Patients’ Satisfaction with Chiropractic Care

Posted on May 18, 2012 by admin

Patients’ Satisfaction with Chiropractic Care

When it comes to making important choices about treatment options for back pain, it’s worth looking at the experiences of others who have found something that works.  In recent years, the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center has surveyed the magazine’s subscribers to do just that.  In April and May 2009, Consumer Reports released some of its findings publicly.  A summary appears below.

About the Survey Participants

  • More than 14,000 participants who had suffered from lower-back pain in the prior year but had never had back surgery.
  • More than half reported that pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer.
  • Many reported that pain interfered with sleep, sex and efforts to maintain a healthy weight.
  • 88% reported that the pain recurred through the year.
  • Most had tried five or six different treatments.

How Respondents Ranked the Healthcare Providers Who Had Treated Them

 

Healthcare Provider Percent Who Were Highly Satisfied With Treatment and Advice*
Chiropractor       59%
Physical Therapist+ 55%
Acupuncturist    53%
Physician, Specialist 44%
Physician, Primary Care 34%

*Defined as either Completely Satisfied or Very Satisfied.

+Difference in ranking for Physical Therapist and Acupuncturist were not statistically significant.

How Respondents Ranked Selected Back Pain Therapies

 

Therapy Percentage Who Reported that the Therapy Helped a Lot
Chiropractic Manipulation 58%
Prescription Drugs 45%
Over-the-Counter Drugs              22%

 

In July 2011, Consumer Reports published an updated report describing how Americans use alternative approaches to healthcare as well as their experience with various therapies and their providers.  Chiropractic care once again was reported to be the most popular approach to back pain relief and was ranked most highly in terms of patient satisfaction.

Dr. Anthony Rivano is a Board Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician in Florham Park, NJ.  He can help relieve back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many other musculoskeletal conditions and restore mobility by using a drug-free, hands-on technique called “spinal manipulation”, “joint manipulation” or “chiropractic adjustment”.  He also uses other manual therapies, such as massage, ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, cold laser therapy, EPAT Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Treatment to complement this primary treatment.  In addition, Dr. Rivano is skilled in designing exercise and nutrition programs for his patients that will help their bodies resist injury and function properly.  By focusing on both immediate pain relief and the underlying causes of  pain, Dr. Rivano can help you achieve a healthier overall lifestyle.

Every body is different. If you have questions about this article or whether chiropractic is an appropriate choice for your specific situation, please contact us (973)845-6282 or contact us here http://rivanochiropractic.com/contact. We are here to help!

 

Posted in Back Pain Specialist Florham Park, Carpal Tunnel, Fitness, Florham Park NJ Chiropractic, Florham Park NJ Chiropractor, Headaches, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Neck Pain Specialist Florham Park, Nutrition, Posture, Rehabilitation, Sciatica, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Staying Connected May Be A Real Pain in Your Neck!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Is Staying Connected a Real Pain in the Neck? It’s time to get healthy with Technohealthy!

Dr. Anthony Rivano to Participate in Public Health Awareness Campaign

The world is getting smaller thanks to modern technology; but unfortunately, aches and pains are growing as a result. This fall, Dr. Anthony Rivano a chiropractic physician in Florham Park, NJ and other doctors of chiropractic (DCs) across the country will highlight ways to stay connected without pain during National Chiropractic Health Month in October. This year’s theme – “Get TechnoHealthy!” – focuses on how the public can remain healthy while toting the gadgets they love or working long hours in front of a computer.

The excessive use of mobile devices and poor posture while sitting in front of a computer can lead to neck, back, shoulder, wrist and even thumb pain, in addition to other musculoskeletal issues. The problem is becoming so widespread that earlier this year a spokesperson for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that musculoskeletal injuries remain one of the biggest workplace health and safety problems in American industry.

“People will be relieved to learn that they can enjoy technology without experiencing pain,” says Dr. Rivano. “Our bodies are utilitarian and made to move – not to maintain the same stooped-over posture for long periods of time or to repeat the same motions endlessly. The good news is that there are things we can do to prevent pain and injury. There are natural non-invasive approaches to treating aches and pain, such as chiropractic care, that don’t involve drugs or surgery.”

