Cervicogenic (Neck) Headaches
The next time you feel the onset of a headache, you might want to have a look down and take note of your posture and body position. If you’re hunched over a computer or playing a video game, chances are you’re suffering from an increasingly common complaint known as a cervicogenic headache.
We’re seeing more and more patients with cervicogenic headaches – more commonly known as neck headaches. People are working longer hours hunched over a computer and end up going home in the evening with shooting pain in their back and neck that results in a headache. Many of us are at risk. In fact, if you spend any more than 70 per cent of your time at work with your neck bent forward at 20 degrees, which is the same as reading, writing or looking down at a computer, you’re at increased risk of a neck headache.1”

It’s not just adults who are suffering from neck headaches. We’re noticing an increase in the number of kids and young adults suffering as a result of spending hours engrossed in video games and computer usage, oblivious to their posture and the strain they’re placing on their growing bodies. It’s a trend that has increased in school-aged children since the 1990s. And, interestingly, we’re seeing it more often in girls than in boys. Researchers in Finland have discovered that, by age 14, 24 per cent of girls and 12 per cent of boys have suffered from some form of neck and shoulder pain. By the time they’re 18, those numbers jump to 45 per cent of girls and 19 per cent of boys.2 They’re numbers that we’re seeing mirrored here in Canada. Neck headaches are certainly nothing new. However, what is alarming to myself and my colleagues within the our company is the frequency with which they are occurring in modern society, especially in this age of continuous computer usage and increased video game playing.

One of the leading causes of neck headaches is simply bad posture. Imagine a person sitting at their desk, in front of their computer. As the hours pass, their posture gets worse, their head drops down, their back and shoulders roll forward, placing a lot of tension on the neck muscles. Meanwhile, those muscles are trying to fight back and keep your head in proper alignment. As a result of this tension, they end up experiencing increased stress and strain on the muscles and joints of the upper neck and this results in a neck headache. Neck headaches can sometimes last days or even months. The pain is described as a viselike pressure across the head and, while not as severe as a migraine, can be just as debilitating in extreme cases. Fortunately, relieving the pain can be done without medication or invasive techniques.

A Nose Creek Sport physiotherapist can assess and treat a patient’s neck headache through a multifaceted approach, including stretching of tight muscles, strengthening of weak muscles and gentle mobilization or manipulation of the neck joints. The ideal solution is preventing neck headaches from ever happening. That’s where a Nose Creek Sport physiotherapist can also help by advising patients on maintaining correct posture, providing suggestions on more ergonomic workspaces, and educating them on how to properly lift and use their muscles in a way that will help them avoid such problems in the future. Click here to see the home exercise program that we provide for cervicogenic headache patients. You can get started on this, but if your symptoms are not resolving, we recommend that you call us for an assessment.

1)- Ariens GA, Bongers PM, Hoogendoom WE, et al. 2002. High physical and psychosocial load at work and
sickness absence due to neck pain. Scand J Work Environ Health, 28; 222-231
2)- Hakala P, Rimpela A, Salminen JJ, Virtanen SM, Rimpela M. 2002 Back, neck and shoulder pain in
Finnish adolescents: national cross sectional surveys. BMJ 325 p 743
The start to the year is off like a race! Now do not forget that this month has 2 important themes in it. They are Valentine’s Day (February 14th) and Family Day. (February 20th)

For valentine’s day, give the gift of health to your loved one, a Massage Therapy session. Due to popular demand we are bringing back the Massage Therapy special. We are offering this for a limited time for the month of February.

Buy a 1 hour Massage Therapy session and receive a 25% discount Regular Price: $85.00+GST Sale Price: $63.75+GST You Save $21.25

Buy two 1 hour Massage Therapy sessions and get the 2nd at a 50% discount Regular Price:= $170+GST Sale Price:= $127.50+GST You Save $42.50

Buy three 1 hour Massage Therapy sessions and get the fourth FREE! Regular Price:= $340.00+GST Sale Price:= $255.00+GST You Save $85.00

For family day, give the gift of support. We are putting our cervical rolls on sale this month.
If you or one of your family members is having problems sleeping due to neck pain or cervicogenic headaches, you would benefit from a neck roll. The purpose of the neck roll is to help maintain the neck in the neutral position to take pressure off the ligaments in the back of the neck. We will often give them to patients and you simply insert the roll into your pillowcase, and it assists you with sleeping better during the night. Click here to go to get your special deal, this month only.

Buy Neck rolls Regular Price:= $33.00+GST Sale Price:= $19.99+GST You Save $13.00

Don’t forget we are still collecting ideas for the name the newsletter contest. Email your submission for a name to info@calgaryphysicaltherapy.com.

