Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Resist Temptation?
How do you defeat the impulse to gratify desire and stick to your long-term goals of slimness or sobriety? Just say, "no thanks" and move on. Don't stop and think about it. The presence of temptation twists your cognitive abilities in ways that promote impulsive behavior.
Psychological Science, Oct 2011

Health Alert: Prescription Painkiller Abuse Epidemic!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdoses involving prescription painkillers have tripled in the past 10 years and now kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined. A significant proportion of deaths are from people who obtain prescription painkillers without a prescription and use them for recreational use.
CDC Vital Signs, Oct 2011

Diet: The Skinny On Coffee.
The more coffee an adult drinks, the lower the risk seems to be for developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a common type of skin cancer. Women who had at least 3 cups of coffee daily had a 20% lower chance of developing BCC, compared to those who consumed less than one cup per month. Men who consumed at least three cups of coffee per day had a 9% lower risk of BCC.
Harvard Medical School, Oct 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise gives you more energy to meet the demands of daily life, and provides you with a reserve to meet the demands of unexpected emergencies.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Posture and Health.
Posture and normal physiology are interrelated. Posture affects and moderates every physiological function from breathing to hormonal production. Abnormal posture is evident in patients with chronic and stress related illnesses. Observe people over 50 and you will see that people with bad posture look unhealthy.
American Journal of Pain Management, 1994

Wellness/Prevention: Preventable Strokes.
One in six people will suffer a stroke and someone dies from a stroke every 6 seconds. 85% of these people have risk factors that can prevent a stroke, if identified. 6 steps to reduce stroke risk: 1) Learn the warning signs of a stroke: sudden numbness, in particular if it only affects one side of the body, loss of balance or sudden vertigo, sudden difficulty in speaking or seeing, and severe headaches with no apparent cause. 2) Check your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and diabetes. 3) Exercise regularly and keep physically active. 4) Eat a healthy diet and avoid becoming obese. 5) Avoid cigarette smoke and seek help to stop if you are a smoker. 6) Restrict your alcohol consumption.
World Stroke Organization, Oct 2011

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: A Long, Happy Life.
Older people have a 35% lower chance of dying if they are content, excited or happy during their typical day. This was true even after taking into account such factors as a person's financial situation, physical health, mental health, chronic disease, physical activity, alcohol intake, depression and age.
Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, Oct 2011

Health Alert: For The Young.
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the world's largest non-governmental organization working in sexual and reproductive health, is calling to renew the focus on young people's reproductive health. Currently, 16 million adolescent girls become mothers every year and almost 40% of the 6,800 new HIV infections each day are among young people.
International Planned Parenthood Federation, Oct 2011

Diet: Alcohol, Good Or Bad?
Red wine has been shown in many studies to benefit the immune system and cardiovascular system, but women who drink even moderately (as few as three drinks a week) increase their risk of breast cancer. Women who abstain from all alcohol may find that a potential benefit of lower breast cancer is more than offset by the increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Harvard Medical School, Oct 2011

Exercise: Obesity Gene's Effect Reduced By Exercise.
With exercise and a physically active lifestyle, the genetic predisposition to obesity caused by the 'fat mass and obesity associated' (FTO) gene can be significantly reduced. The effect of the FTO gene on obesity risk is 27% weaker among physically active adults, compared to those who are physically inactive. These findings challenge the common excuse that "obesity is in my genes."
PLoS Medicine, Oct 2011

Chiropractic: A Benefit For The Elderly.
Elderly patients suffering from dizziness experienced significant clinical improvement after just one month of Chiropractic care.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2009

Wellness/Prevention: Remember Your Fluids.
Drinking plenty of fluids may provide men with protection against bladder cancer as the fluids may flush out potential carcinogens before they have the opportunity to cause tissue damage that could lead to the cancer. High total fluid intake (more than 2,531 milliliters per day) was associated with a 24% reduced risk for bladder cancer among men.
Cancer Prevention Research, Oct 2011

Alert: With the New Year, your insurance benefits may be changing!

A majority of our patient's insurance coverage changes at the beginning of the New Year. If you have changed your insurance or know of any plan changes, please bring us your insurance card so that we can re-verify your benefits for you. If you are not sure, we can re-verify your benefits as well. Also, many insurance companies refresh the number of visits allowed each year at the beginning of the year.

In addition, we just wanted to remind you that the referral give-away is winding down. You still have 4 more days to refer your loved ones in for your chance to win a $500 Visa gift card just in time for the holidays!

As always,
The Staff at Oakland Spine and Rehab

Our Same Day Guarantee

We have made yet another policy change in our ever growing desire to SHATTER the model of a doctor's office visit. It's called our "Same Day Guarantee." More on this in a minute.

First I want to talk you about how we Re-Invented the notion of WAITING at a doctor's office. In most cases, when I speak to patients or people I know the overwhelming complaint about doctors is the WAIT. There is nothing more aggravating and one I experienced first hand.

About a year ago my son, Zack, broke his shoulder blade (ouch!) during football practice. When I knew I couldn't help him I called an orthopedic office I trust. When we arrived we had to wait an hour and a half - AND THIS IS A DOCTOR I KNOW AND REFER TO!! I was so outraged that I immediately went back to my office and told my entire staff, "We will never do that to a patient. We are going to create a NO-WAITING, NO-KIDDING policy". And so it has been for over a year to the delight of our patients. Simply stated - if you are an active patient you will never wait more then 5 minutes to be seen. If you wait - we give you a gift.

Now for our NEW GUARANTEE.

Guess what the SECOND most common complaint we hear about doctors offices is? You guessed it - GETTING AN APPOINTMENT. Well, I am announcing our newest guarantee which I would LOVE for you to share with those you care about and refer to our office. It's our "SAME DAY GUARANTEE". Simply stated, if a new patient needs to be seen on our normal days of operation - we guarantee we will see them that day! All they have to do is call us during the morning hours. You will see this very soon in all of our marketing efforts - our billboard, our newspaper ads, our mailings and on TV.

So now you have one more amazing advantage here at O.S.R. to tell your friends and family about.

As always,
Dr. Brad

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Brain Games.
Researchers have found risk/reward scenarios (such as playing games) stimulate nearly all areas of the brain. Since the brain's primary purpose is to maximize our chance of survival and reproduction, it makes sense reward should be important for all cognitive functions, and thus most brain regions.
Neuron, Oct 2010

Health Alert: Antibiotics.
After 70 years, antibiotics are still the primary treatment for bacterial infections. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance is now outpacing the rate of new drug discovery and approval. The economic costs and health threats of antibiotic resistance have become so serious that the World Health Organization dedicated World Health Day to call global attention to the issue. Antibiotics are routinely sprayed on crops and fed to livestock, which helps cause antibiotic resistant bacteria to develop. That antibiotic resistance is then transferred to humans when they eat the food containing the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is resistant to a broad range of antibiotics, causes infections in people with compromised immune systems, such as HIV and cancer patients. It's also responsible for hospital-related infections such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia and infections from burns. The fatality rate is about 50%. Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections by P. aeruginosa alone cost more than $3.5 billion a year in the US.
WHO, Oct 2011

Diet: A Slice Of Watermelon!
Watermelon reduces atherosclerosis in animals. The study involved mice with diet-induced high cholesterol. By week 8, animals given watermelon juice had lower body weight, due to decreased fat mass. They experienced no decrease in lean mass. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower, with modestly reduced intermediate and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.
University of Kentucky, Oct 2011

Exercise: Reduces Productivity?
Exercise may reduce work productivity in employees with high stress jobs. The study's authors recommend employees with more stressful jobs utilize other techniques to manage stress.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Oct 2011

Chiropractic: Yoga & Low Back Pain.
A 12-week yoga program for adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain improved back function better than back pain education booklets.
Annals Of Internal Medicine, Nov 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Stop Smoking!
Smokers are twice as likely to have strokes, and on average, they have them 10 years earlier than non-smokers.
Heart and Stroke Foundation, Oct 2011

If I Go To A Chiropractor, Do I Have To Keep Going For The Rest Of My Life?

