It’s Shoulder and Neck Pain Awareness Month here at Manual Medicine Spine and Sports PT – and I wanted to bring your attention to some extraordinary shoulder cases I’ve been working with recently.
The first success story I want to share is about “Penelope”.
Penelope is 73 years old and hasn’t been able to move or lift her (dominant) arm very well since falling on it about a year ago. She broke her shoulder and had to get 5 pins put in to help put it back together and repair the fracture.
After surgery – she went to regular physical therapy – as prescribed – for several months. Although most of her pain went away – her mobility and function didn’t come back the way she had hoped.
After all this time… she could still barely lift her arm.
And when she tried to reach or do various things – it hurt pretty badly too.
If she didn’t do anything – she felt fine – but that isn’t how she wanted to live her life…
She asked her doctor about what more could be done – but he just said it was about as good as it was going to be and the next step for her was shoulder replacement surgery.
Penelope wasn’t ready for a major surgery like a shoulder replacement.
And to be honest – she really didn’t want another surgery.
(Her first surgery hadn’t gone so well – after all…)
Surgery is scary – and she wanted to do everything possible to make certain it was her very last resort.
So she started researching what types of other treatment might be good for her.
What else could she try that would be good for her overall – and still safe for her shoulder?
She had read that Manual Therapy if done the right way was a non-stressful way to get mobility back and also if she was given the right type of strengthening exercises then she could strengthen not only your core but your whole body. But since she had never tried manual therapy (as her previous PT did not use that form of treatment and only gave her exercises to do that were painful at times) before – she was a bit nervous.
But knowing that we focused on both manual therapy and specialized care with building a custom based exercise program AND we are a specialist Physical Therapy practice – she felt more confident to give us a try…
Fast forward – she tried her first session with manual therapy and exercises. She was very hesitant initially because in her mind – she had already tried “physical therapy” and it had gotten her as far as she could…
(Plus – her doctor already told her it was about as good as it was going to be.)
But luckily she gave us a chance anyway 🙂
And I’m happy to report after just a few sessions she has noticeably less pain – and improved mobility.
Mobility her doctor told her she’d never regain on her own!
One thing we did differently is we looked beyond just her shoulder…
We addressed issues in both her upper back and neck that we found were contributing to part of her shoulder problem.
And then honestly – we just helped her feel confident to move again.
One of the secrets to moving better – is to move more – and move a lot.
Not fancy gadgets and procedures.
But when you’re in pain and it hurts – you don’t want to move – or you’re afraid to move – and it’s easier to get “the thing” or “the gadget” to make you feel better instead.
We get it!
And as Penelope found… when you have the right guidance – from specialists who understand what you’re going through – you CAN find successful, movement-based remedies that are natural and that work – and that you can do on your own any time you want.
She’s still got a long road ahead – but all signs are pointing to success and continued progress 🙂
We’re happy Penelope was willing to give us a shot and even more thrilled to see the progress she’s making.
How about you?
Are you currently suffering from shoulder pain or anything else that is keeping you from doing things you love – and you’re just not sure where to turn?
Let me know and let us help!
If you want to talk to us and see if what we do is right for you – CLICK HERE.
PS – For a limited time – I’ve opened up spots on my personal schedule to help people suffering from back, knee, neck and shoulder pain. I’ve got exactly 2 spots per week – reserved for those who are serious about getting help – and finally ready to invest themselves. CLICK HERE to get a Free Discovery Call with a specialist at my clinic and we’ll get you on my schedule as quickly as possible IF you’re a good fit for what we do 🙂
While Summer is officially over, it was a flip flops and sandal season for many. Unfortunately, this also typically results in a rise in foot pain and plantar fasciitis cases. One of my readers recently wrote to me and asked about this.
Here’s What Jennifer Wanted to Know:
“I’ve been wearing flip flops again throughout Summer and into the Fall a bit, and I noticed that my plantar fasciitis is acting up. Is there anything I can do? Do I need to stop wearing flip flops?”
This is a great question Jennifer. In order to answer your question, let’s look at a few reasons why plantar fasciitis occurs in the first place. Ideally, if you can stay on top of your plantar fasciitis and/or prevent it all together, flip flops won’t even be an issue.
First – What is Plantar Fasciitis?
It’s inflammation of your plantar fascia – the tissue that makes up the arch (bottom) of your foot.
Your plantar fascial runs from the base of your heel, down the length of your foot, and into your toes. It’s responsible for both the mobility and stability of your foot so that you can propel yourself during walking and running.
When you land on your foot your arch falls or flattens – this is called pronation. The response to this action is that your foot then stiffens or supinates – this is where your foot gets the power to push off.
If any part of this mechanism is not functioning properly, your plantar fascia can become stressed and overworked – leading to inflammation/plantar fasciitis.
What Causes Your Plantar Fascia to Become Overworked?
Basically anything that impacts or disrupts the natural mechanics of your foot to pronate and supinate. Most commonly, poor mobility in either your ankle or 1st toe is the culprit – but even tight hips and weak glutes can cause problems all the way down to your foot.
Anything that impacts the way your foot hits the ground has an opportunity to influence the level of force and energy transmitted through your foot and arch when you walk, which in turn impacts the natural pronation/supination mechanism. When disrupted, your plantar fascia will attempt to compensate for the pronation/supination mechanism.
If this continues to happen, your plantar fascia eventually becomes angry and irritated – resulting in plantar fasciitis. Flip flops, or any other shoe for that matter, can either “protect” your arch, or cause it to overwork. Technically speaking, if your foot mechanics are sound and the arch of your foot is strong and mobile, footwear should have a negligible impact on your plantar fascia.
Sadly, this is rarely the case for many people. Because of how much we sit, and how little we walk around barefoot, the bottoms of our feet are simply not as conditioned as they could be.
This is really the problem – not so much what you put on your feet.
If you’re accustomed to wearing supportive and cushioned shoes all the time, and then suddenly switch to flatter, less supportive flip flops in the summer, it’s going to be a shock to your foot. And if you’re prone to plantar fasciitis, it’s going to flare up during flip flop season.
The best thing you can do to prevent and treat plantar fasciitis is to not neglect your feet. Performing consistent mobility exercises for your toes and ankles is key, as well as conditioning for the strength and stability of your arch. Balance exercises, toe exercises, and plyometric (jumping) exercises are all important, as well as making it a point to walk around without shoes as often as you can.
If you’ve already got an ongoing problem with your foot, then I wouldn’t recommend haphazardly incorporating these exercises into your routine without guidance.
Talk to an Expert Who Can Help You.
Want help from one of our experts?
CLICK HERE to schedule a call with a specialist at my clinic. We’ll let you know if you’re a good fit for what we do and will get you on our schedule as soon as possible!
Plantar fasciitis, when addressed correctly, is very treatable, and you could be back to enjoying flip flops in no time.