Whiplash or WAD (whiplash associated disorders) are terms usually linked with car crashes and neck injuries, but what about when a head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs alongside a WAD? Our brains are suspended by ligaments inside the skull from which many nerves branch off and exit the...
Last blog, we looked at the VERY important deep neck flexor muscles. As promised, this blog, we will cover exercises to work the deep neck extensors. Since the 1990s, the deep neck flexors have been getting most of the attention as being the “missing link” in rehab of the neck...
Previously, we discussed how herniated disks can resorb all by themselves, especially large herniated disks. But what about a damaged nerve—can it self-repair too? First, it’s important to realize that damage can occur when enough pressure is applied to any living tissue. The anatomy of our nerves includes many micro-structures...
Whiplash, or “Whiplash Associated Disorders” (WAD), results from a sudden jarring motion, often from a car crash that occurs too fast for someone to voluntarily “brace” themselves. This is because the whole “whiplash cycle” is over within 300msec, and we cannot contract a muscle faster than 700-800 msec. Other injury...
Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) are most often associated with motor vehicle collisions (MVC) but can occur from any form of trauma arising from slips and falls, sports injuries, and more. A question patients suffering from WAD commonly ask is, “How long will this take to get better?” There are many...
Low back pain (LBP) affects about 80% of adults at some point in their life, and its impact on work, recreation, and overall quality of life can be devastating if it transitions into chronic LBP (low back pain that persists for more than three months). So, is there really a...
Is it possible to identify which low back pain patients might experience the most benefit from spinal manipulation combined with exercise? In a 2011 study, researchers identified which patients might respond best to this combination of care and which patients might need a more aggressive approach. Directional preference (DP) describes...
Though whiplash injuries can arise from any sudden jar, like a slip and fall or sports injury, they are most commonly associated with motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), even those that occur at low speeds. To best understand how someone can become injured in cases where little to no vehicular damage...
Low back pain (LBP) is the single greatest cause of disability worldwide and the second most common reason for doctor visits. Overall, LBP costs society more than $100 billion annually when factoring in lost wages, reduced productivity, and legal and insurance overhead expenses. Studies regarding the use of spinal manipulation(SM)—a...
The foot and ankle are unique in that their range of motion includes not only the front-to-back, hinge-like motion we associate with walking but also the lateral or side-to-side movement needed to change directions quickly. A problem in the foot can have a “domino effect’ that alters the biomechanics or...
When patients present with low back pain (LBP), they are frequently nervous and worried about whether they’re going to respond to the treatment—especially when it comes to getting out of pain and returning to their normal activities. A variety of studies have shown chiropractic care to be an effective option...
While doctors of chiropractic enjoy helping their patients get better, the preference is to avoid injury in the first place, and if that’s not possible, to reduce the risk for serious injury. This is especially important when it comes to car accidents, as whiplash associated disorders (WAD) injuries can persist...
Experts report that 157 million work days are lost each year in the United States due to headaches at a cost of about $50 billion in work absenteeism and medical expenses. According to current estimates, about 18% of chronic headache patients are believed to have cervicogenic headaches (CGH), or headaches...
When we hear the term “whiplash injury,” we likely think of car crashes, though whiplash can result from other causes, like a fall or sports collision. Though whiplash is associated with a variety of symptoms, neck pain with lower pain thresholds (called central sensitization) is one of the most common....
In the past, patients may have been prescribed bed rest by their family doctor for low back pain. These days, treatment guidelines recommend staying active during the recovery process. Why the change? There are two types of muscles in the back: the superficial muscles and the deep muscles. The superficial...
Research suggests that at least 12% of Americans suffer from recurring headaches. Rather than visiting a pain specialist, many of them either ignore their headaches or opt for painkillers instead. However, ignoring the cause of your pain may lead to long-term complications. That doesn’t mean all migraines have preventable triggers,...
It’s not hard to argue that nearly everyone spends too much time on their electronic devices, especially smartphones. You may be familiar with the terms “text neck” or “forward head posture”, but have you heard that excessive cellphone use may cause your body to grow horns? If you reach around...
Whiplash, or better termed “Whiplash Associated Disorders” (WAD), is a condition that carries multiple signs and symptoms ranging from neck pain and stiffness to headache, confusion, ringing in the ears, and more. But can WAD cause dizziness? Let’s take a look! Dizziness is a general term that is used rather...
As screens (televisions, computers, and smartphones/tablets) become an increasingly important part of daily life, many people gradually take on a more slumped posture, which can place added strain on the neck and shoulders, raising the risk for neck pain and headaches. Luckily, it’s possible to improve forward head posture, rounded...
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is characterized by 30-60 second bouts of high-intensity output followed by a very low-intensity exercise (like walking or slow pedaling) which allows one’s heart rate and breathing to recover before the next high-intensity segment. Studies have shown HIIT can produce similar results as low-intensity aerobic exercise,...
