SEPTEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER

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Sep 1, 2017 - Dr. Joe and his staff helped my family and I through debilitating back and neck pain. Utilizing his staff'
SEPTEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER Heads Up: Can Chiropractic Care Treat Concussions? What is a Concussion? Injuries to the head and neck during sports, accidents, and other traumatic events are common. Two of the most frequently occurring conditions in the head and neck area are whiplash (a particular neck injury from high velocity forces) and concussion (a closed-head injury, sometimes called mild traumatic brain injury). These two injuries could both occur during the same incident, but not always in ways that are immediately obvious. Because I explore whiplash more thoroughly in another essay on this website, I’m choosing here to focus on concussion. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), between 2001 and 2009, an estimated 173,285 people under age 19 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for concussions related to sports and recreation activities. Other causes include car and bicycle accidents, work-related injuries, falls, and fights.

A hard blow to the head can shake the brain inside the skull, resulting in bruising, broken blood vessels, or nerve damage to the brain. There no outward bleeding or opening in the skull, it could result in a closed brain injury. An open brain injury is when an object penetrates the skull and goes into the brain. How Can You Tell If You Have Had a Concussion? Concussions are usually not life threatening. Even so, their effects can be serious. Concussive symptoms usually fall in one of four categories:   

Thinking/remembering Physical Emotional/mood



Sleep

Red Flags           

Any difficulty walking Any loss of consciousness, confusion, or significant agitation One pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other Loss of ability to identify people, places, the date, or self Loss of motion or sensation, weakness, numbness or loss of coordination Persistent, worsening headache Repeated vomiting Slurred speech or difficulty with expression Seizures Kids will not stop crying and cannot be consoled Kids will not nurse or eat

Get to the ER right away if you have any of these danger signs after any type of head injury, no matter how minor it may seem.

What Do Chiropractors Do for People with Concussions? Most medical journals will say, “There are no treatments for concussions other than prevention of an additional injury. “

Any blow to the head will cause a misalignment of the cervical spine (a symptom similar to whiplash). A chiropractor can evaluate whether you demonstrate signs of neck injuries commonly associated with concussions, and provide you with relief of neck pain and headaches. According to the literature reviews, one of the most important recommendations that a chiropractor will tell you what to do for concussion is this: If you or your loved one is in sports and suffers a blow to the head, and/or experiences signs of a concussion, do not let them continue playing the sport. He or she needs to rest until totally healed from the concussion. Only after symptoms subside is it time to get back into the game. Ease into the sports play again. Don’t expect to jump back in, full force. This will prevent the return of symptoms. Additional guidelines your chiropractor will give you for concussion include no alcohol, recreational drugs, aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and sleep agents should be consumed. Use Tylenol for pain, if necessary. By all means, do not drive until you can return to the sport. Chiropractors can help with a range of other sports injuries, and one study even found that it was the most effective conservative method for reducing sports-related back pain.

Tip of The Month

Can Yoga Help Patients with Chronic Pain Chronic pain is one of the most common complaints in the developed world. One of the biggest problems with chronic pain is its effect on the brain, both physically and emotionally. “Psychic exhaustion” is a term often used to describe this crippling effect. In fact, a study done at the Stanford University School of Medicine identified a set of changes in key parts of the brain that may explain chronic pain’s capacity to stifle motivation. Dr. Robert Malenka, the co-director of the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neuroscience writes, “With chronic pain, your whole life changes in a way that doesn’t happen with acute pain. Yet this absence of motivation caused by chronic pain, which can continue even when the pain is transiently relieved, has been largely ignored by medical science.” Dr. M. Catherine Bushnell, a scientific director at the National Institutes of Health notes, “Imaging studies in multiple types of chronic pain patients show their brains differ from healthy control subjects. Studies of people with depression show they also have reduced gray matter, and this could contribute to the gray matter changes in pain patients who are depressed.

Our research shows that gray matter loss is directly related to the pain when we take depression into account.” So, what does yoga have to do with chronic pain? Dr. Bushnell adds that studies show yoga practitioners have more gray matter than non-yoga practitioners in multiple brain regions, including those involved in pain modulation. She adds, “Some gray matter increases in yogis correspond to duration of yoga practice, which suggests there is a causative link between yoga and gray matter increases.” If further research confirms yoga benefits the brains of people who already have chronic pain, someday doctors may prescribe yoga to this class of patients as part of their overall treatment strategy.

Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal and maintain the pain free body you deserve. This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.

Beginners, all levels welcome. Open to public. Guests welcome.