That's a common question you hear over and over, and it keeps a lot of people from experiencing all of the wonderful benefits Chiropractic care has to offer. The answer, of course, is ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Going to a Chiropractor is a lot like going to the Dentist. You will have less dental problems if you brush and floss your teeth and go for check-ups and cleanings than if you didn't go. If you wait until your tooth hurts, you most likely need more dental work than if you didn't wait so long. Once you get the toothache fixed, you can choose to brush, floss and get routine check-ups...or not.

Most Chiropractic patients start care because they have a symptom...usually pain. Some get a handful of treatments, feel better...and don't come back until they have pain again. Others get out of pain and come for maintenance visits in an effort to keep the pain from coming back.

The bottom line is: It's all up to you. At our practice, you are free to choose whatever type of care you want, without lecturing or questioning from us. You can come for one visit then call us in two years and we will be happy to see you again. It's your body and you are 100% in charge. We will give you what we feel are the best possible recommendations, but we will not get upset if you choose another path. That's why we don't insist anyone committing to long-term care plans. We want you to give us a try and see if you like it, and if you do... take it from there.

So please, spread the word to all your family and friends who think that if you go to a Chiropractor once, you have to keep going for the rest of your life. If you know someone who has been locked into a long-term care plan they didn't like, please tell them we are different. Or don't... that's up to you, too.

Call us if you need anything, we are always here to help.

Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Butler

MORE Whiplash Facts

Last month, we discussed 10 facts about whiplash in attempt to dispel the myths about this topic. Due to the amount of information available, we couldn't cover them all. So, here are 10 more interesting facts about whiplash:

1. Much has been published on the association between ongoing whiplash symptoms and litigation. There is now plenty of evidence that ongoing whiplash injury related symptoms occur regardless of the presence or absence of litigation.
2. The concept of a delay in symptoms means minimal injury is dispelled. In fact, it's considered "the norm" that symptoms are delayed.
3. Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) or post-concussive syndrome can occur as a result of whiplash trauma. The good news is that, in most cases, recovery occurs within the first 3 months.
4. In the European Spine Journal, a recent study reported that between 1 and 2 years after a whiplash injury, 22% of patients' conditions worsened. Condition deterioration at the 2 year mark has also been reported in other studies.
5. More detailed studies that followed whiplash patients through time, reported that 45% remain symptomatic at 12 weeks (3 months) and 25% at 6 months. Others reported the recovery time in most "minor cases" is 8 weeks (2 months), time to stabilization (not recovery) in the more severe cases was 17 weeks (4 months), and in the most severe category, 20.5 weeks (5 months). Hence, the concept that whiplash, like all other injuries heal in 6-12 weeks is challenged (note, there is little support for this common myth).
6. Each year, approximately 1.99 million Americans are injured in motor vehicle collisions.
7. Since 1990, a mean of 40% of a pool of whiplash patients from all vectors of collision (that is, rear, front or side impacts) were still symptomatic at a 2 year follow up. 59% of ONLY rear-end collision patients remained symptomatic at a 2 year follow-up.
8. Although these estimates vary, approximately 10% of WAD (whiplash associated disorders) injured subjects become disabled to a point of not being able to continue working.
9. Children who sustain whiplash injuries display sleep disturbances, nightmares, difficulty talking to parents and friends (brain injury), mood changes, poor academic performance and fears of participating in higher impact sports. Moreover, children tend to be overlooked in the evaluation and treatment process since they tend to complain less.
10. If the size of the 2 impacting vehicles is the same, an 8 MPH impact produces 2 times the force of gravity. When the bullet vehicle is larger than the target vehicle, the difference increases dramatically.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, 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.

Do Chronic Sinus Problems Cause Headaches?

Many of us have had sinus related headaches, right? You know, these are the headaches that hurt over the sinuses (above the eyes or in the cheek bones next to your nose) and, when you blow your nose, it's not pretty! Sinus infections often lead to sinus headaches - wouldn't you say that's a true statement?

A recent November 2011 study begs to differ. Researchers took 58 patients with a diagnosis of "sinus headache" made by their primary care physician and asked them the following questions:

1. Have you had a previous diagnosis of migraine or tension-type headache?
2. Is their clinical evidence of a sinus infection during the past 6 months?
3. Is there the presence of "mucopurulent secretions" (that's the "not so pretty stuff" when we blow our nose)?

All 58 patients clearly seemed to have chronic sinusitis with an acute flair up and were given complete thorough examinations by a neurologist and an ears, nose, throat specialist (otolaryngologist) on a monthly basis for 6 months during treatment. The surprising results showed that final diagnosis in these 58 cases were 68%, 27% and 5% of the patients really had migraine, tension-type headache and chronic sinusitis with recurrent acute episodes, respectively. Treatment during the 6 months included antibiotic therapy in 73% of the patients with tension-type headache and 66% with migraine. Sinus endoscopy (taking a look up the sinuses with a scope - ouch!) was performed in 26% of the patients, and therapeutic nasal septoplasty (surgery!) was performed in 16% of the migraine patients and 13% of patients with tension-type headache (a pretty BIG mistake, wouldn't you say?). The conclusion was that many patients with self-described or primary car e physician diagnosed "sinus headaches" have no sinonasal abnormalities but instead, met the criteria for migraine or tension-type headache.

So, what does this mean? Well, for one thing, too many antibiotics are prescribed for tension-type or migraine headaches and have no place in the treatment process of these two common headache categories. Side effects of antibiotics include (but are not limited to): stomach and intestinal irritation, nausea, and if one is allergic to the antibiotic, a potentially life-threatening condition call anaphylactic shock. Let's not forget to mention that sinus surgery was performed in 29% of the cases where the sinuses were NOT causing the headaches and we all know the risks of undergoing anesthesia and surgery can include death and infections, among other problems.

Chiropractic was reported to be a wise choice in the treatment of headaches by several publications, one of which provided a large review of the literature on the "Effectiveness of manual therapies: the UK evidence report," released in 2010 (http://chiromt.com/content/18/1/3). In this report, both migraine and cervicogenic-type (headaches that start in the neck) headaches were found to have strong research support for manipulation or, chiropractic adjustments. In this day and age, you can be very confident that choosing chiropractic services for headache treatment is a wise, safe, and very cost-effective approach for a very disabling condition.

We realize that you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for neck 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.

How Can You Stay Healthier with All of the Holiday Stress?

For years I have heard my patients' concerns about getting sick during the holidays, and I have observed something which will benefit you greatly. Around the holidays, more people get sick then during most other times of the year. Why is that? The answer is simpler then you think....

Our bodies follow certain principles - we all get excited about "new discoveries and treatments", but the truth is that in order to stay healthy our body must function as close to 100% as possible. There are THREE areas of health that need attention - they are the Physical, Chemical and Emotional components to our lives. All three of them, if out of BALANCE, can effect the function of the other two. It's very common for one of these areas to not be working right during the year for different reasons.... maybe you have a lot of stress in a relationship or at work (Emotional) or your job requires you to not move very much or move too much or you've had a trauma (Physical), or your eating habits have gotten way out of control or your on a lot of medication (Chemical). See there are lots of things that affect the function of our bodies.

During the Holidays - WHAT WE SEE IS THAT THERE IS AN ASSAULT ON ALL THREE. Think about it - Stress is everywhere. More demands on your time, more obligations, more financial stress, all the eating out, alcohol and deserts. It overwhelms our bodies.

So how do you beat the Holiday Blues?? The answer may be simpler then you think - GET MORE ADJUSTMENTS!! Adjustments to your spine take pressure off of the nerves and muscles, and allow your nervous system to function at a much higher level. Plus, it's your nervous system that controls the function of your immune system.