To celebrate National Chiropractic Health Month, Dr. Rivano offers these tips to help lessen the physical toll of technology:

  • When using devices such as smart phones and PDA’s that have small keyboards, avoid typing for more than three minutes without a break.
  • Keep messages short and simple; abbreviate as much as possible.
  • Practice using other fingers for typing, especially when thumbs hurt.
  • Don’t slouch when texting, remember what your mother always said, “Sit up straight”!
  • Keep wrists upright, straight and close to the body when holding a device.
  • Don’t bend your neck excessively when texting; tuck your chin in instead and look down.
  • Turn your devices off on the weekends (or at least Sunday)!
  • Get outside, exercise and enjoy nature, too! Balance is key to staying healthy.
  • For more tips on proper use of technology and good health, visit www.TechnoHealthy.com.

Sponsored by the American Chiropractic Association, National Chiropractic Health Month is a nationwide observance held each October. The event helps raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered approach to health and wellness.

Dr. Anthony Rivano is a Board Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician located in Florham Park, NJ. He works with weekend warriors, families, healthcare professionals, and elite athletes. He has been in private practice in Morris County for over four years proudly serving the local Florham Park community. For more information about Rivano Chiropractic Health Center, LLC and Dr. Anthony Rivano and how he can help you achieve better overall health and wellness, please visit www.rivanochiropractic.com, email drrivano@rivanochiropractic.com, or give us a call at (973) 845-6282.

Posted in Florham Park NJ Chiropractic, Florham Park NJ Chiropractor, Health and Wellness, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Posture, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

7 Simple Steps to Solving Neck & Back Pain

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

How many people realize how significant poor posture can be to your overall health? It’s a topic that gets dismissed by most people including the health care community at large. I am certain that chiropractors are by far the leading authority on this subject. However, it has come to my attention after seeing hundreds of patients that have previously seen other chiropractors that they are never made aware of their poor posture and muscular imbalances. This can have a long term negative impact on the overall health and function of the body as a whole.

My goal here is to make you aware of the 7 Simple Steps to Solving Neck & Back Pain. Let me preface this statement by stating that it is always a good measure to see your chiropractor regarding your posture in addition to applying these 7 Simple Steps so that you are aware of how to correct them.

The typical posture seen at my office are patients that present with a mild to moderate forward head carriage, rounded shoulders, slumped and slouched appearance, and often patients with anterior pelvic tilt. There are many causes of these imbalances. Mostly, they are caused by adaptively deconditioned muscles secondary to chronically poor posture. In a nutshell, that is the cause of most musculoskeletal complaints than one could possibly imagine. The sad truth is it doesn’t get the attention that it requires to correct it so relapses almost always reoccur.

Consider the body as a dynamic mechanical piece of machinery. It is designed in such a magnificent way that there are infinite capabilities and positions that can be attained to accomplish unlimited tasks. If there is any disruption in the mechanics of this structure there will eventually be perpetual weaknesses and dysfunctions that will ultimately lead to injury. You cannot impose abnormal stresses through an imbalanced machine of precision and expect there to be no consequences. This principle parallels the exact cause/causes of the different conditions I see in my office. This is why many people enter with acute and chronic neck pain, lower back pain, shoulder pain, and headaches.

We must supply the body with what it requires in order avoid the unnecessary wear and tear that occurs from having poor posture. With the foregoing and following information you will be armed with a higher level of knowledge to prevent suffering from the annoying aches and pains from having poor posture.

As promised, here are the 7 Simple Steps to Solving Back Pain:

