A. Evaluation Tests for Both Knees, Left Neck, and Right Shoulder:
B. Exercises:
a. Sleeper Stretch: 2 reps of 30 secs each.
b. Lacrosse Ball for Right Shoulder at the Back:
c. Terminal Knee Extension (Ball on Wall Squeeze): 10 reps of 5 secs each.
i. Using Pillow Behind Knee: @ 0.58s.
2. Second Session – 01/17/23 (Tues):
A. Exercises:
a. Cat Cow:
b. Thread the Needle – Mid Back Mobility Exercise:
3. Third Session – 02/17/23 (Tues):
A. Went through my Strengthening and Stretching Exercises:
a. Standing Up:
i. Gastrocnemius/ Soleus Stretch: Calf extended/Calf flexed. One leg forward, one leg backward.
ii. Standing Quad Stretch:
iii. Side lunge: to strengthen (tone) the inner thighs. (or Ball Squeeze Bridges while lying down).
iv. Standing Glute Stretch: Stretching of hip, glutes, and to improve balance.
v. Hamstring Stretch with foot on an elevated surface:
vi. Shoulder Cross Body Stretch:
vii. Tricep Stretch:
xiii. Upper Trapezius Stretch: for my right shoulder pain (3 stretches for this).
ix. Strap Internal Rotation Stretch: Right hand behind back, strap over left shoulder pulling right hand upwards.
x. Corner Pec Stretch: for my right shoulder pain.
b. Lying Down:
i. Sleeper Stretch (Session 2):
ii. Terminal Knee Extension (Session 2):
iii. Cat Cow (Session 2):
iv. Thread the Needle (Session 2):
v. Lacrosse Ball (Session 2):
vi. Ball Squeeze Bridges: to strengthen (tone) the inner thighs. (or Side lunge while standing up). Squeeze the ball first, then lift up and do the bridge.
vii. Foam Rolling the Hamstring / Calf / IT Band:
4. Fourth Session (03/02/23):
Hamstring Foam Roller
Hamstring Strap
Split Squats
5. Fifth Session (03/09/23):
Incline Press
3-way Biceps Curls (Palm Up, Palm Down, and Hammer).
I have been doing sitting squats for the past few months. I just increased it to 7 sets of 10 two weeks ago and plan on increasing it to an additional set of 10 each month, until I get to 10 sets of 10. I’ve noticed recently that even though my weight is the same, but my butt is firmer and bigger now. π Someone also just recently complimented me and said that I have a sexy butt! π Remember! Butt goes back first, then bend your knees. Chin goes straight.
1. Self-Care Program for Temporo-Mandibular Disorders (TMD):
People with jaw problems can have problems in their TMJ(s) and/or the muscles of their jaw.
Once a joint or muscle is strained, it can be easily reinjured.
Total relaxation of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles is difficult. However, holding the muscles and joints in a relaxed position is very manageable with practice.
The following suggestions should help:
A. Ice or Heat Pack:
a. Apply moist heat for 15 – 20 minutes, two to four times each day to the painful area.
b. Also try using ice wrapped in a very thin cloth (or no cloth) for 5 – 10 minutes, two to four times each day. The ice may initially give you a “burning” sensation, this is normal. Keep the ice on the painful area only until you feel some numbness, and then remove it.
Heat or ice can reduce joint or muscle pains and relaxes the muscles.
c. You may also find that cold followed with heat may be useful. Experiment.
B. Eat a Pain-Free diet:
a. Avoid hard foods.
b. Avoid chewy foods.
c. Cut food into small pieces.
d. Chew with your back teeth rather than biting with your front teeth.
e. Do not stay on a soft diet for too long, and periodically increase the hardness / chewiness of your diet as tolerated.
C. Chew your food on both sides at the same time to reduce strain on one side.
D. Tongue up, Teeth apart, and Jaw muscles relaxed.
a. The teeth should never be touching/resting together except occasionally they tough lightly with swallowing.
b. Closely monitor your jaw positions.
E. Avoid too much caffeine:
Caffeine is “muscle tensing” drug and can make your muscles feel tighter.
F. Avoid oral habits that put strain on the jaw muscles and joints.
a. e.g. teeth clenching, teeth grinding, touching or holding the teeth gently together, biting cheeks / lips, pushing your tongue against your teeth, or jaw muscle tensing.
b. Avoid biting on objects like pens or pencils.
c. Do not chew gum.
G. Avoid resting your jaw on your hand.
H. Avoid activities which involve wide opening of the jaw such as yawning.
a. Put your hand under your jaw to limit the jaw opening.
I. Avoid stomach sleeping since this puts strain on the jaw and neck muscles.
a. It’s best to sleep on your back.
J. Use anti-inflammatory and pain reducing medications as necessary.
K. Calcium is very important for the healing and the health of your TMJ and jaw muscles.
a. Take up to 1200mg of Calcium supplement per day.
2. Self-Treatment:
A. Stretches and Exercises: Once per day; 5 – 10 minutes total.
a. Use your thumbs to gently stroke underneath your jaw.
b. Use your index and middle fingers to gently stroke the tight area in your temples, and around your ears in a circular motion.
c. Use your index and middle fingers to gently stroke the side of your face in a gliding motion. Always pull away from your jaw to avoid compressing the joint.
B. Self-Release:
a. Intra-orally: hold for 30 – 60 seconds; a few times per day.
b. Suboccipital Release:
i. With two tennis balls.
ii. Relax onto the balls. Do not press head down into floor.
Rotator cuff stretches are great for the rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis), as well as the muscles around the shoulder that connect to the scapula and can cause shoulder pain and rotator cuff pain.
Piriformis syndrome is literally a pain in the butt. The sciatic nerve runs underneath the piriformis muscle. When it gets tight and irritated, it often presses on the sciatic nerve causing symptoms of sciatica.
Altered Sharpened Romberg’s Balancing Exercise (Eyes Open) – by Dr. P
@ 30 seconds per rep (goal is to work up to 60 seconds per rep).
3 reps per side.
3 times a day.
Start with your feet together.
Keep your left foot still and move your right foot forward so that the heel of your right foot is lined-up with the midfoot (around where your arch would be) of your left foot.Β
Look straight ahead and get well-balanced.
Once you have good control of your balance, start timing yourself.Β Start at 30 seconds per rep.
Your goal is to work up to 60 seconds.
Do 3 reps per side (repeat this exercise the right foot back and left foot forward lined-up with the midfoot of the right foot), 3 times per day.
Once this position gets easy, move your front foot forward slightly and find the next position that is slightly challenging, but not too difficult.
The end goal is to have your front foot lined up directly in front of your back foot so that the heel of your front foot is right in front of your toes of the back foot.
Make sure you feel safe and stable when doing any balance or gait exercise.
If you don’t feel stable, please discontinue the exercise or have a partner spot you.