Chiropractor in Freehold NJ Explains Weight Loss Eases Back Pain and Sciatica

Over 80% of the population experiences back pain.  Many times this progresses to sciatica and disc problems.  Unfortunately, so many people these days are overweight and this increases the risk of having low back pain and sciatica.  Not only is the additional weight too much for the back, chiropractor freehold Chiropractor in Freehold NJ Explains Weight Loss Eases Back Pain and Sciaticabut the discs and other joints including the hips, knees, ankles and feet.

New research shows that losing weight significantly helps patients suffering with these conditions.  Patients that have a high BMI (Body Mass Index) recover more slowly from lower back pain and have higher risks of getting sciatica, degeneration of the discs and arthritis in the spinal joints.  When you are overweight, more pressure is put on spinal joints therefore decreasing the disc spaces and leading to pinched nerves or sciatica.

In the research, 30 patients who had gastric bypass surgery showed that with the weight loss, the space between the discs increased and alleviated the pressure on the irritated nerves.  Patients reported experiencing a significant reduction in back pain and sciatica pain.

In our Freehold, NJ office, Hometown Family Wellness Center, we take a different approach to helping out patients suffering with low back pain and sciatica.  Our natural treatment plan includes chiropractic care to correct the cause of the pain, exercise and stretching, and for those patients that are overweight we have an 11 day body transformation program.  We don’t support gastric bypass surgery as not only is it costly but the risks are substantial and many times lead to malnutrition.  Our weight loss program incorporates optimal nutrition and full body cellullar cleansing to get to the true reason why so many people have a problem losing weight.  Patients are averaging 5 to 15lbs weight loss on our 11 day program and 22 to 28lbs on our 30 day program.

Dr. Russell Brokstein, chiropractor and owner of Hometown Family Wellness center, has been helping patients for 14 years since graduating from Life Chiropractic College.  His unique approach to pain relief, weight loss and optimal health and wellness is getting patients to realize by correcting the cause of their problems, they can once again enjoy their normal daily activities without drugs and surgery.  Call our office to find out how to correct your low back pain and sciatica naturally and check out or website:  www.ChiropractorFreehold.com

References

Atchison J and Vincent H. Obesity and low back pain: relationships and treatment

Pain Management 2012; 2(1): 79-86/(doi: 10.2217/pmt.11.64)

Baumgarten K, Walter C, and Watson E. The Effect of Obesity on Orthopaedic Conditions. South Dakota State Medical Association. http://www.sdsma.org/documents/Carlson.pdf.

Djurasovic M, Bratcher KR, Glassman S, et a. The Effect of Obesity on Clinical Outcomes After Lumbar Fusion. Spine 2008; 33(16): 1789-1792.

Lidar Z, Behrbalk E, Regev GJ, et al. Intervertebral Disc Height Changes after Weight Reduction in Morbid Obese Patients, its Effect on Life Quality, Radicular and Low Back Pain. Spine 2012. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e31825fab16.

Samartzis D, Karppinen J, Chan D, et al. The association of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging with body mass index in overweight and obese adults: A population-based study. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2012; 64(5): 1488-1496.

Freehold Chiropractor Explains Shoulder Pain can be Associated to Neck Pain or Whiplash

Auto injuries are shown to cause more than just neck pain.  In a  new study researchers find that patients with whiplash or other causes of neck pain were more likely to have problems with shoulder function than healthy chiropractor freehold Freehold Chiropractor Explains Shoulder Pain can be Associated to Neck Pain or Whiplashpatients.  Misalignments of the shoulder can create or irritate neck pain.  The shoulder imbalances can also cause other problems including headaches or migraines.

Patients in the research had neck pain of different causes.  It was found they had more difficulty performing routine shoulder movements, and their head and neck postures were altered. The research also showed that depending on the cause of the neck problem influenced the type of shoulder problems the patient had: those patient that couldn’t elevate their shoulders as muchchiropractor freehold Freehold Chiropractor Explains Shoulder Pain can be Associated to Neck Pain or Whiplash as normal patients had insidious onset neck disorders while those patients that had shoulders that were rotated forward slightly had neck problems resulting from whiplash.

Like many other studies, it is found that whiplash patients have a higher risk of developing shoulder pain and experiencing a number of other conditions including pain, headaches, numbness and tingling just to name a few. This shows that neck injuries alter the function of other areas of the body and that it’s so important that a patient finds a practitioner that addresses the entire spine and other surrounding regions, not just the location of the pain itself.

