by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 27, 2013 | Health Articles
Help for Long Haul Drivers
Ergonomic principles are used to make a workplace suitable for the employees. Making beneficial changes improves the safety and productivity, but what about occupations with variable conditions. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, truck drivers top the list of professionals who lose the most time from work due to work-related injuries. The musculoskeletal injuries of the low back are the greatest concern. So what changes can be made to improve the conditions of long haul drivers?
Understanding the Full Occupation
The back breaking work of truck driving is not just in the long hours behind the wheel. To begin with truck drivers are exposed to continual vibration and bouncing, which can cause trauma not only to the muscles, tendons, joints, but the nerves of the entire musculoskeletal system. Add to this the loading and unloading of heavy items from the truck, and attaching and detaching the trailer and you have the prefect recipe for developing a work-related injury. Unfortunately, simply getting out of the cab can be problematic, as one of the most common causes of injuries to the upper extremities in truck drivers comes from slipping off the truck step and grabbing the handle bar to keep from falling.
Important Tips for Reducing the Chance of Injury:
- During any work activity, people should be comfortable and assume a number of different postures and not remain in one position for an extended time. Muscles will fatigue and be more prone to injury when assuming a particular posture for to long. The best posture for a driver is an upright position where the lumbar is supported in a correct and comfortable curve. The head should be back over the shoulders and in a relaxed neutral state.
- When performing tasks after prolonged sitting remember to stretch the muscles first. It will also be important to keep the joints either in their neutral posture or approximately halfway into the range of motion during the task. Working with your joints at the extremes of their ranges of motion for prolonged periods places abnormal stresses on them and can cause repetitive stress injuries.
- When lifting from the floor, keep your back straight and lift with the legs. Do not bend over at the waist and lift with the muscles of the low back. Your body is more easily injured in this position. Keep the object being lifted close to your body. Keep your elbows flexed. Keep your head up and your neck straight as you lift.
- Most importantly an assessment of your spinal health. This assessment will better enable the practitioner to begin to address any injuries that may already be affecting your health.
For Truckers, getting spinal care can mean the difference between staying comfortably on the road and being laid up in bed for days at a time with back pain and other injuries. Luckily, more chiropractors are setting up offices at truck stops across the country, which allows the 2.5 million long-haul truck drivers to get spinal treatment while they are on the road.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 27, 2013 | Health Articles
We are often asked questions about various treatment options and which ones offer the best outcome and chance for success. Over the last several years Spinal Decompression Therapy has become one of the most popular treatments that patients ask about. Is spinal decompression therapy a good treatment option? Well the answer is that it really...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 25, 2013 | Health Articles
Not many people like doing housework. For most, it’s a real pain in the aaah … what’s the word? Sacroiliac. But it’s not just the disruption it causes to your longed-for life of leisure; it really can be a pain. Literally.
The activities you carry out around the house may not seem too physically demanding, but if you don’t pay attention to how you are doing them, even something like washing the dishes can put a strain on your back and cause debilitating pain.
One of the chief culprits in housework, and generally, is lifting. It doesn’t matter what you are picking up, if you do it incorrectly you can injure yourself. The correct approach is to bend at the knees, not from the waist. The item you’re picking up should be held close in to the body, and there should be no twisting, which can hurt the spine; if you want to turn in another direction, take a step that way once you have straightened up.
Tips to Save Your Back
Here are some tips that will help you take the strain out of your household duties:
- Washing the dishes, try opening the cabinet under the sink, bending a knee and placing a foot on the raised shelf inside. Also try leaning forward against the counter to transfer some of your weight forward for a little support.
- Similarly, with ironing, use a small stool and raise one foot onto it to take some of the strain from your back.
- When using a vacuum cleaner, adopt the same stance you would see combatants take in a fencing match, one foot stepped back behind the other. Move your weight from one foot to the other as you push the machine back and forward, and pivot on the back foot when you wish to turn.
- Even talking on the telephone can be a problem if you are prone to cradling the handset between your ear and your raised shoulder. Quasimodo was the first one to notice this. The spinal joints in the neck and upper back can lock when you do this. Fortunately, as humans, we have opposing thumbs and can very easily hold objects in our hands. Either that, or use a speaker phone.
- Watching TV with your head resting on the arm of the sofa is not good, because the angle is too acute for your neck joints.
- When your back does start to hurt, use a cold pack. To avoid leaping through the ceiling, first moisten a towel with warm water before encasing the cold pack in it. That way, there will be a gradual transition from warm to cold. A bag of frozen peas is a good alternative, and is easily moldable to your contours.
