Cell Phone Elbow

Cell Phone Elbow is an overuse injury causing a condition called cubital tunnel syndrome. The earliest article that I could find using the term "cell phone elbow" is from CBS's Stephanie Stahl found in 2006 called "Health: Cell Phone Elbow" and a blog entry from Workers Comp Insider.

Overuse injuries are a cummulative microtrauma or a repetitive stress injuries which over time causes improper muscle balances from muscle weakness to muscle tightness. Basically, muscle knots or other forms of soft tissue adhesions form around areas that may happen to compress a nerve resulting in numbess, tingling to the ring and pinky fingers and even muscle weakness in more severe cases such as ulnar claw. Dr. Peter Evans describes the condition to stepping on a garden hose. You may also have anatomical variations that may predispose you to this condition. Work habits or excessive computer usage may also have a contributing factor.

Surgery is an option but that should only be a last resort if there is a good chance that this can be treated with various alternative therapies. Prevention and exercises can be found in my other blog titled, "Cell Phone Elbow Tips & Prevention."


ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
Graston Technique Certified with emphasis in shoulder pain & nerve entrapment such as carpal tunnel syndrome

References:
http://cbs3.com/health/cell.phone.blackberry.2.297819.html
http://www.workerscompinsider.com/archives/000431.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/02/cell.phone.elbow/
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/pain/2009/05/13/high-tech-elbow-pain-computers-cellphones-and-cubital-tunnel-syndrome.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090602/hl_hsn/cellphoneelbowanewillforthewiredage
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524888,00.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/03/earlyshow/health/main5058984.shtml
http://www.health24.com/news/Other/1-934,51147.asp
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-is-cell-phone-elbow
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1231663-overview
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_orthopaedics/cubital.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulnar_nerve_entrapment

Chiropractic, Kinesio Tape & Graston Technique Helps Past & Future Olympic Athletes

Joseph Dimalanta, D.C. writes in his blog confirming that chiropractors, specifically Ted Forcum, D.C., DACBSP, were an important part of the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008. My blog even reported at that time Kinesio Tape was used on Kerri Walsh's shoulder. I still do not know exactly who used Kinesio Tape on Kerri Walsh's shoulder but I am more certain now that it was a chiropractor. Another tool used by chiropractors is Graston Technique for high performance athletes with muscle, ligaments, scar tissue or other soft tissue problems in general. Chiropractors have known for years that if Graston Technique is good enough for athletes, it is also good for chronic pain. Mike Reed, DC, DACBSP, a former instructor of mine at SCUHS (LACC), was in charge of the medical panel as a director of the USOC in Beijing and also the upcoming London 2012 Summer Olympics. According to Dr. Reed, the medical panel of the Beijing Normal University's High Performance Training Center consisted of 1 family practitioner MD, 1 athletic trainer, 2 chiropractors and 3 massage therapists to attend to the Beijing Olympic athletes, US Olympic staff, sponsers, friends and family. Overall, there were 17 physicians, 2 chiropractors and 33 athletic trainers. It is exciting to see how chiropractic is slowly becoming more accepted and respected by the mainstream athletic community.

ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
Graston Technique Certified with emphasis in shoulder pain & nerve entrapment such as carpal tunnel syndrome

References:
American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians
D.I.S.C. Spine & Sports Center
Guampdm.com & Joseph Dimalanta, D.C.
Southern California University of Health Sciences
Beijing Olympics 2008
Graston Technique
Kinesio Tape

Experiencing Headaches?

If you have a headache, you're not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

If you have a headache, you're not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer
from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing,
and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your
teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There
is a better alternative.

Research shows that spinal manipulation - the primary form of care provided
by doctors of chiropractic - may be an effective treatment option for tension
headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based
Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted
in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the
neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief
of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective
treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic
treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit
in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

Headache Triggers

But to get to the bottom of the problem, you first need to find out what
is causing your pain. Headaches have many causes, or "triggers." These
may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.)
and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.).
About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical
problems.

Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension,
migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused
by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.

What Can You Do?

• If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in
  front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break
  and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your
  head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
  
• Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary
  headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid
  heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
  
• Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers,
  except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular
  joints (TMJ) - the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull - leading
  to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
  
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration,
  which can lead to headaches.