Watching your back for the Holidays,
Dr. Brad
201-651-9100

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Commuting To Work Is Bad For Your Health!
Spending hours each day behind the wheel or crammed in a public train or bus, commuting to and from work is bad for your health. Those who commuted reported more everyday stress, exhaustion, missed work days and generally poorer health. Those with longer commutes reported even worse health.
Duke University, Oct 2011

Health Alert: Under Construction!
Nearly all construction workers will experience one or more work-related injuries or illnesses over a lifetime, plus a greater risk of premature death. Over a 45-year career, a construction worker has a 75% chance of a disabling injury, and a one in 200 chance of being fatally injured on the job. An individual who begins construction work at the age of 20 has a 15% chance of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and an 11% chance of developing dust-related parenchymal chest X-ray changes.
Center for Construction Research and Training, Oct 2011

Diet: Strawberries & Stomach Ulcers.
Scientists discovered strawberry consumption might help reduce and or slow the formation of stomach ulcers caused by alcohol consumption, viral infections and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like aspirin and ibuprofen.
Plos One, Oct 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise helps speed recovery from chemotherapy treatments, increases the ability to supply blood to the skin for cooling and increases the thickness of the cartilage in your joints.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Oct 2011

Chiropractic: Wound Healing & Mechanical Stress.
Exerting mechanical forces on an injury site immediately after healing begins significantly inhibits vascular growth into the bone defect region. However, after healing is underway, introducing mechanical forces on the injury site can lead to a more robust vascular network.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Wellness/Prevention: Cranberry Juice vs. Cranberry Extracts.
Cranberries have been recognized for their health benefits for years, especially in preventing urinary tract infections. However, it was found that drinking actual cranberry juice is much more effective in preventing a Urinary Tract Infection than simply consuming cranberry extracts.
Food Science and Biotechnology, Oct 2011

Fibromyalgia: A Detailed Patient Description

Fibromyalgia (FM) is surrounded by much controversy in what establishes a diagnosis, what are the consistent historical features, and most importantly, what can be done about it - the treatment strategies. Doctors seem polarized, either they "believe in it" or don't. The result is a frustrated patient because after multiple attempts, they can't get a straight answer from their health care provider. Consequently, the patient doesn't know where to turn. A very important article, published in September 2011, discusses from the patient's point of view, their experience in living with this condition.

The study consisted of 6 female patients diagnosed at a university hospital with FM, which by the way, means all other conditions that create similar symptoms have to be "ruled out" or, considered first. Therefore, many tests are typically run to make sure there isn't some other serious underlying condition hiding behind the symptoms associated with FM. As a background, the authors describe FM as "...a chronic syndrome with no cure." Because of this, they state, "...a thorough understanding of the illness experience is therefore key in the palliative care of patients..." They acknowledge that care givers of FM patients often include chiropractors and other manual therapists and knowledge of the "...meaning and reality of living with this condition" is reported as being ESSENTIAL for all health care providers who manage FM patients. The focus of the study was to carefully look at the personal, occupational, and social impact of the condition on pat ients' lives and their views about the future. Structured interviews with each participant were analyzed.

Results showed that FM impacted all aspects of life with 4 main themes arising from the data: 1) Personal life impact; 2. Occupational life impact; 3. The forecasted impact on future life; 4. Social interaction impact. Specifically, most of the participants had stopped working and felt useless. Leisure activities were greatly affected, as many described opting to not participate in various leisure oriented activities (such as going for walks, shopping, attending social events). FM was described as altering family bonds with some being made stronger while others were destroyed, resulting in separation and/or divorce. FM patients were reported to be "relieved" when a diagnosis was "finally" made, as it marked an end to a period of uncertainty. The participants were often ambivalent to interaction and despite some positive points, frustration prevailed from "perceived incomprehension" or, not really understanding why they feel the way they do. At times, thi s made it hard to discuss their symptoms and personal experiences. This study reveals the negative impact of FM and how complex and individual that is.

What is important about this study is that it alerts those of us who treat FM that we need a more efficient diagnostic process and we need to be better educated so that we can provide a multifaceted treatment option approach as each FM patient's needs vary because of how each patient "deals with" the condition. We need to really listen to the patient to determine what treatment goals they are interested in and we must create treatment plans that center around those needs and desires, possibly including checklists so everyone stays on task as it's quite easy to become distracted by the symptoms of FM. We are sharing this information with you so that you can feel comfortable approaching us with the many concerns and issues that surround FM.

If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What is it Again?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition that results from pressure applied to the median nerve on the palm side of the wrist that causes numbness, tingling, weakness, and/or muscle damage affecting the thumb side of the hand and fingers, including the thumb, index, 3rd and thumb side of the 4th finger. There is literally a tunnel through which 9 tendons and their sheaths, some blood vessels, and most importantly, the median nerve travel through to get to the thumb and fingers. As these tendons slide back and forth in their sheaths, friction can build up, leading to swelling when fast, repetitive finger related work is performed, especially for prolonged time frames. The "syndrome" starts when the swelling occurs and the numbness/tingling/weakness complaints begin.

There are many causes of CTS. Most commonly, CTS occurs in people whom perform fast, repetitive motions including (but not limited to): typing on a computer keyboard, using a computer mouse, sewing, driving, assembly line work, painting, writing, use of hand tools, sports such as racquetball or handball, and playing musical instruments. Many of these tasks involve bending or twisting of the wrists (think of a violin or flute player and you get the picture). CTS most often occurs in people 30-60 years old, affects women more than men and, can be either caused or contributed by other conditions such as fracture/trauma to the wrist or hand, arthritis of the wrist, diabetes, alcoholism, hypothyroid, kidney failure and dialysis, menopause, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and pregnancy, infections, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, and others.

Symptoms most commonly include numbness or tingling in the thumb-side palm, thumb, 2nd, 3rd, and thumb half of the 4th fingers. The symptoms can extend to the elbow or higher to the neck or shoulder, can affect both hands (but one is usually worse than the other), and can interfere with daily activities such as buttoning shirts, opening jars, holding onto the steering wheel, riding a bike, working with the hands, etc.

During an initial examination, a Doctor of Chiropractic exam will often check your sensation with a sharp pointed object, percuss over the palm-side wrist, ask you to hold your hands back to back and palm to palm while counting the seconds to numbness, test grip strength, and also check the neck, shoulder and elbow as these areas refer pain back and forth. Sometimes, he or she will order an EMG to test the nerve's damage. Conservative chiropractic treatment is highly effective and DEFINITELY should be done FIRST, before injections, medications, or surgery!

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your 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.

Low Back Pain & Patient Education

Patient education is a very important aspect of caring for our patients. In fact, it can be one of the most important aspects of care. For example, when patients present with a brand new injury and pain levels are off the map, it's quite common for that acute suffering patient to inappropriately think that, "I'm going to die... this hurts so much!" Hence, one of the very first things we do as chiropractors is to determine what structures are generating the pain so we can tell you!

Once you have an understanding of where the pain is coming from and why it hurts so bad, then you can be reassured that it's not life threatening or dangerous. Also, at this acute point of time, the patient often unknowingly puts heat on the back, often for hours. This is the WORST thing you can do as the area is already swollen and putting heat on a swollen area draws more blood and fluids into the area. It's literally like throwing gas on a fire. So, receiving proper information from us such as, put ice on the area for 15-20 minutes on and off several times in a row to "PUMP" the swelling out of the area will make complete sense.

Also, did you know that 2/3rds of our body's weight is above the waist? That means, when a 150# person bends over, they are "lifting" 100#! That's one of several reasons why bending over can be so dangerous. To "fix" that, squat by bending the knees keeping the back straight and keep objects that you might be lifting close to your body as that weight literally weighs 10x more when your arms are straight and you're lifting. When you can't squat and have to bend over, bend the knees, arch your back (literally "stick your butt out"), and bend over at your hip joints - DON'T use your back. You'll need to practice that one a few times before it's fully understood.

As your back pain improves, we will review these important self-help approaches and add new "tricks of the trade" like certain stretches, some strengthening and perhaps some balance exercises. Did you know that your thigh muscles shrink just by sleeping overnight? It's true! When you wake up in the morning, your thigh muscles are smaller than when you went to bed. Well, this same muscle shrinkage (technically called "atrophy") occurs in the lower back and hips, so strengthening exercises are REALLY IMPORTANT! Just think, if your muscles shrink overnight just from laying in bed, what about when you might have been told to use bed rest for several days or more? There potentially is a lot of muscle shrinkage and weakness that can occur in a relatively short amount of time and therefore, strengthening exercises also need to be taught in order to regain your strength so you can more safely do your activities.