- If you suffer with pain for a couple of days without relief, or you feel weakness, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, a visit to your doctor of chiropractic is in order.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 21, 2013 | Our Videos
Visit https://chirolifewellness.com to learn more about a chiropractor in New Fairfield, CT who can help you feel your best no matter what your age. Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center 3 Route 39 New Fairfield, CT 06812 Phone: 203-746-6543...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 21, 2013 | Our Videos
Visit https://chirolifewellness.com to learn more about a chiropractor in New Fairfield, CT who can help you feel your best no matter what your age. Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center 3 Route 39 New Fairfield, CT 06812 Phone: 203-746-6543...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 20, 2013 | Health Articles
The apparent dangers of high blood pressure and the frequent recommendation of prescription drugs to reduce the problem create a seemingly constant flood of both media warnings and advertising. Now, the results of a recent study could shed an entirely different light on the source of the problem.
A study recently concluded in Chicago found that a one-time Chiropractic adjustment could produce a quite dramatic blood pressure reduction. The decrease in pressure was equal to a person taking two blood pressure reducing drugs at the same time.
Fifty persons were selected for the study. The requirements to participate were a high blood pressure condition and a misalignment of the Atlas vertebra. The Atlas is the top vertebra, the highest one in the body, located at the top of the neck.
George Bakris, MD, is the director of the hypertension (high blood pressure) center at the University of Chicago Medical Center and served as the lead author of the study. He pointed out that the Atlas, unlike the rest of the vertebrae in the body, relies only on soft tissue (muscles and ligaments) to hold it in place. For this reason, displacement can occur without pain, so misalignment often goes undetected and untreated.
Patients for the study were all treated by a Chicago area Doctor of Chiropractic. Prior to treatment he performed a variety of tests, including X-rays, to determine the exact adjustment needed for each patient. The subjects were then divided into two groups. Half received an actual adjustment while the other half received a very similar “sham adjustment.”
Each participant was fully assessed after their alignment and at the end of 8 weeks. The study authors said those receiving the actual adjustment had their blood pressure lowered by the amount of someone taking two different blood pressure-lowering drugs at the same time. The reduction continued through the 8 week period of the test. No significant heart rate change was noted in this group.
Why blood pressure changes occurred to this degree was beyond the scope of the study. “The mechanism as to why this improvement in blood pressure occurs is unknown and cannot be determined by this study,” they said. More study is needed to see exactly how a misaligned Atlas might cause hypertension. Also, more work is needed to see if an incorrectly aligned Atlas is an additional risk factor for the development of hypertension.”
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 18, 2013 | Health Articles
Speeding Up Recovery Time For most people, recovering from a broken bone is an exercise in patience. For an active person, being told that you have to significantly reduce or cease activity in order to let the bone heal is equivalent to torture. However, there are a few things you can do to help speed the...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 13, 2013 | Health Articles
Steroids are organic compounds that are produced naturally in the human body. They’re also produced by other animals, plants and fungi. Within humans, steroids are used to produce several different hormones that are important to the body’s proper functioning.
Outside of natural human physiology, there are also drugs called anabolic steroids, whose purpose is to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance. Athletes and trainers in high-level amateur and professional sports sometimes turn to steroids to get an unfair edge over the competition. Most official sports organizations disapprove strongly of this practice (regarding it as cheating) and many maintain education and testing programs to discourage it.
Finally, steroids can also be manufactured for use in medicine. Perhaps the most commonly used steroid injections are those used to treat pain—corticosteroids.
Natural corticosteroids are produced by the body’s adrenal glands and are responsible for governing the stress response (fight or flight). They also play an important role in maintaining a healthy immune response and for the metabolism of protein and carbohydrates. But the key condition it regulates is inflammation. This is the reason why steroid injections are so popular among those suffering from chronic pain.
Corticosteroids are not actually painkillers. Their action is merely to reduce inflammation, which, in turn, usually helps to reduce pain for some weeks. Two types of steroid injection are commonly used for pain relief: epidural and articular. In an epidural steroid injection, the steroid is injected into the base of the spinal column between the dura (the protective covering of the spinal cord) and the vertebrae.
An articular steroid injection, as the name implies, is when the drug is injected into the shoulder, knee, hip or ankle. It can also be injected into smaller joints such as those in the hand and foot. This should be done at a frequency of once every two to four weeks for a period of up to three months only. The effect can usually be felt within a few days, with relief lasting for a number of weeks. With physical therapy such as chiropractic care, many people can experience a significant reduction in pain or be pain-free after a course of steroid injections.
The best candidates for receiving steroid injections are those patients who have had severe, persistent pain in the neck, back, arm or leg that has not responded to more conservative treatments (such as physical therapy, massage and anti-inflammatory drugs) for some weeks. Epidural steroid injections have become more common in cases involving sciatica, herniated disc, spondylolysis, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease. These injections can also be useful in treating cases of bursitis and tendonitis.
