5643-R2_CC_BIM_May2018_Newsletter

The Back in Motion ® ommotion

We're changing people’s lives, be a part of it. Don’t let the little ones in your life cause you growing pains.

Whether you’re a first-time mom or one with lots of experience, it never hurts to be reminded how to protect your body from low back and neck pain. Over the years we’ve treated many moms who experienced these problems within the first few months of giving birth. Most don’t realize that your body retains the hormones that allowed your ligaments to stretch for delivery for 3 months after giving birth. If you are breastfeeding, your body still produces it for several weeks after you stop. This puts your joints and muscles at risk for sprains and strains with activities you did before without problem. Moms aren’t the only ones who can have pain caused by lifting, cuddling, or caring for a little one; dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or any caretaker can experience these issues. When

feeding a baby it is natural to look down at them. If your head is too far forward, this makes your muscles in the upper back and neck work 3 times harder than normal. This causes aches in the upper and lower back and neck. To prevent this, make sure your baby is fully supported with a baby bop or pillow to raise them up to you, then look down with your eyes. Make sure your changing table is between waist and chest height so you are not bending over. If you are taller, raise the table up by putting bed risers under the legs. Car seats can also be a challenge. When putting them in or taking them out of the seat, put one leg in the car so you are facing the car seat; this allows you to keep your back straight and uses your legs to help lift. Continued inside...

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...Continued from front cover If you take advantage of height adjustable mattresses in the crib, you should start out at the highest setting. When lifting from the crib, slide your infant as close to you as you can before you lift them. If you do this from the start, you will find it easier as they get heavier. When you lower the mattress as they get bigger, you can use a step stool to get closer to them and also brace against the side of the crib to take them in or out.

We all love our children and would do anything to help protect them. So, when your child or grandchild starts crying, your first instinct is to run to help; but what about protecting yourself? If they need to be picked up, don’t bend over from the waist to lift them! Either kneel or squat down to where they are, then before you lift, take a half second to tighten your lower abdominals to “brace” your back. Bring the child close to your chest or onto your knee. Ask them to hold onto you to free your hands to help stand. If you can’t get that low, sit in a chair and have them come sit on your lap to comfort them.

Even baby Christopher doesn’t like the way his Grandma is bending.

Those little ones have a way of melting our hearts let them remind you how important it is to take care of yourself so you can always take care of them!

Maureen Grandmaison Photography

If you are having pain that is making caring for your little one more difficult please call us today for a free consultation!

Featured Employee: Robert Lammers, PT

Where are you from? I was born in Amersfoort a medium sized town in The Netherlands where I lived the first 21 years of my life. What schooling/training do you have? I attended PT school in the city of Utrecht, also in The Netherlands. Then after school throughout the years I have done a wide range of courses but mostly always focusing on ortho/sports med. How long have you been with Back in Motion ® ? Formally wearing the black shirt since January 2, but of course we were adopted by BIM in October 2017.

Photo courtesy of Audra Photography

What is one interesting fact about you that most people don’t know? I consider myself a master beer brewer. My first job which I held for many years through college was as a kick boxing and martial arts instructor. Ha ha ha it's true, those were the days. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Right here in Brewer, Maine at BIM setting the standard for what an excellent PT clinic should be like. Excellence in the eyes of our peers, the medical community, and above all in the eyes of those who come to us for help.

What is your best work story? Every day something funny happens, not a day goes by there is not a happy highlight or you meet someone inspiring. Sometimes I am good at putting my foot in my mouth. A patient I had never seen before seemed very spleeny with his total knee replacement so I said something like, "Well if doctors told you ahead of time what you would be facing after the surgery nobody would ever go through with it." He never really responded to that but if looks could kill. It turned out the guy was a Doctor." What are your hobbies? Just about anything outdoors; adventure, travel, exploring. Making stuff; woodworking, cooking.

B a c k i n M o t i o n ® M E S S A G E B O A R D

Out and About: Join us at the Southern Maine Senior Expo on May 2 nd in Scarborough. Stay connected for more information regarding in house events and workshops at our clinics, you can find information on our website or Facebook page.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS MONTH TO Brianna Desrochers Phil Finemore Bridget Beaulieu Ted Greeley

Back in Motion® Gives Back: Our charity for the months of May and June is the local library. We will be collecting gently used books, dvds, and cds through June 30 th . No text books or magazines please.

Andy Broomhall Todd Morneau

Attendance Contest: If you are a current patient and keep all of your scheduled appointments from Monday, May 21 st through Friday, June 8 th , you will be automatically entered to win our perfect attendance gift basket! ($75 value) Anniversaries Aga Lewandowski is celebrating her 13 th year with Back in Motion! Stephen Faria, and Chance Farwell celebrate their 4 th anniversary with us, and Kristin O’Kelly and Donovan Hodges celebrate their 2 nd !

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our BIM moms: Mary Kroth-Brunet, Lori McDonald, Maura Wadsworth, Janine Bouchey, Kelly Mallory, Kim Pelletier, Kim Nappi, Kayla Henderson, Danielle Mackie, Michelle Moreau, Bridget Beaulieu, Brooke Theriault, Liz Brandolini, Amber Drew, Barbara Hatch, Jodi Parkhurst, Bridget Gates, Cheryl Beckmann, and Sabrina Osborne.

94 Main Street Gorham, ME 04038

Call today for a free consultation!

GORHAM: (207) 839-5860

BREWER: (207) 992-4042 DEXTER: (207) 924-0077

SOUTH

PORTLAND:

(207) 799-8226 PORTLAND: (207) 699-4111 www.mainephysicaltherapy.com

Photography

Maureen Grandmaison

Cynthia B. Patient Success: atient Success: I came to Back in Motion for mostly my back and my right shoulder. It was an injury that I had from over time. With my back, I had sciatic [nerve] pain down my right leg, so it felt weak and

Everybody I ever came into contact with was very friendly and open and helping. If you have a problem doing an exercise, they make accommodations and tweak or change it a little bit. Everyone is really nice and respectful. I would absolutely recommend Back in Motion.

I couldn’t walk for great distances. With my shoulder, there were certain positions I couldn’t put my arm into and it turned out I tore my rotator cuff. Originally my doctor suggested I go to Back in Motion. Years ago, I went to a different clinic in the area, and by far Back in Motion was better; they were more hands on. They separate it into two things: you see the therapist for half an hour and then you go into your exercises. Whereas other places I’ve been to you go see the therapist and they pretty much just ice or heat you. You get hands on manipulation, which works better. Physical therapy was helpful because my daughter and grandson both live with me, so I am very much a support person. My grandson Christopher is 5 months old, it is a whole lot of work but thankfully I’ m not in as much pain as I used to be so I can tolerate more things. I absolutely find that I am able to be a better support system for my daughter because I have less pain and am able to be more active- not to say it isn’t tiring!

The Back in Motion ® ommotion

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