Today’s post is a short video that discusses my personal background with chiropractic care, what makes my office unique and the types of conditions that we treat at our office.

These days, the education that a chiropractor receives is quite similar to what medical practitioners receive.

In fact, a recent study says that chiropractic and medical curricula are “more similar than dissimilar.” Most chiropractic colleges require a Bachelor’s degree before enrollment. A doctor of chiropractic’s training generally requires a minimum of five years of college study.

Obviously, medical doctors receive additional training in pharmacology and surgery, whereas chiropractors focus more on physiology, pathology and spinal adjusting techniques.

After passing board examinations and state licensing requirements, today’s chiropractor, like all types of doctors, must attend continuing education classes for relicensure and to stay current on the latest scientific research.

Chiropractors receive just as much education as medical doctors with more of a focus on musculoskeletal complaints and nutrition.  Rest assured your local chiropractor has superior training in treating your musculoskeletal complaints without the use of drugs or surgery.

Have you ever noticed how many people have terrible posture?  One of the most common faulty postures is called “forward head carriage.”  Other terms are  “hump back” or slouching. There are several reasons for this common postural fault.  One is the weight of the head is, on average, approximately 10-13 pounds and if it’s positioned too far forwards, the muscles in the upper back and neck tighten up much more than normal, fatigue and become painful. Also, the muscles that attach to the skull have different degrees of strength. They also attach and pull at different angles, contributing to the common forward head carriage posture.  The muscle of the chest are much stronger than those in the mid and upper back and tend to pull our shoulders forward. The following picture offer a good view of both a faulty posture as well as a “good” posture. Notice the forward shift in the head in the picture of poor posture and backwards shift in the good posture picture. As you can see, the weight of the head is back over the shoulders and the shoulder posture is appropriately positioned back in the image of good posture.

It is important to understand correcting Forward Head Carriage takes time – in fact, it can take a minimum of 3 month before this becomes an automatic new “habit.”  Of course, it could take longer or, completely fail IF you are not VERY conscientious about CONSTANTLY reminding yourself to position your posture as shown above in the “Good Head Posture” image (above).  An exercise based on this posture correction technique is performed by retracting your chin / head as far back as you can and holding that position for 5-10 seconds.  Doing this multiple times a day, between the time you maintain a partial chin tuck (“Good Head Posture”) position will further facilitate the posture retraining process.

If you, a family member or a friend is suffering from neck pain, headaches, or they want to improve their posture call our office today at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com

Back pain is pervasive among American adults, but a new and disturbing trend is emerging. Young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and the use of overweight backpacks is a contributing factor. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that backpack-related injuries sent more than 7,000 people to the emergency room in one year alone.

In our chiropractic office in Springfield, VA, we have noticed a marked increase in the number of young children who are complaining about back, neck and shoulder pain. The first question we ask these patients is, “Do you carry a backpack to school?” Almost always, the answer is “yes.”

This new back pain trend among youngsters isn’t surprising when you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry in their backpacks – often slung over just one shoulder.

A recent study conducted in Italy found that the average child carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound burden for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound load for a 132-pound woman. Of those children carrying heavy backpacks to school, 60 percent had experienced back pain as a result. Preliminary results of studies being conducted in France show that the longer a child wears a backpack, the longer it takes for a curvature or deformity of the spine to correct itself.

The results of these types of studies are especially important as more and more school districts – many of them in urban areas – remove lockers from the premises, forcing students to carry their books with them all day long.

The problem has become so widespread that the California State Assembly passed legislation that would force school districts to develop ways of reducing the weight of students’ backpacks. Similar legislation is being considered in New Jersey as well.

We believe that limiting the backpack’s weight to no more than 10 percent of the child’s body weight and urging the use of ergonomically correct backpacks are possible solutions.

What Can You Do?

The following tips can help prevent the needless pain that backpack misuse can cause the students in your household.
• Make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.

• The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.

• A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back.

• Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry-and the heavier the backpack will be.

• Encourage your children to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.

• Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child’s shoulders.

• The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to the child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal problems and pain.

• If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child’s teacher. Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter hand-out materials or workbooks.

Chiropractic Care Can Help…

If you or your child experiences any pain or discomfort resulting from backpack use, consult with your local chiropractor.  Chiropractors are licensed and trained to diagnose and treat patients of all ages.  Give us a call today at (703) 912-7822 if your child is experiencing back pain.