  1. Be cognizant of your posture. Have someone take a picture of you standing from the front, back and side. You will see how imbalanced you really are.
  2. Visualize having an ideal posture. Before you leave the house for the day, take a good look at the pictures you have and make the correction in the mirror by adjusting your shoulders, neck, and pelvis so they are in neutral positions.
  3. Implement proper ergonomics at home and work. Ergonomics will give you the proper positioning to avoid repetitive and cumulative stresses on your joints. Visit http://office-ergo.com/ for more information.
  4. Exercise Agonists and Antagonists for ideal balance and symmetry. This rule applies to just about anyone. Using this principle will help you from becoming overdeveloped and dominate from overtraining one muscle group without addressing the others. For example, when you train your chest muscles you should also train your back muscles on the same day to promote balance from the muscles in the anterior chain and posterior chain. Most trainees ignore the posterior chain which leads to chronically poor posture, overuse syndromes, and pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back region.
  5. When sitting at your desk use a lumbar support. Using a lumbar support is one of the simplest techniques to do to remind us that we must maintain an upright neutral spine position at all times.
  6. Sleep soundly with the right support. If you want to improve your posture while you sleep then it’s a good idea to maintain the neutral spine position even during the night. If you are a side sleeper be sure to keep a pillow between your thighs to keep your hips level through the night. Keep a pillow under your neck so that the neck is level with the rest of the spine. If you sleep on your back similar principles apply. Keep a pillow under your knees and under the small of your neck always maintaining neutral spine position and support.
  7. Routine visits to your chiropractor. This doesn’t mean that you have to go to your chiropractor once a week for the rest of your life. What it does mean is that you must keep the articulations that make up the spine moving freely so that the neutral spine position that has been mentioned previously is adequately maintained. Pain should not be the only indicator for routine chiropractic care. Without proper movement and muscular balance and symmetry, the vicious cycle of pain and dysfunction will be perpetual and the quality of life as you know it may diminish.

If you are looking to alleviate symptoms relating to headaches, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, or you would like to address postural issues then please feel free to contact Rivano Chiropractic Health Center, LLC and speak with Dr. Anthony Rivano about your concerns. He is a Board Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician located in Florham Park, NJ and has helped hundreds of patients overcome their aches and pains as well as enhance their quality of life under his care. He can be reached at (973) 845-6282 or via email at drrivano@rivanochiropractic.com. To learn more about Dr. Rivano visit http://chiropractorflorhampark.com/chiropractor-florham-park/.

Posted in Florham Park NJ Chiropractic, Florham Park NJ Chiropractor, Health and Wellness, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chiropractor Florham Park, NJ Holds Annual Food and Coat Drive

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Chiropractor in Florham Park, NJ Holds Annual Food and Coat Drive – “Baby It’s Cold Outside”

Florham Park, NJ Chiropractor, Dr. Anthony Rivano will hold his first annual food and coat drive to help many of New Jersey’s underprivileged who do not have proper winter clothing or food.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 19, 2010 – Florham Park NJ Chiropractor, Dr. Anthony Rivano will hold his first annual food and coat drive to help many of New Jersey’s underprivileged who do not have proper winter clothing or food. As winter rolls in and brings its biting cold weather to the Garden State, many of New Jersey’s underprivileged are without proper winter clothing and food.

Dr. Anthony Rivano, along with The Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, a non-profit state organization, is sponsoring “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” This is an annual statewide drive to collect non-perishable food, along with coats, hats, gloves and scarves.

To help New Jerseyans battle the cold, please drop-off coats, hats, gloves and scarves along with a non-perishable food item to Dr. Rivano’s office. Dr. Rivano will deliver all food donations to a local food pantry, and all clothing donations will be delivered to Goodwill.

“When we bundle up to go outside on a cold winter’s day, we take our warmth for granted and when we eat, we take our nutrition for granted. But the fact is, many New Jerseyans do not have a good coat or food,” said Florham Park Chiropractor, Dr. Anthony Rivano. “I want to use this opportunity to make everyday living better for those in need and I want to give the members of the community an opportunity to help those in need too.”

Dr. Rivano’s office will be collecting donations at his office of non-perishable food and unwanted winter apparel, in good condition, until December 23, 2010. Rivano Chiropractic Health Center LLC, is located at 135 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 301, Florham Park, NJ 07932, http://www.chiropractorflorhampark.com. As a thank you, Dr. Rivano will offer a complimentary consult (regularly valued at $195) for donating to this cause. Call (973) 845-6282 if interested.

If you are not in this area and looking for another office to donate items, you can locate an ANJC member in their area by town or zip code by visiting the Association of Chiropractors website www.njchiropractors.com or calling (908) 722-5678 for more information.

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Health is more than just the absence of disease or lack of pain; rather it is a realization of your full potential for well-being. When your body is in a state of health, it can adapt & heal and self-regulate.

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Is Pain Your Obstacle to Fitness? Chiropractic…

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Can Help!

