Posts tagged neck pain
Neck and back pain related to duration and posture when sitting
Mar 11th
The two key issues to consider in relation to sitting are duration and posture. The goal of this post would be to determine a few practical steps that can eliminate or reduce the amount of strain on one’s neck and back when sitting.
Seated Posture tips:
- Proper chair height should allow for both feet to be flat on the ground with a 90 degree angle formed between the lower legs and the thigh/pelvis. If you have to have your chair up higher to accommodate desk height then you may want to use one or more old phone books under your feet to maintain the angle described.
- If working at a computer, the middle of the monitor should be at eye-level height when one is sitting with their back straight up from pelvis.
- To reduce neck pain/strain, periodically make sure you are not leaning forward or bending your neck down toward the keyboard/mouse or forward towards the screen. Hint…if you were to look at yourself from the side, your ear should be directly over your shoulder.
- To reduce low back pain/strain, make sure you are not in a slouched position for long periods. To help out with this, make sure that you have adequate lumbar support on your chair. This means that back of the chair should have a hump just above the seat that will support the normal lumbar curve of one’s spine.
Duration of Sitting:
- Take short and frequent breaks to walk around and get some movement into joints of the hips and spine to help reduce low back pain/strain.
- To reduce neck pain/strain, periodically get some movement to the joints of the neck by slowly moving the head into full flexion (towards chest), extension (up and back), right ear to right shoulder, left ear to left shoulder, rotate/turn head all the way to right, then left. Try and hold each position at the full stretch position for at least 5 to 10 seconds.
Medical Report Finds Chiropractic Care More Cost-Effective for Low Back and Neck Pain
Dec 30th
Medical Report Finds Chiropractic Care More Cost-Effective Then Medical or Physical Therapy for Low Back and Neck Pain
Dr. Arnold Milstein is one of the world’s foremost experts on clinical and cost effectiveness in health care, and the Mercer Reports, written by him and his team, are considered the gold standard among medical establishments, third party payers and legislators. In essence, if Dr. Milstein says it’s so, it’s accepted as unchallengeable, based on his reputation for objectivity and scientific reason.
Dr. Milstein’s curiosity with chiropractic connected him with the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress who commissioned him to study the effectiveness of chiropractic care compared to medicine and physical therapy, concentrating on neck and low back patients to begin with.
The results were startling. Chiropractic care was found to be more effective than either medicine or physical therapy – in fact, up to twenty-five times more cost-effective than a program of physical therapy exercises.
Dr. Milstein concluded, “Using data from high quality randomized controlled EU trials and contemporary US based average unit prices payable by commercial insurers, we project that insurance coverage for chiropractic physician care for low back and neck pain for conditions other than fracture and malignancy is likely to drive improved cost-effectiveness of US care. In combination with the existing US-based literature, our findings support the value of health insurance coverage of chiropractic care for low back and neck pain at average fees payable by US commercial insurers.”
Results of study:
- Chiropractic care is more effective than other modalities for treating low back and neck pain
- Chiropractic physician care for low back and neck pain is highly cost effective, represents a good value in comparison to medical physician care and to widely accepted cost-effectiveness thresholds.
If you are experiencing a musculoskeletal condition, such as neck or back pain, do some online searching for a chiropractor in your area to get a consultation and exam.
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- Dr. Matthew C. Ferris is a chiropractic physician practicing at Health Connections in Fishers, Indiana. Dr. Ferris has completed post doctorate certification in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. If you or someone you know is experiencing neck or back pain, call for a complimentary consultation and exam to see if you are a candidate for our services. 317-585-9111.
3 Tips for Auto Safety
Dec 30th
Tip #1- Adjust Head Restraints Properly- Top of restraint even with top of head
Many people think of and use head restraints according to their other known name, head rest. This leads them to think that everyday comfort is reason for this device. However, a properly positioned restraint is one of the most important safety features to prevent injury to the neck due to the whiplash effect of accidents. If the top of the restraint is even with the middle or bottom of your head, the neck will bend over the top of the restraint allowing the restraint to act as a fulcrum to create an even greater force of whiplash and more potential ligamentous damage to the neck.
Tip #2- Use Your Seat Belt… Always
It is still the most important device to prevent injury in an accident. Don’t count on your airbag to keep you safe. Clinically, patients who come to our office rarely report that their airbag deployed even in major accidents where their car was totaled.
Tip #3- Get Examined for Ligament Damage if You Are in an Accident
Many times ligament damage goes undetected. Either the person does not have significant symptoms and does not get any medical check or they go to a hospital and get released with just pain medication. At the hospital, the primary priority is to discover if there are any major medical issues, like fractures or internal bleeding. So many times the proper x-rays and examination for ligament damage is not done. Therefore, it is important to go to a chiropractic physician trained in whiplash diagnosis and treatment.
- Dr. Matthew C. Ferris is a chiropractic physician practicing at Health Connections in Fishers, Indiana. Dr. Ferris has completed post doctorate certification in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident of any magnitude, call for a complimentary consultation and exam to find potential underlying injury see if you are a candidate for our services. 317-585-9111.