Participation in sports or exercise is an important step in maintaining your health. Exercise strengthens your heart, bones, and joints and reduces stress, among many other benefits. Unfortunately, injuries during participation in sports are all too common and one of most common injuries we treat at my chiropractic in Springfield, VA. Often, these injuries occur in someone who is just taking up sports as a form of activity, doesn’t use proper safety equipment, or becomes overzealous about their exercise regimen.

Strains and Sprains

Although bones can sometimes be fractured with acute sports injuries, the most commonly injured structures are the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Tendons attach muscles to bones, and ligaments attach one bone to another.

An acute twisting or overextension of a joint can lead to tears of muscles and tendons, called “strains,” and tears of ligaments result in “sprains.” These tears range from mild to severe. In mild injuries, just a few fibers are torn or stretched. Severe injuries, where there is a tear through the full thickness of the structure, are most often considered unstable injuries and frequently require surgical intervention. The intervertebral disc, the padding between the vertebrae of the spine that works as a shock absorber, can also be torn, resulting in a disc bulge and/or herniation.

Ankle sprains most often involve tears of one or more of the ligaments along the outside of the ankle. Knee ligaments, including the larger external supportive ligaments and the smaller internal stabilizing ligaments, can also be torn. The cartilage on the back of the patella (knee-cap) can also become eroded from overuse, leading to a condition termed chondromalacia patella.

Tendinosis

For those who do too much training, overuse of a particular joint or joints in the body can result in pain and dysfunction. These injuries are called “overuse syndromes.” A common overuse injury is tendinosis, also called tendinitis. In this condition, the tendon becomes inflamed from repetitive use. In the shoulder, the rotator cuff (a complex of muscles that stabilizes and moves the shoulder) becomes inflamed, resulting in rotator cuff tendinitis. Tennis elbow is another form of tendinitis that occurs along the outside of the elbow, most commonly in tennis players. In golfer’s elbow, the tendons on the inside of the elbow are affected.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Sports injuries are most often diagnosed from the history of the activity that brought on the pain, along with a physical examination. In some cases, x-rays are necessary to rule out a fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diagnostic ultrasound are also used in finding soft-tissue injuries, like tendinitis and sprains. There is a relatively standard treatment protocol for most overuse types of injuries.This protocol involves the following:
•    Generally no more than 48 hours of rest and/or immobilization is needed, depending on the severity of the injury. In most cases, the sooner the person becomes active after an injury, the more rapid is the recovery. In fact, long-term immobilization can sometimes be harmful to recovery. Your doctor of chiropractic will guide this process, as too early a return to activity, choosing the wrong type of activity, or excessive activity can be detrimental.

•    Ice or heat can be helpful with pain reduction and tissue healing.

•    Compression of the area may reduce the amount of swelling from the injury. Your doctor of chiropractic will determine if this will be beneficial in your case.

•    Elevation of the injured arm or leg above the level of the heart is thought to be helpful in reducing swelling.

•    Recent research has demonstrated that some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may actually slow the healing process by restricting the body’s natural healing mechanisms, so they should be used sparingly.
•    Research has also shown that, in some cases, joint manipulation can be helpful with pain reduction and more rapid recovery. Your chiropractor will determine if this procedure will be helpful in your case.

A Word about Prevention

In many cases, sports injuries can be prevented. Proper conditioning and warm-up and cool-down procedures, as well as appropriate safety equipment, can substantially reduce injuries. Understanding proper techniques can also go a long way toward preventing injuries. Sufficient water intake is also an important preventive measure.
If you have sustained a sports injury, the best course of action is to get care so you do not develop a chronic condition.  Chiropractors are trained and licensed to treat sports injuries and can assist in your recovery.  If you or a family member is dealing with a sports injury give us a call today at (703) 912-7822 to help speed up the recovery and get you back in the game.

