Team Lloyd Irvin & Recovery Doc Team Up!

Manbags Silly And Not Good For You

NewsTime - Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) has come to the aid of helpless fashion victims worldwide.

The medical has warned that man bags, that curiously popular fashion accessory, are not good for one’s back and spinal health. The BCA warned that those who use/carry manbags, should proceed with caution, and not just because they look silly.

BCA spokesman Tim Hutchful told Reuters that manbags could :" could cause back and shoulder pain from prolonged stress, this could also impact posture. We need to become more savvy in how we use them, whilst learning to read our bodies and know when we're placing too much pressure on certain points".

The BCA recommended alternating the shoulder you sling the strap over, keeping the strap short and not carrying your bag for extended periods of time.

Newstime has an even simpler tip-no manbags.

- Although this is pretty funny, it is actually very serious. On a daily basis, I speak to women in our office about the contents in their purses. Too often women carry too much weight in their purse and it is very important to limit that weight by carrying the bare essentials necessary to carry out your day. Carrying your purse incorrectly can cause common injuries to the neck, shoulders, and even mid back.

It's simple: lighten up the load and alternate shoulders!

Surgeons tackle NFL linemen's disc injuries

Surgeons tackle NFL linemen's disc injuries
by Shari' N. Welton

They are symbols of brute strength.

They block. They tackle. They manhandle the opposition.

But the bone crushing blows NFL linemen inflict on their opponents have pushed many of them into the operating room.

Disc surgery has become increasingly common among NFL linemen, but the surgery that was once believed to be career-ending is saving NFL careers.

Eighty-percent of NFL linemen, whose spines were at risk for degeneration, were able to return to the field and compete after undergoing disc surgery, according to a new study conducted by Northwestern University researchers.

NFL linemen are vulnerable to disc herniation because they spend a significant amount of time in squatting stances while competing, straining their spines, said Dr. Joseph Weistroffer, a spine surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

He sifted through 20 years of records with Northwestern researchers and concluded that 80 percent of NFL linemen were able to play at least one game after having disc surgery.

Most linemen averaged a 33-game competitive stretch during the three years following the surgery. Over half of the players also became or returned to the field as starters, according to the study, which will appear next month in the Journal of American Sports Medicine.

When a person has a herniated disc, the nerve root becomes pinched between a disc in the spine and the bone behind it.

Weistroffer, an assistant professor of orthopedics and neurological surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, addressed a misconception about the pain associated with disc herniation.

"A disc herniation will cause a person to have leg pain that is worse than back pain, he said, "Most people that just have back pain probably don’t have a disc herniation."

Weistroffer said patients may choose to have disc surgery when their leg pain becomes unbearable and their ability to participate in day-to-day activities is affected.

The objective of the surgery is to free the nerve root, which would then relieve the leg pain.

During the surgery, doctors lay the patient on their stomach and make an incision in the back. They then remove a portion of the bone or ligament that is trapping the nerve root. The disc material, or gel-like substance, that spurted out from the disc over time is also removed.

Encouraged by the progress of NFL linemen following disc surgery, Weistroffer said the "average person" who chooses the operation should be optimistic about resuming physical activity.

Weistroffer referred to studies he observed that show an 82 percent "return to work rate" for the average patient, along with a 90 percent satisfaction rate following the operation.

But even with proven success comes a level of uncertainty.

Weistroffer said regardless of doctors’ efforts, there is no way to determine how each patient will recover from disc surgery.

He compared the operation and recovery to a thumb getting closed in a car door.

"The surgery is like taking pressure off of the thumb, Weistroffer said, "We expect the thumb to get better, but we don’t know."

There are also options for people with disc herniation who choose not to have surgery.

Also an advocate for nonsurgical recovery, Weistroffer said over time the human body can compensate for injuries such as a disc herniation. "Our great design is to recover, Weistroffer said, "The body’s natural intent is to heal itself."

A sports chiropractic physician with Sports Injury Centers in Chicago, Chris Bocci said "most disc cases can be treated conservatively."

He described a "pre-op" technique called spinal decompression that he conducts with patients who have herniated discs.

Decompression is a noninvasive procedure, which helps decompress disc material in between the two vertebrae in the spine. This decompression takes the pressure off the nerve, creating a vacuum effect that brings nutrients and increases the blood supply to the disc. Pressure is then taken off the nerve and surrounding disc material, helping to heal the injury and give the patient relief.