Now what about back pain prevention? What methods to you think will help us NOT get low back pain? That's right - managing weight! If your BMI (body mass index or, the ratio between your height and weight) is >25, you need to trim down a bit (or more). Go on line and SEARCH BMI, and pick one of many "BMI Calculators" to figure out your BMI. So, what do chiropractors know about weight loss? Did you know the chiropractic college curriculum includes more nutritional courses than most medical schools? We will help you find a way to lose weight - whether its calorie restriction, a special diet like no/low salt, gluten-free, or a diabetes-specific diet. Another prevention trick for the low back (actually, whole body!) is to STAY FIT! Make aerobic exercise and even a light weight lifting program part or your daily ritual. Other methods help too, so come in and let us guide you in this journey to better health!

We realize you have a choice in who you choose to provide your healthcare services. If you, a friend or 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.

Do You Suffer With Migraines? What Research Says About Chiropractic Versus Popular Drug Treatments...

Although most headaches are not life threatening, they can negatively affect your quality of life. In severe cases, a headache is debilitating. Headaches have a wide range of causes, including infection, hangovers from alcohol consumption, fasting, and even serious conditions, such as brain tumors and strokes.

The most common headaches include tension and migraine, which are associated with nervous system disorders. More than 90% of the U.S. population will experience some type of headache. 28 million Americans, including 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men, experience migraine headaches. In a migraine headache, the artery on the outside of the skull under the skin of the temple (temporal artery) enlarges. As this process occurs, nerves that surround the artery stretch and release chemicals that cause inflammation and pain. The larger the artery gets, the greater the pain.

Most people know Chiropractic care can be beneficial for tension/cervicogenic headaches. But, can Chiropractic care help migraines too? Here's what research dating all the way back to 1998 says... The study, published in the Journal Of Manipulative And Physiological Therapeutics, compared amitriptyline (a medication), spinal manipulation, and the combination of both therapies. There was a 4 week baseline period, followed by 8 weeks of treatment and then 4 weeks of follow-up on a total of 218 patients diagnosed with migraine headaches.

RESULTS: "Clinically important improvement was observed in both primary and secondary outcomes in all three study groups over time. The reduction in headache index scores during treatment compared with baseline was 49% for amitriptyline, 40% for spinal manipulation, and 41% for the combined group. During the post-treatment follow-up period, the reduction from baseline was 24% for amitriptyline, 42% for spinal manipulation, and 25% for the combined group."

CONCLUSION: "There was no advantage to combining amitriptyline and spinal manipulation for the treatment of migraine headaches. Spinal manipulation seemed to be as effective as a well-established and efficacious treatment (amitriptyline). And on the basis of a benign side effects profile, it should be considered a treatment option for patients with frequent migraine headaches."

"Text Neck": What Is It And How To Avoid It

The older you get, the more you realize there are pros and cons to everything. Even all the amazing new technology we have these days is no exception. For example, there is a new condition called "text neck" and it is said to be on the rise due to the amount of time people spend hunched over their cell phones, tablets and computer screens.

Experts say cases of this repetitive strain injury are on the rise as smart phones and tablet computers (such as the iPad) become increasingly popular. In severe cases, the muscles can eventually adapt to fit the flexed position, making it painful to straighten the neck out properly. This can be serious because long-term effects of such postural changes are believed to cause neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain and even arthritis, later in life.

"Imagine sitting on your ankle sideways for 10 minutes. It would feel stiff and sore when you returned it to its natural position. That is exactly what people are doing with their necks. If people continue to put their necks in these positions, the body will gradually adapt to the stresses," added one Chiropractor who sees text neck patients regularly. One of the best ways to avoid "text neck" is to simply move. Don't stay in any one position too long. Tuck your chin and bend your neck to the back and to the front, then side-to-side and circles, as long as this does not cause any pain.

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.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: That's Life. Our life experiences (the ups, downs and everything in between) shape us, stay with us and influence our emotional set point as adults. By studying identical twins and monitoring them as their life paths diverged, researchers discovered life experiences are important influences on our levels of anxiety and depression. With diet, we say, "you are what you eat." This study shows "you are what you have experienced."
Virginia Commonwealth University, Oct 2011

Health Alert: Drunk Drivers! During the past year in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control estimates there were 112 million incidents of adults getting behind the wheel of their car while under the influence of alcohol. That's 300,000 a day! These people put everyone on the road at risk. 11,000 people are killed every year in crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.
CDC, Oct 2011

Diet: Thin Children? Children with thinner parents are 3 times more likely to be thin than children whose parents are overweight. When both parents were in the thinner half of the healthy-weight range, the chance of the child being thin was 16.2%, compared with 7.8% when both parents were in the upper half of the healthy weight range, 5.3% with two overweight parents, and only 2.5% for children with two obese parents.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Sept 2011

Exercise: Vigorous Exercise. Men who perform vigorous exercise 3 times a week have a 22% lower risk of heart attack. Researchers believe the vigorous exercise results in higher HDL-C ("good" cholesterol) levels, known to lower the risk of heart disease.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Total Regeneration. According to Deepak Chopra, M.D., "98% of the atoms in your body were not there a year ago." With that concept in mind, taking care of your body is essential as it is a constant state of regeneration. Through proper diet, regular exercise, getting enough rest, maintaining low stress levels and proper chiropractic care, you can give your body the best opportunity to be healthy and stay healthy.

Wellness/Prevention: Kids, Stay Thin! If your children are overweight or obese, their risk of having high blood pressure is almost three times higher than children at normal weight.
Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, Oct 2011

A Lot To Be Thankful For - a Message from Dr. Butler

As this year comes to an end, I'd like to use this time to thank you all for being our clients. My great staff and I want you to know how much we appreciate you CHOOSING us as your center for recovery, healing and maintaining your God-given right to live a quality life. It has been a very good year for us - filled with expected AND unexpected surprises. We have helped dozens of patients avoid surgery and countless others to get off of dangerous pain medications. We are grateful to say that, in record numbers, patients are telling us they are physically able to do things NOW that they have not been able to do in YEARS. In the office, we have also made changes - we have expanded our services and opened for more treatment hours due to demand. BUT PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE I have made this year is I have STOPPED ACCEPTING EVERY PATIENT WHO COMES TO SEE ME. As you all know, what makes our office so unique is that we offer treatments and services that you cannot get anywhere else AND maintain an incredibly difficult standard of patient care - ALL WHILE OFFERING A NO-WAIT GUARANTEE. Therefore, a few months back I decided only to accept patients who where 100% committed to following my treatment program. Why? Because it's a waste of my time (and their time) if a patient is flaky and doesn't do what they need to do to get better. Those are the patients who miss appointments, don't get better and complain about it. You cannot expect to get great results without a great commitment. Our goals have to be the same. If my goals for a patient don't meet their goals - there is a conflict.

"In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia." -Author unknown

This has prevented the office from becoming over-scheduled and allowed us to really focus on YOU!! The patients who REALLY what to get better. As a result, we have seen an interesting twist - MORE REFERRALS. As strange as it might seem our desire to see less patients (the ones who don't really care) has resulted in us seeing more patients WHO DO CARE. The best example of which happened yesterday when a patient who came in with severe neck and back pain (pain scale of 10) told us that after being in our office for the last 6 weeks she is personally bringing in her dear friend because her treatment here has been so successful (1 or 2 pain scale). She said she never recommends places (especially a doctor) until after she has experienced them. Since we have helped her so much she is confident her friend, who is in very bad shape apparently, will also love it here. We really appreciate that. There is nothing that tells us that we are doing a great job more than when our patients refer their friends and loved ones to us.

"Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it." -Burmese saying

So, here's to an even better 2012. We thank you all for your trust and your loyalty. My staff and I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving and finish out 2011 with a bang.

