Back Pain…Be Gone!
Join Us for our GRAND OPENING!
We are pleased to announce that we are opening a fourth office in Keller, TX and the addition of Dr. Michael Bologna to the Core CPT team. Help us celebrate on Saturday, April 21 from 10am to 1pm – all patients are welcome to attend, invite friends that live in that community!!! Visit www.corecpt.com for more details.
We love our patients and know that you all have relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and kids who could reap the benefits from coming in to see us…now YOU could reap a nice benefit as well … dinner for two to Pappas Steakhouse! Every time you refer a new patient to any CORE location between now and the end of May, your name will be entered into a drawing for a gift certificate to pappas steakhouse! (example: refer 10 new patients and your name is entered into the drawing 10 times!)
Drawing will be held on Thursday, May 31
Patient Spotlight
Core CPT patient since 2001, Cathy O’Toole is a triathlete and Coppell mom. In addition to being an Arizona Ironman, Cathy is a member of the Coppell YMCA and Dallas Atheletes.
Cathy and her husband Vince enjoy attending athletic events for their three kid’s – Sarah, John and Ryan.
Way to go Cathy!
Meet Dr. Bologna
We are pleased to announce the addition of our newest doctor and team member, Dr. Michael James Bologna.
Dr. Bologna received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from the University of British Columbia in April of 2003. He completed his Doctorate of Chiropractic at Parker College in August of 2006.
To better help his patients achieve their health and wellness goals, Dr. Bologna completed the International Chiropractor Association’s Wellness certification seminars which focus on nutrition and exercise and is a guest lecturer on wellness and chiropractic.
BACK PAIN….BE GONE!!!
Have you ever had to quit your golf game on the 10th hole? How about having to “stop and rest” while your family is enjoying a vacation? Scenarios such as these are common in people who have mechanical back pain. Statistically, back pain is the most common reason people present to their doctor each year. Thousands of work days are missed each year as people can barely leave their homes due to crippling back pain. What is worse; most of the causes of back pain are easy to identify and are, more importantly, preventable.
A recent study published in the medical journal Spine indicated that patients with mechanical back pain had smaller/weaker back stabilizer musculature than those without back pain. This is very significant as weak core musculature can manifest as many of the conditions that we hear about all the time such as, “arthritis, bulging discs, herniated discs, bone spurs, and degenerative joint disease.” In other words, if the stabilizer musculature is weak, then your back will wear out faster.
If one has back pain, what can one do? First, consult a doctor who is well educated in the examination and diagnosis of all types of back pain, both organic and mechanical. Tiger Woods has a golf coach, so there is no reason not to employ the expertise of a back coach. Once the etiology of your back pain has been determined, a treatment plan should be addressed. When diagnosis of mechanical back pain is made, one must deal with the inflammation first. This can be confronted conservatively with ice and passive therapies or pharmaceutically with a steroidal or non steroidal anti inflammatory. Remember, though, that inflammation is merely a byproduct of tissue damage and treatment should NOT stop here. Next, alignment, in terms of both skeletal and soft tissue inequalities, should be evaluated. If the muscles on one side of your back are tighter than muscles on the other side of your back or if your shoulder or hip heights are uneven, it creates a lopsided posture which gives your whole back a mechanical disadvantage and causes pain, inflammation, and fatigue. In other words, your posture and supporting muscle tone must be balanced so that you weight bear properly.
Third, only after the inflammation has been treated and the alignment restored is one ready to begin rehabilitation. Appropriate strengthening exercises should have a strong emphasis on the core musculature. Concentration on static and dynamic stabilization is necessary. Involvement of a team who is adequately trained in core stabilization protocols is highly recommended as self guided programs often fail and can lead to further injury, causing this whole cycle to repeat.
In closing, one must have a proactive, not reactive, approach to spinal hygiene. Accurate information and a well executed game plan for back injury prevention can assist in allowing one a more productive, pain free, enjoyable existence.
For questions or more information, please contact Dr. Stephen Ward at Core Chiropractic and Physical Therapy at 972-393-8067 or visit corecpt.com.
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2007!
Comments, questions, suggestions…please feel free to contact us directly at any time.
We are here for you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Stephen Ward
drward@corecpt.com
Dr. Michael Schnappauf
drmike@corecpt.com
Tel: 972.393.8067
Fax: 972.393.6959
Web: corecpt.com