Aside from decompression, Bocci said muscle stimulation is vital to the recovery process. To ensure that his patients are strengthening their back muscles, Bocci takes them through a routine called "active release therapy."

The method comprises specific strengthening and soft-tissue techniques that help balance the muscle. As patients undergo active release therapy muscle tissue is loosened, making it easier to get the disc back in place.

Along with different therapeutic programs, Bocci said core stability and strengthening are also critical to the rehab process.

Whether a patient chooses disc surgery or a rehabilitation program, Weistroffer stressed that the operation should be considered on a "case by case" basis.

"Surgery isn’t the best choice for everyone, "Weistroffer said," People should try to get better on their own."

Boxer Roy Jones Tries Pittsburgh Chiropractor

Boxer Roy Jones Uses Chiropractic

McCANDLESS, Pa. -- Former world champion Roy Jones Jr. won titles in four weight classes during a 21-year boxing career. Now, at age 42, he's finding that those belts came with a heavy price.

"I started having to work to keep my balance, and I wasn't liking it all," Jones said Wednesday. "So for the last four or five years, I had been looking for something or somebody that could work on reversing the effects that the punches had on my brain."

Jones' journey brought him to the North Hills chiropractic practice of Dr. Charles Simkovich.

"Any blow to the head can cause damage to the way the brain is functioning, or the cumulative affect of small blows to the head," Simkovich said.

Simkovich said the cranium is a series of bones, and the effects of a concussion can be reversed with proper treatment.

"If this is rehabilitated -- the cranial bone movement -- the brain can actually heal," Simkovich said. "And that's why I'm getting all these retired NFL players and boxers in here who are experiencing different issues, which are now correctable."

Another patient is Todd Kalis, who played eight seasons in the NFL from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, including one year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I started to see some improvements in the first few visits in more than one area, primarily my focus and my vision," Kalis said.

"Before long, people started saying, 'Wow, you look younger -- something about your eyes,'" Jones said. "I'd say, 'What is it?' (and they'd say,) 'It's just something about your eyes, you look younger.'"

Simkovich said his technique involving cranial brain movement dates back to research done in 1986.

His patients suggest that their treatment could also help current athletes, such as Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who has been sidelined with a concussion since early January.

"You could definitely improve, I think, your performance when you improve your sight and your focus and your retention of information. That's a benefit for anybody," Kalis said.

Recovery and Sports

Most of you that follow my blog know that I am passionate about recovery and feel that it's the secret to increased performance in elite level athletics. I recently found Restwise when a professional athlete I know suggested them to me. When I did some research and called the company I could not believe they were on the same page as I was in terms of implementing aspects of recovery.

"Restwise takes the science of recovery out of the lab and puts it into your hands. Answer a brief series of research-based questions on the Restwise website every day and the resulting Recovery Score will, for the first time ever, quantify your body's state of recovery. "

I will be teaming up with Restwise to sponsor a group of varied athletes in different sports, called "Team-Recovery Doc." I will be combining Restwise data and apply them to my five pillars of recovery in addition to all of the modalities at my disposal....

Dartfish Motion Analysis

Class IV Lasers

Diagnostic Muskuloskelteal Ultrasound

RecoveyDoc Movement Assements evaluation

Nutrition.......................etc etc.

We are going to change the way RECOVERY is done.

Check back soon to see who the newest members will be!!!!!

Running Rookies

Prevent Beginner Running Injuries

-by Hal Higdon

Most injuries suffered by beginners are minor and heal fast. Here are a few tips that may help if you become injured.

If you carefully follow the advice offered in this beginning runner's guide, hopefully you can avoid injuries. The easiest way to remain injury-free is to train at a level somewhat beneath your ability. If you don't overtrain, you lessen your chances of getting hurt.

Unfortunately, we all aren't created equal. Some people are more injury-prone. Careful training may allow you to remain injury-free, but many of us make training errors. Sore muscles are normal when you begin to run, but if soreness or pain persists for more than 72 hours, that may be the sign of an injury for which rest or treatment may be required.

