Weekend Warriors and Back Pain

Physical therapist Grace Walker has served as director of the Walker Physical Therapy and Pain Center since 1982.

 

As a physical therapist, Grace Walker treats patients suffering from a variety of ailments, including shoulder pain, neck pain, and back pain. 

 

Back pain can range from an uncomfortable, nagging sensation to an overwhelming pain that prevents a person from working and engaging in their normal day-to-day activities.

 

Sports-related injuries rank among the most common causes of back pain.

 

These types of injuries, however, are not relegated to professional athletes. Many individuals use their weekends or weeknights to get together with friends and play a game of pickup basketball or football, which can lead to back-related injuries.

 

Unlike professional athletes, many weekend performers do not always properly stretch or prepare for strenuous physical activity, leading to bruised muscles, strains, or potentially a slipped disc.

 

Even general yard work activities can result in back pain without proper preparation. The older a person gets, the more work they must put into warm-up and cool-down stretching in order to avoid back pain. Making exercise a frequent part of one’s routine rather than a once-a-week occurrence can also mitigate the likelihood of such an injury.

For an appointment with an expert physical therapist call Walker Physical Therapy and Pain Center in Orange, Ca. 92868 714-997-5518

5 Myths about Physical Therapy

Grace Walker, Physical and Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist demystifies 5 myths that may be precursors to regaining your quality life, free from pain!

If you are experiencing weakness or pain and are having difficulty with every day activities, physical therapy may be an option to help you regain that quality of life and get you back to live, work and play again! Learn more about physical therapy by understanding the facts behind some common myths.

 



Myth #1

Physical torture?

Many believe that physical therapy is physical torture! Pain is associated with the term and according to the American Physical Therapy Association, 71% of people believe that physical therapy is painful and have been discouraged to visit a physical therapist. The truth is that physical therapists are movement experts. They help minimize pain and improve mobility by working within your pain threshold.

Myth #2

I'll do it myself!

It is true that the patient plays an active and important role in their own healing process. However, the expert care and guidance of a caring, compassionate and knowledgeable physical therapist is monumental. Your therapist will combine his or her specialized education and clinical expertise, along with new evidence and studies to evaluate and make a diagnosis before tailoring a personalized plan of care specific to your needs.

Myth #3

Surgery! Surgery! Surgery!

Time and again, physical therapy has proven to be as effective as surgery in treating a wide range of conditions. Thus, surgery is not the only option. There have been many cases where patients who chose physical therapy over surgery had the same if not better results! Actually, 79% of patients believe physical therapy can provide an alternative to surgery.

Myth #4

I'm sure it's not insured

The truth is that physical therapy is covered at least by most insurance policies. On top of insurance coverage, physical therapy can reduce medical costs by helping people avoid unnecessary imaging scans, surgery, or prescription drugs. PT continues to prove cost-effective by helping patients avoid falls and by addressing conditions that can become chronic problems in the future.

Myth #5

Insult to injury...

To add insult to injury, many believe the myth that physical therapy is only an option for those who have been involved in an accident or have suffered some sort of injury. In actuality, physical therapists do a lot more than just treat patients who have been injured. They are skilled at evaluating and diagnosing potential problems that may prevent future injuries or disabling conditions  including carpal tunnel, frozen shoulder, chronic headaches and low back pain amongst many others. 

Schedule an appointment at Walker Physical Therapy & Pain Center to be treated by one of our expert physical therapists!
714-997-5518
1111 W. Town and Country Rd. Ste. 1
Orange, CA 92868



http://www.moveforwardpt.com/Resources/Detail.aspx?cid=88d27545-6154-4ba6-a844-9dbb97a0ff93#.Vg8JJ_lVhBf

5 Reasons for Back Pain in Pregnacy

According to Grace Walker, Physical & Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist, reasons for back pain during pregnancy can vary but can usually be accounted for by one of the following:

1. An increase in hormones
2. Gaining additional weight
3. A decline in posture
4. Added stress
   
5. Decreased activity levels

Pregnancy and lower back pain often go hand in hand, at Walker Physical Therapy & Pain Center, our team of expert hands-on physical therapists will help you develop a personalized solution for your pregnancy back pain, and get you on track for a back pain free pregnancy term. 


 Here are some Do's and Don'ts to help relieve back pain during pregnancy:

• Do use ice 10 minutes before bed.
• Do pull your belly into your spine and breathe
• Don't bend at the waist, squat instead.
• Don't twist while holding something in your arms.
• Don't sleep on your back

Physical therapy helps relieve lower back pain during pregnancy through strengthening exercises to help support the back and legs. Stretching exercises for muscle flexibility help bring a smoother delivery.

Call Walker Physical Therapy & Pain Center today to get started on your personalized treatment to relieve your back pain!
 
714-997-5518
1111 W. Town & Country Rd. Ste. 1
Orange, CA 92868

Supraspinatus Tendinitis- The Most Common Cause of Shoulder Pain

 

Grace Walker, Physical and Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist wants you to experience relief from Supraspinatus tendinitis pain!

Supraspinatus tendinitis is the most common inflammatory problem encountered around the shoulder joint. It is typically seen in people aged 25-60. The syndrome is characterized by inflammation on the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle.

