spinal degeneration Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Hometown Family Wellness Center

May 11 2020

Do You Have Scoliosis? Chiropractor in Freehold NJ Shares Current Scoliosis Research

Scoliosis affects 2 to 3% of the adolescent population. For many people it is just a mild form, but others it is disfiguring and whether mild or severe can cause many health conditions and can even be disabling. I have had many patients with scoliosis suffering with breathing restrictions, headaches and migraines, neck pain, back pain, sciatica, degenerative spinal conditions, numbness and tingling down the arms and many other symptoms resulting from the curve in their spine.

My name is Dr. Russell Brokstein and I have been helping patients with many conditions for over 13 years with chiropractic and other natural treatments. I have seen patients with many different levels of scoliosis. Unfortunately the medical community doesn’t intervene with scoliosis until it progresses to severe limits. Current research shows early intervention with chiropractic treatment is the best option over bracing and surgery in reducing the scoliosis and symptoms that can result from the curve. I recently saw a great interview on fox news online that has Dr. Vidan, DC discussing the research about scoliosis:

STLMoms:-Teen-Scoliosis

If you or somebody you know suffers with scoliosis, share this interview and information with others so they can have their scoliosis corrected early with natural, non-invasive chiropractic care. I offer a complimentary scoliosis consultation at our Freehold, NJ office: Hometown Family Wellness Center. We have been helping scoliosis patients in Freehold and the surrounding towns of Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell, Jackson, Colts Neck, Morganville and other communities in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey.

For more natural health tips and information on obtaining optimal health and wellness without drugs or surgery, check out our website: www.ChiropractorFreehold.com

May 11 2020

Spinal Degeneration Risk Factors

Spinal degeneration occurs naturally as we age with the normal grind of daily living. The discs naturally break down forming arthritic type changes. The joints start to decay, calcification builds up, and the discs lose their ability to absorb shock. Sounds very similar to tooth decay right? Well you know if you don’t continually take care of your teeth with brushing, flossing, rinsing and periodically seeing a dentist, the process occurs more rapidly.

Spinal Degeneration progresses unless you address the risk factors

Spinal degeneration can occur at every level of the spine: the neck or cervical spine, mid back and lower or lumbar spine. You might not notice the pain at first but as it progresses more pain is felt. You can also notice restricted motion and reduced ability to perform normal activities. Almost half of the population aged 40 years or older experiences pain from spinal degeneration. After 80 years old about 80 percent of the population suffers with this condition.

Studies have shown risk factors of spinal degeneration. By limiting these factors and promoting spinal hygiene, we can reduce degeneration and improve quality of life, especially as we age.

From 1997 to 2007, 197 individuals were studied every 2 years using xrays to measure disc heights in the lumbar spine. It was found disc heights decreased at each level gradually over the years on average of 5.8%. The likelihood of disc degeneration increased more in females, those who had knee osteoarthritis and those who had back pain at the start of the study.

Another study shows that smoking cigarettes increases disc degeneration, weakening of spinal ligaments and spinal instability. Evidence suggests that the severity of degeneration is worse in smokers than non smokers. Smoking causes physiological changes that increases the spinal decay.

A study in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association shows the benefit of manual therapy on osteoarthritic knee pain. After just 2 weeks, those receiving manual therapy for 3 times per week for 2 weeks experienced less pain, improved movement and ability to perform general activities which were previously more difficult.

Other risk factors that increase spinal degeneration and back pain are:

Occupation hazards: If you do a lot of bending, lifting or long periods of sitting and standing without breaks.
Genetics: There is some evidence that there is some inherited component
Sedentary lifestyle: Those not active without regular exercise have higher risk of back pain and severity of pain.
Excessive weight: Weight increases stress on the joints, ligaments, tendons and discs
Poor posture: Slouching, sitting at a computer, texting and other modern technology, driving hunched, bad sleeping positions and lifting things improperly or just some things that increase stress to the spinal segments.
Hydration: 80% of your body is water. Most people are dehydrated which leads to tissues being “dried out”. Think of a sponge that you leave on the counter for an extended period without putting water on it, it will dry out and becomes brittle. Your muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs are similiar and become more fragile.

Spinal degeneration can be reduced and prevented with spinal hygiene. I describe it like dental hygiene as previously mentioned in this article. It’s very important to limit the risks listed above. Work on your posture, keep active with exercise, maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking, stretch regularly while at work, use proper form lifting and bending, and keep properly hydrated (drink half your body weight in water) and limit products that contain caffeine like coffee or energy drinks as caffeine leads to dehydration.

