If you’ve ever been to a chiropractor or had a professional “crack your back,” you may have been a recipient of spinal manipulation therapy (SMT). Spinal manipulation, also called spinal manipulative therapy or manual therapy, is used in both Western and traditional East Asian medicine; in North America, it’s typically performed by chiropractors, osteopathic physicians, and physical and occupational therapists. Over 100 types of adjustment techniques are known throughout the world, but typically chiropractors will focus on eight to 10 varying approaches within their practice. Spinal manipulation therapy uses force, while spinal mobilization therapy is gentler. Some conditions such as …
Does acupuncture work for pain relief? It’s a question that’s been debated by the medical community for some time, but of late, more and more physicians have come down on the side of supporting it, or at least maintaining that it does no harm. In 1998, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated that there was enough evidence to show that acupuncture has beneficial, pain-relieving qualities for adults suffering from postoperative dental pain, the nausea of chemotherapy, lower back pain, headache, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. There have been several important studies that report acupuncture is effective in …
It’s springtime again – or nearly there, anyway – and all sports fans know what that means: spring training and the return of Major League Baseball’s players to their winter training grounds. Unfortunately, as players come back to the stadiums, they also return to a heightened risk of back injury. Commonly known as overuse injuries, these lower back injuries can be subtle and usually occur over prolonged periods of time. They are the result of repetitive micro-trauma to the tendons, bones, and joints, typically caused by training errors involving a too-rapid acceleration of the intensity, duration, or frequency of a given activity. Studies show the …
Derrek is a patient of mine who has left a lasting impression – he recently ran his first half marathon after having a 2 level spinal fusion (see his xray to the left). He is a great example of patients who become more physically active after a spinal fusion than they were before, which is a common experience in our practice. Derrek’s back pain began eleven years before his surgery, when one day he woke up with terrible pain in his back. Over the course of the eleven years, after all else failed, his condition deteriorated to the point where he considered surgery. …
An AARP article that discusses common surgeries to avoid – including spinal fusion – has recently made its way back into the headlines. Specifically, it cites studies that show the frequency of this procedure has increased 1,400 percent between 2002 and 2007, and does not appear to be slowing down. The article suggests that the surgery is dangerous and is no more effective than physical therapy, which is inaccurate and misleading. Spinal fusion involves the joining of two or more vertebrae together, using screws and rods along with bone graft material, and sometimes cages (devices that support the vertebra). …
Meet James, a former patient of mine. James’ story began when he was lifting paving stones and felt a sudden shooting pain in his back, eventually traveling to his legs and toes. Knowing something was wrong, he immediately consulted a physician, but doctor after doctor couldn’t figure it out. He had undergone prior surgery for a herniated disk about 15 years ago. After receiving five different opinions with no clear answer, James was left with more uncertainty: “Five different guys didn’t seem clear on where my problem was. They thought it was scar tissue from a previous surgery I had …
It’s no secret that this winter has been unbearably cold. With record lows this February in many cities along the Eastern Seaboard, including here in New York, you might be wondering: what exactly is this bitter cold doing to our backs? Winter in itself can make your joint pain worse – and in some cases it can be debilitating. In fact, some people with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis suffer from cold allodynia, which means they can predict approaching colder weather by how much pain they are in. In colder temperatures, the tissues in your body shrink, causing them to …
Regenerative cell therapy is a major next step in medical research, with the potential to effectively treat the most complex diseases – including various forms of cancer. Researchers studying regenerative cell therapy look at both how stem cells may be used to replace, repair, reprogram or renew your diseased cells, and at how reprogrammed stem cells may be turned into specialized cells that can repair or regenerate cells. It has the potential to change the outcomes for patients who are left with little time and very few answers. In regenerative cell therapy, function is restored in damaged or destroyed tissues, …
Sure, it’s easier to gain weight than it is to lose it – but at what cost? Studies show that a healthy diet and exercise can help combat obesity and metabolic disease, and prevent future back problems. Weight loss can improve back pain for both men and women of all demographics. I have many patients who have successfully improved their chronic back pain with weight loss and regular exercise. Physical activity increases the exchange of nutrients between spinal discs and other spine structures. When an individual doesn’t participate in enough physical activity, the spinal discs are deprived of the nutrients …
Kathryn is a former patient of mine who has left a lasting impression. Her back pain began when she hurt her L3/L4 disc after a spinning class, and she believes she aggravated the injury during a subsequent game of golf. Initially, Kathryn told me she didn’t think too much of it because she’s athletic and used to pushing herself outside her comfort zone. Kathryn thought this was something she could deal with – so she sought a massage treatment, iced her lower back area, and rested. Afterwards, she continued to play golf and attend spinning class. Unfortunately, what Kathryn didn’t …
