Call us 310-656-8600 Email: INFO@FORSTERPT.COM The spine is an extremely complicated structure that moves in every direction until wear and tear or traumatic injury causes pain and muscle spasm that makes even the simplest of tasks a painful and crippling experience! At Forster Physical Therapy we specialize in spinal conditions in active people of all ages. Eighty per cent of us will suffer back pain in our life time that will limit our activities or put us flat on our back. Most of us pay very little attention to the spine until it doesn’t function, then we realize how integral it is to nearly every motion. Besides keeping us upright, the spine houses the spinal cord and the nerves carrying messages from the brain which controls every bodily function from active movement to digestion and health maintenance. Our daily activities and sedentary postures place tremendous stress on the spine causing repetitive stress injuries to spinal disks, ligaments, joints and the muscles that support it. Come learn the Forster Physical Therapy three prong approach to spinal care that has allowed us to successfully treat thousands of back patients over the last 35 years: Joint protection via ergonomic education, therapeutic stretching and strengthening that can be done at home and clinical treatment.

Weakness in your rotator cuff muscles can lead to persistent shoulder pain—prevent it before it sidelines you. Shoulder impingement is characterized by a pinching sensation, pain in your shoulder and possibly weakness when you lift your arms above your head. The rotator cuff is a collection of muscles that surround the shoulder joint and help hold the humerus bone of your upper arm in the shoulder socket. Impingement happens when the arm lifts and a bone in the shoulder called the acromion impinges—digs into or pinches—the rotator cuff tendons and/or the subacromial bursa, causing pain. This can happen for many reasons: bursitis; weakness in the rotator cuff and scapular (shoulder blade) stabilizing muscles; an injury to the tendon attaching the rotator cuff to the humerus, especially when there is tendonitis; poor athletic mechanics; and a shoulder shape that predisposes you to injury. Swimming and weight lifting with this injury can both put you at risk. Also beware of “frozen shoulder,” which can come on spontaneously or after an impingement when the shoulder isn’t being used. The joint tightens, or “freezes,” especially at night. Women tend to be more prone to this. Call Forster Physical Therapy 310-656-8600 today!