Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Social Class And Depression Treatment.
Current treatments for depression don't help working-class and poor patients as much as they help middle-class patients improve their ability to function at work. Depression has a profound impact on an individual's productivity. That's particularly true for those in lower social classes and with low levels of education.
Psychological Science, Nov 2010

Health Alert: Kicking It All!
The American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout took place on November 18. Cigarette sales have declined for decades, but smokeless tobacco sales have grown 7% annually over the last four years. Using smokeless tobacco products is not a safe way to quit or safer than smoking. The use of these products just shifts the risk of cancer to the mouth, head, and neck. Use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco is the leading cause of cancers of the head and neck, which can result in partial or full removal of the lip, tongue, cheek, and portions of the throat, including the voice box. Smokeless tobacco users run the same risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and addiction as cigarette users, but an even greater risk of oral cancer.
American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, November 2010

Diet: Red Meat And Cancer Risk.
A possible link between red meat and esophageal cancer; and a link between DiMelQx and cancer in the stomach close to the esophageal opening was found. DiMelQx is a compound, a type of heterocyclic amine (HCA) found in red meat after it is cooked at high temperature. Those who eat red and processed meats have a 79% higher risk of developing esophageal cancer.
American Journal of Gastroenterology, October 2010

Exercise: Flat Abs?
Here are a few exercises and tips to help flatten your abs. Improve Your Posture. Slouch and your stomach pooches. For better posture while standing, align your ears over your shoulders, shoulders over hips, hips over knees, and knees over ankles. Keep the fronts of the shoulders open like a shirt on a hanger, instead of a shirt on a peg and draw your navel to your spine. Try the Canoe Twist. Sit upright, interlace your fingers over your stomach to create a solid grip. Exhale, and sweep the interlocked hands, arms, shoulders, and chest to the left, as if "rowing a canoe." Inhale and return to the starting position. Exhale and perform the movement to the right. Alternate for 20 repetitions.
WebMD Feature: Tips for Flat Abs

Chiropractic: Happy Backs!
This is a satisfaction survey of chiropractic care within a military hospital, from a Canadian Armed Forces Pilot Project. Chronic low back pain accounted for most presentations to the chiropractic clinic. The majority of military personnel (94.2%) and referring physicians (80.0%) expressed satisfaction with chiropractic services.
Military Medicine, June 2006

Wellness/Prevention: Tea And Your Heart.
Drinking three cups of tea per day was associated with a decrease of 11% in the incidence of myocardial infarction, or heart attack.
American Journal of Epidemiology, 2001

Happy Holidays Office Hours

Our office will be CLOSED for the Christmas holiday, Friday, Dec. 24th, and for the New Year weekend, Friday, Dec. 31.

We will, however, be OPEN both Tuesdays from 9am to 12pm & 3pm to 6pm to accommodate any patients who may be missing their Friday appointments due to our holiday closings.

PLEASE call our office to reschedule your Friday appointments. Our extra hours on both Tuesdays will enable us to accommodate your needs.

Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays and a Healthy New Year!

Sleep Away Back Pain?

Dear Patients and Friends,

If you have back pain, there is an interesting study you should know about. It might help you get out of pain - while you sleep.

Here's what it's all about: If you don't know how important sleep is, you should. This month's newsletter mentions the results of a study that found subjects who slept 8.5 hours a night lost 55% more weight than subjects who only slept 5.5 hours per night.

Many studies have shown there are negative effects on your health if you don't get enough sleep. Now, a new study says the bed you choose is very important and affects back pain.

That may be nothing new to you since you probably spend approximately one-third of your life sleeping (or trying to sleep). It makes complete sense that your bed will affect back pain.

But what may be new to you is what this study said about which bed you should choose.

The study said it is indeed possible to increase the quality of sleep and reduce pain and discomfort in your back depending on the sleep surface (bed) you use. And the sleep surface you choose should be based on the position you sleep in.

This is much different than just prescribing one bed for all cases of back pain. If the results of this study hold true - different beds should be used for different positions.

So, if you have back pain, it is a good idea to speak with your Chiropractor and figure out which type of bed will be best for you. And if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at (201) 651-9100.

Getting quality sleep might not only relieve your back pain... it might help you live a healthier, happier life.

Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Butler

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: TV Makes You Fear Sickness.
Watching TV and its heavy dose of medical content in news and drama can lead to more concern about personal health and reduce a person's satisfaction with life. Millions watch medical shows such as Grey's Anatomy and House. Evidence has shown the mass media is powerful in disseminating health knowledge and changing health attitudes and behaviors through such programming. This may lead people to think they are more likely to suffer from the maladies presented on TV. Previous research showed TV viewing can cause people to be less satisfied with their lives because it makes them more materialistic and causes them to overestimate other people's possessions compared to their own.
Mass Communication and Society, September 2010

Health Alert: BPA Levels In Food.
The amount of Bisphenol A (BPA) in fresh and canned food as well as food wrapped in plastic packaging, were almost 1,000 times higher than the "tolerable daily intake" levels set by the EPA. BPA is associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes in exposed workers, and food is a major exposure source. We know of no studies reporting BPA in US fresh food, canned food, and food in plastic packaging in peer reviewed journals.
American Chemical Society, Nov 2010

Diet: Beet On The Brain.
Drinking beet juice can increase blood flow to the brain in older adults, which could help decrease the risk of dementia. High concentrations of nitrates are found in beets, as well as in celery, cabbage and other leafy green vegetables, like spinach and some lettuce. When you eat high-nitrate foods, good bacteria in the mouth turn nitrate into nitrite. Nitrites help open blood vessels, increasing blood flow and oxygen.
Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, November 2010

Exercise: Energy Drinks When Exercising?
The US is the world's largest consumer of energy beverages by volume, and consumption is primarily among the ages 11-35. The most common ingredient is caffeine, which ranges from 50-500mg per 16-ounce serving. "One energy beverage during exercise is safe for most healthy individuals. Excess consumption and consumption with other caffeine-containing beverages or alcohol may lead to adverse effects and possibly death," reports John Higgins, MD, author University of Texas Medical School in Houston.
Mayo Clinic, November 2010

Chiropractic: Pain And Itching.
Researchers found the nerve cells that are active when we experience heat pain are also associated with itching. Extreme itching is a common complication following operations and burns. Eczema and other skin disorders can also lead to itchiness. Greater knowledge of the underlying factors paves the way for developing new forms of treatment for itching, for example, activating pain fibers to reduce itching.
Neuron, Nov 2010

Wellness/Prevention: How Much Sleep For Kids?
Newborn baby, up to 18 hours; 1-12 months of age, 14-18 hours; 1-3 years of age, 12-15 hours; 3-5 years of age, 11-13 hours; 5-12 years of age, 9-11 hours; teenagers, 9-10 hours.
Annals of Internal Medicine October, 2010

The Lazy Person's Way To Weight Loss…

Study Says: SLEEP MORE To Drop Pounds!

