Cocoa Beach Chiropractic Orthopedist

Let’s first look at the anatomy of the neck in order to better understand the structures of the cervical spine that can generate pain.  Starting at the back of the spine, the facet joints allow us to move our neck and head in all directions, and each facet joint is surrounded by a joint capsule that is rich with nerve endings and when swollen, can generate pain both locally and radiating.  One study of volunteers with existing neck pain looked at the various pathways that pain travels when investigators injected each individual facet joint capsule with normal saline solution. Interestingly, the subjects felt pain in parts of the body other than just the neck. For example, injecting the C6 facet joint capsule consistently reproduced radiating pain down the arm into the thumb side of the forearm and hand, similar to when a disk herniates and a nerve root is pinched. The primary difference was that a deep aching pain occurred in this area, as opposed to a more geographi

Whiplash can result from a number of causes, not just from motor vehicle accidents. A fall on the ice or a slippery floor, a sports-related injury, or even one of those rides that throws you around at the county fair can result in the same type of injury. Whiplash occurs when the head is literally “whipped” either forwards and backwards or from side to side. It can include hitting the head but often does not. Symptoms vary considerably and therefore the term, “whiplash associated disorders” or WAD has been adopted, based on the clinical presentation of the patient and on the specific tissues injured. Common symptoms include neck pain, loss of motion, headache, and sometimes arm pain or numbness resulting in difficulty driving, working, sleeping, and concentrating. Spinal manipulation of the neck has been found to be highly effective in the treatment of whiplash or WAD, and hence, Chiropractic is often the recommended first order of treatment for patients suffering from th

Poor posture in children has become an epidemic.  While you may be familiar with the causes of poor posture – heavy backpacks and slouching over an iPhone or video game to name a few – the long term effects of poor posture can be devastating.  If gone unchecked and untreated, poor posture that starts in childhood can grow into a lifetime of aches and pains. Here are 3 reasons to check your child’s posture early: 1. Spinal Curvature  – as the body succumbs to improper posture, the natural “S” curve of the spine begins to change shape.  These veterbral misalignments are called  subluxations (1)  and can cause blood vessel constriction (which cuts off nutrient and oxygen supply to muscles) and nerve restrictions. 2. Neck & Back Strain  – a spine out of alignment puts extra  stress and strain (2)  on the muscles supporting it.  Over time, this leads to neck and back strain and – as the body begins to overcompensate – can cause a trickle down effect throughout th

One of the structures that is frequently blamed for hip pain is called the labrum—the rubbery tissue that surrounds the socket helping to stabilize the hip joint. This tissue often wears and tears with age, but it can also be torn as a result of a trauma or sports-related injury. The clinical significance of a labral tear of the hip is controversial, as these can be found in people who don’t have any pain at all. We know from studies of the intervertebral disks located in the lower back that disk herniation is often found in pain-free subjects—between 20-50% of the normal population. In other words, the presence of abnormalities on an MRI is often poorly associated with patient symptoms, and the presence of a labral tear of the hip appears to be quite similar.  For instance, in a study of 45 volunteers (average age 38, range: 15–66 years old; 60% males) with no history of hip pain, symptoms, injury, or prior surgery, MRIs reviewed by three board-certified radiologists reve

The average adult spends 50 to 70 percent of their time sitting.  Most of this time is spent at a work desk or computer.   Desk work can be taxing to your body, especially your spine .  When sitting in a flexed position for an extended amount of time, your body begins to conform to this position resulting in neck and back pain, headaches and spinal degeneration!  Proper ergonomics in your workplace are vital for a healthy working environment. The basic definition of ergonomics is, the study of efficiency in working environments.  The Department of Health and Human Services defines ergonomics as the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to employee capabilities.  The principles behind ergonomics are used to improve employee’s working conditions making their jobs easier and more productive.   Effective ergonomic workspaces not only improve safety and productivity, but also make for happier and healthier employees! Signs and symptoms  of improper workplace er

This article discusses how anger and emotional expression may affect your  back pain . For years, many medical doctors thought back pain was more of an issue in the brain than the spine. Research has shown this to be the case in many who are disabled from work. But mechanical sprain injuries of the spine are also critical to body function and how much pain you may experience. You just cannot separate the brain from the body and expect to tackle a difficult problem like low back pain. Researchers at Duke University looked at this complex problem by measuring the amount of emotional expression, anger, and back pain in a group of 61 persons with chronic low back pain. The results were quite interesting. Patients who reported greater conflict regarding expressing emotions may be experiencing higher pain and anger. Have you ever considered that how you express your emotions could affect how much the back hurts? Do you hold on to angry thoughts and feelings? Ignoring these issues

Whiplash pain can be much different from other types of injuries. When a car accident is severe, the pain will come on right away. If the injury produces a mild or moderate sprain, sometimes it takes a few days for the pain and inflammation to reach its maximum extent. Sometimes it is stiffness that is the prominent symptom and the patient notices this in the first few weeks after the accident. A delay in pain is often seen in low speed collisions where typically there is very less damage to the vehicles. There are a lot of factors that determine the extent of injury following a low speed whiplash. One of these is the neck posture prior to impact. Was the head turned? This can occur if the patient was looking at the rear view mirror during the collision. Low speed collisions can occur in parking lots. If the patient was turned to see if a space was clear, this can make a simple trauma result in a significant injury. Besides the position of the patient prior to the collisio