East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C.

Graston

Leaf Raking Injuries

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People know that it’s a great idea to stretch out before they exercise, but very few actually do it. That can lead to injuries and pain.

Year after year, we end up with patients who have sore backs and aching bodies because they didn’t take the proper precautions before raking leaves. It doesn’t sound like it should lead to injuries, but it does. Let’s talk about why.

What Muscles Do You Use When Raking Leaves?

A surprising number of muscles are involved in raking leaves. Because you are pulling with your arms, the primary muscles you engage are your biceps. But that motion also requires help from your shoulder muscles, rotator cuff, and deltoids.

Then, bagging the leaves uses your quadriceps, glutes, and all your core stabilizer muscles. In effect, raking leaves can become a long-chain exercise, hitting most of the major muscle groups in your body.

Is Raking Leaves a Strenuous Exercise?

Yes, though it is not necessarily a vigorous activity. Because so much of your body is used in the process of raking leaves, it is a strenuous exercise. Whenever you use multiple large muscle groups in an exercise, your body is exerting more than it does with a simple exercise like bicep curls. 

Many people don’t realize the additional weight that builds up in wet, decaying leaves, so you may be pulling more than you realize. Additionally, this is a repetitive stress motion. The act of raking is the same thing over and over with muscle groups that are not typically used that way. All that together means that the most common leaf-raking injuries are sore backs and shoulders.

The motion of pulling things toward us is not something we do with a lot of frequency and certainly not with the force and repetition that we do when we rake leaves. And most people don’t think to alternate their position or the side they are pulling with, according to HealthCentral.

Because we are never actually trained how to rake leaves without injuring ourselves, many end up facing autumn with sore, aching muscles or even muscle strains and pulls.

Can the Graston Technique® Help with a Raking Injury?

You may have heard that the best thing to do after overexerting a muscle is to take some form of pain reliever and relax, but that’s not the best way to minimize your pain and speed up your recovery.

If you must take a pain reliever, there is only one that we at East Bay will recommend: Nutrametrix Isotonix OPC-3. But the better way to fight the inflammation is with good nutrition, including natural anti-inflammatory nutrients such as grape seed extract, Boswellia, and curcumin. Even better is to use the Graston Technique®.

According to this study published by Illinois State University, the Graston Technique® helps stimulate the development of hemoglobin in the blood when used to treat non-specific neck pain. And why does stimulating your blood matter when you are dealing with pain?

To remove inflammation from your muscles, you need to increase blood flow. Your blood will carry away the impurities causing the discomfort and send nutrients and oxygen to your muscles, creating a faster recovery time with less soreness.

Using the Graston Technique®, we stimulate the muscle and help speed your recovery.

Contact East Bay Chiropractic Wellness for Relief from Leaf Raking Injuries

If you have injured yourself raking leaves, planting annuals, or just making the bed, the Graston Technique® can help speed up your recovery. Contact us to schedule an appointment and we can help to alleviate your pain.

Can The Graston Technique® Treat Fibromyalgia?

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We all experience back pain at some point in our lives. As we age, back pain becomes more frequent and prolonged. This is especially true if we have poor posture and neglect a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise, and sleeping on a supportive mattress. Despite our best efforts, however, there are situations outside of our control, such as injury or illness, that can cause chronic pain regardless.

One such disorder is fibromyalgia. This chronic illness is believed to affect how our nervous system processes painful versus nonpainful signals, resulting in the amplification of painful sensations. Could the Graston Technique® provide effective treatment?

Is Graston Effective for Fibromyalgia?

In addition to chronic pain, fibromyalgia causes fatigue and cognitive difficulties, or brain fog. The Graston Technique® cannot directly address fatigue and brain fog, but it can alleviate chronic pain, which can result in reduced fatigue and improved focus. This makes the Graston Technique® a viable form of pain management for fibromyalgia and other forms of lingering and chronic pain in our soft tissue. 

By using stainless steel tools that require specialized training and certification, a practitioner can “comb” detected fibrotic (hardened) soft tissue and then break it up to release tension, improve mobility, and reduce the pain that it causes.

