The goal of the program is to support and nurture both mommy and baby throughout the growth process and aid in providing an easy and efficient birthing process through optimal pevlic bio-mechanics and muscular conditioning.

Those wanting to learn more can visit the official Mommy N’ Me Chiropractic & Wellness in NYC website by following the link.

Pain that is not associated with any underlying degenerative or spinal disorders such as herniated disc or arthritis can usually be deemed mechanical back pain and is most often associated with repetitive stress injury.  This type of pain usually affects sedentary people who have repetitious work postures or subject themselves to continuous micro traumas.  Eventually, this type of back pain can lead to the previously mentioned conditions once more damage is done.

Natural Solutions for Back Pain

Many patients that seek care for back pain in Manhattan fall into this category.  If your office is not ergonomically designed you may be at greater risk for mechanical back pain.  Sitting postures can be particularly problematic for some.  A good ergonomic evaluation will identify possible risk factors and correct them as to prevent the occurrence of repetitive stress injury.

Should you suffer from back pain there are many natural treatment options which have been successful in treating many back pain sufferers in our Manhattan clinic.

Some of the following treatment options have been helpful for treating Back Pain Manhattan;

• Spinal Decompression Therapy
• Super-Pulsed Laser Therapy
• Active Therapeutic Movements
• Graston Soft Tissue Mobilization

Conditions such as spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, facet encroachment or lumbar disc herniation are conditions that may lead to sciatica and sciatic like symptoms.  In some cases these symptoms, if the underlying condition is left unresolved, can be chronic and remain for years.  Patients will often say “I’ve got sciatica, had it for years”.  This is a false statement for reasons mentioned above.

If the true origin of the symptoms is properly identified and the treatment plan matches this condition well you can resolve the sciatica.  If a disc bulge or herniated disc are the underlying cause, which is most commonly the case, many non-surgical outpatient treatments are available to address this.  If conventional chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage, etc. fail there are some more advanced approaches that seek to bridge the gap between failed therapy and a more invasive, and often risky, surgical intervention.

Spinal decompression therapy, active therapeutic movement and cold laser therapy (super-pulsed laser technology is best) have shown promise in resolving these conditions where other approaches have failed.  To learn more about symptoms and specific lumbar nerve root involvement see this post on Sciatica NYC

So, that being said, why is it that you have pain now?  Really, it’s a combination of things.  Your body is cyclical and we go through periods of increased vs. decreased stress loads.  We lose hydration and then regain it.  Our own protective, or internal resistive forces, be it physical or emotional or whatever also vary in terms of threshold.  This collective repetition of stress leads to what I like to call a ‘break’ in your body’s function.  When ‘breaks’ occur we tend to have more susceptibility towards injury.  This overloads the already worn out spinal structures and leads to an acute exacerbation, i.e. symptoms.

Function should always be ones true measure of success.  Are you 100% functional?  If so, the herniated disc on MRI doesn’t really signify much.  Of course, how one cares for their own bodies and the level of degeneration that sets in in the first place is an entirely different conversation.  One which I do have an opinion about and just to let you in on it I don’t believe it all comes with the territory of aging.  I’ve personally seen an 80 year old patient with ZERO degenerative changes in their spine.

What Can I do If I Already Have Degeneration, Sciatica or Back Pain?

These types of acute exacerbation s that lead to sometimes debilitating pain such as back pain, sciatica or leg pain can leave you begging for relief.  Often times the pain gets so bad, to the point of mental anguish and distress, that patients will opt for more invasive procedures in the hopes of complete and total relief only to be disappointed.  Long term studies have shown that surgical outcomes may not be any better then 50% and worse.

Generally, it’s recommended that you take conservative approach to physical rehabilitation.  Pain relieving medications may be necessary, and helpful, in the short term but will only mask the pain and symptoms and do little to ‘fix’ things up. Spinal decompression therapy is one type of approach that has been successful treating these types of pain conditions where other more conservative approaches such as physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage have failed.

