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ASK THE EXPERT: WHAT IS FOOT DROP AND HOW IS IT TREATED?

I was recently asked about a condition called foot drop, what the causation is and how it is treated. To start, let’s define what foot drop is; it is a term used to describe the loss of ability to pick one’s foot up.  The medical term for this is dorsiflexion of the foot or raising [...]

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A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS WITH THESE FOUR EASY STEPS

Optimizing your health through four easy steps: Do not smoke or use nicotine products. (Click here for tips on how to quit) Maintain a healthy body weight. Exercise regularly. Follow a healthy diet. These four simple steps may seem like common sense but are very significant to reducing one’s risk for developing common deadly chronic [...]

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TIPS TO RELIEVE STRESS AND TENSION

Whether you are at work or at home, it is common to feel stress and tension. Today, people are often called on to do more with fewer resources. They are faced with more responsibility and more deadlines to get their tasks done. The health of your neck may be at risk with these mounting pressures. [...]

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TIPS TO AVOID BACK PAIN WHILE RAKING UP AUTUMNAL DEBRIS

Peak fall foliage viewing has come to an end; and after Sandy blew through the Northeast the once vibrant leaves are likely cluttering up your yard. Raking could be an enjoyable way to spend an autumn afternoon, but it can also be a laborious endeavor that could cause neck, shoulder and back pain. Raking involves [...]

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GET ‘BACK’ TO A BETTER SLEEP WITH THE RIGHT MATTRESS

  On average we spend 7 hours in bed at night. In one year, that is nearly 2,555 hours! It is no wonder that sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause or increase back pain. Mattress shopping can be a daunting and fairly pricey endeavor. Read on for tips on how to select the right [...]

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GIVE YOUR PAIN A NAME: SCIATICA

Sciatica is one of the more common terms used when a person is experiencing pain down their leg. Sciatica is not an actual diagnosis; it is a medical term used to describe symptoms (shooting pain, tingling, and numbness) caused by a low back condition. There are many potential causes for sciatica including a bulging disc [...]

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HERNIATED DISC: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS & TREATMENT

  Patients who develop pain, numbness or weakness in the arm or leg are often diagnosed with an acute disc herniation. When a patient comes in for a consultation, a couple of preliminary questions typically arise; “how did this happen or what caused this?” and “is this a slipped disc, a herniated disc, a ruptured disc-what is [...]

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REEL IN THAT NAGGING BACK PAIN WITH THESE SAFE FISHING TIPS

Fishing elicits many memories of spending quality time on the lake with dad and grandpa.  Nowadays it is tinged with a bit of apprehension. Why you ask? Back pain. Fishing is a favorite pastime for many folks and for others it is a competitive sport. So whether you are out fishing leisurely or participating in [...]

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WHERE DO I SEEK TREATMENT FOR MY BACK PAIN? NOT ALL SPINE INSTITUTES ARE CREATED EQUAL.

When individuals suffer from neck or back pain, especially for the first time, they are unaware as to where to seek treatment. Ideally they want to go to the place that will get them pain free the safest and fastest, and preferably without surgery. In addition to the stress of deciding where to go to [...]

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SPONDYLOLISTHESIS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS CONDITION BEYOND IT BEING A 30-POINT SCRABBLE WORD

When back pain sets in, patients ask “How did this happen and why did this happen?”  One of the most common diagnoses is spondylolisthesis, or the forward slippage of one lumbar vertebra on another. Spondylolisthesis is often a result of spondylolysis, a stress fracture through the “pars” bones in the back of the spine. Patients [...]

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