Rapid Rehab LA Pilates Based Physical Therapy Brentwood California

Degenerative disc disease sounds a lot more threatening than it actually is. The word degenerative holds a stigma of health digression over time, making it seem like this particular condition will worsen with age.

When in the context of degenerative disc disease, the operative words “degenerative disc” is the explanation within itself. The degenerating discs within the spinal column that are affected by this condition, will progressively worsen however the symptoms (pain, immobilization, soreness) will most likely improve over time if properly addressed.

The causes of degenerative disc disease do have close ties to the natural aging process of our bodies. The discs that make up the spine are soft and easily compressible. The purpose of these discs within the vertebrae is to absorb shock. They are also the primary movers of the back, which allow it for its flexibility, bending capabilities and twisting proficiency.

What cannot be avoided is that as we age, fluid will be lost within the spine. Although no part of the spine is safe from degenerative disc disease, it is more common in the lower part of the back where it tends to be more prone to compression.

There are certain conditions within the body that happen before degenerative disc disease is developed. When the cartilage breaks down between the discs in the back a condition called Osteoarthritis occurs. The cartilage acts as protection to the spine, and when this “cushion’ of cartilage is compromised pain results and the spine is more vulnerable to disease. Herniated discs as well as Spinal stenosis (“the narrowing of the spinal canal”) are also common culprits in the development of degenerative disk disease.

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease may reveal themselves as acute pains in the neck or back. But this is widely dependent on each person, since some people who suffer from the condition cite no pain at all. No matter how severe the damage it seems that each person’s body reacts differently. The pain is also more prevalent when someone is in a moving pattern, such as: sitting, standing, bending, reaching, and squatting.

It is recommended that when trying to treat degenerative disc disease ice or heat modalities have proven to be quite effective. Pilates based rehab is also an option for those seeking a gentle remedy to a potentially extremely painful condition. Since Pilates focuses on strengthening the core, it can take some of the pressure of the back by reeducating a client on postural patterns.

Once the back can be alleviated of some of the responsibility it carries, and the abdomen (when the core muscles are properly engaged), the compression and fatigue within the back can being to lift and can improve degenerative disc symptoms.

Some hydrotherapy, massage, and physical therapy can also be beneficial to a person suffering this condition, however treatment is widely dependent upon how sever the condition is. Once the aforementioned conditions are involved, Osteoarthritis, herniation of a disc, or spinal stenoisis, surgery is sometimes an option.

A herniated disc happens when the cushion the separates the vertebrae from one another and is pushed outside its normal position. The word herniated itself means “to bulge or stick out”. People who suffer from lower back pain, lower body weakening, or shooting leg pains may have a herniated disc. Since these discs are in such close proximity to the spinal nerves it can potentially be dangerous to the overall health of the spinal column.

This spinal disc that has the propensity to bulge out does assume a more stiff tenure as time goes by. This rigid essence doesn’t bode well for the spine, which thrives in a fluid environment. As the elasticity is lost this spinal disk within the column can rupture.

The nerves surrounding the spinal cord can become pinched due to this rupturing.  The usual space between each vertebrae becomes lessened, and sin some cases can become non-existent. A result of the tightened space between vertebrae’s adds to the potential for back compression.

A herniated disc can happen suddenly, if an unexpected fall occurs or a car accident. It can also evolve overtime from a consistent improper torque of the spine, or bad postural habits developed at work or in daily activities. These poor habits create a breeding field that first affect the body’s alignment and then can begin to develop the inner workings of the spine itself.

Tingling and numbness, as well as shooting pains through the legs can be symptoms of a herniated disc. When the back is compressed, the nerve endings within the spine will begin sending out abnormal sensations, and affect the body’s ability to correctly signal pain to the central system of the body.

An MRI may need to be administered to accurately provide a diagnosis of a herniated disc. Since most all MRI’s will detail spinal abnormalities the findings must be weighed against a physician’s examination to have a true diagnosis. A physician will check reflexes, muscle strength, and sensation response in order to determine or confirm MRI results.

Treatment for a herniated disc can be administered in a variety of ways. Initially if the pain from the herniated disk is severe resting the injury should be the first line of defense. Activity modification is the next necessary step.

This modification needs to instated so as to reestablish a new way of moving. Pilates based rehab specializes in such education. Its whole-body approach to healing is holistic and yet ascertains certain elements of physical therapy making it a well-rounded option for herniated disc alleviation.

However, prevention of a herniated disk should be at the top of anyone’s list that holds their health in high regard. Maintaining a healthy weight will relieve stress in the back, since imbalances often occur from disproportionate body weight.

Heightening posture awareness through Pilates or yoga will allow for the correction of improper alignment. If you smoke, quit. This is another addition in the long list of anti-smoking campaigns, since smoking can increase the risk of a disc related injury.

