Chronic pain is more common than you think. The World Health Organization estimates that up to one in 10 adult patients worldwide receive a new diagnosis of chronic pain every year. Traditional treatments such as injections, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care and physical therapy address the physical components of pain, but there is a growing body of evidence that mindfulness needs to be part of the treatment plan to help address the emotional components of pain. Chronic pain can lead to negative emotions such as fear, depression, anxiety and frustration. This emotional distress combined with decreased physical activity can lead to withdrawal and decreased engagement in daily life which reinforces disability, leading to more chronic pain. Mindfulness meditations helps reduce pain through various ways. Being mindful means paying attention to what’s happening right now without judging yourself or reacting strongly. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to: •activate parts of the brain associated with pain self-control •increase serotonin levels and decrease norepinephrine levels, two chemicals linked to pain relief •lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, associated with chronic pain and inflammation •lower cortisol levels, the main stress hormone, which can reduce pain Mindfulness helps interrupt the negative thoughts that fuel stress and fear allowing space to relate differently to pain. It gives the mind a break from overthinking and you start seeing the pain as it truly is without being influenced by expectations. I incorporate mindfulness techniques in my physical therapy practice with guided meditations and Reiki energy healing. If you have chronic pain or know someone that has pain and would benefit from mindfulness please reach out at ReikiPT.com. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT Reference: Dubey A, Muley PA. Meditation: A Promising Approach for Alleviating Chronic Pain. Cureus. 2023 Nov 22;15(11):e49244.

Don’t worry, there is no water or soap involved. A sound bath is also referred to as sound healing, sound therapy or sound meditation. During a sound bath many types of musical instruments are used to produce sound vibrations that “wash” over you. Sound healing has been used for centuries in various forms all over the world. Instruments such as singing bowls, gongs, didgeridoos and bells are used to promote wellness in different cultures. One theory behind sounds baths is that specific frequencies of sounds have an effect on our brainwaves and induce a state of calm and relaxation and even reduce pain. Another theory suggests that the sound frequencies interact with our biofield and energy centers and help with energy flow through the body. You would benefit from a sound bath if… - you want to try meditating - you want to decrease stress - you want to boost your mood - you want to quiet your mind - you just want to relax Robin Barnes, a Sound Healer and Reiki Master, and I have partnered to create a unique experience of a combination of a sound bath with Reiki energy work. We are now offering events in Middle Tennessee this year. Hope to see you there! Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

Sleep is an important factor in reducing risk of injury and plays a role in your overall health. Less than 7 hrs of sleep increases your risk of injury by 51% and more than 7 hrs of sleep decreases your risk of injury by 37%. This injury risk is seen up to 14 days afterwards. Poor sleep quality is also associated with greater food intake and lower-quality diet, which can increase cardiovascular disease risk. Here are some sleep tips: -keep a consistent sleep schedule -use your bed only for sleep and sex -limit daytime naps -don’t eat a large meal before bedtime -create a caffeine cut-off time -turn off electronic devices 1 hour before bed -block out noise and light Are you getting 7 hours of sleep every night? Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT References: Measures of Poor Sleep Quality Are Associated With Higher Energy Intake and Poor Diet Quality in a Diverse Sample of Women From the Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network (Zuraikat 2020) General Health Complaints and Sleep Associated With New Injury Within An Endurance Sporting Population: A prospective study (Johnston 2020)

Cupping involves placing pressurized suction cups on the skin that draw the tissue into the cup. The negative pressure or distraction pulls the tissues apart and increases blood and lymph circulation which promotes healing and reduces pain. The cups can be stationary or be moved depending on the desired treatment effect. Indications: -areas of the body with tension, stiffness or restrictions -areas of the body with limited range of motion -scars -painful trigger points Cupping is a promising treatment and is best used to complement an existing treatment plan. If you are curious if cupping would be beneficial to you contact me at reikipt.com. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

