What is Sports Performance Care?

What is Sports Performance Care?

I LOVE being a chiropractor!  Why? Because it is one of the most diverse healthcare professions there is.  Ask ten different people what their chiropractor does, and you may get ten different answers.  That is because most chiropractors practice different adjusting styles and focus on different areas of treating the human body.  I call it the Chiropractic Spectrum.  There are over 100 named chiropractic techniques and many areas of specialization. 

One of my areas of focus is sports medicine and performance care.  I treat sports injuries and help athletes perform better, although you don’t have to be an elite level athlete to benefit from this type of care.  What I do is help people move better.  This is important because one’s ability to move is an indicator of their overall health.  After all, movement is a unique characteristic of living creatures.

So how do I improve mobility in my patients?  Well, my approach to treating injuries is three fold. 

1.       Eliminate joint restrictions

2.       Improve soft tissue mobility

3.       Strengthen the injured area

I incorporate several treatment modalities in my patient’s treatment plan to achieve these goals. 

Chiropractic Adjustments

The human body is a dynamic machine with many moving parts.  It is our joints that allow our bodies to move.  Sometimes our joints get locked up, or restricted and don’t move right.  This is called a subluxation.  All of the joints in the body have nerve endings, called mechanoreceptors that detect movement.  When these mechanoreceptors are stimulated by movement they secret chemicals that actually have the ability to override pain.  When the joints are not moving properly they also reduce your range of motion, and if you’re an athlete this is going to decrease your power output and limit your performance.

Active Release Technique and soft tissue therapy

Anytime you have an injury there is going to be a soft tissue component.  Soft tissue consists of muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues.  When these structures are injured the body lays down scar tissue.  If not treated, this scar tissue can severely decrease mobility and function of the soft tissue. In the case of injured muscles, this can lead to decreased strength and performance.

Active Release technique is a soft tissue therapy that treats injured muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerve entrapments.  I use ART to successfully treat a number of conditions.

Rehab Exercises

The final component sports performance care is to rehab the injured area.  When you have injured an area of the body and are not able to use it for a period of time, that body part is going to get weaker.  I use specific rehab exercises to not only strengthen the body, but to help prevent injuries from happening in the future.

I also incorporated other modalities into my Sports Performance Care treatment, such as functional tapping and Graston Technique.  If you would like to learn more about Sports Performance Care and how it can help you, please contact my office today at 850-222-5362.

 

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In Health,

Brian C.Burnett, D.C., M.S.
Chiropractic Physician
Brian Burnett Chiropractic, PL
1108 Hays St. Tallahassee, FL
O: 850-222-5362

 

DEATH BY SITTING

If you are like most people, you probably don't give a whole lot of thought to your posture throughout the day.  And you certainly don't think about your posture being bad for your health, but think again!
SITTING COULD BE KILLING YOU SLOWLY!!!

I see the adverse side effects of poor posture in my practice everyday.  These negative effects extend far beyond a stiff neck and back, but have more systemic and dangerous implications.  If you look at the major killers in Western culture, (heart disease, stroke, cancer, etc) all of these are perpetuated by our sedentary lifestyles.  Allow me to elaborate.

1. Decreased Brain Function:  The brain requires a tremendous amount of oxygen to thrive.  When the body is in motion, blood is being pumped to the brain and chemical processes can take place.  When we are sedentary, blood flow to the brain decrease and so does brain function.  If you suffer from mid-afternoon brain fog, then put down the coffee and go take some laps around your work place. 
2. Heart Disease:  Muscles burn less fat and blood flows more sluggishly during a long sit, allowing fatty acids to more easily clog the heart. Prolonged sitting has been linked to high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, and people with the most sedentary time are more than twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease than those with the least.
3. Pancreas:  The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that carries glucose to cells for energy. But cells in idle muscles don't respond as readily to insulin, so the pancreas produces more and more, which can lead to diabetes and other diseases. A 2011 study found a decline in insulin response after just one day of prolonged sitting.
4. Colon:  Studies have linked sitting to a greater risk for colon, breast and endometrial cancers. The reason is unclear, but one theory is that excess insulin encourages cell growth. Another is that regular movement boosts natural antioxidants that kill cell-damaging
   — and potentially cancer-causing — free radicals
5. Musculoskeletal Disorders:  Now time for my expertise.