It is not the intent of this guide to provide a complete set of instructions for curing every injury a runner might encounter. Here are a few tips that may help if you become injured:

Don't run through pain. If you suddenly feel pain, stop running immediately. If you pull a muscle, you will delay your recovery if you continue to run. Walk for a while to see if the pain diminishes. You may be able to continue running, but don't take a chance by ignoring the pain.

Rest until you can run pain-free: Take at least one day off if injured during or after running. Two or three days rest may be necessary before resuming your training routine.

The first form of treatment is RICE: The acronym RICE stands for: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Rest is necessary so you don't stress the injury more. Ice applied against the injury will reduce swelling and internal bleeding. (Heat may increase the problem). Compression (such as an elastic bandage) will also reduce swelling. Elevation (raising the injured part higher than your heart by lying down) will limit fluid buildup.

When returning to training, start at a lower level: You may have gotten injured because you trained too hard. Backing off will allow you to regain strength before pushing forward. Depending on how many days you lost to training, you may have detrained, thus need to go slow starting over.

Most injuries suffered by beginners are minor and heal fast. If pain persists, you may need to seek medical treatment to continue your training routine.

-Here at Rosa Family Chiropractic of Alexandria, we treat runner's injuries on a daily basis. Our chiropractors utilize multiple modalities and techniques to treat these injuries, and also provide custom orthotics which are a MUST for runners.

Dr. Andolina
Chiropractor - Alexandria, VA

Super Bowl MVP, Aaron Rodgers' Dad a Chiropractor

Packers' Rodgers is Mayor Big Cheese(head) at home - NFL - ESPN

CHICO, Calif.-- It might be a Brett Favre world, but this small Northern California college town is all about Aaron Rodgers.

As much as Favre's Gulf Coast Mississippi town of Kiln became an extension of frigid Wisconsin, this idyllic place famous for Sierra Nevada beer and inner-tube excursions down the Sacramento River has become Green Bay West to Favre's Green Bay South.

"This is a small town and we're very close-knit," said Matt Hock, who has known Rodgers since the player was a 13-year-old. "There is definitely a buzz around town and we're all ready for football season. We're all ready for Aaron and the Packers."

This is how Joe Hoglund -- a Wisconsin native and Chico resident for the past 16 years -- sees it: "When Brett retired everyone was so depressed, but not us. We were like, 'Yeah, now it's Aaron's turn.' Chico all knows what Aaron can do. Now, everyone else will, too."

Life is changing for Rodgers. It's part of replacing a legend. With Favre's announcement in March that he is retiring as the Packers' quarterback, Rodgers instantly became the NFL story of 2008. The weekly pressure cooker officially starts Sept. 8 when Green Bay plays host to NFC North rival Minnesota on ESPN's "Monday Night Football."

Favre's No. 4 jersey will be retired that night.

With his turn in the spotlight quickly approaching, Rodgers took time out last weekend to return home. On Saturday, Rodgers hosted his third annual golf tournament at Tuscan Ridge Golf Course, halfway up the short drive from Chico to a town actually named Paradise, to support Young Life, a program that he participated in as a youth.

[+] EnlargeCourtesy Sam Courtain/Young Life
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, flanked by brother Jordan and father Ed (standing), hopes to make an annual charity golf tournament he has in Chico, Calif. as popular as the one Brett Favre has in the Deep South.

Several of the 100-plus tournament golfers were wearing Packers hats and shirts. Chico traditionally had been 49ers and Raiders country as it sits about three hours away from the Bay Area.

It's Packers Country these days. Few professional athletes hail from these parts; fewer still replace legends. Excuse Chico if its residents aren't on their hands and knees wishing Favre would change his mind. There's no disrespect here aimed at Favre, just admiration for one of their own. Rodgers' father, Ed, who has lived here since 1973, said he is offered congratulations and encouragement everywhere he goes in town.

"Our love for Aaron isn't based on what Brett does," said Hock, who runs the Chico-area Young Life group and who ran the golf tournament. "We're all on Aaron's side."

Shortly before teeing off, Rodgers, looking relaxed and sporting shoulder-length hair, took a moment from being Favre's replacement to reflect. The kid who grew up as a chiropractor's son and who went to the local junior college before starring at the University of California in Berkeley is happy to be home.

"It's always good know you people's support," Rodgers said. "I know I have people behind me here. Really, things haven't changed much here in the past two months, other than I'm getting a lot more ticket requests than I used to get."

