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VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

1 weeks ago

Weighted vests are taking over social media, with claims they can improve posture, strengthen your back, maintain bone density, and build muscle. But do they actually live up to the hype?
NBC4's health team spoke with Dr. Colin Haines, a spine surgeon at VSI, to get the facts about this popular fitness trend that's everywhere on Instagram and TikTok.

In this segment, Dr. Haines breaks down:

How much weight you should start with (hint: it's only 5% of your body weight!)
- Why walking with a weighted vest is better than running
- How weighted vests can help maintain bone density
- Who should avoid using them
- The efficiency of using a weighted vest

Dr. Haines demonstrates proper weighted vest usage and explains why this low-impact addition to your walking routine might be the perfect way to maximize your workout time. Whether you're looking to make your cardio more efficient or wondering if the weighted vest trend is right for you, you'll find the answers you need.

Key takeaways:
✅ Start with 5% of your body weight
✅ Stick to walking, avoid running
✅ Great for bone health and core engagement
✅ Perfect for making workouts more time-efficient

💡 For more information about Dr. Haines, visit https://spinemd.com/medical_team/dr-colin-haines/
📲 Follow Dr. Haines on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.colin_haines/

#weightedvest #walking #spinehealth #fitness #NBC4 #lowimpactworkout #cardio #bonehealth #VSI #DrColinHaines

Are Weighted Vests Safe? Doctor's Honest Review + Demo

163

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

1 weeks ago

Recovery over Quick Fixes 🙌 Get Back to Your Life® Episode 81 is now streaming!

374

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

1 weeks ago

Pickleball injuries are skyrocketing! Watch to see what factors put you at risk 🏓 #pickleball

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VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

1 weeks ago

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. and with more people on the courts, injuries are popping up just as fast.

On FOX 5 DC, sports medicine expert Dr. Yash Mehta shared practical ways to keep pain out of your pickleball game so you can play longer, safer, and have more fun.

In this segment, Dr. Mehta covers:
- The most common pickleball injuries: low back strains/herniations, rotator cuff problems, “pickleball elbow” (tennis elbow), and Achilles ruptures.
- Warm-up musts (5–10+ minutes): dynamic stretches, lateral movements, leg and arm mobility, overhead reach patterns.
- Smart gear: court shoes with traction (skip slides/loafers) and ankle support if needed; hydrate before and after.
- Technique & posture tips: bend with your knees to pick up low balls instead of rounding your back and cool down with gentle stretching post-match.
- Big picture: treat pickleball like any sport—learn the rules, build good habits, and be mindful of your body.

💡 Learn more about staying active without pain and explore care options at VSI: https://www.VSIspine.com

About Dr. Mehta:
Dr. Yash Mehta is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and received his medical degree at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. With 13 years of education, training, research, and medical experience, he completed residency at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and an interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital, which ranks Top 5 in the nation. Dr. Mehta speaks fluent English, Gujarati, Hindi, and conversational Spanish. His expertise in holistic medicine has earned him features in Fox5 and ABC7.

#pickleball #pickleballinjury #pickleballtips #backpain #rotatorcuff #tenniselbow #achilles #sportsmedicine #spinehealth #injuryprevention #VSI #Fox5DC

The Best Pickleball Warm-Up | Sports Medicine Doctor Explains

22

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

2 weeks ago

Living with chronic back pain isn’t only physical. It can steal moments, memories, and pieces of who you are. Today’s guest, Lizette, knows this reality firsthand.

In this special Pain Awareness Month and Recovery Month episode of Get Back to Your Life®, Lizette shares her inspiring journey through spine surgery recovery. Once a Division I athlete and active mom, Lizette found herself sidelined by chronic back pain, heavy medications, and 17+ failed procedures.

Everything changed when she came to VSI and met spine surgeon Dr. Colin Haines. With a recovery plan that began before surgery and carried her every step after, Lizette discovered what she had been missing: clarity, strength, and her way back to the life she loved.

💡 Tune in to learn:
- Why recovery is more than just healing from spine surgery.
- The dangers of relying on endless medications and short-term fixes
- How a recovery-focused care plan can make lasting healing possible.

Lizette’s comeback story is proof: don’t settle for pain. Find a team that listens, cares, and helps you truly heal.

Curious about spine surgery recovery at VSI? Visit: https://www.spinemd.com/treatment/spine-surgery-recovery/

Whether you’re desperate for a second opinion, searching for real recovery solutions, or looking for a spine specialist who sees you as more than a case, this episode will empower you with knowledge, resources, and the reminder: you are not alone — and your pain is real.

Whether you’re searching for spine surgery recovery tips, exploring alternatives to back pain medications, or looking for the best spine specialists for chronic pain, this episode is for you. Lizette’s story highlights why recovery is the centerpiece to reclaiming your life from back pain. If you need a second opinion, want real solutions for back pain relief, or are considering spine surgery, you’ll find hope and guidance here.

🎧 Listen to this episode wherever you stream your podcasts!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-back-to-your-life/id1621538885?i=1000727184133
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JtuSsEviV1jgXPmifmTYQ?si=4870daf31ed242f9

To learn more about Lizette's Recovery Story, read the blog here: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/podcasts/spinal-fusion-recovery-success/

🖥️ For more information and patient stories, visit: https://www.vsispine.com

Learn more about Dr. Haines: https://www.spinemd.com/medical_team/dr-colin-haines/
-------------------------
FOLLOW US on social media 👇
VSI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vsi_spine/
Dr. Haines' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.colin_haines/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vsi_spine?lang=en

#PainAwarenessMonth #RecoveryMonth #chronicbackpain #backpain #backpainrelief #spinesurgeryrecovery #recovery

The Recovery Road: Navigating Life After Spine Surgery

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VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

2 weeks ago

X-Ray vs. CT Scan vs. MRI — What’s the Difference? Doctor Explains.

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VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

2 weeks ago

Take a full tour of VSI Physical Therapy, where your recovery is mapped out before you arrive, and supported long after you leave. Our approach is patient-first and data-driven: combining evidence-based physical therapy, advanced technology, and integrative recovery tools you won’t find in most clinics.

In this walkthrough, step inside our bright, modern facility and see exactly how we care for patients from day one.

What you’ll see in the tour:
- Open check-in area designed for comfort and easy access.
- Rows of treatment tables where our PTs deliver hands-on manual therapy and personalized care.
- Exercise room for functional training, mobility work, and strength programming tailored to your goals.
- Private treatment rooms for one-on-one sessions and focused evaluations.

Innovative therapies featured:
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Boosts oxygen delivery to tissues to support healing, reduce inflammation, and enhance recovery outcomes.
- Aquatic Therapy (Hydroworx tank): Low-impact rehab with adjustable water depth and treadmill for gait training, strength, and mobility.
- Shockwave Therapy: Targeted acoustic waves to stimulate tissue repair and help resolve stubborn tendon and soft-tissue issues.
- Laser Therapy: Light-based treatment used to help modulate pain and promote local tissue healing.

Every patient’s plan is built around your goals, your sport, and your lifestyle. From manual therapy and functional exercise to HBOT, aquatic therapy, shockwave, and laser, we integrate the right mix of treatments to help you heal stronger and get back to what you love.

Schedule a PT consultation or learn more about our innovative treatments: https://www.spinemd.com/solutions/physical-therapy/

#physicaltherapy #sportsrehab #hbot #hyperbaricoxygentherapy #hydroworx #aquatictherapy #shockwavetherapy #lasertherapy #manualtherapy

VSI Physical Therapy Tour

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VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

3 weeks ago

At VSI, your recovery is planned before your procedure even begins... And supported long after it’s done.
VSI's approach to recovery is patient-first and data-driven: Revolutionizing the healing process through advanced technology, surgical expertise, and integrative therapies you won’t find in most medical practices.

One of the latest tools in our recovery arsenal? Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (nicknamed "HBOT") — now available right here at VSI. In this video, spine surgeon Dr. Christopher Good walks you through his own Hyperbaric Oxygen session so you can see exactly what to expect, how it works, and why it’s such a powerful tool for:

- Accelerating healing after spine surgery, regenerative medicine, or orthopedic injuries
- Enhancing oxygen delivery to promote tissue repair and new blood vessel growth
- Reducing inflammation and supporting your immune system
- Improving recovery outcomes for athletes and active individuals
- Supporting overall health, longevity, and brain function

Why Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Matters for Recovery:
Most of us already carry as much oxygen in our red blood cells as possible, but with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, oxygen is pushed deeper into the plasma, dramatically increasing how much oxygen the tissues in the body can absorb. More oxygen means faster healing, less inflammation, and stronger recovery outcomes.

At VSI, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy isn’t a stand-alone service — it’s part of a personalized, pre- and post-procedure recovery plan designed to give you the best possible results. Whether you’re recovering from spine surgery, a regenerative medicine procedure, or looking to improve athletic performance, we’ve built a recovery protocol that supports you throughout every step of the way.

Learn more about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and The Recovery Revolution™ at: vsispine.com

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction: What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
1:46 - Step Inside the Chamber (What to Expect)
8:45 - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Explained (How it Works)
9:38 - 💡Fast Facts: Why Do Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
16:30 - The Purpose of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
24:48 - Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
27:06 - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at VSI
31:49 - What Does a Session Feel Like?

#hyperbaricoxygentherapy #hyperbaricchamber #oxygentherapy #surgeryrecovery

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy | Spine Surgeon Explains

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VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

1 months ago

Gen Z is reshaping healthcare. Here’s how👉

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