Fort Myers Chiropractor.com

Proper office ergonomics can make all the difference in the way you feel at the end of the work day. Reducing little bits of repeated stress from your day equals less stress overall by the end of the day.

The American Chiropractic Association published the following article that gives some great tips on how to reduce stress at work.

By Chris Sorrells

Nearly anyone who has used a computer has experienced discomfort in the neck at some point. The most common cause is overuse of the neck musculature to hold the head up, instead of letting the spine do the job. This occurs when the worker juts the head forward while viewing the screen. People are rarely conscious they are doing this. When a screen is too far away for the eyes to see properly, our heads move closer to the screen to fix the problem. Unfortunately, this creates other problems such as neck strain.

Adjusting the Monitor
In general the screen should be about an arm’s length away; it can be moved within a six-inch range, either way, depending on the worker’s vision. Monitors should always be placed where the user can look straight at them. Constantly looking off to one side to view the screen creates static load in the neck musculature, as well as muscle imbalances that can add up to significant injury. Adjustable monitor arms allow the screen to be placed in front of the worker and then slid out of the way for other tasks.

For users without glasses or for those who use single-vision lenses, the top of the glass screen should be at eye height. This position will let the eyes gaze down on the screen at the preferred angle. Workers who have bifocals will often tilt the head up to view the screen through the lower part of the lenses. The best solution is to discuss single-vision computer glasses with an optometrist. Otherwise, workers should lower the screen a few inches, so they can view the monitor with the head in a straight forward position, without the chin pointing up or down.

Positioning the Chair
A properly adjusted office chair is the most important tool that allows an office worker to work efficiently and safely. If there is insufficient lumbar support, patients can compensate with a back support, rolled towel or small pillow. If the seat is too deep—keeping the workers from being supported—they can use a back support or full-length pillow to take up the extra room.

In addition, educate your patients about how to adjust their chairs:

• Lower the chair until feet are well supported on the ground.  If they are not firmly planted, use a footrest to provide support.
• Adjust the seat depth so there is one-to-three-fingers’ space between the front of the chair and the back of the knee.
• The seat angle and the backrest should allow for approximately a 105-degree angle between the torso and thighs. Sitting too upright increases the pressure in the lumbar intervertebral discs. Leaning too far back will cause the neck to compensate, putting it at risk.
• Adjust the armrests so they are one inch below the forearms. If the patient has any neck issues, bring the armrests up to provide support, without reaching down or up to use them.

Choosing a Keyboard
Design
Most keyboards have a standard design copied from typewriters with a number pad thrown on the right side for increased efficiency. Users typically plop down in front of the computer and center themselves between the side of the keyboard on the left and the mouse on the right.  Now the right arm is externally rotated and reaching to use the mouse and then reaching across the mid-line of the body to type, so it is never in a good position.

The best solutions are to move the mouse to the left or use a keyboard that has the number pad on the left side.  Workers can then center themselves by lining the bellybutton up with the “B” key.

Angle
Due to the variability of people’s shoulder widths and forearm lengths, many workers cannot use a standard keyboard without sustained ulnar deviation at the wrists. This causes static use and overload of the forearm muscles. A keyboard that allows angle and pitch adjustments is the solution to this problem.

Reach
Reaching to use a keyboard that is too high forces the upper traps to fire continuously, creating tension, fatigue and pain. A keyboard tray is the most helpful of the ergonomic tools, as it can fix problems ranging from excessive reach for the keyboard and mouse to improper wrist angles when typing.  Since the proper writing height is several inches higher than the proper typing height, the tray will allow both functions to be performed safely.

Rest Breaks and Task Rotation
To work properly over time, muscles need a break to rid themselves of lactic acid and waste products while delivering oxygen to the tissues to prevent overuse and damage.

Teach patients to take a 15-second micro-break each hour. This is an easy solution for employers to accept, which helps gain compliance. During the micro-breaks, the office workers should shake their arms out or do simple stretches you can provide for them. Computer users should also frequently look away from their screen to focus on something about 20 feet away. This allows a break for the eye muscles. If they can’t seem to remember to take breaks, an egg timer can serve as a reminder. A software program such as RSI Guard can also help workers tailor breaks to the amount of work.

People are always concerned about how it will look if they seem to be taking too many breaks or are unproductive. By spreading tasks, like going to the fax and copier, returning phone calls and meeting with co-workers throughout the day, they can still be productive while giving their body a break from the computer.

