The ABC's of Chiropractic Care

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Combining the Greek words “cheir” (hand) and “praxis” (action), chiropractic is a term used to describe a medical treatment done almost entirely by hand. Hands on therapy such as the adjustment of the spine, is crucial to successful chiropractic care. Chiropractic subscribes to the concept that the human body has a powerful ability to heal itself, and that the body’s structure (namely that of the spine) is closely related to its function, and that the relationship between the two contribute to the individual’s overall health.

Chiropractic is the second largest healthcare profession in the world. Chiropractic has proven uncannily adept at relieving neck, back, shoulder, knee, wrist and headache pain, with only a series of spinal adjustment and without the discomfort, inconvenience or risk that comes with surgery and other invasive procedures.

Causes of spine and joint pain are numerous, from muscle sprains, ligament injury, disc herniation, and fibromyalgia. Chiropractic treatment is an excellent, non-surgical method for getting relief from the discomfort and the ability to enjoy life normally again.

Most PPO's and private insurance, as well as Medicare and Tricare, now cover chiropractic, as do all state workers compensation programs. Let the Chiropractic physicians at The Back Institute give you the treatment you need. Don't wait, click the button on your right or call 904-269-2437 today to schedule your free consultation.

Back pain, for those afflicted with it, can become a lifelong debilitating problem. They key to dealing with it is to find the most effective way of keeping it in check. Back pain rehabilitation not only helps reduce the severity of your back pain at the present time, but also provides strengthening and a measure of protection from future injuries. 

Back rehabilitation strengthens the muscles of the back, improving both flexibility as well as the overall range of motion. Through processes in stretching strengthening, and balance, you will achieve a wider range of motion, tolerance of and resistance to further injury, as well as improvement of balance and posture. This process is done through the use of various exercises and related devices such as exercise balls or resistance equipment such as Vax-D pictured at right.

Take steps to avoid uncomfortable or lazy postures, and when lifting, remember to do so properly, at the knees to avoid damage to the spine. Begin with lighter exercises, and utilize deep breathing and other relaxation techniques to help control the level of back pain.

The expert physicians with The Back Institute know what it takes to get you back on your feet and moving again after a back injury. Let us help you; fill out the form to your right or call 904-269-2437 today to schedule your free consultation.

Rehabilitation Methods and Practices

•      FREE consultation and initial evaluation - review of findings with doctor!

•      We help you strengthen your back and prevent future injuries from occurring.

•      Use exercise equipment to increase flexibility and range of motion.

•      We help you get back on your feet and moving again.

  Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://endyourpain.org or http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com

Are You Suffering from Smartphone Slump?

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

You see them every day, walking with head down, oblivious to the world around them.  Or you spy them sitting in their cars at stoplights leaning forward as they frantically try to compose themselves before the light changes.  I’m not talking about road rage here.  I’m talking about texting.  While gen xers are particularly prone to partake in this practice on a nearly manic level, I have seen my fair share of baby boomers who have adopted what I have come to refer to as the Smartphone Slump.

While some of the habits of this practice are obvious, others are not. A spin-off of a topic I covered in an earlier blog that detailed the occupational hazard that every man, woman and child is subjected to as we surf the web.

“If you spend a significant portion of your day staring at a computer screen, this is known to lead to forward head and shoulder posture which can cause pinched nerves and degenerative disc disease.  If your monitor sits flat atop your desk, this necessitates that you lean your head forward to read the screen.  Doing this day in and day out sets up a domino effect of sorts caused in part by the pull of gravity on your head.    This head down posture puts strain on the vertebrae of the lower neck, which in turn causes the muscles of the upper back to work overtime in order to compensate.  Over time, the lower cervical vertebrae may slide forward, further curving the spine until sufferers of this syndrome begin to suffer neck pain, tingling or loss o

f feeling in the fingers and persistent muscle ache as the muscles and tendons become tight.” 

http://eliminatepainnow.blogspot.com/2013/06/occupational-hazards-may-be-at-roof-of.html

Smartphone Slump can also be the initiator for head forward posture, which is an unhealthy forward curvature of the neck and shoulders that makes those afflicted seem far older than their age.  Worse still, if left unchecked, this self-inflicted condition can result in much more than poor posture.  Over time everything from loss of balance to nerve damage.  Some sufferers get to the point where it is difficult to keep their chins from coming to rest on their chests.  As a result, everything from neck pain to a loss of mobility can result.  This makes everyday tasks like walking and driving not only arduous, but hazardous.

To determine if you have Smartphone Slump do the following:

1.      Put down the phone.

2.      Stand with your back flat against the wall.

3.      Note whether the back of your head is touching the wall.

If your head does not touch the wall without forcing it to do so you most definitely have Smartphone Slump.  That is the bad news.  Over time your neck muscles have weakened from repeatedly maintaining a head down posture such as that necessary to text.  (People with head forward posture find it extremely difficult if not painful to straighten their neck so that the back of the head touches the wall.) 

