What is Lumbar Facet Syndrome? Lumbar facet syndrome is a relatively common cause of low back pain that originates from the posterior joints of the lumbar vertebra. Where the posterior (or back sides) of the vertebra form joints are called the facet (or zygapophyseal) joints. Facet syndrome is when these joints become irritated and inflamed,…
What is Piriformis Syndrome? Piriformis Syndrome is a disorder resulting from when the small piriformis muscle within your glute muscles irritates the sciatic nerve. The large sciatic nerve runs right next to (or even occasionally through in some people) the piriformis muscle. When the piriformis irritates the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain, numbness or…
What is a CSCS anyways? The CSCS certification is a jumble of letters many people aren’t likely to recognize unless they’re part of the sports/training world. It stands for Certified Stength and Conditioning Specialist and it’s governed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Those in the fitness/coaching/training worlds often recognize it as “the gold…
A Gentler Approach to Chiropractic Adjustments In addition to more traditional chiropractic adjustments that involve the “snaps” and “pops,” we also use some gentle techniques like Flexion/Distraction. These “low force” techniques can be just as effective (if not more so) at correcting the spine and decreasing symptoms. Many patients prefer Flexion/Distraction technique if they want…
Statins Statins are a commonly prescribed medication for people with high levels of LDL (or “Bad”) cholesterol. People are prescribed statins to lower their risk of having cardiovascular disease and prevent events like heart attack or stroke. As with most medications, statins also have their list of potential side effects. Rarely, people can experience more…
February is Heart Health Month and since heart disease remains atop the CDC’s leading causes of death list – let’s look at ways to reduce our relative risk. Among the top recommendations people will hear this month will include improving your diet, exercising more, or quitting smoking. Most people have heard many of these tips…
Winter is Coming Around this time of year, many of us Michiganders half laugh/half pout about the “6 months of winter” that’s just about to begin. Sure, there’s the fun of holidays and family get-togethers to look forward to. But we also have the luck of looking forward bitter cold, slush and ice, and extra…
One of the best parts of my day is being greeted by our dog Lucky at the door. It’s impossible to think it’s not his favorite part of the day too. As he’s running around in tight, little circles wagging his tail and squealing for joy – it’s like all of the day’s stress is…
The Pop Problem It’s 2018 and we have a wealth of information at our fingertips. Sure, it’s also the time of “fake news” and there seems to be lot of conflicting information out there – especially when it comes to health news. However, one narrative that really hasn’t changed is how drinking pop (“soda” or…
Migraines are more than just a bad headache. Migraines are a neurological disease that typically presents with an intense headache and/or other disabling symptoms. Migraine attacks will often come with one or more of the following symptoms: visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to lights, sounds, or smells, or odd sensations in the face or extremities.…
What is Tennis Elbow? Tennis elbow (aka lateral epicondylitis) is a painful condition that affects the muscles and tendons of the forearm where they attach to the outside of the elbow. It is typically from overuse of the muscles used to extend the wrist and fingers rather than from a single traumatic incident. If…
I tell people all the time that they can’t heal or get stronger without getting healthy sleep. But did you know a lack of sleep also puts you at an increased risk of injury? A 2014 study showed that grade-school athletes that got less than 8 hours of sleep were 1.7x more likely to…
Let me put it out there up front and apologize; getting adjusted will not get you the six pack abs you’ve been wishing for. Six-pack abs are built in the kitchen – but that’s a completely different topic. What I’m talking about is how getting spinal adjustments will help normalize how the muscles in your…
Turmeric is a spice that’s been used for thousands of years in Asian cultures but recently it’s popularity has really boomed – and for good reason. Many people are adding turmeric into their meal recipes or even taking turmeric supplements to reap some of its several health benefits. Curcumin, one of the main components in…
Rehabbing an overuse injury like tendonitis can be a real pain! If you overwork your injury the pain flares up to unbearable levels. The old recommendation of resting the injury until the symptoms fade doesn’t quite hold up either, as the pain often returns once you go back to your normal activities. So how do…
When it comes to diet, many people want to improve, but at the same time find themselves flustered and confused as to how they can. Given that there’s constantly new health food advice being put out on an almost daily basis, it’s easy to see how people can give up on trying to eat healthier.…