Can Graston Help with Nerve Pain?

The Graston Technique® can be utilized as part of a multi-pronged chiropractic care plan to help with nerve pain. Graston® is important in improving mobility and breaking up one of the root causes of your chronic pain. In addition to Graston®, spinal manipulation could be administered to help reduce pressure on your nervous system as it helps to realign your spine. When your spine is misaligned, it causes strain on your muscles, which increases the risk of causing more fibrotic tissue and contributing to chronic pain. 

Does Myofascial Release Help with Fibromyalgia?

Additionally, deep-tissue massage can further relax muscles, resulting in alleviated pressure on your nervous system. Myofascial release specifically targets the soft connective tissue around the muscles. Combined with the Graston Technique, fibrotic tissue around the connective tissue can be broken up and relaxed to reduce pain and improve your quality of sleep, which can help fight against fatigue.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Can Help to Alleviate Your Back Pain and Increase Your Quality of Life

While there is in fact no cure currently for fibromyalgia, that doesn’t mean you have to live in constant pain and discomfort. East Bay Chiropractic specializes in using the Graston Technique for managing pain and relieving conditions caused by soft tissue fibrosis and chronic inflammation, which could lead to constant discomfort. Our services also include other chiropractic treatments, massage therapy, and acupuncture to provide a multi-pronged approach to your pain management. And with nearly 30 years of experience, you know you’ll be in good hands. Contact East Bay Chiropractic today to learn more about how we can help you manage your chronic pain.

Can a Car Accident Cause Spinal Misalignment?

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Here on Long Island, like most of the country, we need a car to get around. Even if we’re taking the LIRR to work, we’re driving to the station. And while we find ourselves in cars frequently without incident, it only takes one accident to upend your day-to-day life with chronic pain and discomfort. And the odds of that happening may be higher than you expect, with more than 2 million Americans suffering injuries from car accidents every year.

The source of that pain could very likely be related to a misaligned spine. So, what are the symptoms of spinal misalignment?

What Are the Symptoms of a Misaligned Spine?

Our spine is more than just the bones in our back, it’s a major part of our nervous system. As a result, a misaligned spine can have a wide range of symptoms that may seem unrelated. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:

  • Knee pain
  • Hip pain
  • Headaches
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Numbness or tingling of the extremities.

If a misaligned spine isn’t eventually treated, depending on the severity, it could result in chronic pain and decreased mobility.

How Do You Treat a Misaligned Spine?

To best treat a misaligned spine, you’ll want to make sure you’ve consulted with a professional before anything else. If you’ve been in a car accident, it is important that you go to the hospital and get evaluated as soon as possible to ensure there aren’t any hairline fractures, internal injuries, etc. Several exercises and stretches could be recommended to you. However, it’s important to know the severity of your injuries before potentially causing further injury by performing exercises that worsen your injury. A chiropractor would be able to give you a full evaluation and determine an exercise regime that would fit your very particular needs based on your injury.

A chiropractor can also perform spinal manipulation to help put your spine back into its proper alignment. This is what most people imagine when they think of what a chiropractor does, but that is only one of the many services that can be provided.

Additionally, depending on the nature of the injury and how long ago it occurred, the Graston Technique® might be a useful addition to one’s treatment plan. The Graston Technique® is used to break up myofascial adhesions, which can limit mobility. It can also improve blood flow to the soft tissue in the injured area, which can aid the healing process.

How Long Does It Take to Treat a Misaligned Spine?

This will vary based on the extent of the misalignment in the spine. A chiropractor can give you a full evaluation and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. This will involve more frequent visits in the first few weeks or so, then determining the extent to which chiropractic care is helping to reduce pain and improve mobility. From there, the schedule and care plan can be reevaluated.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Provides a Non-invasive, Drug-Free Way to Recover from Your Injuries

As careful as we may be on the road, accidents can prove to be unavoidable. Whether it be a minor fender bender or an experience that’s far more harrowing; you may find yourself experiencing an equal amount of pain and discomfort resulting from the aftermath of whiplash. For more than 35 years, East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C. has provided a wide range of chiropractic services to fit your needs. We can work with you on pain management and restoring the range of motion in your neck and back through massage, the Graston Technique®, stretching exercises, spinal adjustments, and more, while avoiding risky surgeries and addictive pain medications. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step towards a more comfortable life.

