Blogs from July, 2022

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Medical concerns and lifestyles can lead to musculoskeletal pains. This type of pain can affect not only your muscles and bones, but your ligaments, tendons, and joints. This type of disorder can affect various aspects of your life, from basic activities like sitting or walking, to specific job duties, or your ability to engage in fitness routines.

Common symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders include:

  • Pain
  • Burning sensation or twitching in muscles
  • Weakness or muscle atrophy
  • Stiffness
  • Swelling
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping

Receiving an appropriate diagnosis is the first step before seeking adequate treatment. Physical therapy focuses on restoring your range of motion, stability, and coordination to help you safely engage with your daily tasks and increase your quality of life.

Physical therapy can alleviate symptoms of various musculoskeletal disorders such as:

Musculoskeletal pains can be acute or chronic depending on their causes and how early you can receive appropriate treatment to restore your health.

#1 Poor Posture

Poor posture often happens when you slouch or round your shoulders when sitting, whether for work or leisure activities. “Text neck” is also a common culprit when you spend extended periods of time on your smartphone. However, working out with inadequate form can also be associated with poor posture.

When you do not have proper posture, you place excessive strain on your joints and can often develop low back and neck aches. Without awareness of your poor posture or active efforts to correct it, you may develop musculoskeletal impairments and compensate for your pain by reinforcing or adding inappropriate stances.

#2 Accidents and Other Injuries

Any injury and trauma to your musculoskeletal structure, including fractures, strains, and sprains, can lead to acute or chronic pains. Injuries due to overuse can also lead to musculoskeletal disorders, especially if you do not seek treatment right away and/or experience overuse on multiple ligaments, tendons, muscles, or bones.

#3 Work Environment

Certain job duties can increase your risk factors to develop musculoskeletal disorders.

  • Highly repetitive motions
  • Sustained inadequate postures
  • Lifting heavy weights

Inadequate ergonomics or improper form when performing specific tasks such as lifting heavy items without engaging all required muscles can aggravate musculoskeletal disorders too.

#4 Sedentary Lifestyle

Engaging in regular physical activity plays a vital role in maintaining your general health. While you may adjust your fitness routine depending on your age, medical situation, and any other life factors such as pregnancy, staying physically active should be a priority. Prolonged immobilization can negatively affect your body structures like the musculoskeletal ones and various functions.

A sedentary lifestyle can impact both your physical and mental well-being, which can create a cycle of inertia and limited motivation. You may lose muscle strength, and excessive weight may lead to premature wear of your joints. Altogether a sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, especially for your back and joints.

ProFysio Physical Therapy Offers Customized Treatment for Musculoskeletal Pains

Whether you already discussed your musculoskeletal pain with your primary care physician, had medical imaging done, or are just starting to explore your diagnosis and treatment options, our team at ProFysio Physical Therapy can help you.

Physical therapy is a multifaceted and effective solution to address a wide range of musculoskeletal pain. We only use personalized care plans and close supervision to ensure that you are safe and educated at every stage of your treatment, both for your in-office visits and when doing exercises at home.

Are you experiencing musculoskeletal pains in Monmouth or Middlesex Counties? Call ProFysio Physical Therapy today at (732) 812-5200 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment!