Why You Should Immediately See a Chiropractor after a Car Accident
July 30, 2010
A car accident can happen so suddenly.
In just the space of thirty seconds, that left turn you were about to make quickly becomes a major fender bender. Or maybe you were sitting patiently at a stop light, when all of a sudden you felt a major jolt in the back of your car.
Regardless of how your car accident happened, your next step is a vital one: even the most “minor” car accidents can cause the kind of neck, back and shoulder injuries that can cause persistent pain for the rest of your life. And in some severe causes, minor fender-benders have even led to permanent disability, thanks to whiplash, sprains and other spinal injuries.
Many people often think that treatment should only be sought when injuries are visible; in fact, a recent online survey found that one in three drivers reported feeling too embarrassed to seek medical treatment if no injuries were visible. However, some of the most debilitating injuries experienced during a car accident are the ones we can’t immediately see or feel.
Immediate treatment from a chiropractor after an auto accident should be everyone’s first line of response. Because chiropractors are trained to spot the “invisible” injuries, like whiplash, neck strain, bruises and other soft tissue injuries, your chiropractor can prevent potential injuries from turning into serious medical issues.
Additionally, by utilizing the skills and expertise of a chiropractor after an auto accident, you could save thousands of dollars on out-of-pocket hospital bills and other medical expenses. Since chiropractors treat a wide variety of common injuries caused by car accidents – including whiplash, shoulder pains, muscle fatigue, and other symptoms – you won’t have to resort to expensive hospital treatments to alleviate these minor injuries. And because many chiropractors specialize in injuries caused by auto accidents, they can show you exactly what exercises you can perform to help your nerves, muscles and spinal cord to gently and effectively heal.
Don’t let a car accident turn your life upside down – seek immediate treatment from an experienced chiropractor and stop those injuries before they start!
When considering treatment for injuries resulting from a car accident, our physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).
How Posture Can Improve Athletic Performance
July 15, 2010
As an athlete, your regimen probably consists of the usual exercises: cardiovascular endurance, strength training, aerobic conditioning, etc. But while these workouts may aid in improving your overall performance, a new study has shown that athletes are overlooking a vital component of a successful training regimen: maintaining excellent posture.
A 2004 study conducted by the American Medical Athletic Association (AMAA; www.amaasportsmed.org) concluded that athletes who want to optimize their performance should focus on their posture. The study reported that “postural repositioning exercises, breathing exercises, gluteal, hamstring and abdominal/oblique exercises alone can provide for improved…performance as a result of improved posture.” The study also concluded that improved posture can alleviate aches and pains, as well as prevent common sports injuries.
So why does good posture play such an important role in how well you’ll run during the big marathon or at your next tennis match? Simple: it’s because improper application of pressure on your spine, joints, muscles and nerves can all contribute to a less-than-stellar athletic performance.
Think about it in terms of a car. No matter how much top-notch oil you pour into it, or how powerful the engine is, if the fundamental mechanics of the car aren’t properly aligned or working, you won’t get the maximum performance out of the car. The human body functions in the same way: even if your diet and exercise routines are highly optimized for an Olympic outcome, you won’t get the expected results if your body has been strained by poor posture.
So what exercises can you do to improve your posture?
Experts recommend that all athletes include yoga and meditative practices in their training regimen as a way of strengthening key muscles and joints. While yoga teaches how to find and maintain excellent posture, meditative sessions can reinforce proper breathing techniques, which can also relieve strain on muscles and joints. Try this simple exercise, known as “belly breathing”: breathe in through the nose and into the diaphragm for a count of five, and then exhale by “sighing” for a count of seven. By using this breathing technique, athletes will not only relieve stress to the ribs, shoulders and backs – this type of breathing also requires less energy to use. And as any athlete knows, less energy expelled on breathing means better performances.
Many athletes may require more assistance with corrective posture to enhance their athletic performance, which is where physical therapy or a combination of physical therapy and chiropractic services can help. At an initial consultation, the athlete’s overall balance, structure and tension will be assessed to determine the root cause of poor posture. Once the mechanical or structural problem has been identified, a custom program will be developed to help the athlete correct the imbalance and regain full range of athletic ability and performance.
When considering treatment for correcting posture related problems and enhancing athletic performance, our physical therapy and chiropractic clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).
Light Therapy for Restless Leg Syndrome
July 1, 2010
Sufferers from Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) – the inability to sit or lay down without experiencing the incontrollable urge to move one’s legs – have often been at a loss for effective treatment of this frustrating condition.
After all, RLS sufferers experience difficulty accomplishing ordinary activities, such as sitting still at work and car and airplane travel, as they feel that they must continually move their legs. Additionally, this powerful urge is so prevalent, it can even prevent a sufferer from falling asleep, leading to secondary conditions like insomnia, sleep apnea and chronic fatigue.
In short, RLS doesn’t just affect the legs – it can affect every aspect of a sufferer’s life.
So what exactly causes RLS? While the jury is still out on a definitive cause, many experts agree that there’s a distinct relationship between RLS and venous reflux; in other words, RLS sufferers experience an abnormal blood flow that contributes to the feelings of having restless legs. Healthy blood flow will travel through the legs and back up to the heart to be re-oxygenated. But experts have discovered that RLS sufferers experience a weak blood flow in the legs, which then causes the blood in the legs to flow “backwards” due to gravity’s pull. This blood collects and floods the leg veins, causing that familiar and painful cramping sensation that characterizes RLS.
Luckily, many adult sufferers have a new option in the fight against RLS: low-level light therapy, otherwise known as LLLT.
Health experts have discovered that low-level light therapy can stimulate cellular function, thus reducing the pain and discomfort often associated with RLS. Additionally, it also helps to increase blood flow in the legs helping to reduce and even in some cases eliminate RLS. With LLLT, a small pad containing a set of lights releases specific laser wavelengths on the affected area for a predetermined amount of time. After a few treatments, most RLS sufferers report a significant amount of relief from their RLS due to this innovative and non-invasive treatment. What’s more, many insurance companies are now covering the treatment, which requires no hospitalization and minimal recovery time.
It’s finally a viable treatment option for exasperated RLS sufferers everywhere!
When considering treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), our physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 value).
Oh, My Aching…Leg?
September 11, 2009
Certain low back conditions give rise to more than just low back pain. For example, leg pain can be more intense than low back pain, even though the cause of the leg pain is coming from the low back. When this happens, many patients complain that they have “sciatica,” which refers to radiating pain that starts in the low back and extends down into the leg. When the intensity of leg pain is worse than the low back, it can make patients wonder, “…where is my problem really coming from?”
To understand this better, a short “anatomy lesson” is appropriate. The spine can be divided into two halves, front and back. The structures in the front half include the larger, heavier bones called vertebral bodies and the shock absorbing cushions that lie between the vertebral bodies called the intervertebral disks. The disk is like a jelly donut where the center is liquid-like and the outer portion is a tough, criss-cross pattern cartilage arranged like the rings on a tree stump. There are also ligaments that hold the vertebrae and disks tightly together. The back half of the spine includes the spinal cord, nerve roots, as well as the small joints of the back called facet joints. Every movable joint has a joint capsule that helps lubricate the joint and limits the amount of movement, along with surrounding ligaments. The larger, heavier vertebral bodies and shock absorbing disks carry the majority of the weight (approximately 80%) while the smaller facet joints carry much less weight (only 20%) but are more responsible for guiding the movements of our back.
When leg pain is present, it can be caused by either a pinched nerve, or, an inflamed facet joint.
When a nerve is pinched, the cause is usually from the intervertebral disk where the jelly-like center leaks out and presses on the nerve that goes down the leg, commonly referred to as a “herniated disk with sciatica.” This type of pain is quite specific, easy to describe and often extends below the knee to the ankle or foot. It can include muscle weakness, numbness in certain areas of the leg, and bending forward increases low back and leg pain while bending backwards reduces the leg pain (and sometimes the LBP).