The good news is that this is an easily treatable condition.  If you suspect that you or any one you know suffers from this condition, tell them to consult a chiropractor right away.  Not only can a chiropractor correct this problem, they can also show sufferers a number of exercises that are designed to alleviate the muscle strain that this condition can cause before it leads to more serious problems down the road.

There are also a number of exercises that you can perform for a few minutes every day that can help stretch the muscles that become overworked and tight as a result of prolonged periods slumped either in front of a desk or a smartphone.  Below are several that can help correct the situation if done regularly.

  

Corner Stretch

A basic exercise that is important for stretching the chest and shoulder muscles is the corner stretch. It is performed in the corner of a room.

This neck stretch is done as follows:

·         Patients stand approximately two feet back from the corner, facing into the corner.

·         Feet should be together.

·         Forearms are placed on each wall, and elbows are a little below shoulder height (Figure 1).

·         Lean in as far as possible without pain. Patients will feel a stretch in the front of the shoulders and chest (Figure 2).

·         Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds to a minute.

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/neck-stretches

The Slouch Overcorrect Procedure

 This exercise helps you find your correct sitting posture. 

      1.   Slouch completely

·           2.   Sit up and accentuate your lumbar lordosis as far as possible. (Hold this posture for a few seconds.)

·          3 Release the strain.

http://www.drsarasolomon.com/oxygen-magazine-blog-if-you-are-slouched-in-your-chair-then-sit-up-straight-and-read-this-by-dr-sara-solomon/

While we are all forced to deal with the demands of an ever more wired world, remember that when it comes to your health, the human body is decidedly old school.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com and http://endyourpain.org who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives. 

Let's Get Physical

by Dr. Steven Warfield

Physical therapy (Photo credit: United States Forces - Iraq (Inactive))

Everyone experiences back pain from time to time.  Many times a bit of rest and perh

aps an ice pack is all it takes to make the discomfort go away.  However, when back pain persists for more than a couple of weeks, it’s time to consider some measure of physical therapy. The goal of back pain therapy is to reduce the level of pain, increase function and mobility, and provide education designed to prevent future occurrences.

Back pain therapy may be done through the use of heat/ice packs, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) units, Vax-D and ultrasound, as well as more active procedures such as stretching, strengthening, and low impact aerobic conditioning. It usually takes about two weeks to determine a patient’s progress, and hopefully be able to predict the duration of the treatment.

Of course every patient is different, and the duration will largely depend on the individual, the severity of the injury, and how willing they are to work hard towards resolving it. The physicians at The Back Institute are ready to assist you with your back pain therapy and rehabilitation needs.

“I was experiencing pain in my low back which radiated into my hips and legs. The worst problem was my sciatic nerve. The pain running down my right leg was intense. I could only stand for about two minutes. I have had pain for about six months and have not been able to exercise, shop, or do any activities that involved standing. I have had VAX-D, physical therapy, adjustments, and trigger point injections. My low back pain has decreased and my leg pain has also improved. This is a wonderful caring place to be. The staff has been wonderful. I will miss everyone and would recommend VAX-D to anyone.” 

-- Judy Molique

Other Treatments may include:

Vax-D - 50% of adults experience a back or neck injury during their lifetime.  The bad news is that depending upon the nature and severity of the injury, many times this has meant surgery followed by a long, slow, painful recovery.  The good news is that modern advances in medical technology have produced a non-surgical alternative to going under the knife for many people.  Some would call this a miracle.  We refer to it by its trade name: VAX-D.

More precisely called vertebral axial decompression therapy, VAX-D is a computer controlled machine that works by slowly lengthening and decompressing the spine creating a negative pressure within the discs.  This reversal of pressure creates an intradiscal vacuum that not only takes pressure off pinched nerves, but helps to reposition bulging discs and pull extruded disc material back into place. Read more here.

Effective pain relief: Philips TensRelief Pain Management Devices Help Pain Sufferers Lead an Active Life with Less Pain (Photo credit: Philips Communications)

ELECTROTHERAPY– Electrotherapy is the application of micro-electrical current to the body for therapeutic purposes.  This also sounds a bit intimidating at first glance, but electrotherapy is simply the use of several electronic devices that can prevent muscle atrophy and spasms, increase or maintain range of motion, and alleviate pain. EMS gently and safely contracts and relaxes muscles to soothe and help them recover from injury, fatigue and/or soreness.  EMS units work by sending weak electrical impulses that stimulate targeted muscle groups. Read more here. 

MASSAGE - Massage has been used to treat stress and pain for thousands of years.  Written 

references to the effects of massage have been cited in such places as ancient Rome, Greece and Mesopotamia.  While the treatment fell out of favor during the 1940’s, by the early 70’s a new resurgence of the therapy was seen as everyone from celebrities to athletes sung its praises.  Today, massage is an accepted and popular form of therapy with more than 18 million adults in the US and more than 700,000 children having received massage therapy in 2010 alone.