As always,
Dr. Brad

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: When You're Hot, You're Hot!
When an athlete is doing well, commentators may describe him as being "hot" or "on fire." Scientists have generally thought such streaks were, primarily, in the eye of the beholder... until now. After an analysis of five years of NBA free throws (over 300,000), researchers believe they have observed the so-called "hot hand" phenomenon: that a streak of positive outcomes is likely to continue. This phenomenon had largely been considered a product of human perception since its coining in 1985 but it appears commentators and fans were right after all.
PLoS ONE, Sept 2011

Health Alert: Risk Of Undetected Strokes!
95% of people aged 65 and older have brain small vessel disease. 25% of healthy seniors (average age 70) have evidence of small, silent strokes. Microbleeds, another type of small vessel disease, are associated with high blood pressure and with Alzheimer's disease. Unlike major stroke events, these types of small vessel disease gradually build up and increase the risk of clinical stroke events, depression, falls and Alzheimer's dementia.
Canadian PURE MIND, Aug 2011

Diet: Get Your Vitamin D!
More than three-quarters of cancer patients have insufficient levels of vitamin D and the lowest levels are associated with more advanced cancer. The five most common primary diagnoses were breast, prostate, lung, thyroid and colorectal cancer. 77% of patients had vitamin D concentrations either deficient or sub-optimal.
American Society for Radiation Oncology, Oct 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise helps the body resist upper respiratory tract infections, increases your anaerobic threshold (allowing you to work or exercise longer at a higher level, before a significant amount of lactic acid builds up), helps to preserve lean body tissue, and improves ability to recover from physical exertion.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Is Pediatric Chiropractic Care Safe?
The rate of mild adverse events (irritability or soreness lasting less than 24 hours, resolving without the need for additional care) among chiropractic pediatric patients receiving Pediatric Manipulative Therapy (PMT) is .53% -1%. The incidence rate for PMT delivered by Medical Physicians is 6%, and 9% from Osteopaths.
Clinical Chiropractic, Sept 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Men Stay Lean!
Men develop type 2 diabetes at a lower body mass index than do women (33.69 vs. 31.83).
Scottish Diabetes Research Network, Sept 2011

The Holidays Are Just Around the Corner!

We would like to help ease your pain in more ways than one this holiday season. Not only do we offer many different forms of treatment, but we will also be giving away a $500 gift card! As you know, the winner from our last give away, Dan A., won an iPad.

From now until December 19th, you will have a chance at receiving a $500 gift card just by referring a friend or family member. The holidays can be very stressful, which can lead to headaches, as well as neck, shoulder and back pain. Many of these aches and pains can be treated in just a short period of time. We all have people in our lives who are suffering with pain and these people need our help! The more friends and family members you refer, the more chances you have to win! When you refer in 1 friend you will get 1 entry card. If you refer in 2 friends you will get an additional 5 entries. If you refer in 3 or more people you will get 10 entries per person!!

The office will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th. Dr. Butler would like to remind you that keeping up with your treatment frequency is very important, therefore, we would like to make sure that all of our patients receive the proper number of treatments weekly. Since we will be closed on Thursday and Friday of next week, we will be rescheduling all Friday appointments to Tuesday, November 22. If you have not yet scheduled your appointments, please give us a call as we are happy to assist you!

We would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

As always,
The Staff at Oakland Spine and Rehab

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: More Vacations?
Researches claim vacations help us recharge our batteries and perform at a higher level once we return to work. However, because the after-effects are short-lived, we should take trips more frequently in order to keep our levels of health and well-being high.
The Psychologist, Aug 2011

Health Alert: Over Spending?
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine found $6.7 billion was spent in one year for unnecessary tests or prescribing unnecessary medications, with 86% of that cost attributed to the prescription of brand-name statins to treat high cholesterol.
Archives of Internal Medicine, Oct 2011

Diet: Iron Man?
The right amount of iron is needed for proper cell function, but too much may lead to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Men typically have more iron in their bodies than women, which may be why men develop these age-related neurodegenerative diseases at a younger age. (Younger women's iron levels are thought to be lower because of menstruation.) To reduce iron levels: decrease over-the-counter supplements that contain iron, unless doctor recommended; eat less red meat; donate blood; and take natural iron-chelating substances that bind to and remove iron (such as curcumin or green tea).
Neurobiology of Aging, Oct 2011

Exercise: Music To The Ears.
Researchers found listening to music (in this case Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons") while exercising improved participants' mental agility. The study's author, Charles Emery, believes all types of music can produce a similar effect, not just classical.
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 2011

Chiropractic: Brain Activity And Chronic Low Back Pain.
A new imaging technique, arterial spin labeling, shows the areas of the brain that are activated when low back pain worsens in chronic pain patients. This is a first step towards objectively describing chronic pain, normally a subjective experience. When a patient has worsening of their usual pain, there are changes in the activity of the brain in the areas that process pain and mood.
Anesthesiology, August 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Breastfed Babies.
Babies fed only breast milk up to the age of six months have a lower risk of developing asthma-related symptoms in early childhood. Compared to children who were breastfed for 6 months or more, children who had never received breast milk had an increased risk of wheezing, shortness of breath, dry cough and persistent phlegm in their first 4 years.
European Respiratory Journal, July 2011

Whiplash Facts

In whiplash research, many articles have been published that conflict or contradict each other. The goal of this Health Update is to report the "facts" about whiplash.

• It is more common to have a delay in the onset of whiplash symptoms. Symptoms may start about two hours after the initial injury or it may take days, weeks, or months before you feel anything.
• For whiplash caused by car accidents, the severity depends on the force of the impact, the way you were seated in your car, and if you were properly restrained using a shoulder and seat belt.
• Tests show the soft tissues in your neck sustain injury at a threshold of 5 mph. That means if you're rear-ended at 5 mph or slower, you have a lower chance of getting whiplash. However, most rear-end car accidents happen at speeds of 6-12 mph.
• If you've been in a car accident, it's a good idea to be evaluated even if your car didn't get damaged and you don't feel any pain.
• Although whiplash is most often associated with car accidents, you can also get whiplash from sports such as snowboarding, boxing, football and gymnastics.
• The concept of "no car damage = no injury" is COMPLETELY false. Most cars can withstand collisions of up to 10 MPH and as pointed out above, only in collisions < 5 MPH are you less likely to be injured. Collisions that occur between 6-12 MPH cause the highest percentage of whiplash injuries (which is below the threshold of car damage in most cases). Also, the energy of the impact is transferred to the contents inside the car when there is no vehicular damage (that means you).
• Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) can occur in motor vehicle collisions even if the head does not hit an object inside the car, although it's more common when there is a head strike. The symptoms associated with MTBI are often referred to as "Post Concussive Syndrome."* Approximately 10% of whiplash injured patients become totally disabled.
• Of the studies published since 1995, over 60% of whiplash patients required long-term medical care.
• Risk factors for long-term symptoms associated with WAD include: rear impacts, loss of the cervical lordosis curve, pre-existing degenerative arthritis, use of seat belts & shoulder harness (low speed impacts only), poor head restraint position or shape, non-awareness of the impending collision, female (especially long slender neck), head rotation at impact.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, 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.

Is This a Forever Commitment?

Last week I hosted a dinner seminar for people with Stenosis, Neuropathy, Arthritis and Herniated Discs to teach them about the newest technology we have to treat these conditions WITHOUT dangerous medications and risky surgery - which far too many people become a victim of. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine questioned why we do more spine surgeries NOT (almost 400,000) yet the success rate of these procedures is historically low (approximately 70%-90% FAIL). In the audience was a familiar face. It turned out to be a former patient of mine who I hadn't seen in many years. Her name was Cindy. At the end of the dinner workshop Cindy came up to me and said, "I have a question. If I come back in to see you - do I have to come FOREVER?" I smiled and said to Cindy, "Why would you say that?" And she responded by telling me that she always loved coming to the office, but that the reason she stopped coming is because she felt like she would need to come forever.

This is a COMMON MISCONCEPTION. Many people you will bump into will have that same concern, but it is inaccurate. The best way to answer this concern is to compare what we do here at OSR to a gym. If you've ever been to a gym there are three kinds of people who go: The first is the person who joins with 100% enthusiasm to really make a change in their life, however, when it comes to committing to going on a regular basis - they quickly realize they don't want that and drop out. The second person is the one goes for a period of time (maybe a few months) and achieves a level of success, but fades away because they achieved a result they wanted. This kind of member will usually go on this way for many years - stopping and returning. Each time they reach their goal they stop again. The third person is the person you see there every week without fail. They join the gym because they want a certain lifestyle and quality of life (looks, energy, athleticism) that only comes with long term commitment. They don't usually kill themselves when they are there - instead, they have a regular routing of 3-4 workouts per week. They like the way they feel and look so they maintain there fitness program for many years.

