Finding Gratitude This Holiday Season
At Rising Sun Physical Therapy, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to you — our patients and community. Your trust and support inspire us every day, helping us remember how lucky we are to serve every one of you.
The Power of Gratitude
Life can be busy and stressful, but gratitude has a remarkable way of bringing calm and clarity. Taking even a moment to appreciate the positives in your life can reduce stress, uplift your mood, and help you feel more grounded.
This season, we encourage you to pause and recognize the strength of your body and mind. Gratitude isn’t just about looking outward; it’s also about celebrating how far you’ve come and all the ways your body works to support you every day.
We’re Here for You
If you’re ready to nurture your health and reduce stress, our physical therapists are here to help. Together, we can focus on creating balance, healing, and renewal.
From all of us at Rising Sun Physical Therapy, thank you for being part of our journey. Wishing you a holiday season filled with peace, gratitude, and moments to cherish.
Solstice Stillness:
Awakening the Return of Light & Sweat Your Prayers: City Waves — Read More Below!
Cutting-Edge Approaches to Addressing Jaw Pain
November Newsletter
Margaret (not her real name) had been struggling with a trio of strange symptoms: ear pain, aching teeth, and persistent pain in her jaw. It didn’t occur to her that the three of them could be related until she met with a healthcare provider who explained she had developed a TMD — a temporomandibular joint disorder.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) allows you to open and close your mouth. TMJ disorders are a group of conditions that can cause pain and dysfunction in one or both of your TMJs and surrounding soft tissue.
Margaret eventually visited the team at Rising Sun Physical Therapy to get help addressing her TMD. The first thing we did was assess Margaret’s symptoms to determine the underlying cause, as several factors can lead to a TMJ disorder. We determined that her TMD had developed because she had a tendency to grind her teeth at night, which stressed the tissues in her jaw.
From there, we created a customized treatment program to alleviate Margaret’s symptoms as she worked to address her teeth grinding. One technique we found particularly effective for Margaret was deep-tissue laser therapy, which helped facilitate her body’s natural healing processes (reducing her symptoms in the process).
Today, we want to explore Margaret’s treatment program in more depth to help you understand all we can do for TMJ disorders!
Treating Margaret’s Acute Symptoms
Our first order of business was helping Margaret manage her acute symptoms, allowing her to perform any prescribed exercises more easily. We incorporated some hands-on manual therapy techniques to start, including gently mobilizing her jaw to help loosen up any restrictions. But what really played a role was the LightForce™ deep-tissue laser therapy.
Deep tissue laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment modality that uses concentrated light energy to reach deeper layers of muscles and tissues. Here’s what it did for Margaret:
- Reduced pain and inflammation in her jaw
- Relaxed her tight jaw muscles, preventing further strain on the joint
- Improved overall jaw function, making it easier for her to open and close her mouth
- Boosted blood circulation to her TMJ, helping to heal the damage from her tooth-grinding
Helping Margaret Find Lasting Relief
Marget’s laser therapy treatments helped her acute symptoms and jump-started her body’s healing process. However, we wanted to make sure we were addressing the underlying cause of your TMD, which was an overuse injury caused by grinding her teeth.
To accomplish this, we showed Margaret some simple jaw exercises to address muscle impairments in the tissue around her jaw joint. Doing so helped keep her jaw aligned, further reducing her symptoms.
We also showed Margaret some stress management techniques. While stress didn’t directly cause her TMD, it definitely contributed to her jaw grinding. We guided her through several deep breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques.
Do I Have a TMJ Disorder?
Not everyone with a TMJ disorder will experience the same symptoms Margaret did. The TMJ is a fairly complex joint structure, and your symptoms will vary based on which part of that structure is affected: the cartilage, ligaments, teeth, or surrounding muscles, nerves, and tendons.
However, knowing some common symptoms can let you know when to seek care. Here are some to watch out for. However, remember that you won’t necessarily experience all of them:
- Pain around the jaw joint, especially when chewing or talking
- Audible noises when opening or closing the mouth
- Limited range of motion in the jaw
- Jaw locking
- Tension headaches or discomfort in the temples or cheeks
- Ear-related symptoms like earaches, ringing, or a sense of fullness in the ears
- Pain that radiates to the neck or shoulders
- Pain when eating tough or chewy foods
- Changes in your bite alignment
Say Goodbye to TMJ Pain and Dysfunction Today!
TMJ disorders can have a profound effect on your overall quality of life — but they aren’t something you have to live with. Let the Rising Sun Physical Therapy team uncover the reason for your TMJ pain and create a personalized treatment program to help you find lasting relief, just as we did for Margaret.
Schedule an appointment with us today to get started!
Our Patients Get Great Results
“Outstanding PT clinic! Most recently I worked with Bettina on spine and neck issues. Her deep expertise and creativity made all the difference. She also used laser treatment and it had a huge impact in reducing my pain and increasing my mobility. Can’t say enough good things about Rising Sun!”
—Paula J.
Integrative Wellness Partnership
Aurras Transformation offers a holistic approach to stress relief, using dance and natural rhythms to support your healing journey. Join our monthly New Moon Ritual and 5Rhythms Offerings and start your path to wellness.