While the term “massage” is uniformly used to describe the manipulation of muscles and soft tissues of the body, there are actually dozens of different forms of massage, including Balinese, Barefoot, Deep Tissue, Metamorphic, Myofascial, Pediatric, Shiatsu, Swedish and Trigger Point, just to name a few.  Many forms of massage are performed while lying down, while others are performed in a seated position.  Specialized massage tables and ergonomic chairs have been designed to allow the patient to relax while the practitioner plies his or her trade.  Specialized tools and massage oils have also been developed to enhance the effects of treatment. Read more here.

In Conclusion

While most of us have been conditioned to rely on pain killers to  combat pain, before you reach for 

that bottle of pills remember that masking the pain and truly alleviating pain are two different things.  If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic back pain, contact a health professional that specializes in helping patients achieve long term pain relief. 

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments forback pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies. If you or anyone you know suffers from herniated discs, degenerative discs or spinal stenosis,  visit http://endyourpain.org

The Lowdown on Lower Back Pain

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

When it comes to the masses, lower back pain doesn’t discriminate.  Common to people of all ages, both sexes and every racial, economic and social strata, more than 95% of the population is forced to deal with this condition at some point in time.   For the fortunate the pain may subside within a day or so.  For others, chronic pain can be something that they will be burdened with for the rest of their lives. 

The costs in the US alone totals close to $50 billion per year when you factor in everything from 

treatment and surgery to pain pills and lost wages.  Studies show that lower back pain is the number one cause of occupational disability worldwide.  It is also regarded as the second most debilitating neurological condition in the US next to headache.

Causes of Lower Back Pain

Since dealing with back pain can be so problematic, the first line of defense is prevention.  Typically lower back pain begins with loss of flexibility leading to a sudden muscle or ligament strain.  Caused by lifting a heavy object improperly, quick movements or twisting of the spine can overtax the tissue’s ability to stretch, ultimately resulting in everything from strain to microscopic tears that then manifest themselves as pain.  This pain can range from mild discomfort or a dull ache to disabling pain depending upon the extent and location of the injury. Injuries that involve either the nerves or the lumbar discs can be particularly debilitating.  The best advice I can give to anyone who experiences lower back pain is to curtail all physically activity immediately.  The last thing you want to do is to make an already bad situation worse.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The architecture of the lower back is much more complicated than most people realize.  Spinal vertebrae along with their associated discs form a framework over which are attached the tendons, muscles and soft tissues.  All of these structures are controlled and monitored by a series of highly sensitive nerves that travel from the lower back down the legs and into the feet.  Damage to any of these structures can cause pain not only in the damaged areas, but this pain can also radiate to other parts of the body. 

While lower back pain can occur at any age, certain types of injuries are more typical with certain age groups.  While the elderly are more susceptible to pain caused  by joint degeneration, younger adults particularly those in the 30-50 range are more likely to experience pain due to ligament or disc injury.  To determine the cause and proper treatment of lower back pain your chiropractor will need to conduct an examination, part of which will involve asking you to describe the location and severity of pain, an orthopedic and neurological exam and X-ray imaging may also be in order.

 As a rule, lower back pain can be broken down into three categories:

1.    Axial lower back pain – Relegated to the lower back only, this pain can become severe enough to preclude normal activities, such as standing or walking.  That’s the bad news.  The good news is that for many patients this kind of pain is typically short lived if treated promptly.  (Typical treatments can take from one to three months.)

2.    Sciatica is the next most common lower back problem.  Caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, this kind of lower back pain is characterized by pain that radiates to the leg, buttock, or foot.

3.    Low back pain with referred pain - Like sciatica this condition involves back pain that radiates to the groin, buttock and/or upper thigh.  But in this case it rarely extends below the knee. 

Making the Pain Go Away

Depending upon the category and severity of the injury, your chiropractor may bring a number of treatment modalities into play in order to make the pain go away, including spinal manipulation, spinal decompression such as Vax-D, and cold laser technology and various other therapeutic treatments. He or she will also prescribe various exercise and stretching routines that can not only speed your recovery but also prevent a relapse. Since lifestyle and environmental factors can also come into play, there are a number of triggers that you can learn to avoid, such as:

•        Weight Gain

•        Poor Posture

•        Sports that produce repetitive stresses

•        Lifting with the back as opposed to the legs

•        Chairs with poor or no lumbar support

•        Wearing high heeled shoes

If you or anyone you know is experiencing back pain, have them talk to a doctor of chiropractic to discuss treatment options.  A number of chiropractic offices such as ours even offer a free initial consultation, examination and x-ray if medically necessary to make it possible for people of all income brackets to seek help, alleviate pain and avoid complications. 

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com and http://endyourpain.org who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.