Can the Graston Technique® Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

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Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common causes of hand pain, with an estimated 8 million Americans suffering from the condition each year. Overuse of muscles and tendons in the wrist causes swelling or thickening in the narrow passageway on the palm side of the hand, known as the “carpal tunnel.” The tendons of the hand and fingers, as well as the median nerve, pass through this narrow tube composed of bone and ligament. When swelling occurs, it entraps the median nerve, causing weakness, numbness, “pins and needles” sensations, pain, burning, or tingling in the hands and fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be incredibly uncomfortable and often interferes with one’s ability to do daily tasks.

Can You Cure Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The prognosis for carpal tunnel syndrome varies from patient to patient. It is a highly treatable condition, and many individuals find permanent relief. It can be addressed with various pain management techniques, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, and, in some cases, surgery.

What Is the Fastest Way to Get Rid of Carpal Tunnel?

Managing carpal tunnel syndrome is rarely a quick fix, but there are actions you can take to reduce immediate discomfort and create the right conditions for optimal healing. Icing your wrist for 10-15 minutes several times per day reduces pain and inflammation. Wearing a wrist splint minimizes pressure on irritated nerves and limits motions that aggravate carpal tunnel pain.

Chiropractic care offers a variety of treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. The Graston Technique® has proven particularly effective at releasing the median nerve and reducing carpal tunnel pain.

Does Graston® Help Carpal Tunnel?

The Graston Technique® addresses carpal tunnel syndrome without pain medication or surgical intervention. Instead, it uses myofascial release to break up adhesions in the wrist. We use patented, precision instruments to locate injured soft tissue, which we then manipulate to break down knots and adhesions. This decreases inflammation and speeds healing.

Using the Graston Technique® also improves mobility and muscle tone, which reduces the irritation of the tendon and, by extension, the nerve, in the carpal tunnel. We may also recommend exercises and movement modifications to supplement Graston Technique® therapy.

Can Graston Technique® Treat Hand Issues/Injuries?

In addition to carpal tunnel syndrome, the Graston Technique® can treat hand, thumb, and wrist pain unrelated to carpal tunnel syndrome. It may help with tendonitis, arthritis, and nerve pain resulting from anatomical factors, injury, and overuse.

Your Graston Technique® Specialist for Hand and Wrist Issues

If you are experiencing hand or wrist issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, the East Bay Chiropractic Wellness team can create a holistic treatment plan to increase your comfort and help you return to your normal routine. As a certified Graston Technique® Specialist (GST) who was the first Long Island chiropractor to be certified in the use of the technique, and with more than 35 years of experience, you’ll be in good hands with us. Contact us online, or call (516) 679-2225 for an appointment or to learn more about how we can help you.

Most Common Workplace Injuries That Can Be Treated with Chiropractic

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With the warmer spring weather coming, many of us find ourselves being more physically active than in the winter. While it is great to be active, after prolonged periods of being less active, you run an increased risk of injury, including work-related injuries.

You may understandably assume that the colder months will see an increase in work-related injuries due to slip and falls from water or ice. Although work-related injuries can happen any time of year, they are actually highest in the warmer summer months. Keeping this in mind, what are some of the most common workplace injuries?

What Is an Example of a Workplace Injury?

One workplace injury that transcends many different fields of employment is a strain due to repetitive motion. This could potentially be from lifting heavy objects as part of the job, or it could be a result of a repetitive motion such as pushing, wrapping, or packaging, using the same tool over and over again, and similar motions. Heavy lifting could cause a back injury and repetitive motions with your hands could put strain on your wrists to the point of injury.