Starting with these simple adjustments, your patients who work in an office should feel happier and healthier at their jobs in no time.

Chris Sorrells is the president of www.ErgonomicsSimplified.com, a free online resource for health professionals. He can be reached at Chris@ErgonomicsSimplified.com.

Dr Rob

Fort Myers / Estero – 590-9555

LaBelle – 675-8900

Exciting news about chiropractic that has been known for years but has not always been heard by medical ears…

Esteemed authors Niteesh Choudhry, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School and Arnold Milstein, MD, Mercer Health and Benefits, San Francisco, CA, developed this authoritative report which reviews the existing peer reviewed literature and arrives at the following conclusions:

* Chiropractic care is widely used with almost half of all patients with persistent back pain seeking out this form of treatment.
* “Chiropractic care for the treatment for low back and neck pain is highly cost effective, represents a good value in comparison to medical physician care and to widely accepted cost effectiveness thresholds.”
* “The addition of chiropractic coverage for the treatment of low back and neck pain…will likely increase value-for-dollar by improving clinical outcomes…”
* “We project that insurance coverage for chiropractic physician care…is likely to drive improved cost effectiveness of US care.”
* “Our findings support the value of health insurance coverage of chiropractic care for low back and neck pain at average fees currently payable by US commercial insurers.”

About the Authors:

Niteesh Choudhry, MD, PhD: Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and Associate Physician in the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics and the Hospitalist Program at Brigham and Women?s Hospital.

Arnold Milstein, M.D, MPH: Medical Director of the Pacific Business Group on Health(PBGH),the largest employer health care purchasing coalition in the US.. He is also Chief Physician at Mercer Health and Benefits, San Francisco, California.

Dr. Rob

Fort Myers 590-9555

LaBelle 675-8900

Back pain is a common ailment, suffered by up to 80% of the population at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, because the back is such a complex structure, many people are unsure what has caused their pain and what to do about it. Adding to the confusion is often conflicting reports in the media about what preventative and at-home treatments work. So how does one know what to do? It is first important to understand the spine, the most common injuries, and where to turn for help.

About The Back

The spine is a column of 24 bones (vertebrae), cushion by spinal discs, and moved and supported by muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Built into these bones are openings top to bottom and through each side. Through these openings pass most of the body’s nerves — from the brain to all of the body’s tissues and organs. The spine itself is divided into four main sections — cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacrum/coccyx (tailbone). The lower back, or lumbar region, is where most back pain is felt.

Common causes of back pain are:

Muscle fatigue can be caused by many factors — either as an accumulation of factors over a period of time or as a result of a single activity for which your body was not prepared. The more common factors include:
Improper posture.
Incorrect lifting techniques.
Repetitive twisting, bending, or reaching.

Sprains and strains from injuries and/or trauma. Symptoms of back sprain or strain generally include:
Muscle spasms, cramps, and stiffness. Pain aggravated by weight bearing or specific movements, which is relieved by rest.

Disc problems and arthritis from repetitive trauma of bending, lifting, old injuries, and heredity. Symptoms can include:
Progressive or persistent back and/or leg pain.
Extremity numbness or tingling.
Increased pain or coughing, sneezing, or laughing.

Sciatica is caused when the sciatic nerve, which runs down the length of both legs, is compressed or inflamed. The nerve can be irritated by things such as an injury to the low back or by sitting too long on a lumpy object (such as a wallet). Symptoms of sciatica include:
Pain that runs from the low back to the back of the leg toward the toes.
Pain worsened by activities that add pressure to the spine — such as laughing, coughing, sneezing.

Beating Back Pain:

There is no way to predict accidents but there are things that you can do to strengthen your back and reduce the risk of muscle fatigue, sprain, strain, disc problems or sciatica.
Where non-slip shoes.
Avoid long hours in one posture (whether sitting, standing, or sleeping).
Drive defensively.
Use ladders when reaching high places (rather than chairs, boxes, or other objects not intended for standing).
Exercise. Active, aerobically fit individuals have fewer back injuries, miss fewer workdays, and report fewer back pain symptoms.
Quit smoking. Some evidence suggests that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have lower back pain.
Proper bending and lifting techniques.

Chiropractic and Back Pain

Chiropractic examination is thorough and may include:
A complete medical history, including previous treatments and other factors that may play a role in the current case.
X-rays or other imaging tests (if clinically necessary).
Tests of range of motion, strength, coordination, posture, and others.
Physical examination, including (but not limited to) orthopedic and neurologic testing, laboratory work-ups, etc.
Palpation (examination by touch).