Explore Our Offerings:
Join Our December 2 New Moon Ritual to Welcome the Winter Solstice
Celebrate the winter solstice with a very special New Moon Ritual — a meaningful time for reflection, renewal, and setting intentions. This guided ritual provides a peaceful space to pause, reconnect with yourself, and welcome the returning light of the season. Find balance, invite seasonal renewal, and align with the natural rhythms of life.
Experience the healing power of stillness, gratitude, and fresh beginnings as we come together to honor this transformative time of year.
Aurras Blog:
Is Stress Contributing to Your Muscle and Joint Pain?
Stress is often a major contributor to musculoskeletal pain, causing discomfort in areas like the jaw, neck, shoulders, and back. At Aurras Transformation, we’re diving into the connection between stress and physical pain, including jaw tension and muscle tightness. Discover everything you need to know about how stress impacts your body and learn our top 5 self-help tips for natural stress relief. These tips are designed to help you manage stress, ease muscle and joint pain, and restore balance in your life.
Visit our blog for practical insights on relieving jaw pain, managing stress naturally, and embracing a healthier, more relaxed you.
5Rhythms with Bettina
5Rhythms is a dynamic movement meditation practice that takes you on a journey through life’s flow, directions, and chaos—leading you to joy and stillness. Through this practice, you’ll explore your authenticity, letting your breath and the rhythm of the music guide you in each moment.
Join Bettina in San Francisco and the Bay Area to experience 5Rhythms in person. Discover the power of movement meditation and connect deeply with yourself in a welcoming community.
Unconventional Yet Effective Solutions for Neck Pain
Do you ever wake up with a stiff neck and wonder why it keeps happening? You’re not alone. Neck pain is pretty common, and it can be super annoying. But guess what? There are solutions, including some more unusual ones you may not have heard about yet.
Our therapists at Rising Sun Physical Therapy use cutting-edge approaches to ensure you find the most effective ways to find lasting relief!
How to Help Your Neck Pain — Tips You May Not Know
Tackling neck pain is not just about focusing on the neck itself. By implementing these unconventional yet scientifically-backed recommendations into your daily routine, you’re setting yourself on a path toward relief and lasting wellness.
Lumbar Support Can Alleviate Neck Pain
The way your lower back is positioned has a big effect on your neck. Using lumbar support can help you sit up straight, letting your neck sit over your shoulders like it should.
When you know you will be sitting for a while, whether at work or in the car, use a rolled-up towel or buy a lumbar roll to put in your lower back. Even though you’re changing the lower back position, your neck will thank you!
Why Thoracic Mobility Matters
The thoracic spine consists of the 12 vertebrae in your mid-back. It plays a critical role in your overall spinal function. When this area is stiff or restricted, your neck compensates by moving more than it should. This often leads to a forward head posture, which can strain the neck muscles and lead to long-term pain.
Mind-Body Connection
Believe it or not, the state of your mind can also help heal your neck pain. Research has shown that stress can intensify pain, so techniques like mindfulness and breathing exercises can help reduce stress levels. Just a few minutes a day of deep breathing can go a long way.
Using unconventional techniques like lumbar support, thoracic mobility exercises, and even mindfulness can help you feel better faster. Why not give these unconventional methods a try? Your neck will be happier for it!
Meet Our Team
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Kelsey Anderson
Operations Manager -
Bettina Neumann
PT, CST, LLCC -
Simone Vienneau
PT
Exercise of the Month
TMJ Mandibular Stabilization Phase 1
Start by sitting upright in a chair and releasing all the tension in your body. Then, bring your teeth apart by saying “Emma”. Press your tongue in to the roof of your mouth right behind your front teeth. Maintain this mouth and jaw position throughout. Use your index finger to apply gentle pressures toward the left, right, ceiling, neck, left ear, and the right ear. Hold each pressure for 2 seconds. Repeat 5 sets of 5 reps each.
Bucatini With Mushrooms
This dish features a rich and earthy pasta experience centered around bucatini, a thick spaghetti-like noodle that holds sauce beautifully. The star ingredient is the dried porcini mushrooms, which, after being rehydrated, contribute a deep umami flavor.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms
- 2/3 cup boiling water
- 8 oz uncooked bucatini
- 3 1/4 tsp salt, divided
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 1/4 cup chopped shallots
- 2 (4-oz) packages exotic mushroom blend
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp dry sherry
- 2 oz Parmigiano cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp chopped sage
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp truffle oil sage sprigs (optional)
Rinse porcini thoroughly. Combine porcini and 2/3 cup boiling water in a bowl; cover and let stand 30 minutes. Drain in over a bowl, reserving 1/4 cup soaking liquid. Chop porcini. Cook pasta with 1 tablespoon salt in boiling water 10 minutes; drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots, mushroom blend, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in porcini, sherry, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 1 minute. Finely grate 1 ounce cheese; crumble remaining cheese. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in pasta, 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup reserved porcini soaking liquid, 1/4 cup grated cheese, cream, chopped sage, and pepper; toss well to combine. Drizzle with oil; toss. Place about 1 1/4 cups pasta mixture on each of 4 plates; top each serving with about 1 tablespoon crumbled cheese. Garnish with sage sprigs, if desired.