Blair Schachterle

on behalf of your Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy and Massage Therapy team.

One of the modifiable risk factors for chronic lower back pain and osteoarthiritis is weight loss. For every pound you lose, it is one less pound of pressure on your lower back and your weight bearing leg joints. ie. hips, knees, ankles and feet. The holidays are now over and we are all back to work. We need to commit to a regular diet and exercise routine to stay healthy for the long-term. An expanding waist line is not a normal aging process, as some people would lead you to believe. We have a tonne of potential energy locked up inside that is waiting to be released. It is important that we engage in some form of cardiovascular exercise at least 3 times a week. Examples of cardiovascular exercise would be walking, cycling, swimming, running, skating or playing a sport that involves running. Interval training is an efficient form of exercise as it forces our heart rate to increase intermittently and results in a training effect on our heart and lungs. This interval training principle can be applied to any activity to increase the training effect on your body. Click here to read about Interval Training which outlines the techniques we use with our patients to help them use their time more efficiently.

Featured Product of the Month This month’s offer is a product that we enjoy supplying to our loyal clients. They are “Theragear CORE disks”. They are a multifunctional balance tool for balance, strength, CORE stability, and endurance to reduce the risk of injury. This way you will not be missing any of those ski or snowboard days this winter. If you do not participate in downhill sports, then this tool is great to reduce the chance of falling injuries. During winter there is a higher incidence of falls due to the slippery roads and walkways. These Theragear CORE disks are used in sports, rehabilitation, fitness and fun! Buy one today at our special price for this month only. You will be glad you did, as you will feel the difference in your balance within a few weeks. To pick up your order at any of our locations, please have your proof of purchase with you.		Regular Price: $32.50.00+GST Sale Price: $26.50+GST You Save $6.00

Hello and welcome,

As Calgary Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists, we feel that it is our responsibility to remind you to take care of yourself and to make sure that you have a high quality of life. Our bodies are like vehicles that requires maintenance to run smoothly and efficiently. Therefore, we need to maintain our bodies if we want to live a high quality of life into our “golden years”. One of my patients joked the other day that whoever said that there would be golden years was mistaken; he feels it is rust, not gold! We thought that was great analogy. All we need to do to ensure gold not rust is to do some maintenance work on our bodies.

We are so excited to offer you this great deal this month! Give the “gift of health” this year. Your friends, family, and work colleagues will thank you for this amazing gift to help them relax before, during, or after the busy Christmas season.
Click on the button below to make your Christmas shopping a lot easier this year!

We want to make you a LIMITED TIME OFFER with 3 options:

Buy a 1 hour Massage Therapy session and receive a 25% discount Regular Price: $85.00+GST Sale Price: $63.75+GST You Save $21.25

Buy two 1 hour Massage Therapy sessions and get the 2nd at a 50% discount Regular Price:= $170+GST Sale Price:= $127.50+GST You Save $42.50

Buy three 1 hour Massage Therapy sessions and get the fourth FREE! Regular Price:= $340.00+GST Sale Price:= $255.00+GST You Save $85.00

Wow! Just think of all the money you will be saving, so that you can purchase more Christmas gifts!

I know if you are like us, you do not like to fight the crowds at the malls in the month of December. Make sure to take action soon as this opportunity only lasts until December 31st, 2011. This gift will reduce or eliminate the muscle tension, aches, stiffness and discomfort that your loved one may be experiencing so you can enjoy your holiday season in a more pain free environment.

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Blair Schachterle on behalf of your Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy Team.

What’s New We are pleased to announce the addition of Cindy Franke to Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy. She attended Rocky Mountain Academy of Therapeutic Massage from 1994- 1995. After which she managed a Corporate Massage Chair business from 1995-2000 and then a therapeutic massage business at Western Canadian Place Fitness Centre from 1995-2010 in downtown Calgary.Cindy prides herself on staying current on educational opportunities. As such, she has recently completed courses in: Sport massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Therapeutic courses, Myofascial release and Active release.She looks forward to meeting you and helping you get moving faster and feeling better.

This Month’s Blog Articles

• Snowboarding Injuries – Wrist Sprains and Fractures
• Ski/Snowboarding Injuries – Shoulder Dislocations
• How to Manage Holiday Season’s Stress and Anxiety Part 1

PS – We are proud to be selling “FITTED FLAGS” in support of KIDSPORT CALGARY, to show our pride of the Canadian Junior Hockey Team who are competing in Calgary over the holidays. Buy a pair for $10.00 at our front desk at both locations.

These fitted flags fit over the front of your exterior rear view mirrors. For more information contact one of our locations.