Chiropractors across the country will highlight how they can help patients focus on getting past the roadblocks to fitness & better health during National Chiropractic Health Month. The theme for the 2010 observance is “Why Weight? Get Healthy!”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 06, 2010 – Are aches and pains getting in the way of your weight loss goals? Anthony Rivano, D.C., a Board Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician located in Florham Park can help. This fall, doctors of chiropractic across the country will highlight how they can help patients focus on getting past the roadblocks to fitness and better health during National Chiropractic Health Month. The theme for the 2010 observance is “Why Weight? Get Healthy!”
More than 60 percent of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese, according to CDC statistics, and obesity is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and some types of cancer. However, many people are unaware that even modest weight loss, such as 5 to 10 percent of a person’s total body weight, could improve blood pressure as well as blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. That’s only 10 to 20 pounds for a person who weighs 200 pounds.
Yet losing weight can be a struggle, and many people wonder where to begin. The answer for some may be in the office of a doctor of chiropractic (D.C.). “Diet pills and extreme diets do not offer long-term solutions,” says Dr. Rick McMichael, president of the American Chiropractic Association. “Doctors of chiropractic, on the other hand, offer natural approaches such as exercise, diet and hands-on care to help keep you active and able to achieve your weight-loss goals in the short term, and also help you maintain your fitness level and thereby avoid some chronic conditions down the line.”
Consultation with a D.C. is particularly important when you consider that the effects of obesity on the musculoskeletal system—osteoarthritis, back pain, neck pain and joint pain—often cause overweight people to avoid physical activity and exercise when they need it most.
“If you’re carrying more weight than the load-bearing structures of your body—spine, legs, etc.—can handle, there’s going to be pain, loss of movement and degeneration in the joints,” adds Dr. Rivano. “Particularly if you’re carrying most of your weight in your abdomen, the low back and the spine will need to work harder to hold you upright. This adds extra stress and tension on your muscles, which in turn creates stiffness.”
Sponsored by ACA, National Chiropractic Health Month is held each October. The event helps raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered approach to health and wellness.
Dr. Anthony Rivano is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College and a proud resident of Florham Park. He has been in private practice in the Florham Park area for nearly 4 years. For more information about how Dr. Rivano can help you achieve better overall health and wellness, please visit http://www.chiropractorflorhampark.com, email drrivano@rivanochiropractic.com, or give us a call at (973) 845-6282.

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The Rivano Chiropractic Health Center is Florham Park’s premier chiropractic center! Dr. Rivano uses state of the art equipment along with a gentle hands-on manual therapy & a variety of therapeutic exercises to facilitate the healing process. Health is more than just the absence of disease or lack of pain; rather it is a realization of your full potential for well-being. When your body is in a state of health, it can adapt & heal and self-regulate. End the perpetual pain cycle today! Contact Florham Park’s leading chiropractic authority and begin experiencing the true meaning of health & vitality. Visit http://www.chiropractorflorhampark.com or call our office today at (973) 845-6282. We’re here to help you become pain free!

Sited: http://www.prlog.org/10980929-is-pain-your-obstacle-to-fitness-chiropractic-can-help.html

Posted in Fitness, Florham Park NJ Chiropractic, Florham Park NJ Chiropractor, Health and Wellness, Nutrition | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Preventing Low Back Pain