• Neck pain: When you sit typing at a computer all day, your head naturally will begin to move forward.  This causes a tremendous amount of stress on the cervical vertebrae.  Every inch of forward head translation is the equivalent of 10lbs of tensions on the joints of the neck.  If this is done day in and day out for years, it can lead to degeneration of the cervical disc and joints.
• Upper Cross Syndrome: This is a fancy term for the muscle imbalance that occurs in the neck and shoulders from sitting all day.  Just like your head, when you sit all day your shoulders also roll forward.  This causes tight muscles in the chest and neck.  Likewise, the trapezius muscles, or shoulders, get very tight.  Imagine if you flexed your biceps all day.  Well, after 10 minutes they would be really sore.  The same thing is happening to your neck and shoulders when you sit all day.  As the muscles are continually contracted, lactic acid builds up forming painful trigger points. 
• Thoracic Kyphosis "Hunch Back": As we age, our intervertebral disc begin to dehydrate and shrink.  This leads to a decrease in height and can cause a hunch back that we commonly see in a lot of elderly people.  However, sitting for prolonged periods of time can cause this posture in much younger populations.  When are thoracic spine is in an over "flexed" position it will lead to neck problems.  It will also alter the biomechanics of the shoulder, predisposing you to shoulder injuries. 
• Low Back Pain:  There is no way around it.  sitting is terrible for your low back.  Studies have shown that sitting places a tremendous amount of stress on the low back.  Over time, this can lead to degenerative disc disease and possibly disc herniation.

I could go on at length, but I think you get the point.  So what are we supposed to do?  Our culture revolves around technology.  Now, I love technology as much as the next person, but I don't think we should have to sacrifice our health in the process. 

Here are a few simple action steps that you can take to avoid being another victim of a sedentary lifestyle. 

1. Regular visits to your chiropractor:  Chiropractors are trained in musculoskeletal conditions and can help keep your spine healthy and moving properly.
2. Exercise and stretch daily:  We all are aware of the many health benefits of exercise.  Just one more reason to do it.  Keeping your muscles strong and flexible will help to counteract many of the side effects of sitting.
3. Practices Good Posture:  The majority of us do sit at school or our jobs, so if you do have to sit for a prolonged period of time, then practice good posture.  Sit up straight with your head back.  Relax your shoulders and keep your arms to your side.  Use a lumbar support to keep the normal curve in your low back.  Take periodic breaks to get up and stretch. 

If you have any more questions, please contact me. 


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In Health,

Brian C.Burnett, D.C., M.S.
Chiropractic Physician
Brian Burnett Chiropractic, PL
1108 Hays St. Tallahassee, FL
O: 850-222-5362

What is TMJD and what can I do about it?

 What is TMJ DYSFUNCTION?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts as a sliding hinge joint, connecting your jaw bone to your skull.  The TMJ open and closes your mouth allowing you to talk, chew food, and yawn.  TMJ dysfunction is a serious disorder of the joint and muscles around it that may cause:

·         Pain in the jaw, face or neck

·         Stiff jaw muscles

·         Limited movement or locking of the jaw making it difficult to open and close your mouth

·         Painful clicking or popping in the jaw

 

Causes

The temporomandibular joint combines hinge action with sliding motions.  The parts of the bones that interact in the joint are covered with cartilage and are separated by a small shock-absorbing disk, which normally keeps the movement smooth. 

Painful TMJ Dysfunction can occur by:

·         Clenching or grinding the teeth at night

·         The joint is damaged by a blow or impact

·         The disk erodes or moves out of its proper alignment

·         The joint’s cartilage is damaged by arthritis

 

Treatment

Most cases of TMJ dysfunction are associated with tight jaw muscles and restricted joint motion.  In some cases, the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction may resolve on their own.  However, if they don’t, there are a number of treatment options available.   My approach to treating TMJ dysfunction is to address the tight muscles through soft tissue therapies and the joint restriction through chiropractic manipulation. 

Here are the treatments that I offer for TMJ dysfunction:

·         Active Release Technique

·         Massage

·         Chiropractic adjustments

·         Home exercises and stretching

·         Counseling and education

 

If you or someone you know is suffering from TMJ pain, call today to schedule an appointment.  850-222-5362

 

 

You can visit my Facebook page to learn more about other services that I offer.

 

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