Primarily, chiropractic focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders with an emphasis on treatment utilizing manual adjustments and other types of manipulation and/or mobilization of the spine. Chiropractic is classified as a form of primary care, as anyone can choose to see a doctor of chiropractic without a...
Should you work out this morning or stay in bed for sexy time with your loved one? It turns out you should do both! Studies show regular exercise can boost your libido and put your sex drive in high gear. Getting your blood pumping with cardio or weigh training has...
The headline to this email may seem strange to you. After all, what does the news have to do with your back? According to the Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, quite a bit. The Health Alert entitled, “Back Pain and Osteoporosis Special Report The Mind Body Connection,” reads “A growing number...
What is It? Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues in the neck including ligaments, joint capsules, muscles and their tendons, and intervertebral disks. It can also involve the nervous system tissues in more severe cases, resulting in radiating arm pain. How does it happen? During a car crash,...
There are many treatment options for those suffering from neck pain. For example, with conventional medical care, the family doctor will usually prescribe a muscle relaxant, anti-imflammatory, and/or pain killers to help patients through episodes of acute neck pain. However, many patients with neck pain have been through the process...
Last blog, we reviewed studies that compared chronic low back pain (cLBP) exercisers to non-exercise control groups and examined how those in the exercise groups experienced significant improvements in pain and disability/function compared with those who remained inactive, regardless of the type of exercise. We also reviewed a few popular...
Based on simple statistics, we’ve ALL had (or at least will have) some form of low back pain (LBP) at some point in our lives. The term “chronic” applies to LBP that’s been present for at least three months. It has been consistently reported that LBP becomes increasingly difficult to...
Posture assessment is a key component of the chiropractic examination, and the posture of the head and neck is especially important for a patient recovering from a whiplash injury. Forward head carriage describes a state in which the head sits more forward on the shoulders than it should. In order...
Have you ever watched a toddler sit cross-legged? They sit with their backs straight, and it feels natural to them. Most adults don’t follow the example of young children. We hunch while we walk, slump at our desks and crane our necks forward staring at our phones. This poor posture...
Back pain is something with which we all deal. Around 85% of people experience it at some point. But is it normal to experience back pain as you age? Dr. James Sheehan and our team of chiropractors at Pro Rehab Chiropractic & Rehabilitation share their expertise. Back pain and aging...
When you’re in pain after a work injury, it’s tempting to rely on medications to help you get back on your feet again, but there’s a better way. Chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation techniques offer long-term benefits that you simply can’t get with pain medication alone. If you are injured...
A consequence of today’s ever-expanding world of technology, tech neck affects most everyone. When you work on your laptop or desktop computer or look down at your phone, your neck muscles contract in order to support your head. This eventually results in neck and shoulder pain, commonly referred to as...
Because bad headaches are so common, many people never seek professional treatment. It’s often easier to pop a pill and wait for them to go away, especially when you get momentary pain relief. But if you’re constantly suffering from splitting headaches that affect your ability to go through daily activities,...
Injuries at work can happen quickly, like in the case of a slip-and-fall, or they can build slowly over time with overexertion or repetitive stress to joints or muscles. Fortunately, this can be successfully treated with chiropractic care. Here at Pro Rehab Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, our highly skilled teams provide...
In an average workweek, research shows, people spend an average of 5 hours, 41 minutes sitting at a desk daily. If you relate to this, you should know that your sitting posture can impact your health and well-being, possibly leading to neck pain and related issues. If you’re experiencing neck...
If you have back pain, neck pain, or other types of chronic or acute pain, you’ve probably been referred to a chiropractor. But did you go for treatment? Even though up to 80% of adults experience back pain at some point in their lives, most never seek medical care. You...
When you’ve endured an injury, rehabilitation therapy allows you to do precisely as it sounds: recover from the injury. More than that, however, rehabilitation can expedite the healing process while guarding against potential complications along the way. Whether your goal is full and complete recovery, less restricted movement, stronger emotional...
When you hear the term whiplash, like many people, you probably think of a car accident, but whiplash can occur with any car-accident-like sudden jolt to the body and could come in the form of a sports injury, getting punched, or even being shaken during a domestic or other violent attack....
If you’re injured, seeking medical care is the first thing you need to do to protect your health. Even minor injuries can have long-term implications for your health and your ability to carry on your daily activities. That’s true even when an injury doesn’t cause severe symptoms right away. Of...
When debilitating headaches or migraines hit, it might be instinctual to reach for medications like aspirin and ibuprofen to help alleviate the pain. While drugs can offer temporary relief for occasional head pain, they won’t provide long-term reprieve from chronic or frequent aches, and you risk building a dependency on...
According to a study done by Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, only 7 percent of the 7 million American adults who could benefit from chiropractic care will ever visit a chiropractor. The reason why is because of the words, "snap," "crack," "pop" and "twist." Let's face it; if you...
A car accident happens in the blink of an eye, yet its effects can haunt you for days, weeks, months, and even years afterward, depending upon the severity of the impact. This is especially true when it comes to neck injuries, namely whiplash.At Pro Rehab Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, our team...