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 02, 2010 – While 80% of the population will suffer a severe back pain episode at some point in our lives, most of us at any given time should be more concerned about preventing or aggravating back pain, rather than resolving a set-back. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are three important aspects to the prevention of back pain: keeping strong and flexible, avoiding mistakes during movements, and getting spinal evaluations regularly from your chiropractic physician.
Believe it or not, nothing is more beneficial to the spine than walking. Remember that your spine is your “core,” and the core is activated with fast-paced walking. Most of us don’t think of how the spine is affected with walking, instead focusing on the legs. Make walking part of your daily routine. Walk a few blocks or across town to run an errand, rather than getting into a car for these short trips. Park a few blocks away when you have to use the car, so that you can get in a few minutes of walking. Some of us spend five minutes circling in a parking lot just to get a space close to the front door or we get frustrated when we can’t find a space close to the gym! In contrast to sitting, which increases pressure on our discs, walking strengthens muscles and dissipates the pressure on our lower discs.
Keep the back flexible through slow stretching in all of the different ranges of motion. Tight muscles at the back of the thighs which are your hamstrings are often a neglected area that affects the lower spine tremendously. To stretch these muscles, stand upright and put one foot on the back of a chair or sofa. Slowly bend forward and hold this position for 30-40 seconds. It should cause a tight mild burning pain at the back of the leg. It should not cause a shooting pain down your leg, or increase pain in the lower spine. If it does, then see your chiropractor immediately. When the hamstrings are flexible, this allows the pelvis to rotate forward when you bend over. If the hamstrings are not flexible, then the lower spine will bend too much to accomplish any lifting task. This puts tremendous force through the lower back region putting you at severe risk for injury.
The second aspect to preventing back pain is avoiding mistakes, such as lifting with your back, instead of your legs. This is especially true if an object is very heavy. Sometimes the object is light, but we lift in an awkward position, standing with most of our weight on one leg, then bending and twisting, such as getting grocery bags from a back seat, or moving and positioning a child safety seat. Especially avoid twisting motions of the lower spine while bending over. Also, use one of your hands to help brace your spine, which will decrease the pressure on your discs.
Lastly, I cannot emphasize how important it is to see your chiropractor regularly for spinal “check-ups” or evaluations even when you are not injured. Your spinal column houses the most important system in your body – the nervous system. The nervous system controls and coordinates every cell, organ, and tissue in the body. It is the “electrical wiring” that conveys nerve impulses or messages throughout your entire body. Without routine spinal evaluations it is likely that degenerative arthritic changes will occur prematurely. We now know that lack of proper joint motion leads to accelerated degenerative changes in joint articulations. Improper joint motion leads to abnormal or faulty movement patterns that lead to injury. If muscles and joints are not working synergistically to perform active movements than abnormal stressors are directed through joints causing pain, discomfort, and eventually the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back”. Getting regular spinal check-ups is analogous to going to your dentist every six months for routine oral exams and cleanings to prevent gum disease, cavities, and plaque build-up. These are preventive measures that should not be overlooked if you truly want to avoid back pain and live a remarkably health life. Contact your Back Pain Specialist, Dr. Anthony Rivano located in Florham Park, NJ at (973) 845-6282 or visit his website for new patient specials at http://www.ChiropractorFlorhamPark.Com. He’s Morris Counties Premier Chiropractic Sports Physician.

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Increased Sports Performance and Chiropractic

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Strength training is an essential element of fitness for virtually every sports man and woman. Long gone are the days when coaches believed resistance exercises only added unnecessary bulk to the athlete, hindering their ability to execute skill.1

The principles of training promote a steady and specific increase in strength and other abilities by specifically adapting the routine to the needs of the sport and, most importantly, to the physical capacity of the individual athlete. The rules and principles work hand in hand in the quest to develop superior programs of strength.2

The benefits of strength training to athletic performance are enormous and many. Not only is it an integral conditioning component for power athletes such as football and rugby players, performance in the pure endurance events can be improved with a well-structured strength routine.

However, aside from perhaps bodybuilders, sport-specific resistance training requires a more refined approach than simply lifting heavy weights to complete exhaustion. A physiological analysis of any game or event will confirm that most athletes require explosive power, muscular endurance, maximal strength or some combination of all three in order to excel. Rarely is pure muscle bulk the primary concern and when it is, other elements of strength are equally as important.3

The past few years the sport and fitness market has been invaded by many products that claim to improve athletic performance greatly. An understanding of biomechanics and exercise physiology, however, reveals that many of the products intended to improve strength, speed, and power actually inhibit them…In many instances…new exercises and promises of miraculous improvement. Not very often, however do they address the issues of anatomical and neuromuscular adaptation, which are central to performance improvement and should be the foundation for all sport-specific programs.4

SPORTS SPECIFIC

No matter what sport a person participate in their development and abilities include strength training. While many strength training programs are designed for overall muscle strength, sports trainers focus on the muscles needed to excel in a particular. Therefore, a golf strength training program will differ from that for football or baseball, strengthening the muscles used in the specific sport.