When a facet joint capsule tears (technically, called a “sprain”), the pain is “referred” down the leg in a generalized, non-specific manner, usually described as a “deep ache,” often hard to describe and usually does not go below the level of the knee. Here, it feels better to bend forward and worse to bend backwards, of which neither movement changes or affects the leg in a specific way. Disk related leg pain carries a potential for surgery if all non-surgical approaches fail, while facet joint referred leg pain rarely requires invasive treatments or surgery.
To learn more about Leg and Lower Back Pain Relief, sign up for a free report, or click here to register for a Free, In- Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, feel free to give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 Value).
Article by Dr. Eric Chludzinski, DC. Dr. Chludzinski is the founder of Hudson Center for Spinal Care located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr. Eric Chludzinski services both Hudson County as well as Union County, both in New Jersey.
Five Exercises to Help Your Neck Stay Pain-Free
September 10, 2009
Scotch Plains and Bayonne Chiropractor Comments: The neck is the most flexible part of your spine and just like any other area of the body, movement exercises and good posture are important to maintain its health. Neck pains can be brought on or aggravated by how you treat this vital structure. We often neglect our neck when it comes to exercises, focusing instead on our legs or heart. So try these helpful hints and incorporate them into your daily routine.
Moving your neck slowly through all its ranges is key. It is important to do pure movements rather than combinations, rolling the neck around like a ball and socket joint (such as the hip or shoulder) is to be avoided. Instead, flex the neck forward until your chin touches the top of your chest. Then, slowly bend your neck backwards, chin to the sky These movements should not cause pain if they are done slowly and you have no pre-existing injury.
The next movement is side bending and is accomplished by trying to bend either ear towards the shoulder. Do this in front of a mirror so that you keep your head straight looking forward. Note whether you can do this the same amount to each side.
The last movement is rotation. Simply rotate your chin slowly so that you are looking over one shoulder. None of these movements should cause pain or make you dizzy. If they do, then it’s a sign you have a neck injury.
An important aspect of neck function is how the shoulder girdle influences neck posture and motion. Try rolling your shoulders forwards and backwards, stretching slowly, to help ease tension at the neck. General exercises such as fast paced walking or hiking are important for your neck too. Remember, your spine is the core of your body and walking is one of the least “injury-producers,” something you can keep up well into your later years.
Lastly, make sure your neck posture is kept upright when you are talking on the phone, driving, reading, doing other tasks, or sleeping. A very small pillow is usually best for sleeping and neck support pillows are available to help maintain the normal forward arch of the neck. A small pillow will allow your head to ease back, relaxing the muscles at the back of the neck.
To learn more about Neck Pain Relief, sign up for a free report, or click here to register for a Free, In- Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, feel free to give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 Value).
Article by Dr. Eric Chludzinski, DC. Dr. Chludzinski is the founder of Hudson Center for Spinal Care located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr. Eric Chludzinski services both Hudson County as well as Union County, both in New Jersey.
Why doesn’t insurance pay for spinal decompression when the results are so good?
June 17, 2009
For the majority of us, the economy has made things difficult, including our own healthcare. So when someone who comes in and has qualified as a candidate for spinal decompression asks me why it’s not covered by insurance, this is what I tell them.
Unfortunately, Spinal Decompression is a relatively new procedure. Health insurance companies calculate how they pay by looking at statistics that have been tabulated over a long period of time. Since the data and research have only been going on for a decade or so on spinal decompression, they have decided not to cover it at the moment. Thus, much like cosmetic surgery, spinal decompression is termed an elective procedure.
This is even more frustrating knowing that the insurance companies will cover back surgery, which as you may or may not know, has an extremely low rate of success. I wrote another article called Is back surgery really needed anymore? In this article I explored why back surgery can be avoided. Hopefully in the near future insurance companies will embrace what so many of my patients are talking about when they say the results have been phenomenal for them. Check out what they’ve been saying here.
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