Our chiropractic office, Hometown Family Wellness Center located in Freehold, NJ, addresses the cause of the problems that you are experiencing.  We have been helping patients for over 14 years in the Freehold area and surrounding towns of Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell, Colts Neck, Jackson, Morganville, and other communities of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey.  Relying on medications might just cover up your pain at best, but increases the chances of disability because you are not addressing the cause of the pain and you become overconfident that just because the pain is decreased that you can perform normal activities without causing further harm.  Many studies show that chiropractic not only reduces your pain naturally without drugs or surgery, but improves your quality of life so you can enjoy your normal daily activities once again.  Seeking early treatment may help you avoid developing shoulder and back pain, arthritis, degeneration and other problems later on. If you are ready to correct the cause of your neck pain and whiplash, contact our office at 732-780-0044 and also check out our website at www.chiropractorfreehold.com
Helgadottir, Harpa, and Eythor Kristjansson, Sarah Mottram, Andrew Karduna, and Halldor Jonsson, Jr. Altered Alignment of the Shoulder Girdle and Cervical Spine in Patients With Insidious Onset Neck Pain and Whiplash-Associated Disorder. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 2011; 27:181-191.

Berglund A, Nygren A, Jensen I, et al. The association between exposure to a rear-end collision and future neck or shoulder pain: a cohort study. World Congress on Whiplash-Associated Disorders. 1999;p. 99.

Kosek E, Januszewska A. Mechanisms of pain referral in patients with whiplash associated disorder. European Journal of Pain 2008;12:650-660.

Miller J, Gross A, D’Sylva J, Burnie SJ, Goldsmith CH, Graham N, Haines T, Bronfort G, Hoving JL. Manual therapy and exercise for neck pain: A systematic review. Manual Therapy 15(2010) 334-354.

Chiropractor in Freehold Shares National Correct Posture Month – Posture and Your Health

Your mom probably wanted you to look confident and proud but the bottom line is, good posture is good for your health and is now recognized as an important factor in aging well.  “We all heard it when we were growing up – ‘stand up straight’, ‘you’re slouching’.

When your back is not properly aligned, your body’s center of gravity shifts, putting more stress and load on your muscles, joints, and ligaments. Poor chiropractor freehold Chiropractor in Freehold Shares National Correct Posture Month   Posture and Your Healthposture is a major cause of neck, back and joint pain. When you slouch, your internal organs may be compressed affecting bodily functions like digestion and even your ability to breathe clearly.

Poor posture can be traced to many activities from sitting in front of a computer for hours, carrying heavy pocketbooks or briefcases on one shoulder all the time, wearing high heals, laying on  a couch unsupported or sleeping improperly and exercising in poor form just to name a few. The muscles tire and the body shifts position, causing some muscle groups to become tight, stretched, and weak.

We are creatures of habit. When we have an injury, our body will move differently to avoid pain. Over time, the body will adapt. Our body will create new habits. The brain adapts and adopts new muscles and joint positions even in the absence of continued pain. We believe we are standing straight because our brain is being told by our senses that we are balanced, even though the mirror shows we are not.

To achieve the best posture when standing, the body should maintain a straight vertical alignment from the top of the head, through the center of the body, and down to the feet. Take a minute and go in front of a mirror in your house and check to see if one shoulder is higher than another, one hip is higher than another, if your shoulders are rotated forward.  From the side, look for an imaginary straight line from the ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle. When sitting, the spine and head should remain upright, while maintaining the three natural curves in the back.  Also check these points on your children.  The earlier the spine is checked for imbalances, the easier they are to correct.

Here are some tips to help you reduce the risk of poor posture as you sit in the office:

  • Take frequent breaks – about every 30 minutes.
  • If you cannot get up, stretch your arms and legs as much as possible.
  • Sit in an office chair with a comfortable height to maintain good posture and provide adequate support for your back.
  • Keep desk items – phone, calendar, appointment book – within comfortable reach.
  • Women: avoid wearing high heels. They change the center of gravity and put extra stress on the back”(1)

Chiropractors refer to posture as the “window to the spine.” And, since your spine protects the master control system of the body (your nervous system), you need to pay attention to your posture on a daily basis.

