Physical Therapists’ Tips to Avoid Pain During the Holidays

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“To most of us the holiday season is all about tradition, fun, and family, but if we’re not careful, the holidays can also be a pain in the neck—literally—”says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). “Typical holiday activities, such as shopping ’till you drop’, lifting heavy boxes and presents, and countless hours of cooking and baking, can cause muscles to work harder than usual, many times resulting in neck, shoulder, and back pain.”

Let us help you stay safe during this busy season! Using proper body mechanics can help prevent muscle and joint discomfort this holiday season, as recommended by the American Physical Therapy Association.

1- When lifting, make sure you:

• Test an object’s weight before attempting to lift heavy packages or luggage. Try pushing it with your foot. If it seems too heavy then take smaller loads, which are less likely to strain your back and are easier on arm and shoulder muscles.
• Keep the load close to your body when lifting.
• Ask for help or use an assistive device to lift heavy objects.
• Seek help from a physical therapist if your back pain lasts more than a few days or gets worse.

2-  When you’re shopping:

• Distribute the weight of shopping bags equally on both sides of your body.
• Consider carrying a small backpack rather than a heavy purse.
• Wear comfortable shoes; carrying packages while wearing high heels on hard surfaces can contribute to foot and ankle injuries.
• Don’t carry overstuffed shopping bags for extended periods of time.
• Consider using a shopping cart or getting help to carry packages to your car.
• Avoid prime shopping times to decrease wait times that can increase or exceed standing/walking time tolerances.
• Plan your shopping trip ahead of time. Having a set list of gifts you intend to buy will help you plan for extra help, if needed, to carry purchases.

3-  When Cooking and/or baking:

• Choose a work surface that is approximately at the level of your forearms when your elbows are bent at a right angle (90 degrees) or at elbow height. Shoulders and upper back will be in better position and this will decrease the risk of upper back, neck, and shoulder strain.
• Work on a padded surface.  If you have tile, vinyl, or wood flooring, for cushioning consider purchasing an inexpensive area rug  that has grippers on the back to keep the rug from moving and you from slipping or tripping. Standing long periods on a hard surface can lead to muscle fatigue and back ache.
• Use good lifting mechanics when retrieving small kitchen appliances from lower shelves or drawers. Kneel down if necessary and keep the object close to your body.
• Be careful when bending to take items in and out of a conventional floor-model stove. If that turkey is heavy you will need help to get it out of the oven, not because you can’t lift it, it’s the position of the body while bending and carrying than can really strain your back.
• Frequently perform gentle movement exercises to keep the muscles in your neck and shoulders loose.

Physical therapists are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility – in many cases without expensive surgery or the side effects of prescription medications.

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com

CardioFlex, Make A Wish

CardioFlex Therapy Davie is excited to support the Make A Wish Foundation on its next event in South Florida, making wishes come true one step at a time at the Walk For Wishes® 5K Walk/Run at Zoo Miami. More than $115,000 was raised last year to grant the heartfelt wishes of 23 children facing life-threatening medical conditions in Southern Florida.

There are four steps to granting a wish. Each step builds on the next and creates amazing experiences that delight wish kids and their families. Make a Wish creates an unforgettable experience driven by the child’s creativity. In that spirit CardioFlex physical and occupational therapists get together to help make wishes come true.

Participate as an individual or get together with family, friends and colleagues to form a team.

Granting wishes takes hundreds of individuals and entities that are committed to making a difference. Help make wishes come true one step at a time at the Walk For Wishes® 5K Walk/Run at Zoo Miami on Saturday, April 14, 2018.

Zoo Miami 12400 SW 152nd Street, Miami, FL 33177

For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com & our BLOG

Bad Santa Bus Loop

CardioFlex is proud to support the Bad Santa Bus Loop benefiting many local charities including the Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation. This event takes place on December 15, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The Bus Loop continues to spread fun throughout South Florida! The Bus Loop is serving our local community by raising funds for the designated charities in their respective cities while giving the area’s young professionals a Bus Loop experience of a lifetime!

All proceeds directly benefit the charities. Thanks to the efforts of the volunteers, the Bus Loops continue to operate throughout South Florida. If you have not yet tried the Bus Loop, try it! You’ll get hooked!  

The Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation provides financial assistance for underprivileged children fighting cancer. As advocates, the Foundation helps raise additional funds through media partnerships to ensure ill children maintain access to basic human necessities during times of crisis.   Often these children and their families fall into the Federal Poverty Level which qualifies them to receive government assistance such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income; however, there remains a large gap for financial need.  A child diagnosed with cancer requires a full time caregiver in order to increase his/her chances for survival.  Children can’t go back to school for a long period of time because of the intense treatment, and the number of days spent in the hospital.  Families under these circumstances often lose income because one parent usually resigns from work.  For a single parent the only source of income is often lost. As a result, the Foundation is dedicated to providing temporary financial relief to help families pay for everyday needs such as medical, utility, rent, mortgage, car, and groceries.  This direct and tangible assistance for access to basic necessities becomes vital to the survival of these children while they receive cancer treatment. CardioFlex offers specific cancer rehab treatments, visit our Services page for detailed information on how we can help you.

Where: Fort Lauderdale, FL

When: December 15, 2017

Time: 6:00 PM

Contact: 954-574-6000 / 954-260-6194 / johnjhaley@comcast.net

For more info, visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com & our BLOG for detailed information on this event.

CardioFlex Therapy 4 Year Anniversary at The Crexent Center in Davie

On October 1, 2017, CardioFlex Therapy celebrated its four year anniversary at its current location at the Crexent Business Center Flamingo Commons location in Davie, Florida just off Flamingo Road and Griffin Boulevard intersection.

Dedicated to providing the best care and treatment since its founding in 2005, we at CardioFlex Therapy make sure each individual patient in our care receives specialized care based on their needs and recovery goals.  Our highly trained and experienced staff uses our specialized programs to treat in orthopedic injuries, sports injuries, neurological disorders, and even cardiopulmonary conditions.

CardioFlex Therapy also offers Therapeutic Massage and Personal Training in our Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility. Our therapists also travel to patient’s homes offering Home Health in Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach Counties, when it’s not convenient for them to come to us. Using the latest technologies and equipment with proven treatments, means all of our therapists at CardioFlex Therapy have a multitude of ways to treat any ailment, injury or condition.  For more information on hours of operation, insurance plans accepted and a more detailed list of treatments or Services offered as well as more information on our staff.

For more info, please visit www.cardioflextherapy.com.