Are you lazy? Come on - it's just the two of us. You can admit it and it will be our little secret!

Well, even if you aren't "lazy," I'm sure you look for the quickest and easiest way to get things done.

For example, if you had these two weight loss programs - that work equally as well - which one would you pick...

1. You have to wake up at 5:00 a.m. every day and run 5 miles, then you eat almost nothing for breakfast, then almost nothing for lunch, then you workout like a dog for 2 hours after work, and eat a teeny tiny dinner. Then, you go to bed and do it all over again tomorrow. And you do this every day. Or…
2. You take a pill, sleep late... and wake up skinny.

Obviously, you'd probably choose #2. Any sane person would - as long as the "pill" was safe.

Anyways, you get the point.

Well, there is no "pill" that works like that. But, a study has just been published that claims sleeping is a very important part of weight loss.

In fact, research from the University of Chicago showed dieters who slept for 8.5 hours lost 55 percent more body fat than dieters who slept only 5.5 hours.

The authors of the study stated, "Lack of sufficient sleep may compromise the efficacy of typical dietary interventions for weight loss and related metabolic risk reduction."

Researchers think sleep may affect levels of a hormone called ghrelin. Increased levels of this hormone have been shown to increase appetite and increase fat retention. The subjects in this study who slept less claimed to be hungrier than those who slept more. According to the study's authors: "Together, these results suggest that the loss of sleep at times of limited food intake amplifies the pattern of ghrelin-associated changes in human hunger, glucose, fat utilization, and energy metabolism." It should be noted the sample size in this study was small and further research on this subject is needed to make definitive conclusions. While we are on the weight loss topic, here's another study you might find interesting...

Diet & Exercise?

USA Today reports two-thirds of people in the United States are overweight. "Overweight" is defined as being 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight. This means 66% of Americans, because of their weight, are at higher risk for Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and even some types of cancer. That's why it is so important to lose weight if you are overweight. New research published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared exercise combined with diet versus diet only.

Here's what researchers found... At six months, people in the diet-and-exercise group lost an average of 24 pounds and had better reduction in belly fat and liver fat than those in the delayed-exercise group, who lost an average of 18 pounds. After a year, people in the diet-and-exercise group lost 27 pounds compared to 22 pounds in the delayed-exercise group. "This shows that a traditional diet-and-exercise program can work for people who are very obese," says lead author, Bret Goodpaster, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Most participants in the study lost between 30-40 pounds... but a handful lost nearly 100.

Recently, a study published in the September 2008 Journal of Obesity raised a few eyebrows. The study contrasted diet versus exercise for weight loss and concluded that, even though exercise may be good for strengthening bones and muscles, improved mental health and mood, lowering blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast cancer and colon cancer... it may not be the best thing for weight loss. According to one of the study's authors: "We would love to say that physical activity has a positive effect on weight control, but that does not appear to be the case." This obviously contradicts the previous study mentioned in this newsletter, at least on the surface. This is one of the problems with studies - they are often conflicting, which is why common sense must enter into your decision-making process.

Researchers in the last study mentioned the reason exercise may not have been effective in weight less is because an increase in exercise may cause people to eat more. This clearly does not mean exercise is not effective - it means people were unable to control what they ate. Just because some people use a little exercise as an excuse to eat whatever they want does not mean exercise is not effective.

"All Natural" Foods That Are Far From All Natural

We all want to eat as healthy as possible, but with time constraints and money issues, eating right can be very difficult. Now there is one more hurdle you must watch out for...

And that hurdle is: Food companies making blatantly false claims about their products. For example, Ben & Jerry's seems to be a great company. They contribute greatly to many causes such as family farmers, climate change, etc. - all great stuff. But, their claim that their ice cream is made from "all natural" ingredients is false.

According to food.change.org; "The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) recently asked Ben & Jerry's to remove the 'all natural' stamp from its ice cream containers, claiming that ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, alkalized cocoa, and hydrogenated oil are far from natural. These ingredients are, in fact, quite heavily processed." Ben & Jerry's heeded CSPI's demands and agreed to remove the "all natural" label from its ice cream containers.

Ben & Jerry's may be the one taking heat from CSPI, but the ice cream maker is hardly alone in its misuse of the "all natural" label. Other ice-cream makers like Edy's/Dreyer's, Breyer's, Friendly's, Turkey Hill, and more do the same exact thing. This problem is not isolated to just ice cream. The real problem is that while the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates the "all natural" claim, they have no real definition of what an "all natural" food item is.

Ben & Jerry's voluntarily removed the "all natural" label from its products. Others have not.

Do You Or Your Kids Eat McDonalds?

This is a shock - but not surprising. Manhattan artist, Sally Davies, photographed a McDonald's Happy Meal every day for 6 months. The results? The Happy Meal did not appear to age. There was no mold or evidence of decay. In fact, the pictures at 6 months show it to look as fresh as the day it was bought.

Here's something even more shocking: Wellness educator and nutrition consultant, Karen Hanrahan, has kept a McDonald's hamburger since 1996 to illustrate its nonexistent ability to decay. Aside from drying out a bit and having "the oddest smell," it apparently hasn't changed much in the past 12 years.

Something to think about before stopping at the drive-thru...

And don't forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We're here to help and don't enjoy anything more than participating in your lifelong good health.

Health Update: Whiplash! Do I Need an Attorney?

When you hear the word, "whiplash," it brings to mind many different thoughts - motor vehicle collision (MVC), neck pain, headaches, concussion, jaw pain, litigation, car damage estimates - possibly a new car, medical costs, doctor's appointments, sleepless nights, and more. Questions typically asked when a MVC occurs include the following:

1. Do I need to get an attorney?
2. What can I expect for recovery time from my neck pain?
3. Why is it taking so long to get my car fixed?
4. Should I talk to the insurance company when they call?
5. I have to give a deposition next week. What is that?
6. My case didn't settle and we're going to court. How do I prepare for that?
7. The insurance company is offering $XXXX.XX for a settlement. What do you think my problems will be down the road?

Let's take a look at these!