The same can be said of the patients we see in our office - some come in and quickly realize that they aren't interested in getting better - they are only interested in feeling better. They see that getting better and healing will take some time and commitment, but "It's not that bad," so they don't start.

The second type of patient is very interested in FIXING their problem. They see the results to their X-Rays and their examination and commit to correcting the problem. After they get the problem fixed they discharge from care and hopefully maintain their home stretching routing. This patient is LIKELY to come back in the future if and when their issues return. It takes a little while to get them back on track and when they feel better - they stop again. They achieved what they are looking for.

Finally, the last patient is the patient that uses our office to get well and STAY well. They are keen observers of where they were before they started with us and NEVER want to get back to that condition again. They see value in maintaining what they have achieved and usually stop in one or two times per month for a maintenance adjustment. They don't "have" to be here, they choose to. The good news is that NO ONE has to come forever - once we have gotten improvement it's easy to help you get better again.

Which on are you? No matter your answer - we are here to help.

The Neck and Headache Connection

When we hear the term headache, we don't usually think about the neck. Rather, we focus on the head, more specifically, "...what part of the head hurts?" But, upon careful questioning of patients, we usually find some connection or correlation between neck pain and headaches.

The key to this connection can be found in looking at the anatomy of the neck. There are 7 vertebrae that make up the cervical spine and 8 sets of nerves that exit this part of the spine and innervate various parts of the head, neck, shoulders and arms, all the way to the fingers. Think of the nerves as electric wires that stretch between a switch and a light bulb. When you flip on the switch, the light illuminates. Each nerve, as it exits the spine, is like a switch and the target it travels to represents the light bulb. So, if one were to stimulate each of the nerves as they exit the spine, we could "map" exactly where each nerve travels (of course, this has been done). When we look specifically at the upper 3 sets of nerves that exit the spine (C1, C2, and C3), we see that as soon as they exit the spine, they immediately travel upwards into the head (the scalp). Like any nerve, if enough pressure is applied to the nerve, some alteration i n nerve function occurs and usually a sensory change is noted (numbness, tingling, pain, burning, etc.). If the pressure continues, these symptoms can last for a long time. These types of headaches are often called "cervicogenic headaches" (literally meaning headaches that are caused by the neck). These can be caused by the nerves getting pinched by tight muscles through which they travel as they make their way to the scalp.

Another connection between the neck and headaches includes the relationship between 2 of the 12 cranial nerves and the first three nerves in the neck described above. These types of headaches usually only affect one half of the head - the left or right side. One of the cranial nerves is called the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V). Because the trigeminal nerve innervates parts of the face and head, pain can also involve the face. Another cranial nerve (spinal accessory, cranial nerve IX) can also interact with the upper 3 cervical nerve roots, resulting in cervicogenic headaches. People with cervicogenic headaches will often present with an altered neck posture, restricted neck movement, and pain when pressure is applied to the base of the skull or to the upper vertebrae. Other than a possible numbness, there are no clinical tests that we can run to "show" this condition, though some patients may report scalp numbness or, it may be found during examination.

Though medication, injections, and even surgical options exist, manipulation applied to the small joints of the neck, especially in the upper part where C1-3 exit, works really well so why not try that first as it's the least invasive and, VERY EFFECTIVE! In some cases, a combination of approaches may be needed but many times, chiropractic treatment is all the patient needs for a successful outcome.

We realize that you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for neck 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.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Remember Zinc.
For over 50 years, scientists have known zinc plays a vital role in the brain but were not quite sure what that role is. Now, researchers from the Duke University Medical Center and MIT have discovered that zinc regulates the communication between neurons in the hippocampus, where learning and memory processes occur.
Neuron, Aug 2011

Health Alert: Health Costs Rising!
According to experts, healthcare spending will grow 6% each year through 2020. Researchers estimate that doctor visits, clinical services and prescription drugs will be the largest growth areas.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Diet: Where to Eat?
As childhood obesity rises and the American diet shifts towards increasing consumption of foods eaten or prepared outside of the home, concerns about the nutritional quality and the total consumption of such foods are also increasing. Comparing measurements from 2006 to 1977, children now eat more calories every day (+179 kcal/day). This is associated with a major increase in calories eaten away from home (+255 kcal/day). The percentage of calories eaten away from home is now 33.9%.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Aug 2011

Exercise: Strong Arm Diabetes.
Building muscle can lower your insulin resistance risk, thus lowering your chance of developing Type-2 Diabetes. Scientists have known for a while that low muscle mass raises the risk of insulin resistance; however, no study had attempted to figure out whether increased muscle, regardless of obesity levels, might improve blood glucose control.
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 2011

Chiropractic: Hall of Fame Help.
During his playing career, NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana said, "I've been seeing a Chiropractor and he's really been helping me a lot. Chiropractic's a big part of my game."

Wellness/Prevention: Blueberries and Cancer.
Eating as little as a cup of blueberries every day may help prevent cell damage linked to cancer.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Sept 2011

Fibromyalgia: What Water Exercises Can I Do?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition associated with tight, sore muscles with generalized, whole body pain, which can dramatically affect a person's lifestyle. However, there are ways to fight back! Last month, we discussed the benefits of water exercises and this month, we're going to illustrate some specific exercises that can be performed in water. Remember to start slow and gradually introduce more exercises (as well as repetitions and the length of exercise time) AFTER you have proven to yourself that the previous exercises are well tolerated. MOST IMPORTANT, have fun with these, and modify them as needed to make them "yours."

Diving Forward
Prep: Arms straight, stretched out from sides, palms forward.
Action: Push hands together, then outward.

Diving Downward
Prep: Arms straight, stretched out from sides, palms down.
Action: Swing hands down and inward across front, then outward; repeat down and inward behind back, then outward.

Squats
Prep: Legs straight.
Action: Bend at knees to lower body down, then up.

High Kick
Prep: Legs straight, pointing forward
Action: Swing one leg forward to backward; repeat with other leg.

Backward Kick
Prep: Legs straight, hold onto support.
Action: Ben one knee to raise foot backward, then down; repeat with other knee.

Deep-water Walking
Prep: Start in a dog-paddling position
Action: Climbing motions with both arms and legs.

Horizontal Walking
Prep: Legs straight, floating face down holding stairs.
Action: Bend one knee forward and back, then other knee.

Of course, there are many other maneuvers that can be done in water. Simply walking in water at various depths works well. Another good/easy exercise is taking empty 1 gallon milk jugs with the caps on and squat down in the shallow end of a pool so only your neck is exposed and move your arms underwater back and forth in different directions, at different speeds, gradually increasing the speed of the movement.

If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Ergonomics

The word, "Ergonomics" is thrown around a lot when it comes to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The term ergonomics comes from the Greek ergon, meaning "work", and nomos, meaning "natural laws." By definition, ergonomics means, "...the study of efficiency in working environments." Wikipedia describes it as, "...the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, and its cognitive abilities." The International Ergonomics Association offers this definition: "Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance."

The study of ergonomics is not new as it dates back to Ancient Greece with substantial evidence that, in the 5th century BC, ergonomic principles were applied to tool design, jobs and workplaces. Examples include Hippocrates giving surgeons recommendations on how to arrange their table and tools during surgery.

Some ergonomic concepts we can employ on a daily basis include:

1. Take frequent breaks, every half-hour if possible, but at least every 60 to 90 minutes. Get up, stretch and walk around. If nothing else, perform stretches while sitting in your work chair.
2. Maintain "good posture" (tuck in the chin and hold the retracted position).
3. Evaluate your workstation: proper sitting position, how you hold the phone, keyboard/monitor positions, type & position of the mouse, reaching requirements, avoid twist/bending the wrists.
4. When grasping/gripping, use the whole hand - not just the fingers or thumb tips alone.
5. Keep cutting instruments sharp (scissors, knives, etc.) and maintain locks on hinged knives.
6. Consider modifications if tools are too heavy, buttons too high, too much required force, etc.
7. Stay in shape as obesity is a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.
8. Rotate job tasks rather than continuing with one task until finished (less repetition)!
9. Communicate with your supervisor and HRO person about improving the workplace.