Acute neck pain isn’t nearly as serious as chronic neck pain. When neck pain is acute it will disappear quickly and without much intentional effort. The body will naturally become less inflamed after the irritated area has time to heal. When neck pain is of more concern is when the pain has lasted for longer than three months. A pain that remains constant without any recovery is called chronic.

There are a few recommended treatments for neck pain. Medication is the “quick fix”, which will dull the pain but not heal it. Chiropractic visits have been used; physical therapy, and even acupuncture are also options for those seeking relief from the pain.

Pilates based rehabilitation does not only relieve the pain, but it begins the healing process from the inside out. One constant recommendation for neck pain, all across the board, is active recovery. Letting an injury remain in its state will not perpetuate change. Physical therapy does focus on the injured area allowing for stimulus within the neuromuscular circuitry of the neck, but the main difference between physical therapy and Pilates is the approach to treatment.

Whenever a muscle comes under stress there are reasons why that injury took place. Sometimes an injury does happen instantaneously from an outside force, such as a car crash or is sports related but more often than not an injury is years in the making.     Pilates uses its innovative approach to exercise to retrain faulty patterns of movement that have created divots in the landscape of our health. Sleeping on one side of the body, slight spinal abnormalities, and poor posture could all be the potential culprits for neck pain. Without changing the behavior that caused the injury, healing will only be temporary.

Pilates uses each muscle surrounding the injury and even recruits areas not affected by injury to rebalance an off-center pattern of movement. While its strengthens the stabilizing muscles within the body, a safe haven “bed” of sorts is created. Within this “bed” seeds of injury prevention and correction can begin to grow. Once you can change the way your body moves, you can begin to not only heal an injury temporarily but also remove the situational matter in which fed the promotion of the injury in the first place.

The eight basic principles found in Pilates rehabilitation is: alignment, relaxation, breathing, concentration, centering, ease of movement, coordination, and endurance. When the body can begin to re-train itself to accept these eight principles it instinctively begins the healing process. When the correct muscles do the work, there is a lower chance of overuse or weakening of the muscles. This imbalance within the body is what causes injuries in the first place.

Stress is an indicator of mental-muscular imbalance. With a neck injury, stress acts as the evidence of an outside force causing tension within the muscles surrounding the central nervous center. This can be solved through Pilates-based rehabilitation. When body movement flows, the strain of everyday stress is melted away and replaced with a higher ability to handle stress and allocate energy, not to mention heal the injury in a safe and timely fashion

Headaches tend to be extremely commonplace in today’s society. What isn’t as common is an understanding as to why these headaches occur. While some headaches, neck stiffness and general head discomfort can stem from stress; however there are quite a few other issues that can add to the problem. If the potential causes of these problems are not identified and corrected, pesky headaches can later turn into acute or even chronic neck injuries.

The neck acts as the connector between our mind and our entire being. Where the spinal cord meets the brain, an encasement of flexors, extensors, rotators and lateral flexors is found. Within the house of the neck, all planes of movement can be achieved, making it unique. In the framework of the body, the neck tends to be one of the more sensitive areas and often bears the brunt of stress. The old saying “a pain in the neck” rings true, but neck pain is usually an indicator of another underlining problem.

Most people blame stress for their neck injuries or headaches. When our muscles tighten in the jaw, neck and at the base of the neck, stress does accumulate. Whenever a muscle is tight, whether it is a large muscle group or a small one (like the longus colli, capitis and infra hyoid flexors found in the neck), stiffness can lead to injury. Some neck pain and headaches can stem from soft-tissue dysfunctions like TMJ, but stress isn’t the only factor in neck pain causes.

Neck pain can happen due to an awkward sleeping position, poor office stature, poor functional posture at home or at play or even a pinched nerve within the spinal column. When poor posture is to blame, the position of the head is greatly compromised and will gradually move forward.

With each inch that the head moves away from the line of the body, an additional 10 pounds of force is added to the neck and upper back muscles.When the range of motion within the neck is limited all other movements are affected. Neck injuries tend to be serious, because the neck serves as the “ball” in the body’s “joint” of movement. Most physicians tend to treat headaches, or neck pain with medication.

However, medication can only mask the problem and not “fix” the instigator of the pain. Because of this, postural education needs to be reintroduced to the body; joint mobilization concentration needs to be practiced, as well as implementation of an upper body-conditioning regime. The symptom of the pain needs not to only be diagnosed, but it needs to be treated. Through routine movement and conditioning this can be made possible.

Neck health isn’t usually on the top of the list for people trying to get “into shape”, however what isn’t realized, is how the neck can dictate the entire health, flexibility, and efficiency of the body. Pilates based-rehab is the perfect combination of control and gentility when neck pain becomes an issue in the quality of everyday living.