East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C.

Neck

What Is Text Neck and How to Treat It

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The modern age brings us many things, both positive and negative. Among them are a plethora of screens—laptops, desktops, and especially smartphones. Have you ever had a pain in your neck from looking down at a phone screen to text or surf the internet? You may have a very modern ailment called “text neck“.

What Is Text Neck?

A comparatively new term, like the technology that spawned it, text neck refers to pain or physical damage caused by tilting one’s head to look down at the screen of an electronic device for long periods of time.

The repetitive stress to the upper spine and neck is what causes the pain. The average human head weighs between ten and twelve pounds, but when the neck is tilted down, the effective weight increases to approximately thirty pounds, causing stress and strain to the spine and surrounding musculature. This stress is not limited to your neck. It also transmits through your cervical spine, shoulder muscles, and associated supporting ligaments.

What Are the Symptoms of Text Neck?

Pain and stiffness are the primary symptoms, but not the only ones. These are some of the symptoms to look out for if you suspect that text neck is your issue: 

  • Eye pain.
  • Fatigue.
  • Consistent or constant headaches.
  • Deterioration of posture.
  • Nausea.
  • Muscle soreness.
  • Reduced range of motion.
  • Sharp pain in that area of your neck.
  • Stiffness or tightness in your neck and shoulders.
  • Upper back pain.

As the use of mobile devices has exploded, so have incidents of text neck. Teenagers watching TikTok videos on their phones, office workers bent over desktop computer screens, and people of all ages playing video games all contribute to text neck becoming more common.

Can a Chiropractor Fix Text Neck?

The National Library of Medicine notes chiropractic care as non-invasive treatment modalities used to treat persistent neck pain issues such as text neck. Unfortunately, there has been limited research on neck pain, especially when compared to studies on lower back pain.

Can Graston® Treatments Alleviate Text Neck?

Graston Technique® is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization therapy used to alleviate chronic pain and improve mobility. This type of manipulation, which is gaining more research support, aligns well with the National Library of Medicine study linked above.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness – A Holistic Approach

Since 1986, Dr Marmorale has stayed at the cutting edge of chiropractic care, being certified in the Graston Technique® since 2008. Dr Marmorale and our expert team at East Bay Chiropractic create a treatment plan for each patient, custom-tailored to their particular needs and circumstances. Contact us at East Bay Chiropractic today. You deserve a life free from pain!

Treating Winter Weather Car Accidents

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Long Island’s roads can be treacherous in the winter, with snow, sleet, and ice creating dangerous driving conditions. Even if you follow winter weather-related driving tips like keeping your vehicle maintained, leaving longer distances between vehicles, and understanding how to handle a skid, accidents still happen.

[Read more…] about Treating Winter Weather Car Accidents

Can a Chiropractor Help with Neck Pain from Migraines?

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The pain and inconvenience of a migraine can ruin your day, and chronic migraines can be debilitating, impacting every aspect of your life. There is a significant link between neck pain and migraines, and chiropractic treatments can provide a drug-free way to reduce the misery of headaches and the stiff neck that accompanies them.

Can Tight Neck Muscles Cause Migraines?

Tight neck muscles typically are a symptom or side effect of a migraine, not a cause. A tightening neck may even be a warning sign of an impending migraine. A tight neck in conjunction with a migraine is common; up to 80 percent of those with chronic migraines will experience a tight or painful neck before or during an attack.

There are other types of headaches that are associated with a tight neck. Unlike migraines, which originate in the brain, cervicogenic headaches are caused by issues with nerves, muscles, bones, or other parts of the neck. Pain begins in the neck or base of the skull and radiates to the back (or even the front) of the head. While migraine pain typically occurs on one side of the head, cervicogenic headaches can occur on both sides. Cervicogenic headaches are common, chronic, and can be provoked by certain head or neck movements. In addition to the headache, they cause neck pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

Can Myofascial Release Help with Migraines?

Myofascial release (MFR), sometimes referred to as soft tissue mobilization, is a type of chiropractic therapy that involves manually compressing and stretching soft tissue to release tension in tight or painful trigger points.

Myofascial release can be a helpful treatment for migraines, as well as other types of headaches. MFR helps reduce pain, increase range of motion, improve balance, and decrease stress, all of which relieve the misery of migraines and other headaches.

Can You Do Graston on Your Neck?

Our specialty is the Graston Technique®, a soft-tissue therapy that deploys patented tools to stretch and repair connective tissue and to increase blood flow in affected areas. It addresses trigger points, releases knotted muscles, and breaks up scar tissue. The Graston Technique® can be used on the neck to treat migraines, cervicogenic, and other types of headaches.

Studies indicate that the Graston Technique® decreases headache discomfort, duration, frequency, and reduces reliance on medication. Our other services may help with migraines and other headaches. These include cervical adjustments, therapeutic ultrasound, massage, and physical therapy. We are happy to work with you to find the right program of care tailored specifically to your situation.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Can Relieve Headache Pain

If you experience migraines, cervicogenic, or other headaches, the East Bay Chiropractic Wellness team can create a holistic treatment plan to increase your comfort and improve your quality of life. With more than 35 years of experience, we were the first Long Island chiropractor to be certified in the use of the Graston Technique®. Schedule an appointment online, or call (516) 679-2225 to learn more about how we can help you. You’re in good hands with us!

How Can the Graston Technique® Treat Chronic Pain?