In cases of lower back pain, however, studies have found that steroids are often no better than a placebo. Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safer and likely more effective form of treatment. If you do decide to give steroid injections a try in an attempt to manage your pain, you should at least consider combining it with chiropractic care. If the steroids are able to reduce your pain in the short term, regular chiropractic adjustments can help to reduce the likelihood the pain will return again in the future.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 11, 2013 | Health Articles
Did you know that the smallest vertebrae in your spine supports the most vital organ in your body- the brain? Incredibly, the cervical spine supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. While the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.
Neck pain is not only limited to the cervical region but can affect your head and shoulders. The pain can be quite significant and reduce the range of motion quite dramatically. There are many factors than can effect the health of your cervical spine.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a term describing a range of injuries to the neck caused by a sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting quick return of the head in the opposite direction. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. The muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue. Some symptoms include neck pain or stiffness, pain between the shoulder blades, blurred vision, fatigue, headache, and dizziness, just to name a few. A severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and compression of the nerve roots. Whiplash is most commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents but can be sustained through sports or even slips or falls around the house.
Repetitive Strain
While technology continues to improve our lives in many ways, the hour after endless hour typing, texting and scrolling has put the younger generations at risk for injuries. The poor posture caused by hunching over a keyboard or peering into tiny hand held screen is putting our computer generation at risk for neck injuries. The number of injuries has become so apparent that an increasing numbers of companies have not only ergonomically modified their offices but incorporated spinal wellness programs. They realized that the investment has had great return. An article from the American Journal of Health Promotions noted that, for every dollar that a company invested in a company wellness program, they generally received a return of between $2.13 and $10.10. Not a bad investment! An estimated 75% of companies in the Fortune 500 have a wellness program, as do 81% of companies with 50 employees or more.
Life Experiencs
Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles often disrupt spinal balance, causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. The postural stress can contribute to not only chronic neck pain but symptoms that extend into the upper back, arms, and frequently the low back.
Prolonged stress and emotional tension will also cause muscles to tighten and contract and our posture to pull forward which may hunch our shoulders. Sustained stress and emotional tension results in pain and stiffness.
How Can Chiropractic Treatment Help?
During your visit, your doctor of chiropractic will perform exams to locate the source of your pain and will ask you questions about your current symptoms and remedies you may have already tried. For example:
- When did the pain start?
- What have you done for your neck pain?
- Does the pain radiate or travel to other parts of your body?
- Does anything reduce the pain or make it worse?
Your doctor of chiropractic will also do physical and neurological exams. In the physical exam, your doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting movement that causes pain. Your doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm. A check of your shoulder area is also in order. During the neurological exam, your doctor will test your reflexes, muscle strength, other nerve changes, and pain spread.
In some instances, your chiropractor might order tests to help diagnose your condition. An x-ray can show narrowed disc space, fractures, bone spurs, or arthritis. A computerized axial tomography scan (a CT or CAT scan) or a magnetic resonance imaging test (an MRI) can show bulging discs and herniations. If nerve damage is suspected, your doctor may order a special test called electromyography (an EMG) to measure how quickly your nerves respond.
Chiropractors are conservative care doctors; their scope of practice does not include the use of drugs or surgery. If your chiropractor diagnoses a condition outside of this conservative scope, such as a neck fracture or an indication of an organic disease, he or she will refer you to the appropriate medical physician or specialist. He or she may also ask for permission to inform your family physician of the care you are receiving to ensure that your chiropractic care and medical care are properly coordinated.
Neck Adjustments
A neck adjustment (also known as a cervical manipulation) is a precise procedure applied to the joints of the neck, usually by hand. A neck adjustment works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore range of motion; it can also increase movement of the adjoining muscles. Patients typically notice an improved ability to turn and tilt the head, and a reduction of pain, soreness, and stiffness.
Of course, your chiropractor will develop a program of care that may combine more than one type of treatment, depending on your personal needs. In addition to manipulation, the treatment plan may include mobilization, massage or rehabilitative exercises, or something else.
Research Supporting Chiropractic Care
One of the most recent reviews of scientific literature found evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation.
As part of the literature review, published in the March/April 2007 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the researchers reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation. No trial group was reported as having remained unchanged, and all groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks post-treatment.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 10, 2013 | Sleep Wellness
Toxic Mattress Materials Most mattresses sold today contain some polyurethane foam and many contain specialty foams such as memory foam, which consistently break down and release chemicals. The most common toxic materials used in making a mattress include petrochemicals, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), formaldehyde, antimony trioxide, phthalates, and boric acid. These chemicals are used for...
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