Pain is not only a physical sensation, but is also interconnected with our emotions and our mind. When you are in pain you employ rational thinking. This is the mind's way of solving problems. Here is how it works: You are in pain and you know you want to be healthy and pain free. Your mind evaluates the gap between the two and tries to bridge it. The mind breaks down the problem into smaller steps and tries to find a solution. Issues arise when the gap can't be closed. You tried rest, heat, ice, medication and activity modification but you are not finding lasting relief from the pain. This is when fear creeps in and you become fixated on finding the answer. You begin to ask yourself these questions: Why am I in this much pain? What is going on? What have I done to myself? Will I ever get better? This can start a cycle of increased fear which leads to more pain which leads to more fear. There is a way out of this cycle.......this is where I come in. I develop a plan to bridge that gap. Physical Therapy will help you improve your physical function and Reiki and mindfulness techniques will help calm the fear and negative thoughts. If you want to learn more about pain check out the book Mindfulness for Health: a practical guide to relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring wellbeing by V. Burch and D. Penman. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

Most of my neck pain patients don’t realize their neck range of motion has become limited. Over time if you don't use your full range of motion you lose it. There are common compensation patterns I see for decreased neck range of motion. For decreased rotation range of motion people turn their whole body. If looking up has decreased, people would compensate by extending their low back. Below is a quick check to see if you have full neck range of motion: If you have neck pain or notice limitations in any of these motions Physical Therapy can help! As a certified orthopedic manual therapist, I use different techniques to loosen up muscles and joints in the neck to regain motion and decrease pain. Fill out the contact form on my website if you would like to chat. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

Lumbar disc herniation is a common disorder that can cause pain and limit function. Surgical intervention is usually considered, but before going under the knife, current literature suggests herniated discs may reduce completely or partially on their own! The rate of spontaneous regression was found to be: Disc Sequestration: 96% Disc Extrusion: 70% Disc Protrusion: 41% Disc Bulging: 13% In addition to the MRI showing regression of the discs, the majority of the patients reported significant pain relief and decreased low back disability over a 17 month period. Take home message: conservative treatment should be considered for people with disc herniations that do not have neurogenic complications due to nerve compression. Physical therapy is a great option for conservative therapy to improve strength, mobility and function. Do you or someone you know have back pain? I can help and I have appointments available same day or next day. Send me an email at contact@reikipt.com or fill out my contact form. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT References Chiu CC, Chuang TY, Chang KH, Wu CH, Lin PW, Hsu WY. The probability of spontaneous regression of lumbar herniated disc: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2015 Feb;29(2).

Many of my patients have had Physical Therapy in the past and did not have a great experience. The PT didn't spend much time with them, didn't identify the source of their pain and in the end they didn't get any relief. Unfortunately, this story is one I hear far too often. A competent Physical Therapist will typically have the following characteristics: Your PT is able to identify the primary cause of your symptoms. -During the initial evaluation the PT completes a thorough exam. This includes a discussion of your pain and symptoms, a review of your medical history and a physical exam including tests and measures. During the evaluation, the PT puts the pieces of the puzzle together to develop a diagnosis that includes primary and secondary causes of your symptoms. This is important because it will guide which interventions the PT chooses. Your PT is always assessing your progress and adjusts the treatments accordingly. -At each visit your PT is completing a mini-evaluation to determine if the treatments and exercises are working. This is crucial because your symptoms will change during your plan of care and the PT needs to determine if the treatment plan is efficient and effective. Your PT progresses your exercises. -Your treatment exercises should progress. If you are doing the same 3 exercises at every visit, consider changing PTs. As your symptoms and functional ability improve, the exercises will evolve. If you are only given pelvic tilts, clamshells and bridges for your back pain, this is a disservice to you. Your PT is helping you feel better and achieve your goals. -Your pain should begin to reduce and your function improve within 3-4 visits. During your plan of care you may have fluctuations in your symptoms, but overall your progress should be moving in the right direction. If this is not happening, the PT needs to be having a conversation with you about why you are not making progress. Your PT listens to your concerns and addresses any fears. -Your PT is available and makes it a priority to discuss your concerns and fears related to your pain or symptoms. For a plan of care to be successful, you and your PT will make treatment decisions together based on your values and goals. You should feel seen, heard and appreciated. Your PT is setting you up for success after discharge. -The goal of physical therapy is to get you feeling better, to have better function and to give you the knowledge and tools to continue making progress on your own. Your PT is always there for check-ins, flare ups or new issues, but you shouldn’t need frequent treatments for the same issue for the rest of your life. One of the main reasons I started Reiki PT was to make sure I had 1:1 time with each of my patients to address everything listed above. If you have questions or concerns regarding your pain or Physical Therapy services, send me an email at contact@reikipt.com. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