1. Should you obtain the services of an attorney? If you want to significantly reduce your stress when it comes time to negotiating with the insurance company, especially towards the end of the process, then YES! Needless to say, you HAVE TO seek council if you plan to not settle and need to go to court. However, you do not have to get an attorney immediately unless you just don't want to deal with the insurance company at all. Typically, it's worth having an attorney as they are experienced in "...the process."
2. Recovery from neck pain can vary between a simple strain at 2-6 weeks to a herniated disk that may require surgery. We recommend you ask us this question about once a month as it will help you decide about this as well as questions 1 and 7.
3. The insurance company may delay the payment of the car repair costs for a number of reasons. Until the insurance company inspects the car's damages, they will not authorize the repair shop work, which can take weeks!
4. If you have hired an attorney, he/she will communicate for you. If not, it is appropriate for you to communicate with the insurance company. The important thing is to NOT settle the claim until you're sure you can do all of your pre-MVC activities without difficulty or pain, which often can take a full year or more.
5. These are call "discovery depositions" where you will be asked questions about the accident such as, where you hurt, what you can and can't do since the MVC, what tests and treatment you've received and what the results were. Your attorney will tell you the strengths and weaknesses of your case. The deposition "process" is quite easy and there is no reason to feel intimidated. Most attorneys are very courteous and will treat you kindly so don't worry unnecessarily!
6. Preparing for court is similar except you can't ask questions - they ask & you answer! Your attorney will tell you to answer only the question being asked and your attorney will later be able to ask you to clarify what was "left out." Always be kind, courteous, and NEVER let the other attorney get you angry!
7. See #2 above. If you have ongoing radiating pain in your arm (from your neck) or leg (from your low back), the "prognosis" for complete recovery is less favorable. Similarly, if you have ligament damage in your neck, there will probably be an accelerated pace of arthritis formation that may not bother you much for 5-10 years or longer but may later in life. We, as your expert witness, will describe your "impairment" and bring this to the jury's attention.

We hope this information is appreciated! We realize that you have a choice in where you go for your health care needs. We truly appreciate your consideration in allowing us to help you through this potentially difficult process.

Health Update: Headaches - How Does Chiropractic Work?

Headaches are a common complaint at chiropractic clinics. There are many causes of headaches, some of which are "idiopathic" or, unknown. Some headaches arise from "vascular" (blood vessels) causes such as migraine and cluster headaches. These often include nausea and/or vomiting and can be quite disabling and require rest in a dark, quiet place sometimes for a half or a whole day. Another type of headaches can be categorized as "tension" headaches. These usually result from tightness in the muscles in the neck and upper back caused from stress, work, lack of sleep, sinusitis, trauma such as whiplash, and others.

So "how does chiropractic work?" To answer this, let's first discuss what we do when the headache patient comes in. First, the history is very important! Here, we'll ask "how/when did the headaches start. This may glean the actual cause of headaches such as a car accident or injury of some sort. Next, we'll ask about activities that increase or create the headache, which gives us ideas of how we might help manage the headache patient. For example, when certain activities precipitate the onset of a headache, we will modify the work station and/or give specific exercises on a regular schedule to keep the neck tension under control. When information gathered about what decreases or helps the neck pain and headaches, we will recommend treatments often that can be done at home such as a home traction unit. This would be suggested if we are told that "...pulling on my neck feels great!" The quality of pain (throbbing = v ascular, ache and tightness = neck), intensity of pain (0-10 pain scale), and timing (worse in the morning vs. evening) help us track change after treatment is rendered, usually gathered once a month. The examination includes blood pressure which can in itself create headaches when high, looking in the eyes to view the blood vessels in the back of the eye to make sure there is no evidence of increased pressure against the brain, ears - to see if there is an infection or wax blockage. This can help if there is dizziness and/or balance loss. We will sometimes listen to the throat as well as the heart to see if there may be a blockage, a valve problem, or other issues. Neck muscle tightness (spasm) will be evaluated along with the range of motion, paying particular attention to the positions/directions that increases and decreases pain, especially those that decrease pain. Nerve function by checking reflexes, sensation and muscle strength as well a s correlating information like positions that decrease arm or leg pain will be included as any position that reduces pain in the arm or leg must be incorporated into an exercise. X-rays may include bending "stress" views so that ligaments (that hold bones together) can be evaluated for "laxity" (torn and unstable). When this is found, we avoid adjustments to these vertebrae.

As you can see, if is very important do a thorough evaluation so headache patients can be properly managed. Treatment approaches include: 1. Adjustments; 2. Soft tissue therapy (trigger point stimulation, myofascial release); 3. Posture correction exercises and other exercises; 4. Education about job modifications; 5. Co-management with other health care providers, if medication or injection therapy is needed.

We realize you have a choice in healthcare providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for headaches, 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.

Health Update: Fibromyalgia: How Do I Know I Have It?

"I wake up every morning with this stiff, sore lower back pain. When I roll over to get out of bed, I feel like a log and almost have to fall out of bed. When I finally get to my feet, I'm all bent over and can't stand upright for what seems like forever! It takes a couple of hours before it gradually loosens up enough so I don't have to shuffle with each step. I was told by a friend that I might have something called fibromyalgia and should ask my chiropractor. What do you think?"

To answer this inquiry, let's first define fibromyalgia (FM) so that we can compare the two properly. FM is a condition that is diagnosed basically by eliminating all other possible causes, including inflammatory joint conditions, by running various blood tests such as an arthritic profile. This usually includes tests for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and infection. A Lymes disease test is often included as that condition can often manifest as a chronic back condition from any cause. There are essentially no blood tests, x-ray or other imaging tests, or neurological tests that can specifically diagnose FM. It is when all these tests come back negative, that the diagnosis of FM is then entertained. The history is probably the most important aspect of the clinical encounter that helps in the diagnosis of FM. Most of these patients will report that the onset is gradual, often present for years. There is usually no specific cause though there are specific conditions (such as irritable bowel syndrom e, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis and others) that can result in "secondary fibromyalgia" where the cause is well known. The big differentiating historical feature is the presence of widespread, whole body pain - NOT just low back pain, as reported in the first paragraph above. In FM, there is often pain in the legs, arms, torso, back, neck and these people basically, "...hurt all over." Typically there is no radiating pain down the leg or arm that follows a specific nerve pathway and no exam findings of neurological deficits. Another unique feature of FM includes sleep dysfunction. In many cases, sleep interruptions occur 2, 3 or more times a night, often with difficulty in returning back to sleep. The quality of pain is often described as numbness, tingling, burning, achy, deep, boring, and most importantly generalized in location (all over the body). The intensity is usually reported as high (>6/10 pain scale scores). The past history usually includes m ultiple visits to many different types of doctors and many attempts at different medications is common - most of which do not help significantly.

Even with these unique historical features that are consistent with the diagnosis of FM, it is still necessary to "rule out" other conditions by running tests as previously described. This is especially important when FM is secondary to other conditions as FM can get "lost" in the shuffle, overshadowed by the other condition.