Spinal shifts, vertebral misalignments and structural instability can lead to arthritic changes. They can also cause other health and/or functional problems as well.  For example, did you know:

* Thoracic spine arthritis/spurs indicate accompanying coronary arteriosclerosis 85% of the time. Bone spurs and arthritic changes in the thoracic spine can mimic angina pectoris.(2)

* Upper Thoracic Spine – Children under chiropractic care showed a 96.5% non-occurrence rate of asthma, whereas children under medical care showed a 95% non-occurrence rate of asthma. The authors concluded that the immune systems of children under chiropractic care are better able to cope with allergens which may cause asthmatic conditions.(3)

              * Mid Thoracic Spine – Using radiography, Burchett examined sixty-one hospital patients and found that in 88% of patients with gallbladder disease there was lipping (arthritis) from T7-T10; spinal osteophytes (T9-T11) were found in 82% of those with stomach disease. Many sufferers of pancreatic dis-ease had segments T5-T7 involved and 31% of patients with duodenal disease had osteophytes at T9-L2.(4)

             * Lower Thoracic Spine – Subluxations (vertebral misalignments) of the T6 – T10 vertebrae can cause gall bladder symptoms.(5)

Every aspect of our lives affects posture: nutrition, stress, exercise, mental development, and body fat. Posture is one of the most overlooked keys to better health. “Research studies show the truth in what mothers have always known: standing up tall improves our health.”  May is the perfect time to celebrate a renewed commitment to health, longevity, and new habits.  

Every year in honor of National Correct Posture month in May, Dr. Russell Brokstein, chiropractor and owner of Hometown Family Wellness Center in Freehold, NJ, offers professional posture assessments. Dr. Brokstein will be examining the spines of children and adults using state of the art computerized spinal assessments.  These exams help prevent unnecessary muscle imbalance, structural instability, scoliosis and other health conditions related to poor posture.  We’ve been helping people of all ages in Freehold and the surrounding towns of Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell, Colts Neck, Jackson, Morganville and other towns in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey.

To secure a complimentary Posture and Full Spinal Examination, call 732-780-0044 or go to www.ChiropractorFreehold.com for more information about Dr. Brokstein and Hometown Family Wellness Center.

1. By Marianne Favro for NBC11 News

2. J.A.O.A. 1983, 82, 93-94

3. van Breda WM; van Breda JM. A Comparative Study Of The Health Status Of The Health Status Of Children Raised Under The Health Care Models Of Chiropractic And Allopathic Medicine. J Chiro Res 1989; 5:101-3

4. Burchett GD J of the American Osteopathic Association 1968; 67(6): 675.
5. Grail McGinley, Newsday, Melville, NY

 

 

Eczema and Allergies in 6 Year Old Patient Helped by Chiropractor in Freehold, NJ Using Biofeedback Stress Reduction

Many people suffer with sensitivities that lead to symptoms of a broad spectrum:  allergies, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, migraines, Fibromyalgia, ADD/ADHD, stress and anxiety, arthritis, depression, digestive issues like acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome, frequent colds, heart and organ disease and many more.

It is scientifically proven that internal and external stressors lead to these sensitivities.  Biofeedback stress reduction therapy is able to analyze your body for these stressors and sensitivities then through positive reconditioning it reduces the symptomatic response.  All of this without any medications and their harmful side effects.  Click here to find out more:  Biofeedback Stress Reduction Therapy

My name is Dr. Russell Brokstein, Chiropractor and Owner of Hometown Family Wellness Center in Freehold, NJ.  We began incorporating biofeedback stress reduction therapy in our practice 2 years ago and have experienced over 80% success rate in helping our patients with this state of the art technology.  I want to share with you one of our successful cases in helping a 6 year old male patient who had suffered with severe eczema since he was born.

He had been seeing Dermatologists all these years with no change using cortisone and other steroid type treatments.  After just 8 treatments using biofeedback, his skin is crystal clear.  (See the pictures below)  The parents reported that he was able to swim in the ocean for the first time without a wetsuit and showering is no longer painful.

Added bonus the parents never reported before treatment about his peanut sensitivity and before going back to school, they tested him by rubbing peanut butter on his skin and he had no reaction to it.  (Note his allergy was not the anaphylaxis type)

Following are the before pictures!

chiropractor freehold Eczema and Allergies in 6 Year Old Patient Helped by Chiropractor in Freehold, NJ Using Biofeedback Stress Reduction   chiropractor freehold Eczema and Allergies in 6 Year Old Patient Helped by Chiropractor in Freehold, NJ Using Biofeedback Stress Reduction   chiropractor freehold Eczema and Allergies in 6 Year Old Patient Helped by Chiropractor in Freehold, NJ Using Biofeedback Stress Reduction

After Just 8 Visits with the NRG Immune Enhancement System

chiropractor freehold Eczema and Allergies in 6 Year Old Patient Helped by Chiropractor in Freehold, NJ Using Biofeedback Stress Reductionchiropractor freehold Eczema and Allergies in 6 Year Old Patient Helped by Chiropractor in Freehold, NJ Using Biofeedback Stress Reductionchiropractor freehold Eczema and Allergies in 6 Year Old Patient Helped by Chiropractor in Freehold, NJ Using Biofeedback Stress Reduction