There are many factors involved when acute pain transitions to chronic pain. This includes physical, psychological and social factors. One theory suggests that chronic pain continues in the absence of ongoing tissue damage due to misfiring pain signals from the nervous system that are influenced by these factors. When treating chronic pain all must be considered. Physical Therapy and Reiki can help in the acute or chronic pain phase. These two practices offer unique solutions that address the physical and psychological factors of pain. Instead of waiting another week to see if the pain will go away, send me an email and we can get you feeling better now! Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

Spring is here which means more sun and more time outside! I love when the temps warm up and I can get back to hiking the trails at Percy Warner Park or going for walks in the neighborhood. While I am always in support of increased activity, more time on your feet can put added stress on your plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that stabilizes the arch of the foot. Repetitive stress to this area can cause pain in the inside heel that can extend into the arch. To maintain healthy plantar fascia you need mobility in the ankle, calf muscle flexibility and adequate strength. The video below shows 2 exercises that address all three! Heel raise with toes on folded towel, 3 x 12 reps Dynamic calf stretch alternating between knee straight and knee bent, 30 sec x 2 reps each side Add these in before a hike or walk so that you can stay active and pain free. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

Dry needling is a technique that helps ease muscle tightness and pain and improves range of motion. Dry needling involves placing a small, thin needle (much thinner than a needle for injections) into a muscle at the trigger point or the surrounding area. It is called "dry" needling because there is no medication being injected. During dry needling you may feel muscle soreness, aching and a muscle twitch. The needles can be placed deeply or superficially for varying periods of time depending on the desired treatment effect. Dry needling is very different from acupuncture. During acupuncture, needles are inserted into the skin at energy points on the body which promotes the rebalancing of energy flow. You may benefit from dry needling if you answer yes to any of the following: -muscle tightness that doesn't go away with stretches -area of your body with limited range of motion -have chronic pain that has lasted longer than 3 months I use dry needling to compliment the hands-on work and exercises I give my patients. The most common conditions I use dry needling for are neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, tennis/golfers elbow, hip pain, knee pain and plantar fasciitis. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

BPPV is characterized by sudden vertigo that comes on by a change in head position. This can include turning over in bed, lying down (in bed or at the dentist or hairdresser), looking up, bending forward, or any sudden change in head position. Diagnosing BPPV is done by the Dix Hallpike test. This is a simple noninvasive test a health care provider or physical therapist can perform. This test involves laying the patient back quickly and observing the eyes for nystagmus. Nystagmus is repeated and rhythmic movements of the eyes. Once diagnosed, BPPV can be treated easily without drugs or surgery with the Epley maneuver. This maneuver involves a series of head positions performed in a certain order. Recurrences of BPPV can occur and multiple treatments may be needed. Vestibular physical therapists are trained in this maneuver. A physical therapist or health care provider must first diagnosis which part of the inner ear is involved to ensure the appropriate treatment. I completed my vestibular training in Austin, TX and have been treating BPPV for the past 10 years. You don't have to live with dizziness! Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT