<![CDATA[WPB Chiropractor - West Palm Beach Auto Accident Injury Chiropractor, Car Crash Personal Injury and Sports Injury Doctor treats Neck, Low Back, Chronic Pain, Headaches, Whiplash, Sciatica - Back Pain Relief Blog]]>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:07:04 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Rear-End Motor Vehicle Collisions and the Injuries that Ensue]]>Wed, 21 Aug 2013 13:58:57 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/rear-end-motor-vehicle-collisions-and-the-injuries-that-ensueWhiplash is the common name given to sprain / strain type injuries of the soft tissues of the cervical spine.  The acceleration / decceleration forces of a sudden impact motor vehicle collision place stress upon the muscles, tendons, ligaments, spinal discs and nerves of the neck.  These stresses can cause ripping and tearing of these soft tissue structures.  The following article details treatment protocols for whiplash injuries:


After the crash: Treating whiplash

By James F. Veronesi, RN, MSN 
 
A rear-end collision typically results in whiplash injury—and, often, a trip
  to the ED. Are you up to speed on its treatment?
“They’re gonna hit!” screams a pedestrian. Tires screech, and a split
  second later there’s a loud crash. Forty-six-year-old Elaine Sands (not her
real  name), who was stopped at a red light, has been hit from behind by a
driver  whose last-minute stomp on the brakes failed to prevent a rear-end
collision.  Witnesses see her stumble out of her car, rubbing her neck. Asked if
she’s OK,  Mrs. Sands says, “My neck hurts.” She was not wearing a safety
belt.

 When the ambulance arrives, the EMTs apply a Philadelphia cervical collar and
  immobilize Mrs. Sands to a spine board. Her vital signs are stable. Her
  assessment is essentially negative, except for the neck pain and a slight
  numbness and tingling down her right arm. Mrs. Sands is transported to the
  nearest trauma center for further evaluation. 

In the ED, the attending physician detects point tenderness along her
  posterior neck just to the right of midline. Spinal X-rays rule out a fracture
  as the source of her symptoms, strongly suggesting that Mrs. Sands is suffering
  from a whiplash injury to the soft tissues of her neck. If you were her nurse,
  would you know what to look for and what kind of treatment to provide?

What is whiplash, anyway?
Whiplash involves a sudden movement of the head that can lead to the tearing
  of muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues. It is a common result of a
  rear-end automobile collision, and can happen at low as well as high speeds.  
 
As many as 3 million whiplash injuries occur every year in the United
  States.1 The cost includes not only the $29
billion spent every year  on direct medical expenses and litigation, but
decreased productivity, missed  work, emotional distress, and long-term
disability, as well.2 According to the American
Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, approximately 20% of  those involved in rear-end
motor vehicle accidents develop some symptoms in the  neck region, usually
within the first two days.3

 Like Mrs. Sands, many whiplash victims are stopped at a traffic light when a
  vehicle hits their rear bumper, pushing their car forward. The usual response
is  to slam on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden stop and causing the
  driver's neck to be jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits. Supporting
  tissues are stretched and may tear and bleed; the cervical spine flexes and
then  extends.2,4,6 This causes a soft-tissue
injury sometimes described as  neck sprain, but is more often called whiplash,
or whiplash-associated disorder  (WAD). 

Patients with WAD may or may not respond to conventional, noninvasive
  therapies and analgesics. Symptoms often recede in the weeks following the
  accident, and before long most people experience a complete recovery. But for
  somewhere between 10% – 40% of patients,2
symptoms persist for months  or years, prompting a great deal of debate among
healthcare professionals as to  the reason. (See the box) 

After a crash: The initial assessment
No definitive test for whiplash exists, which goes a long way toward
  explaining the controversy surrounding its diagnosis. X-rays, of course, won't
  reveal soft tissue or nerve injury, although CT scans or MRI sometimes helps.
  Diagnosis is made by excluding other potential injuries, which makes your
  assessment and patient history particularly important. 

In addition to a direct rear-end collision, there are a number of related
  factors that should raise your index of suspicion for whiplash.5-7
These include such things as the type of seat in the car and the position of the
  head and body at the time of impact.2,7

 Bench seats are more often linked to whiplash than bucket seats.8 Also, the further away the head is from the headrest at
the time of impact, the  greater the risk of injury.2,7

 In addition, the length of the patient's neck is relevant. People who have
  long, swanlike necks are more at risk for whiplash than those with short necks,
  and those with lower body mass are at higher risk than their heavier
  counterparts.7

 When the victim arrives at the ED, start with a head-to-toe as sess ment to
  rule out actual or potential life-threatening injuries, including spinal cord
  injury, and any condition that requires immediate treatment. Then evaluate
signs  and symptoms, based on your observation and what you have learned from
the EMS  team and the patient. 

In addition to neck pain or stiffness, symptoms associated with whiplash may
  include headache, dizziness, paresthesias in the arm or hand, lower back pain,
  temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, decreased range of motion, irritability,
  fatigue, and sleep disturbances. While the pain or stiffness generally develops
  immediately, it may be several days before other problems  develop.2

It's necessary, too, to look specifically for neuromuscular deficits. The
  widely accepted Quebec Classification system, summarized in the box on page 44,
  is an excellent assessment tool. If the patient has pain or tenderness anywhere
  along the spine, the attending physician is likely to order an entire cervical
  spine series and maintain the patient on spine precautions. 

Take a closer look at the cause of symptoms
Neck stiffness can be an indication of an irritated or injured facet
  joint.8,9 To test for this possibility once
spinal cord injury is  ruled out, place the patient in a seated position and ask
her to extend her neck  and turn it to the right. If attempting to turn elicits
pain in the right side  of the neck, a facet joint injury is possible; if it
causes pain on the left  side or the front of the neck, this joint is probably
not involved. Repeat the  process on the left side.10

 Cervicogenic headaches, as those associated with neck injury are known, are
  common in whiplash patients. Often the headache is the result of referred pain
  from nerves irritated by the rapid extension and flexion of the neck at the
time  of the collision. The greater and lesser occipital nerves, as well as
nerves in  the cervical spine and jaw, may be involved. Trigger points in other
muscles can  also be a source of headache.9

 Dizziness following whiplash injury stems from a number of
  sources.11 A stiff neck, most likely from
irritation at the level of  C1 – C3, interferes with the patient's desired eye
movements. Body position data  coming into the brain from the neck and eyes may
contradict information coming  from the inner ear, leading to a sensation of
dizziness. Other possible causes  of dizziness are spasms in the front neck
muscles pressing on trigger points and  irritation of the rectus capitus
posterior minor, the muscle that connects the  C1 to the dura mater. And
sometimes-though it is rare-dizziness may be the  result of kinking of the
vertebral artery, which can lead to  stroke.3,11

Numbness and tingling in the fingers or arm are common after an automobile
  accident. So ask the patient exactly which fingers are numb to pinpoint the
  level of cervical spine injury. Once neurological deficits have been ruled out,
  you can reassure your patient that paresthesias typically resolve within two
  months. Advise her to seek further evaluation from an orthopedist or
neurologist  if the symptoms persist beyond that point. Older patients with
arthritic changes  are likely to have symptoms that persist. 

Back pain is typical, as well. The most likely source is the thoracic spine,
  which causes pain when extension or side-bending movements bring spine facets
  into contact with each other. But injury to the rib ligaments can also cause
  referred back pain.9,12

 The temporomandibular joint may also be affected, with pain occurring as a
  result of a ligament sprain within the joint. Symptoms of TMJ include popping
or  cracking in the joint, pain with chewing, and headache.8,12

 While irritability, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping are frequently
  associated with trauma, they're not likely to be evident immediately. Patients
  who develop such lingering difficulties need understanding and emotional
  support. And all patients with WAD need supportive therapy. 

Getting moving helps patients heal
Ice can be applied to tender areas for the first 24 hours post-injury,
  followed by gentle massage and aerobic activity such as walking. After that,
  heat application may help relax tense muscles. Intermittent use of a soft
  cervical collar, or even a rolled up towel, during the first three weeks
  post-injury will help support the injured muscles.8

 Instruct patients on the principles of good body mechanics, such as bending
  at the knees to pick up the groceries or when doing any lifting. You should
  explain that this reduces stress on soft tissues and helps promote
  healing.9 Strength training, range-of-motion
exercises, physical  therapy, and cervical traction help muscles regain their
ability to adequately  support the head and neck. In some cases, strength
training in conjunction with  spinal manipulation provided by a chiropractor may
also be needed.

 Be sure to tell patients that over-the-counter and prescription medication
  may be helpful for symptom control. There is no one "best" drug for whiplash
  symptoms. Rather, the choice of medication depends upon the type, severity, and
  duration of pain as well as the patient's overall health. NSAIDs such as
  aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen (Naprosyn) may be appropriate for most
  patients. But those who have severe pain may require opioid analgesics such as
  codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), or oxycodone (OxyContin). If muscle spasm is
  contributing to pain, muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol (Soma),
  cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and methocarbamol (Robaxin) may be
  helpful.2,6,8 For chronic and severe neck
pain, opioid analgesics and  tricyclic antidepressants may provide optimal
relief.8

 If a patient has significant paresthesias of the arms, spinal injections may
  offer some relief. Injections into the facet joint or the epidural space can
  block transmission of pain impulses. In severe cases, and when injections do
not  relieve facet joint pain, radiofrequency neurotomy may be performed. In
this  procedure-which is typically effective for about nine to 18 months and can
be  repeated, as needed-the nerves are heated to stop them from conducting pain
  signals.9 Surgery for chronic neck pain
associated with whiplash is  hardly ever necessary, and is typically reserved
for those with pressure on a  nerve or the spinal cord.9

Some patients with WAD may have a long road ahead of them. To help them on
  that journey, you'll need to teach them self-care. Underscore the need to
reduce  stress and get adequate sleep. You should emphasize the importance of
eating a  balanced diet and continuing physical therapy, if ordered, during the
recovery  period. 

It's equally important that your nursing care include ample doses of
  emotional support. Make it clear that most WAD patients-even those who need
  surgery-are eventually able to resume their former lifestyle. At the same time,
  help them cope with the stress of what may be a prolonged period of discomfort
  and disability. 

With nursing care, discharge instructions to take ibuprofen as needed, a
  prescription for cyclo benzaprine, and a follow-up ap pointment with her
primary  care provider, Elaine Sands came through with flying colors. Being up
to speed  on the care patients with whiplash injury need will help ensure that
those you  care for will, too.

 
 REFERENCES
1. Spine Research Institute of San Diego.
  2005. "Epidemiology of whiplash: Incidence, risk, and prevalence of whiplash." 
www.srisd.com/consumer_site (29  July 2005). 
2. Silber, J. S., Hayes, V. M., et al.
(2005).  Whiplash: Fact or fiction. Am J Orthop, 34(1), 23.
 3. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
  2000. "Whiplash." http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/ (30 May
  2005).
 4. Grauer, J. N., Panjabi, M. M., et al.
  (1997) Whiplash produces an S-shaped curvature of the neck with hyperextension
  at lower levels. Spine, 22(21), 2489.
 5. Childs, S. G. (2004). Cervical whiplash
  syndrome: Hyperextension-hyperflexion injury. Orthop Nursing, 23(2),
  106.
 6. Albert, T. "Whiplash: Neck trauma and
  treatment." 2004. www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article107.html
(10 June 2005). 
7. Spinal Injury Foundation. "Low speed
  accidents." www.whiplash101.com/lowspeed.htm
(7 June 2005).
 8. Jaye, C. (2004). Managing whiplash
injury.  Emergency Nurse, 12(7), 28.
 9. North American Spine Society. "Whiplash
and  whiplash associated disorders." 2002. www.spine.org/articles/whiplash.cfm (30 May
2005). 
10. Spinal Injury Foundation. Patient
  resources. "Facet pain test." www.spinalinjuryfoundation.org/101_new/facet6.htm
(10 June 2005).
 11. Spinal Injury Foundation. Patient
  Resources. "Dizziness and whiplash." www.spinalinjuryfoundation.org/101_new/dizzines1.htm
(10 June 2005).
 12. Evans, R. W. (2004). The postconcussion
  syndrome and whiplash injuries: A question-and-answer review for primary care
  physicians. Prim Care, 31(1), 1.

 
Chronic whiplash disorder: THE CONTROVERSY

 The tricky thing about whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is that it's
  subjective: The patient says her neck hurts and her fingers are numb and
tingly.  But nothing shows on an X-ray, and she has no neurological deficit.
She's  treated for a presumed soft-tissue injury, symptoms gradually recede, and
she  goes back to her usual activities. No problem.

But what about the 10% – 40% of patients who continue to suffer from pain and
  disability for many months or even years? The ones who bring lawsuits seeking
  big money for pain and suffering or apply for long-term disability payments?
Are  they really disabled and suffering or simply looking for attention, money,
or  access to painkillers? These are the patients at the heart of a
controversy.

On one side are researchers who don't believe chronic WAD exists. They point
  out that claims for whiplash injury account for the majority of insurance
  settlements in the United States and cite studies showing that in countries
  where most drivers aren't insured, whiplash injuries are virtually
non-existent.  Their conclusion? WAD is all in the mind, a psychosomatic
complaint, or a ploy  to reap secondary gain.

 On the other side are clinicians who suggest that chronic WAD patients suffer
  from post-traumatic stress disorder or spinal injuries not properly diagnosed
or  treated. They point to Australian research that traces some chronic whiplash
  pain to specific nerves in the neck; relief was achieved by deadening those
  nerves. They also cite a Dutch program that gets chronic WAD patients back to
  work with a combination of physical therapy, exercise training, occupational
  therapy, counseling, and sports participation. Their stance, summed up by
  neurologist Randolph Evans, an expert on whiplash: While non-organic
  explanations are reasonable in some cases, most of those with chronic WAD
  incurred an actual injury and are truly experiencing chronic pain.

 Sources: 1. Silber, J. S., Hayes, V. M., et al. (2005) Whiplash: Fact
  or fiction? Am J Orthop, 34(1). 23. 2. Weintraub, M. I. (2002).
  Handicap after acute whiplash injury. Neurology, 58(1), 157. 3.
DeNoon, D. "A pain in the neck—or just a pain?" 2000. Web MD Medical News. http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/36/1728_566555.htm
(29 July 2005). 4. Kelly, J. "Comprehensive program can overcome chronic
  whiplash." 2000. Web MD Medical News. http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/22/1728_55310.htm
(29 July 2005). 5. Evans, R. W. (2004). The postconcussion syndrome and
  whiplash injuries: A question-and-answer review for primary care physicians. 
Prim Care, 31(1), 1.

Article taken from: http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern-medicine/news/after-crash-treating-whiplash


Tags: West Palm Beach Chiropractor, Palm Beach County Personal Injury Physician, Palm Springs Car Crash Doctor, Greenacres Auto Injury Chiropractor, Lake Worth Automobile Accident Specialist, Lake Clarke Shores Auto Accident Injury Rehabilitation, Palm Beach Gardens, FL Auto Accident Injury Rehab, Stuart, FL Auto Injury Chiropractor, Palm City, FL Car Crash Doctor, Port Salerno, FL Personal Injury Specialist, Martin County Car Accident Injury Doctor, Port St. Lucie Auto Accident Injury Rehab, Jensen Beach, FL Auto Accident Injury Chiropractor, Miami Gardens, FL Auto Accident Doctor, North Miami Beach, FL Car Crash Physician, Aventura, FL Personal Injury Rehab, West Palm Beach, FL Auto Injury Chiropractor, Lake Worth, FL Whiplash Therapy, Dade County Chiropractic, Fort Lauderdale, FL Chiropractor, Broward County Personal Injury Physician, Pembroke Pines, FL Car Crash Doctor, Hollywood, FL Auto Injury Chiropractor, Plantation, FL Automobile Accident
Specialist, Pompano Beach Auto Accident Injury Rehabilitation, Tamarac, FL Auto Accident Injury Rehab]]><![CDATA[Study Indicates that Back Pain is the Leading Cause of Disability Worldwide]]>Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:54:23 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/study-indicates-that-back-pain-is-theleading-cause-of-disability-worldwideBack Pain Is #1 Cause of Disability Worldwide
Global Burden of Disease 2010 highlights the pressing need
to prevent, treat spinal and musculoskeletal disorders.
By Peter W. Crownfield, Executive Editor

   A series of studies emerging from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 Project, a massive collaboration between the World Health Organization, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (the coordinating center), the University of Queensland School of Population
Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health, and the University of Tokyo, Imperial College London, clarifies
the worldwide health burden of musculoskeletal conditions, particularly back and
neck pain, in crystal-clear fashion, with low back pain identified as the
number-one cause of disability worldwide and neck pain the number-four cause.
Overall, musculoskeletal conditions represent the second leading cause of global
disability. 
Findings emphasize the shift in global health that has resulted from
disability making an increasingly larger footprint on the burden of disease
compared to a mere 20-30 years ago. In addition, while more people are living
longer, the flip side is that they do so with an increasing risk of living with
the burden of pain, disability and disease compared to generations past.
 Dr. Scott Haldeman, who chaired the 2000-2010 Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders, and is currently president and CEO of World Spine Care,
provided DC with an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease 2010 findings, highlighted as follows: 

  • Musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, neck pain and arthritis
    affect more than 1.7 billion people worldwide and have a greater impact on the
    health of the world population (death and disability) than HIV/AIDS, tropical
    diseases including malaria, the forces of war and nature, and all neurological
    conditions combined.

  • When considering death and disability in the health equation,
    musculoskeletal disorders cause 21.3 percent of all years lived with disability
    (YLDs), second only to mental and behavioral disorders, which account for 22.7
    percent of YLDs.

  • Musculoskeletal conditions represent the sixth leading cause of death and
    disability, with only cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, neonatal
    diseases, neoplasms, and mental and behavorial disorders accounting for more
    death and disability worldwide.

  • Low back pain is the most dominant musculoskeletal condition, accounting for
    nearly one-half of all musculoskeletal YLDs. Neck pain accounts for one-fifth of
    musculoskeletal YLDs.

  • Low back pain is the sixth most important contributor to the global disease
    burden (death and disability), and has a greater impact on global health than
    malaria, preterm birth complications, COPD, tuberculosis, diabetes or lung
    cancer.

  • When combined with neck pain (21st most important contributor to the global
    disease burden including death and disability), painful spinal disorders are
    second only to ischemic heart disease in terms of their impact on the global
    burden of disease. Spinal disorders have a greater impact than HIV/AIDS,
    malaria, lower respiratory infections, stroke, breast and lung cancer combined,
    Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression or traffic injuries.

  • Current estimates suggest that 632.045 million people worldwide suffer from
    low back pain and 332.049 million people worldwide suffer from neck
    pain.

"The Global Burden of Disease Study provides indisputable evidence that
musculoskeletal conditions are an enormous and emerging problem in all parts of
the world and need to be given the same priority for policy and resources as
other major conditions like cancer, mental health and cardiovascular disease,"
said Dr. Haldeman.
 The seven studies from Global Burden of Disease 2010, as well as accompanying
commentaries, appear in The Lancet. To review the studies and all
relevant material, click here.

Full Article borrowed from Dynamic Chiropractic: http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=56331&aoid=dcnu_20130212_chirotouch]]><![CDATA[Auto Accident Injury Victims:  New Year Car Insurance Changes to be Aware Of]]>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:15:32 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/auto-accident-injury-victims-2013-car-insurance-changes-to-be-aware-ofPicture
Major changes are in store for Florida Automobile Driver's in 2013 as their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits will be greatly reduced and made more difficult to access.  As part of Florida's No-fault Automobile Insurance Law, all drivers are required to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection to ensure your full and timely recovery from any injuries suffered in a car accident. Beginning January 1, 2013, you will still be required to carry $10,000 in PIP coverage, however,  you're access to this coverage for your medical needs will be significantly limited. 

What You Need To Know:

-You must be examined and begin treatment within 14 days of an auto accident or you will completely lose access to all $10,000 worth of PIP benefits.  Previously, victims injured in an auto accident could use their PIP benefits for necessary medical treatment for as long as 2 years following a car crash. Going forward, it is imperative that those involved in automobile accidents obtain an examination and auto accident injury screening within 2 weeks of the accident to avoid losing their insurance benefits. 

-The new law also limits PIP insurance coverage to only $2,500 for those who have not been determined to have an "Emergency Medical Condition."  This can be a somewhat ambiguously defined term in medical publications.   Therefore, it is important that you seek the help of a specialist trained in the examination of auto accident injuries within 14 days of your accident to determine the extent of your injuries and ensure that you are able to  secure all of your available insurance benefits.

-If your Auto Insurance Carrier denies coverage to you for either of the above reasons, you may still be eligible for  coverage of medically necessary treatment in our offices through the use of a Letter of Protection if you are being represented by an Attorney and are filing a claim for recovery against the at-fault driver in the car crash.  Remember, you always have the right to obtain legel counsel for the early termination of your PIP benefits.  We maintain good relationships with quality personal injury attorneys in the community should you need a legal referral.

Tags: West Palm Beach Chiropractor, Palm Beach County Personal Injury Physician, Palm Springs Car Crash Doctor, Greenacres Auto Injury Chiropractor, Lake Worth Automobile Accident Specialist, Lake Clarke Shores Auto Accident Injury Rehabilitation, Palm Beach Gardens, FL Auto Accident Injury Rehab, Stuart, FL Auto Injury Chiropractor, Palm City, FL Car Crash Doctor, Port Salerno, FL Personal Injury Specialist, Martin County Car Accident Injury Doctor, Port St. Lucie Auto Accident Injury Rehab, Jensen Beach, FL Auto Accident Injury Chiropractor, Miami Gardens, FL Auto Accident Doctor, North Miami Beach, FL Car Crash Physician, Aventura, FL Personal Injury Rehab, West Palm Beach, FL Auto Injury Chiropractor, Lake Worth, FL Whiplash Therapy, Dade County Chiropractic, Fort Lauderdale, FL Chiropractor, Broward County Personal Injury Physician, Pembroke Pines, FL Car Crash Doctor, Hollywood, FL Auto Injury Chiropractor, Plantation, FL Automobile Accident Specialist, Pompano Beach Auto Accident Injury Rehabilitation, Tamarac, FL Auto Accident Injury Rehab
]]><![CDATA[I've Been Injured in a Car Accident. What Should I do?]]>Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:07:17 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/ive-been-injured-in-a-car-accident-what-should-i-doPicture
Call 911 and report the accident to the police and get a thorough medical examination to check for any injuries suffered in the crash. 
Personal Injury experts agree that the most important thing to do following a palm beach county automobile accident is to get proper medical evaluation and documentation of your injuries.  This is helpful for 2 reasons: 1. The patient has a much greater likelihood of a full recovery if their injuries are diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion, 2. The victim's legal rights are preserved by making detailed, timely documentation of his/her injuries.  There is plenty of time to seek legal compensation for injuries suffered in a west palm beach auto accident, but there may not be any insurance compensation if injuries are not properly documented shortly after the incident.
Our staff Chiropractic Physicians specialize in diagnosing and treating auto accident injuries and are well trained in making the necessary documentation for your Personal Injury Attorney to use on your behalf.  We have Palm Beach County accident injury recovery centers conveniently located near those living in Lake Worth, Palm Springs, Greenacres, West Palm Beach and the surrounding Palm Beach communities.  Our team of chiropractors, massage therapists and physical medicine specialists are well-versed in treating the types of soft-tissue injuries that frequently result from auto accidents including: whiplash, neck sprain, low back strain, bulging disk, herniated disc, sciatica, headache, knee pain, shoulder pain, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs.  If you've been injured in a car accident, call us now to schedule your Free Consultation with our Palm Beach Injury Specialists, #561-531-3235.  
]]><![CDATA[Multiple South Florida Locations]]>Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:58:59 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/multiple-south-florida-locationsWe have expanded to include multiple offices throughout South Florida including: Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Dade and Broward Counties.  These new locations offer the same high quality care and are conveniently located near our patients in Miami, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Palm Springs, Greenacres, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Port Salerno, Port St. Lucie.  All offices offer physical rehabilitation and chiropractic treatment for auto accident injuries, car crash victims, slip and fall injuries, sports injuries, whiplash, sciatica, headache, herniated disc, neck pain and low back pain.  If you have been injured in any type of accident, call us for a Free Consultation to evaluate your injuries and determine how we can help, #561-531-3235.]]><![CDATA[How can Chiropractors benefit your health?]]>Tue, 22 May 2012 13:30:58 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/how-can-chiropractors-benefit-your-healthBack and neck pain are the chief complaints for which patients seek chiropractic help. Through manual spinal manipulation, chiropractic care is a holistic therapy that focuses on maintaining healthy musculoskeletal and nervous systems to ensure overall wellness.

Effectiveness
The research about chiropractic care is growing. According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, recent studies show that spinal manipulative therapy performed by a chiropractor, along with exercise, relieve neck pain more effectively than medication.

Furthermore, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported that an integrated approach to health care -- including chiropractic care -- results in a 51.8 percent reduction in pharmaceutical costs and 43 percent fewer hospital admissions.

You should consider seeing a chiropractor if you experience frequent pain in your back, neck or joints, as well as headaches. This is especially so if intense soreness follows accidents, household chores or prolonged periods of poor posture.

Back and neck pain
Chiropractors are best known for safely and effectively treating acute back and neck pain, as well as headaches. Whereas a medical doctor might prescribe pain medicine, muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatory drugs, and an orthopedic doctor might suggest surgery, a chiropractor will treat your back problems by hand, through manipulation of the spine.

Nancy Elwartowski-Cooper, a pediatric and prenatal chiropractor, sees more and more referrals from medical doctors: "They (patients) are tired of the drugs and want answers to what is causing their problems."

Chiropractors bring the musculoskeletal structure into proper alignment. Chiropractors change the position of your body and apply pressure to particular points along the spine that are not properly aligned. This results in a popping noise similar to the one created when you crack your knuckles. The noise is created by a change in pressure in your joints as gas bubbles are released.

By adjusting the spine with their hands at particular pressure points, chiropractors unblock nerve energy and allow it to flow better down your spin and throughout your entire body. Repeated visits can, over time, realign your spine to optimize overall health.

Chiropractor Brian Elwartowski said the brain sends messages down the spinal cord and out through the nerves to the rest of your body. If certain nerves are squeezed by a twist in the spine, they won't function as well as if they were straight. "Chiropractic [care] allows the nerves to work at their most optimum ability," he said, "allowing the body to heal at its optimum ability."

Treatment plan
Many chiropractors seek to care for the whole person, from general wellness to disease prevention. They examine every patient, not only for the reason of their visit but also their level of health. After diagnosis, a chiropractor develops a treatment plan.

Keith Overland, president of the American Chiropractic Association, said, "This may include combinations of chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy and rehabilitative procedures for many musculoskeletal problems."

Some chiropractors provide nutrition advice, exercise recommendations, ergonomic and lifestyle counseling and so on. The successful management of chronic conditions may require a combination of these major components. This holistic approach can reduce the need for potentially addictive pain medication or invasive surgery.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/05/02/how-can-chiropractors-benefit-your-health/#ixzz1vbXDJdMk]]><![CDATA[Your West Palm Beach Chiropractor offers Relief from Chronic, Recurrent Low Back Pain]]>Mon, 21 May 2012 16:14:35 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/your-west-palm-beach-chiropractor-offer-relief-from-chronic-recurrent-low-back-painPicture
Patients with long-lasting or recurrent low back pain helped with chiropractic care.

The May 2001 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) carried a report of a study on the effect of chiropractic care on patients with recurrent or long lasting low back pain. Numerous studies over past years have shown that chiropractic care was beneficial for patients with acute and short term back pain. However, due to the difficulty of conducting a large study, research to show what thousands of chiropractors and their patients have known about help with long term back pain was scarce.

A total of 19 Norwegian chiropractors participated in this study. In all 158 patients were studied, all of whom fit the criteria of suffering from long lasting or reoccurring lower back pain for at least two weeks duration, with at least one previous occurrence in the previous 6 months. All subjects could not have had any chiropractic care in the prior 6 months to be eligible to participate in the study. Participants were questioned each visit to rate their progress as it relates to the pain.

The results showed that approximately 50% of patients reported that they had "improved" at the 4th visit. By the 12th visit, approximately 75% of the patients reported that "improvement" had occurred. The study only recorded data for the first 12 visits so no data on additional benefits after 12 visits was available. The researchers did conclude, "there seems to be a distinct recovery pattern among chiropractic patients with relatively long-lasting or recurrent lower back pain."

_http://www.chiroweb.net/chiropractic/research/long_lasting_low_back_pain_helped_with_chiropractic.html
]]><![CDATA[Sports Chiropractic: Tackling Football Injury with Chiropractic Care]]>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:16:15 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/sports-chiropractic-tackling-football-injury-with-chiropractic-careBruising tackles and bone-crushing hits are all too familiar among football players at all levels – from the National Football League (NFL) to Pop Warner youth football. Too frequently, the physical nature of football results in injuries, ranging from head and spine trauma, to bone fractures, to muscle and ligament damage.

“While athletes can never predict how and when injury will occur, doctors of chiropractic can assist in treating acute and chronic injuries, as well as introducing preventive measures designed to optimize performance
and reduce injury risk,” says Dr. Sol Cogan, Detroit Lions Team Chiropractor and President of the Pro Football Chiropractic Society." Prior to game time, and especially after the game, receiving chiropractic adjustments can enhance flexibility, range of motion, structural alignment and bio-mechanics, ensuring that the athlete’s body will recover quickly and function at its highest possible level.” Every NFL team provides the care of a doctor of chiropractic for its players.

Repeated hits to the body commonly lead to injuries including strains, sprains and stingers, which may result in severe aches and pains and loss of proper function. As preventive care specialists, doctors of chiropractic suggest football players, of all ages, take the following steps to properly prepare for games:

• Dynamic warm up and stretching before practice and games
• Wear appropriate equipment while making sure all gear fits properly
• Maintain good nutrition to achieve necessary energy levels and hydrate to prevent overheating and cramping
• Rest the body before and after activity, using ice for any inflammation
• Discuss all of your symptoms with coaches, trainers and doctors

“Taking a preventive approach with a training routine that includes chiropractic care stacks the deck in the player’s favor— helping athletes recover from injury (or collision induced trauma) by restoring optimal function and reducing the risk of re-injury, and ultimately achieving peak performance on the field,” concludes Cogan.


Excerpt from Inside Chiropractic: A collaboration of the Florida Chiropractic Association and the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress.  http://www.foundation4cp.com/newsletters/inside-chiro-1.pdf]]><![CDATA[Your West Palm Beach Chiropractor specializes in treating injuries from West Palm Beach Auto Accidents]]>Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:59:40 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/your-west-palm-beach-chiropractor-specializes-in-treating-injuries-from-west-palm-beach-auto-accidentsIf you are involved in a west palm beach auto accident, the first thing you should do is call the police to document the incident and exchange insurance information with the other drivers.  The next thing you should do is call our west palm beach chiropractic office to schedule your free consultation with our personal injury specialists.  Injuries such as: neck pain, back pain, headache, whiplash, disc bulge, herniation or slipped disc, sciatica and muscle spasms, sprains and strains to name a few are commonly suffered in west palm beach auto accidents and can be the source of long-term pain and suffering if they are not assessed and treated properly soon after injury. 

Our west palm beach chiropractic physicians are injury specialists and know how to manage the damage our bodies suffer in automobile collisions.  Our west palm beach injury doctors will manage your care and coordinate physical therapy and massage therapy to give you the best results and the most comfortable care. If necessary, we can also provide you with an appropriate referral to a reputable west palm beach personal injury attorney to collect damages for your west palm beach car accident. Call us today to schedule you Free Consultation with our West Palm Beach, FL Auto Accident Injury Chiropractor at #561-531-3235.

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]]><![CDATA[Spinal Decompression Therapy is a revolutionary new technology for treatment of disc injuries in the neck and low back]]>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:52:03 GMThttp://www.wpbchiropractor.com/back-pain-relief-blog/spinal-decompression-therapy-is-a-revolutionary-new-technology-for-treatment-of-disc-injuries-in-the-neck-and-low-back"Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is a revolutionary new technology used primarily to treat disc injuries in the neck and in the low back. This treatment option is very safe and utilizes FDA cleared equipment to apply distraction forces to spinal structures in a precise and graduated manner. Distraction is offset by cycles of partial relaxation. This technique of spinal decompression therapy, that is, unloading due to distraction and positioning, has shown the ability to gently separate the vertebrae from each other, creating a vacuum inside the discs that we are targeting. This "vacuum effect" is also known as negative intra-discal pressure.

The negative pressure may induce the retraction of the herniated or bulging disc into the inside of the disc, and off the nerve root, thecal sac, or both. It happens only microscopically each time, but cumulatively, over four to six weeks, the results are quite dramatic.

The cycles of decompression and partial relaxation, over a series of visits, promote the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids from the outside of the discs to the inside. These nutrients enable the torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal.

For the low back, the patient lies comfortably on his/her back or stomach on the decompression table, with a set of nicely padded straps snug around the waist and another set around the lower chest. For the neck, the patient lies comfortably on his/her back with a pair of soft rubber pads behind the neck. Many patients enjoy the treatment, as it is usually quite comfortable and well tolerated.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is very effective at treating bulging discs, herniated discs, pinched nerves, sciatica, radiating arm pain, degenerative disc disease, leg pain, and facet syndromes. Proper patient screening is imperative and only the best candidates are accepted for care."
Courtesy of: The American Spinal Decompression Association

Your West Palm Beach Chiropractor now offers Non-surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy for patients suffering from chronic neck and back pain, herniated,  bulging and slipped discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and radiating arm and leg pain.  Call #561-531-3235 to schedule your free consultation to see if you are a Spinal Decompression candidate and get your pain-free life back!

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