Don’t Let The Summer Squeeze Catch You By Surprise

As summer comes to an end, it’s only natural to try and squeeze in as many activities as we can before we enter back into the gray and wet. A lot of us try to get in as much hiking, biking, boating, camping, and family get-together activities as we can while the sun is shining.

Often, the problem isn’t the activities themselves. It’s not doing what our body needs to recover from these activities so we can continue doing them, and it’s neglecting the habits and routines that have helped you feel and move your best.

That is why maintaining your treatment and home therapy is so important!

Your Body Loves Consistency

At Olympic, our goal isn’t simply to help you feel better today. We want to help you move better, maintain your progress, and stay active for the long term.

Depending on your individual needs, your treatment plan may include adjustments, Trigenics and pressure wave therapy, non-surgical spinal decompression, bioelectrical therapy, and physical rehabilitation training.

Each treatment modality serves a different purpose. Adjustments address joint mobility and movement restrictions. Trigenics and pressure wave therapy release scar tissue, help heal tendons and balance muscles. Non-surgical decompression can reduce disc bulges/herniations mechanically. Physical rehabilitation helps build strength, mobility, coordination, and physical capacity needed for everyday life.

The home exercise program you received in the Physical Rehab Department complements the in-office treatments. Being consistent with your home care program is even more important when you’re trying to squeeze more activity into the fleeting days of summer. This is especially important for older patients that often have a degree of damage that is permanent. Abnormal alignment and movement patterns from permanent damage create strain and inflammation that build overtime. If you don’t offset the stress and strain with recovery procedures, exacerbations can occur. Home therapy procedures like compression, reactivation, and stretching help your body recover so you can keep playing.

Compression, using tools like lacrosse balls, therapy sticks, and foam rollers can release tense muscles, improving circulation to reduce inflammation.

Reactivation, using specific exercises, targets muscles that were identified as being weak, to restore their strength and improve your stability.

Stretching is used to lengthen contracted muscles to restore a more optimal length tension ratio. This improve your mobility and also makes you more stable.

Don’t Stop Doing What Got You Better

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming that less pain means the problem is completely resolved.

Pain most often improves before strength, mobility, balance, and physical capacity have fully recovered. That’s why your treatment and home exercises should continue even after you feel better.

You don’t have to be perfect. Life happens. What matters is getting back on track when your routine gets disrupted.

 Don’t wait for the pain to return before taking action. Stay consistent. Maintain your movement. Protect your progress.

Your future self will thank you!

Sean Masters

Patient of the Month
Darci B.

“I had constant pinching pain in my shoulder anytime I used it or moved. It had been going on for several years and got progressively worse in the last 6 months. It made it hard for me to sleep, open a jar, or reach back without intense pain. A friend of mine recommended treatment at Olympic so I thought I’d give it a chance, and after the first appointment I felt changes for the better! Now the pain is much more tolerable, I can do my regular work, household chores, and sleep through the night! I can work out, enjoy my activities more, and just feel better! I wish I had found Dr. Shelley sooner! I’ve started yoga and joined a woman’s sailing team, back to crafting and just enjoying life more. I am not short tempered with my family anymore, and I don’t have to have my co-workers reach things for me. The staff at Olympic are amazing, they are so knowledgeable and friendly! The treatment you receive at Olympic is unique to the individual, they listen to you and what you need! Thanks so much for giving me my life back pain free, well mostly! I’ll take 80% for now!

Team Members of the Month:

Althea and Gracia