While there is no specific muscle that has to stand out like those of a body builder, those used in golf need to be trained to work together as one unit. With the twisting and turning involved in hitting a golf ball during the swing, having all the muscles strong and working together can provide a longer hit either from the tee or from the ground. Through golf strength training the muscles are defined as a group rather than individual muscles.5

The benefit of strength and strength training for footballers is well supported by research. For example, De Proft and colleagues had one group of Belgian professionals perform extra weight training during the season. Compared to a control group of colleagues who did no extra training, the players improved their kicking power and leg strength. In addition, British researcher Thomas Reilly showed that the stronger players outlasted the weaker players in terms of a regular place in the team, and had reduced injury risks. He recommends that leg strength in particular is developed, especially in the quadriceps and hamstrings, to help stabilize the knee joint, which is the most frequently injured joint in football. Peter Apor, a Hungarian researcher who has been involved in long-term studies of Hungarian professionals, agrees, saying that knee-extension torque has been associated with success in the game and that strong hamstring muscles in relation to quadriceps are crucial to knee injury prevention. Another common football injury is hernia, for which the best protection is developing strong abdominal muscles.6

RESEARCH

In 2006, a research study was performed to assess whether chiropractic adjustments increased muscle strength in leg muscles and the results were conclusive and imperative for any athlete; either professional or recreational. The implications go well beyond sports as this also affects the workplace and manual labor of any kind.

Simply put, the brain has to communicate, or talk to muscles in order to fully function, or recruit all motor units (individual parts of the muscle) during a maximal voluntary contraction. The adjustment activates mechanoreceptors (parts of the nerve responsible for firing the muscle and causing contractions.)

The results of the study showed a significant (10%) increase in quadricept (leg muscle) strength in the treatment group after the chiropractic adjustment, while prior to the adjustment there was no statistical difference between treatment groups. This clearly indicates that chiropractic care increases muscle strength in any individual and has far reaching affects in every type of athlete as well as every other activity of daily living.7

These studies, along with many others conclude that a drug-free approach of chiropractic care is one of the best solutions to increase muscle strength. To find a qualified doctor of chiropractic near you, go to the US Chiropractic Directory at www.USChiroDirectory.comand search your state.

1http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/strengthtraining.html
2http://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/six-basic-rules-of-strength-training.html
3http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/strengthtraining.html
4http://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/six-basic-rules-of-strength-training.html
5http://hubpages.com/hub/Building-Specific-Group-Of-Muscles-With-Golf-Strength-Training
6http://www.brianmac.co.uk/football/strength.htm
7Bernd Hillermann, Adrian Neil Gomes, Charmaine Korporaal, Dennis Jackson, A Pilot Study Comparing the Effects of Spinal Manipulative Therapy With Those of Extra-Spinal Manipulative Therapy on Quadriceps Muscle Strength, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics., February 2006 (Vol. 29, Issue 2)

Article provided by www.USchirodirectory.com

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Get Relief Now!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most expensive of all work-related injuries. Over his or her lifetime, a carpal tunnel patient loses about $30,000 in medical bills and time absent from work.

CTS typically occurs in adults, with women 3 times more likely to develop it than men. The dominant hand is usually affected first, and the pain is typically severe. CTS is especially common in assembly-line workers in manufacturing, sewing, finishing, cleaning, meatpacking, and similar industries. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, according to recent research, people who perform data entry at a computer (up to 7 hours a day) are not at increased risk of developing CTS.

What Is CTS?
CTS is a problem of the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand. CTS occurs when the median nerve gets compressed in the carpal tunnel—a narrow tunnel at the wrist—made up of bones and soft tissues, such as nerves, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. The compression may result in pain, weakness, and/or numbness in the hand and wrist, which radiates up into the forearm. CTS is the most common of the “entrapment neuropathies”—compression or trauma of the body’s nerves in the hands or feet.

What Are the Symptoms?
Burning, tingling, itching, and/or numbness in the palm of the hand and thumb, index, and middle fingers are most common. Some people with CTS say that their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. Since many people sleep with flexed wrists, the symptoms often first appear while sleeping. As symptoms worsen, they may feel tingling during the day. In addition, weakened grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist or grasp small objects. Some people develop wasting of the muscles at the base of the thumb. Some are unable to distinguish hot from cold by touch.