In addition, the ACA and its Council on Nutrition suggest you avoid the
following food "triggers":

• Avoid caffeine. Foods such as chocolate, coffee, sodas and cocoa contain
  high levels of the stimulant.
  
• Avoid foods with a high salt or sugar content. These foods may cause migraines,
  resulting in sensitivity to light, noise, or abrupt movements.
  
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. These drinks can dehydrate you and
  cause headache pain.
  
• Other headache sufferers may want to avoid not only caffeine, but also
  high-protein foods, dairy products, red meat and salty foods.

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Chiropractors may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a
primary headache:

• Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal
  function and alleviate the stress on your system.
  
• Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps
  the addition of B complex vitamins.
  
• Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation
  techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation
  and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients
in many ways - not just back pain.

If your headache is symptomatic of a health problem that needs the care
of another discipline, your doctor of chiropractic will refer you to an
appropriate specialist.

ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
Graston Technique Certified with emphasis in shoulder pain & nerve entrapment such as carpal tunnel syndrome

References:
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
American Chiropractic Association
Brought to you by the ChiroMatrix Wellness Newsletter. Register as a member for more newsletters like this.

October Is National Chiropractic Month

It is not natural to be in pain - but unfortunately for millions of Americans it's a daily occurrence. Doctors of chiropractic, commonly called chiropractors, provide conservative and effective treatment for pain, without medication or surgery.

Discover Chiropractic: 100% Natural Healthcare

Take charge of your health; discover a natural approach to better health with chiropractic.

ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
Graston Technique Certified with emphasis in shoulder pain & nerve entrapment such as carpal tunnel syndrome

FAQ from ACA regarding the safety of chiropractic:

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive
therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints.
Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is
completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with
chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief
following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or
aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows
that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades
within 24 hours. Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through
precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck
adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of
motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension. Neck
manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated
upper high-velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or
vertebral artery dissection, there is not yet a clear understanding of the
connection. The occurrence appears to be very rare—1 in 5.85 million
manipulations— based on the clinical reports and scientific studies to date. If
you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache,
be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic
offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to
another health care provider. It is important for patients to understand the
risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal
pain -- prescription and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDS) -- as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those
of chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of
Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths
related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or
NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.

References:
ACA Chiropractic FAQ from American Chiropractic Association

Kinesio Tape & Olympic Beach Volleyball

What is that black tattoo on Kerri Walsh's right shoulder? It is called Kinesio Tex Taping which is an elastic taping used in chiropractic, rehabilitation and sports medicine. Developed 25 years ago by Dr. Kenzo Kase, it is now getting recognition and being used by top athletes such as Lance Armstrong, Serena Williams, David Beckam, Robby Ginepri and Justine Henin. Kinesio Tape works by giving support like a flexible brace and facilitates weak muscles with neurological awareness or proprioception. Kerri Walsh had a recent rotator cuff surgery last November. NBC reported that she uses the black shoulder tape for better circulation and her shoulder pain.

Harder to see with the beige Kinesio Taping, Martins Plavins used Kinesio Taping in the huge upset against the US team of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser. Did Kinesio Tape give Walsh and Plavins an unfair advantage to both win? :) Maybe not, but it pleases me to know that I something I use to help my patients is trusted by top athletes.


ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
Graston Technique Certified with emphasis in shoulder pain & nerve entrapment such as numbness & tingling

References:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/
http://www.nbcolympics.com/
http://www.kinesiotaping.com/
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSPEK31770420080810
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/volleyball/7551916.stm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080809180718AAbKwhb

Your Computer and You

Windows and Mac users actually do have one thing in common - computer ergonomics issues, namely, pain.1,2 Beyond the usual hardware and software gotchas we deal with on a daily basis, the real bottom-line question is, "how to play nice with my computer".

Doing computer work is a funny kind of work, a type of activity we're still getting used to. It's not physical work in the sense that there's no heavy lifting going on, no truck-driving, no emergency services heart-pounding decision-making.

But computer work is still an intensely physical activity, although the work is pretty subtle. In computer work it's the small muscles that are getting the workout, not the big muscles we're used to thinking about.