Treatment for FM includes many of the same methods for treating other musculoskeletal conditions. Spinal manipulation, soft tissue release techniques (massage therapy, trigger point therapy, myofascial release), and various forms of physical therapy (low level laser therapy - LLLT, ultrasound, interferential electrical current - IFC, and pulsed magnetic therapy can also improve function, reduce pain, and reduce the need for medications. Cognitive therapy, addressing psychosocial issues, can also be very effective. One of the most important treatment approaches is exercise. This has been consistently described as being an important form of care for the FM patient. In addition, dietary management using an anti-inflammatory diet (gluten free diet) and supplementation (a multiple vitamin, calcium/magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, Vit. D, and CoQ10) can also be very effective.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, 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.

Health Update: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Why Braces?

For those of you who have had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, you probably know all about braces. These are devices worn on the wrist that stop you from bending the wrist up or down. They may be worn anytime of the day if they don't interfere too much with one's current activity but are especially worn at night. One might think it would be more important to wear these during day when we are active and moving our fingers and hands a lot as we go about our normal work or play activities - not at night when we're basically just laying there doing nothing but sleeping, right? Wrong! It's more important to wear these at night. This is because we cannot control our hand/wrist position at night as we tend to curl up in a ball when we sleep and the wrist gets cocked up or down, often to the end point of the range. So, why is this so bad? To answer that question, let's look at the chart below on the left.

In the chart (above left), you are looking at a cross section of the wrist through the carpal tunnel. This illustrates the many structures that are inside the tunnel making it very compact or tight. Notice the small white circles in the middle of the tunnel. Those are the tendons that pass through the tunnel - there are 9 of those and they attach the muscles in our forearms (on the palm side) to our fingers so we can shake someone's hand or carry a suitcase (grip). Just to the left of center, on top of all the tendons sits the median nerve, which is just below the "roof" of the tunnel (the transverse carpal ligament). Now, normally, the pressure inside the carpal tunnel will approximately double when we bend our wrist, putting more pressure on the nerve and pushing it into the roof (ligament), which creates the numbness and/or weakness in our grip. But in the CTS sufferer, there is already more pressure in the tunnel due to th e swollen tendons so when the wrist is flexed or extended, the pressure goes up much more the twice - more like 6 times more pressure - hence, more symptoms. So, if we're sleeping with our wrist bent either way, the pressure pushing the nerve against the roof is a lot more than normal - 6x more! Now, can you see the reason for the "night splint?" It is VERY effective in keeping the wrist straight or "in a neutral position," which is needed to allow the nerve to NOT be pinched so it can heal.

Regarding braces, there are MANY different kinds of braces available and deciding which one to use is no easy task, not to mention the fact that they come in different sizes! When you are treated for CTS at this office, we will fit you with the proper size brace, if it's necessary. We realize you have a choice in health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

Health Update: Low Back Pain and Bone Density

So, what does bone density have to do with low back pain? The relationship between bone density and back pain is quite intimate. In fact, when the degree of bone density declines to the point of fracture, back pain becomes very real. The classic condition and cause of spinal pain associated with the loss of bone density is compression fracture.

Compression fractures occur when the strength of the bone decreases to a point where minor trauma and sometimes, no trauma whatsoever can result in fracture. Compression fractures affect the vertebral body (front of the spine) most often in the upper lumbar or lower thoracic spine but the pain associated with these types of fractures frequently radiates into the low back and pelvic region. In the elderly osteoporotic spine, these types of fractures usually do not result in spinal cord injury or nerve damage but this is quite the opposite when compression fractures occur in younger, normal bone density individuals. This is because when the bone is dense (or normal), the vertebral body basically explodes or bursts shifting some of the bony fragments back into the spinal canal where the spinal cord is located. When bone density decreases, there is no bursting of fragments - only collapse, resulting in pain but no neurological dam age. Besides pain, another problem with compression fractures is that the once upright or vertical spine is now bent and angles forward shifting the patient's weight to the front. This shift places yet more pressure on both the fractured vertebra and the surrounding vertebra which increases the risk of fracture to the surrounding adjacent vertebra. Therefore, multiple compression fractures are not uncommon when brittle bones occur from osteoporosis.

So who is more at risk for osteoporosis? The usual predictors include age, (older than 65), gender (female), race (Asian or Caucasian), low body weight, and previous fracture. Others include smoking, previous use of corticosteroids, a family history of fracture, excessive alcohol use, and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, vitamin D deficiency, thyroid or parathyroid increased function, and celiac disease (gluten intolerance) as well as poor balance (repeated falls), muscle weakness and a DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) T-score of -1.1 to -2.4 (osteopenia) or -2.5 or greater (osteoporosis) are also important predictors of brittle bone disease or osteoporosis. To best determine your risk using these factors, go to FRAX (www.sheffield.ac.uk/frax) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to determine your 10-year fracture probability (do not just use of the T-score on the DEXA scan).

From a treatment standpoint, it depends on the age of the patient, the degree of osteoporosis, and whether fracture has already occurred. In the younger, osteopenic person (that is, no fractures have occurred yet but bone density is low), non-medication approaches such as weight bearing exercise, no smoking, calcium / vitamin D supplementation, and minimize the other risk factors described above may be the proper choice. For others already with fracture, medication (bisphosphonates such as Actonel, Boniva, & Fosamax) may be appropriate. Further, injecting a cement into the bone (called kyphoplasty) may be appropriate for some.

We realize you have a choice in healthcare providers. If you, a friend or a family member requires care for low back pain, 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.

Did You Know?

Shoppers who do not regularly wash their reusable grocery bags may be placing themselves and their families at heightened risk of food borne illness.

It is estimated there are about 76,000,000 cases of food borne illness in the United States every year. Most of these illnesses originate in the home from improper cooking or handling of foods. Reusable bags, if not properly washed between uses, create the potential for cross-contamination of foods.

Only 3 percent of shoppers wash their reusable grocery bags out regularly. Most shoppers don't use separate bags for meat and produce, and some shoppers even use their bags for toting objects other than food. Contamination potential exists when raw meat products and foods traditionally eaten uncooked (fruits and vegetables) are carried in the same bags, either together or between uses. This risk can be increased by the growth of bacteria in the bags.

Washing the bags by machine or hand reduces bacterial presence to nearly zero.

"Baby It's Cold Outside" Clothing & Food Drive

Help us donate to the less fortunate this holiday season.

Donate your unwanted winter apparel (in good condition), as well as non-perishable food. Items will be distributed to food pantries, charities and community organizations, such as Jersey Cares, Goodwill, The Salvation Army and local New Jersey community groups.

Simply place your donated items in our Clothing & Food Drive Drop-off Box at 350 Ramapo Valley Road in Oakland and we’ll take care of the rest.

Non-Perishable Food Items:
Such as: Cereals, Canned Fruits & Vegetables, Soups, Gravies, Juice Boxes, Coffee, Tea, Jam, Crackers, Cookies, Rice, Pasta, Potato Flakes, Stuffing, Baby Food, etc...