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The Graston Technique® is a soft-tissue instrument-assisted mobilization, a manual therapy technique used in chiropractic treatments. Instead of using just one’s hands, practitioners of this technique use six instruments combined with a specialized form of massage to achieve a therapeutic effect by releasing adhesions that restrict mobility, causing pain.

Chronic pain is any pain that lasts multiple months (typically 3-6). It’s a common enough problem that roughly 20 percent of all U.S. adults deal with it.

Does Insurance Cover the Graston Technique®?

Chiropractic care isn’t specified in federal essential health benefits requirements. So, whether or not your insurance provider will cover the Graston Technique® will depend on the state you live in and your own personal insurance plan.

Does Graston Help with Whiplash?

If you’ve suffered a car accident injury and you’ve been suffering whiplash for months, then you should see a trained chiropractor or other qualified health professional. They can help you establish a program to help improve your neck’s strength and flexibility.

How Do You Break Up Scar Tissue from Whiplash?

Each of the six core tools used in the Graston Technique® is made of stainless steel and comes in an array of convex and concave shapes. They’re used to scan over the body to detect areas of injured fibrotic tissue.

The Graston Technique® works to break down adhesions and fascial restrictions found in the soft tissue areas affected by trauma. It attempts to stretch and rearrange tissue to reduce restrictions on the treated areas.

Why Is It Important to See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?

A chiropractor can help reduce pain and discomfort throughout the neck and back. It can also help reduce inflammation and swelling.

Some states require a person involved in a car accident to seek medical treatment within an allotted amount of time close to the time of the incident to qualify for certain times of insurance.

Does Graston Work for Back Pain?

A back injury is one of the most common results of harm from an auto collision. Evidence suggests that massage and other manual therapies can help reduce pain and improve mobility function with chronic nonspecific neck to lower back pain.

Can Graston Help with Back Injuries?

Scar tissue can limit a muscle’s ability to move normally and cause back muscles to tighten, which can work the spine out of alignment. This can lead to a herniated disc, also called a slipped disc.

Can a Slipped Disc Be Fixed by a Chiropractor?

Chiropractic care can prevent a herniated disc from worsening and ease pain symptoms and inflammation. Certain cases of fragmented herniated discs may be beyond being treated by chiropractic care and may require surgery.

Your treatment plan with your chiropractor will vary in specifics depending on your physical activity level, pain level, overall health, and other factors.

East Bay Chiropractic Can Help to Alleviate Pain

For many people, chronic pain is a daily challenge. East Bay Chiropractic specializes in the use of the Graston Technique® in pain management and relief caused by soft tissue fibrosis and chronic inflammation that could lead to constant discomfort or pain. Contact East Bay Chiropractic today and learn more about how we can help you manage your chronic pain with the Graston Technique®.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Following a Car Accident

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Many of us spend some time in a car almost every day. Whether we’re commuting to work, running errands, or visiting loved ones, driving is an integral part of life here on Long Island.

And while using a car overall is a safe form of travel, it’s not without its risks. More than five million car accidents are reported, on average, every year. Thankfully, less than 1% of all accidents lead to fatalities. That said, many of those who wind up in a car accident run the risk of injury.

While some car accident injuries are minor and heal quickly, others can persist, leading to chronic pain and discomfort. One of the most common enduring injuries is whiplash.

Can a Chiropractor Fix Whiplash?

To understand how a chiropractor can be help in treating whiplash, it’s important to understand the cause and symptoms. Whiplash typically occurs when a car abruptly halts during an accident, causing the neck to jerk backward and forward rapidly. This abrupt motion can result in the tearing of tendons and ligaments in the neck. Common symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Neck pain or stiffness
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Blurred vision

Over time, it can also cause chronic pain in the head, neck, and shoulders.

Chiropractors focus on injuries and conditions affecting tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones, and the nervous system. Therefore, they can treat whiplash symptoms from car accident injuries by addressing the underlying issue—the tears in the tendons and ligaments.

Can A Slipped Disc Be Fixed by a Chiropractor?

If the resulting accident leads to another injury, in this case, a slipped disc, chiropractic care can be helpful for your recovery as well. Spinal manipulation and massage therapy can help alleviate stress and pain in the affected areas. Most slipped disc injuries heal within six weeks. Chiropractic care can provide pain management for both such injuries simultaneously if needed.

Does Graston Help with Whiplash?

The Graston Technique® is used for injuries just like those caused by whiplash. Its primary purpose is to break up hidden adhesions in the tissue over tendons and ligaments, a common occurrence in whiplash injuries. This technique helps relieve pain and improve range of motion. A licensed chiropractor can effectively utilize the Graston Technique® to treat whiplash and similar injuries.

Get Car Accident Chiropractic Care at East Bay Chiropractic

Unfortunately, whiplash is a common injury affecting millions of Americans each year. At East Bay Chiropractic, we specialize in the Graston Technique® as a pain management approach that targets soft tissue scars, reducing inflammation and helping you regain your life comfortably. This technique has also been proven effective in alleviating whiplash-induced pain. With nearly three decades of experience, you can trust that you’re in capable hands. Contact East Bay Chiropractic today to learn how we can help you manage your chronic pain.

Whiplash and the Graston Technique®

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Neck strain caused by a forceful, fast back-and-forth motion is called “whiplash” because the motion resembles the cracking of a whip. Whiplash injuries are most commonly associated with rear-end car accidents, but it can result from sports accidents, trauma, or other similar jolting injuries.

The Graston Technique® is a manual therapy classified as an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization treatment. The Graston treatment can be used to treat whiplash, along with other conditions.

[Read more…] about Whiplash and the Graston Technique®