Archive for the ‘Health Tips’ Category
I’m sure you have all seen it – following Dr. Mike’s name, are two letters – D.C.
But what does that stand for?
Simply put, it stands for Doctor of Chiropractic. So let’s debunk that rumor right there. Chiropractors ARE doctors. They must attend a chiropractic college, which are accredited by The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Once that is completed, they receive the title of Doctor of Chiropratic, which is recognized by the American Medical Association, as a doctor.
But how do they compare to other doctors, for example, the more commonly known M.D.s?
First off, the schooling is different. Check out the chart below, courtesy of The Grisanti Report, which outlines the typical minimum requirements of hours for those attending chiropractic college versus medical school.
The numbers don’t lie, huh?
But this is not a contest over which one is better. Simply a means to educate everyone on chiropractors, and expose the myths that they deal with on a daily basis.
Another common belief is that chiropractic is unscientific. Before Dr. Mike received his title of D.C., he was required to receive extensive medical training in traditional medical courses. Just like other areas of medicine, the research in the chiropractic field is ongoing, and with each study, new clinical and scientific research and practices are revealed. Still left scratching your head? Just ask Dr. Mike for one of the many articles or abstracts he has outlining the scientifically-proven benefits of spinal adjustments and chiropractic care.
If you talk with any chiropractor about your indivdual case, you can tell within minutes that they know what they are talking about – and that they earned the title of Doctor.
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This simple question is one that gets asked all the time here at Mecca Integrated Medical Center.
When should you use heat, and when should you use ice?
Find out the answer from our very own physical therapist, Marina Poretsky, DPT.
Q: Why do you use ice or heat in the first place?
A: Utilizing either ice or heat therapy helps with pain, as well reduce inflammation, decrease muscle spasms, and speed the healing process. Using the wrong one, however, can cause more harm than good. For example, heat can increase blood circulation and leakage, which can lead to swelling and pain in an acute injury case.
Q: Glad you mentioned that. How do you know whether to use heat or ice?
A: The general rule of thumb is ice acute, and heat chronic. In other words, use ice 48-72 hours following an injury. any chronic pain or an “old” injury should use heat.
Other reasons for using ice include:
- After an activity or workout involving an overuse injury to decrease pain and swelling
- To treat joint swelling due to inflammatory arthritis
Other reasons for using heat include:
- To warm up stiff joints and aid in joint mobility.
- To decrease chronic muscle spasms.
- To aid in stretching tight muscles.
- Before an activity or workout to warm up an affected area.
Q: How long should you keep ice or heat on for?
A: Ice and heat should be kept on for no longer that 20 minutes. Make sure you put a layer in between you and the ice/heat, such as a towel or pack cover. After 20 minutes, wait roughly an hour to apply the therapy on again.
If you have any other questions, ask your personal medical professional.
When your boss shoots you an email with the details about your next office meeting, you might be surprised to see the location – a pair of treadmills? That’s right, “walking meetings”, as they have come to be called, are becoming popular in offices across the nation. These meetings take place on two treadmills that face each other – the true definition of multi-tasking, if you ask me – allowing co-workers to talk while they walk.
A recent blog post had peeked my curiosity – and with a little research, I found that this idea isn’t exactly new. New York Times had written about this a little over a year ago, mentioning a financing firm that had set up four treadmill desks for co-workers to utilize while they “take care of business.”
You might think to yourself, I workout out almost daily, doesn’t that negate elongated time spend sitting down? Not exactly. Research has shown that it isn’t the not exercising that is dangerous, it is simply the act of sitting itself. One study by the American Cancer Society showed that women and men who sat for six hours a day were 37 percent, and 18 percent, respectively, more likely to die by the end of the 13 year study period. Wow.
The Mayo Clinic also noted that increased hours of sitting, whether behind a desk or in front of a television, “increased the risk of events associated with cardiovascular disease, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack” by 125 percent.
Those studies don’t even mention the more immediate side effects of long-term sitting. Hello Neck Pain! Welcome Back Pain! Ah, we meet again Headaches and Wrist Pain!
Don’t think your boss will spring for a couple of treadmills? Not to worry, the idea is still the same.When you have a chance, take the stairs, not the elevator. Instead of using intercom or instant messaging, get up and WALK to your co-worker to relay the message. Refill your water every hour – this will help encourage you to get up more frequently, as you will need to walk to both the water cooler and the bathroom.