Wrist muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Finger muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Shoulder muscles, Neck muscles. All of these are involved in ongoing repetitive tasks when you sit at a computer and one hour turns into two, two hours turns into three, and suddenly half the day is gone and you notice you've got a killer stiff neck.

Or, one day the tendons on the back of your hand begin to hurt, feeling irritated and inflamed. Or your shoulders and upper back are tight and painful.

Your hands or shoulders feel better by the time you go to sleep. But the next day, as soon as you start to type they act up again.

This is all very uncomfortable, because you've got to do your work.

What's going on?

These various pain patterns in your hands, wrists, shoulders, and neck can be grouped together as a repetitive stress syndrome. Repetitive activities, done over a long period of time, can irritate and inflame the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that are involved in doing the work. But computer work involves repetitive tasks. How can you avoid these painful problems? The best approach is to prevent them in the first place.3 If such a syndrome does develop, relative rest is indicated. Reduced computer activity, in smaller intervals, is a good solution. A very useful work-around for right- or left-arm pain is to teach your non-dominant hand to use the mouse or touchpad. This training may take a few weeks - the valuable result is the ability to switch hands whenever you like, distributing the workload between the two sides. Much better.

The most important aspect of prevention is to take a quick, refreshing break once an hour. This is a critical habit to develop. Get out of your chair, walk around, get some fresh air if possible. Change your environment for a few minutes - talk to a co-worker for a moment, get a drink from the water-cooler down the hall, seek out a picture, wall-covering, or landscape you've never seen before.

These activities refresh your body AND your brain, and you're ready to do another hour of productive, creative, healthy work. You'll feel much better, you'll be avoiding repetitive injuries, and your workday will be more enjoyable.

1Keyserling WM, Chaffin DB: Occupational ergonomics - methods to evaluate physical stress on the job. Annu Rev Public Health 7:77-104, 1986.
2Computer Workstation Ergonomics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000. http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/Ergonomics/compergo.htm
3Robertson MM, et al: Effects of a participatory ergonomics intervention computer workshop for university students. Work 18(3):305-314, 2002.

For more ChiroMatrix wellness articles visit the free member section:

ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
Graston Technique Certified with emphasis in shoulder pain & nerve entrapment such as numbness & tingling

June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month

National Scoliosis Foundation Press Release:

support@scoliosis.org.

In your email please also tell us if you plan/do any activity for National Scoliosis Awareness Month. Tell a friend; Blog it; Post it; Upload it; hand out a brochure; talk to a PTA or school; visit a patient; inform your doctor; make a donation; run a fundraiser; hold a free clinic;contact your representative or local paper. Any activity, big or small is important, so let us know.Press Release, we have a number of different activities planned which will be further detailed here as the month of June unfolds.The U.S. House of Representatives Proclamation for a PDF copy of the Proclamation and Points of Emphasis.

The U.S. House of Representatives Proclamation by Pennsylvania Congresswoman Allyson Y. Schwartz invites the President, Governors, officials and the American People to join with her and the National Scoliosis Foundation in recognizing and reaffirming our commitment to increasing the awareness of scoliosis.

The Proclamation highlights the importance of early detection and treatment of scoliosis in trying to prevent or alleviate the worst effects of this spinal deformity for our children. In conjunction with the Proclamation there are specific Points of Emphasis addressing Patient Care, Patient Screening, Patient Privacy, and Patient Protection.

The Board of Directors of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), Society On Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitative Treatment (SOSORT) and the International Research Society for Spinal Deformity (IRSSD) join us in support of the Proclamation.

Will you also join us in support of National Scoliosis Awareness Month?

We ask all patients, families, friends, support groups, scientists, medical professionals, healthcare providers, hospitals, organizations, corporations, politicians, and media to confirm your support by emailing us at

We thank you in advance for your support of National Scoliosis Awareness Month. Together we can truly Make A Difference.

As indicated in our previous

Please go to The U.S. House of Representatives Proclamation for a PDF copy of the Proclamation and Points of Emphasis.

--- End of Press Release ---

Here is a recent patient of mine with scoliosis presenting with low back pain. You can read more about her chiropractic treatment with Graston Technique instruments here in success stories.

Before X-ray

After

After

ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
Graston Technique Certified with emphasis in shoulder pain & nerve entrapment such as numbness & tingling

References:
National Scoliosis Foundation
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com