Chiropractic treatment will be based on the results of all tests performed. Because each case is different, each person’s treatment is different. All chiropractic modalities are non-invasive (do not pierce the skin), drugless, and promote overall health. Treatments commonly used in the chiropractic office included (but are not limited to):
The treatment most unique to chiropractic is spinal adjustment or manipulation. The Doctor of Chiropractic often, but not always, performs this method of care manually. Each adjustment is chosen following careful examination and should never be performed by someone who has not been thoroughly educated, trained and licensed in this procedure. The purpose of the adjustment/manipulation is to improve alignment of spinal structures as they relate to the nervous system, which will result in a relief of pain, improved function, and a reduction of inflammation. For back pain, adjustments may be applied to the spine, but if pain radiates to or affects other locations, those sites may be adjusted as well.
Therapies such as electrical muscle stimulation, massage, application of heat or ice, ultrasound, or others may be used.
The Doctor of Chiropractic will incorporate advice on appropriate exercise, posture, diet and nutrition, and other lifestyle factors that can play a role in health and healing.

To hasten your recovery from back pain — and to prevent re-injury — follow all of your chiropractors recommendations, including follow-up visits and prescribed rest and exercise. And when you have questions, ASK! Your active participation in your care is an essential component to your chiropractic treatment.

www.DrRobWatkins.com

• Purchase equipment that fits. Don’t try to adapt your swing to the wrong clubs: A six-footer playing with irons designed for someone five inches shorter is begging for back trouble.
• For the women in golf: If you have “inherited” your husband’s or significant other’s golf clubs, they might be difficult for you to use. Not only are the clubs often too long, but the shaft is often not flexible enough for a woman’s grip. Women typically play better with clubs that are composed of lighter, more flexible material, such as graphite.
• For the men in golf: It is a good idea to spend some extra time performing quality stretches-before and after your game-to increase your trunk flexibility. While men are traditionally stronger than women, they usually aren’t as flexible. Men need to improve their flexibility to maintain a more even and consistent swing plane and thus improve the likelihood of more consistent performance.
• For senior golfers: If you show some signs of arthritis in the hands, consider a larger, more specialized grip for added safety and performance.
• For all golfers: For some, scores may not be as important as enjoying the social benefits of the game. Having clubs that are comfortable will increase the chances of playing for a long time without significant physical limitations.
• Take lessons. Learning proper swing technique is critical. At the end of the swing, you want to be standing up straight; the back should not be twisted.
• Wear orthotics. These custom-made shoe inserts support the arch, absorb shock, and increase coordination. “Studies show custom-made, flexible orthotics can improve the entire body’s balance, stability and coordination, which translates into a smoother swing and reduced fatigue,” Dr. Stude says. While the upper part of a shoe may score style points, what the foot rests on affects your game.
• Avoid metal spikes. They tear up greens and can increase stress on your ankles, knees and back.

I hope that these tips can help. Feel free to contact me for consultation about your back and your game.

www.DrRobWatkins.com

Fort Myers – 590-9555

LaBelle – 675-8900

Chiropractic care is not only a great choice for your back pain but studies show that it is more cost-effective and better than medications for a positive outcome.

The American Chiropractic Association just released an article outlining the results of several studies showing the benefit of Chiropractic care for chronic lower back pain and chronic spinal pain.

“The cost-effectiveness and safety of chiropractic has been documented in several studies. ACA is pleased that insurance companies are starting to recognize the value that doctors of chiropractic and other conservative providers can offer to their members,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. “Especially during the health care reform debate, it’s important that chiropractic and other conservative care methods are taken into serious consideration as a cost-effective alternative to the utilization of expensive surgery and hospital-based care,” he added.

Wellmark conducted the Physical Medicine Pilot on Quality in 2008 for Iowa and South Dakota physical medicine providers. A total of 238 chiropractors, physical therapists and occupational therapists provided care to 5,500 members with musculoskeletal disorders. According to Wellmark, data from participating clinicians show that 89 percent of the patients treated in the pilot reported a greater than 30-percent improvement in 30 days.

The pilot compared data for Wellmark members who received care from doctors of chiropractic or physical therapists with a member population with similar demographics who did not receive such services. The comparison showed that those who received chiropractic care or physical therapy were less likely to have surgery and experienced lower total health care costs, according to Wellmark.