Why Does CTS Develop?
Some people have smaller carpal tunnels than others, which makes the median nerve compression more likely. In others, CTS can develop because of an injury to the wrist that causes swelling, over-activity of the pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, mechanical problems in the wrist joint, poor work ergonomics, repeated use of vibrating hand tools, and fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause.

How Is It Diagnosed?
CTS should be diagnosed and treated early. A standard physical examination of the hands, arms, shoulders, and neck can help determine if your symptoms are related to daily activities or to an underlying disorder.

Your Florham Park chiropractor and Carpal Tunnel Specialist, Dr. Rivano can use other specific tests to try to produce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The most common are:
• Pressure-provocative test. A cuff placed at the front of the carpal tunnel is inflated, followed by direct pressure on the median nerve.
• Carpal compression test. Moderate pressure is applied with both thumbs directly on the carpal tunnel and underlying median nerve at the transverse carpal ligament. The test is relatively new.
Laboratory tests and x-rays can reveal diabetes, arthritis, fractures, and other common causes of wrist and hand pain. Sometimes electrodiagnostic tests, such as nerve conduction velocity testing, are used to help confirm the diagnosis. With these tests, small electrodes, placed on your skin, measure the speed at which electrical impulses travel across your wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome will slow the speed of the impulses and will point your Florham Park chiropractor to this diagnosis.

What Is the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment?
Initial therapy includes:
• Resting the affected hand and wrist
• Avoiding activities that may worsen symptoms
• Immobilizing the wrist in a splint to avoid further damage from twisting or bending
• Applying cool packs to help reduce swelling from inflammations
• Once the symptoms settle down Dr. Rivano will demonstrate and prescribe specific rehab exercises to correct this condition
Some medications can help with pain control and inflammation. Studies have shown that vitamin B6 supplements may relieve CTS symptoms.

Chiropractic joint manipulation and mobilization of the wrist and hand, stretching and strengthening exercises, soft-tissue mobilization techniques, and even yoga can be helpful. Scientists are also investigating other therapies, such as acupuncture, that may help prevent and treat this disorder.

Occasionally, patients whose symptoms fail to respond to conservative care may require surgery. However, it is very rare that this condition requires surgical intervention. The surgeon releases the ligament covering the carpal tunnel. The majority of patients recover completely after treatment, and the recurrence rate is low. Proper posture and movement as instructed by Dr. Rivano can help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome recurrences.

How Can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Be Prevented?
Dr. Anthony Rivano recommends the following tips:
• Perform on-the-job conditioning, such as stretching and light exercises.
• Take frequent rest breaks.
• Wear splints to help keep the wrists straight (temporary).
• Use fingerless gloves to help keep the hands warm and flexible.
• Use proper ergonomics correct posture and wrist position.
• To minimize workplace injuries, jobs can be rotated among workers. Employers can also develop programs in ergonomics—the process of adapting workplace conditions and job demands to workers’ physical capabilities.

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Back Pain Facts & Statistics

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Although chiropractors care for more than just back pain, many patients visit chiropractors looking for relief from this pervasive condition. In fact, 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time.1

A few interesting facts about back pain:
One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.2
Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.
Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.3
Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in our lives.4
What Causes Back Pain?
The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements—for example, picking up a pencil from the floor— can have painful results. In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain. Back pain can also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.

Manipulation as a Treatment for Back Problems
Used primarily by Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) for the last century, manipulation has been largely ignored by most others in the health care community until recently. Now, with today’s growing emphasis on treatment and cost effectiveness, manipulation is receiving more widespread attention.

Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces pain, decreases medication, rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.5

In fact, after an extensive study of all currently available care for low back problems, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research—a federal government research organization—recommended that low back pain sufferers choose the most conservative care first. And it recommended spinal manipulation as the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute low back problems in adults.6

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) urges you to make an informed choice about your back care. To learn more about how chiropractic manipulation may help you, contact a Doctor of Chiropractic in your area. Search our online database of ACA members to find a doctor of chiropractic near you.

Tips to Prevent Back Pain
Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
Remain active—under the supervision of your doctor of chiropractic.
Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities, such as gardening.
Maintain proper posture.
Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine.
Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
Quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your computer workstation is ergonomically correct.

