Diary of a NJ Chiropractor

Are spin classes bad for your hearing and your back, or are the concerns overblown?

Posted on by bill
Are spin classes bad for your hearing and your back, or are the concerns overblown? Many of our patients love going to spin classes.  Spin raises your heart rate and can offer a first rate aerobic workout.  Since it is done in a classroom, it can also offer a competitive experience as you try to keep up with what the class is doing. Spin can also damage your hearing, if the leader has the music set too loud so it may be a good idea to wear inexpensive ear filters to remove harmful frequencies while allowing you to hear what Read More »

Chronic pain; potent drugs do not work so what does according to Consumer Reports?

Posted on by bill
Chronic pain; potent drugs do not work so what does according to Consumer Reports? Whom should you visit first for a problem with chronic pain?  Is Fibromyalgia a real disease or is a manifestation of chronic pain gone bad?  Should chronic pain be a normal part of aging? Why is it so difficult to get effective care for why you ache without searching for a bottle of pills. A while ago a patient told me this humorous story; A patient of his would always look at his grandfather when he got up in the morning.  He would sit up in Read More »

The CEO of Brooks Running discusses how their shoe designs are adapting to the latest science of running.

Posted on by bill
The CEO of Brooks Running discusses how their shoe designs are adapting to the latest science of running. Recently, Brooks introduced their new Adrenaline shoe, which is a significant design update of their very popular Brooks Adrenaline shoe line. Runners are superstitious, and are less likely to want to try a new version of their shoe, but Brooks took the chance and the new design is catching on. Brooks is now a division of Berkshire Hathaway and the CEO of Brooks, Jim Weber was recently interviewed regarding the shoe line and the science behind how they design their shoes. According Read More »

Market forces are not working to curtail hospital prices which supports the discussion of Medicare for all.

Posted on by bill
Market forces are not working to curtail hospital prices which supports the discussion of Medicare for all. The NY times recently reported that some hospitals are charging 3-4 times the Medicare allowable rate for the same services, and there is no transparency on why the hospitals are charging what they do. Its no secret that healthcare prices in the USA are exorbitant, especially as hospital systems grow larger and are more difficult to negotiate with. There are numerous examples of hospitals in Indiana charging four times the Medicare rate or emergency rooms in Colorado charging eight times the Medicare rate. Read More »

Brain function and exercise, the NY Times explores the latest science in brain function.

Posted on by bill
Brain function and exercise, the NY Times explores the latest science in brain function. Stimulation is important in childhood for mental and language development.  Stimulation is also important for adults as well, and exercise may make our brain function and work better as well. Exercise is an important type of stimulation our brain needs. Until recently, it was assumed that the human brain was static and over time degenerated.  We now understand that brains through neuroplasticity continue to remodel and re-synapse, as we learn new habits and skills. Recently, scientists at the University of Maryland as recently as 2013 wondered Read More »