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, headaches and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. A significant amount of evidence shows that chiropractic care for certain conditions can be more effective and less costly than traditional medical care. Recent research includes:

• A study published in the October 2005 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) found that chiropractic and medical care have comparable costs for treating chronic low-back pain, with chiropractic care producing significantly better outcomes.
• A March 2004 study in JMPT found that chiropractic care is more effective than medical care at treating chronic low-back pain in patients’ first year of symptoms.
• A study published in a 2003 edition of the medical journal Spine found that manual manipulation provides better short-term relief of chronic spinal pain than do a variety of medications.

Chiropractic care helps millions every year. Let us help you today, call 239-590-9555 in Fort Myers and 863-675-8900 in LaBelle.

Dr. Rob Watkins

Fixing People in Pain!

Our cars are like our favorite shoes. We use them often to get us from place to place. But many forget that cars can be dangerous if not respected for their potential danger. I’m not talking about drinking and driving or road rage, but the dangers inherent in our cars that we may not even be aware of. I am talking about airbags.

Some picture an airbag as a soft pillow that is quickly placed in front of you moments before an auto accident. Although airbags save many lives, they can be very dangerous. Airbags deploy in 1/20 of a second which is about 160 mph, faster than you can blink your eyes. A controlled explosive device is necessary to inflate the bag at this speed creating quite a hard surface to strike.

Though airbags save many lives, they often cause a variety of injuries. Most injuries are friction burns from the bag itself scrubbing the arms of the driver when it deploys, but fractures of wrists and arms occur as well.

In the video above I talk about the potential for serious injury due to the improper position of the front seat passenger. Propping your feet up on the dash could pretty much guarantee you severe lower extremity or leg fractures with any airbag deployment. Even if an emergency stop was made while a passenger was in this position and the airbag did not go off, the angle and the direction of the passenger’s weight would cause them to slide underneath the lap belt into the floor in front of them. This would likely cause neck and face injury after sliding or catching under the lap belt. NOT FUN!

Oh, and by the way, if you use the excuse of having an airbag to rationalize why you don’t wear your seat belt… Consider this: some airbags will not deploy unless the seat belt is on.

It didn’t take long to learn that the force of an airbag can hurt those who are too close to it. Researchers have determined that the risk zone for driver airbags is the first 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) of inflation. So, placing yourself 10 inches (25 cm) from your driver airbag gives you a clear margin of safety. Measure this distance from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you currently sit less than 10 inches away, you can adjust your driving position in the following ways:

• Move your seat to the rear as far as possible while still reaching the pedals comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of your seat. Although car designs vary, most drivers can achieve the 10-inch distance even with the driver seat all the way forward by slightly reclining the back of the seat. If reclining the seat makes it hard to see the road, you can raise yourself up by using your car’s seat-raising system (not all cars have this!) or a firm, non-slippery cushion to achieve the same effect.
• Point the airbag toward your chest, instead of your head and neck, by tilting your steering wheel downward (this only works if your steering wheel is adjustable).

The rules are different for children. An airbag can seriously injure or even kill an unbuckled child who is sitting too close to it or is thrown toward the dash during emergency braking. Experts agree that the following safety points are important:

• Children 12 and under should ride buckled up in a properly installed, age-appropriate car seat in the rear seat.
• Infants in rear-facing child seats (under one year old and weighing less than 20 pounds / 10 kg) should never ride in the front seat of a car that has a passenger-side airbag.
• If a child over one year old must ride in the front seat with a passenger-side airbag, he or she should be in a front-facing child safety seat, a booster seat or a properly fitting lap/shoulder belt, and the seat should be moved as far back as possible.

If you have been in an accident, please call for a consultation about your injuries. Prompt treatment is important.

www.DrRobWatkins.com

Fort Myers – 590-9555

LaBelle – 675-8900

An injury caused by a rapid forward movement and subsequent backward movement of the cervical spine (neck) is commonly known as “whiplash.” A severe fall or auto accident are typical examples of conditions under which whiplash occurs. In an auto accident, an impact from behind snaps the head backwards and then trusts the head forward by the cars deceleration.

Common reactions to such an injury are stiffness, headaches, shoulder, neck or arm pain, dizziness, visual problems, nausea, vomiting, chest pain or blood pressure irregularities, to name a few. But many of these symptoms may be delayed.

The symptoms of a whiplash injury may not be felt for several hours and in some cases years after the accident. Typically, however, the detection of irregularities is recognized 12 to 24 hours after the accident.