 

Click this link if you would like to watch the father discuss the results: 6 Year old Suffering with Eczema and Allergies Helped by Freehold Chiropractor

If you or somebody you know suffers with allergies, headaches, digestive issues, arthritis, stress, anxiety, ADD or ADHD, Fibromyalgia, skin conditions, frequently fighting colds, depression or other symptoms share this article with them.  Most symptoms are related to stress and sensitivities and biofeedback stress reduction can be the answer! Contact our office to receive your complimentary biofeedback stress assessment.  This 6 year old patient has gained his life back by using this form of treatment.  We have been helping patients from Freehold and the surrounding towns of Marlboro, Howell, Colts Neck, Jackson, Morganville and Manalapan, NJ as well as other communities in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey.  Some have driven as far as New York City and Philadelphia to experience biofeedback stress reduction therapy.

Call 732-780-0044 and find out more about our office by going to www.chiropractorfreehold.com

Fibromyalgia Sufferers Receive Hope from Freehold NJ Chiropractor

More people than ever are suffering with Fibromyalgia.  Did you know that 2.1 – 5.7% of all Americans have Fibromyalgia (1), AND that there is NO 100% reliable medical test to verify or diagnose this disorder?  (1) http://www.flash.net/~dwback/fibromyalgia.htm)

My name is Dr. Russell Brokstein, chiropractor and owner of Hometown Family Wellness Center located in Freehold, NJ.  I have been helping patients with Fibromyalgia for over 13 years.

Here are the facts: Diagnosis is difficult, the underlying cause of it is unknown, frequency, degree and location of pain vary from day to day, and treatment is focused on managing the symptoms. Many of the medications doctors are recommending (Lyrica, Cymbalta and Savella) have severe side effects and can be extremely dangerous.  At best they just give temporary relief, but the side effects prevent the patient from enjoying an active and healthy lifestyle.

Chiropractic has been shown to be an extremely effective way to manage symptoms by allowing the body to function normally after an adjustment. It all comes down to clearing the master system, the Nervous System! Did you know that chiropractic can help people with Fibromyalgia just by removing nervous system interference?

One common symptom found in Fibromyalgia sufferers are tender points.  These red dots represent tender points. “Tender points” refers to tenderness occurring in precise, localized areas, particularly the neck, spine, shoulders & hipschiropractor freehold Fibromyalgia Sufferers Receive Hope from Freehold NJ Chiropractor

On top of the tender points there are several Syndromes that often appear with FM:

Dr. Frederick Wolfe, a clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, is a respected rheumatologist and a well-known investigator of Fibromyalgia.  Dr. Wolfe points out that chiropractic treatment helps FM patients

Source:  Frederick Wolfe, “The Fibromyalgia Problem,” Journal of Rheumatology 24,no.7(1997) 1247-49

Dr. Wolfe wrote “In our current series, we interviewed 81 FM patients and 81 control patients using a structured questionnaire. We asked patients to indicate if a drug or treatment had reduced their pain…Of interest is that chiropractic treatment scored among the most effective measures”

Source:  Wolfe F: The clinical syndrome of fibrositis. Am. J. Medicine 81 (suppl 3a):7-14, 1986

In our Freehold office, we not only analyze the traditional tender trigger points associated with Fibromyalgia, but we perform a state of the art computerized spinal exam that helps locate imbalances and pressure on the nerves and spinal cord.  This helps us locate the areas of the spine that are interfering with normal nerve impulses.  We take our analysis further by testing sensitivities and stress levels with biofeedback stress reduction.  Internal and external stress is known to cause many symptoms and illnesses including those syndromes common to Fibromyalgia.  The biofeedback technology measures the severity of the sensitivities, if they are acute or chronic, then using the treatment portion of the biofeedback uses positive reconditioning to balance the immune system.  Next we test the body for toxicity.  The more toxins and chemical build up in the body, the more sensitive the organs, muscles, tendons and ligaments.  Finally we examine the hormonal balance and with basic nutritional vitamin supplementation balance the adrenal glands.

Our unique, natural multi-pronged approach to health and wellness has helped many Fibromyalgia sufferers that no other doctors have been able to achieve results with.  We have been helping residents in Freehold, the surrounding towns of Marlboro, Morganville, Colts Neck, Manalapan, Howell, Jackson and other communities of Monmouth and Ocean County, New Jersey.  For more information on Dr. Russell Brokstein, go to our website at www.ChiropractorFreehold.com

Share this blog post with anybody you know who is suffering with Fibromyalgia.