Clothing in Good Condition:
Winter Coats, Hats, Gloves & Scarves

Drive ends January 10, 2011.
Your participation would be greatly appreciated by so many.

Labor Day Office Hours

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 6th, in observance of the Labor Day holiday weekend. We are adding office hours on Tuesday, September 7th, to help our patients make up any missed appointments from our Monday closing.

We will be open on Tuesday, Sept. 7th, from 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm.

It is very important to keep up with your treatment! Please call our staff to reschedule any appointments that will be missed over the holiday weekend. We are happy to help you!!

Wishing everyone a fun and safe Labor Day weekend!

Food Drive

For years Oakland Spine & Rehab has successfully been able to raise hundreds upon hundreds of bags of food to support our local food banks during our annual food drives. Because of our success, we were recently contacted by the Center for Food Action because they are dangerously low on supplies. It seems the economic down-turn has put a tremendous strain on families in our area and now these families stand to go hungry. I can't accept that.

Beginning Monday, June 21st, we will be conducting a special food drive event which will run until Friday, July 9th. We are asking EVERY AND ALL of our wonderful and generous patients to join us in supporting our local families with whatever you can. The food drive will be for non-perishable items only (think canned and boxed). Our goal is 100 bags of food - a goal we set every year during our Thanksgiving food drive.

To participate - simply bring the items in to our office over that 3 week period. We will arrange to have the food delivered. I know many of you are already generous with various charities, but there has always been a special place in my heart for helping our neighbors right here in our area.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

If You Have a Bad Chiropractor or a Bad Plumber

It's a shame, but as they say "Hind sight is 20/20" for a reason. Meaning lots of times you don't know what has really taken place until AFTER the problem has made itself apparent. As most of you know we just moved into our state of the art new office last August. It is my fourth "new" office in Oakland in 12 years. As our practice has taken off and become very successful we have had to move to bigger and better space. Along the way we have always tried to lead the field by offering new, cutting edge therapy that is done right. My patients who have been with me since the beginning have seen the most change and have asked me why we were adding these new services - and each time the answer was, "because I want the best care for my patients and I want it done right".

So what does this have to do with a plumber???

OK - so here it is. When we were building this new office we had VERY little time to get it done. So I worked out an arrangement to have my landlord's crews do the work. This move would greatly cut down on the projected time frames for getting the job done on time. Everything went great in the planning stage, but I did make one request. I asked my landlord to use MY plumber because he is fantastic, ethical and does the job RIGHT the first time. He and his family have also been patients for many years so I know the kind of guy he is. So Keith, (my plumber), put in a bid that was well under the other bids. He did that as a favor to me. Unfortunately, though, my landlord went back to "his guy" (are you getting the picture) and showed him Keith's bid. This guy under-bid Keith by a couple hundred dollars and my landlord went with him because HE WAS CHEAPER (again, are you getting the picture). Sadly, when I informed Keith he said to me, "Doc, there is no way you can do that job THE RIGHT WAY (emphasis mine) for that. This guy is cutting corners somewhere". I had no choice in the matter and the job was completed using THE OTHER GUY.

About a month or two into the move some of my staff and patients pointed out there was some water seeping out from both toilets in our bathrooms. It wasn't severe or consistent so we ignored it. But the problem persisted and I just wasn't comfortable with having something in my office that malfunctioned - because I demand excellence in every way possible. So, instead of talking to the landlord, I called Keith. When he came to the office Tuesday to see the issue he immediately said it wasn't the wax ring - there was something else. Suffice to say that when he removed the toilet and found that the OTHER GUY had not properly "roughed" the toilets and because of that there was a big GAP between the bottom of the toilet and the drain. The result? Well, I'm not gonna get too graphic - but let's say that when the toilets were flushed only "SOME" of what was supposed to go down the drain actually made it (by the way - we took pictures if you want to see them - yuck). Another "professional" who did a bad job. But it begs the question - IF THEY'RE BOTH PLUMBERS - DON'T THEY DO THE SAME THING?

WHAT'S THE MORAL TO THE STORY, DOC?

So here's the moral to the story : "IF YOU CHOOSE THE WRONG CHIROPRACTOR OR THE WRONG PLUMBER THE RESULT IS THE SAME - CRAP!!"

I know I used a bad word - but in this case, and in my recent experience - it was also "literal".

Before I go - one more thing. After 15 years of practice, with one of the country's larges practices, I have seen thousands and thousands of patients. One of the things that upsets me the most is when a new patient comes to our clinic with LOTS of problems and is looking for help - yet they refuse to understand that NOT ALL CHIROPRACTIC OFFICES are the same! There is a HUGE difference between what we do here and what 99% of the offices in the country do. The education, training, expertise, therapies, and most importantly, the RESULTS are completely different then anything they have ever experienced before. So, as my patient, please remember two things - first, our office is after PERFECTION when it comes to changing lives. And, second, the next time you have an opportunity to - please refer us your friend or family member KNOWING they will get the BEST POSSIBLE CARE, DONE RIGHT, THE FIRST TIME.

How To Live Before You Die

I'd like you to watch this video....Steve Jobs, "How to live before you die".

It's a good one. Share it with friends and family.

What Many People Don't Know About Chiropractic And What We Can Do For YOU... Especially if you have back pain!

Dr. Brad here. In just a moment I'm going to tell you some very interesting information about Chiropractic that most people do not know - but more importantly - what it can do for you and how it might even change your life.

This is really good stuff... especially if you have back pain now or have ever had back pain in the past.

But first, there is something else you should know about. I think you'll really like it.

Did you know the use if Aspirin dates all the way back to around 400 B.C.? It's true. The father of medicine, Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 B.C. and 377 B.C., left historical records that included the use of the bark of the willow tree to treat fever, headache and various pains.

It wasn't until 1829 that scientists started figuring out what was going on. That's when they discovered a compound called salicin in the willow plant was responsible for the pain relief.

In that same year, scientists were able to turn salicin into salicylic acid. The problem was that salycilic acid was very rough on the stomach and mouth... which limited its use. Then, in 1853, a German scientist named Charles Frederic Gerhardt buffered (neutralized) the harshness of the acid by coating salicylic acid with sodium and acetyl chloride. Although it worked, it was time consuming and Gerhardt stopped working on it because he didn't think it was worth it.

OOOOPS!

In 1897, a German pharmacist working for a German pharmaceutical company, Bayer, started looking for a solution for his father's rheumatism. His name was Felix Hoffmann and he "re-discovered" Gerhardt's work and in 1899 patented a "new" pain reliever under the name Aspirin.