Most importantly go to a Chiropractor to help keep your joints moving and aligned. Chiropractic adjustments remove back pain and help reduce risk factors of spinal degeneration. Unlike tooth decay where you can replace your teeth, you are born with one spine that cannot be replaced!

In our Freehold chiropractic office, we use a combination of adjustments, therapeutic stretching and exercises to get you the full benefits of care in preventing spinal degeneration. Let us help you live a long, healthy, active lifestyle!

May 11 2020

Chiropractor in Freehold Shares National Correct Posture Month – Posture and Your Health

Your mom probably wanted you to look confident and proud but the bottom line is, good posture is good for your health and is now recognized as an important factor in aging well. “We all heard it when we were growing up – ‘stand up straight’, ‘you’re slouching’.

When your back is not properly aligned, your body’s center of gravity shifts, putting more stress and load on your muscles, joints, and ligaments. Poor posture is a major cause of neck, back and joint pain. When you slouch, your internal organs may be compressed affecting bodily functions like digestion and even your ability to breathe clearly.

Poor posture can be traced to many activities from sitting in front of a computer for hours, carrying heavy pocketbooks or briefcases on one shoulder all the time, wearing high heals, laying on a couch unsupported or sleeping improperly and exercising in poor form just to name a few. The muscles tire and the body shifts position, causing some muscle groups to become tight, stretched, and weak.

We are creatures of habit. When we have an injury, our body will move differently to avoid pain. Over time, the body will adapt. Our body will create new habits. The brain adapts and adopts new muscles and joint positions even in the absence of continued pain. We believe we are standing straight because our brain is being told by our senses that we are balanced, even though the mirror shows we are not.

To achieve the best posture when standing, the body should maintain a straight vertical alignment from the top of the head, through the center of the body, and down to the feet. Take a minute and go in front of a mirror in your house and check to see if one shoulder is higher than another, one hip is higher than another, if your shoulders are rotated forward. From the side, look for an imaginary straight line from the ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle. When sitting, the spine and head should remain upright, while maintaining the three natural curves in the back. Also check these points on your children. The earlier the spine is checked for imbalances, the easier they are to correct.

Here are some tips to help you reduce the risk of poor posture as you sit in the office:

Take frequent breaks – about every 30 minutes.
If you cannot get up, stretch your arms and legs as much as possible.
Sit in an office chair with a comfortable height to maintain good posture and provide adequate support for your back.
Keep desk items – phone, calendar, appointment book – within comfortable reach.
Women: avoid wearing high heels. They change the center of gravity and put extra stress on the back”(1)

Chiropractors refer to posture as the “window to the spine.” And, since your spine protects the master control system of the body (your nervous system), you need to pay attention to your posture on a daily basis.

Spinal shifts, vertebral misalignments and structural instability can lead to arthritic changes. They can also cause other health and/or functional problems as well. For example, did you know:

* Thoracic spine arthritis/spurs indicate accompanying coronary arteriosclerosis 85% of the time. Bone spurs and arthritic changes in the thoracic spine can mimic angina pectoris.(2)

* Upper Thoracic Spine – Children under chiropractic care showed a 96.5% non-occurrence rate of asthma, whereas children under medical care showed a 95% non-occurrence rate of asthma. The authors concluded that the immune systems of children under chiropractic care are better able to cope with allergens which may cause asthmatic conditions.(3)

* Mid Thoracic Spine – Using radiography, Burchett examined sixty-one hospital patients and found that in 88% of patients with gallbladder disease there was lipping (arthritis) from T7-T10; spinal osteophytes (T9-T11) were found in 82% of those with stomach disease. Many sufferers of pancreatic dis-ease had segments T5-T7 involved and 31% of patients with duodenal disease had osteophytes at T9-L2.(4)

* Lower Thoracic Spine – Subluxations (vertebral misalignments) of the T6 – T10 vertebrae can cause gall bladder symptoms.(5)

Every aspect of our lives affects posture: nutrition, stress, exercise, mental development, and body fat. Posture is one of the most overlooked keys to better health. “Research studies show the truth in what mothers have always known: standing up tall improves our health.” May is the perfect time to celebrate a renewed commitment to health, longevity, and new habits.