 

 

Freehold Chiropractor Explains When Chiropractic Care Should Begin

When do you start going to the dentist?  Do you wait until you have pain or until your teeth start to decay?  Do you just want the dentist to shoot a cavity with Novocaine or do you want him to fix the decaying tooth?

When do you start going to the eye doctor?  Do you wait until your eyes deteriorate?  Do you wait until you have glaucoma and cataracts or do you do preventative measures?

How about your car?  Do you wait until it breaks down or do you bring it in for periodic maintenance?  How about an oil, lube and filter?

The biggest and most important question is when should you start to go to the chiropractor?

The saying “there is no time like the present,” is very true when applied to preventative health care.  Many people incorporate that with the other disciplines, but we neglect the most important system of the body:  The Nervous System.

It is this system that the chiropractor helps you with, and it is the nervous system that controls all functions of your body.  The power that goes from the brain to the rest of the body allows it to heal itself and be healthy.  Your heart beats, your lungs breath, your stomach digests in conjunction with the intestines, your eyes can see, your ears can hear, your muscles can contract, you can move all without having to think about it.

This nervous system is so important that we have the spinal bones protecting chiropractor freehold Freehold Chiropractor Explains When Chiropractic Care Should Beginit.  Unfortunately the daily stresses that occur from the time of birth and throughout life cause VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATIONS:  the bones move out of place, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and interfering with the functions of our body.

The first subluxations develop during the birth process as the medical doctor pulls and twists on the baby’s neck and if uncorrected at this early stage, will only add further neurological stress to the growth and the adaptive demands of a new life.  Children need chiropractic care.  They receive the best care and the most profound results for ear infections and colds, respiratory conditions, digestive issues, and so much more.

Subluxations continue to occur as children learn to walk they fall several times, they sit in classes with poor posture, carry heavy books and backpacks, play sports, play fight and wrestle, numerous accidents and falls from a bike, then auto accidents and other injuries as we get older through teenage and adult years, and general stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise can all add to the subluxations.  Regular chiropractic exams and adjustments allow for you and your children to have nervous systems that are functioning optimally.

The majority of  society reaches for medicine when “sick,” but the fact is the relief is from masking symptoms with a pill or injection, while the causes were never fully corrected.  These medications then lead to many other side effects.  Everybody seeks Relief, but why not find the cause and correct it.  The earlier you and your family are monitored and corrected for subluxations, the more optimally healthy you will be without drugs and or surgery.  The longer you wait to get your spine checked, the bones start to degenerate and the joints become more arthritic…  Your growing family and neighbors need chiropractic care.

There is no age, size, gender, color or financial limit for who deserves excellent chiropractor freehold Freehold Chiropractor Explains When Chiropractic Care Should Beginhealth!  You were born with  health and deserve it throughout life!  It is Natural To Be Healthy! An optimally functioning nervous system is necessary to maintain and preserve your health.  EVERYBODY needs chiropractic care!

If you are ready to have an optimally functioning nervous system to be healthy naturally without drugs and surgery, contact our office to get you and your family back to health!  Dr. Russell Brokstein has been helping patients in Freehold and the surrounding towns of Marlboro, Howell, Colts Neck, Jackson, Morganville and Manalapan, NJ as well as other communities in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey.  Find out more about our office by going to www.chiropractorfreehold.com.

Freehold Chiropractor Informs Low Back Pain is NOT Just for Adults Anymore

Back pain is usually thought of as a problem in adults.  Research shows up to 80% of all adults will suffer low back pain at least once in their life.

Back pain is becoming more prevalent and an increasing problem for children and teenagers.  Many factors are leading to the increase in the symptoms.

A study done in Israel questioned more than 10,000 Israeli schoolchildren in grades 1 thru 6 regarding their average weight, average weight of backpacks, if there were on-campus facilities to store backpacks, the height of chairs and desks in relation to student height, seating arrangements, and physical activity during recess.

The results showed that between 30 percent and 54 percent of the students carried bags containing 15 percent or more of their body weight; almost 15 percent of the 1st graders and 20 percent of 6th graders sat in chairs of “inappropriate” height; in 74 percent of the classes, students sat chiropractor freehold Freehold Chiropractor Informs Low Back Pain is NOT Just for Adults Anymorewith their sides facing the instructor and in another 35 percent, students sat with their backs to the teacher; 30 percent of the schools did not have storage facilities for backpacks; in 48 percent of the schools, there was no organized play activity during recess and in another 6 percent there was no provision for any type of physical activity during recess.