As a quick and interesting aside: During the same month, Hoffmann synthesized heroin by accident. His discovery of heroin obviously didn't end up working out as well as aspirin! But, one of the truly remarkable things about all this is:

Scientists did not have a clue how aspirin worked until 1971! In that year, John Vane theorized how it worked for which he was awarded a Nobel prize in 1982.

Today, over 70 million pounds of aspirin are produced annually all over the world making it the world's most widely used drug... scientists still theorize about the exact mechanisms of aspirin.

So what's all this have to do with Chiropractic and your back pain?

Here's what: Believe it or not - Chiropractic and aspirin have many things in common.

First -- they can both be traced WAY back in history.

In fact, Hippocrates, who used a form of aspirin back in 400 B.C., also used a form of spinal manipulation... and so did ancient Egyptians and many other cultures.

But, it was not until 1895 that D.D. Palmer invented "Chiropractic". Chiropractic was new and different because Palmer theorized the nervous system controlled every function of the body and Chiropractic adjustments (specific spinal manipulations) removed interference to blocked or pinched nerves. This, in turn, not only relieved pain... it helped the entire body function better and heal from all sorts of illnesses and diseases.

Just like willow bark and eventually aspirin, spinal manipulation got results and became very popular... but the mechanisms were not understood.

But here's where Chiropractic & Aspirin differ - in a very big way…

Doctors and scientists had no clue how aspirin worked - but it was hailed by the medical community as a wonder drug and mass-produced.

Doctors and scientists were not sure how Chiropractic worked - so it was branded unscientific and quackery.

Seems a little unfair - don't you think?

Thank goodness in many areas, research has finally caught up with Chiropractic!

For example, Chiropractic's ability to help relieve back pain is well researched. It is a safe, effective and cost-effective way to relieve back pain.

How does Chiropractic work?... FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK:

Many times when you have back pain it is caused by a spinal joint sprain - or "subluxation". Ligaments hold two bones together to form a joint and a sprain occurs when a ligament is injured by over stretching it.

This can happen due to small micro traumas over several years or one acute event like a car accident, sports injury or slip and fall. When the ligament becomes stretched and injured joints do not function properly, delicate nerve fibers can be injured.

Over time, even if untreated, pain can go away even though the spinal joint is not functioning properly. This can lead to flare-ups in the future and degeneration as the joint moves improperly and wears out. This is why something small - like bending over to pick up a pencil - can cause severe back pain.

Chiropractic adjustments and treatments are designed to normalize spinal motion as much as possible. This allows the spinal joints to heal better.

Here's a simple way to look at it:

If you broke your arm and didn't get the bone set properly - it would heal out of place and crooked. The pain might go away in the short term - but there would most likely be big problems in the future. The best thing to do is put everything in place and let it heal properly.

Chiropractors are experts at getting your spinal bones and joints "in place" and working properly so they can heal correctly.

Chiropractors are also experts at keeping spines functioning properly to minimize future problems - much like periodic Dental check-ups and cleaning prevent tooth decay and loss down the road.

So, if you have back pain, you might want to try something that has a history starting in 400 B.C. with the father of medicine - Hippocrates - and has been practiced, improved and proven to help back pain.

If you do, just give us a call at 201-651-9100 and we will help you in any way that we can; conservatively and affordably!

Watching Your Back

How would you like to see your life change INSTANTLY? Every aspect can change if you change. Your future can change if you change how you THINK. Watch this 6 1/2 minute video. I think you'll like it. Show it to your friends and family. Share it. It works!

People ask me so many questions, but what I've found is that those questions can have so many different answers - depending on the person who's asking me and depending how they think and see their world. Whether it's about health, life, self-confidence, finances - what ever. It's about asking yourself the right questions, doing the RIGHT THINGS AT THE RIGHT TIME, and your personal rituals.

How Would You Handle This One?

The old saying in business is that "if one customer says something, then they're all thinking it". I take this wisdom seriously, which is why I wanted to help you understand a VERY common MYTH about Chiropractic. At least once each week, a new patient, business associate, friend or acquaintance will say to me, "I heard that once you go to a chiropractor you have to go for the rest of your life", or some version of that old myth. It really is a pervasive thought and one that probably hurts the lives of so many people. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT - what a commitment!! And because human nature is to reflexively avoid any long term commitment, think about how many people that you know who have never gone to a chiropractor or never would step into our office because of the fear of being "roped in".Look at what's going on in commerce right now - how many cell phone companies, TV companies (cable, Direct TV, etc.), gyms and so on are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to sell you on "NO CONTRACTS". Why? Because in this economy they are doing everything possible to put you at ease, to remove OBSTACLES to you choosing to go with them. So, back to the point - virtually everyone you know has a spine, right? :) And hardly anyone you know takes care of their spine - which is why 80% of Americans will develop problems with their backs. Now the sad story is that most people wait so long that they eventually end up on dangerous Rx medication that have terrible side effects or WORSE - 300,00 people each year have surgery which has a 70 - 90% FAILURE RATE!! Why, because they're afraid to go to a chiropractor. So they suffer, lose months or years of quality of life, or even worse, end up being put on depression medications because pain is so chronic.

Now that you know this - Chiropractic Care (and, in our office, Physical Therapy, too) is NOT A LIFETIME COMMITMENT! It's simply a foolish thought - HOWEVER - you as a consumer must know more than that so that YOU can use Chiropractic the right way. Let me give you an analogy - Millions of people join a gym every year. Everyone knows how valuable fitness is. Now I don't know about you, but when I go to the gym I NEVER have to wait for a treadmill. Is that because my gym has thousands of treadmills to accommodate those millions of people??? No, it's because very few of those people who join COMMIT to working out year round. Most of them have a very small vision of what they want and after a few visits drop out of the gym. Others have a slightly larger vision of losing a few pounds or fitting into a smaller pant/dress size. And finally, there are those that realize that regular exercise has benefits that go FAR BEYOND a few extra pounds. They realize that regular exercise IMPROVES THE WAY THE BODY WORKS - resulting in less stress (emotional health), better sleep, regulates blood sugar (chemical health), increases energy, builds lean muscle mass leading to increased metabolism, lowers blood pressure, cleans the blood....and the list goes on, which leads to a longer, healthier life. So, all of these people are doing the same thing - exercise - but their goals and RESULTS are totally different. Do you see the difference? Chiropractic is exactly the same. What we deal with is the relationship between the spine and the central nervous system. For patients with the smallest vision of care, which is PAIN RELIEF, that can mean just a couple weeks before their symptoms improve and they STOP. For others, they want to correct the CAUSE of their problem, which we specialize in and is called CORRECTIVE CARE. They might be here for a couple of months. Finally, there are those who want to learn about maximizing their body's function to not only get better, but to prevent damage and disease from developing in the future. They continue with regular chiropractic care because they realize that, just like at the gym, when they stop going, the benefits begin to disappear. No one is wrong when they choose what kind of care they want. What we do works every time to get results. The results you get depend upon your goals.