It should be noted that spinal decompression therapy is not appropriate for everyone and should be combined with an aggressive form of neuro-muscular rehabilitation.  Lumbar stabilization can be achieved very well using Active Therapeutic Movements on the ATM2 machine in conjunction with spinal decompression therapy.

Learn more about non-surgical approaches to pain relief here:

The Center for Chiropractic & Decompression NYC

http://thecenternyc.com

The pain associated with a herniated disc can range from mild to severe and in the worst of cases can lead to disability.  The disc is not only a shock absorbing substance but also a ligament that functionally connects two vertebrae from above and below.  When it is damaged is can lead to significant dysfunction and in some cases pain.  About 2/3 of the population has some form of disc pathology, however, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they have any pain.  In fact, many otherwise healthy and pain free individuals if undergone MRI study will show some degree of disc pathology.  What if you have low back pain, though?  Well, in this case your clinical symptoms must be well correlated with a disc pathology to determine if this is the actual cause of your pain.  More often then not, the disc itself is not the problem except in more severe cases or acute trauma.

In fact, it is very likely that the disc is just a victim of some other form of dysfunction such as poor muscle tone or imbalance or a bio mechanical problem in your spine.  When the movement of your spine and the muscles that support it begin to dysfunction additional forces are now transferred to the disc.  Being 70% water the disc structure is not designed to support weight or load in a static manner or for a prolonged time period.  When this happens it causes the disc to begin to bulge at the margins.  Long term overloading can lead to degenerative changes within the disc and eventual herniation in more severe situations.  The pain associated with this can usually be resolved with non-surgical treatment options.  To learn more about these approaches visit our site for Herniated Disc Treatment NYC.

Low back pain can arise as a result of many different origins.  Pain can strike suddenly, or, can develop gradually over time.  There are varying degrees of pain and even more varying origins of back pain.

One such origin is derangement of a lumbar spinal disc.  This is often referred to as a ‘slipped’ or herniated disc.  Typically, when a disc herniates a portion of the inner material known as the nucleus pulposis migrates out of it’s containment layer known as the annulus fibrosis.  This process can be slow or abrupt as in the event of trauma.

Whatever the reason a herniated disc can lead to a myriad of symptoms that may range from mild low back pain to excruciating back and leg pain.  When spinal nerves are affected it is often referred to as sciatica.  Although, sciatica is itself merely a symptom and not a causal diagnosis.

If a herniated disc is determined to be the underlying culprit in your pain condition there are now varying degrees of non-surgical treatment options at your disposal.

To learn more about herniated discs, sciatica and non-surgical treatment options you can read more from out blog.

The answer to this question is not a simple one as many people tend to associate any type of neck pain with having whiplash.  The first thing is to find out is whether or not you have whiplash.

Is it Whiplash or a Pain in the Neck?

Whiplash is defined as an injury to the neck, by moving the head forward and then backward in a rapid fashion that places strain on the neck muscles and ligaments.  Whiplash is most common when the victim has been rear-ended, or hit from behind by another vehicle but can result from physical abuse (such as shaken baby syndrome) or contact sports. The symptoms of whiplash vary and are not limited to –

• Restricted joint movement in spine or limbs
• Displacement of spinal discs, also known as a herniation, which causes sharp pain down one or both arms; It also can create small tears in spinal tissue and damage the nervous system, which is followed by numbness, tingling and muscle weakness
• Chronic pain in the neck area
• Cognitive dysfunction that may include difficulty concentrating

When to See a Physician

If you have unrelated neck pain that persists for a period of time or you experience the following:

• A shooting pain through one or both arms
• Tingling or numb feeling in one or both arms or hands
• Inability to touch chin to your chest

You may want to see a chiropractor or other medical professional as they can diagnose an underlying problem.  If you are not having any of the symptoms or find it goes away after changing positions, it may just be the result of poor posture.

