Tag: back pain

Is arthritis avoidable or inevitable?

Is arthritis avoidable or inevitable? My patients have often heard me say Uncle Artie (as in Artie Ritis) was not invited to the party although they either were told their problem was arthritis or they assumed that they had arthritis due to aging. To diagnose arthritis, you need an X-ray and a blood test.  Medical healthcare providers and often patients assume their pain or stiffness is due to arthritis which can be anything from osteoarthritis to an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid or gout. While it is true that the body has changes that occur over time which we all Read More »

Medically speaking, we’re treating lower back pain all wrong according to an opinion piece in Medpage today.

Medically speaking, we’re treating lower back pain all wrong according to an opinion piece in Medpage today. The evidence is stunning when you look at the approaches to lower back pain and other spinal conditions, yet the healthcare systems have responded slowly. According to Christine Goertz, DC, Ph.D., one of the most trusted researchers who studies and publishes on body mechanics and back pain, “ In December 2019, I attended a National Academies of Sciences workshop on the role of non-pharmacological approaches to pain management. ”  While some researchers believed more research is needed, several said they believed that we have Read More »

What is fascia and how does it control how we move and feel.

What is fascia and how does it control how we move and feel? Our patients often hear me explain the concept of fascia, fascial release, the importance of proper firing patterns, Fascia, and how it affects how we feel and function. Fascia works like an exoskeleton, and while years ago, it was mostly ignored by researchers, we now understand that it has its own vasculature, nervous system networks, and how muscle function is dependent on the fascia. Science is gradually showing us that the fascial system can be important in understanding why we hurt. Why chiropractic and fascia are important Read More »

Harvard Health strongly recommends chiropractic care for back problems; shouldn’t your doctor do this too?

Harvard Health Publishing strongly recommends chiropractic care for back problems; shouldn’t your doctor do this too? Being a chiropractor for 38 years hasn’t been easy, as we always seem to be the underdogs of quality affordable musculoskeletal health care. For many educated consumers, we offered a holistic approach to pain, function, and quality of life that works and has been backed up by study after study. Harvard Health, Consumer Reports, and other publications have also recommended our profession as it has matured into what it has become today. Considering all this, why isn’t your local doctor recommending chiropractic care for Read More »

Posture correctors or correcting posture; which approach is better?

Posture correctors or correcting posture; which approach is better? The ad says that our posture corrector will straighten you up for the low cost of $19 dollars.   Since there is little resistance at $19, why not try a device that forces your shoulders back as there is little you can lose? Why do you have poor posture? Many adults remember their parents telling them to sit up straight instead of slouching.   The problem is that they weren’t trying to slouch.    Sitting upright felt unnatural and may have hurt their shoulders; it wasn’t how your body naturally assumed its position. Read More »