What Are the Most Common Workplace Injuries?

Unfortunately, there are several common workplace injuries. In addition to overexertion injuries such as those mentioned above, slip and falls, exposure to harmful substances or environments, and injuries related to contact with equipment or other objects on the job.

Slip and falls could be anything from tripping in the office, slipping on a wet floor, or falling from a ladder or scaffolding. Exposure to substances or the environment could involve working out in extreme temperatures or in environments where you could be exposed to disease, radiation, harmful gasses, electrical currents, and more. Contact with equipment or other objects could be injury related to office supplies like scissors or box cutters, dropping a heavy object, injury related to contact with a forklift or other vehicles on the job, and so forth.

Can A Chiropractor Help You with Work-Related Injuries?

Chiropractors can help you recover from many work-related injuries. While many people associate chiropractors with spinal adjustments, specialized treatments like the Graston Technique® are designed to help people recover from injuries including those related to the hand and wrist due to repetitive movements by breaking up the adhesions that develop over the tendons and ligaments, causing pain, discomfort, and limiting mobility in the affected area. 

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Can Help You Recover from Your Workplace Injuries

Workplace injuries can be stressful in addition to debilitating and demoralizing while leaving you feeling uncertain of your prospects in the short term. You need the peace of mind that only experienced professionals with a long track record of satisfied clients can provide. For over 35 years, East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C. has been providing a wide range of chiropractic services to best fit your needs and cover a wide range of conditions that impact your day-to-day life including your job. We can work with you on pain management and restoring the range of motion through massage, stretching exercises, spinal adjustments, the Graston Technique®, and much more. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step towards a more comfortable life.

The Top Things You Need to Know About the Graston Technique®

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Our backs are easily one of the most important parts of our bodies. The spinal column, along with our brain, houses our central nervous system, controlling our bodies and informing us when we’re in pain. Unfortunately, this also means that abnormalities within our spinal column can lead to chronic pain. This can be due to injury, wear and tear, or simply from getting older. That doesn’t mean you have to live with that pain, though.

Chiropractic care is a go-to option for many people suffering from back pain or other pain and health-related issues that can be traced back to the spine. Many people think that chiropractors simply offer spinal manipulation, but chiropractic care encompasses a great deal more, including the Graston Technique®. So, what is the Graston Technique® and what are the key things you need to know about it?

What Is the Graston Technique®?

Unlike other forms of chiropractic care, the ability to provide the Graston Technique® treatment requires separate training and certification. That is, in part, because this technique requires the use of specialized stainless-steel tools. The certified chiropractor uses these tools to perform specific deep tissue massage-like motions that are designed to break up the excess scar tissue on our muscles, tendons, and ligaments that are causing mobility issues and pain. This Graston Technique® has proven effective in alleviating pain in the neck, back, shoulder, wrists, knees, hips, and ankles caused by soft tissue injuries.

What to Expect After the Graston Technique®?

You can reasonably expect some minor discomfort and bruising in the affected areas after the Graston Technique® has been administered. This is a result of the deep tissue massage aspect of the technique on the affected soft tissue deep below the skin.

Combining this treatment with other recommendations from your chiropractor can result in a faster recovery time. The proper treatment combination, including other chiropractic treatments, can reduce your pain levels overall, meaning a lesser need for pain medication and decreasing the chances of needing surgical intervention.

How Long Does It Take for Graston® to Work?

You can expect to need two treatments a week for about a month to be properly treated. That said, you should start experiencing positive results from the treatment in about two weeks. This treatment doesn’t require additional downtime and shouldn’t get in the way of your day-to-day activities. Even more encouraging is that 75-90% of those treated have had positive outcomes.

Dr. Marmorale Can Treat a Variety of Conditions with The Graston Technique®

For more than 35 years, East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C. has provided a wide range of chiropractic services to best fit your needs and cover a wide range of conditions that impact your day-to-day life, with a specialization in the Graston Technique®. We can work with you on pain management through massage, stretching exercises, spinal adjustments, and much more. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step towards a more comfortable life.