An important part of managing your self wellness and health care is knowing what questions to ask your provider. Every person’s needs are unique, and your questions will change over time. Whether you are a current patient or would just like free advice from a local Dallas Chiropractor via email, please feel free to contact Dr. Mascio anytime. A few examples of the questions Dr. Mascio commonly receive’s are below.
I use a backpack every day, and I’m very careful to make sure that I use both straps of my backback, and distribute the weight evenly. Even so at the end of the day, I still have pain in my shoulders and neck… I thought a backpack was better than carrying a bag over one shoulder… What’s the deal?
Using a backpack to transport heavy items that are too cumbersome to carry can actually be a bad a thing if it’s done all the time. Although we have amazing tensile strength in our back muscles, we do tend to over do it with how much stuff we shove in our backpacks.
I recommend to my clients that they don’t carry more than 20 pounds at any given time. This considerably decreases the chance of straining your back muscles. I see high school students on their way home from time to time. This is a generation of kids that is going to have postural problems for years to come. These kids are carrying 60 plus pounds on their backs everyday. They walk all hunched over, during the years that are critical for the development of the body: teenagers are growing at such fast pace it’s hard to keep up. It’s also a time they form life long habits, for better or worse.
Purchase a rolling cart or rolling bag instead of schlepping stuff around in a backpack. If you have high school age kids, have them carry only what they need every day, 20 pounds or less, with shoulders back… many backpacks are like walking garages… filled with junk that never gets used or even looked at.
Osteoporosis runs in my family. Is there anything I can do to prevent it from happening to me?
Coffee drinkers who do not get adequate calcium are more likely to have decreased bone mineral density than those who take calcium supplements, say researchers from the Department Of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
In a recent study evaluating post-menopausal women 50-98 years of age , researchers found a statistically significant association between increasing lifetime intakes of caffeinated coffee and decreasing bone mineral density of both hip and spine.
However, the investigators reported that bone density did not vary with lifetime coffee intake in women who reported consuming at least 500-1000mg calcium per day during most of their adult lives.
Osteoporosis testing can be cleanly, safely and effectively done through urine analysis. This low cost non-invasive diagnostic test, looks at the collagen levels in the urine to determine bone density loss. Once bone loss has been established, it can be arrested with proper nutritional supplementation. Weight bearing exercises like weight training or low impact aerobics can help in maintaining bone density as well. Currently, most calcium supplements on the market are not absorbed by the body. The Hydroxyappetite form of calcium is easily absorbed and therefore best utilized.
i’ve just returned from skiing and my neck is a mess…is there something i can do to prevent skiing related injuries, and still put in time on the slopes?
Neck injuries can be avoided and pain can be greatly reduced with a comprehensive year long fitness program,” according to Dr. Friedman, a prominent New York City chiropractor. “The program should include strengthening exercises for the legs, stretching to improve muscle flexibility and, most importantly, routine chiropractic care to maintain the integrity and elasticity of the muscles and spinal column.
A series of chiropractic adjustments prior to hitting the slopes can reduce the risk of severe injury,” says Dr. Friedman. “When the spine is out of alignment the individual loses muscle mobility and dexterity, creating potential hazards on the slopes to themselves and others. When the spine is misaligned, the muscles in the lower back, legs and knees do not function at maximum capacity. The muscles are forced to work against the body instead of with it; in practical terms this means the muscles become exhausted and fail to move as rapidly as they would otherwise. When an accident occurs, and the body is out of alignment, the muscles have less mobility and elasticity to sustain the fall. What could be a minor injury often becomes a disastrous one because the muscles are unable to absorb the fall or twist?
i get headaches all the time, I’m really stressed out at work can chiropractic treatment help me?
Chronic headaches accompanied by tension get the most relief from a combination of regular gentle chiropractic treatment of the upper cervical spine, cranial adjustments and sedative herbs (Passion flower, St. John’s Wort, Valerian) and an anti-inflammatory (feverfew, meadowsweet, willow bark) and an antispasmodic (cramp bark, wild yam, passionflower). Vascular headaches respond well to stimulants (Gingko, nettle, peppermint). Migraine headaches also respond well to vitamin B2 and Magnesium daily.
Herbal Teas for Headaches
General headache relief: Sage, rosemary, peppermint and wood betony; steep equal parts of each herb in boiling water and take every 2 hours until relief is obtained.
Relaxing headache relief: Skullcap, valerian, rosemary, chamomile, and peppermint; a cup of tea should be taken every hour.
Migraine relief: Use equal parts black horehound, meadowsweet, and chamomile; make as an infused tea and drink to relieve vascular headaches accompanied by vomiting.