Abigail was competing in a gymnastics tournament last year and during one of her floor routines, noticed a sharp pain in her low back after performing a series of back hand springs. She said she landed crooked on the last of four back hand springs which resulted in immediate pain in the middle of the low back at the beltline.  She has had pain in the low back before and initially, didn’t think this was any different from past episodes but when the pain didn’t improve after a week, she asked her parents if she could see their chiropractor for an adjustment.  Her chiropractor took her history and was alerted by the mechanism of injury – the rapid onset of pain after bending backwards and landing crooked during her routine.  The low back was carefully examined and during the range of motion testing, Abby’s backward bending test was very painful and limited in motion.  When bending backwards at an angle with pressure applied in the low back, sharp pain stopped the test immediately.  Her neurological tests were normal and she could bend over and touch her toes – in fact, that felt good.  Her chiropractor had a strong suspicion of what had happened and ordered an x-ray to see if the preliminary diagnosis was accurate.  The x-rays looked normal but with the history of extreme backward bending and immediate pain onset, a bone scan was ordered which was positive for a stress fracture in the back part of the vertebra.  Unfortunately, this meant no gymnastics for 3 months and the use of a low back brace was recommended.  The good news is that the back pain was gone within a month and follow-up x-rays 3 months later did not reveal a visible fracture line in the vertebra.  Abby was able to resume gymnastics and competed with success and no low back pain.

So, what is spondylolistesis? As depicted in the side view low back x-ray (left), it is the sliding forward of one vertebra over another (see arrow). It occurs in about 7% of the western population and up to 30-50% in cultures that carry their young on their back (like a back pack).  It is reported that most people who develop  spondylolisthesis acquire this between ages 6 and 16 due to a developmental weakness in that part of the spine, though the cause can be traumatic, like in Abby’s case where rapid, uncontrolled backward bending occurs.  It can also gradually occur over time (called “degenerative”), usually not found before age 50-60, where no single event can be recalled by the patient. There is also a congenital type that can be hereditary where one is born with it, though most authorities feel it is acquired at an early age.  The good news is that it is often stable and does not require surgery.  In the more severe case, the nerves and/or spinal cord can get pinched in which case surgery is necessary.  The symptoms would then include leg pain, weakness, and/or numbness with or without significant low back pain. Most cases however, can be successfully managed without surgery and do not compromise the nerves or cord. 

Chiropractic has been found to be very successful in managing patients with spondylolisthesis as the pain generator is often above or below the slipped vertebra.  In fact, in one report, chiropractic was found to be more beneficial than medical care for this condition (Mierau D, et.al., J Manip Physiol Therap 1987;10:49-55). If you, a family member or a friend require care, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future. 

Call us Today at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com

“When I woke up this morning, I couldn’t move my neck!  Every time I try to move it, I feel sharp pain on the left side of the neck shooting down into the shoulder blade.  It just came out of nowhere!”

This is a common complaint that we receive at our chiropractic office in Springfield, VA. If this happens to you chances are, you are suffering from a common condition called torticollis, which literally means, “twisted neck” after the Latin terms of “torti” (twisted) and “collis” (neck).  The common name for this is “wry neck,” and it’s basically a painful muscle spasm, like a “Charlie-horse” but located in the neck muscles.  Usually, a person wakes up in the morning with this and the cause is often related to sleeping with the window being open or a fan or air conditioner blowing on you.  It can also relate to a “cold settling in the muscle” after a cold or flu virus.  Trauma such as falling or a car accident can also cause torticollis. However, most of the time, patients with torticollis are not sure what caused the abrupt onset of symptoms.

Usually, torticollis will gradually improve over a 2 week time frame. However, it only takes a few days to a week (at the most) if you receive chiropractic adjustments.  Most importantly, without treatments, the sharp pain can last a week and can severely limit your activity, often prohibiting work as well as your desired “fun” activities.  Hence, most people prefer having this treated as opposed to “waiting it out.” In some cases, it can last longer than a month and in rare cases even longer, so getting this treated is highly recommended.  Also, try to get in for a treatment immediately before the muscle spasm really sets up.  We find this to be the most effective approach.  Here are a list of symptoms and treatment suggestions for torticollis:

Acute Torticollis Symptoms

• Muscle spasms
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Neck and spine contortion (neck twisted to right or left side of body)

Pain Relief Treatments for Acute Torticollis

• Chiropractic neck and spinal adjustment
• Analgesics
• Heat packs
• Muscle relaxants
• Rubs and ointments (Icy Hot, BioFreeze)
• Massage with essential oils
• Reiki
• Sleep / Relax
• Supportive cervical collar

If you, a family member or a friend require care, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our service.  We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and we look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.  Give us a call today at (703) 912-7822.