Be prepared to be amazed by your own ability! Learn proper body alignment, breathing techniques, a better way to move. Bring your own yoga mat. Dress comfortably.

Pre-register at the front desk: 724-444-6644. Instructor: Kimberly Hanley, RYT200 $12 per person per class Package: 6 classes for $60 (to be used within a 12 week period)

Tuesdays 6 pm- 6:45 at HealthyWays, first floor.

Massage is More than You Think! See for Yourself!!! ***Schedule A Massage Today*** It takes a skilled therapist to pinpoint your pain source, and with chiropractic and rehab exercises, you will see improvements within a short period of time.

Schedule with Kimberly today:

724-444-6644

Natural Weapon Against Urinary Tract Infections. If you suffer from a urinary tract infection (UTI), especially a drugresistant UTI, this information may be very helpful. Doctors and researchers have known for quite some time that bacteria evolve and become resistant or “immune” to treatments such as antibiotics. One of the most commonly known and dangerous is Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which is an infection caused by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the most common extra intestinal bacterial infections and the second most common infectious disease encountered in community practice. UTI alone poses a serious health problem affecting about 150 million people each year around the world. Antibiotics have revolutionized medicine in many respects and their discovery was a turning point in medicinal history. Regrettably, the misuse of these wonder drugs has been accompanied by the rapid appearance of resistant strains. Because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, there is an urgent need to explore alternative non-antibiotic treatments to help effectively manage these infections. Garlic (Allium sativum) has been traditionally used for the treatment of different diseases since ancient times. Researchers from the University of East London took aqueous extracts of allicin, a compound found in garlic, and formulated a simple cream. When the cream was applied to vast swathes of the so-called “superbug” MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), it eliminated them. In a study conducted at the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences in India, researchers found that “even crude extracts of [garlic] showed good activity against multidrug resistant strains where antibiotic therapy had limited or no effect.” This provides hope for developing alternative treatments which may be of help in fighting the menace of growing antibacterial resistance around the world.

Featured Product of the Month RockTape First used by acupuncturists and chiropractors in Japan, today kinesiology tape is used by practitioners throughout the world to treat injuries and improve sports performance, including shin splints, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and back pain. RockTape microscopically lifts the skin away from the muscle and fascia below, creating a decompressive effect. Stretchier, stickier and stronger than the competition, RockTape is preferred by athletes and medical professionals throughout the world. RockTape is made from 97% cotton and 3% nylon. The adhesive is a hypo-allergenic, acrylic-based and contains no latex. Ask How This Can Benefit You!

WELCOME NEW PATIENTS Katrina M. from Gibsonia. Ellen K. from Gibsonia. Kara B. from Gibsonia. Brian B. from Gibsonia. Nancy K. from Allison Park. Referred by Linda S. Thank You! Melanie S. from Butler. Referred by Robbie C. Thank You! Kelly S. from Glenshaw. Referred by Carson S. Thank You! Adam H. from Bairdford. Noah N. from Gibsonia. Referred by Lynn N. Thank You! Jose P. From Gibsonia. Referred by Christine P. Thank You! Caitlyn T. from Gibsonia. Referred by Melissa H. Thank You! Dennis C. from Valencia. Referred by Chris C. Thank You! Colleen P. from Gibsonia. Referred by Don R. Thank You! Audrey A. from Wildwood. Referred by Joe A. Thank You! Brian M. from Gibsonia. Daniel A. from Gibsonia. Referred by Arlene G. Thank You!

Patient of the Month Congratulations to Kaila O., September’s Patient of the Month!

We are excited to present Kaila with a Free 30 Minute Massage and Restaurant Gift Certificate to thank her for being an exemplary patient. We look forward to naming each of you as patient of the month!

Patient Testimonials Pam D. I highly recommend Dr. Pettinato' office if you need chiropractic care, massage, or rehabilitation. Dr. Joe and Dr. Kate are excellent chiropractors. The office is amazingly clean and cheerful. The staff are all extremely friendly and accommodating. When you walk out of there you feel better physically and emotionally! John H. Phenomial service and care! Dr. Joe and his staff helped my family and I through debilitating back and neck pain. Utilizing his staff's full service (chirp, rehab, and pain mgmt) we are all returning to full mobility and function. Caila O. I came to Pettinato Chiropractic Center as the result of a torn hamstring as well as chronic migraines. Doctor Joe and his team provided professional service and top notch care. He took the time to perform x-rays, listen to my symptoms, and co-develop a plan for recovery. I can definitely say I am well on the road to recovery. I have already referred one coworker, and will continue to recommend his practice for any health related needs.