Another great tip? GET UP. Even just a few 5 minute walking breaks, with a few stretches and deep breathing thrown in, can do wonders for your overall health.
What do you plan to do to make sure you keep moving throughout the work day?
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Welcome to the second part of our three-part series, outlining our office technology. This blog is all about a chiropractic staple in our office : the Ultralign.
Here is the break down: A subluxation is a misaligned vertebrae. Chiropractors remove subluxations. Our chiropractor, Dr. Michael Sapienza, identifies and removes the subluxations with the a computer-generated system, called the Ultralign.
Seems simple enough, right? The Ultralign is just another form of chiropractic, just like manual adjustments – in that it realigns the spine. However, there are some benefits that are specific to the computer-generated adjustments.
1- It’s relaxing. Some of our patients come to us scarred from past experiences with manual adjustments – and are fearful of the popping noises that can occur during the process. That fear can cause you to tense up and not get a proper adjustment. When you get adjusted by the Ultralign, you are in a seated position, face down, and are able to relax.
2- It comes with options. The Ultralign has protocols specific for your ailment – from lower back pain, to neck pain, to even migraine headaches. Telling the chiropractor what is bothering you will help him choose the right option, and have you leaving our office feeling like a new person.
3- It can be safer. While manual adjustments are generally safe, sometimes they run the risk of aggravating a bulging or herniated disc – a common condition that we treat in our practice. The Ultralign removes that risk, since it is a gentler option, and is a great compliment to the decompression table.
Interested in trying out this cool piece of technology? Just call our office at 973-943-4300 to schedule your complimentary medical consult with Dr. Sapienza.
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Harvard Health recently wrote about how posture can help keep back pain at bay- noting that it isn’t just your standing posture you should worry about. How you sit in your chair at work, as well as performing tasks such as lifting or reaching, can have a negative effect on your back health.
Here is an excerpt of the 4 tips they provided to improve your posture:
- Imagery. Think of a straight line passing through your body from ceiling to floor (your ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles should be even and line up vertically). Now imagine that a strong cord attached to your breastbone is pulling your chest and rib cage upward, making you taller. Try to hold your pelvis level — don’t allow the lower back to sway. Think of stretching your head toward the ceiling, increasing the space between your rib cage and pelvis. Picture yourself as a ballerina or ice skater rather than a soldier at attention.
- Shoulder blade squeeze. Sit up straight in a chair with your hands resting on your thighs. Keep your shoulders down and your chin level. Slowly draw your shoulders back and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Hold for a count of five; relax. Repeat three or four times.
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- Upper-body stretch. Stand facing a corner with your arms raised, hands flat against the walls, elbows at shoulder height. Place one foot ahead of the other. Bending your forward knee, exhale as you lean your body toward the corner. Keep your back straight and your chest and head up. You should feel a nice stretch across your chest. Hold this position for 20–30 seconds. Relax.
- Arm-across-chest stretch. Raise your right arm to shoulder level in front of you and bend the arm at the elbow, keeping the forearm parallel to the floor. Grasp the right elbow with your left hand and gently pull it across your chest so that you feel a stretch in the upper arm and shoulder on the right side. Hold for 20 seconds; relax both arms. Repeat to the other side. Repeat three times on each side.
Looking for additional tips? Stop by the office to talk with Dr. Sapienza about your posture and back pain.
While a pain in the back can be annoying to the average person, to a professional athlete, it can have a negative effect on their career. That is why it is so important for athletes, professional and otherwise, explore all of the options for treatment – to see which therapies can have them playing back at their A-Game level.
A Sports Health study recently sought to find evidence of the best therapy options for athletes, with conclusions being drawn from studies ranging from 1990-2010. Various therapies that were explored included cold or heat application, medications, ultrasound treatments, as well as spinal adjustments. Who came out the winner?
“Superficial heat and spinal manipulation therapy are the most strongly supported evidence-based therapies,” the report said. They concluded that these therapies had the strongest evidence of benefit, coupled with the lowest risk of side effects (as opposed to drugs, for instance.)
It is important to take note that back pain is a symptom – one that can have many and varying causes, ranging from a pulled muscle to sprains or contusions. Recognizing and diagnosing the cause is the first step to selecting the treatment plan that would be the most effective for the athlete.
So, calling all athletes – ranging from the intramural soccer player to the professional baseball player. If you are suffering from back pain, chiropractic just might be right for you.
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