WHAT?  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS, is the most common of the peripheral nerve conditions where the median nerve is compressed or pinched at the wrist.  The resulting symptoms include numbness/pain in the wrist, fingers (index, third, and forth), multiple sleep interruptions due to hand/finger numbness requiring frequent shaking and flicking, difficulty in gripping or pinching such as buttoning a shirt, threading a needle, lifting a coffee cup, frequent dropping of objects, and the inability to perform work duties.  Pain can even shoot up the arm towards the shoulder and into the neck. Because there are 9 tendons over which lies the median nerve that pass through the rather tight tunnel made up of the 8 carpal bones of the wrist, even a little swelling can create CTS.

 WHY?  There are many possible causes but in general, whether its swelling, a spur, or a metabolic condition, the common denominator is median nerve pinch in the confined space within the carpal tunnel.  A common cause of swelling can occur with performing repetitive motion work such as line assembly, meat packing, carpentry, and so on, and over time, the tendons inside the tunnel inflame or swell and the median nerve is pressed into the ligament that crosses over the roof of the tunnel on the palm side of the wrist.  Once the contents inside the tunnel swell, all positions of the wrist other than neutral or, holding the wrist in line with the forearm further increases the pressure inside the tunnel.  That is why sleeping with the wrist cocked in any direction often wakes up CTS patients. Those most at risk are women over 50 years of age. CTS can also be associated with other health conditions including (but not limited to) Lymes Disease, inflammatory arthritis, and hormone-related conditions including pregnancy, taking birth control pills (BCPs), hypothyroidism, diabetes, and menopause. Lifestyle issues that affect CTS may include high caffeine intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, as well as obesity.

 HOW?  So the key question is how are we going to help those with CTS?  First, we must identify all the possible reasons why CTS developed in the first place and manage those issues.  Therefore, an ergonomic (work place) assessment or, discussing and possibly observing the patient at work can be very helpful.  Sometimes, a few simple changes to a work station such as moving the monitor of a computer in line with the keyboard/mouse or adjusting the height of the computer can really help.  Changing a tool handle type (pistol vs. straight grip), propping up a part that is frequently worked on, moving the product closer to where it is being assembled, eliminate overhead reach requirements, standing on a raised platform, and so on, may be most important in long term results.  Identifying and treating any condition that may be participating in the cause like thyroid disease, diabetes, medication (like BCPs), and weight management, is very important.  Wearing a night splint is also very productive.  Unique to chiropractic treatments include manipulation of the neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and fingers, soft-tissue therapy including Active Release Technique and Graston Technique, mobilizing the forearm muscles and tendons, teaching carpal stretch and other upper extremity exercises, and nutritional counseling.  Strategies here can include eliminating any suspected food allergy related products including dairy, glutens (wheat, oats, barley, rye), soy, corn, transfats, preservatives and some chemical additives.  Increasing B-vitamins (especially B6), by increasing dark leafy vegetables and, increasing antioxidants including fruits and veggies.  An anti-inflammatory vitamin program of fish oil, Vit. D3, magnesium, CoQ10, and a multiple vit./mineral may facilitate as well. Once CTS is controlled, preventing a recurrence is important by promoting good posture, exercise, and sticking with the life style adjustments described above. If you, a friend or family member requires care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services give us a call at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com to learn more about CTS.

There are many different reasons why injuries sustained in car crashes result in chronic or long term pain.  First, there are several types of tissues in the neck that can give rise to pain.  The most intense pain comes from the tissues with the greatest density of nerve fibers, such as the joint capsules and the ligaments holding the bones of the neck together.  There are many ligaments in the neck that are vulnerable to being over-stretched and injured in a motor vehicle collision.  The mechanism of a “whiplash” injury in a rear-end collision is unique.  Upon impact, the vehicle rapidly accelerates forward while the head momentarily remains in its original position, resulting in an initial straightening of the neck followed by extension. At the extreme end-range of backward extension motion, the ligaments in the front of the neck are over stretched and can tear.  Within milliseconds, the head is then propelled forwards into flexion which can then injure the ligaments in the back of the neck placing a significant amount of force on the joint capsules and ligaments holding the bones in close proximity.  Another reason the neck is injured is the speed at which the head and neck “whip” in the backwards and forwards directions after the impact. This occurs faster than what we can voluntarily contract our neck muscles to resist–within 600 milliseconds!  Therefore, even if we brace ourselves in preparation for an impact, we can’t avoid injury to the ligaments and joint capsules. Damage to the ligaments is difficult to “prove” by conventional x-ray, which is why bending views or, flexion/extension x-ray methods are needed.  When there is damage to the ligaments, the vertebra will shift forwards or backwards excessively compared to neighboring vertebra.  This can be measured to determine the extent of ligament laxity or damage and can help explain why neck pain can be so intense and/or chronic.  Not all car accidents occur from behind. In fact, only about 1/3 occur from this direction.  One study investigating which direction created greater degrees of injury reported 57% of chronic pain patient group occurred from rear-end collisions.  It also found that woman sustained more ligamentous injury compared to men and that frontal and rear end collisions resulting in significantly higher levels of ligament injury compared to side impacts