Parents, your children are at serious risk of developing low back pain.  Not only the above risks mentioned in the research, but from the time of birth when the doctors twist the neck and shoulders to deliver a baby, the amount of times a baby falls when learning to walk, playing sports and other activities, children rough housing …just to name a few,  accumulate and cause the spine to misalign. There are  several steps you can take to maintain your child’s health:  Monitor the weight of your child’s back pack; talk to school administrators about repositioning desks and physical activity; and of course, have your child examined regularly by a doctor of chiropractic – it could prevent years of unnecessary back pain and spinal degeneration or arthritis.  Chiropractors will not put your child on harmful medications that have many side effects and can cause other health issues.  A chiropractor that works with children, does a thorough examination and use gentle techniques to correct the cause of the pain.

Our office in Freehold, NJ, Hometown Family Wellness Center has been helping children and adults get out of pain, but also to help them prevent and maintain a healthy spine and optimally functioning nervous system for natural health and wellness without drugs or surgery.  For more information on Dr. Russell Brokstein, DC go to www.chiropractorfreehold.com and check out our current specials, blogs and patient testimonials.

Reference: Limon S, Valinsky LJ, Ben-Shalom Y. Children at risk. Risk factors for low back pain in the elementary school environment. Spine, March 15, 2004;29(6):697-702.

Car Accident or Whiplash? Freehold Chiropractor Warns Not to Wait to Get Evaluated!

Every day people get into little fender benders and don’t realize the consequences of even just a 5 MPH bumper impact.  They feel fine immediately after the car accident but weeks, months and even years down the road you can start to experience neck pain, shoulder pain, tension, numbness and tingling and even headaches.

Watch this video to see a demonstration of what happens at 5km/h which is just 3 miles per hour!

As you can see, at just 3MPH, the neck whips backward and forward. This amount of force causes misalignments or subluxations in the neck which will put pressure on nerves. You can also get strain and sprain injuries which are further signs of whiplash injury. Many people who suffer conditions like fibromyalgia can correlate their symptoms back to the time of an auto accident.

You can experience whiplash even after a low speed accident. If you wait, you can develop spinal and disc degeneration down the road. Some research shows if a joint is misaligned for just 2 weeks, arthritis starts to develop.  Think of this like a cavity that forms and you don’t feel the pain for years when it has progressed and harder to take care of.

As a chiropractor in Freehold, NJ, I see many patients who come in with neck pain, headaches and migraines, numbness and tingling and they can’t figure out what caused the problem. After doing a thorough patient history, many times it can be matched to a past car accident. Be sure to get you spine checked after any accident, even if you don’t feel immediate pain, so you can prevent future problems and correct the underlying condition as soon as possible.  An auto injury many times goes undetected and needs somebody who does a thorough examination and has experience treating accident victims.

It is also very important to report the accident to your insurance company in case you do experience any symptoms and need treatment.  If you wait, then try and go back, they will most likely deny coverage.  By having a thorough history and examination by a chiropractor with experience with these injuries, you will have the documentation to prove correlation to the accident.

If you live in Freehold or nearby towns of Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell, Colts Neck, Jackson, Morganville or other Monmouth County communities, contact our office, Hometown Family Wellness Center or go to our website for more information: www.ChiropractorFreehold.com.  Let us know you were in an accident and looking for our special auto accident consultation and evaluation.

Chiropractor in Freehold Recommends Nutritional Support for Your Joints

Over the past month we have been discussing recommendations on being healthy without drugs and surgery.  Today we are going to discuss nutritional support for your joints!  Previously we talked about the other 4 key steps:  proper sleep, stress reduction, dietary methods to reduce inflammation and pain, and posture.  You can read about these other steps by clicking:  Chiropractor Freehold NJ Blog.

As a chiropractor in Freehold, NJ I see thousands of people who are chiropractor freehold Chiropractor in Freehold Recommends Nutritional Support for Your Jointsexperiencing different types of joint pain.  From degenerative joint disease, to arthritis to normal wear and tear from not taking care of the joints.

The most common nutritional supplements on the market for joint support are chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine.  Research studies have proven that a lot of people can get relief from these two supplements and they usually see results in about 6 to 8 weeks.

I do recommend them to my patients, but I also know it doesn’t help everybody.  Being an athlete myself, I played competitive soccer for 28 years, I have tried these supplements but unfortunately they do not work for me.  They do not work for everybody but I still recommend on trying them.  You do have to be patient to wait to see if it will work for you.