Every year in honor of National Correct Posture month in May, Dr. Russell Brokstein, chiropractor and owner of Hometown Family Wellness Center in Freehold, NJ, offers professional posture assessments. Dr. Brokstein will be examining the spines of children and adults using state of the art computerized spinal assessments. These exams help prevent unnecessary muscle imbalance, structural instability, scoliosis and other health conditions related to poor posture. We’ve been helping people of all ages in Freehold and the surrounding towns of Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell, Colts Neck, Jackson, Morganville and other towns in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey.

To secure a complimentary Posture and Full Spinal Examination, call 732-780-0044 or go to www.ChiropractorFreehold.com for more information about Dr. Brokstein and Hometown Family Wellness Center.

1. By Marianne Favro for NBC11 News

2. J.A.O.A. 1983, 82, 93-94

3. van Breda WM; van Breda JM. A Comparative Study Of The Health Status Of The Health Status Of Children Raised Under The Health Care Models Of Chiropractic And Allopathic Medicine. J Chiro Res 1989; 5:101-3

4. Burchett GD J of the American Osteopathic Association 1968; 67(6): 675.
5. Grail McGinley, Newsday, Melville, NY

May 11 2020

Freehold Chiropractor Discusses Health Risks & Dangers Verse Safety of Chiropractic

Dr. Russell Brokstein of Hometown Family Wellness Center in Freehold NJ answers a lot of questions from residents in his town and neighboring towns of Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell, Jackson and Colts Neck, NJ about the risks and safety of Chiropractic care. It seems to be a huge question brought up time and time again and has been on the news a lot lately. Everyone knows that insurance companies are NOT in the business of losing money. So, if chiropractic was dangerous, costly, or risky in any way whatsoever, do you think I would be paying around $1500 a YEAR for the best coverage you can get? Chiropractic malpractice insurance is less than most people pay for auto insurance. If only everyone knew how incredibly safe and effective chiropractic care is – they would understand why chiropractors pay the least amount of ALL primary care doctors.

? According to Marcel J. Hernandez, ND, who directs the wellness program at American Western insurers are discovering that offering an alternative health insurance program actually lowers medical bills,

? Nearly across the board, there are fewer complications, side effects, and costly, unexpected medical outcomes with Chiropractic procedures.

On The other hand people need to realize where the risks lie:

An estimated 2 billion prescriptions are written for people in the U.S. every year-earning $49 billion for the pharmaceutical industry.
A 13-year study by the U.S. Office of Public Health found 2/3 of all over-the-counter drugs do not do what the manufacturers report.*
190,000 deaths per year were results of drug toxicity and 300,000 deaths (the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S.) was from hospital acquired (iatrogenic) infections. (This from the Vital Statistics Report from the National Center For Health Statistics in Washington, D.C.)

There are 8.8 million prescribed drug related hospitalizations costing $47 billion annually. 28% of hospital admissions are due to prescribed drugs side effects.**

So…Chiropractic has the lowest malpractice rate of all primary health care!! If you want real health insurance, put your trust and dollars in Chiropractic. That’s where the future of your health lies.

May 11 2020

Are Your Hip Problems Coming From Low Back Pain?

Do you experience hip problems? Did you previously have low back pain? Did you ignore the pain and noticed a history of coming and going? When you have back pain you start to compensate and it can put unnecessary stress on the joints of the hips, knees and feet. It can also be the reverse where untreated ankle, foot, knee and hip problems can cause low back pain.

A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT): The Association Between Low Back Pain and Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee: A Population-Based Cohort Study is to determine if there is a

A study shows correlation of hip problems with low back pain

connection with patients reporting low back pain and future hip problems, specifically osteoarthritis of the hips and knees. 983 residents of Ontario over the age of 55 were studied and found a strong association of low back pain and hip problems but not knee osteoarthritis.

The study concluded that low back pain predicted subsequent OA-related pain and disability in those with hip disease.

This gives more reason not to neglect your low back pain. If you ignore the pain you can develop hip problems in the future like osteoarthritis. It is important to take care of your back if you have low back pain. Just treating the symptoms might mask the problems temporarily but lead to more severe back pain and osteoarthritis later in life. Your body will compensate and lead to unnecessary wear and tear.

Conservative chiropractic care addresses the cause of the back pain. When a chiropractor finds the imbalances leading to the back pain, gentle chiropractic adjustments correct the misalignments. This helps improve the biomechanics to prevent spinal degeneration and hip problems.

As a leading Freehold chiropractor, we find it’s important to take an overall health and wellness approach to maintain your body so you can enjoy an active lifestyle. Incorporating chiropractic along with exercise, stretching and optimal nutrition leads to a more healthy body. If you suffer with low back pain and hip problems, give our office a call.

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