. Repeat 10 times and if this is comfortable repeat every 2-3 hours. Working up to walking 20-30 minutes for cardiovascular exercise will be important when you can tolerate this. Your physical therapist can be very helpful in teaching you other effective exercises.   7. Wear a lumbar support brace   If you have a physically demanding job or cannot completely avoid more strenuous activity, a lumbar support brace may be helpful in unloading the injured disc while you continue what you need to do. These are relatively inexpensive and your physical therapist or physician may be able to assist in selecting the best one for you to wear.   8. Have patience   After beginning treatment, it's important to realize that a bulging disc will heal over several weeks or months before pain is no longer present. It will take time to heal, but most people will heal without requiring surgery and knowing this may provide peace of mind during the healing process.   9. Stop Smoking   If you're a smoker, another reason to quit is that you're placing yourself at a higher risk for developing back pain including from a bulging disc. Smoking has been shown to weaken the lumbar discs over time by reducing the body's ability to deliver nutrients to the discs. Smoking may also lead to a higher sensitivity to pain.   10. Try heat or ice   Either heat or ice may be helpful in managing pain. They will not cure the problem, but applying them for 15-20 minutes several times per day may help to at least reduce symptoms as part of your overall treatment plan.   Aaron Treiber, DPT Orthopedic Spine Physical Therapist Mid-Michigan PT Clinical Team   #LumbarDiscBulgePain #RelieveLumbarDiscPain #BulgeinLumbarDisc #StepstoRelieveLumbarDiscPain  

Most of us like to think we know ourselves fairly well – we know we're happy when the sun is shining, when we drink a good cup of coffee, or when we spend time with our loved ones. On the other hand, we also know when we're sad: we may have lost our favorite sneakers, hit a pothole, or experienced emotional trauma. All of that seems, in many ways, quite clear to us. But when it comes to physical injuries things can get a bit confusing.  How do we know of we have neck pain, shoulder, or back pain? How do we know if our knees, hips, or lower backs are giving us problems? How can we differentiate between different types of pain? It often seems as if it's harder to self-diagnose physical pain than it is to pinpoint heartache or joy. And yet, knowing why you're in pain is actually the most invaluable knowledge there is for treating the root cause of the problem and, therefore, eradicating the pain itself. In this post, then, we're talking about how injuries can be confusing, how we can tell if we're really injured – and where we're injured – and how we can clear it all up once and for all! Let's jump straight in.  As we said, getting to the bottom of your pain is key in relieving it – treating your elbow, for example, may do no good if it is actually your wrist giving you the trouble. And just to make things even more confusing, your pain might not even point to an injury in the first place! That's right! Oftentimes, we may experience pain that is fleeting and that disappears on its own. Therefore, understanding the difference between a once-off pain and a chronic, debilitating type of pain is absolutely crucial. Why? Well, if you don't pay attention to the pain and it actually points to an injury, then you might end up exacerbating the pain, and damage, even more. Ultimately, we need to find out if the reason for pain is a fleeting injury or not. After this, it's time to treat it appropriately. Let's start with the first point: knowing the difference between injury and temporary pain.  When it comes to pain, listening to your body is the first port of call. Your body is a sophisticated organism – its ability to signal injury in the form or discomfort and pain cannot be underestimated. Sensation is like your body's language, and pain, therefore, is like a warning which signals a problem. If we listen carefully enough, our bodies will inform us of our ailments. So, when it comes to knowing if we're injured or not, we have to listen. Look out for any signs of injury: swelling, discoloration, temperature spikes – trouble walking, placing pressure on the area, or sensitivity to touch are all indicators that something is wrong. A tip for you: if you suspect that you've been injured, apply heat/ice immediately. More often than not, inflammation accompanies pain – heat and ice are able to alleviate the discomfort and swelling.  Be sure to be smart, though: if you feel pain for long durations of time, something is definitely wrong. Don't make the mistake of believing your pain will disappear on its own; listen to your body and make a decision to get the right kind of help.  Once you've listened to your body and have understood that you're injured, it's time to figure out exactly what type of injury you've sustained. Establishing if you've pulled, strained, or torn a muscle can, at times, be as difficult as solving a Rubix cube… it can be incredibly challenging. One way to get to the bottom of it all is to analyze the types of activities you've done – Crossfit can give rise to different injuries than Yoga may, for example. This is, however, an inexact science, as injuries vary wildly at times. It is one way of trying to pin-point your injury, though. At the end of the day, however, it's always best to see a professional physical therapist in order to establish the exact cause and forthcoming treatment needed.    Visiting a professional, hands-on physical therapist is by far the safest, fastest, and most effective way of both diagnosing and treating the root cause of your pain. Not only will a physical therapist relieve the discomfort, but will give you the tools to maintain a pain-free life. Tailor-made exercises will accompany treatment that will hone in on your specific injury – all this means that the confusion you've experienced is eliminated and that you're able to get back to the activities you love.    At the end of the day, understanding injuries and pain can be tricky. It may seem impossible to identify either the cause of the pain or its location, but one thing is certain: it cannot be ignored. Listen to your body and make a decision to get the help you need. Take action. Analyze your activities, stop doing those that you think may be detrimental, and get professional help.  If you're unsure of why you're in pain, where you're in pain, or if even if you've injured yourself during an activity you love, then we invite you to contact us today. We're here to help you, and one of our dedicated, professional physical therapists are here to answer any and all questions you might have. Don't live with the uncertainty of confusing pain any longer – get the answers you need and let us help you get back to the life you deserve: one that is pain-free and mobile. We look forward to chatting and helping you on your path back to health and mobility.