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your 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.

Low Back Pain: Spondylolisthesis

Low back pain can arise from many conditions, one of which is a mouthful: spondylolisthesis. The term was coined in 1854 from the Greek words, "spondylo" for vertebrae and "olisthesis" for slip. These "slips" most commonly occur in the low back, 90% at L5 and 9% at L4. According to www.spinehealth.com and others, the most common type of spondylolisthesis is called "isthmic spondylolisthesis," which is a condition that includes a defect in the back part of the vertebra in an area called the pars interarticularis, which is the part of the vertebra that connects the front half (vertebral body) to the back half (the posterior arch). This can occur on one, or both sides, with or without a slip or shift forwards, which is then called spondylolysis. In "isthmic spondylolisthesis," the incidence rate is about 5-7% of the general population favoring men over women 3:1. Debate continues as to whether this occurs as a result genetic predisposition verses env ironmental or acquired at some point early in life as noted by the increased incidence in populations such as Eskimos (30-50%), where they traditionally carry their young in papooses, vertically loading their lower spine at a very young age. However, isthmic spondylolisthesis can occur at anytime in life if a significant backward bending force occurs resulting in a fracture but reportedly, occurs most frequently between ages 6 and 16 years old.

Often, traumatic isthmic spondylolisthesis occurs during the adolescent years and in fact, is the most common cause of low back pain at this stage of life. Sports most commonly resulting in spondylolisthesis include gymnastics, football (lineman), weightlifting (from squats or dead lifts) and diving (from over arching the back). Excessive backward bending is the force that overloads the back of the vertebra resulting in the fracture sometimes referred to as a stress fracture, which is a fracture that occurs as a result of repetitive overloading over time, usually weeks to months.

If the spondylolisthesis lesions do not heal either by cartilage or by bone replacement, the front half of the vertebra can slip or slide forwards and become unstable. Fortunately, most of these heal and become stable and don't progress. The diagnosis is a simple x-ray, but to determine the degree of stability, "stress x-rays" or x-rays taken at endpoints of bending over and backwards are needed. Sometimes, a bone scan is needed to determine if it's a new injury verses an old isthmic spondylolisthesis.

Another very common type is called degenerative spondylolisthesis and occurs in 30% of Caucasian and 60% of African-American woman (3:1 women to men). This usually occurs at L4 and is more prevalent in aging females. It is sometimes referred to as "pseudospondylolisthesis" as it does not include defects in the posterior arch but rather, results from a degeneration of the disk and facet joints. As the disk space narrows, the vertebra slides forwards. The problem here is that the spinal canal, where the spinal cord travels, gets crimped or distorted by the forward sliding vertebra and causes compression of the spinal nerve root(s), resulting pain and/or numbness in one or both legs. The good news about spondylolisthesis is that non-surgical approaches, like spinal manipulation in particular, work well and chiropractic is a logical treatment approach!

We realize you have a choice in who you choose to provide your healthcare services. If you, a friend or 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.

Exercising Like This May Be Causing Your Back Pain

Exercising is good for back pain... right? Well, it's not as simple as that.

There are good and bad ways to exercise and when you have back pain, it can get much more complicated.

"Wear and tear on your discs is cumulative - it all adds up," says Arya Nick Shamie, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and an Associate Professor of Spine Surgery at the University of California Los Angeles.

Irregular exercise is a big contributor to back pain, and the weekend warriors, those who are sedentary during the week and push hard on the weekends, are the face of this contributor to pain. "If you take on something tough after being relatively sedentary, you can seriously hurt yourself," explains Dr. Shamie.

It's not just the risk of injury while you're doing the activity you have to worry about. "If you are doing high-impact sports without cross-training first to strengthen your core, your spine won't have strong enough muscles to support the impact," says Robert S. Bray, M.D., a neurological spine surgeon.

He recommends dedicating as little as 15 minutes three times a week to basic core exercises and stretching to help prepare your core for more intense workouts later in the week.

One of the best things you can do for exercise advice is to consult with a doctor who understands back pain, back injuries and how to treat them.

Chiropractors are specialists in treating back pain and can help develop an exercise program that is right for you.

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.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Friendships & Anxiety.
Anxious, solitary kids are more emotionally sensitive and more likely to be excluded and victimized by their peers. They're also less likely to have friends, and when they do, to have fewer than their peers and to lose friendships over time.
Child Development, Sept 2011

Health Alert: Obesity Costs!
States spend up to $15 billion a year in medical expenses related to obesity. Estimates in dollars range from $203 million in Wyoming to $15.2 billion in California. National costs of obesity are $147 billion.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Sept 2011

Diet: Wine & Dementia Risk.
Moderate wine drinkers are 23% less likely to develop dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease. Resveratrol, found in fairly high levels in wine, is a naturally occurring antioxidant that decreases the stickiness of blood platelets and helps blood vessels remain open and flexible. It also inhibits enzymes that can stimulate cancer cell growth and suppress immune response.
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise decreases the rate of joint degeneration in people with osteoarthritis, lowers your resting heart rate, helps to boost creativity and reduces circulating levels of triglycerides.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: What Does Double Crush Mean?
If there is irritation of a nerve root at the vertebra of the neck, or at the triangle formed between the scalene muscles and the first rib, the nerve itself becomes "sick." As that nerve passes into the arm, it passes through several muscles before it enters the hand, beneath the transverse carpal ligament. If the nerve is already "sick," the "secondary stress" of compression within the arm muscles, or at the wrist, may cause regional symptoms at that location. We call that second insult to the nerve a "double crush" phenomenon.

Wellness/Prevention: Four Ways To Live Longer.
Those who practice all 4 are 66% less likely to die early from cancer, 65% less likely to die early from a major cardiovascular disease, and 57% less likely to die early from other causes. 1) Avoid Tobacco. 2) Limit Alcohol: Men should have no more than two drinks a day, women no more than one. 3) Improve Your Diet: Eat more fruits, eat more vegetables, eat more whole grains, switch to fat-free and low-fat dairy and eat more seafood. Cut down on salt and foods high in sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, added sugar, and refined grains. 4) Exercise at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise spread over at least 5 days a week - or - do a total of 75 minutes of vigorous exercise 3 days a week or more.
American Journal of Public Health, August 2011

A "PAIN FREE" Dinner Seminar for Your Friends and Family Members!!

Due to such an incredible demand for information on becoming pain free, our first "Pain Free" seminar was booked solid, with a total of 50 guests, within just a few hours. There were so many callers who wished to hear about the non-surgical, non-invasive techniques we offer, that Dr. Butler has decided to host a second "Pain Free" dinner seminar.

This dinner is the ideal setting for your friends, family members or co-workers, who are suffering from chronic back pain, stenosis, arthritis, neuropathy or herniated discs, to learn about the Butler Spine Program - a revolutionary new treatment that has a 90% success rate. Also, a special offer will be made at the dinner to save them thousands of dollars on the cost of the program.

The free gourmet dinner and "Pain Free" presentation will be held at Portobello's Banquets on Tuesday, November 1st at 6:00pm. Please let all of your friends and family who are suffering from any of these conditions know that help is on the way! Seating is limited, so have them reserve their spot today by calling us at (862) 226-0928.