For everybody, what I do is ask my patients five questions.  If they answer yes to at least two questions, then I can just about bet that they have a mineral deficiency without running a lab test.

The questions:

1) Do you have a repetitive injury like carpal tunnel or tennis elbow?

2) Do you notice you are pulling muscles and tendons more than usual?  (Maybe you notice sore muscles and tendons after a short hike, or after working out in the gym, or some part of your body hurts more than before, as examples)

I’ve had many of my patients say that their knees hurt after kneeling in the garden after five minutes while working with her flowers.  This is NOT normal!

3) How bad are your joints feeling on a scale of 1 to 10?  A score of 5 or more is a bad answer and is too much pain and inflammation.

4) Do you have scoliosis?

5) Does it feel as if your condition is worsening?

If I get two yes answers, chances are good that it’s a manganese deficiency.

Not only myself, but other doctors I know that also practice nutrition have seen magnificent changes in patients when we replace the manganese in their diet.  I’ve seen people getting ready for hip replacement surgeries that didn’t need the surgery once they supplemented with manganese.  There have been countless patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, all deficient in manganese.  A manganese deficiency can easily be confirmed by hair analysis!

A chiropractor I know who is also a nutritionist told me:  One woman in her 40s was in tears because her knee pain was so great and she couldn’t walk anywhere for weeks.  After three days on manganese replacement, she was able to do her normal routine again.  Another woman in her 50s was able to jump up and down in aerobics class because her body “told her” through intuition that her knees were more stable after taking manganese for three days.”

Yes, our body gives us signals all the time about whether or not we’re ergonomically correct or if we are strong enough to do certain movements.

So what about the chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine?”

If you are already taking them, the supplements may be doing some good so you can continue.  But what I’m looking for is the decrease in pain and inflammation that results from restoring the proper levels of manganese.  It should occur in as little as three days and as long as two weeks.  When it comes to muscles, joints, bones, tendons & ligaments, manganese is key to your health!

The previous chiropractor told me she starts patients on a level of 20 mg manganese two times daily for six months depending on how low their hair analysis test results are.  “If we don’t have a hair analysis test, then I recommend 10 mg manganese daily for a week.  If there’s no improvement in one week, then it’s probably not just manganese that the person needs.  That person is probably very, very low in many minerals and needs a whole protocol of supplements to take to build up their body.”

She continues:  “The reason why I don’t recommend chondroitin sulfate or glucosamine is that the active ingredient in it is manganese.  You see, there’s so little manganese in the product that it takes two to three months to get relief using that chondroitin sulfate,” she said. “I want my patients to experience the quickest healing possible so I’ll use the real substance that they are missing – manganese.  My patients who have been on manganese for awhile sometimes stop taking it but when they notice their joints start hurting again, it means their manganese levels are falling again. They get back on track and the joint pain disappears.”

Manganese can be a simple solution for a lot of people and help for nutritional support to reduce the pain and inflammation.

My friend shared her protocol with her patients and it’s what I currently use with my patients:

  • A good multiple vitamin/mineral.  I have one that I depend on exclusively because it contains 450 mg calcium, 200 mg magnesium and 350 mg phosphorus.  These three have to be in the proper ratio for joint health.  A joint without calcium is a weakened joint.  Without the phosphorus, you can’t absorb calcium, and calcium and magnesium have to be present together.

• 10 mg manganese up to 50 mg manganese (50 mg is too much to guess on without a hair test; the mineral can be toxic in high amounts unless there is a deficiency.)

      • 200 mcg selenium (another mineral most are deficient in)

• 150 –300 mg germanium (reduces pain, oxygenates the area thereby decreasing Inflammation)

• 400 to 800 IU vitamin E

• 3000 to 6000 mg vitamin C

• 100 mg CoQ 10 (this can be wonderful at decreasing pain and inflammation)

• 3000 to 5000 mg omega 3 oils

These are what I use generally speaking, but every case is a little different. Some-times my patients modify their protocol a little bit, like take more germanium or more coQ 10…

Oh, one more thing… it is utmost important for your joints to receive chiropractic care, too!  Chiropractors find the joints that are restricted and are putting pressure on the nerves.  These restricted joints not only cause neck pain, back pain, headaches and migraines, sciatica and disc problems but can also cause many other healthy problems.  There is also research that shows joints that are misaligned for just 2 weeks start forming arthritic changes.   Your chiropractor will get the joint moving again and help prevent the progression of arthritic changes and help save your joints, but also improve your health, wellness and ability to enjoy your family, friends and normal daily activities.