The Severity of Whiplash

For some, neck pain resulting from an accident can be treated with ice and a light brace.  Other times, it may disappear on its own or a person may find themselves feeling:

• Pain in their jaw
• Significant damage to ligaments, discs, nerves or joints
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nausea
• Irritability or unable to concentrate

If any of these symptoms persist, they should see a chiropractor so that x-ray as well as other tests may be performed to determine if there is an underlying problem.

Seeing the Chiropractor

The primary objective of the chiropractor is to use gentle manipulations that treat the spine and discs so that they are aligned properly.  These manipulations are also designed to reduce muscle spasms and rebuild muscle strength with the aid of physical therapy.

The chiropractor will first focus on reducing inflammation and check the neck, mid and low back. From there, the range of motion, disc injuries and muscle spasms will be examined. Other factors that will be noted are walking, posture and spinal alignment.  A comprehensive exam provides an understanding of the individuals’ body mechanics. X-rays and /or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be taken along with the patient medical history to determine whether they can be treated.

Some cases of whiplash may only require ice and heat therapy to reduce inflammation and relax the muscles, respectively.  Non-medicinal treatment may include acupuncture, massage or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

If you or someone you know may have experienced any or all of symptom described, then you may want to share this information with them or give our office a call to make an appointment.  You can visit our NYC Chiropractors website as well.

References

Mayo Clinic Diseases and Conditions homepage (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whiplash/DS01037

Mayo Clinic Diseases and Conditions homepage (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/neck-pain/DS00542

American Chiropractic Association Patient Health and Wellness Tips (2011) Retrieved August 30, 2011; from http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=3131

With summer at an end, the leaves are turning brown and falling, cluttering up your yard and garden – so it’s only natural you’ll want to get the rake out. However, as with all physical tasks about the house and garden, it is very important you take the necessary precautions against accident and injury.

Fall yard work, leaf raking and other outdoor maintenance activities carry numerous risks such as: upper and lower back strain, neck strain and shoulder pain. Just like with sports, if your body isn’t prepared for physical activity this can increase your chances of injury. You can avoid straining yourself by taking simple precautions, such as: doing warm ups, stretches and maintaining good posture.

Athletes are able to reduce the risk of strain and injury by doing warm ups. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recommends 10-15 minutes of stretching exercises: from trunk rotations, side-bends and knee-to-chest pulls. When these are also combined with a short walk, which helps to stimulate circulation, and with additional stretches at the end, this prepares the body for manual labor associated with raking and yard work.

While raking your garden or yard, good posture can also prevent back problems – make sure you keep your back straight and your head up. Use common sense while working: lift with your legs and bend with your knees, taking care you don’t strain your back while picking up bundles of leaves and grass. If you’re likely to carry heavy items, hold them close to your body to help prevent back strain. In order to take the pressure off your back, rake using the “scissors” stance: put your right foot forward and the left one back, then reverse after a few minutes. When using a lawn mower, try to use your body weight to move it as opposed to your arms and back.

It is vitally important to take breaks. Pace yourself, and whenever your body feels tired take a respite – this is particularly important if the weather is hot, so drink lots of water and wear sun-protection such as a hat, sun block and protective glasses. Investing in extra protective gear, such as gloves to prevent blisters, a mask if you’re prone to allergies and protective eyewear, can make life easier while taking on outdoor chores. Ergonomic tools with extra padding, larger or curved handles are less strenuous to use over a long-time period. Changing tasks regularly helps to prevent repetitive strain injury of certain muscle groups – change positions, or simply move onto another task for a short period of time before returning to the previous one. Make plans for your gardening tasks; make sure they’re realistic and unlikely to cause strain or exhaust you too much.

If you’re unaccustomed to physical labor, chances are you will feel sore and stiff the next day – in this case, use ice to soothe the discomfort, but if there is no improvement in your aches and pains, then see a chiropractor.

In the meantime please feel free to browse around

Chiropractor NYC