Common symptoms include:

     ·         Pain and inflammation in the shoulder

·        Decreased range of motion (ROM)

·        Decreased strength & functional activity

·        Pain with movement

·        Pain at night while trying to sleep

    

Risk Factors for Supraspinatus tendinitis (painful arc syndrome)[1]

          Chronic wear and tear of the supraspinatus tendon as it passes under the acromion may be a risk. This may occur in sports-people and people that do a lot of overhead work though it may occur in any person.

         Anatomical factors such as the shape of the acromion or a tight subacromial space due to a thickened ligament may be predisposing factors.

         Tears in the tendon of the supraspinatus or other rotator cuff muscles (often result from a fall on the shoulder) may also be risks though they usually occur in older people.

          Rheumatoid arthritis is another factor.

How to treat it

Ø Ice packs. They can help reduce pain and inflammation and should be applied to the painful area for 15 minutes at a time.

Ø Manual therapy. This includes scapular and glenohumeral joint mobilizations and deep friction massage.

 

Call Walker Physical Therapy & Pain Center to schedule an appointment with an expert and caring physical therapist!

714-997-5518

1111 W. Town and Country Rd. Ste. 1

Orange, CA 92868

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[1] http://www.myvmc.com/diseases/supraspinatus-tendinitis-painful-arc-syndrome/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avoid Muscle Soreness From Exercise!

Dr. Grace Walker, Physical and Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist agrees with John Gallucci Jr.

How to avoid delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

John Gallucci Jr. EDT July 20, 2015

"Delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS, can begin within 6-8 hours after any type of strenuous exercise, but typically you will feel this soreness 24-48 hours following exercise"

Story Highlights

·         A common complaint is soreness in the lower extremities such as the legs, hips and calves

·         Over stress the musculoskeletal system, and there is an opportunity for DOMS to set in

·         It’s important to warm up before any activity

In a Nutshell...

We need to understand that before any activity we need to make sure that the body is warmed up.

 

o    Heat up your body by jogging, jumping jacks or full body motions to increase circulation that  helps the musculoskeletal system heal 

 

o    Have a moderate workout first, especially if it is the first time you are working out in a long time

 

o    Following a strenuous work out, one should perform a cardiovascular exercise to get the circulatory system pumping to decrease inflammation, which ultimately decreases the pain in the muscles.

Gallucci advises to “work with an appropriate fitness trainer, strength and conditioning trainer, certified athletic trainer or physical therapist that can do a full evaluation before you start working out. These professionals will make sure that your joints are going through a full range of motion and will have an understanding of what your output is going to be.”

John Gallucci Jr. is the president of JAG Physical Therapy (www.japgpt.com) with nine locations throughout New Jersey. Click here to read more.

 

Call now for an appointment with an expert physical therapist!

714-997-5518.

 

Walker Physical Therapy & Pain Center

1111 W. Town & Country Rd. Ste. 1

Orange, CA 92868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace Walker Physical and Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist

Dr. Grace Walker & Husband Jim in Victoria Falls, South Africa

As the owner of Walker Physical Therapy and Pain Center in Orange, California, Grace Walker continues an extensive career in Occupational and Physical therapy. As a physical therapist and sports injury practitioner, Walker treats patients for pain in the upper and lower extremities, vestibular disorders, and balance conditions.

Dr. Grace Walker and her team of physical therapists are experts in pain relief and use revolutionary treatments including hands on Pressure Point releases, Kinesiotaping, ML830 laser, and Flex N Move programs. Along with being a chartered/registered physical therapist in British Columbia and California, respectively, she holds certification as a Nutritionist, Master of Herbology, and Holistic Health Care Practitioner. In 2014, Grace Walker became a Certified Health Coach through Villanova University in The Center for Obesity Prevention Education's Take Shape for Life program. She is currently attending the Natural Healing Institute of Naturopathy in Encinitas, California, to become a Certified Naturopathic Practitioner and a Certified Nutritional Chef.

Along with treating patients at Grace Walker Physical Therapy, Walker has lectured extensively on matters related to physical therapy. She has instructed with the faculties of California State University at Long Beach, the University of Irvine Medical Center, and Stanford University. Her courses have covered treatment of the cervical spine and mobilization of the thoracic spine. Students have also received her guidance as a mentor in physical therapy and outpatient orthopedics since 1985. Additionally, Walker has made presentations to members of the Orange County chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association on conditions of the pelvic girdle as well as glucosamine and chondroitin.

Call today for an Appointment!

714-997-5518

Walker Physical Therapy & Pain Center

1111 W. Town & Country Dr.

Orange, CA 92868

Dr Grace Walker, Physical and Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist Caught a Big One !

Dr Grace Walker, Physical and Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist traveled to Kenai, Alaska last week with her husband Jim Gray. The photo below is Dr. Walker with her last day's Halibut catch! The big one… 121 pounds and the second smallest one!

Dr. Grace Walker, Physical and Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist caught a big one! Plus the second smallest one last week in Kenai, Alaska!

Dr. Grace Walker is glad that her core and shoulder girdle muscles were strong as she reeled in that 121 pounder! "It surprised me how little effort I needed to reel in the big one!"

They have enough fish for the winter! So does their golden retriever, Timberee Princess CGC!
Call us for an appointment for to learn specific scapular and core exercises for neck, shoulder and back!

Thank you to the expert therapists at Walker Physical Therapy and Pain Center in Orange Ca.
714-997-5518