At the beginning of his interview for this story, Rodgers politely made it clear that he wasn't going to talk about football matters. He said he was "advised" by Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy to hold off on football chatter until the Packers' minicamp next month. Rodgers will have plenty to talk about.

There are the hints by Favre that he someday could return to the playing field. There's also the fact that Green Bay selected Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm in the second round of the draft two weeks ago despite the fact that Rodgers is just 24.

I have looked at Packers chat rooms and I think about 70 percent of the comments are that the fans love Brett [Favre]. But he has decided to leave and it's now Aaron's turn. I think there is support for him in Green Bay.
--Ed Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers' father

While Rodgers wouldn't discuss football, his father didn't shy away from the topic. While he said he respects Favre, Ed Rodgers said the fact that Favre has kept the door of returning open, "doesn't help the matter."

"He retired and the Packers are turning to Aaron and think that's where the focus should be," Ed Rodgers said. "I have looked at Packers chat rooms and I think about 70 percent of the comments are that the fans love Brett. But he has decided to leave and it's now Aaron's turn. I think there is support for him in Green Bay."

As for the Packers drafting Brohm, and adding LSU's Matt Flynn in the seventh round, Ed Rodgers said he understands. In the days leading up to the draft, Green Bay brought in veteran QB Daunte Culpepper for a visit but did not sign him.

"I don't see drafting the rookies as a problem," Ed Rodgers said. "You need younger quarterbacks and I think these guys can all grow together. It can add camaraderie to a team. But if a guy like Culpepper, a veteran who still wants to start is brought in, it could have been a problem … I think this is for the best."

Confidence is high in Chico about the Rodgers era. The Favre talk and the presence of fresh new draft picks won't burst the bubble.

"Aaron is going to start his own history," said Hoglund, who at the first Rodgers golf tournament won a trip to Green Bay during an auction. "We all know it here."

Rodgers smiles when reminded of his hometown support as he entering the biggest challenge of his life.

"This is my home," he said. "I love Chico."

And Chico loves its Green Bay Packers quarterback right back.

Bill Williamson covers the NFL for ESPN.com

Dr. Nick Andolina
Chiropractor, Alexandria VA

How to give your knees some TLC

Surgeon: How to give your knees some TLC

Knees help us stand, sit, walk, dance, kick a field goal and escape a predator. They bend, bounce, straighten and lift. Is it any wonder that at some point in life, knees may just wear out?

But, there are a few things you can do in order to keep your knees in the best possible working condition throughout life.

Athletes in any sport, professional or leisure, should take time to learn how to protect the knees from injury. Athletic trainers can provide assistance in learning those techniques.

Varying workouts and putting limitations on the number of hours in practice can also be helpful in protecting the knees from overuse and injury. Always be certain to take 5-10 minutes to warm up and cool down.

Wear appropriate footwear for your profession. Beware of spiked heels. Wearing spiked heels causes alignment problems, putting strain on the knees, as well as the back. Studies have shown that spiked heels put stress on the part of the knee where osteoarthritis usually develops.

Very flat soles can also present a problem with alignment. Comfortable and practical shoes do not have to be expensive. Choose carefully.

Keep your weight in check. Extra pounds put extra pressure on the knees. Every extra pound you carry can add up to three pounds of pressure to your knee joints when you walk, and even more when you run.

Exercise regularly. Choose low-impact activities you enjoy that build strength and flexibility such as yoga, walking, swimming or weight lifting. When exercise is done properly and consistently, it can help with range of motion and circulation as well as building muscle.

Practice good posture. Just like mama said –shoulders up, abs tight, head centered, knees slightly bent and don’t rest on one hip. Be aware of your posture whether standing or sitting.

Do not ignore pain. Stop the activity that is causing you discomfort and do something else. If the pain persists for a couple of weeks after you have discontinued the activity, check with your doctor.

We consider the knee to have three compartments, the medial or inner part of the joint, the lateral or outer part of the joint, and the patellofemoral or front part of the joint.

Acute pain in the medial or lateral parts of the joint should especially be reported to your physician.

Some frontal knee pain or soreness is not uncommon with new and strenuous activity. Of course if pain persists in the front of the knee, this too should be reported to your physician. Chronic pain may be a sign of plain ‘ol wear-and-tear. X-rays and other imaging will reveal the severity of the process.