To Conclude - the only person who is wrong is the person who has mistakenly been led to believe that once you go to a chiropractor you HAVE to go for the rest of your life. So "How Would You Handle This One"? Tell them that what we do in our clinic is a TOOL. You can use it any way you want. The next time it comes up - let them know they don't have to be afraid. Tell them that the longer the wait the more damage will develop and the longer it will take them to get better. Chiropractic is not a lifetime commitment - it just works best that way.

What You Tell Yourself Is What You Get!

I see it all the time - a new patient walks in the door with a BIG problem, but an even BIGGER chip on their shoulder. Instead of being excited about the prospect of getting well again and rebuilding their health they say "I don't have the time to get here" or "I've gone to other doctors before and it didn't help" or "I can't afford it". Or whatever. Now, truly there are those that cannot get here or cannot afford to pay for the care we provide, but those few people PALE in comparison to those who use it as an excuse so that THEY don't have to change their habits and take CONTROL over their own health.

On the other hand, I have patients who walk in and say , "No one has ever explained my problem this way before" or "I have been to other chiropractors, but have never seen this type of care" or even "Doc, I trust you. Just get me better. I don't care what it takes". These are the people who see the devastation that happens to one's life when they are in chronic pain. These people see the COST of not being well and are willing to do whatever it takes to get better AND have a great attitude about it. These are the patients who ALWAYS get better results and get better faster.

Is it possible that the biggest difference between them is what they tell themselves? Is it possible that someone's attitude and acceptance and devotion and refusal to accept excuses can make the difference between another miracle at Oakland Spine and a patient who sees few results and quits BEFORE their body ever had a chance to heal? ABSOLUTELY! I am a tremendous believer that my patients who believe in me and my team and the superior product we provide will beat the nay-sayers every time and twice on Sunday. Our attitude affects every part of our life, including our health. Attitude can make the difference between a great marriage and a bad one, a great job and one you hate, a great day and an excuse to have another miserable day.

CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY! CHOOSE TO BE HEALTHY! CHOOSE TO GET BETTER - and then, when others look at you and at how great you look, tell them you decided to have a great attitude and to take control over rebuilding your health.

Medical Breakthrough For Pain Relief

Pain Sufferers Find Relief at Oakland Spine and Rehab with the FDA Approved Lite-Cure Laser

Hello, I'm Dr. Brad Butler, DC. Are you in pain? Have you tried everything to alleviate your pain without success? Are you contemplating surgery? Have you had surgery and are still in pain? In many cases operations are necessary for proper health and recovery from injury. However, I have seen countless post-surgical patients who did not want or need surgery and are still in pain. Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation utilizes state-of-the-art technology for pain relief that is proven to be an effective alternative to surgery. We offer a complete spine care pain relief program that involves a combination of individualized physical therapy, Deep Tissue Laser Therapy, manipulation under anesthesia, corrective chiropractic care and more.

Advanced Pain Relief Tools and Accurate Evaluations

Are pain pills, injections and spinal surgery effective, long-term solutions for pain relief? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Patients who come to Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation Center receive access to the most advanced pain relieving options available. The same technology that has typically only been used by professional sports teams is now available to you!

THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO PAIN RELIEF!

At Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation Center we have the area's ONLY LiteCure (LCT-1000) Laser Treatment. Deep tissue laser therapy is an innovative, scientifically based therapeutic modality. This new technology is FDA approved and offers advanced pain relief and faster healing times through a process known as photobiostimulation. The LCT-1000 laser treatment delivers deep penetration photonic energy to bring about profound physiological changes*. ATP (adenosine-triphosphate) production is increased, inflammation and pain reduced and circulation increased at the site of the injury. These changes in cellular chemistry are triggered by the LCT-1000 – MAKING IT A TRUE HEALING MODALITY.

LCT-lOOO Deep Tissue Laser Therapy does not require the use of drugs or surgery and there are no known side effects or risks that may occur with other forms of pain treatment. In addition, it can often achieve results faster that other treatment modalities. During the treatment, the patient feels a deep, soothing warmth. This pleasant sensation reassures the patient that the laser is stimulating cellular activity. MANY PATIENTS EXPERIENCE RELIEF AFTER THE VERY FIRST TREATMENT!

What Conditions Can Be Treated at Oakland Spine and Rehab?

• Herniated, bulging or "slipped" discs
• Spinal Stenosis
• Neuropathic Pain in Arms, Hands, Legs and Feet
• Failed Back Surgeries
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Arthritic Joints
• Migraine Headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Sciatica

What Patients Are Saying:

"I suffered from neck pain and migraines for years. I tried traditional treatments and tons of pain pills, but none of them worked. It got to the point that I was taking the pills and still getting the pain. I didn't know what else to do. Then I was referred to Dr. Butler. After his evaluation, he told me I would be a candidate for the LiteCure treatments. After the very first treatment I felt immediate relief from the pain. The best part is that it was the first thing I have done that has lasted. I can't believe how much better I am feeling" - Megan, Age 29

"I was diagnosed with neuropathy many years ago and had been getting worse over time. It got to the point where I couldn't even feel my feet. The other doctors I went to see had no solution except to put me on strong medications that didn't help my condition and had several undesirable side effects. I came to Oakland Spine and Rehab about two months ago. In addition to chiropractic care and physical therapy for my lower back I started treatments with the laser. The laser had a deep heat feel to it. I can say that for the first time in a long time I am starting to feel better. I can feel my feet again and my balance is improving. I would recommend this treatment for anyone who has neuropathy." - Bill, Age 74

Still Skeptical?

In a world of money back guarantees (that nobody uses because of the hassle) I am so confident you will see RELIEF at Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation Center that I am willing to take it a step further. Therefore, I will allow the first 25 callers to receive 2 treatments at our office ABSOLUTELY FREE and WITHOUT FURTHER OBLIGATION. There are NO strings attached so you have nothing to lose but your pain!!