References:

1. Jensen M, Brant-Zawadzki M, Obuchowski N, et al. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in People Without Back Pain. N Engl J Med 1994; 331: 69-116.

2. Vallfors B. Acute, Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Symptoms, Absenteeism and Working Environment. Scan J Rehab Med Suppl 1985; 11: 1-98.

3. This total represents only the more readily identifiable costs for medical care, workers compensation payments and time lost from work. It does not include costs associated with lost personal income due to acquired physical limitation resulting from a back problem and lost employer productivity due to employee medical absence. In Project Briefs: Back Pain Patient Outcomes Assessment Team (BOAT). In MEDTEP Update, Vol. 1 Issue 1, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD, Summer 1994.

4. In Vallfors B, previously cited.

5. Time to recognize value of chiropractic care? Science and patient satisfaction surveys cite usefulness of spinal manipulation. Orthopedics Today 2003 Feb; 23(2):14-15.

6. Bigos S, Bowyer O, Braen G, et al. Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. Clinical Practice Guideline No.14. AHCPR Publication No. 95-0642. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December, 1994.

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Chiropractic and Neck Pain: Conservative Care

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. Incredibly, the cervical spine supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.

The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to biomechanics. Activities and events that affect cervical biomechanics include extended sitting, repetitive movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or head, normal aging, and everyday wear and tear. Neck pain can be very bothersome, and it can have a variety of causes.

Here are some of the most typical causes of neck pain:

Injury and Accidents: A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting “rebound” in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness. Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash.

Growing Older: Degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease directly affect the spine.

Osteoarthritis, a common joint disorder, causes progressive deterioration of cartilage. The body reacts by forming bone spurs that affect joint motion.
Spinal stenosis causes the small nerve passageways in the vertebrae to narrow, compressing and trapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain, as well as numbness, when these nerves are unable to function normally.
Degenerative disc disease can cause reduction in the elasticity and height of intervertebral discs. Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate, causing tingling, numbness, and pain that runs into the arm.
Daily Life: Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles often disrupt spinal balance, causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness. Postural stress can contribute to chronic neck pain with symptoms extending into the upper back and the arms.

Chiropractic Care of Neck Pain
During your visit, your doctor of chiropractic will perform exams to locate the source of your pain and will ask you questions about your current symptoms and remedies you may have already tried. For example:

When did the pain start?
What have you done for your neck pain?
Does the pain radiate or travel to other parts of your body?
Does anything reduce the pain or make it worse?
Your doctor of chiropractic will also do physical and neurological exams. In the physical exam, your doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting movement that causes pain. Your doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm. A check of your shoulder area is also in order. During the neurological exam, your doctor will test your reflexes, muscle strength, other nerve changes, and pain spread.

In some instances, your chiropractor might order tests to help diagnose your condition. An x-ray can show narrowed disc space, fractures, bone spurs, or arthritis. A computerized axial tomography scan (a CT or CAT scan) or a magnetic resonance imaging test (an MRI) can show bulging discs and herniations. If nerve damage is suspected, your doctor may order a special test called electromyography (an EMG) to measure how quickly your nerves respond.

Chiropractors are conservative care doctors; their scope of practice does not include the use of drugs or surgery. If your chiropractor diagnoses a condition outside of this conservative scope, such as a neck fracture or an indication of an organic disease, he or she will refer you to the appropriate medical physician or specialist. He or she may also ask for permission to inform your family physician of the care you are receiving to ensure that your chiropractic care and medical care are properly coordinated.

Neck Adjustments
A neck adjustment (also known as a cervical manipulation) is a precise procedure applied to the joints of the neck, usually by hand. A neck adjustment works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore range of motion; it can also increase movement of the adjoining muscles. Patients typically notice an improved ability to turn and tilt the head, and a reduction of pain, soreness, and stiffness.

Of course, your chiropractor will develop a program of care that may combine more than one type of treatment, depending on your personal needs. In addition to manipulation, the treatment plan may include mobilization, massage or rehabilitative exercises, or something else.

Research Supporting Chiropractic Care
One of the most recent reviews of scientific literature found evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation.

As part of the literature review, published in the March/April 2007 issue of the Journal of
Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the researchers reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation. No trial group was reported as having remained unchanged, and all groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks post-treatment.

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