Hot Packs and Creams Don't Work For Back Pain

A recent study found that 2/3 of patients self-treating their back pain using hot/cold compresses, wrapping various substances on the back, and herbal preparations get no relief or get worse. 

While I am a big advocate of people doing self-care for their back and neck pain, getting proper treatment is still the first thing. After 2 weeks of self-care with little relief, it's time to have your back and neck evaluated professionally.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24882024

A single yoga pose each day may improve spine curvature for scoliosis patients.

A new study claims performing a single yoga pose for 90 seconds for at least 3 days a week could reduce spine curvature in patients with scoliosis in as little as 3 months. 

The side plank involves lying on one side of the body with straight knees, and propping up the upper body with the elbow and forearm. Patients required to perform the side plank on weaker side of spine.
  
The Yoga pose improved spine curvature by around 32% among all patients





 
http://bit.ly/1o7UElQ

Backpacks For Children Should Not Exceed 10-15% of the Child’s Body Weight

Backpacks have an influence on back pain in children and the weight limit should not exceed 10-15% of the child’s body weight, according to a study in the Journal of  Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics.

Heavy backpacks have been shown on MRI's of  healthy children to compress the the discs of the lower spine with increasing weight, as well as increased asymmetry of the discs.



















NY Times Backpack

"What's a Chiropractic Adjustment?"

A Chiropractic physician is a primary care professional who is focused on delivering care that is safe, natural and effective through chiropractic adjustment. Today, many people still don’t know what chiropractic adjustment is or what it is like to be adjusted by a Chiropractic physician. In this video, Dr. David Graber, an ANJC Chiropractic Physician, joins Dr. Donald DeFabio to talk about chiropractic adjustment, its benefits and so much more. Watch it here:

ANJC - How Well Adjusted Are You? 

 

Dr. Graber Goes Back To School! FAKTR training.

This past weekend I attended a fabulous seminar on FAKTR ( Functional and Kinetic Treatment and Rehabilitation), cutting edge soft tissue techniques for handling (without surgery) the most stubborn joint, tendon, muscle, and ligament conditions!

It was great to spend many hours with some excellent doctors learning how to help more people. I am incorporating this technique in the practice. Bring me your pain!

Dr. Graber training in the soft tissue technique, FAKTR.

Fruits and Vegetables Reduce Hip Fractures!

Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of hip fracture:

A Swedish study out this week has found that men and women eating less than 5 servings/day of fruits and vegetables have more hip fractures. From the study:

"We conclude that there is a dose-response association between fruit and vegetable intake and hip fracture such that an intake below the recommended 5 servings/day confers higher rates of hip fracture. Intakes above this recommendation do not seem to further lower the risk."

While that's not a large amount of food, over 93% of us don't hit our vegetable target, and 92% of us don't hit our fruit target, according to stats from the Produce for Better Health Foundation's State of the Plate: 2010 Study.

To find out how much a serving is, these links are helpful:

http://www.cookinglight.com/healthy-living/healthy-habits/how-much-serving-fruits-vegetables/apple-serving-size
http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/what_is_a_serving_of_vegetables

Eat well, be well!


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25294687

Overtraining in one sport can harm youth athletes

My letter to the NJ Star Ledger editor , published on Saturday, October 11, 2014. 

Overtraining in one sport can harm youth athletes: Letter

youth-sports.jpg

In this file photo, Newark Bears players run through drills at their Pee Wee football practice at Weequahic High School in Newark. (Andrew Miller/For The Star-Ledger)

 

Letters to the Editor/The Star-Ledger By Letters to the Editor/The Star-Ledger
on October 11, 2014 at 9:00 AM, updated October 11, 2014 at 9:07 AM

As a chiropractic sports physician who has taken care of hundreds of youth athletes during the past two decades, and a youth sports coach for 10 years, I applaud Mario Colitti's guest column in the Oct. 6 Star-Ledger.
I have seen more injuries in children and teenagers from overtraining due to specialization than from competition. Parents and coaches need to remember that these are not mini-adults and their teams are not the "junior Yankees" or "junior Giants."
Young athletes are in various stages of development in body, mind, and emotionally. Youth sports may be the only time many of them will play and compete in sports. It should be a good experience, not one of stress and injury.
David I. Graber, Mountain Lakes

Link to letter:
 http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/overtraining_in_one_sport_for_youth_athletes_can_be_harmful_letter.html

Mario Colitti's guest column:
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/young_children_should_play_multiple_sports_rather_than_specialize_in_one_opinion.html