It's Time to Take Control of Your Life and Enjoy Freedom From Pain

2 Free Lite-Cure Treatments
for the fist 25 callers who mention this blog
(no strings attached)

CALL TODAY (201) 651-9100

Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation Center
350 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ
(in the Copper Tree Shopping Center next to Staples)
www.oaklandspineandrehab.com

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Depression: Coping With Anxiety Symptoms Through Lifestyle Changes. Experts stress you can do a lot to support your treatment for depression and anxiety. Try to eat well and get enough sleep. Don't rely on alcohol or illicit drugs. Physical activity is key, as there's good evidence it can help with mood and may help people bounce back from depression. Breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and disciplines like yoga can help too. Most people already know this stuff. Telling people "eating well" or "exercising" is a good idea is often just preaching to the choir. The key is to figure out ways of integrating better habits into your life. Psychiatric Times, Dec. 2007

Health Alert: Top 10 Countries In Drug Expenditures Per Capita. (1) US $878 (2) Canada $691 (3) Greece $677 (4) France $588 (5) Belgium $566 (6) Spain $562 (7) Germany $542 (8) Italy $518 (9) Austria $500 (10) Switzerland $454 OECD Health Data, 2009

Exercise: The Best Way To Stretch. Always contract the muscle you want to stretch first (2-5 seconds), take a deep breath in-and-out (1-2 seconds) and then stretch (holding the stretch 15-30 seconds). Repeat this process 3-5 times.This mechanism allows the muscle to relax. Try it! Example: If stretching the hamstrings, you should contract the hamstrings first and then go into the stretch. Herman Kabat, MD, PhD

Chiropractic: Bad Posture Is Not Good. Having poor posture, slumping or slouching forces your back muscles to pull and hold your torso up, which can cause low back pain. Try this: Have a friend put their hand on your back and feel the difference of muscular tension with good posture vs. bad posture. Now imagine having that extra muscular tension all day long!

Wellness/Prevention: Get Your Sleep! You need sleep as much as you need food. Make sure you get enough sleep because without it, your body and your immune system will weaken. Mark Stibich, PhD.

Quote: "When the patient loves his disease, how unwilling he is to allow a remedy to be applied." ~ Pierre Corneille, Le Cid

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!!

Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation, in conjunction with the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, is sponsoring a statewide coat, hat, glove, and scarf drive this holiday season.

Please help us by donating your good condition winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves. Items may be dropped off at O.S.R. during our normal office hours. Your generous donations will be given to local charities.

Thank you so much for your help and caring. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Chiropractic Manipulation: A New Study Regarding Headaches

Headaches are a common complaint in patients presenting for professional care, including chiropractic management.  Patients with headaches seek chiropractic care because they find manipulation or adjustments applied to the cervical spine and upper back region are highly effective in reducing the intensity, frequency and duration of the headache pain.  This is because the cervical spine / neck, is often the origin of the headache as the three nerves in the upper neck (C1, 2 and 3) pass through the thick, overly taught neck muscles in route to the scalp / head.  When the muscles of the neck are in spasm, the nerves get “pinched” or squeezed by the overly tight muscles resulting in headache pain.  Each nerve runs to a different part of the head and therefore, pain may be described as “…radiating over the top of head (sometimes into the forehead and eyes),” or, into the head and over the ear, sometimes reaching the temple.  Also, an area located in the back and side of the head is the area where the C1 nerve innervates, so pain may also be reported in that location.  When more than one of the C1-3 nerves is pinched, the whole side to the top of the head may be involved.

In the October 2009 issue of The Spine Journal, Western States Chiropractic College, Center for Outcomes Studies, reported benefits are obtained with the utilization of spinal manipulation in the treatment of chronic cervicogenic headaches.  The word “chronic” means at least 3 months of headache pain has been present.  This new study compared 2 different doses of therapy using several outcome measures including the pain grade, the number of headaches in the last 4 weeks and the amount of medication utilized.  Data was collected every 4 weeks for a 24 week period and patients were treated 1-2 times/week and separated into either an 8 or a 16 treatment session with half the group receiving either spinal manipulative therapy or a minimal light massage (LM) control group.

The results of the study revealed the spinal manipulation group obtained better results than the control group at all time intervals.  There was a small benefit in the group that received the greater number of treatments with the mean number of cervicogenic headaches reduced by 50% in both pain intensity and headache frequency.

The importance of this study is significant as there are many side effects to medications frequently utilized in the treatment of headaches.  Many patients prefer not taking medications for this reason and spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) offers a perfect remedy for these patients.  Couple SMT with dietary management, lifestyle modifications, stress management, and a natural, vitamin/herbal anti-inflammatory (such as ginger, turmeric, boswellia) when needed, a natural, holistic approach to the management of chronic headaches is accomplished.

We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.

Oakland Spine & Rehabilitation Introduces New Therapist

Oakland Spine & Rehabilitation Center has added yet another expert to our staff. We welcome Cathy Kuschan, MPT to our physical therapy team. Cathy brings with her 25 years of incredible experience working with a variety of techniques and specializing in manual therapy. Cathy's expert presence allows us to live up to our motto of "No Waiting, No Kidding". For our patients who currently receive physical therapy, we can now care for you without waiting days for an appointment and you will receive the same amazing quality of care you have come to expect from us.

As always, if you, a family member, or a friend are in need of physical therapy for treatment of an injury or after surgery - Oakland Spine & Rehabilitation is here to help. We appreciate your referrals.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Benefits of Laughter. Laughter increases secretion of catecholamines & endorphines, which increases oxygenation of the blood, relaxes arteries, increases heart rate, decreases blood pressure -- all have a positive effect on all cardiovascular & respiratory ailments, as well as an increased immune system response. American Journal of Medicine, 1995

Health Alert: Still Smoking? In 2007, 43 million or 19% of adults were smokers! CDC, 2008

Diet: Flavonoids Found In Tea Decrease Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke! The Zutphen study, which assessed 805 male subjects over a period of five years, found the incidence of fatal and nonfatal first myocardial infarction and mortality from stroke decreased significantly as intake of flavonoids, derived mainly from tea, increased. A follow-up to this study found a high intake of flavonoids significantly lowered the risk of stroke in study participants. Lancet, 1993 & Archives of Internal Medicine, 1996

Exercise: Exercise & Healing. Regular exercise may accelerate wound healing by 25%. Skin wounds healed 10 days faster on people who exercised. (29 days vs. 39 days). Ohio State University, 2006

Chiropractic: Chiropractic Is Effective For Treating Headaches! Cervical Spine manipulation was associated with significant improvement in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache. Many times, a chiropractic adjustment can help with chronic or acute headaches. The adjustment releases short and tight muscles, allowing for optimum blood flow, which decreases the pain from headaches. Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center, Durham, NC, 2001

Wellness/Prevention: Women and Cancer. Women who adopted at least 6 of 9 recommendations below were 35% less likely to get cancer and 43% less likely to die from cancer than women who followed zero or one of the following recommendations. (1) Maximum body mass index of 25, limit adult weight gain to 11 pounds (2) eat 5 or more servings of fruit and veggies a day (3) eat 7 or more portions of complex carbohydrates a day (4) decrease your consumption of processed foods and refined sugars (5) limit alcohol consumption to 1 drink a day (6) limit your red meat intake to no more than 3 oz. per day (7) decrease fatty foods, particularly animal fats (8) limit intake of salted foods & use in cooking (9) eliminate tobacco use. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, July 2004