Another well published reason why neck pain can “hurt so much” after a car crash is that the sensory input from the injured area to the brain can be so extreme that it leaves an “imprint” in the sensory portion of the nervous system and it becomes hypersensitive or sensitized, resulting in a lower pain threshold or being more sensitive to pain. This is similar to the “phantom limb” phenomenon that often occurs after a leg is amputated where the brain still “feels” leg pain after the limb has been removed.  This has also been reported to be a reason for the significant constellation of symptoms often accompanying “whiplash” injuries.  A partial list of associated symptoms with whiplash injuries includes neck pain, headache, TMJ / jaw pain, dizziness, coordination loss, memory loss, cognitive difficulty in formulating thought, communicating, losing your place during conversation, and more.

Understanding whiplash and all of its nuances regarding signs and symptoms, x-ray requirements and measurement techniques, and treatment / management strategies are well understood at this office.  Chiropractors have a unique advantage over other health care providers as manual therapies, including spinal manipulation, have been shown to yield higher levels of satisfaction and faster recovery rates compared to other forms of health care.  We pride ourselves in performing thorough history and physical examinations, offering high quality evidence-based therapeutic approaches and teaching necessary home-based, self-management procedures.  If you, a loved one, or a friend are struggling with whiplash residuals from a motor vehicle collision, give us a call at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that usually affects different organ systems in the body, causing a number of symptoms. Some of these include:

1)      The muscles (the musculoskeletal system): tender, achy, stiff, tight muscles, trigger or tender points all over the body;

2)      The nerves (the nervous system): headaches, light headedness, sleep disruption, depression, anxiety, numbness/tingling (overlaps with the cardiovascular system);

3)      The stomach and intestines (the gastrointestinal system): diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel, leaky gut, heart burn, lack of appetite, abdominal cramping;

4)      Breathing (the respiratory system): hyperventilation, rapid / shallow breathing patterns;

5)      The heart (the cardiovascular system): racing heart rate – palpitations, feeling cold all the time, numbness/tingling (overlaps with the nervous system);

Because of the multiple systems involved, there are many challenges to managing Fibromyalgia.  Studies suggest a balance between several approaches works best.  Some of these approaches include biomedical treatments, organ-specific treatments, and cognitive interpersonal treatments.  Within these categories, the following can be broken down further:

1)      General – those treatments directed at the whole body such as anti-inflammatory measures.  These include (but are not limited to) medications (corticosteroids, NSAID’s – such as Advil, Aleve) and nutrients (ginger, turmeric, boswellia, Vitamin D, and others).  Other anti-inflammatory measures include diet, such as the Paleo Diet or “caveman diet.”  This diet eliminates grains or flour-based products from the diet.  That means no more breads, pastas, crackers, cookies – anything made with flour.  This approach emphasizes consuming fruits, vegetables, grass-fed lean meats and fish.  The main ingredients in grains that are of concern in the Paleo Diet are gluten and lectins

2)      Central – those treatments directed at the chemical factors in the brain that control mood, depression, anxiety and so on.  These include (but are not limited to) medications (tricyclic antidepressants, muscle relaxers like Cyclobenzaprine, SSRI, SNRI and Trmadol) and certain nutrients (neurotransmitter support such as 5-HTP – tryptophan, DHEA, phenylalanine, and others).

3)      Psychotherapy and active behavioral therapy – treatments that are supportive of nervous system such as cognitive behavior therapy, aerobic exercise, patient education, multidisciplinary therapy, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and strength training.

4)      Passive physical intervention – chiropractic therapy, massage therapy and other forms of manual therapy, and acupuncture.

If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM call our chiropractic office in Springfield, VA at (703) 912-7822.