As always,
The Staff at Oakland Spine and Rehab.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Don't Look At Me!
Depressed people tend to avoid eye contact in social situations and in experimental settings, whereas happy people actively seek eye contact. Sad people avoiding eye contact may lead to them shunning certain social situations. Although this may reduce anxiety caused by the situation itself, it may actually increase social isolation and deepen their already depressed mood.
British Journal of Psychology, Sept 2011

Health Alert: Hospital Staff Carry MRSA Superbug.
60% of doctors' and 65% of nurses' uniforms carry dangerous bacteria. In a 2009 report, rates of postoperative sepsis, or bloodstream infections, increased by 8%; postoperative catheter-associated urinary tract infections increased by 3.6%; and rates of selected infections due to medical care increased by 1.6%. 1 in 5 security cards carried by hospital doctors were contaminated with a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including the superbug MRSA, which kills thousands every year.
Health and Human Services Department, 2009

Diet: Ginger Extract.
Whole ginger extract has promising cancer-preventing activity in prostate cancer. Ginger extract had significant effects in stopping the growth of cancer cells, and inducing cell death in a spectrum of prostate cancer cells. Animal studies revealed the extract did not show significant toxicity to normal tissues, such as bone marrow. Research showed tumor regression up to 60%. Humans would have to consume about 3 1/2 ounces of whole ginger extract a day to get the benefits.
British Journal of Nutrition, Aug 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise reduces vulnerability to various cardiac dysrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), improves the likelihood of survival from a myocardial infarction (heart attack), and helps overcome jet lag.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: What A Headache.
"Cervical migraine is the type of headache most frequently seen in general practice and also the most frequently misinterpreted. It is usually erroneously diagnosed as classical migraine, tension headache, [or] vascular headache. Such patients have usually received an inadequate treatment and have often become neurotic and drug-dependent." (Note: Manipulation is effective in patients with cervicogenic headaches.)
Ragnar Frykholm, Neurosurgeon, 1972

Wellness/Prevention: Fish Oil For A Healthy Mind.
Researchers found positive associations between fish oil supplements and cognitive function, as well as differences in brain structure between users and non-users of fish oil supplements. The findings suggest possible benefits of fish oil supplements on brain health and aging.
International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease

Oakland Spine & Rehabilitation is Proud to Welcome Jon Moshenberg, DPT

O.S.R. has added yet another expert to our staff. We welcome Jon Moshenberg, DPT to our physical therapy department. Jon brings with him years of experience working with a variety if techniques and specializing in manual therapy. He is a graduate of one of the most prestigious physical therapy schools in the country and brings the latest science and techniques to our physical therapy department. We are thrilled that he has joined our dedicated team. For our patients who currently receive physical therapy, 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 is in need of physical therapy for treatment of an injury or after surgery, Oakland Spine & Rehabilitation is here to help. A referral is the greatest thank-you that our patients can give us!

Dr. Brad & Staff

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Don't Worry Be Happy.
The more you stay positive and happy in life, the better chance you have of avoiding a stroke. Optimistic people have a healthier immune system, faster wound healing, and a lower risk of heart disease. So don't worry, be happy.
Journal of The American Stroke Association and The Mayo Clinic, Aug 2011

Health Alert: Strokes On The Rise?
From 1995-2008, ischemic stroke incidence rose 50% for males age 35-44; 46% for males age 15-34; and 51% for boys age 5-14. For females age 35-44, ischemic stroke incidence rose 29%; 23% for females age 15-34; and 3% for girls age 5-14. One in three ischemic stroke patients aged 15-34 had three stroke factors, while half of 35-44 year olds with ischemic stroke had hypertension. Risk factors said to be linked to stroke risk include family history; having had a previous stroke; having had a transient ischemic attack; African Americans and those of Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Island descent have a higher risk of stroke; birth control pills; cardiovascular disease; cocaine usage; diabetes; heavy alcohol consumption; hypertension; high cholesterol; high amino acid levels in the blood; obesity/ overweight; smoking; being over 55 years of age.
Annals of Neurology, Aug 2011

Diet: Prune Power?
In the US, 8 million women have osteoporosis because of the sudden cessation of ovarian hormone production at the onset of menopause. In the first 5-7 postmenopausal years, women are at risk of losing bone at a rate of 3-5% per year. In a study, the group of women who consumed dried plums had significantly higher bone mineral density in comparison with the group of women who ate dried apples. This was due, in part, to the ability of dried plums to suppress the rate of bone resorption, or the breakdown of bone, which tends to exceed the rate of new bone growth as people age..
British Journal of Nutrition, Aug 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise reduces your anxiety level, helps control blood pressure in people with hypertension, and protects against "creeping obesity" (the slow, but steady weight gain that occurs as you age).
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Happy Patients!
In this study, the average intake pain rating of patients cared for by Doctors of Chiropractic was 6.2 of 10, and the average discharge score was 1.9 of 10. 95% of the patients rated their care as "excellent."
Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, Feb 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Ancient Bugs.
When they were developed less than a century ago, scientists were surprised at how fast bacteria developed resistance to antibiotic drugs. Recently, researchers discovered antibiotic resistant genes in bacteria recovered from 30,000-year-old permafrost. This shows antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon predating the modern clinical antibiotic use.
Nature, Sept 2011

Your Friends and Family Are Invited to a FREE GOURMET DINNER!

In conjunction with Friends and Family Month, Dr. Butler will be hosting a "Pain Free" dinner seminar. The seminar will introduce the new, non-surgical, non-invasive technology that is available to treat the pain associated with Stenosis, Neuropathy, Herniated Discs, and Arthritis. Your friends and family will discover what new research is saying about the causes of these conditions and which cutting-edge treatments have been created to reverse the causes of their pain.

The free gourmet dinner and "Pain Free" presentation will be held at Portobello's Banquets on Wednesday, October 19th at 6:00pm. Please let all of your friends and family who are suffering from these conditions know that help is on the way! Seating is limited, so have them reserve their spot today! We are more than happy to put your friends and family members on the guest list, so please have them call us today at (862) 226-0928.

As always,
The Oakland Spine & Rehab Staff

Thinking About the Flu Shot? Read This First.

If you are considering a flu vaccine I have news for you - do your homework first. To help out with this I recommend you go the the web site of Dr. Mercola. He has been on the cutting edge for years and has arguably the worlds largest natural health web site. Go to the following web site and in the search box type "Flu Shot" and see what you find.

www.mercola.com

Watching your back,
Dr. Brad

Whiplash and Vision: What's The Connection?

In whiplash, "post concussive syndrome" (PCS) can affect up to 20-30% of patients who have had a mild head injury with resulting left over, long-term problems. Interestingly, eye movements have a close relationship to the function of the brain and can be an accurate measure for determining the presence of PCS as well as a good barometer for tracking the recovery process. The correlation between eye movement and PCS was studied by a group of New Zealand researchers using 2 groups of 36 patients each - those with PCS who showed good recovery vs. those who did not at a 3-5 month point after their accident. The method of evaluating this included neuropsychological evaluations using various tools that assess memory, reading, recall, use of numbers, and other brain function tests. They found the worse PCS patient group had poorer brain function test results and the correspondingly worse eye movement tests. Most interesting was that the gr oup who had a better psychological recovery, STILL HAD eye movement abnormalities. This suggested, in spite of seemingly good recovery, injury to the brain persisted. They also stressed importance of the correlation between the psychological test abnormalities now have a specific biological marker which can be used as a clinical "tool" and, that PCS is NOT merely a psychological condition.

PCS symptoms include headaches, dizziness, poor concentration, memory loss, irritability, mood swings and these and other symptoms vary between patients with PCS. This makes the assessment process challenging since each patient is rather unique in how PCS portrays itself. To make this more challenging, these symptoms can last for the first few hours after a motor vehicle collision with a mild closed head injury to days, weeks, months and even years after the injury, some with complete loss work capabilities and significant life impact. The World Health Organization first clinically recognized PCS in 1992, with the American Psychiatric following in 1994. Another diagnostic challenge is that the conventional tests such as CT scans and MRI scans usually do not display abnormalities in most patients with PCS, thus doctors must rely on psychological tests to establish the diagnosis and track recovery (or lack thereof). More recently, spe cial tests such as functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, MR spectroscopy and arterial spin labeling can help detect functional, structural, or perfusion changes in the brain but these tests are costly and not routinely available in most clinical settings. There are also criticisms that these less available/costly tests can't track changes in function very well. Similarly, there exists criticism of neuropsychological test results being affected by uncontrollable factors such as age, education, state of employment, economic status, depression, malingering, and litigation.

The good news is that most patients with PCS largely resolve by 1-3 months post-injury. However, this reported rate of recovery relies on neuropsychological tests, which loses their ability to detect PCS with the passage of time. The benefits of being able to detect brain injury which include complex reflex pathways and different parts of the brain through the measurement of eye movement is very important as no other method has yet been found to be as accurate and, is completely independent of intellectual ability and neuropsychological injury. The ability for eye movements to show abnormality at 3-5 months post-injury is tremendous!

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, 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.