You can see from my discussion with my colleague how much of a difference something as simple as eating right and taking your nutritional supplements can make in people’s lives.  Using nutritional supplements can speed your progress and even prevent further injury and surgery.  Don’t be afraid of them.

The best news is that approaching your health from a natural standpoint can only improve whatever health issue you are experiencing right now.

Freehold Chiropractor Educates Your Posture is Important to Maintain Your Health!

My name is Dr. Russell Brokstein, chiropractor and owner of Hometown Family Wellness Center in Freehold, NJ and today I am continuing the blog on Be Health Naturally without Drugs or Surgery.

The previous posts talked about sleep, stress reduction and dietary recommendations.  You can read the other blogs by clicking:  Chiropractor Freehold Blog

Today we are going to discuss your posture.  Your spine is the central support structure of your body.  Your spine carries the neurological lifeline from your brain to all the other parts of your body.  Your health really depends on thechiropractor freehold Freehold Chiropractor Educates Your Posture is Important to Maintain Your Health! flow of energy through an unrestricted nervous system.  When your spine suffers, your overall health can suffer too.  When you respect your spine by taking good care of it, your spine will serve you well by offering its strength and flexibility for a long time to come.

When your posture and spinal alignment are off, it can also lead to pain, back pain, neck pain, headaches and migraines, numbness and tingling, stress, fibromyalgia, sciatica, arthritis, herniations and disc degeneration.

Here are my two top recommendations for taking care of your spine:

  1. Be ergonomically correct when you sit at a desk, stand, bend or reach. “Ergonomically correct” is a fancy term for body posture that doesn’t cause stress to your body.

For example, which three of these postures do you think would be ergonomically correct:

    1. Sitting with your legs crossed at the knees.
    2. Sitting with your legs crossed at the ankles.
    3. Bending straight over to pick up a box with knees locked for support.
    4. Bending over to pick up a box with knees bent.
    5. Standing in a crowd with your weight centered on one leg for a long time.
    6. Standing in a crowd with your weight centered over both feet with your shoulder, back and head centered over your spine.

The answer is 2. 4 and 6.

Ask me to check out your posture. I’ll be looking at you from the side to see if the center of your ear, the center of your neck, shoulder, hips, knees and ankle all form a straight line.  If they don’t, then we need to work more on your posture.

Here’s how I remember how to stand correctly while lifting something heavy or just standing for long periods of time:  I think to myself, “Brace yourself!”  What I mean by this is that if I’m reaching down into the crib to pick up a baby, I must get ready for the act of lifting by bracing myself.  I brace myself by bending at the knees and keeping the weight as close to my body as I can.  The farther the baby is from my body, the more I’m at risk of injury.

Reaching for things far away from you is not a good habit if you want a strong spine.  Instead of reaching out to push or pull something, get as close to the item as you can, then lift it after bracing yourself.

If you have to stand on your feet for a long period of time, don’t get in the habit of putting most of your weight over one foot or on one leg.  Brace yourself by spreading your feet about shoulder distance apart, then stand solidly. You’ll feel better and look more confident as well.

Which of these are ergonomically correct?

a.       Loading up grocery bags in your arms, then trying to open your door with a key while holding all those grocery bags

b.      Sitting at a desk with the computer keyboard more than a foot away from the edge of the desk

c.       Looking at your computer screen that is 2-1/2 feet away by moving your head forward

d.      Sitting hunched in a chair or recliner

e.       Looking down at your computer screen or TV

f.        Doing dishes at the sink on top of a small rug or carpet strip

The answer here is f.  Standing on a carpet decreases stress on the spine more than standing on a hard floor.  That’s why a lot of the multimillion-dollar companies that set up booths at trade shows have carpeting in their booth on the floor.  They want to make you feel more comfortable and reduce the stress on your body that you’ve been feeling by walking for long periods of time.  It also helps their staff at the booth.

2. While I’m treating you, it’s important to NOT do any excessive lifting (over 15-20 lbs.) during the first 4-6 weeks of treatment.  In some cases, vacuuming and other household chores like laundry may be limited as well.  Ask me for specific instructions for your individual case.

So, now that we covered posture, next time we will be discussing your joints and nutritional support, so stay tuned.

Until then, have a chiropractor check your spine, as we are the ONLY health professionals properly trained to analyze, detect and correct subluxations which are misalignments of the vertebra that put pressure on the nerves and spinal cord and will decrease your over health and function.  Give your body the chance to be healthy naturally without drugs and surgery!