Dr. Micki O'Neill Physical Therapy

02/17/2021

Are you able to “feel” this cold weather in your bones?

As it turns out, you can! This phenomenon is common with people who have arthritis or musculoskeletal injuries when the weather gets colder and the atmosphere pressure changes. When the atmospheric pressure drops and the weather gets colder, joints can swell causing aching and stiffness. Luckily this change in weather which results as an increase in stiffness and aching can be managed by exercise with the help of a physical therapist.
Physical therapy can help increase strength and improve flexibility to better support the joints. It will also focus on teaching proper posture and body mechanics to decrease stress and strain on the joints for more pain free daily activities.

People who suffer from migraines might also experience more episodes as the temperature drops. A physical therapist can help provide significant relief from headaches by working with you to correct the muscle imbalances and improve on your posture to decrease strain to your neck and head; which causes the headaches.

The best way to combat these cold temperatures and body aches is to stay active throughout the year. Message me to find out more how I can help you tackle this cold winter weather!

02/11/2021

Shoveling Snow Isn't Just a Pain In The Butt --> It's a Pain In The Back!

Every year thousands of people injure their backs from shoveling snow due to overexertion and repetitive movements. These injuries occur from poor posture, repetitive bending, lifting, and twisting along with moving snow that is heavier than you think.

The biggest mistake people make if they strained their neck or back shoveling snow is waiting to see a healthcare professional because they think the pain will go away on its own. A physical therapist is trained in treating your injuries and can teach you how to prevent them from occurring again.

See these tips below to help decrease your chance of injuring your back when shoveling:

Invest in an ergonomic snow shovel

Warm up your muscles
-10 minutes of light exercise and stretching prior to going outside

Stay hydrated

Use proper form:
-Try to push the snow instead of lifting it
-Do not bend at your waist
-Squat with your legs
-Keep your back straight
-Avoid twisting
-Take your time: move smaller amounts of snow and take frequent rest breaks to avoid overexertion

02/02/2021

Prolonged Sitting Is Hurting You More Than You Know - Part 2

If you use a cell phone, tablet, laptop, or c computer daily, you’re like millions of people who probably spend hours a day with a more head forward looking at your screens. This leads to what is called forward head posture, which then can lead to upper crossed syndrome. Upper crossed syndrome is a result of muscle imbalances, weakness, tightness and joint restrictions; which then leads to poor movement patterns that increase stress to your head, neck, and shoulders.
These muscle imbalances then have a trickle down effect which changes the posture of your lower back which is called lower crossed syndrome (increased arch in your lower back). The word crossed is the “crossing pattern” of the overactive muscles with the counter underactive muscles (shown in picture).

Signs and Symptoms of Upper Crossed Syndrome
-Headaches
-Neck pain
-Chest pain and tightness
-Pain in the upper back
-Shoulder pain
-Difficulty sitting for long periods of time
-Restricted range of motion in the neck or shoulders
-Numbness, tingling, and pain in the upper arms
-Jaw Pain

Signs and Symptoms of Lower Crossed Syndrome
-Low back pain
-Pain in hip flexors, groin, or glutes
-Low back or hip stiffness/decrease in mobility
-Over arched back, protruding stomach
-Tension in the lower back and/or glute muscles
-Sciatica
-Numbness, tingling, pain in legs

Physical therapy can help correct these muscle imbalances, improve your posture, and get you back to a pain free life!

Message me or visit www.mickipt.com to get on the road to recovery!

02/01/2021

Prolonged Sitting is Hurting You More Than You Know

Do you have a job that requires you to sit most of the day? Are you less active now due to covid requiring you to work from home? Over the last few months have you noticed an increase in neck or back stiffness, tightness, or pain? Did you know that poor posture and prolonged sitting can affect you more than you know?

The human body was built to stand upright. Any extended sitting (more than 2 hours at a time) at a desk, behind a wheel, or in front of a screen places excessive stress on our spine and extremities. The body has a natural posture and S-curvature of the spine in standing that is able to absorb stress caused by movement and gravity. Sitting causes the spine to compress, over time the joints become stiff and the muscles become weak and tight, limiting movement.

Prolonged sitting day in and day out can lead to neck pain, back pain, bulging discs, headaches, numbness and tingling, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, shoulder pain, knee and foot pain, body deconditioning, and more. Not only does it affect our muscles and joints, but it can lead to decreased lung function, poor circulation, increased blood pressure, weight gain, digestive issues, and increased stress/anxiety. A physical therapist is trained in treating these musculoskeletal conditions and can help restore or prevent these from occurring.

To learn more message me and find out how physical therapy can help you!

01/27/2021

Choose Physical Therapy First!

01/24/2021

Do you get headaches or migraines that interrupt your day?

Are you tired of having to take medication?

Have you tried acupuncture or chiropractic care for the headaches just to continue to return without lasting effects?

Have you ever considered trying physical therapy to identify and resolve the root cause of your headaches?

Often times our headaches or migraines are caused by tension or trigger points in our muscles that surround our neck and head. These trigger points then refer pain to other areas of the head, causing the headache. The trigger points occur due to a muscle imbalance of tight and weak muscles in your neck due to a more forward head posture. Physical therapy can help correct that muscle imbalance and give you lasting effects that take your migraines away without having to continue to take medications.

I have a unique treatment approach that uses dry needling to decrease trigger points in your muscles. Dry needling is an innovate technique that uses a small filament needle inserted into the muscle to get rid of the trigger point at the source. No other type of treatment is as effective at decreasing trigger points than dry needling.

To learn more message me or check out my website! I would love to help you or someone you know get rid of their migraines and get back to their everyday life pain free!
www.mickipt.com

01/24/2021

Hello! My name is Micki, Dr. Michaela Murzynski PT, DPT, ATC, CWcHP if you want to be official. I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in orthopedics and sports medicine. After working in Chicago for 5 years I am excited to bring my passion to Erie to help people doing the thing I love the most. I have been very fortunate to have built a career that combines my love of science and anatomy with helping others in need.

To learn more visit www.mickipt.com !

Physical Therapist in Erie, PA. Specializes in outpatient orthopedics providing individualized one-on-one care. Outpatient Physical Therapy, Orthopedics, Dry Needing, Post-Operative Rehabilitation, Workers' Compensation, Running, Gait Analysis, Headaches & Migraines