Shovelling Tips

Use a lightweight, ergonomically-designed shovel. If possible, push the snow aside instead of lifting. If you need to lift, bend your knees, allowing the muscles of your legs and arms to do the work instead of your back.

Do not throw snow over your shoulder or to the side. This requires twisting or turning motions that can cause injury. Take frequent breaks – a fatigued body asks for injury. Stop immediately and seek medical attention if you feel faint, dizzy or have chest pain. If after a few days you continue to feel soreness or muscle strain, it is time for an office visit.

Dr. Saracino

Headaches Treatment Recommendations

Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? If you frequently experience headaches, ACA suggests the following:

 

• If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour.
• Avoid heavy exercise. Instead, try walking or low-impact aerobics.
• Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, expect when swallowing.
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

Update on Obamacare

One of the long-awaited regulations of the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (Obamacare) of 2010 have been accepted and will start January 2014. It will be illegal for your insurance company to discriminate due to pre-existing conditions. This will effect 130 million Americans. As updates are received, I will keep you posted.  For Better Health, Dr. Saracino

ABC’s News Nightline TV Show: Chiropractic Neurology for the Treatment of Concussion

In August 2012, ABC’s News Nightline TV show did a feature on chiropractic neurology for the treatment of concussion. I believe you will find it informative.

http://www.drsaracino.com/video/mark4.mp4

Vertebral Hypomobility More Common than Subluxation

Vertebral Hypomobility More Common than Subluxation

  ‘Vertebral Hypomobility’ is when a motion segment, two mobile, articular and contiguous hard tissues, has compromised range-of-motion in any or all of its respective planes-of-motion.  Only ‘motion palpation’ can determine if two adjacent segments have a reduction of motion and each range-of-motion should be tested.  Although vertebrae may not appear ‘out-of-place’ from palpation or radiography its ranges may be diminished.  Hypomobility is a biomechanical aberration of the spine most commonly observed.

‘Vertebral Subluxation’, a term too often used and misinterpreted, is when a bone is juxtapositioned.  This may be verified with static palpation and radiographs, however, static palpation only reveals the location of the spinus process not its articular facet from where the motion segment originates.  Often, due to ossification center malformations during development, derivations of the length and midline orientation of the spinus process make the spinus process NOT a good indicator of vertebrae location.  Trauma to the spine is the usual etiology of subluxation and it is seldom seen, because it is mostly a transient state of the vertebrae.

‘Vertebral Fixation’ is when a vertebral is locked and not moving through all of its ranges-of-motion.  ‘Locking-up’ is often found in severe and acute spinal conditions only. It usually progresses to hypomobility after the acute phase of therapy.

Please read the entire article under the heading “Low Back Pain” at:  at http://www.drsaracino.com/chiropractic-neurology-health-articles.html

Chiropractic Neurologist Featured on National TV

On Monday, August 20th Dr. Carrick, one of the originators of Chiropractic Neurology and one responsible for returning concussion-suffering Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins professional ice hockey team back to the ice, was featured on “ABC’s NightLine News Tonight” for his work with patients who suffer from head trauma.

The six minute video link is the top of three in the left margin of the attached active link and captioned, “Chiropractic Neurology: Miracle Method or Placebo? Watch Video”.

Even if you do not suffer from headaches, pain, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, balance and neurological disorders you will find this video interesting and informative.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/chiropractic-neurology-breakthrough-placebo/story?id=17027630 #.UDQANN1lTBg

I welcome your input and questions.

With Health,
Dr. Saracino

Sunburn & Hyperthermia

As August approaches, please consider these Summer warnings.

Sunburn. According to the American Skin Association, “There is no such thing as a healthy tan.” Dermatologists consider a tan as an injury. A tan is burned skin, with permanent damage to cells, which can lead to skin cancer. In addition to more serious problems, sunburn can cause pain, blistering and eventually dry, flaking skin.

Hyperthermia. Too much time in the sun, especially for the elderly who do not feel the heat buildup well, during high temperatures can lead to hyperthermia, or a body temperature which your system cannot regulate to keep you safe. Forms of hyperthermia include heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Cramps occur after sweating has drained the body of the water, sodium, potassium, electrolytes and minerals needed by muscles for contractions. Heat exhaustion results in fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and a lack of coordination and mental acuity, and is caused by loss of water and salt. Heatstroke is the body’s inability to keep its temperature low enough to keep the body safe from overheating. It can lead to convulsions, delirium, coma and other central nervous system problems and eventually, death.

For Better Health,
Dr. Saracino