Further compounding the problem of whiplash detection is that the symptoms can show up in many different parts of the body. To the unaware victim they can appear unrelated to the neck.

*Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine (1999): Study concluded that Chiropractic treatment is the only proven effective treatment for chronic whiplash

The science of chiropractic is specifically directed towards the structural balance of the spine and a nervous system. Since our expertise is in this area, a chiropractic examination should be sought following any injury that involves a cervical spine. Chiropractors properly aligned and improve the mobility of the spine and are trained to take direct action in cases of trauma injuries such as whiplash.

Immediate attention can deter the development of many problems later on. When the muscles and ligaments that hold the neck vertebrae in place are strained or torn, spinal derangement usually occurs. When left untreated, the eventual result is serious degeneration.

If you are involved in an accident or a fall in which you suspect that your spine (especially your neck) may have been strained, call a chiropractor immediately.

The Benefit of X-rays in the Diagnosis of Whiplash Symptoms

X-rays of the spine serve a dual purpose: to analyze the position of the vertebra in order to locate misalignments that cause pressure or irritation to the nerves within the spine, and to make certain that no complications exist, such as fractures, dislocations or malformations that could further delay the patients recovery. For this reason, when visiting a chiropractic clinic for injuries such as whiplash, x-rays will most likely be given as a routine part of the examination and diagnostic process.

Because whiplash symptoms are often delayed a minimal of 12 to 24 hours, patients having visited the hospital or MD may not have been properly treated.

Even if whiplash symptoms were detected, a chiropractic examination would still be in order because of our specialized training in recognizing and treating spinal irregularities.

In either case, x-rays may have been taken at the hospital. These x-rays are often released when requested. However, new x-rays may be ordered. The hospital technician may not be aware of the precise area a chiropractor must view or how important it is to have the spine in the correct position to notice some of the more subtle irregularities.

X-rays taken in a chiropractor’s office are administered by or directly supervised by a doctor who will make sure that the patient’s neck and back are in the proper position for optimal x-rays.

Because the x-ray is one of the doctors most important diagnostic tools in detecting the symptoms of whiplash, it is imperative that they are taken properly. In any trauma injury such as whiplash, expect a thorough chiropractic examination that includes x-rays.

Whiplash a Case History:

There are hundreds of case histories that demonstrate how effective chiropractors are at treating whiplash victims.

One such case involved a young housewife whose car was struck from behind while waiting at the traffic light. There was very minor damage and no one seemed hurt. Later that day, she had a noticeable headache.

The next morning she felt even worse. She contacted her insurance company and was sent to a doctor for an examination. She was told the stiffness and headache was temporary and would go away in a couple of days. It was implied that she was looking for sympathy or a settlement.

After several days the pain did not go away. Her father suggested that she see a chiropractor. She and her husband agreed.

A preliminary c

Spinal discs -  not disks.

Spinal discs are shock absorbers of the spine and they can bulge, herniate, degenerate and tear, but they don’t “slip.”There are 3 curves in the spine. One in your, one in your middle back and also in the lower back. The spinal discs and these 3 curves serve as the “shock absorbers” of your body. Separating each vertebra, they create space for the spinal nerves to exit the spinal cord. These nerves go to the organs and tissues of your body. The bulk of the discs contain rings of fibrous tissue called the annulus and the center of the disc is more of a soft jelly consistency.

We generally see two types of disc problems:

1. A bulging disc is defined as a weakened area of the annulus that can allow the softer center of the disc to bulge out like a balloon. Similar to a tire that bulges at a weak point when under pressure. This can put pressure on nearby nerves. Bulging discs respond well to Chiropractic care. You see when spinal vertebrae misalign, it puts the disc under a torque which can cause it to bulge. Aligning the spinal vertebrae can relieve the pressure and torque allowing the disc to return to normal. With improved spinal function we’ve seen many cases in which surgery was threatened, resolve nicely.

2. Herniated Disc: A herniated or ruptured disc is more serious. It can occur anywhere in the spine, but seems most common in the lower back due to increased stress on the lower region of the spine. This is when part of the soft center pushes out through a weakened area due to trauma or degeneration, putting pressure on the spinal cord.

Stretching techniques, simple exercises, such as walking, increased water intake and improved nutrition offer a natural, non-surgical resolution for many disc problems.

Many Chiropractors are offering disc decompression procedures that are very effective and the changes can be seen comparing pre and post MRI studies.

Keep your spine in line so you can feel fine!
If you need a chiropractor in SW Florida, visit SWFLSpinalCare.com.